6a Bsiron Cifviei: m the Mullets of ^uroj)e. 



mulleuSy ajid which having coijitinued, under the republic to be^ 

 worn by the consuls, were transmitljed downwards as part, of 

 the imperial dress. 



Though the Greeks boasted of the excellence of their Trl- 

 gla, yet in the Roman writers the mullet is oftener mentioned, 

 and in more expi;e5sive terms. Among the Romans extra- 

 vagant prices were paid for this fish ; it was brought to mar- 

 ket from a great distance, and no expence was spared to 

 procure it. The value of Mullets was estimated by their 

 weight, and 2lbs. being, according to Pliny, the greatest weight 

 generally attained by this fish, it was considered when of this 

 size as a magnificent dish, although the Roman pound was a 

 third less than that of France. Martial mentions the purchase 

 of a mullet of this weight among the sacrifices which his mis- 

 tress exacted from him ; and, in speaking of a sumptuous en- 

 tertainment which he declined, he says 



Nolo niihi pona^ rhombum, niullu,mve bilibrenj. 



A mullet of 3 lbs. weight was regarded as an object of ad- 

 miration ; and the same author represents one of 4 lbs. as an 

 absolutely ruinous dish. 



Addixti servum immmis here mille trecentis, 

 Ut bene coenares, Calliotlore, semel : 

 Nee bene coenasti. Mullus tibi quatuor eajp^tus 

 Librarum, coenai pompa caputque fuit. 

 Exclaraare libet, non est hie iniprobe, non est 

 Piscis : homo est : hominem, Calliodore, voraife.* 



" Seneca relates the history of a mullet presented to Tiberius 

 which weighed four pounds and a half, and that this prince, 

 ridiculously economical, sent it to the public market. Juve- 

 nal mentions one which was sold for 6000 sesterces (about 



• Mart. 1. X. ep. 31. On this passage Cuvier has the following curious 

 note : " Bloch, who did not understand I^atin, fancied that Calliodorus had 

 bought four mullets ; and a writer who knew this language well, (La- 

 cepede) in place of consulting the original, not only chose to copy this 

 fine explanation, but also, from an equivocal phrase of Bloch, he has attri- 

 buted these verses to Juvenal ; and, after I know not whom, has supposed 

 that Calliodorus had paid for his four mullets 400 sesterces, while one only 

 cost him 1300 sesterces.'' — We have looked into some of the reprints of 

 Lacepede, and writers who have borrowed his statements, and find these 

 errors continued with faithful adherence to the original mistake. 



