[236] Epic from Epos (ἒπος)—word, speech, tale. Afterwards the Greeks distinguished epic poetry from lyric by the ἒπη.
[237] M. Ulpius Trajanus, born September 18th, A.D. 53, at Italica in Spain, obtained the consulship in the year 91.
[238] Cupid and Psyche. The story of Cupid and Psyche was the primeval prototype of Cinderella and a thousand other gems of primitive poetry, and was familiar in nurseries of every rank long before Appuleius cast it into shape, availing himself no doubt of several traditional versions. “Once upon a time there were a king and queen, who had three beautiful daughters,” (Erant in quadam civitate rex et regina; hi tres numero filias forma conspicuas habuere,) was no doubt as favorite a legend with the children of that age as with ours.
[239] In the forum, that is in the basilica situated in the forum.
[240] Basilica, (βασιλική scil. domus or porticus—royal house) a magnificent public building, used for holding courts of law, or transacting commercial business, and thus at the same time a court-house and exchange. Above were seats for the spectators. The basilicas consisted of a central nave and two side ones, divided from the former by columns. After Constantine the Great had transformed numerous basilicas into churches, the name and style of architecture became associated with the latter.
[241] Theognis. An elegiac poet from Attic Megara, who lived B.C. 520. The lines here quoted by Lucilia may be found Eleg. 1323, and in the original text run:
Κυπρογένη, παῦσόν με πόνων, σκέδασον δὲ μερίμνας
Θυμοβόρους, στρέφου δ’ἁυθις ἐς εὐφροσύνας.
[242] Old sinner! Lucilia here speaks in the tone of the old Latin comedies (Plautus, Terence).
[243] Mathematician. The usual name of the (principally Chaldean) astrologers.