7. Chap. 7. (9.)-Of Those Who Have Been Cut Out Of The Womb.

CHAP. 7. (9.)—OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CUT OUT OF THE WOMB.

Those children, whose birth has cost the mother her life, are evidently born under more favourable auspices; for such was the case with the first Scipio Africanus; the first, too, of the Cæsars was so named, from his having been removed by an incision in his mother's womb. For a similar reason, too, the Cæsones were called by that name.[1] Manilius, also, who entered Carthage with his army, was born in a similar manner.

1. From cædo, "to cut," apparently. The Cæsones were a branch of the Fabian family. There has been considerable difference of opinion among the commentators respecting the individuals referred to in this Chapter. The subject is discussed at length in the Notes of Hardouin, Lemaire, vol. iii. p. 62.—B. So in Macbeth, act v. sc. 7, Macduff says to Macbeth— "And let the angel whom thou still hast serv'd, Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb Untimely ripp'd."