As for me, I doubt if the practice should be stopped altogether, lest greater evil should be the result; I would rather that it should be checked as far as possible, so that the state may no longer be invaded by men of such villainous character.

The censors, or at least the consuls, should examine all whom it is proposed to manumit, inquiring into their origin and the reasons and mode of their enfranchisement, as in their examination of the equites.

Those whom they find worthy of citizenship should have their names inscribed on tables, distributed among the tribes, with leave to reside in the city.

As to the crowd of villains and criminals, they should be sent far away, under pretext of founding some colony." These judicious remarks of a foreigner only expressed what was probably a common feeling among the best men of that time.

Augustus made some attempt to limit the enfranchising power of the owner; but the Leges Aelia Sentia and Furia Caninia do not lie within the compass of this book.