Wealth  is  relative,  always  in  proportion  to  the  affluence  of
the  times.  When  the  state  was  poor,  frugality  was  the  virtue
of  a  citizen.  Does  the  empire  flourish,  individuals  nourish
with  it.  In  matters  of  domestic  expense,  such  as  plate  and
retinue,  the  measure  of  economy  or  extravagance  must  be
determined  by  the  circumstances  of  the  family.  Nothing
is  mean,  nothing  superfluous,  but  what  is  made  so  by  the
condition  of  the  parties.  The  fortune  of  a  senator,1  as
settled  by  law,  differs  from  the  qualification  of  a  Roman
knight.  Has  nature  made  a  distinction  between  them  ?  No,
it  is  civil  policy  that  draws  the  line ;  and  surely  it  is  fit  that
they,  who  stand  high  in  rank,  in  honours,  and  public  station,
should  live  in  suitable  splendour,  not  only  furnished  with
the  necessaries,  but  also  with  the  elegances,  of  life.  High
station  is  at  best  a  post  of  danger.  Will  any  one  argue,
that  men  in  office  are  to  drudge  in  business,  condemned
to  endless  toil,  without  the  means  of  repairing  the  waste  of
labour,  and  without  a  comfort  to  soothe  anxiety?"  The
apologist  of  dissipation  and  luxury  carried  his  point.  With
an  audience  of  congenial  manners,  public  vices,  decorated
with  specious  names,  were  public  virtues.  Tiberius  closed
the  debate.  The  times,  he  said,  were  not  ripe  for  a  censor ;  -
but  if  corruption  went  on  increasing,  there  would  be  no
want  of  vigour  to  reform  abuses  of  every  kind.
