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Might one, then, after proffering this as a suitable introduction, bring on the Romans once more as witnesses in behalf, of Fortune, on the ground that they assigned more to Fortune than to Virtue? At least, it was only recently and after many years that Scipio Numantinus built a shrine of Virtue in Rome; later Marcellus Life of Marcellus, chap. xxviii. (314 c); Livy, xxvii. 25, xxix. 11; Valerius Maximus, i. 1. 8; Cicero, Verrine Orations, iv. 54 (121); De Natura Deorum, ii. 23 (61). built what is called the Temple of Virtue and HonourThe following passage is repeated in the mss. with some changes infra, 322 c-e, where see the note.; and Aemilius Scaurus,Cicero, De Natura Deorum, ii. 23 (61). who lived in the time of the Cimbrian Wars, built the shrine of Mens (Mind) so-called, which might be considered a Temple of Reason. For at this time rhetoric, sophistry, and argumentation had already found their way into the City; and people were beginning to magnify such pursuits. But even to this day they have no shrine of Wisdom or Prudence or Magnanimity or Constancy or Moderation. But of Fortune there are splendid and ancient shrines, Cf. 281 e, supra. all but coeval with the first foundations of the City. For the first to build a temple of Fortune was Ancus Marcius, the grandson of Numa Cf. Life of Numa, chap. xxi. (74 b). and king fourth in line from Romulus. He, perchance, it was who added the title of Fortis to Fortuna Contrast Life of Coriolanus, chap. i. (214 b). W. W. Goodwin’s suggestion, that Plutarch misunderstood Fors Fortuna in an oblique case (e.g. Fortis Fortunae), is not unlikely; see e.g. Tacitus, Annals, ii. 41, where the mistake would be easy for a foreigner.; for in Fortune Manly Fortitude shares most largely in the winning of victory. They erected a temple of Fortuna Muliebris The Women’s Fortune: cf. Life of Coriolanus, chap. xxxvii. (231 f ff.); Livy, ii. 40. 12; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities, viii. 56. 2; Valerius Maximus, i. 8. 4; 5. 2. before the time of Camillus, when, through the offices of their women, they had turned back Marcius Coriolano, who was leading the Volsci against the City. For a delegation of women, together with his mother and his wife, went to the hero and besought him and gained their request that he spare the City and lead away the foreign army. It is said that at this time, when the statue of Fortune was consecrated, it spoke and said, Women of the city, you have dedicated me by the holy law of Rome.
