This year there arose, as it were, a new era of liberty to the Roman commons; in this that a stop was put to the practice of confining debtors.

This alteration of the law was effected in consequence of the lust and signal cruelty of one usurer.

His name was Lucius Papirius.

To him one Caius Publilius having surrendered his person to be confined for a debt due by his father, his youth and beauty, which ought to have excited commiseration, operated on the other's mind as incentives to lust and insult.

He first attempted to seduce the young man by impure discourses, considering the bloom of his youth his own adventitious gain; but finding that his ears were shocked at their infamous tendency, he then endeavoured to terrify him by threats, and reminded him frequently of his situation.