lling, the masters waited upon their slaves; and at the women's
Saturnalia, held on the first of March, the women served their female
attendants, by whom also they sent presents to their friends.

[767] Notwithstanding the splendour, and even, in many respects, the
refinement of the imperial court, the language as well as the habits of
the highest classes in Rome seem to have been but too commonly of the
grossest description, and every scholar knows that many of their writers
are not very delicate in their allusions. Apropos of the ludicrous
account given in the text, Martial, on one occasion, uses still plainer
language.

Utere lactucis, et mollibus utere malvis:
Nam faciem durum Phoebe, cacantis habes.--iii. 89.

[768] See c. iii. and note.

[769] Probably the emperor had not entirely worn off, or might even
affect the rustic dialect of his Sabine countrymen; for among the
peasantry the au was still pronounced o, as in plostrum for plaustrum, a
waggon; and in orum for aurum, gold, etc. The emperor's retort was very
happy, Flaurus being derived from a Greek word, which signifies
worthless, while the consular critic's proper name, Florus, was connected
with much more agreeable associations.

[770] Some of the German critics think that the passage bears the sense
of the gratuity having beer given by the lady, and that so parsimonious a
prince as Vespasian was not likely to have paid such a sum as is here
stated for a lady's proffered favours.

[771] The Flavian family had their own tomb. See DOMITIAN, c. v. The
prodigy, therefore, did not concern Vespasian. As to the tomb of the
Julian family, see AUGUSTUS, c. ci.

[772] Alluding to the apotheosis of the emperors.

[773] Cutiliae was a small lake, about three-quarters of a mile from
Reate, now called Lago di Contigliano. It was very deep, and being fed
from springs in the neighbouring hills, the water was exceedingly clear
and cold, so that it was frequented by invalids, who required
invigorating. Vespasian's paternal estates lay in the neighbourhood of
Reate. See chap i.

[774] A.U.C. 832.

[775] Each dynasty lasted twenty-eight years. Claudius and Nero both
reigning fourteen; and, of the Flavius family, Vespasian reigned ten,
Titus three, and Domitian fifteen.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of T. Flavius Vespasianus Augustus (Vespasian)
by C. Suetonius Tranquillus

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK T. FLAVIUS