Such accounts, as Cicero observes, true or false, are too rare, and referable to casual circumstances, to authorise any idea of inspiration *

Cicero, we are told, during his flight from Rome, being at Atina, imagined that he beheld in his sleep Caius Marius, preceded by the fasces bound with laurel, who encouraged him on his dejection at being obliged to leave his country, and consigned him to the care of a lictor, who was instructed to place him in the monument of Marius, where, it was said, was the hope of a better fortune. Sallust, on hearing the dream, is related to have foretold a speedy return to Cicero, which was soon afterwards effected by an unanimous decree of the senate, passed in the Marian Temple of Jove. The local correspondence, if correctly stated, was remarkable: Cicero, however, did not think it necessary to have recourse to any su

* De Divin. L. ii. §. 68. Diod. Sicul. L. xvii. p. 575 Q. Curtius, L. ix. C. 27.

'pernatural agency on this occasion, but conceived that the dream might be the production of a mind engaged in meditation on the fate and fortitude of Marius, with application, we may conceive, to the circumstances of his own fortune *.

There are also other dreams, which, however their circumstances might correspond with historical events that afterwards happened, can have no claim to be considered as inspired, since they might have produced their own accomplishment, being casual and vague, and verified by the operation of devotion, solicitude, or fear.

An instance mentioned by Cicero may be thus explained: Decius, the first consul of his family, in consequence of a dream, in which victory was promised to the army whose commander should devote himself to death, and

* Valerius Maxim. L. i. C. 7.

in which he appeared to fall with great glory in the midst of his enemies, rushed to destruction three years after in an engagement with the Latins, a victim to his superstitious credulity and rashness *.

Tacitus thinks it necessary to apologize for relating, that Curtius Rufus, when attending on a questor, who had obtained a department in Africa, was addressed in the retirement of a deserted portico at Adrimetum, in the midst of the day, by a female figure of supernatural appearance, who declared to him that he should come as consul into that province, which afterwards happened agreeably to the pretended prediction *.

There are some other dreams described in ancient accounts, which may be considered as the work of a creative fancy, occupied with anxiety on great events.

De Divin. L. i.

Tacit. Annal. L. ii. C. 21..

Hannibal, we are told by Cicero, after a Grecian historian, dreamed, on the taking of Saguntum, that he was carried by Jupiter into the council of the gods, and there commanded by him to carry war into Italy: one of the heavenly council was appointed as a conductor in the expedition. Hannibal, on his march, was directed by his guide not to look back; but, prompted by human curiosity to disregard the instruction, he turned and beheld an horrible monster enfolded by serpents, and followed by a tremendous storm and darkness, which, wherever he proceeded, laid every thing waste. On inquiry Hannibal was informed, that the monster represented the devastation of Italy, but was directed to proceed, regardless of the effects of his march. What was this but a picture which might naturally present itself to the mind of the Carthaginians, pledged by a sacred oath to carry devastation into Italy * ?

* Cicero de Divin. Liv. L. xxi. §. 22.

It would be well if conquerors in general would look to the horrors which must follow in the track of their ambition: it might check some at least in their destructive

course.

When Cassius and Brutus were about to pass from Asia into Europe, in the dead of the night, while the moon reflected a feeble light on the silent camps, a black and horrible spectre is said to have appeared to Brutus, who sat musing in his tent concerning the event of the war, with a taper nearly extinguished placed before him. Brutus, with a firm tone, demanded what, either man or god, he was. The spirit answered," Brutus, I am thy evil Genius; thou shalt see me again at Philippi." Brutus replied, "I will see thee there." The spirit accordingly re-appeared on the plains of Philippi the night before the last battle. The morning after the first vision, Brutus related to Cassius what he had seen, and expounded to him from the doctrine of the Epi