Note 3, 77 — A. PERSIUS FLACCUS (continued 3)

77. de gente: G., 371, R. 5; A., 50, 2, e, R. 1. Gente, ‘tribe,’ ‘crew.’—hircosa: ‘Rammish’ is not too strong, opposed to unguentatus in a fragment of Sen., ap. Gell., 12, 2, 11 (cited by Jahn). The unsavory soldier and the perfumed dandy are alike foes to the simplicity of the Stoic school. Your old soldier prided himself on his stench, as would appear from the dainty anecdote in Plutarch, Mor., 180C: ὦ βασιλεῦ, θάρρει καὶ μὴ φοβοῦ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν πολεμίων, αὐτὸν γὰρ ἡμῶν τὸν γράσον οὐχ ὑπομενοῦσι.—centurionum: The rank is higher, but the intellectual level is that of the typical German Wachtmeister.