(Vol. viii., p. 243.)
The enigma of Aulus Gellius (_Noctes Atticæ_, lib. xii. cap. vi.), though
transmitted to us in a corrupt form, is solved at once by the story
mentioned by Livy (lib. i. cap. lv.). When Tarquinius {323} Superbus was
about to build the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, it was found necessary
to "exaugurate" or dispossess the other deities whose shrines had
previously occupied the ground. All readily gave way to Father Jupiter
with the exception of _Terminus_; and the point of the riddle lies in the
analogy between "_Semel_ minus," "_Bis_ minus," and "_Ter_ minus."