[185] Land would be probably cheap in Apulia, from its barrenness, and bad air, and the prevalence of the wind Atabulus. Cf. Hor., i., Sat. v., Montes Apulia notos quos torret Atabulus.
[186] i. e., Alexandria. Of the various readings of this line, "pactâ mercede" seems to be the best. Even the fish Crispinus sold were not his own, he was only hired to sell them for others.
[187] Nero, i. e., Domitian, who was as much disgusted at his own baldness as Cæsar.
[188] Founded by a colony of Syracusans, who fled from the tyranny of Dionysius.
[189] Agerunt cum; perhaps, "be ready to go to law with."
[190] Sperare sometimes means to fear. Cf. Virg., Æn., iv., 419.
[191] Alba was Domitian's favorite residence. Vid. Suet., Dom., iv., 19. Plin., iv., Ep. xi., "Non in regiam sed in Albanam villam convocavit."
[192] The "Lesser" Vesta, compared with the splendor of her "Cultus" at Rome, which had been established by Numa. The temples were spared at the time of the destruction of Alba by Tullus Hostilius. Vid. Liv., i.
[193] "Sæculum" is repeatedly used in this sense by Pliny, and other writers of this age.
[194] As though Rome had now so far lost her privileges and her liberty, as to be no better than a country vicus, to be governed by a bailiff.