Roman wealth 309 



not by themselves suffice to account for the immense squandering that 

 evidently took place. A source of incomes, probably much more pro- 

 ductive than we might at first sight imagine, existed in the huge estates 

 owned by wealthy Romans in the lands beyond the seas. Martial refers 1 

 to such properties at Patrae in Achaia, in Egypt, etc. The returns 

 from these estates, however badly managed, were in the total probably 

 very large. And they were no new thing. In Varro and in Cicero's 

 letters we find them treated as a matter of course: the case of Atticus 

 and his lands in Epirus is well known. Pliny 2 tells us of the case of 

 Pompey, and also of the six land-monopolizers whom Nero found in 

 possession of 50 / of the Province of Africa. The practice of usury in 

 the subject countries was no longer so widespread or so remunerative 

 as it had been in the last period of the Republic, but it had not ceased, 

 and the same is true of the farming of revenues. Commerce was active : 

 but we are rather concerned with the means of paying for imported 

 goods than with the fact of importation. The anxiety as to the supply 

 of corn from abroad shews itself in the gossip 3 of quidnuncs as to the 

 fleet of freight-ships coming from Alexandria. Puteoli and Ostia were 

 doubtless very busy; all we need note is that someone must have made 

 money 4 in the business of transport and delivery. These considerations 

 may serve to explain the presence of so much 'money in the country' 

 as we say, and the resulting extravagance. But all this social and 

 economic fabric rested on the security guaranteed by the imperial forces 

 on land and sea. 



One of Martial's epigrams 5 is of special interest as describing a 

 manifestly exceptional estate. It was at or near Baiae, the famous 

 seaside pleasure-resort, which had been the scene of costly fancies and 

 luxurious living for more than a hundred years. The point of .the poem 

 lies in the striking contrast of this place compared with the unproduc- 

 tive suburbanum* of another owner, which is kept going by supplies 

 from the Roman market. For the place is a genuine unsophisticated 

 country farm, producing corn and wine and good store of firewood, and 

 breeding cattle swine sheep and various kinds of poultry and pigeons. 

 When rustic neighbours come to pay their respects, they bring presents, 

 such as honey in the comb, cheese, dormice, a kid, a capon. The 

 daughters 7 of honest tenants bring baskets of eggs. The villa is a centre 

 of hospitality; even the slaves are well fed. The presence of a slave- 

 household brought from Town is particularly dwelt on: what with 

 fishing and trapping and with 'light work' in the garden, these spoilt 



1 v 35, x 14, etc. 2 Plin A^xvm 35. * ix 35. 



4 See Juv xiv 267-302 on the risks faced by speculators in sea-borne commerce. 



6 in 58. 6 in 47. 



7 dona matrum 'presents from their mothers.' Eggs, I think. Cf VII 31 and Juv xi 70-1 

 The conjecture ova matrum (Paley) is good. 



