95. In the year of Rome 800 very few remained, not only of
the old Patrician families, but even of those which had been
created by Caesar and Augustus. (Tacit. Annal. xi. 25.) The
family of Scaurus (a branch of the Patrician Aemilii) was
degraded so low that his father, who exercised the trade of
a charcoal merchant, left him only ten slaves and somewhat
less than three hundred pounds sterling. (Valerius
Maximus,1. iv. c. 4, n 11. Aurel. Victor in Scauro. [De
Viris Ill. 72]) The family was saved from oblivion by the
merit of the son.