Ammianus Marcellinus, who prudently chose the capital of the empire as the residence the best adapted to the historian of his own times, has mixed with the narrative of public events a lively representation of the scenes with which he was familiarly conversant.
The judicious reader will not always approve of the asperity of censure, the choice of circumstances, or the style of expression; he will perhaps detect the latent prejudices, and personal resentments, which soured the temper of Ammianus himself; but he will surely observe, with philosophic curiosity, the interesting and original picture of the manners of Rome.
[34] [Footnote 31: Valesius (ad Ammian.xiv.

6) has proved, from Chrysostom and Augustin, that the senators were not allowed to lend money at usury.
Yet it appears from the Theodosian Code, (see Godefroy ad l.ii.

tit.
xxxiii.tom.i.p.

230-289,) that they were permitted to take six percent., or one half of the legal interest; and, what is more singular, this permission was granted to the young senators.] [Footnote 32: Plin.Hist.Natur.xxxiii.50.

He states the silver at only 4380 pounds, which is increased by Livy (xxx.