Gaius Caesar granted life to Pompeius Pennus, that is, if failure to take it away is granting it; then, when Pompeius after his acquittal was expressing his thanks, Caesar extended his left foot to be kissed. Those who excuse the action, and say that it was not meant to be insolent, declare that he wanted to display his gilded, — no, his golden — slipper studded with pearls.3 Yes, precisely — what insult to the consular if he kissed gold and pearls, since otherwise he could have found no spot on Caesar’s person that would be less defiling to kiss? But this creature, born for the express purpose of changing the manners of a free state into a servitude like Persia’s, thought it was not enough if a senator, an old man, a man who had held the highest public offices, bent the knee and prostrated himself before brim in full sight of the nobles, just as the conquered prostrate themselves before their conquerors; he found a way of thrusting Liberty down even lower than the knees! Is not this a trampling upon the commonwealth, and too although the detail may not seem to some of any importance — with the left foot? For he would have made too little display of shameful and crazy insolence in wearing slippers4 a when he was trying a consular for his life unless he had thrust his imperial hobnails5 in the face of a senator!