Kitap 4
20
AMONG the severities of the censors these three examples of the extreme strictness of their discipline are recorded in literature. The first is of this sort: The censor was administering the usual oath regarding wives, which was worded as follows: Have you, to the best of your knowledge and belief, a wife? The man who was to take the oath was a jester, a sarcastic dog, Canicula is used of a biting woman by Plaut. Cure. 598, and of Diogenes by Tertullian, adv. Marc. 1. 1. and too much given to buffoonery. Thinking that he had a chance to crack a joke, when the censor asked him, as was customary, Have you, to the best of your knowledge and belief, a wife? he replied: I indeed have a wife, but not, by Heaven! such a one as I could desire. The joke, which seems untranslatable, is of course on the doublemeaning of ex sententia, according to your opinion and according to your wish. Then the censor reduced him to a commoner for his untimely quip, Made him one of the aerarii; see note 1, p. 352. and added that the reason for his action was a scurrilous joke made in his presence.
