Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 27
Cyrus Evans, Ed.

11. It was resolved also, that the prodigies should be expiated before the consuls set out from the city. [2] In the Alban mount, the statue of Jupiter and a tree near the temple were struck by lightning; at Ostia, a grove; at Capua, a wall and [p. 1105]the temple of Fortune; at Sinuessa, a wall and a gate. [3] Some also asserted, that water at Alba had flowed tinged with blood. That at Rome, within the cell of Fors Fortuna, an image, which was in the crown of the goddess, had fallen spontaneously from her head into her hands. At Privernum, it was satisfactorily established that an ox spoke, and that a vulture flew down into a shop, while the forum was crowded. [4] And that a child was born at Sinuessa, of ambiguous sex, between a male and female, such as are commonly called Androgynes, a term derived from the Greek language, which is better adapted, as for most other purposes, so for the composition of words; [5] also that it rained milk, and that a boy was born with the head of an elephant. [6] These prodigies were then expiated with victims of the larger kind, and a supplication at every shrine, and an offering up of prayers, was proclaimed for one day. It was also decreed, that Caius Hostilius, the praetor, should vow and perform the games in honour of Apollo as they had of late years been vowed and performed. [7] During the same time, Quintus Fulvius, the consul, held an election for the creation of censors. Marcus Cornelius Cethegus, and Publius Sempronius Tuditanus, both of whom had not yet been consuls, were created censors. The question was put to the people on the authority of the fathers, and the people ordered that these censors should let to farm the Campanian lands. [8] The choosing of the senate was delayed by a dispute which arose between the censors about the selection of a chief of the senate. [9] The choice belonged to Sempronius; but Cornelius contended that the custom handed down by their fathers must [10??] be followed, which was, that they should choose him as chief of the senate who was first censor of those who were then alive; this was Titus Manlius Torquatus. [11] Sempronius rejoined, that to whom the gods had given the lot of choosing, to him the same gods had given the right of exercising his discretion freely. That he would act in this affair according to his own free will, and would choose Quintus Fabius Maximus, whom he would prove to be the first ma in the Roman state, even in the judgment of Hannibal. [12] After a long verbal dispute, his colleague giving up the point, Quintus Fabius Maximus, the consul, was chosen, by Sempronius, chief of the senate. Another senate was then chosen, and eight names were passed over; among which was that of [p. 1106]Lucius Caecilius Metellus, disrespected as the adviser of the abandonment of Italy, after the defeat at Cannae. In censuring those of the equestrian order, the same ground was acted upon, but there were very few to whom that disgrace belonged. [13] All of the equestrian order belonging to the legions who had fought at Cannae, and were then in Sicily, were deprived of their horses. [14] To this severe punishment they added another relating to time, which was, that the past campaigns which they had served on horses furnished at the public expense should not be reckoned to them, but that they should serve ten campaigns on horses furnished at their own expense. [15] They also searched for, and discovered, a great number of those who ought to have served in the cavalry; and all those who were seventeen years old at the beginning of the war, and had not served, they disfranchised. [16] They then contracted for the restoration of the seven shops, the shambles, and the royal palace, situated round the forum, and which had been consumed by fire.