[245] The Porcian Law--_Lex Porcia_. A law proposed by P. Porcius Loeca, one of the tribunes, A.U.O. 454, which enacted that no one should bind, scourge or kill a Roman citizen. See Liv., x. 9; Cic. pro. Rabir., 3, 4: Verr., v 63; de Rep., ii, 31. [246] Other laws--_Aliae leges_. So Caesar says below, "Tum lex Porcia aliaeque paratae, quibus legibus auxilium damnatis permissum;" what other laws these were is uncertain. One of them, however, was the Sempronian law, proposed by Caius Gracchus, which ordained that sentence should not be passed on the life of a Roman citizen without the order of the people. See Cic. pro Rabir. 4. So "O lex Porcia legesque Semproniae!" Cic. in. Verr., v. 63. [247] Parricides--See c. 14, 32. [248] The course of events--_Dies_. "Id est, temporis momentum (_der veränderte Zeitpunkt_)." _Dietsch_. Things change, and that which is approved at one period, is blamed at another. _Tempus_ and _dies_ are sometimes joined (Liv., xxii. 39, ii. 45), as if not only time in general, but particular periods, as _from day to day_, were intended. [249] All precedents productive of evil effects--_Omnia mala exempla_. Examples of severe punishments are meant. [250] Any new example of severity, etc.--_Novum illud exemplum ab dignis et idoneis ad indignos et non idoneos transferetur_. Gerlach, Kritzius, Dietsch, and Bernouf, agree to giving to this passage the sense which is given in the translation. _Digni_ and _idonei_ are here used in a bad sense, for _digni et idonei qui poena afficiantur_, deserving and fit objects for punishment. [251] When they had conquered the Athenians--At the conclusion of the Peloponnesian war. [252] Damasippus--"He, in the consulship of Caius Marius, the younger, and Cneius Carbo, was city praetor, and put to death some of the most eminent senators, a short time before the victory of Sylla. See Vell. Paterc. ii. 26." _Bernouf_. [253] Ensigns of authority--_Insignia magistratum_. "The fasces and axes of the twelve lictors, the robe adorned with purple, the curule chair, and the ivory scepter. For the Etrurians, as Dionysius Halicarnassensis relates, having been subdued, in a nine years' war, by Tarquinius Priscus, and having obtained peace on condition of submitting to him as their sovereign, presented him with the _insignia_ of their own monarchs. See Strabo, lib. V.; Florus, i. 5," _Kuhnhardt_. [254] Best able to bear the expense--_Maxime opibus valent_. Are possessed of most resources. [255] LII. The rest briefly expressed their assent, etc.--_Caeteri verbo, alius alii, varie assentiebantur. Verbo assentiebantur_ signifies that they expressed their assent merely by a word or two, as _assentior Silano, assentior Tiberio Neroni, aut Caesari_, the three who had already spoken. _Varie_, "in support of their different proposals."