BOOK VII. xxxix. 128-XL. 131 



when Attius of Pesaro was selling a sldlled linguist 

 nanied Daphnis and Marcus Scaurus, Head of the 

 State, bid 700,000 sesterces. This has been exceeded, 

 and considerably, in our own time by actors when 

 buying their own freedom by means of thcir earnings, 

 inasmuch as already in the time of our ancestors 

 the actor Roscius is said to have earned 500,000 

 sesterces a year, — unless anybody expects a mention 

 in this place of the commissary in the Armenian 

 war carried on not long ago for Tiridates, whom Nero 

 hberated for 13,000,000 sesterces. But this was the 

 price paid for a war, not for an individual, just as in 

 truth when Clutorius Priscus bought one of Sejanus's 

 eunuchs Paezon for 50.000,000, this was the price of 

 lust and not of beauty. But Clutorius got away 

 ■\\ith this outrageous affair during a period of national 

 mourning, as nobody had time to show him up. 



XL. The one race of outstanding eminence in virtue 

 among all the races in tlie whole world is undoubtedly 

 the Roman. WTiat human being has had the greatest Who is the 

 happiness is not a question for human judgement, manHndi 

 since prosperity itself different people define in 

 different ways and each according to his own tem- 

 perament. If we wish to make a true judgement 

 and discard all fortune's pomp in deciding the 

 point, nonc among mortals is happy. Fortune deals 

 lavishly and makes an indulgent bargain with the 

 man whom it is possible justly to pronoimce not 

 unhappy. In fact, apart from other coasiderations, 

 assuredly there is a fear that fortune may grow 

 weary, and this fear once entertained, happiness has 

 no firm foundation. What of the provei'b that none 

 among mortals is wise all the time ? And would 

 that as many men as possible may deem this proverb 



593 



