10.
vacillant, stagger under. vadimoniis, etc.: the three steps in bankruptcy,—bail, judgment, and sale of property; proscriptio is strictly the public notice that property is for sale. infitiatores lentos, dilatory debtors (lit. deniers, i.e. persons who avoid payment of their debts by every possible subterfuge). stare, keep their feet ita, in such a way. non modo, etc.: § 217, e (149, c); B. 343, 2, a; G. 482,5, R.1; H. 656, 3 (552, 2); H.-B. 299.
non revoco: § 467 (276, b); B. 259, 2; G. 233; H. 530 (467, 6); H.-B. 484. carcer: this is the Tullianum, a dungeon near the Forum, still existing. It was properly a jail for temporary detention, as imprisonment was not recognized in Rome as a form of punishment. numero, in order; genere, in rank. imberbis: a mark of effeminacy; bene barbatos, full-bearded, doubtless a military affectation, as, until lately, the wearing of a mustache. velis, veils, rather than the substantial toga, which was of unbleached wool. The whole description suggests foppishness and effeminacy.
saltare et cantare, these accomplishments were hardly regarded as respectable by the better classes. spargere, i.e. in food or drink: poisoning has in all ages been carried to a high art in Italy. scitote: notice the second (fut.) imperat. (regularly used in this word). his . . . noctibus: although this was spoken Nov. 9, yet the Roman year was at this time in such a state of confusion that the true date was probably some time in December, just when the winter was setting in.
