tinguished men for that office. The exclamation above might, however, refer to the construing of the will according to the letter, rather than to the spirit of its meaning.

SEC. XIX. The course a good man will pursue when it is in his power to be dishonest without exposure.

177. 14. Si digitis concrepuerit; meaning, with the greatest facility; "in a snap of the fingers." So in the latter part of the section, digitorum per

cussione.

177. 20. In foro saltaret; for joy at the prospect of gaining wealth, although at the expense of honesty. Dancing, among the Romans, was held in great contempt.

178. 10. Sponsionem. By this term is meant the security given in a court of law for the fulfilment of any engagement. It seems that Pynthia, whose good character had probably been questioned, agreed to forfeit a certain sum unless he could establish his reputation by proof.

178. 26. Quicum in tenebris mices; sc. digitis: "whom you may venture to play with at odd or even in the dark.” This is a game called in Italy mora, in which two persons suddenly raise or compress the fingers, and at the same time guess each at the number of the other.

SEC. XX. There can never be a sufficient reason for a dishonest action.

179. 25. Noster; Gratidianus was connected by marriage with the family of Cicero.

179. 27. Adhibuissent; sc. in consilium: "had consulted." It was customary for magistrates, in composing their edicts, to take the advice of the chief men in the state, and sometimes of one another.

180. 6. Cæteri . . . . alio; sc. egressi sunt.

180. 24. Hunc; Gratidianus.

SEC. XXI. Great evils arise from a belief that

what seems profitable, is honest.

181. 12. Is . . . . esset. He alludes to Pompey, who married the daughter of Cæsar, expecting thereby to promote his own advancement.

181. 18. Phænissis; a tragedy of Euripides, called "The Phoenician Women." The quotation agrees very well with the character of Eteocles. He and his brother Polynices were by mutual consent to reign alternately a year at one time. At the end of the first year, Eteocles violated his engagement. From this arose many contests among the Thebans, in the course of which the two brothers were killed.

181. 21. Jus. This word implies whatever is just and right in itself; whatever, from any cause, is binding upon us.

182. 15. Parens. After the death of Cæsar, a column was erected to his memory in the forum,

with the inscription of "Parens patria." He was frequently so called during his life.

183. 2. Regi; Cæsar.

SEC. XXII. Cicero cites several examples to prove that wealth and honors are unprofitable, if they have been obtained by injustice.

183. 15. Quanquam id quidem; referring to the last sentence in the preceding section.

183. 20. Perfuga; said to have been the physician of Pyrrhus.

184. 15. Liberavisset; that is, from paying tribute. 184. 26. Omnia publicanis negare; to refuse to make any allowances to the farmers of the revenues, in consideration of any unexpected events, such as war, famine, or depreciation in the estimated value of the revenues.

185. 1. Ordinum; of the senate and equites. As these two orders had charge of the revenues of the Roman people, any dissension between them must have been productive of evil.

185. 3. Causam Transpadanorum. They considered themselves justly entitled to the rights of Roman citizenship, because their countrymen on this side of the Po had received them.

SEC. XXIII. What course should be pursued in certain doubtful cases suggested by Hecator the Rhodian.

185. 12. Utilitate; the decision seems to have been that it would be better for the slaves in a fam

ily to perish by hunger, than for the master to be put to inconvenience.

185. 15. Vilis: "of small pecuniary value."

SEC. XXIV. Are we bound to perform our promises at the risk of life or reputation?

187. 5. Ut prætores solent: "in the language of the prætors." Edicere is understood.

187. 16. Sestertium millies; that is, a thousand times a hundred thousand sesterces. A sesterce is about 3-57 of a cent.

SEC. XXV. There may be cases in which promises should not be performed.

188. 12. De noverca: of attempting to corrupt Phædra, his step-mother.

SEC. XXVI. The examples of Ulysses and Regulus to prove that nothing which is dishonorable can be profitable.

189. 27. Istam; sc. tranquillitatem.

190. 6. Cuju'

fuit: "he was the first to propose the oath." The quotation, of which this is a part, is taken from a tragedy of Pacuvius, the subject of which was the contest between Ajax and Ulysses, for the arms of Achilles. Cuju'; for cujus. We find the final consonant frequently cut off in old writers.

190. 8. Ne coiret; with the other Grecians, in a council of their countrymen, when they determined to carry on a war against the Trojans.

190. 10. Percepset; for percepisset.

190. 15. Barbaris. The Grecians applied this term to all but their own countrymen.

SEC. XXVII. The example of Regulus.

191. 3. Num. . . . auctores? "do you wish for better vouchers?" that is, than magnanimity and true courage. In some editions this is the last line of section xxvi.

191. 20. Vigilando. On his return to Carthage, he was condemned to have his eyelids cut off, to be exposed to the excessive heat of the meridian sun, and afterwards to be confined in a barrel, whose sides were filled with iron spikes. Erat in meliore causâ: "his situation was better."

SEC. XXVIII. They pervert the first principles of nature who make a distinction between profit and honesty. What may be said against the course pursued by Regulus.

192. 14. Non eorum modo; the Epicureans.

192. 16. Nihil exhibere alteri; "occasioned no trouble to another." Sed eorum; the Stoics, Peripatetics, and Academics.

192. 23. Minima de malis: "we should choose the least of these evils."

192. 25. Attium; L. Attius or Accius, a distinguished tragic poet of Rome. The quotation is from Atreus, one of his tragedies.

192. 26. Fregisti fidem. Thyestes thus complains of his brother. Neque dedi, neque do, fidem infideli cuiquam. Atreus thus endeavors to excuse himself.