Valerius Maximus, Memorable Deeds and Sayings 1.1.5

Roman religious ceremonies had to be performed just right. Here are a mitre mishap and a mouse mishap:

at <Q.> Sulpicio inter sacrificandum e capite apex prolapsus idem sacerdotium abstulit, occentusque soricis auditus Fabio Maximo dictaturam, C. Flaminio magisterium equitum deponendi causam praebuit.

While Quintus Sulpicius was in the middle of performing a sacrifice, his mitre slipped forward off his head, for which his priesthood was taken away. And because a mouse’s squeak was heard, Fabius Maximus had to resign the dictatorship and Gaius Flaminius the post of Master of Horse.