reJpeSting EkBricity. 287 



riftic figns of his prefence, came in this manner; 

 to draw down thunder then, and to draw down 

 the Deity, were, according to this acceptation, 

 the fame thing; and this. Pliny* teftifies, as he 

 fays, from good authority, had been often per- 

 formed by Numa, Lee us now examine the ac- 

 count of the death of Tullus Hoftilius. Livyf 

 fays of him, " that after examining the Com- 

 " mentaries of Numa, and finding there a defcrip- 

 ** tion of certain occult and folemn facrifices, 

 " performed to Jupiter Elicius, he fet himfelf to 

 •* execute thefe in private ; but from fome impro- 

 ** priety in the commencement and condud: of 

 ** thefe operations, he not only failed of being 

 *' favoured with any intercourfe with any celef- 

 *' tial beings, but was, through the wrath of 

 " Jove, excited by his being importuned with 

 " fuch irregular rites and ceremonials, ftruck 

 " with lightning, and confumed, together with 

 *^ his palace." 



• Et ante cum a Numa fepius hoc faftitatum, in primo 

 annalium fuorum tradidit L. Pifo gravis auftor. Plin. 

 ". 53. 



t Ipfum regem tradant, volventem commentaries Numse, 

 quum ibi quadani occulta folennia facrificia Jovi Elicio 

 fafta inveniffet, operatum his facris fe abdidifle; fed non 

 re£le enitum aut curatum id factum efTe ; nee folum nul- 

 1am ei oblatam csleftium fpeciem, fed ira Jovis, folici- 

 tati prava religione, fulmine idtum cum domo confiagrafie. 

 I.ivii. lib. I, cap. 31, 



Plinv's 



