7.) (14) Marcia was first married to Cato, and bore him three sons; he then yielded her to Hortensius.

On his death she returned to Cato.

(Plutarch, "Cato", 25, 52.) It was in reference to this that Caesar charged him with making a traffic of his marriage; but Plutarch says "to accuse Cato of filthy lucre is like upbraiding Hercules with cowardice." After the marriage Marcia remained at Rome while Cato hurried after Pompeius.
(15) The bride was carried over the threshold of her new home, for to stumble on it would be of evil omen.

Plutarch ("Romulus") refers this custom to the rape of the Sabine women, who were "so lift up and carried away by force." (North, volume i., p.

88, Edition by Windham.) I have read "vetuit" in this passage, though "vitat" appears to be a better variation according to the manuscripts.
(16) The bride was dressed in a long white robe, bound round the waist with a girdle.