But do you, parents, impose severe exactions on him that is to teach your boys; that he be perfect in the rules of grammar for each word--read all histories[393]--know all authors as well as his own finger-ends; that if questioned at hazard, while on his way to the Thermæ or the baths of Phœbus, he should be able to tell the name of Anchises' nurse,[394] and the name and native land of the step-mother of Anchemolus--tell off-hand how many years Acestes lived--how many flagons of wine the Sicilian king gave to the Phrygians. Require of him that he mould their youthful morals as one models a face in wax. Require of him that he be the reverend father of the company, and check every approach to immorality.
It is no light task to keep watch over so many boyish hands, so many little twinkling eyes. "This," says the father, "be the object of your care!"--and when the year comes round again, Receive for your pay as much gold[395] as the people demand for the victorious Charioteer!
[329] _Ratio studiorum._ Cf. Tac., Ann., xi., 7, "Sublatis studiorum pretiis etiam studia peritura."
[330] _Cæsare._ Which Cæsar is intended is a matter of discussion among the commentators; whether Nero, Titus, Trajan, Hadrian, Nerva, or Domitian. Probably the last is meant: as in the beginning of his reign he affected the character of a patron of literature.
[331] _Respexit._ "To view with favor or pity," as a deity: so Virg., Ecl., i., 28, "Libertas, quæ sera tamen respexit inertem."
[332] _Atria._ Either "the antechambers of rich patrons," or to "the Licinian and other courts," near the forum, where auctions were held; the _atria auctionaria_ of Cicero: cf. pro Quint., 12, 25, i. in Rull., 7.
[333] _Machæra_, a famous _Præco_ of his time. Lubin.
[334] _Commissa._ Either from the goods being "intrusted" to the auctioneer by the owner or the magistrate; or from the parties that bid being as it were "pitted," _commissi_, against each other, like gladiators.
[335] _Vidi._ So xvi., 29, "Audeat ille Nescio quis, pugnos qui vidit, dicere vidi."
[336] _Asiani._ "Jam equites, olim servi Asiatici." Lub. The next line is in all probability interpolated, being only a gloss. Heinrich.
[337] _Nudo talo._ Vid. ad i., 111. Or, it may be "barefooted" simply. Galatia in Asia Minor, so called from the colony of Gauls who settled there, A.D. 278, at the invitation of Nicomedes. Liv., xxxviii., 16. Cf. Paus., Phoc., xxiii. Cramer's Asia Minor, ii., 79. Clinton, Fast. Hell. in an.