[108] M. COCCEIUS NERVA from Narnia in Umbria, born 32 A.D., a senator.
[109] LUCIUS NORBANUS. See Dio Cass., LXVII, 15.
[110] PRAETORIAN GUARD. The commander-in-chief’s tent in the Roman camp, was called the praetorium; and from this the general’s body-guard received the name of _cohors praetoria_. Augustus transferred this title to the imperial guard, and established nine Praetorian cohorts, (each consisting of a thousand men) which were stationed, some in Rome and some in the rest of Italy. The cohorts in Rome were at first quartered among the citizens; afterwards they had barracks of their own (_castra praetoria_) on the opposite side of the Quirinal Hill. They, with the Praetorian cavalry, formed the imperial guard and body-guard. Compared with the other soldiers, they had many privileges, for instance a shorter time of service, higher pay, higher rank, etc.
[112] RECITATION. The custom universally prevailed of poets reciting their verses to a select circle, before they were published.
The day of their departure came. Aurelius had hailed the idea of travelling with his new friends with an eagerness, that had brought a saucy smile to the lips of the shrewd Lucilia. But he had nevertheless preferred the more comfortable sea-voyage to a journey by land, and he had urged it so pressingly and yet so modestly that Octavia, after some hesitation, had yielded.
The second hour after sunrise[113] had been fixed for their start, and before daybreak the slaves were already busied in packing the baggage mules and preparing the litters in the forecourt. The noise and bustle aroused Quintus, and being unable to get to sleep again he rose, dressed for the journey, and went out to the pillared court, where Lucilia was overlooking the slaves at their work and urging the dilatory to haste in cheerful tones.
“Restless being!” said Quintus in Greek: “Are you pursued by the gadfly of Juno,[114] that you set all the house in an uproar in the darkness of dawn? You must be afraid lest Aurelius’ vessel should row of without us.”
“And do you complain of my carefulness?” retorted Lucilia. “Punctuality is the first virtue of a house mistress.”
“Aha! and since Lucilia’s ambitions aim at that high dignity....”