The third order comprised mechanics, small tradesmen, tavern-keepers, learned men, artists, etc., etc.,--except in cases where those who followed these pursuits were slaves,--and also the immense body of proletarians, who subsisted almost exclusively on public alms. [37] MY LORD SAID THE MATRON. Concerning the address “lord” (_domine_), see the minute discussions in Friedlander’s _Sittengeschichte_, I, appendix. It was not so common as the modern “sir,” but was used as an expression of special courtesy in the most varied relations of life. The emperors themselves used it in intercourse with persons to whom they wished to show attention. Thus Marcus Antoninus writes to Fronto: “_Have, mi domine magister_.” According to Seneca (Ep. III, 1.) it was already customary under Nero to greet persons, whose names could not be instantly remembered, by this title, in order not to appear uncourteous under any circumstances. The Fronto just mentioned calls a son-in-law “_domine_,” and when Nero once played the cithara in public, he addressed the spectators as “_mei domini_.” Nay, the association of _domine_ with the name, which to our ears has a very modern sound, is often found. Thus in Appuleius (Met. II,) we read: “_Luci domine_,”--“Lord Lucius.” In this story, however, this association is avoided, as it might have produced the semblance of an anachronism. In accosting women _domina_ (lady) corresponds with _domine_. The French, when referring to subjects connected with ancient Rome, reproduce the sound as well as the meaning of the word correctly by their madame (_meam dominam_). [38] TITUS CLAUDIUS MUCIANUS. The Romans usually had three names. Titus is here the first name (_praenomen_) which was given sons on the ninth day after their birth. Claudius is the name of the gens, the family in the wider sense of the word (_nomen gentilicium_). Mucianus is the cognomen, the surname, the name of the immediate family (_stirps or familia_). Thus several stirpes belonged to a single gens. Daughters bore only the name of the gens; for instance the daughter of Titus Claudius Mucianus was called Claudia. If there were two of them, they were distinguished by the words major (the elder) and minor (the younger); if there were several, by numbers. The _Claudia Gens_ was a very ancient and famous one. The principal characters of the story, belonging to the _stirps Muciana_, are purely imaginary. [39] GAVIUS APICIUS, the famous Roman gourmand (Tac. _Ann._ IV, 1) who finding that he had only two million and a half denari left in the world (about 400,000 dollars) killed himself, thinking it impossible to live on so little.