Such an officer corresponded most nearly to our
colonel, but had many of the characteristics of a brigadier-general.
E. "_Ubi tu Caius, ego Caia._"
These words, never varied whatever the names of the bride and groom, were
the kernel of the Roman wedding ritual and after their utterance the bride
was a wife. They correspond to the "I do" and "love, honor and obey" of
our customary marriage formulas. As Caius and Caia were far and away the
most frequent names among the Romans the phrase might be rendered: "Where
you are Jack, I'm Jill."
No English words convey precisely the mingling of banter, and earnestness,
of archness, devotion, shyness and fervor implied in the Latin words as
uttered by Vedia.
F. OPTIONES
Private soldiers chosen by their centurions as informal assistant-
centurions; to take their superior's place if he fell in battle, or was
disabled or ill, and to assist him with his routine duties. They
correspond more or less to the corporals of modern armies. (See also NOTE
D.)
G. SPINA
The stone wall, platform, or long narrow structure down the middle of the
arena of a Roman circus, dividing its race-course into half laps. Along it
the teams tore at top speed, for the short turns about its rounded ends
their drivers reined them in.
Pages:
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899