Chapter 33

82 And recall his consulship from that day down to the Ides of March. Was any attendant ever so humble, so abject? He had no power himself; he begged for everything. Thrusting his head into the back of his colleague’s litter, he asked for favors he could sell. Then came the day of Dolabella’s election. The century that is to vote first is drawn by lot; he keeps quiet. Its vote is announced; he says nothing. The first class is called, then the voting proceeds as usual, then the second class—all done more quickly than I have told it.

83 When the business is finished, our excellent augur—you would have thought him Gaius Laelius—says, “On another day.” What extraordinary shamelessness! What had you seen, what had you perceived, what had you heard? You did not say you had watched the sky, nor do you say so today. So the very flaw occurred which you had already foreseen on the first of January and predicted so far in advance! By Hercules, you falsified the auspices, with grave consequences, I hope, for yourself rather than for the republic. You laid a religious obligation upon the Roman people; as augur you reported an adverse omen against an augur, as consul against a consul. I will say no more, lest I seem to be undermining Dolabella’s acts, which must at some point be referred to our college. But recognize the man’s arrogance and insolence.

82 Now remember his consulship from that day through the Ides of March. Has any clerk ever been so servile, so groveling? He could do nothing himself. He had to ask for everything. He stuck his head into the back of his colleague’s litter. He begged his colleague for favors he could sell. Now comes the day of Dolabella’s election. They draw lots for the voting group that goes first. He does nothing. Its vote is announced. He says nothing. The first voting class is called. Then the votes follow their usual course. Then comes the second class. It all happened faster than I’ve described it.

83 The business was finished. Then our fine augur—you’d think he was Gaius Laelius—said, “Another day.” What unbelievable nerve! What had you seen? What had you noticed? What had you heard? You didn’t claim you’d been watching the sky. You don’t claim that today either. So the flaw you foresaw on January 1 turned up! You’d predicted it all that time before! By Hercules, you made up those omens. I hope the great disaster falls on you, not the republic. You bound the Roman people with a religious obligation. You, an augur, reported bad omens against an augur. You, a consul, reported them against a consul. I won’t say more. I don’t want to seem to undermine Dolabella’s official acts. Our body of augurs must consider them eventually. But see how arrogant and overbearing this man is.