Cl.np. 4.] THE PRICE OF COKN. 7 



tlie Nundiiiae ; tlie object being that the countiy people might 

 not be called away thereby from the transaction of their busi- 

 ness. In those days repose and sleep ^vere enjoyed upon 

 straw. Even to glory itself, in compliment to corn, the name 

 was given of ^' adorea."^^ 



For my own part, I greatly admire" the modes of expres- 

 sion employed in our ancient language : thus, for instance, 

 we read in the Commentaries of the Priesthood to the follow- 

 ing effect: — 'Tor deriving an augmy from the sacrifice of a 

 bitch, 2^ a day should be set apart before the ear of com appears 

 from out of the sheath, '^^ and then again before it enters the 

 sheath." 



CHAP. 4. HOW OFTEN AND ON WHAT OCCASIONS COEN HAS SOLD 



AT A REMABKABLY LOW PRICE. 



The consequence was, that when the Roman manners were 

 such as these, the corn that Italy produced was sufficient for 

 its wants, and it had to be indebted to no province for its 

 food ; and not only this, but the price of provisions was in- 

 credibly cheap. Manius Marcius, the aedile^° of the people, 

 was the first who gave corn to the people at the price of one 

 as for the modius. L. Minutius Augurinus,^^ the same who 

 detected, when eleventh tribune of the people, the projects of 

 Spurius Maelius, reduced the price of com on three market 

 duys,^- to one as per modius ; for which reason a statue was 

 erected in honour of him, by public subscription, without the 

 Trigeminian Gate.^^ T. Seius distributed corn to the people, 



26 From " ador," the old name for " spelt :" because corn was the chief 

 reward given to the conqueror, and his temples were graced with a wreath 

 of corn. 



2' In the first place, it is diflScult to see what there is in this passage to 

 admire, or " wonder at," if that is the meaning of " admiror ;" and then, 

 besides, it has no connection with the context. The test is probably in a 

 defective state. 



28 See c. 69 of this Book. 



39 « Vagina." The meaning of this word here has not been exactly 

 ascertained. It has been suggested that the first period alludes to the ap- 

 pearance of the stalk from its sheath of leaves, and the second to tlie for- 

 mation of the ear. 



30 A.r.c. 298. 31 See B. xxxiv. c. 11. a.u.c. 317. 



^2 Nundinis. 



^"^ On the road to Ostia. It was said to have received its name from 

 the Horatii and Curiatii. 



