[64]
After
[p. 77]
this action had been greeted by the whole audience
with repeated applause, one of the Spartans
remarked: “These Athenians know what politeness
is, but they won't practise it.”
There are many noteworthy customs in our college
of augurs, but especially in point is the one whereby
each has precedence in debate according to his age,
and the oldest is preferred, not only to those of higher
official rank, but even to those having imperium.1
What physical pleasures, then, are comparable to
the distinction which influence bestows? The men
who have put these distinctions to noble use are, it
seems to me, like skilful actors who have played
well their parts in the drama of life to the end, and
not like untrained players who have broken down in
the last act.
1 Only the consuls, praetors, dictators, masters of horse, and provincial governors, while in office, had imperium.
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