ostentation’s sake would wish for himself; I, content with my own, would not assume those that are honored with the ensigns and seats of state; [for which I should seem] a madman in the opinion of the mob, but in yours, I hope a man of sense; because I should be unwilling to sustain a troublesome burden, being by no means used to it.  For I must [then] immediately set about acquiring a larger fortune, and more people must be complimented; and this and that companion must be taken along, so that I could neither take a jaunt into the country, or a journey by myself; more attendants and more horses must be fed; coaches must be drawn.  Now, if I please, I can go as far as Tarentum on my bob-tail mule, whose loins the portmanteau galls with his weight, as does the horseman his shoulders.  No one will lay to my charge such sordidness as he may, Tullius, to you, when five slaves follow you, a praetor, along the Tiburtian way, carrying a traveling kitchen, and a vessel of wine.  Thus I live more comfortably, O illustrious senator, than you, and than thousands of others.  Wherever I have a fancy, I walk by myself:  I inquire the price of herbs and bread; I traverse the tricking circus, and the forum often in the evening:  I stand listening among the fortune-tellers:  thence I take myself home to a plate of onions, pulse, and pancakes.  My supper is served up by three slaves; and a white stone slab supports two cups and a brimmer:  near the salt-cellar stands a homely cruet with a little bowl, earthen-ware from Campania.  Then I go to rest; by no means concerned that I must rise in the morning, and pay a visit to the statue of Marsyas, who denies that he is able to bear the look of the younger Novius.  I lie a-bed to the fourth hour; after that I take a ramble, or having read or written what may amuse me in my privacy, I am anointed with oil, but not with such as the nasty Nacca, when he robs the lamps.  But when the sun, become more violent, has reminded me to go to bathe, I avoid the Campus Martius and the game of hand-ball.  Having dined in a temperate manner, just enough to hinder me from having an empty stomach, during the rest of the day I trifle in my own house.  This is the life of those who are free from wretched and burthensome ambition:  with such things as these I comfort myself, in a way to live more delightfully than if my grandfather had been a quaestor, and father and uncle too.

* * * * *

SATIRE VII.

He humorously describes a squabble betwixt Rupilius and Persius.

In what manner the mongrel Persius revenged the filth and venom of Rupilius, surnamed King, is I think known to all the blind men and barbers.  This Persius, being a man of fortune, had very great business at Clazomenae, and, into the bargain, certain troublesome litigations with King; a hardened fellow, and one who was able to exceed even King in virulence; confident, blustering, of such a bitterness of speech, that he would outstrip the Sisennae and Barri, if ever so well equipped.