Noctes Atticae

That Metellus Numidicus borrowed a new form of expression from Greek usage.

IN Quintus Metellus Numidicus, in the third book of his Accusalion of Valerius Messala, I have made note of a novel expression. The words of his speech are as follows: [*](O.R.F., p. 276, Mever2.)

When he knew that he had incurred so grave an accusation, and that our allies had come to the senate in tears, to make complaint that they had been exacted enormous sums of money (pecunias maximas exactos esse).

He says

that they had been exacted enormous sums of money,

instead of

that enormous sums of money had been exacted from them.

This seemed to me an imitation of a Greek idiom; for the Greeks say: ei)sepra/cato/ me a)rgu/rion, meaning

he exacted me money.

But if this can be said, so too can

one is exacted money,

and Caecilius seems to have used that form of expression in his Supposititious Aeschinus: [*](v. 92, Ribbeck3.)

1. Yet I the customs-fee exacted am.

That is to say,

yet the customs-fee is exacted from me.