120 On the UT I LIT r of defining 



got that fliare of the wine which was, on the one hand, fuffi- 

 cient to excite his vivacity, without producing, on the other, 

 too quick an intoxication. When Plautus alfo fays, 



Viginti argenti commodas minas *, 



he means, that the pieces were of a regulated weight. 



When commodus is applied to perfons, it denotes their agree- 

 ablenefs as companions. It implies a mental temperament, 

 which is mild from the reftraint of fentiments, that always 

 give difguft when extravagant. It accordingly fignifies that 

 pliancy of character which, without fervility, endears a perfon 

 to thofe with whom he lives. " Nemo Catone proavo tuo 

 " commodior, comior, moderatior fuit ad omnem rationem hu- 

 '* manitatis f." — " Qui antea commodis fuerunt moribus, eos 

 " profperis rebus immutari J«" 



When commodus is applied to events, it denotes, that they 

 are agreeable, as being commenfurate to the wifhes of thofe 

 concerned in their occurrence. It regards that medium, the 

 happinefs of which would be deftroyed either by defect or ex- 

 cefs. " Nihil poteft fieri nee commodius nee aptius, quam ut 

 " fcribis. Ex literis tuis, ea quae in agro Piceno gefta funt cog- 

 " novi commodiora effe multo, quam ut erat nobis nunciatum §." 



Opportunus differs from commodus, in having no natural re- 

 ference to the adj ufted quantity of that which is fpecified, and 

 in regarding the fuitablenefs as founded on the exigency or 

 prefling necemties of thofe to whom the objects or events pre- 

 fent themfelves. It comes from oh and portus, and its force refts 

 on the agreeablenefs of any harbour to a mariner when con- 

 tending with a ftorm. The fuitablenefs implied in opportunus 



may 



* AGn. 3. 3. 135. t Cic « Am - I0( 5' b. 



f Cic. pro Mura?n. 66. § Cic. Ep. Att. 13. 37. & 126. a. 



