You will find in Macrobius (_Saturnalia_, II., 4), why he was called saluting. Augustus returned as victor from Actium; amongst those who came to congratulate him was a man holding a raven, which he had taught to cry: “I salute thee, Caesar Victor and Emperor!” Caesar, admiring this flattering bird, bought it for 20,000 sesterces. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MANUAL _OF CLASSICAL EROTOLOGY_ SECOND VOLUME ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER IV OF MASTURBATION TO excite the member by friction with the hand until the sperm comes spirting out of it is what the Ancients call masturbation, from _masturbare_, that is _manu stuprare_,—to pollute with the hand. This may be done by one’s own hand, or by borrowing someone else’s. If by one’s own, it is generally the left hand that is employed, hence the expression, “left-hand whore” in Martial, IX., 42: “You never, Ponticus, enter a woman, but use your left-hand whore, making your hand the mistress for your pleasure; think you this is nothing? Believe me, it’s a crime, yes! a crime, and worse than you can imagine. Old Horatius copulated once at any rate to beget his three sons; Mars once to get chaste Ilia with twins. Neither of them could have done it, if by masturbation they had procured by the use of their own hand pleasures so shameful. Believe me, that nature’s voice confirms it,—what escapes ’twixt your fingers, Ponticus, is a human being.” To the same subject also _Epigr._, XI., 74 refers: “Oftentimes, Lygdé, you swear you will grant my prayer, even appointing the place, even appointing the hour. Longtime I lay consumed with longing, till often my left hand comes to help in your stead.” And this passage of the VIth. book of Ramusius, p. 62 of the Paris edition: “What are you to do? Is your left hand safe and sound? Well use it, then you will not want a whore. Why pay for what your left hand gives you gratis?” There were of course also people who used their right hand; the same Ramusius of Rimini, book IV., p. 61, tells us: “I suffer, dear Donatus, from so frightful an erection, I am fearful for my member, if you do not help me. My right hand, being wounded, can do nothing; I have no money; Hylas is not here; no vulva opens for me—no chance of fornication, appease my desire, that I may live, and you can do it cheaply.” Pacificus Maximus, _Elegy_ XII., p. 126, Paris edition: