He who would rather expose himself to contempt than incur a trifling expense deserves not to be called frugal, but penurious.
The penurious man will save a paltry sum on occasions which bring his sordid temper under general observation.
For example, if he has been declared victor in verse, he dedicates a wooden crown as his offering to Bacchus; on which however he is not ashamed to inscribe his name.
When, in the assembly of the people, an immediate contribution is voted, he either refuses his assent, or he slinks away from the assembly.
At the marriage of his daughter, he sells all the flesh of the victims, except the dedicated portion; and the servants hired for the occasion he entertains at board wages.
If he is master of a vessel, he will spread the matting of the steersman on the deck for himself, that he may spare his own bedding.
He will go to market, and bring home the meat under one arm and the vegetables under the other, rather than give a penny to a porter.
Having but one cloak, he stays at home while it is cleaned.
If he spies a poor neighbor at a distance who is likely to ask a loan of him, he turns out of the way, and gets home.
He will not maintain waiting-maids for his wife, as his station requires, but hires whom he can find, on occasions of ceremony.
He rises early; sweeps the house himself; makes the beds; and, when he sits down, forgets not to turn his threadbare coat.
