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THE SECOND BOOKE 479
Such as were hurt or maymed in their thumbs were by
the Romans dispensed from going to warre, as they who
had lost their weapons hold-fast. Augustus did confiscate
all the goods of a Roman knight, who through
malice had cut off the thumbes of two young children
of his, thereby to excuse them from going to warre :
and before him the Senate in the time of the Italian
warres had condemned Caius Vatienus to perpetuall
rison, and confiscated all his goods, forsomuch as he
E
ad willingly cut off the thumb of his left hand, so to
exempt himselfe from the voyage. Some one, whose
name I remember not, having gained a great victory
by sea, caused all the enemies whom he had vanquished
and taken prisoners to have their thumbs cut off,
thinking thereby to deprive them of all meanes of
fighting, or rowing, or handling their oares. The
Athenians likewise caused them to be cut off from them
of AEgina, to take from them the preheminence in the
art of navigation. Lacedeemon masters punished their
schollers by byting their thumbs.