Metellus vero pontifex maximus Postumium consulem eundemque flaminem Martialem ad bellum gerendum Africam petentem, ne a sacris discederet, multa dicta urbem egredi passus non est, religionique summum imperium cessit, quod tuto se Postumius Martio certamini commissurus non videbatur caerimoniis Martis desertis.
When the Consul Postumius, who was also Flamen of Mars, purposed to go to Africa to wage war, the Chief Pontiff Metellus named a fine and would not allow him to leave Rome, lest he depart from his religious duties. The highest state power yielded to religion; for it seemed Postumius would not safely commit himself to martial conflict after abandoning Mars rituals.
final_alignments\Valerius_Memorable_Book1.json