[p. 485] Imbrex, an early writer of comedies, in the play entitled Neaera, wrote as follows: 1
Neaera I'd not wish to have thee called;Moreover, the metre of this verse is such that the third syllable in that name must be made short, 2 contrary to what was said above. But how greatly the quantity of this syllable varied among the early writers is so well known that I need not waste many words on the subject. Ennius also, in this verse from the first book of his Annals, 3
Neriene rather, since thou art wife to Mars.
Neriene of Mars and Here,if, as is not always the case, he has preserved the metre, has lengthened the first syllable and shortened the third. And I do not think that I ought to pass by this either, whatever it amounts to, which I find written in the Commentary of Servius Claudius, 5 that Nerio is equivalent to Neirio, meaning without anger (ne ira) and with calmness, so that in using that name we pray that Mars may become mild and calm; for the particle ne, as it is among the Greeks, is frequently privative in the Latin language also.
4
XXIV
[24arg] Remarks of Marcus Cato, who declared that he lacked many things, yet desired nothing.MARCUS CATO, ex-consul and ex-censor, says that when the State and private individuals were abounding in wealth, his country-seats were plain and
