M. CORNELIUS FRONTO
Fronto to Marcus as Caesar
To my Lord.
I have slept late. I have sent you a theme: the case is a serious one. A consul of the Roman people, laying aside his robes, has donned a coat of mail and among the young men at the feast of Minerva[1] has slain a lion in the sight of the Roman people. He is denounced before the Censors. Put into shape and develop. Farewell, most sweet Lord. Greet your Lady.
From Marcus Aurelius to Fronto
Answer.
When did it occur and was it at Rome? Do you mean that it took place under Domitian at his Alban Villa.[2] Besides in such a theme it will take more time to make the fact credible than to treat it with the indignation it deserves. It seems to me an improbable subject. I certainly should have preferred one such as I asked for. Let me know the date by return.
- ↑ The word Quinquatrus means "falling on the fifth day" (i.e. after the ides of March, viz. March 19), but the feast also lasted five days. A lesser festival of the same name fell on June 13. Suetonius (Domit. 4) says that Domitian celebrated the feast yearly at his villa at Albanum.
- ↑ Afterwards became the town of Albanum. Dio, lxvii. 1, describes it. He tells us (lxvii. 14, § 6) that Acilius Glabrio (supposed to have become subsequently a Christian) fought with wild beasts (cp. Juvenal, 4, 95). Suetonius (Domit. 10) informs us that he was put to death by Domitian.
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