A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

404 Growth of Plutocracy
Honesty.
passion, the only resource is to keep them in check by
mysterious terrors and scenic effects of this sort.
Therefore,
to my mind, the ancients were not acting without purpose
or at random when they brought in among the vulgar
those notions about the gods and the belief in the punishment
in Hades; much rather do I think that men in these
times are acting rashly and foolishly in rejecting them.
This is the reason why, apart from anything else, Greek
statesmen, if intrusted with a single talent, though protected
by ten checking clerks, as many seals, and twice
as many witnesses, yet cannot be induced to keep faith;
whereas among the Romans in their magistracies and embassies,
men have the handling of a great amount of
money, and yet from pure respect to their oath keep their
faith intact. And again, in other nations it is a rare thing
to find a man who keeps his hands out of the public purse
and is entirely pure in such matters; but among the Romans
it is a rare thing to detect a man in the act of committing
a crime.
III.
Agriculture
Farmer's
Calendar.
From an
inscription.
Sign of the Twins.
The Month is June.
It contains thirty days.
The Nones are on tTie fifth.
The day has fifteen hours.
The night has nine hours.
The solstice is on the eighth day before the Calends of
June (May 25).
The month is under the care of Mercury.
Hay-mowing.
The vineyards are harrowed.
Sacrifice is offered to Hercules and to Fors Fortuna.