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being as transcending sense and passion； invisible and incorrupt；
and only to be apprehended by abstract intelligence。 So Numa forbade
the Romans to represent God in the form of man or beast； nor was there
any painted or graven image of a deity admitted amongst them for the
space of the first hundred and seventy years； all of which time
their temples and chapels were kept free and pure from images； to such
baser objects they deemed it impious to liken the highest； and all
access to God impossible； except by the pure act of the intellect。 His
sacrifices； also； had great similitude to the ceremonial of
Pythagoras； for they were not celebrated with effusion of blood； but
consisted of flour； wine； and the least costly offerings。 Other
external proofs； too； are urged to show the connection Numa had with
Pythagoras。 The comic writer Epicharmus； an ancient author； and of the
school of Pythagoras； in a book of his dedicated to Antenor； records
that Pythagoras was made a freeman of Rome。 Again； Numa gave to one of
his four sons the name of Mamercus； which was the name of one of the
sons of Pythagoras； from whence； as they say； sprang that ancient
patrician family of the Aemilli； for that the king gave him in sport
the surname of Aemilius； for his engaging and graceful manner in
speaking。 I remember； too； that when I was at Rome； I heard many
say； that； when the oracle directed two statues to be raised； one to
the wisest and another to the most valiant man in Greece； they erected
two of brass； one representing Alcibiades； and the other Pythagoras。
But to pass by these matters； which are full of uncertainty and
not so important as to be worth our time to insist on them； the
original constitution of the priests； called Pontifices； is ascribed
unto Numa； and he himself was； it is said； the first of them； and that
they have the name of Pontifices from potens； powerful； because they
attend the service of the gods； who have power to command over all。
Others make the word refer to exceptions of impossible cases； the
priests were to perform all the duties possible to them； if anything
lay beyond their power； the exception was not to be cavilled at。 The
most common opinion is the most absurd； which derives this word from
pons； and assigns the priests the title of bridge…makers。 The
sacrifices performed on the bridge were amongst the most sacred and
ancient； and the keeping and repairing of the bridge attached； like
any other public sacred office； to the priesthood。 It was accounted
not simply unlawful； but a positive sacrilege； to pull down the wooden
bridge； which moreover is said； in obedience to an oracle； to have
been built entirely of timber and fastened with wooden pins； without
nails or cramps of iron。 The stone bridge was built a very long time
after when Aemilius was quaestor； and they do； indeed； say also that
the wooden bridge was not so old as Numa's time； but was finished by
Ancus Marcius； when he was king； who was the grandson of Numa by his
daughter。
The office of Pontifex Maximus； or chief priest； was to declare
and interpret the divine law； or； rather； to preside over sacred
rites； he not only prescribed rules for public ceremony； but regulated
the sacrifices of private persons； not suffering them to vary from
established custom； and giving information to every one of what was
requisite for purposes of worship or supplication。 He was also
guardian of the vestal virgins； the institution of whom； and of
their perpetual fire； was attributed to Numa； who； perhaps； fancied
the charge of pure and uncorrupted flames would be fitly intrusted
to chaste and unpolluted persons； or that fire； which consumes； but
produces nothing； bears an analogy to the virgin estate。 In Greece；
wherever a perpetual holy fire is kept； as at Delphi and Athens the
charge of it is committed； not to virgins； but widows past the time of
marriage。 And in case by any accident it should happen that this
fire became extinct； as the holy lamp was at Athens under the
tyranny of Aristion； and at Delphi； when that temple was burnt by
the Medes； as also in the time of the Mithridatic and Roman civil war；
when not only the fire was extinguished； but the altar demolished；
then； afterwards； in kindling this fire again； it was esteemed an
impiety to light it from common sparks or flame； or from anything
but the pure and unpolluted rays of the sun； which they usually effect
by concave mirrors； of a figure formed by the revolution of an
isosceles rectangular triangle； all the lines from the circumference
of which meeting in a centre； by holding it in the light of the sun
they can collect and concentrate all its rays at this one point of
convergence； where the air will now become rarefied； and any light；
dry； combustible matter will kindle as soon as applied； under the
effect of the rays； which here acquired the substance and active force
of fire。 Some are of opinion that these vestals had no other
business than the preservation of this fire； but others conceive
that they were keepers of other divine secrets concealed from all
but themselves； of which we have told all that may lawfully be asked
or told； in the life of Camillus。 Gegania and Verenia； it is recorded；
were the names of the first two virgins consecrated and ordained by
Numa； Canuleia and Tarpeia succeeded： Servius afterwards added two；
and the number of four has continued the present time。
The statutes prescribed by Numa for the vestals were these： that
they should take a vow of virginity for the space of thirty years； the
first ten of which they were to spend in learning their duties； the
second ten in performing them； and the remaining ten in teaching and
instructing others。 Thus the whole term being completed； it was lawful
for them to marry； and； leaving the sacred order； to choose any
condition of life that pleased them； but this permission few； as
they say； made use of； and in cases where they did so； it was observed
that their change was not a happy one； but accompanied ever after with
regret and melancholy； so that the greater number； from religious
fears and scruples； forbore； and continued to old age and death in the
strict observance of a single life。
For this condition he compensated by great privileges and
prerogatives； as that they had power to make a will in the lifetime of
their father； that they had a free administration of their own affairs
without guardian or tutor； which was the privilege of women who were
the mothers of three children； when they go abroad； they have the
fasces carried before them； and if in their walks they chance to
meet a criminal on his way to execution； it saves his life； upon
oath made that the meeting was an accidental one； and not concerted or
of set purpose。 Any one who presses upon the chair on which they are
carried； is put to death。 If these vestals commit any minor fault；
they are punishable by the high priest only； who scourges the
offender； sometimes with her clothes off； in a dark place； with a
curtain drawn between； but she that has broken her vow is buried alive
near the gate called Collina； where a little mound of earth stands
inside the city； reaching