ed to the faults of the common people, touching, however,
only briefly and rapidly on either.

7. Some men, conspicuous for the illustriousness of their ancestry as
they think, gave themselves immoderate airs, and call themselves
Reburri, and Fabunii, and Pagonii, and Geriones, Dalii, Tarracii, or
Perrasii, and other finely-sounding appellations, indicating the
antiquity of their family.

8. Some also are magnificent in silken robes, as if they were being led
to execution, or, to speak without words of so unfavourable an omen, as
if after the army had passed they were bringing up the rear, and are
followed by a vast troop of servants, with a din like that of a company
of soldiers.

9. Such men when, while followed by fifty servants apiece, they have
entered the baths, cry out with threatening voice, "Where are my
people?" And if they suddenly find out that any unknown female slave has
appeared, or any worn-out courtesan who has long been subservient to the
pleasures of the townspeople, they run up, as if to win a race, and
patting and caressing her with disgusting and unseemly blandishments,
they extol her, as the Parthians might praise Semiramis, Egypt her
Cleopatra, the Carians Artemisia, or the Palmyrene citizens Zenobia. And
men do this, whose ancestor, even though a senator, would have been
branded with a mark of infamy because he dared, at an unbecoming time,
to kiss his wife in the presence of their common daughter.

10. Some of these, when any one meets and begins to salute them, toss
their heads like bulls preparing to butt, offering their flatterers
their knees or hands to kiss, thinking that quite enough for their
perfect happiness; while they deem it sufficient attention and civility
to a stranger who may happen to have laid them under some obligation to
ask him what warm or cold bath he frequents, or what house he lives in.

11. And while they are so solemn, looking upon themselves as especial
cultivators of virtue, if they learn that any one has brought
intelligence that any fine horses or skilful coachmen are coming from
any place, they rush with as much haste to see them, examine them, and
put questions concerning them, as their ancestors showed on beholding
the twin-brothers Tyndaridae,[167] when they filled the whole city with
joy by the announcement of that ancient victory.

12. A number of idle chatterers frequent their houses, and, with various
pretended modes of adulation, applaud every word