IV) The Crow as a divine augur

Livy, in Ab urbe condita [History of Rome], tells of a duel between a Gaulish leader and a Roman tribune called Marcus Valerius, whose victory was augured by a crow perched on his head; hence his nickname Corvus:

‘ ubi cum stationibus quieti tempus tererent , Gallus processit magnitudine atque armis insignis ; quatiensque scutum hasta cum silentium fecisset , prouocat per interpretem unum ex Romanis qui secum ferro decernat . M. erat Ualerius tribunus militum adulescens , qui haud indigniorem eo decore se quam T. Manlium ratus , prius sciscitatus consulis uoluntatem , in medium armatus processit . minus insigne certamen humanum numine interposito deorum factum ; namque conserenti iam manum Romano coruus repente in galea consedit , in hostem uersus . quod primo ut augurium caelo missum laetus accepit tribunus , precatus deinde , si diuus , si diua esset qui sibi praepetem misisset , uolens propitius adesset . dictu mirabile , tenuit non solum ales captam semel sedem sed , quotienscumque certamen initum est , leuans se alis os oculosque hostis rostro et unguibus appetit , donec territum prodigii talis uisu oculisque simul ac mente turbatum Ualerius obtruncat ; coruus ex conspectu elatus orientem petit . hactenus quietae utrimque stationes fuere ; postquam spoliare corpus caesi hostis tribunus coepit , nec Galli se statione tenuerunt et Romanorum cursus ad uictorem etiam ocior fuit . ibi circa iacentis Galli corpus contracto certamine pugna atrox concitatur . iam non manipulis proximarum stationum sed legionibus utrimque effusis res geritur . Camillus laetum militem uictoria tribuni , laetum tam praesentibus ac secundis dis ire in proelium iubet ; ostentansque insignem spoliis tribunum , ' hunc imitare , miles ' aiebat , ' et circa iacentem ducem sterne Gallorum cateruas .' di hominesque illi adfuere pugnae depugnatumque haudquaquam certamine ambiguo cum Gallis est ; adeo duorum militum euentum , inter quos pugnatum erat , utraque acies animis praeceperat . inter primos , quorum concursus alios exciuerat , atrox proelium fuit : alia multitudo , priusquam ad coniectum teli ueniret , terga uertit . primo per Uolscos Falernumque agrum dissipati sunt ; inde Apuliam ac mare inferum petierunt .²⁴⁸⁷

Whilst the Romans were passing their time quietly at the out- posts, a gigantic Gaul in splendid armour advanced towards them, and delivered a challenge through an interpreter to meet any Roman in single combat. There was a young military tribune, named Marcus Valerius, who considered himself no less worthy of that honour than T. Manlius had been. After obtain- ing the consul's permission, he marched, completely armed, into the open ground between the two armies. The human element in the fight was thrown into the shade by the direct interposition of the gods, for just as they were engaging a crow settled all of a sudden on the Roman’s helmet with its head towards his antagonist. The tribune gladly accepted this as a divinely-sent augury, and prayed that whether it were god or goddess who had sent the auspicious bird that deity would be gracious to him and help him. Wonderful to relate, not only did the bird keep its place on the helmet, but every time they en- countered it rose on its wings and attacked the Gaul’s face and eyes with beak and talon, until, terrified at the sight of so dire a portent and bewildered in eyes and mind alike, he was slain by Valerius. Then, soaring away eastwards, the crow passed out of sight. Hitherto the outposts on both sales had remained quiet, but when the tribune began to despoil his foeman's corpse, the Gauls no longer kept their posts, whilst the Romans ran still more swiftly to help the victor. A furious fight took place round the body as it lay, and not only the maniples at the nearest outposts but the legions pouring out from the camp joined in the fray. The soldiers were exultant at their tribune's victory and at the manifest presence and help of the gods, and as Camillus ordered them into action he pointed to the tribune, conspicuous with his spoils, and said: `Follow his example, soldiers, and lay the Gauls in heaps round their fallen cham- pion!' Gods and man alike took part in the battle, and it was fought out to a finish, unmistakably disastrous to the Gauls, so completely had each army anticipated a result corre- sponding to that of the single combat. Those Gauls who began the fight fought desperately, but the rest of the host who come to help them turned back before they came within range of the missiles. They dispersed amongst the Volscians and over the Falernian district; from thence they made their way to Apulia and the western sea.²⁴⁸⁸ ’