particular perſons were poſſeſſed of large landed eſtates, then the villas became large and magnificent. In the time of Valerius Maximus, there were villas that covered more ground than was in the eſtates of ſome of the ancient nobles. ‘Now,’ ſays he, ‘thoſe think themſelves very much confined whoſe houſes are not more extenſive than the fields of Cincinnatus[1].’ In the days of Cato, it is probable that they had begun to extend their villas conſiderably, which makes him give a caution to the proprietors of land not to be raſh in building. He recommends.to them to ſow and plant in their youth, but not to build till ſomewhat advanced in years. His words are remarkable: ‘A landholder,’ ſays he, ‘ſhould apply himſelf to the planting of his fields early in his youth; but he ought to think long before he builds. He ought not to think about planting; but he ought to do it. When he is about thirty-ſix years of age, he may ‘build, provided his fields are planted[2].’
- ↑ Anguſte ſe habitare nunc putat, cujus domus tantum patet, quanquam Cincinnati rura patuerunt; Val. Max. lib. iv. cap. iv. ſ. 7.
- ↑ Prima adoleſcentia patrem familiae agrum conferere ſtudere oportet, aedificare diu cogitare oportet; conferete cogitare non oportet. Ubi aetas acceſſit ad annos xxxvi. tum aedificare oportet, ſi agrum confitum habeas; Cat. cap. iii.
