'Wealth increased, its message sped in every direction, and the corruption of the world was drawn into Italy as by a load-stone.

The Roman matron had learned how to be a mother, the lesson of love was an unopened book; and, when the foreign hetairai poured into the city, and the struggle for supremacy began, she soon became aware of the disadvantage under which she contended.

Her natural haughtiness had caused her to lose valuable time; pride, and finally desperation drove her to attempt to outdo her foreign rivals; her native modesty became a thing of the past, her Roman initiative, unadorned by sophistication, was often but too successful in outdoing the Greek and Syrian wantons, but without the appearance of refinement which they always contrived to give to every caress of passion or avarice.

They wooed fortune with an abandon that soon made them the objects of contempt in the eyes of their lords and masters.

"She is chaste whom no man has solicited," said Ovid (Amor.