3. See Eutropius, x. 6 [4]. In primo Imperii tempore optimis
principibus, ultimo mediis comparandus. From the ancient
Greek version of Poeanius (edit. Havercamp. p. 697), I am
inclined to suspect that Eutropius had originally written
'vix' mediis; and that the offensive monosyllable was
dropped by the wilful inadvertency of transcribers. Aurelius
Victor expresses the general opinion by a vulgar and indeed
obscure proverb. 'Trachala' decem annis praestantissimus;
duodecim sequentibus 'latro'; decem novissimis 'pupillus' ob
immodicas profusiones. [Epit. c. 41.]