[-25-] After this, in the consulship of AEmilius Lepidus and Lucius Arruntius, when no source for the fund was found that suited anybody, but quite everybody felt dejected because such an attempt was being made, Augustus in the name of himself and of Tiberius put money into the treasury, which he called the aerarium militare.  Some of the ex-praetors—­such as drew the lots—­he instructed to administer it for three years, employing two lictors apiece and such further assistance as was fitting.  This was done by successive officials for a number of years.  At present they are chosen by whoever is emperor and they go about without lictors.  Augustus himself made some further contributions and promised to do this annually, and he accepted offers from kings and certain peoples.  From private individuals, though a number were ready and glad to give (as they said), he would take nothing.  But as all this proved very slight in comparison with the large amount spent, and there was need of some inexhaustible supply, he ordered each one of the senators to devise means by himself, to write his plan in a book, and give it to him to look over.  This was not because he had no plan of his own, but because he was most anxious to persuade them to choose the one that he wished.  Various men proposed various courses, but he would approve none of them:  instead, he arranged for five per cent. of the inheritances and bequests which should be left by deceased persons (except in the case of very near relations or poor families); he pretended that he had found this tax suggestion in Caesar’s memoirs.  It was a method that had been introduced once before, but had been later abolished and was now introduced anew.  In this way he increased the revenues.  The expenditures made by three men of consular rank, whom the lot designated, he partly made smaller and partly did away with altogether.

[-26-] This was not the only source of trouble to the Romans:  there was also a severe famine.  As a consequence, the gladiators and the slaves offered for sale were removed to a distance of over seven hundred and fifty stadia, Augustus and others dismissed the greater part of their retinue, there was a cessation of lawsuits, and senators were permitted to leave the city and go where they pleased.  In order to prevent any hindrance to decrees from this last measure it was ordered that all those framed by as many as happened to attend meetings should be binding.  Moreover, ex-consuls were appointed to take charge of grain and bread supplies, so as to have a stated quantity sold to each person.  Those who were recipients of public bounty had as much added to their supply gratis by Augustus as they might obtain at any time.  When even that did not suffice, he forbade the citizens to hold any public festivals on his birthday.