[261] Compare the well-known epigram on Pitt and Henry Dundas: "I can't see the Speaker, Hal, can you?" "Not see the Speaker? I see two!" [262] Cf. Shaksp., Othello, Act iii., sc. iii. "In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks they dare not show their husbands!" [263] Cf. ix., 117. [264] _Amicas._ Lubinus explains it, "Quas tanquam dives habeat loco clientarum." In Greece and Italy blonde hair was as much prized as dark hair was among northern nations. Hence Helen, Achilles, Menelaus, Meleager, etc., are all ξανθοὶ. The ladies, therefore, prided themselves as much as the men on the personal beauty of their attendants. Cf. v., 56, "Flos Asiæ ante ipsum," etc. The _nutrix_ is the intriguing confidante who manages the amours. The _flava puella_, the messenger. "A trim girl with golden hair to slip her billets." Gifford. [265] _Novissima._ Cf. xi., 42, "Post cuncta novissimus exit annulus." "She who before had mortgaged her estate, And pawn'd the last remaining piece of plate." Dryden. [266] _Pullulet._ "As if the source of this exhausted store Would reproduce its everlasting ore." Hodgson. [267] _Crispo_, actively, "Crispante chordas." The pecten was made of ivory. Vid. Virg., Æn., vi., 646, _seq._ "Obloquitur _numeris_ septem discrimina vocum, Jamque eadem digitis jam _pectine_ pulsat _eburno_." "Decks it with gems, and plays the lessons o'er, Her loved Hedymeles has play'd before." Hodgson. [268] _Lamiarum._ Cf. iv., 154. [269] _Capitolinum._ This festival was instituted by Domitian (Suet., Domit., 4), and was celebrated every fifth year in honor of Jove. [270] _Dictata._ The repeating the exact formula of words (carmen) after the officiating priest was a most important part of the sacrifice. [271] _Otia._ "Is your attention to such suppliants given? If so, there is not much to do in heaven." Gifford. [272] _Varicosus._ His legs will swell (like Cicero's and Marius's) from standing so long praying. "The poor Aruspex that stands there to tell All woman asks, must find his ankles swell." Badham. [273] _Paludatis._ Cf. Cic., Sext., 33. [274] _Seres._ What country these inhabited is uncertain, probably Bocharia. It was the country from which the "Sericæ vestes" or "multitia" (ii., 66) came. [275] _Instantem._ Cf. Hor., iii., Od. iii., 3, "vultus instantis tyranni." Trajan made an expedition against the Armenians and Parthians A.D. 106; and about the same time there was an earthquake in the neighborhood of Antioch (A.D. 115), when mountains subsided and rivers burst forth. Dio Cass., lxviii., 24. Trajan himself narrowly escaped perishing in it. The consul, M. Verginianus Pedo, was killed. Trajan was passing the winter there, and set out in the spring for Armenia.--_Cometem._ Cf. Suet., Ner., 36, "Stella crinita quæ summis potestatibus exitium portendere vulgo putatur." [276] _Excipit._