To look through Jeffrey Epstein’s curriculum vitae on Google is to be left goggling at how this revolting creature could have gained credence among so many influential people. Roman censors would surely have dealt with him in pretty short order.
Their job was to keep an eye on the moral and financial standing of every Roman in the state. For those who did not live up to the standard expected of a citizen, a mark (nota) was put next to his name on the census rolls, resulting in humiliation and loss of political status.
Extravagantly flashing one’s wealth about, bad parenting, cruelty, disgusting behaviour, disreputable business practices, cowardice on the battlefield and suchlike would lead to infamia (public ignominy) and expulsion from official positions. As Valerius Maximus put it: ‘What is the use in achievements overseas if we live bad lives at home? Cities may be sacked, nations may be overrun, kingdoms may be seized, but if a sense of duty and shame does not exist in our public life and in our Senate house, then all the wealth we have accumulated, even if it reaches heaven itself, will not rest on a stable foundation.’
Some of the decisions seem rather harsh. For example, Marcus Duronius, tribune of the plebs, had vetoed a law to restrict spending on banquets, for which he was expelled from the Senate. ‘Insolently’ mounting the rostra, we are told, he had declared: ‘Citizens, a bridle has been forced upon you that cannot be endured. You have been bound by the bitter chains of slavery: a law has been proposed that commands you to be frugal. Let us veto this law that is covered with the rust of the strict old days: what is the point in freedom if you cannot ruin yourselves in luxury when you want to?’
Epstein was more of a Quinctius Flamininus. He invited a harlot whom he adored to a party, where he boasted about how severe an administrator of justice he was and the number of people he was going to behead. When she said that she would rather like to see someone beheaded, he ordered one of them to be hauled out and chopped his head off. What larks!
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