SI 



GAIUS FURIUS CRESIMUS, 

 a freedman, being able to raise from a 

 bit of land far more abundant harvests 

 than his neighbors could from the 

 largest farms, was greatly envied, and 

 accused of enticing away the crops of 

 others by the practice of sorcery. . . . 

 A day was appointed for his trial. 

 Apprehensive of being condemned, 

 when the question was to be put to 

 vote among the tribes, he had all his 

 implements of husbandry brought 

 into the Forum, together with his farm 

 servants, robust, and, as Piso says, 

 well-conditioned and well-clad, iron 

 tools splendidly made, stout mattocks, 

 ponderous ploughshares, and sleek 

 oxen. When all this had been done, 

 he said, " These, Roman citizens, are 

 my instruments of magic; nor can I 

 exhibit to your view, or bring into 

 the Forum, those midnight toils of 

 mine, those early watchings, those 

 sweats and fatigues." Upon this he 

 was unanimously acquitted. PLINY 



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