slaves had been emancipated and enrolled amongst the citizens, he declared that no one should receive anything who was not included in the promise, and he gave the rest less than he had promised them, in order that the amount he had set apart might hold out.
On one occasion, in a season of great scarcity, which it was difficult to remedy, he ordered out of the city the troops of slaves brought for sale, the gladiators (105) belonging to the masters of defence, and all foreigners, excepting physicians and the teachers of the liberal sciences. Part of the domestic slaves were likewise ordered to be dismissed.
When, at last, plenty was restored, he writes thus
“I was much inclined to abolish for ever the practice of allowing the people corn at the public expense, because they trust so much to it, that they are too lazy to till their lands; but I did not persevere in my design, as I felt sure that the practice would some time or other be revived by some one ambitious of popular favour.”
However, he so managed the affair ever afterwards, that as much account was taken of husbandmen and traders, as of the idle populace. 183
XLIII. In the number, variety, and magnificence of his public spectacles, he surpassed all former example. * Four-and-twenty times, he says, he treated the people with games upon his own account, and three-and-twenty times for such magistrates as were either absent, or not able to afford the expense. * The performances took place sometimes in the different streets of the city, and upon several stages, by players in all languages. * The same he did not only in the