Book 2, Chapter 41

84 “When Marcus Crassus was embarking his army at Brundisium, a man in the harbor selling dried figs imported from Caunus kept shouting, ‘Cauneas—Caunian figs!’ Let us say, if you like, that he was warning Crassus, ‘Cave ne eas—beware of going!’ and that Crassus would not have perished had he obeyed the omen. If we accept such things, we shall have to watch for a stubbed toe, a broken sandal strap, and sneezes.

“Lots and the Chaldeans remain, before we come to inspired prophets and dreams.

85 “Do you really think we need to discuss lots? What is drawing a lot, after all? Almost the same as playing the finger-guessing game, throwing knucklebones, or casting dice: in these things rash chance, not reason or deliberation, holds sway. The whole business was invented for deception, whether for profit, superstition, or delusion. As we did with divination from entrails, let us examine the traditional origin of the most celebrated lots. The records of Praeneste tell us that Numerius Suffustius, a respectable man of noble birth, was repeatedly commanded in dreams—finally with threats—to split a flint rock in a particular place. Terrified by these visions, he set about it despite his fellow citizens’ ridicule. When the rock was broken open, lots burst out, carved in oak in the characters of an ancient script. Today the place is enclosed as sacred ground, near the shrine of the boy Jupiter, who, still a nursling, sits with Juno in Fortune’s lap reaching for her breast, and is worshiped with the deepest reverence by mothers.

86 “At the same time, they say, honey flowed from an olive tree on the site where Fortune’s temple now stands. The haruspices declared that these lots would achieve the highest renown, and on their instructions a chest was made from that olive tree. In it they stored the lots that are drawn today at Fortune’s prompting. What certainty can there be in things shuffled and drawn by a boy’s hand at Fortune’s prompting? And how were they deposited in that place? Who felled that oak, shaped it, and carved the writing? ‘There is nothing,’ they say, ‘that a god cannot accomplish.’ If only he had made the Stoics wise, so that they would not believe everything in such superstitious anxiety and misery! But ordinary life has already driven this kind of divination off the stage. The beauty and antiquity of the shrine still preserve the reputation of the Praenestine lots, and that only among the common people.

84 “When Marcus Crassus was putting his army aboard ship at Brundisium, a man at the harbor was selling dried figs imported from Caunus. He kept shouting ‘Cauneas!’—‘Caunian figs!’ This sounds like the Latin for ‘Don't go!’ Let us say, if you like, that he warned Crassus not to go, and that Crassus would not have died if he had obeyed the omen. Accept that, and we must treat tripping, a snapped sandal strap, or a sneeze as things to watch for too.

“Lots and the Chaldeans remain, before we get to inspired prophets and dreams.

85 “Do lots really call for discussion? Drawing one amounts to little more than a finger-guessing game or a throw of knucklebones or dice. In these, random chance counts, not reason or planning. The whole practice was invented through fraud, for profit, superstition, or deception. As we did with the art of inspecting entrails, let us look at the story told about the discovery of the most famous lots. The records at Praeneste say that Numerius Suffustius, an honorable man of noble birth, repeatedly dreamed that he was ordered to break open a flint rock in a certain place. In the end the dreams even threatened him. Frightened by these visions, he began the work, while his fellow citizens laughed at him. When the rock broke open, lots carved from oak and inscribed in ancient letters burst out. That spot is now enclosed as sacred ground near the shrine of the infant Jupiter. Mothers worship him there with the deepest devotion, as he sits with Juno in Fortune's lap, reaching for her breast to nurse.

86 “The story also says that honey ran from an olive tree then, at the place now occupied by Fortune's temple. The haruspices said those lots would become very famous. On their orders a chest was made from that olive tree. The lots were stored in it, and today they are drawn out at Fortune's prompting. What certainty can there be in lots shuffled and drawn by a child's hand at Fortune's prompting? How were they put in that spot? Who cut down that oak, shaped it, and carved the letters? ‘There is nothing a god cannot do,’ they say. If only he had given the Stoics some sense! Then they would not swallow everything in such anxious, wretched superstition! But ordinary life has already rejected this kind of divination. The beauty and age of the shrine still keep the lots of Praeneste famous, and even that is only among the common people.