The descendants of Aemilius and Gracchus--even generals and consuls and praetors--mixed familiarly with the lowest _canaille_ of Rome in their vilest and most squalid purlieus of shameless vice.

They fought as amateur gladiators in the arena.

They drove as competing charioteers on the race-course.

They even condescended to appear as actors on the stage.

They devoted themselves with such frantic eagerness to the excitement of gambling, that we read of their staking hundreds of pounds on a single throw of the dice, when they could not even restore the pawned tunics to their shivering slaves.