[89]. In the last verse there are two furtive stings; the first is about not telling (tacet,—is silent), an expression, which was used as denoting a fellator; the second is the word “tell,” (narrat), the honourable use of the mouth being put for the dishonourable, as in Epistle III., 84:
“What tells (narrat) your harlot.—No! I don’t mean your girl, Tongilion!—What then?—Your tongue!”
[90]. You will find in Macrobius (Saturnalia, II., 4), why he was called saluting. Augustus returned as victor from Actium; amongst those who came to congratulate him was a man holding a raven, which he had taught to cry: “I salute thee, Caesar Victor and Emperor!” Caesar, admiring this flattering bird, bought it for 20,000 sesterces.
MANUAL
OF CLASSICAL EROTOLOGY
SECOND VOLUME
CHAPTER IV
OF MASTURBATION
TO excite the member by friction with the hand until the sperm comes spirting out of it is what the Ancients call masturbation, from masturbare, that is manu stuprare,—to pollute with the hand. This may be done by one’s own hand, or by borrowing someone else’s. If by one’s own, it is generally the left hand that is employed, hence the expression, “left-hand whore” in Martial, IX., 42: