In a case,
then, where an extensive practice of this kind was exposed to Augustus,
and publicly reproved by him, how did he proceed? Did he reject the new-
made citizens? No; he contented himself with diminishing the proportion
originally destined for each, so that the same absolute sum being
distributed among a number increased by the whole amount of the new
enrolments, of necessity the relative sum for each separately was so much
less. But this was a remedy applied only to the pecuniary fraud as it
would have affected himself. The permanent mischief to the state went
unredressed.] And the consequences were suitable. Scarcely a family has
come down to our knowledge that could not in one generation enumerate a
long catalogue of divorces within its own contracted circle. Every man had
married a series of wives; every woman a series of husbands. Even in the
palace of Augustus, who wished to be viewed as an _exemplar_ or ideal
model of domestic purity, every principal member of his family was tainted
in that way; himself in a manner and a degree infamous even at that time.
[Footnote: Part of the story is well known, but not the whole.
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