50.
Vitellius consumed in mere eating, at least six millions
of our money in about seven months. It is not easy to
express his vices with dignity, or even decency. Tacitus
fairly calls him a hog; but it is by substituting to a
coarse word a very fine image.
"At Vitellius, umbraculis
hortorum abditus, ut ignava animalia, quibus si cibum
suggeras jacent torpentque, praeterita, instantia, futura,
pari oblivione dimiserat. Atque illum nemore Arcino desidem
et marcentem, etc."
Tacit. Hist. iii. 36, ii. 95. Sueton. in
Vitell. c. 13. Dion Cassius, 1. lxv. p. 1062.