As soon as happiness reaches its peak, it can lead to a sense of boredom, and this is no exception in any case.

- Marcus Tulius Cicero (Roman statesman, orator, orator, jurist, and philosopher)

After eating, drinking, and walking around the square, Oscar and Quintus finished their day's trip; However, the nightlife of Rome was just beginning. As for what nightlife is, it's an extremely wide range of activities and entertainment; However, the main theme is a man's activity that is prevalent in ancient and modern China and abroad - looking for flowers and willows.

The formal system of prostitutes in Rome was established in the last century, when prostitutes were required to register with the Senate, indicate their age, place of origin, and take an oath to practice for life. The license that the prostitute received from the Senate set the price for picking up customers. Prostitutes operate under the supervision of the Government of the Republic, and officials send people to inspect brothels day and night, and it is strictly forbidden to operate from dawn to 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

In the present republic, there are 32,000 prostitutes registered in the city of Rome alone. In addition, there are many unregistered prostitutes who do not pay taxes to the Republic; He was vigorously suppressed by the officials of the Republic and was called a secret prostitute. In Rome, the highest rank of prostitutes was the delicater, the "woman of support" or the mistresses of wealthy donors, who were often the exclusive prostitutes of the wealthy or noble. Then there are the daughters of famous families, who do this because they need money or want to have fun.

Doris are some pretty women who are used to being naked; Rupa are poor women soliciting in dilapidated or secluded corners of the city. Coopa is a maid and maid in a small inn, and they can be rented by guests to stay with their beds for the night. In the Roman Republic, every baker, innkeeper, bath owner, barber, and other profession or merchant could use prostitutes to serve their customers. Anyone who can afford to pay more than half a gold coin can enjoy the services of any prostitute.

The whole city of Rome, and indeed the entire Roman Republic, was filled with brothels of all kinds, large and small, both open and secret; Open brothels were the property of the Republic, inhabited by slave girls who "served" the public for a pittance. After receiving enemy civilians captured by the Roman legions, pretty girls and women were not sent to the arena to be killed, but to be enslaved in open brothels. A private brothel run by a bustard's mother. There were also slave girls, and these brothels were usually run by women. Even, some public baths are actually a special kind of brothel.

This is what Quintus told Oscar; In this regard, Quintus explained to Oscar as follows: "Although both sexes have their own hot and warm baths. But they can meet freely in the hallways and rooms. Men and women, girls and lads are all mixed with ****; They are so close that it is difficult to avoid contact. Both young men and women can use servants who are both courtiers and prostitutes or prostitutes. After bathing, both male and female bathers are rubbed, massaged, and oiled by these people, and women can also enjoy these services that men provide to them. ”

Quintus's words gave Oscar a new understanding of the chaos in the city of Rome, or rather. The chaos of the city of Rome has reached a whole new level in Oscar's mind. It is no wonder that the Roman Republic, with its unparalleled advantages in population, equipment, finance, culture, and tactics, was never able to defeat Carthage, Gaul, and Greece. It turns out that he is dragging himself back!

Soon, Oscar and Quintus arrived at a high-class brothel in Rome in Via Tuscany; Because all the money on Oscar had already been given to the poet who read aloud in the afternoon, this time it was Quintus who had a treat. After entering the brothel, Quintus generously took out ten gold coins and gave it to the guide in the brothel, asking him to choose a massage room with a beautiful environment for the two of them, and arrange for two of the youngest, most beautiful and highest-class prostitutes; If you're a newcomer, don't worry about the money, just make arrangements.

Although Oscar and Quintus are dressed very ordinary, Quintus's generosity is also rare in this high-end brothel. The guide, naturally, did not dare to neglect such an honorable guest, and immediately respectfully told the two of them to be brought into a luxuriously decorated room, and then he withdrew himself and arranged for the two of them to go with prostitutes. This luxurious private room not only has two extravagant beds and countless extravagant decorations, but also a steaming hot spring and a bath filled with clean water; This makes Oscar, who has never been in the red light district for such a long time, a little embarrassed.

Moreover, Oscar, who has lived in New China for more than 20 years, is more or less repulsive to such a place; It's not that Oscar is a hypocritical gentleman or anything like that, it's just that what kind of woman can't be obtained with the current status of Oscar? Why risk getting sick and the possibility of a fire in your backyard to come to a brothel and ask for flowers?

Naturally, Quintus noticed Oscar's change of demeanor, which had been particularly unnatural since Oscar entered the brothel; Now I feel even more restless. Quintus could only blame this on Oscar's failure to understand what the real Roman life was; So, Quintus said to Oscar:

"Oscar, you still don't know the life of a real Roman! The famous orator Cicero once said: 'Whoever thinks that even young men and prostitutes** should be forbidden.' It is undeniable that this man must have been a steadfast and decent man, but not only was he far removed from today's debauchery life, but he also did not understand the moral standards and concessions that our ancestors affirmed. When did it go against custom? When have you ever been blamed? When was it banned? When were the fundamental rights that are legal today illegal? ’

Even the great writer Sernet wrote in the same tone in his Roman magnum opus, Classification of the Rhetorical Styles of Orators: 'He did not make a mistake, and it was common for him to fall in love with a prostitute. He was still very young. Wait and see, he will be promising, and he will become a true Roman when the time comes. Later he also wrote: 'I like people my age to have fun and live according to the guidelines laid down for young people.' ’

Even Cato, the most serious moralist in Roman history, was very enlightened in this regard. When a noble young man came out of the brothel, Cato said to him: You are a real man! When young people can't bear ****. Instead of seducing a married woman, it is better to come to such a place. So, Oscar, you have to understand; Throughout the thousand-year-old history of the Roman Republic, prostitutes and men **** were an ancient and recognized custom. Asking men to exercise self-control in this regard seems counterintuitive, even absurd.

Oscar, you, as a Roman man, will come to these places sooner or later; Don't resist. Don't be afraid, it all makes sense, and even Prisca will accept it. Today, we are here to enjoy the services of this upscale brothel; Tomorrow we will go to the most famous royal public baths in the city of Rome. Then you will understand what true enjoyment is! ”

Quintus's explanation finally made Oscar let go of the discomfort in his heart and the guilt he felt for Prisca; However, weren't the Romans of this age not afraid of venereal diseases? Also, why is there a whore of 32,000 prostitutes in the city of Rome?! Even aristocratic ladies from famous families would act as high-class prostitutes, wouldn't public opinion attack them?

Oscar's full of questions finally couldn't help but ask all at once, but Quintus actually laughed out loud after Oscar asked his own question. This made Oscar even more puzzled. With Quintus's careful explanation again, Oscar understood what Roman logical thinking was. It turns out that the free gender relations of the Romans and the **** that Oscar said in the world are fundamentally two concepts, and the nature is completely different.

In general, today's prostitutes are "degenerate" women, in other words, they no longer belong to the decent burgher class. In the Roman Republic, women who had sexual relations with men who were not legally married were either slaves or freedmen, or women of the dissolute upper classes. A life of debauchery does not deprive them of the respect they receive.

They are in particularly strict circles and may be considered morally inadequate. But one thing is certain: all women who are water-based poplars. From the mistresses of famous poets and their sources of inspiration to thousands of unknown women, all in the service of Venus and Cupid. They will not be tormented by the struggle of conscience, so they will not fall into themselves like the prostitutes of Oscar's world, and they will be abandoned by society.

In the eyes of the Romans, it was possible to divide the free **** into different classes; If you are lucky enough to fall in love with a well-known poet and thus rise to the upper class, it is not comparable to ordinary women. The woman who has no good luck has to silently disappear into the abyss of the debauched life of the past. Is it really possible to distinguish between high and low? This is unlikely. No matter where or when, there are always a few excellent men and women, and there are too few who are truly delicate.

According to Quintus. Among the many women who have been sexual partners with men, there are some whose characteristics are truly memorable. They are not only educated, but also elegant. But most of the people we've heard of are just tools to satisfy men's ****. As for venereal diseases, it was never on the minds of the Roman aristocracy; Because they come to these places and choose only the best and cleanest.

Soon. The brothel's mother herself brought two beautiful women to Oscar and Quintus's room; It seems that Quintus's generosity is indeed useful. However, Oscar's attention is no longer on the bustard's mother; He actually saw a typical oriental beauty here! Although the faces of the two high-class prostitutes were obscured by silk scarves, the tall girl with black hair on the left was definitely a girl from the East; Oscar has lived in the East for more than 20 years, and it is impossible to mistake the Easterners.

Sure enough, under the introduction of the bustard's mother, Oscar learned the identity of the girl named Mingyue; She had just been bought from Egypt by a caravan of slaves for a full five hundred ducats, and was supposedly resold from the far east. Today is the first pick-up, and it is guaranteed to be the purest virgin. But the price is also relatively high, and the most precious first night price is 200 gold coins!

Oscar didn't listen to the bustard's words at all, Oscar was concerned: she came from the far east? Far East?! Is there also an eastern kingdom in this world? Does this mean that as long as one's army has been expanding like the East, then sooner or later one day he can return to the East of this era? Thinking of this, Oscar suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of excitement; It's like a lost wanderer who has found his way home in a distant place! (To be continued.) )

PS: It's inevitable that the chapters in the last few days will be a little boring, after all, we have to set the stage for some things later; But today and tomorrow will be almost the same, and we will soon enter a period of rapid development in this volume. I hope that book lovers can continue to support Chasing the Wind and support "Empire".