[590] Augusta. The old reading was angustâ. The alteration of a single letter converts a forceless expletive into an epithet full of picturesque and historic truth.
[591] Egregios equites. The flower of the Roman army, the prætorian troops, of which Sejanus was præfect.
[592] Vasa minora.
"To pound false weights and scanty measures break." Dryden.
[593] Ulubris. Cf. Hor., i., Ep. xi., 30, "Est Ulubris, animus si non tibi deficit æquus." Another joke at the expense of the plebeian ædiles (cf. iii., 162), who had the charge of inspecting weights and measures, markets and provisions, roads, theatres, etc. These functionaries still exist (as Gifford says), "as ragged and consequential" as ever, in the Italian villages, retaining their old name of Podestà.
"Deal out the law, and curb with high decree
The tricks of trade at empty Ulubræ." Hodgson.
[594] Altior. The idea is probably borrowed from Menander, ἐπαίρεται γάρ μεῖζον, ἵνα μεῖζον πέσῃ. So hence Horace, ii., Od. x., 10, "Celsæ graviore casu decidunt turres." So Claudian in Rufin., i., 22, "Tolluntur in altum ut lapsu graviore ruant;" and Shakspeare, "Raised up on high to be hurl'd down below."
[595] Ruinæ. So Milton.
"With hideous ruin and combustion down." C. Badham.
[596] Crassos. M. Licinius Crassus and his son Publius; both killed in the Parthian war.