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near the gate called Collina； where a little mound of earth stands
inside the city； reaching some little distance； called in Latin agger；
under it a narrow room is constructed； to which a descent is made by
stairs； here they prepare a bed； and light a lamp； and leave a small
quantity of victuals； such as bread； water； a pail of milk； and some
oil； that so that body which had been consecrated and devoted to the
most sacred service of religion might not be said to perish by such
a death as famine。 The culprit herself is put in a litter； which
they cover over； and tie her down with cords on it； so that nothing
she utters may be heard。 They then take her to the forum； all people
silently go out of the way as she passes； and such as follow accompany
the bier with solemn and speechless sorrow； and indeed； there is not
any spectacle more appalling； nor any day observed by the city with
greater appearance of gloom and sadness。 When they come to the place
of execution； the officers loose the cords； and then the high
priest； lifting his hands to heaven； pronounces certain prayers to
himself before the act； then he brings out the prisoner； being still
covered； and placing her upon the steps that lead down to the cell；
turns away his face with the rest of the priests； the stairs are drawn
up after she has gone down； and a quantity of earth is heaped up
over the entrance to the cell； so as to prevent it from being
distinguished from the rest of the mound。 This is the punishment of
those who break their vow of virginity。
It is said； also； that Numa built the temple of Vesta； which was
intended for a repository of the holy fire； of a circular form； not to
represent the figure of the earth； as if that were the same as
Vesta； but that of the general universe； in the centre of which the
Pythagoreans place the element of fire； and give it the name of
Vesta and the unit； and do not hold that the earth is immovable； or
that it is situated in the centre of the globe； but that it keeps a
circular motion about the seat of fire； and is not in the number of
the primary elements； in this agreeing with the opinion of Plato； who；
they say； in his later life； conceived that the earth held a lateral
position； and that the central and sovereign space was reserved for
some nobler body。
There was yet a farther use of the priests； and that was to give
people directions in the national usages at funeral rites。 Numa taught
them to regard these offices； not as a pollution； but as a duty paid
to the gods below； into whose hands the better part of us is
transmitted； especially they were to worship the goddess Libitina； who
presided over all the ceremonies performed at burials； whether they
meant hereby Proserpina； or； as the most learned of the Romans
conceive； Venus； not inaptly attributing the beginning and end of
man's life to the agency of one and the same diety。 Numa also
prescribed rules for regulating the days of mourning； according to
certain times and ages。 As； for example； a child of three years was
not to be mourned for at all； one older； up to ten years； for as
many months as it was years old； and the longest time of mourning
for any person whatsoever was not to exceed the term of ten months；
which was the time appointed for women that lost their husbands to
continue in widowhood。 If any married again before that time； by the
laws of Numa； she was to sacrifice a cow big with calf。
Numa； also； was founder of several other orders of priests； two of
which I shall mention； the Salii and the Fecials； which are among
the clearest proofs of the devoutness and sanctity of his character。
These Fecials； or guardians of peace； seem to have had their name from
their office； which was to put a stop to disputes by conference and
speech； for it was not allowable to take up arms until they had
declared all hopes of accommodation to be at an end； for in Greek；
too； we call it peace when disputes are settled by words； and not by
force。 The Romans commonly despatched the Fecials； or heralds； to
those who had offered them injury； requesting satisfaction； and； in
case they refused； they then called the gods to witness； and； with
imprecations upon themselves and their country should they be acting
unjustly； so declared war； against their will； or without their
consent； it was lawful neither for soldier nor king to take up arms；
the war was begun with them； and when they had first handed it over to
the commander as a just quarrel； then his business was to deliberate
of the manner and ways to carry it on。 It is believed that the
slaughter and destruction which the Gauls made of the Romans was a
judgment on the city for neglect of this religious proceeding； for
that when these barbarians besieged the Clusinians； Fabius Ambustus
was despatched to their camp to negotiate peace for the besieged； and；
on their returning a rude refusal； Fabius imagined that his office
of ambassador was at an end； and； rashly engaging on the side of the
Clusinians； challenged the bravest of the enemy to a single combat。 It
was the fortune of Fabius to kill his adversary； and to take his
spoils； but when the Gauls discovered it； they sent a herald to Rome
to complain against him； since； before war was declared； he had；
against the law of nations； made a breach of the peace。 The matter
being debated in the senate； the Fecials were of opinion that Fabius
ought to be consigned into the hands of the Gauls； but he； being
forewarned of their judgment； fled to the people； by whose
protection and favour he escaped the sentence。 On this； the Gauls
marched with their army to Rome； where having taken the capitol；
they sacked the city。 The particulars of all which are fully given
in the history of Camillus。
The origin of the Salii is this。 In the eighth year of the reign
of Numa； a terrible pestilence； which traversed all Italy； ravaged
likewise the city of Rome； and the citizens being in distress and
despondent； a brazen target； they say； fell from heaven into hands
of Numa； who gave them this marvellous account of it： that Egeria
and the Muses had assured him it was sent from heaven for the cure and
safety of the city； and that； to keep it secure； he was ordered by
them to make eleven others； so like in dimensions and form to the
original that no thief should be able to distinguish the true from the
counterfeit。 He farther declared； that he was commanded to
consecrate to the Muses the place； and the fields about it； where they
had been chiefly wont to meet with him； and that the spring which
watered the fields should be hallowed for the use of the vestal
virgins； who were to wash and cleanse the penetralia of their
sanctuary with those holy waters。 The truth of all which was
speedily verified by the cessation of the pestilence。 Numa displayed
the target to the artificers and bade them show their skill in
making others like it； all despaired； until at length one Mamurius
Veturius； an excellent workman； happily hit upon it； and made all so
exactly the same that Numa himself was at a loss and could not
distinguish。 The keeping of these targets was committed to the
charge of certain priests； called Salii；