140. They were called Murci. 'Murcidus' is found in
Plautus and Festus to denote a lazy and cowardly person,
who, according to Arnobius and Augustin, was under the
immediate protection of the goddess Murcia. From this
particular instance of cowardice murcare is used as
synonymous to mutilare by the writers of the middle
Latinity. See Lindenbrogius and Valesius ad Ammian.
Marcellin. 1. xv. c. 12.