A Friend of Cæsar: A Tale of the Fall of the Roman Republic. Time, 50-47 B.C.

by William Stearns Davis

[44] Flagellum.

[45] Furca-bearer, a coarse epithet.

[46] Thief. Branding was a common punishment for slaves.

[47] I.e. $2,400,000; a sesterce was about 4 cents.

[48] Senior Vestals.

[49] A diminutive of endearment.

[50] Infula.

[51] A coarse epithet.

[52] Comitium, assembly-place round the Rostra.

[53] Great men, and candidates for office who wished to "know" everybody, kept smart slaves at their elbow to whisper strangers' names in their ears. Sometimes the slaves themselves were at fault.