344 
plijstt's natueal htstoby. 
[Book XVI. 
each might happen to present itself, the honourable distinction 
given to the acorn being the only thing observed. Eigorous 
laws were, however, enacted, to maintain the lofty glories of 
this wreath, by which it was placed upon an equality even 
with the supreme honours of the wreath that is given by 
Greece in presence of Jove^^ himself, and to receive which the 
exulting city of the victor is wont to break a passage through 
its very walls. These laws are to the effect that the life of a 
fellow-citizen must be preserved, and an enemy slain; that 
the spot where this takes place must have been held by the 
enemy that same day ; that the person saved shall admit the 
fact, other witnesses being of no use at all ; and that the person 
saved shall have been a Eoman citizen. 
To preserve an ally merely, even though it should be the 
life of a king that is so saved, confers no right to this high re- 
ward, nor is the honour at all increased, even if it is the 
Eoman general that has been thus preserved, it being the in- 
tention of the framers of the law that it should be the status 
of the citizen that is everything. When a man has received 
this wreath, it is his privilege to wear it for the rest of his 
life. When he makes his appearance at the celebration of the 
games, it is customary for the Senate even to rise from their 
seats, and he has the right of taking his seat next to the senators. 
Exemption, too, from all civic duties is conferred upon him as 
well as his father and his father's father. Siccius Dentatus, as we 
have already mentioned on an appropriate occasion, received 
fourteen civic crowns, and Manlius Capitolinus^^ six,^^ one, 
among the rest, for having saved the life of his general, Ser- 
vilius. Scipio Africanus declined to accept the civic crown 
for having saved the life of his father at the battle of Trebia. 
Times these, right worthy of our everlasting admiration, 
which accorded honour alone as the reward of exploits so 
mighty, and which, while other crowns were recommended by 
being made of gold, disdained to set a price upon the safety of 
a citizen, and loudly proclaimed thereby that it is unrighteous 
to save the life of a man for motives of lucre. 
33 At the Olympic games celebrated in honour of Jupiter. At Olympia 
there was a statue of that god, one of the master-pieces of Phidias. 
3* Implying thereby, that the city that could produce a man who could 
so distinguish himself, stood in no need of walls. 
35 In the Circus. 36 jg^ yu. c. 29. 
S7 B. vii. c. 29. 
38 Liyy gays eight. He saved the life of Servilius, the Master of the Horse. 
