" This
occasioned a letter from Tiberius: in it he declared, "he was not so
destitute of glory, that after having in his youth subdued the fiercest
nations, and enjoyed or slighted so many triumphs, he should now in his
old age seek empty honours from a short progress about the suburbs of
Rome."
Caius Sulpitius and Decimus Haterius were the following Consuls. Their
year was exempt from disturbances abroad; but at home some severe blow was
apprehended against luxury, which prevailed monstrously in all things that
create a profusion of money. But as the more pernicious articles of
expense were covered by concealing their prices; therefore from the
excesses of the table, which were become the common subject of daily
animadversion, apprehensions were raised of some rigid correction from a
Prince, who observed himself the ancient parsimony. For, Caius Bibulus
having begun the complaint, the other Aediles took it up, and argued "that
the sumptuary laws were despised; the pomp and expense of plate and
entertainments, in spite of restraints, increased daily, and by moderate
penalties were not to be stopped.
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