“Ay, O noble lord,” replied the soldier.
“Thou canst be advanced. Write me a sentence in Greek.”
“I know not Greek, my lord.”
“Surely thou knowest the letters. Write a few of them.”
“Neither do I know the letters, O Sejanus.”
“For knowing how to write one sentence I would promote thee.”
“Truly, O master, I know nothing of the language.”
“Where wert thou born?”
“At the Etruscan town of Nepete.”
“When didst thou leave thy native town?”