Natural History of Gaius Plinius Secundus, Vol. 2

Thus is the pleasure of another purchased. For he who carries the scent does not smell it himself. But these things must also be marked by some difference. In the records of M. Cicero, it is found that ointments are more pleasing that smell of the earth than those that smell of saffron: since even in the most corrupt category, the severity of the thing itself sometimes pleases more. But some are especially delighted by the thickness, calling it "spissum" (thick); they even take pleasure in being drenched, not merely anointed, with ointments. We have even seen the footprints of the feet being tinted: which they reported M. Otho had demonstrated to the Emperor Nero. I ask, how could it be felt and enjoyed from that part of the body? Furthermore, we have heard of some private citizen who ordered the walls of the baths to be sprinkled with ointment, and the Emperor Gaius to have the leaves tempered. And lest this seem a princely good, even one of the slaves of Nero did so later. Most wonderful, however, is that this grace has penetrated even into the camps. Certainly the eagles and standards, those dusty things, horrible with guards, are anointed on festive days. And would that we could say who first instituted this. It is so; it is undoubtedly by this bribe that the eagles have conquered the orb of the earth. We seek such justifications for vices, so that by this right ointments might be taken under the helmet. When it first penetrated to the Romans, I could not easily say. It is certain that when King Antiochus and Asia were defeated, in the five hundred and sixty-fifth year of the city, the censors P. Licinius Crassus and L. Julius Caesar issued an edict that no one should sell "exotic" ointments: for so they called them. But by Hercules, now some even add them to their drink; and such is the bitterness that they enjoy the scent, prodigal as it is, on both parts of the body. It is known that L. Plotius, the brother of L. Plancus, who was twice consul and censor, having been proscribed by the triumvirs, was betrayed in his hiding place at Salerno by the scent of ointment. By which disgrace, the entire proscription is absolved. For who would not rightly judge that such men deserved to perish?