[866] Sueton Vespas I.
[867] Keightley includes Mago, whether rightly or not I am not sure. Conington’s Introduction treats this matter fully.
[868] The futility of addressing rustic readers in polished literary language (diserte) is commented on by Palladius [4th cent AD] in his opening sentences. He has been thought to have in view Columella, who by the by is Vergil’s great admirer. I cannot accept the views of Daubeny in his Lectures pp 3-5. It is possible that the use of fire in improving land may be a bit of Vergil’s own advice, but I doubt it. See Daubeny pp 91-4, georg I 84 foll.
[869] E Meyer Kl Schr p 488 describing the hopeless task of Augustus in attempting the moral and physical regeneration of Italy makes the general remark ‘Nur an die höheren Stände, nur an die Elite, konnte Augustus sich wenden.’ This is a true picture of the situation as a whole. To have to begin building at the top was fatal.
[870] Most clearly stated in Columella I 7.
[871] For coloni of Cicero’s time see II in Verr III § 55, pro Caecina § 94, pro Cluent §§ 175, 182. The references in Horace are given below. That letting to tenants was practised about 100 BC or earlier, appears certain from the reference to Saserna’s opinion on this policy in Columella I 7 § 4.
[872] Velleius II 88, and many passages in Seneca and other authors.
[873] Dion Cass LII 27-8.
[874] Compare Suet Aug 41 for the Emperor’s actual policy. It seems that the influx of specie captured at Alexandria sent the rate of interest down and the price of land up.
[875] This is admirably dealt with in Sellar’s Virgil, and need not be reproduced here.