"Is my property confiscated ?" "No," "Very well, then let us go as far as Aricia" (about sixteen miles from Rome), "and dine there." There was a certain class of philosophers whose external mark and whose sole claim to distinction rested in the length of their beards; and when the decree of Domitian was passed these gentleman contented themselves with shaving.

Epictetus alludes to this in his second _Discourse_, "Come, Epictetus, shave off your beard," he imagines some one to say to him.

"If I am a philosopher I will not," he replies.

"Then I will take off your head." "By all means, if that will do you any good." He went to Nicopolis, a town of Epirus, which had been built by Augustus in commemoration of his victory at Actium.

Whether he ever revisited Rome is uncertain, but it is probable that he did so, for we know that he enjoyed the friendship of several eminent philosophers and statesmen, and was esteemed and honoured by the Emperor Hadrian himself.