[565] _Gemmata._ Cf. v., 39, 41.--_Setinum_, v., 34.
"Fear the gemm'd goblet, and suspicious hold The ruby juice that glows in cups of gold." Badham.
[566] _De Sapientibus._ Democritus of Abdera, and Heracleitus of Ephesus.
[567] _Ridebat._ Cf. Hor., ii., Ep. i., 194, "Si foret in terris _rideret_ Democritus." δεῖσθαι μοι δοκεῖ Ἡρακλείτου ἤ Δημοκρίτου, τοῦ μὲν γελασομένου τὴν ἄνοιαν αὐτῶν, τοῦ δὲ τὴν ἄγνοιαν ὀδυρομένου. Luc., βι. πρ., 13, τὸν γελῶντα, τὸν Ἀβδηρόθεν καὶ τὸν κλαίοντα τὸν ἐξ Ἐφέσου.
"The marvel this, since all the world can sneer, What fountains fed the ever-needed tear." Badham.
[570] _Prætor._ Juvenal has mixed up together the procession of the prætor to open the Circensian games, and a triumphal procession. The latter proceeded through the principal streets _to_ the Capitol. The former, _from_ the Capitol to the _centre_ of the circus. The triumphal car was in the shape of a turret, gilded, and drawn by four white horses: it often occurs on coins. The tunica palmata, worn by generals in their triumph, was kept in the temple of Jupiter. The toga picta was purple, and so heavily embroidered that it may well be compared to a brocaded curtain. Tyre was anciently called Sarra, which may be traced in its modern name Sur.
"His robe a ponderous curtain of brocade, Inwrought and stiff by Tyrian needles' aid." Badham.
[571] _Orbem._ Probably an allusion to Atlas.
"And would have crush'd it with the massy freight, But that a sweating slave sustain'd the weight." Dryden.
Probably the crown was _not_ worn, but merely _held_ by the slave at his side.
"The menial destined in his car to ride, And cool the swelling consul's feverish pride." Hodgson.
[573] _Crasso._ "Bœotum in _crasso_ jurares _ære_ natum." Hor., ii., Ep. i., 244. Bœotia was called the land of hogs, which so much annoyed Pindar. Vid. Ol., vi., 152. Abdera seems to have had as bad a name. Cf. Mart., x., Ep. xxv., 3, "Abderitanæ pectora plebis habes."
[574] _Medium unguem._ Hence called "Infamis digitus." Pers., ii., 33. Cf. Mart., ii., Ep. xxviii., 2, "digitum porrigito medium." VI., Ep. lxx., 5, "Ostendit digitum impudicum."
[575] _Incerare._ They used to fasten their vows, written on wax tablets, to the knees or thighs of the gods. When their wishes were granted, these were replaced by the offerings they had vowed. Cf. Hom., Il., p., 514, θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται.