166 RISE IN PAY OF THE 



CHAP. VI. 



are drawn from those works of Varro which are 

 still extant (for the greater part of his writings 

 are lost), who lived about the time of the birth 

 of our Saviour. According to that author, as 

 deduced by Arbuthno't, the price of a sheep was 

 twenty-five shillings, of a calf three pounds two 

 shillings and sixpence, and of an ox twelve 

 pounds ten shillings l . 



Although the pay of the troops may not be a 

 very accurate criterion of the value of the pre- 

 cious metals, it is a subject which cannot be 

 entirely overlooked. 



The Roman soldiers, like the Greeks, at an 

 early period received no pay. It was first given 

 to the infantry four hundred and seven years 

 before our era, and to the cavalry three years 

 later, during the siege of Veii 2 . At first the 

 stipend was three asses, or two-pence farthing, 

 to the foot ; and double that sum to the centu- 

 rion ; whilst treble was paid to the horsemen 3 . 



About the year 150 before Christ, though the 

 pay had not been augmented, the soldiers were 

 allowed, in addition to it, a certain portion of 

 corn ; most generally four pecks a month. About 



1 In the greater part of what relates to the prices of corn 

 and of cattle, at the several periods, the authority of Arbuth- 

 not has been chiefly relied on, and the 2d and 4th chapters of 

 his second dissertation have been followed. See pages 120 and 

 126, edition 1727- 



2 Livy, b. iv. 59. and b. v. 7. 3 Polybius, vi. 37. 



