Spintheri, qui tum aedilis erat, Cethegus Q. Cornificio, Statilius G.
Caesari, Gabinius M. Crasso, Caeparius (nam is paulo ante ex fuga
retractus erat) Gn. Terentio senatori traduntur.

[225] 'He was ordered to make his statement on the ground of the promise
made to him, on behalf of the state, that he should not be punished.'
Sallust might have used the more complete expression, _fide publica
data_ or _accepta_; but such expressions are to be completed by the
sense rather than by any grammatical ellipsis.
[226] _Sibylla_ is the ancient Greek name for a prophetic woman; and at
Rome prophecies and counsels (_libri Sibyllini_) were kept in the
Capitol which were believed to have been given as early as the time
of the kings by a Sibyl of Cumae. They contained information about
festivals, sacrifices, and other religious observances, and the
means by which calamities which threatened the state might be
averted. They were under the superintendence of a special college
of priests, by whom alone they were consulted, on the command of
the senate, in cases of public distress or apprehension. This college
was called at different times, according to the number of its
members, _duoviri_, _decemviri_, or _quindecemviri sacrorum_.
[227] The _gens_ Cornelia comprised a large number of families, such
as the Scipios, Dolabellas, Merulas, Sullas, Cinnas, Cethegi, and
Lentuli. L. Cinna, by repeated consulships, and as the leader of
the Marian party, obtained the highest power at Rome after the
death of C. Marius, but was slain in B.C. 84 by his own soldiers,
whom he intended to lead against L. Sulla. Sulla, after having
been consul as early as the year B.C. 88, became dictator in B.C. 82.
Respecting the expression _urbis potiri_, see Zumpt, S 466.
[228] _Haruspices_ were the interpreters of the signs which were
believed to be contained in the entrails of victims sacrificed to the