Book 1
35
One fourth The first hour of the day among the Romans answered to our sixth. Martial says the courts were open at nine o'clock, "exercet raucos tertia causidicos;" it was, therefore, more than an hour after their opening, that Horace passed by the temple of Vesta. of the day being now passed, we came to Vesta's temple; and, as good luck would have it, he was obliged to appear to his recognizance; which unless he did, he must have lost his cause.
35
"If you love me," said he, "step in here a little."
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"May I die! if I be either able to stand it out, Aut valeo stare. Horace uses the law terms, respondere, adesse, stare, rem relinquere. The first signifies to appear before a judge upon a summons; the second was properly to attend on the person who appeared, and to support his cause; the third marks the posture in which he stood, and relinquere causam to suffer himself to be non-suited for not appearing. or have any knowledge of the civil laws: and besides, I am in a hurry, you know whither."
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"I am in doubt what I shall do," said he; "whether desert you or my cause."
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"Me, I beg of you."
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"I will not do it," said he; and began to take the lead of me. I (as it is difficult to contend with one's master) follow him.
