of a special law a plebeian might, and occasionally did, become
patrician. The patricians had so nearly died out in the time of Julius
Caesar that he introduced fifty new families by the Lex Cassia.

[33] De Orat., lib.ii., ca.1.

[34] Brutus, ca.lxxxix.

[35] It should be remembered that in Latin literature it was the
recognized practice of authors to borrow wholesale from the Greek,
and that no charge of plagiarism attended such borrowing. Virgil, in
taking thoughts and language from Homer, was simply supposed to have
shown his judgment in accommodating Greek delights to Roman ears and
Roman intellects.

The idea as to literary larceny is of later date, and has grown up
with personal claims for originality and with copyright. Shakspeare
did not acknowledge whence he took his plots, because it was
unnecessary. Now, if a writer borrow a tale from the French, it is
held that he ought at least to owe the obligation, or perhaps even pay
for it.

[36] Juvenal, Sat.x., 122,

"O fortunatum natam me Consule Romam!
Antoni gladios potuit contemnere, si sic
Omnia dixisset."

[37] De Leg., lib.i., ca.1.