[569] Trabeæ. Cf. ad viii., 259.
[570] Prætor. Juvenal has mixed up together the procession of the prætor to open the Circensian games, and a triumphal procession. The latter proceeded through the principal streets to the Capitol. The former, from the Capitol to the centre of the circus. The triumphal car was in the shape of a turret, gilded, and drawn by four white horses: it often occurs on coins. The tunica palmata, worn by generals in their triumph, was kept in the temple of Jupiter. The toga picta was purple, and so heavily embroidered that it may well be compared to a brocaded curtain. Tyre was anciently called Sarra, which may be traced in its modern name Sur.
"His robe a ponderous curtain of brocade,
Inwrought and stiff by Tyrian needles' aid." Badham.
[571] Orbem. Probably an allusion to Atlas.
[572] Sufficit.
"And would have crush'd it with the massy freight,
But that a sweating slave sustain'd the weight." Dryden.
Probably the crown was not worn, but merely held by the slave at his side.
"The menial destined in his car to ride,
And cool the swelling consul's feverish pride." Hodgson.
[573] Crasso. "Bœotum in crasso jurares ære natum." Hor., ii., Ep. i., 244. Bœotia was called the land of hogs, which so much annoyed Pindar. Vid. Ol., vi., 152. Abdera seems to have had as bad a name. Cf. Mart., x., Ep. xxv., 3, "Abderitanæ pectora plebis habes."
[574] Medium unguem. Hence called "Infamis digitus." Pers., ii., 33. Cf. Mart., ii., Ep. xxviii., 2, "digitum porrigito medium." VI., Ep. lxx., 5, "Ostendit digitum impudicum."