However, the old Romans did not blush to irrumate, as is evident by the use Catullus makes of that word, contemptuous though it be. What they _were_ ashamed of was _fellation_. Indeed there is a certain bold audacity in playing the active part, but none in the passive one, particularly when the mouth, the noblest organ of the body, has to perform such vile offices. Add to this that a fetid breath was acquired by this habit, which _fellators_ took every means to hide, afraid of putting to flight fellow-guests at table and acquaintances who should greet them with a kiss in the street. _Fellators_ were so repugnant to the guests at table, that no cups[85] were offered to them, or when they had been offered, they were afterwards broken[86], and that it was only with the greatest unwillingness any one would kiss their mouth[87], when presented for salute. Thus it was preferable to be taken for a _cinede_ to being taken for a _fellator_[88], like Phœbus in Martial, III., 73: “You sleep with youths whose members are full size, and what rises with them, will not rise with you. Pray, Phœbus, tell me, what must I suspect? If I could think that you were but effeminate! But rumour says, you are not a _cinede_!” The case of Callistratus, in XII., 35 of our author, is a similar one: “You are very frank, Callistratus, with me, and you tell me that they often do it to you. You are not quite so simple, as you would appear; the man that tells such things does not tell of others worse.[89]” For the same reason, as Charidemus will not be called a _patient_, and shows his legs and chest covered with hair. Martial tells him (VI., 56), to arrange himself in such a way as to appear a minion rather than a _fellator_: “Because your legs are covered with bristles, your chest with hair, you think, Charidemus, to hand down your words to posterity; take my advice, and pluck the hair from all over your body, and get it certified you depilate your buttocks. Why so? you ask.—You know the world tells many tales; try to make them believe you are merely pedicated.” _Fellation_, as was but fair, received payment, and high payment. Martial, XI., 67 shows this: “Informer you are and blackmailer, swindler and trickster, _fellator_ and bully. The wonder is you have no money.” And again, III., 75: “Your member, Lupercus, has long ceased to stiffen; nevertheless in your folly, you strive to make it rise. Of no avail is cole-wort or salacious onions, of no use to you the provocative savory. You are fain now to corrupt pure lips for gold; but even so your Venus is stimulated in vain. But,—a thing to be marvelled at and scarce believed,—what will not rise, Lupercus, does rise if you pay a heavy fee.” But when on the subject of fellation, we must not pass over in silence the raven, whom our standing authority (Martial, XIV., 74), calls a _fellator_: