186 
pliny's katueal htstoet. 
[Book YII. 
the army commissary^^ in the Armenian war, which was of late 
years undertaken in favour of Tiridates ; which officer, in our 
own time, received his manumission from JN'ero for the sum of 
thirteen million sesterces but, in this case, the consideration 
was the profit to be derived from the war,^ and it was not 
the value of the man that was paid for. And so, too, when 
Lu tori us Priscus bought of Sejanus, the eunuch, Paezon, for fifty 
million sesterces,^^ the price was given, by Hercules ! rather to 
gratify the passion of the purchaser, than in commendation of 
the beauty of the slave. Universal sorrow and consternation 
then reigning, the public were too much pre-occupied with it 
to put a stop to a bargain of so scandalous a nature. 
CHAP. 41. (40.) SUPEEME HAPPINESS. 
Of all nations of the earth, the Eomans have, without doubt, 
excelled every other in the display of valour.^ The human 
judgment cannot, however, possibly decide what man has en- 
joyed the highest degree of happiness, seeing that every one 
defines a state of prosperity in a way different from another, 
and entirely in conformity with his own notions. If we wish 
to form a true judgment and come to a decision, casting aside 
all the allurements and illusions of fortune, we are bound to 
say that no mortal is happy. Fortune has dealt well, and, in- 
deed, indulgently, to him who feels that he has a right to say 
that he is not unhappy. Por if there is nothing else, at all 
events, there is the fear lest fortune should fail at last ; which 
fear itself, when it has once fastened upon us, our happiness is 
no longer unalloyed. And then, too, is it not the case that there 
is no mortal who is always wise ? Would that there were 
6^ ^'Dispensator we have an explanation of this term, B. xxxiii. c. 
13.— B. 
^2 Holland estimates the sum paid for the enfranchisement of this man 
at 120,000 sesterces, vol. i. p. 175.— B. 
63 In. his capacity, probably, of contractor for provisions and stores. 
6^ Holland estimates the price paid on this occasion at 3,500 sesterces, 
ubi supra, thus differing exceedingly from Ajasson's estimate. — B. 
65 <' Quam quidam injuriam lucri fecit iile mercatus in luctu civitatis, 
quoniam arguere nulli vacabat." We can see the meaning of this passage, 
but a literal translation of it, as it stands, is out of the question. 
^ "Yirtus" — ^'manliness," that being esteemed by the Eomans the 
ideal of true virtue. 
