[a] The translation is not quite accurate in this place. The original says, when I obtained the _laticlave_, and the English calls it the _manly gown_, which, it must be admitted, is not the exact sense. The _toga virilis_, or the _manly gown_, was assumed, when the youth came to man's estate, or the age of seventeen years. On that occasion the friends of the young man conducted him to the _forum_ (or sometimes to the capitol), and there invested him with the new gown. This was called _dies tirocinii_; the day on which he commenced a _tiro_, or a candidate for preferment in the army. The _laticlave_, was an additional honour often granted at the same time. The sons of senators and patricians were entitled to that distinction, as a matter of right: but the young men, descended from such as were not patricians, did not wear the _laticlave_, till they entered into the service of the commonwealth, and undertook the functions of the civil magistracy. Augustus Cæsar changed that custom. He gave leave to the sons of senators, in general, to assume the _laticlave_ presently after the time of putting on the _toga virilis_, though they were not capable of civil honours. The emperors who succeeded, allowed the same privilege, as a favour to illustrious families. _Ovid_ speaks of himself and his brother assuming the _manly gown_ and the _laticlave_ at the same time: Interea, tacito passu labentibus annis, Liberior fratri sumpta mihique toga; Induiturque humeris cum lato purpura clavo.