Plutarch's Romane Questions · Plutarch
4.
_Wherefore is it, that in other temples of_ Diana _men are woont ordinarily to set up and fasten Harts hornes; onely in that which is upon mount_ Aventine; _the hornes of oxen and other beefes are to be seen_. MAY it not be, that this is respective to the remembrance of an ancient occurrent that sometime befell? For reported it is that long since in the Sabines countrey, one _Antion Coratius_ had a cow, which grew to be exceeding faire and woonderfull bigge withall above any other: and a certeine wizard or soothsaier came unto him and said: How predestined it was that the citie which sacrificed that cow unto _Diana_ in the mount _Aventine_, should become most puissant and rule all _Italy_: This _Coratius_ therefore came to _Rome_ of a deliberate purpose to sacrifice the said cow accordingly: but a certaine houshold servant that he had, gave notice secretly unto king _Servius Tullius_ of this prediction delivered by the abovesaid soothsaier: whereupon _Servius_ acquainted the priest of _Diana_, _Cornelius_, with the matter: and therefore when _Antion_ _Coratius_ presented himselfe for to performe his sacrifice, _Cornelius_ advertised him, first to goe downe into the river, there to wash; for that the custome and maner of those that sacrificed was so to doe: now whiles _Antion_ was gone to wash himselfe in the river, _Servius_ steps into his place, prevented his returne, sacrificed the cow unto the goddesse, and nailed up the hornes when he had so done, within her temple. _Juba_ thus relateth this historie, and _Varro_ likewise, saving that _Varro_ expressely setteth not downe the name of _Antion_, neither doth he write that it was _Cornelius_ the priest, but the sexton onely of the church that thus beguiled the Sabine.
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