Word: dementia
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Dates: during 1870-1879
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JUVENAL, Sat. VI., line 160. Et vetus indulget senibus dementia porcis. The words indulget senibus porcis are usually translated "grants long life to pigs." A new meaning, however, was put upon them by a Junior in a late recitation, who read the line as follows: "And ancient clemency indulges the old men with pork." These two renderings might seem incompatible, were it not for the explanation of the scholiast, who comes to the rescue, as usual, and tells us that although the old pigs were spared, the young ones were invariably eaten...