290 THE CITY. BOOK 111. ing, or a ringing in the ears, arrests him in an enter- prise. He never goes on shipboard without taking the auspices. Before marrying he docs not fail to consult the flight of birds. The assembly of the people disperses as soon as any one declares that there has appeared in the heavens an ill-boding sign. If a sacri- fice has been disturbed by the announcement of bad news, it must be recommenced.' The Athenian hardly commences r. sentence without first invoking good fortune. He puts the same words at the head of all his decrees. On the speaker's stand the orator prefers to commence with an invocation to the gods and heroes who inhabit the country. The people are led by oracles. The orators, to give their advice more force, repeat, at every moment, "The goddess ordains thus." " Nicias belongs to a great and rich family. While still young he conducts to the sanctuary of Delos a theoria — that is to say, victims, and a chorus to sing the praises of the god during the sacrifice. Returning to Athens, he ofiers a part of his fortune in homage to the gods, dedicating a statue to Athene and a chapel to Dionysius. By turns he is Jiestiator, and pays the expense of the sacred repast of his tribe; and chore- ffus, "when he supports a chorus for the religious festi- vals. No day passes that he docs not ofier a sacrifice to some god. He has a soothsayer attached to his house, who never leaves it, and whom he consults on public aflfairs, as well as on his own. Having been ap- pointed a general, he commands an expedition against ' Aristophanes, Peace, 1084; Birds, o9G, 718. Schol. ad Avcs, 721. Thucyd., II. 8. • Lycurgus, I. 1. Aristophanes, Knights, 903, 999, 1171, 1179.
