ed bundles or wisps of hay upon poles by way of
standards. "A long pole used to bear the elevated wisps, from
which circumstance the manipular soldier derives his name." It
appears from this passage, and from other authors, that to every
troop of one hundred men a "manipulus" or wisp of hay (so called
from "manum implere," to "fill the hand," as being "a handful"),
was assigned as a standard, and hence in time the company itself
obtained the name of "manipulus," and the soldier, a member of it,
was called "manipularis." The "centurio," or "leader of a
hundred," was the commanding officer of the "manipulus."]

[Footnote 96: _With a dish-clout_)--Ver. 776. "Peniculo." This
word meant a sponge fastened to a stick, or the tail of a fox or
an ox, which was used as dusters or dish-clouts are at the present
day for cleaning tables, dishes, or even shoes. See the Menaechmi
of Plautus, ver. 77 and 391.]

[Footnote 97: _Be behind the second rank_)--Ver. 780. "Post
principia." The Captain, with that discretion which is the better
part of valor, chooses the safest place in his army. The
"principes" originally fought in the van, fronting the enemy, and
behind them were the "hastati" and the "triarii." In later times
the "hastati" faced the enemy, and the "principes" were placed in
the middle, between them and the "triarii;" but though no longer
occupying the front place, they still retained the name. Thraso,
then, places himself behind the middle line.]

[Footnote 98: _Pyrrhus used to proceed_)--Ver. 782. He attempts to
defend his cowardice by the example of Pyrrhus, the powerful
antagonist of the Romans, and one of the greatest generals of
antiquity. He might have more correctly cited the example of
Xerxes, who, according to Justin, did occupy that position in his
army.]

[Footnote 99: _I could very much_)--Ver. 785. Although Vollbehr
gives these words to Gnatho, yet, judging from the context, and
the words "ex occulto," and remembering that Thais and Chremes are
up at the window, there is the greatest probability that these are
really the words of Thais addressed aside to Chremes.]

[Footnote 100: _You gallows-bird_)--Ver. 797. "Furcifer;"
literally, "bearer of the furca."]

[Footnote 101: _As befits gallant soldiers_)--Ver. 814. Beaumont
and Fletcher not improbably had this scene in view in their
picture of the mob regiment in Philaster. The rag