308 PLINY'S NATURAL IIISTOEY. [Book XXI. 



before midday, of making their way into the very schools of 

 the philosophers even. Among ourselves, no such instance of 

 a similar licentiousness is to be found, unless, indeed, in the 

 case of the daughter 28 of the late Emperor Augustus, who, in 

 her nocturnal debaucheries, placed a chaplet on the statue 29 

 of Marsyas, conduct deeply deplored in the letters of that 

 god. 30 



CHAP. 7. A CITIZEN DECKED WITH FLOWEKS BY THE EOMAN 

 PEOPLE. 



Scipio is the only person that ever received from the Eoman 

 people the honour of being decked with flowers. This 

 Scipio received the surname of Serapio, 31 from his remarkable 

 resemblance to a certain person of that name who dealt in 

 pigs. He died in his tribuneship, greatly beloved by tho 

 people, and in every way worthy of the family of the Africani. 

 The property he left was not sufficient to pay the expenses of 

 his burial ; upon which the people made a subscription and 

 contracted 32 for his funeral, flowers being scattered upon the 

 body from every possible quarter 33 as it was borne along. 



CHAP. 8. PLAITED CHAPLETS. NEEDLE- WORK CHAPLETS. 

 NAED-LEAJ 1 CHAPLETS. SILKEN CHAPLETS. 



In those days, too, chaplets were employed in honour of the 

 gods, the Lares, public as well as domestic, the sepulchres, 54 

 and the Manes. The highest place, however, in public esti- 

 mation, was held by the plaited chaplet ; such as we find used 



land on his head. Being arrested, however, by the discourse, he stopped 

 to listen, and at length, tearing off the garland, determined to enter on a 

 more abstemious course of life. Becoming an ardent disciple of Xeno- 

 crates, he ultimately succeeded him at the head of the school. The pas- 

 sage as given in the text, from its apparent incompleteness, would appear 

 to be in a mutilated state. 

 23 Julia. See B. vii. c. 46. 



29 Thus acknowledging herself to he no better than a common courtesan. 



30 " Illius dei." 31 See B. vii. c. 10. 



32 Funus elocavit." 



33 E prospectu omni." " From every look-out :" i.e. from the roofs, 

 doors, and windows. 



34 This usage is still observed in the immortelles, laid on the tombs of 

 departed friends, in Catholic countries on the continent. Tibullus alludes 

 to it, B.iLEL 4: 



'* Atque aliquis senior veteres veneratus amores, 

 Annua construe to serta dabit tumulo." 



