206 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book VII. 



one hundred years of age, fourteen of one hundred and ten, two 

 of one hundred and twenty-five, four of one hundred and 

 thirty, the same number of one hundred and thirty-five to one 

 hundred and thirty- seven, and three of one hundred and forty. 

 Again, we have another illustration of the uncertain tenure 

 of human life. Homer informs us that Hector and Poly- 

 damas 73 were born on the same night, 74 and yet how different 

 was their fate ! M. Cselius Eufus 75 and C. Licinius Calvus 

 were born on the sani'e day, the fifth before the calends of June, 

 in the consulship of C. Marius and Cn. Carbo ; they both of 

 them lived to be orators, it is true, but how different their 

 destiny ! The same thing, too, happens every day, and in every 

 part of the world, with respect to men that are born in the 

 self-same hour ; masters and slaves, kings and beggars, come 

 into the world at the same moment. 



CHAP. 51. (50.) VARIOUS INSTANCES OF DISEASES. 



P. Cornelius Rufus, 76 who was consul with M. Curio, lost his 

 sight while he was asleep and dreaming that that accident had 

 befallen him. On the other hand, Jason, of Pherse, when he 

 was labouring under an abscess and had been given up by the 

 physicians, determined to end his life in battle, where he re- 

 ceived a wound in the chest, and found, at the hands of the 

 enemy, a remedy for his disease. 77 Q. Eabius Maximus, 78 the 



73 The son of Panthous, and friend of Hector. He was famous for his 

 wisdom and prudence in giving counsel. See Iliad, B. xviii. 1. 249 52. 



74 The passage referred to is in the Iliad, B. xviii. 1. 249 51. B. 



75 Respecting Caelius [formerly called Csecili us in most editions] Hardouin 

 informs us that he was the accuser of Calpurnius, that he was praetor during 

 the consulship of P. Lentulus Spinther and L. Metellus Nepos, and was 

 oppressed by Clodius. Pliny refers to Cselius, and his accusation of Cal- 

 purnius, in a subsequent passage, B. xxvii. c. 2. B. Licinius Calvus 

 Macer was by some considered, as an orator, to rival even Cicero himself; 

 and as a poet, is generally mentioned by the side of Catullus. He exhausted 

 his constitution by his severe application, and died in his thirty-fifth 

 or thirty-sixth year. He was remarkable for the extreme shortness of his 

 stature. Ctelius was a partisan of Pompey. and was eventually put to 

 death at Thurii. 



76 Consul A.U.C. 463 ; he is generally called Rufinus. B. 



77 This anecdote is mentioned by Cicero, De Nat. Deor. B. iii. c. 28, 

 and by Valerius Maximus, B. i. c. 8. B. He was tyrant of Pherae and 

 Tagus in Thessaly, and was finally assassinated. 



78 He was consul A.U.C. 633 ; in consequence of the victories which he 



