Chap. 4.] THE PEICE OF COKN. 7 



the Nundinae ; the object being that the country people might 

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

 ness. In those days repose and sleep were enjoyed upon 

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

 was given of " adorea." 26 



For my own part, I greatly admire 27 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: "For deriving an augur}* from the sacrifice of a 

 bitch, 28 a day should be set apart before the ear of corn appears 

 from out of the sheath, 29 and then again before it enters the 

 sheath." 



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



AT A REMARKABLY 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 30 of the people, 

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

 as for the modius. L. Minutius Augurinus, 31 the same who 

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

 Spurius Maelius, reduced the price of corn on three market 

 days, 32 to one as per modius ; for which reason a statue was 

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

 Trigeminian Gate. 33 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. 



27 In the first place, it is difficult 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 text is probably in a 

 defective state. 



28 See c. 69 of this Book. 



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

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

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

 mation of the ear. 



30 A.U.C. 298. si g ee g. xxx i v . c> n. AtTJ>c< 317 



32 Nundinis. 



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

 the Horatii and Curiatii. 



