120 On the UTILITY of defining 
got that fhare of the wine which was, on the one hand, fuffi- 
cient to excite his vivacity, without producing, on the other, 
too quick an intoxication. When Prautus alfo fays, 
Viginti argenti commodas minas *, 
he means, that the pieces were of a regulated weight. 
WHEN commodus is applied to perfons, it denotes their agree- 
ablenefs as companions. It implies a mental temperament, 
which is mild from the reftraint of fentiments, that always 
give difguft when extravagant. It accordingly fignifies that 
pliancy of character which, without fervility, endears a perfon 
to thofe with whom he lives. ‘“ Nemo CATONE proavo tuo 
“ commodior, comior, moderatior fuit ad omnem rationem hu- 
“ manitatis ¢.”’—‘ Qui antea commodis fuerunt moribus, eos 
“* profperis rebus immutari }.”” 
WHEN commodus is applied to events, it denotes, that they 
are agreeable, as being commenfurate to the wifhes of thofe 
concerned in their occurrence. It regards that medium, the 
happinefs of which would be deftroyed either by defect or ex- 
cefs. ‘ Nihil poteft fieri nec commodius nec aptius, quam ut 
“ forjbis. Ex literis tuis, ea que in agro Piceno gefta funt cog- 
“ novi commodiora efle multo, quam ut erat nobis nunciatum §.”” 
OprortuNnus differs frosm commodus, in having no natural re- 
ference to the adjufted quantity of that which is fpecified, and 
in regarding the fuitablenefs as founded on the exigency or 
prefling neceffities of thofe to whom the objects or events pre- 
fent themfelves. It comes from od and portus, and its force refts 
on the agreeablenefs of any harbour to a mariner when con- 
tending with a ftorm. The fuitablenefs implied in opportunus 
may 
* Afin. 3. 3. 135+ ¢ Cic. Am. 106. 4. 
+ Cic. pro Muren. 66. § Cic. Ep. Att. 13. 37. & 126, a 
Pe ee 
