6. The wild boar roasted whole was generally placed on the center of
the table. Around it were piled fruits, vegetables, etc.
7. _Tua felicitas._ Sulla called himself FELIX, and in the next
section we find this epithet applied to him. The atrocities he
committed are familiar to every reader of Roman history.
8. The Cornelian law. The Roman Legal Code was greatly modified
under the inspiration of Sulla. The statute here referred to, fixed
the penalty for homicide and similar crimes. It bore its author’s
gentile name.
The familiar story of Regulus was accepted as true by the Romans,
and, in fact, by the world generally, until recent times. It is
interesting as showing the high estimate placed upon patriotism by
the Romans from their point of view. Though narrow it was intense
and played a conspicuous part in the growth of the Roman state.
9. Maecenas the well-known Premier of the emperor Augustus was
passionately attached to his wife Terentia; but her fidelity was
more than suspected, a condition of things that led to many quarrels
with her husband.
11. The writer refers here to the disgusting practice of the Romans,
who, at their feasts, frequently ate and drank to excess, then
produced vomiting in order to be able to begin eating and drinking
over again.
12. Vatinius was a worthless fellow who defeated Cato in the contest
for the praetorship.