48 



Ireasury of Delos; the trade with the colonies; the pro- 

 duce of the gold mines on the Thracian Chersonesus. 



Under Tiberius, the aediles proposed, in the senate, to 

 re-establisli the sumptuary laws. The emperor opposed it; 

 well knowing that such regulations were connected with 

 the republican spirit. He did not, however, express his 

 motive. " We were frugal, (said the emperor,) while we 

 " were masters only of one city: now, we consume the 

 " riches of the whole globe, and employ both the masters 

 " and their slaves, in our service." When a proposal was 

 made, mider the same emperor, to prohibit the governors 

 of provinces from carrying their wives with them, on ac- 

 count of the dissoluteness and irregularity, which followed 

 those ladies, the proposal was rejected. " It was said, 

 that the examples of ancient austerity were changed 

 into a more agreeable manner of living." 

 " The spirit of moderation, (says Montesquieu,) is what 

 we call virtue in an aristocracy. It supplies the place 

 of the love of equality in a popular state. Modesty, 

 and simplicity of manners, constitute the strength of an 

 aristocratic nobility. When they affect no distinction, 

 when they mix with the people, dress like them, and 

 share their pleasures, the multitude begin to forget their 

 subjection. The laws (adds he) should forbid all kind 

 of commerce to the nobles; otherwise they would mono- 

 poliiie the whole to themselves. Commerce should be 

 the employment of the people. The golden chain, which 



was 



