The Roman Traitor Volume I Part 36

9 The _Muraena Helena_, which we commonly translate Lamprey, was a sub-genus of the Conger; it was the most prized of all the Roman fish, and grew to the weight of twenty-five or thirty pounds. The value set upon them was enormous; and it is said that guilty slaves were occasionally thrown into their stews, to fatten these voracious dainties.

10 The aureus was a gold coin, as the name implies, worth twenty-five denarii, or about seventeen s.h.i.+llings and nine pence sterling.

11 The stylus was a pointed metallic pencil used for tracing letters on the waxen surface of the table.

12 The cavalry attached to every legion, consisting of three hundred men, was divided into ten troops, _turmae_ of thirty each, which were subdivided into decuriae of ten, commanded by a decurio, the first elected of whom was called _dux turmae_, and led the troop.

13 The guests at Roman banquets usually brought their own napkins, _mappae_, and wore robes of bright colors, usually flowered, called _caenateriae_ or _cubitoriae_.

14 Pro certo creditur, necato filio, _vacuam_ domum scelestis nuptiis fecisse.

15 The Petasus was a broad brimmed hat of felt with a low round crown.

It was originally an article of the Greek dress, but was adopted by the Romans.

16 Seven thousand talents, about 7,500,000 dollars.

17 The cla.s.sical reader will perhaps object to the introduction of the Alcaic measure at this date, 62 B. C., it being generally believed that the Greek measures were first adapted to the Latin tongue by Horace, a few years later. The desire of giving a faint idea of the rhythm and style of Latin song, will, it is hoped, plead in mitigation of this very slight deviation from historical truth-the rather that, in spite of Horace's a.s.sertion,

Non ante vulgatas per artes Verba loquor sociata chordis,

it is not certain, that no imitations of the Greek measures existed prior to his success.

18 The senior consul, or he whose month it was to preside, had twelve lictors; the junior but one, while within the city.

19 The Tribunes of the people were, at this period of the Republic, Senators; the Atinian law, the date of which is not exactly fixed, having undoubtedly come into operation soon after B. C. 130. I do not, however, find it mentioned, that their seats were thereupon transferred into the body of the Senate; and I presume that such was not the case; as they were not real senators, but had only the right of speaking without voting, as was the case with all who sat by the virtue of their offices, without regular election.

20 The age of senatorial eligibility is nowhere distinctly named. But the quaestors.h.i.+p, the lowest office which gave admission to the Curia, required the age of thirty-one in its occupant.