This is generally understood to have been a title of honour equivalent to our term _Lord_.] [Footnote 76: _Arbitrium_ signifies not only the "privilege," but the "rent" paid for such privilege, or right of monopoly.] [Footnote 77: _Was all taken into the hands of government_.

In my version of this passage I have conformed to the emendation of the original first proposed by Gronovius, and admitted by Stroth and Bekker; scil.

_in publicum omne sumptum_ .-- They did not let these salt-works by auction, but took them into their own management, and carried them on by means of persons employed to work on the public account.

These salt-works, first established at Ostia by Ancus, were, like other public property, farmed out to the publicans.

As they had a high rent to pay, the price of salt was raised in proportion; but now the patricians, to curry favour with the plebeians, did not let the salt-pits to private tenants, but kept them in the hands of public labourers, to collect all the salt for the public use; and appointed salesmen to retail it to the people at a cheaper rate.