[Linenotes: 1. +Aequos+, mountaineers (closely allied to the Sabines) who lived in the mountains forming the E. boundary of Latium. +Cincinnatus.+ ‘The true type of primeval virtue, abstinence, and patriotism.’ --Ihne. 2-4. +qui ... recuperavit.+ The Aequian general, Gracchus Cloelius, had defeated the consul, L. Minucius, and blockaded him in his camp on Mt. Algidus, the E. spur of the Alban range. Cincinnatus makes a wonderful night march from Rome of 20 miles, blockades in turn the investing Aequian force, and compels an unconditional surrender. 4. +sementis+ = _of the seed-time_. Formed from _semen_, cf. _sero_.] B. ‘_In the brave days of old._’ Restat, ut inveniam, quare toga libera detur Lucifero pueris, candide Bacche, tuo. 2 . . . . . . . An quia, cum colerent prisci studiosius agros, Et patrio faceret rure senator opus, 4 Et caperet fasces a curvo consul aratro, Nec crimen duras esset habere manus, Rusticus ad ludos populus veniebat in urbem: Sed dis, non studiis, ille dabatur honor. 8 OVID, _Fasti_, iii. 729-742, H. [III. 771-784] [Linenotes: 1. +toga libera+ (or +virilis+), the man’s dress of unornamented white wool. _Lībera_ (_līber_), _free_ from the restraints of boyhood. 2. +lucifero+ = lit. _morning-star_. Here poet. for +die+. 5. +consul+, e.g. Cincinnatus, who was called to be _Dictator_. 8. +sed ... honor+, i.e. in ‘the good old days’ worship, not amusement, was the chief object of the visit to Rome. 3-8. Ovid says one reason why the _toga libera_ was assumed at the Liberalia (the Feast of Bacchus--the vintage, festival) was because it was the most crowded festival of the year.] +References.+ Livy, iii. 26-28. Ihne, vol. i. cap. v. D16 THE DECEMVIRATE. THE TWELVE TABLES, 451-449 B.C. Iam redierant legati cum Atticis legibus. Eo intentius instabant tribuni, ut tandem scribendarum legum initium fieret. Placet creari decemviros sine provocatione, et ne quis eo anno alius magistratus esset ... Tum legibus condendis opera dabatur; {5} ingentique hominum expectatione propositis decem tabulis populum ad contionem advocaverunt et, quod bonum, faustum felixque rei publicae, ipsis liberisque eorum esset, ire et legere leges propositas iussere. Se, quantum decem hominum ingeniis provideri {10} potuerit, omnibus, summis infimisque, iura aequasse; plus pollere multorum ingenia consiliaque. Versarent in animis secum unamquamque rem, agitarent deinde sermonibus atque in medium, quid in quaque re plus minusve esset, conferrent. . . . Cum ad {15} rumores hominum de unoquoque legum capite editos satis correctae viderentur, centuriatis comitiis decem tabularum leges perlatae sunt, qui nunc quoque in hoc immenso aliarum super alias acervatarum legum cumulo, fons omnis publici privatique {20} est iuris. LIVY, iii. 32, 34.