Note 1282 — Chapter X · THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COMITIA CENTURIATA

The citations below refer to a plurality of classes for the period following the reform, without mentioning a definite number; Sall. Iug. 86; Cic. Rep. iv. 2. 2; Flacc. 7. 15; Red. ad Quir. 7. 17; Symmachus, Pro Patre, 7 (Seeck); Auson. Grat. Act. iii. 13; ix. 44 (Peiper); p. 287, 293 (Bip.). In his speech for the Voconian law, 169, the elder Cato, in Gell. vi. 13. 3, referred to the distinction between the classici and those who were infra classem, from which we may conclude that the distinction existed in his time. The agrarian law of 111 (CIL. i. 200. 37) mentions the first class; also Livy xliii. 16. 14. The first and second are spoken of by Cic. Phil. ii. 33. 82. Ullrich’s view (Centuriatcom.), resting on these passages, is that there were but two classes, one of seniors another of juniors. Besides involving many impossibilities, it is refuted by the frequent references to the continuance of the census as an element in the system (see note below) and by the occasional mention of the five classes. The latter number for the time of C. Gracchus is given by Pseud. Sall. Rep. Ord. 2. 8. This work, though late, is generally considered good authority; cf. Greenidge, Hist. of Rome, i. 237 f. Five are mentioned also by Gell. vi (vii). 13. 1; Serv. in Aen. vii. 716; Arnob. Adv. Nat. ii. 67, with no definite reference to a particular period. Cicero’s allusion (Acad. Pr. ii. 23. 73) to the fifth class implies at least that the five classes were then fresh in the memory. The mention of an amplissimus census for the time of Cicero by Ascon. in Pis. 16, proves the existence of more than two classes at the time. These citations, together with the fact that no other definite number but five is ever spoken of by the ancient writers, must lead to the conclusion that there was no change.