25] And those who take this sentence in a contrary sense interpret it amiss: "Ista sic reciprocantur, ut et si divinatio sit, dii sint; et si dii lint, sit divinatio." ["These things are so far reciprocal that if there be divination, there must be deities; and if deities, divination."-- Cicero, De Divin., i.

6.] Much more wisely Pacuvius-- "Nam istis, qui linguam avium intelligunt, Plusque ex alieno jecore sapiunt, quam ex suo, Magis audiendum, quam auscultandum, censeo." ["As to those who understand the language of birds, and who rather consult the livers of animals other than their own, I had rather hear them than attend to them." -- Cicero, De Divin., i.

57, ex Pacuvio] The so celebrated art of divination amongst the Tuscans took its beginning thus: A labourer striking deep with his cutter into the earth, saw the demigod Tages ascend, with an infantine aspect, but endued with a mature and senile wisdom.

Upon the rumour of which, all the people ran to see the sight, by whom his words and science, containing the principles and means to attain to this art, were recorded, and kept for many ages .-- [Cicero, De Devina, ii.

23]--A birth suitable to its progress; I, for my part, should sooner regulate my affairs by the chance of a die than by such idle and vain dreams.