There has been much discussion whether the Ambarvalia was identical with the similar festival of the Fratres Arvales. On the ground that the _acta fratrum Arvalium_ seemed to prove a general similarity of the two in time and place, and at least in some points of ritual, Mommsen, Henzen, and Jordan answer in the affirmative[493]. On the other side there is no authority of any real weight. The judicious Marquardt[494] found a difficulty in the absence of any mention in the _acta fratrum Arvalium_ of a lustratio in the form of a procession; but it should be remembered (1) that we have not the whole of the _acta_; (2) that it is almost certain that, as the Roman territory continued to increase, the brethren must have dropped the duty of driving victims round it, for obvious reasons. A passage in Paulus[495] places the matter beyond doubt if we can be sure of the reading: ‘_Ambarvales hostiae dicebantur quae pro arvis a duodecim_ (MSS. duobus) _fratribus sacrificantur._’ As no _duo fratres_ are known, the old emendation _duodecim_ seems certain, but will of course not convince those who disbelieve in the identity of the Ambarvalia and the sacra fratrum Arvalium. The question is, however, for us of no great importance, as the _acta_ do not add to our knowledge of what was done at the Ambarvalia. The best description we have of such lustrations as the Ambarvalia is that of Virgil; it is not indeed to be taken as an exact description of the Roman rite, but rather as referring to Italian customs generally: In primis venerare deos, atque annua magnae Sacra refer Cereri laetis operatus in herbis, Extremae sub casum hiemis, iam vere sereno. Tum pingues agni, et tum mollissima vina; Tum somni dulces densaeque in montibus umbrae. Cuncta tibi Cererem pubes agrestis adoret, Cui tu lacte favos et miti dilue Baccho, Terque novas circum felix eat hostia fruges, Omnis quam chorus et socii comitentur ovantes, Et Cererem clamore vocent in tecta; neque ante Falcem maturis quisquam supponat aristis, Quam Cereri torta redimitus tempora quercu Det motus inconpositos et carmina dicat[496].