[Footnote 426: 'Hic est ambitus qui probatur;' or, 'allowable bribery.'] 2. FORMULA OF THE PATRICIATE. [Sidenote: Patriciate.] 'In olden times the Patricians were said to derive their origin from Jupiter, whose priests they were. Mythology apart, they derived their name from _Patres_, the dignity of priest having blended itself with that of Senator. 'The great distinction of the Patriciate is that it is a rank held _for life_, like that of the priesthood, from which it sprang. The Patrician takes precedence of Praefects and all other dignities save one (the Consulship), and that is one which we ourselves sometimes assume. 'Ascend then the pinnacle of the Patriciate. You may have yet further honours to receive from us, if you bear yourself worthily in this station.' 3. FORMULA OF THE PRAETORIAN PRAEFECTURE. [On account of the importance of the office a translation of the whole formula is here attempted, though with some hesitation on account of its obscure allusions.] [Sidenote: Praetorian Praefecture.] 'If the origin of any dignity can confer upon it special renown and promise of future usefulness, the Praetorian Praefecture may claim this distinction, illustrated as its establishment was by the wisdom of this world, and also stamped by the Divine approval. For when Pharaoh, King of Egypt, was oppressed by strange visions of future famine, there was found a blessed man, even Joseph, able to foretell the future with truth, and to suggest the wisest precautions for the people's danger. He first consecrated the insignia of this dignity; he in majesty entered the official chariot[427], raised to this height of honour, in order that his wisdom might confer blessings on the people which they could not receive from the mere power of the Ruler. [Footnote 427: 'Ipse carpentum reverendus ascendit.' The _carpentum_ was one great mark of the dignity of the Praetorian Praefect, as of his inferior, the Praefectus Urbis.] 'From that Patriarch is this officer now called _Father of the Empire_; his name is even to-day celebrated by the voice of the crier, who calls upon the Judge to show himself not unworthy of his example. Rightly was it felt that he to whom such power was committed should always be thus delicately reminded of his duty. 'For some prerogatives are shared in common between ourselves and the holder of this dignity. [The next sentence[428] I leave untranslated, as I am not sure of the meaning. Manso (p. 343) translates it, 'He forces fugitives from justice, without regard to the lapse of time, to come before his tribunal.'] He inflicts heavy fines on offenders, he distributes the public revenue as he thinks fit, he has a like power in bestowing rights of free conveyance[429], he appropriates unclaimed property, he punishes the offences of Provincial Judges, he pronounces sentence by word of mouth [whereas all other Judges had to read their decisions from their tablets]. [Footnote 428: 'Exhibet enim sine prescriptione longinquos.']