The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party Part 2, Chapter 15 Summary

  • After his talk with Mr. Gitney, Octavian recalls all the last texts he read under Dr. Trefusis's tutelage. There were: (1) Livy's history of the Tarquins, in which a slave boy was set on fire, but survived and went on to become the King of Rome; (2) the slave revolt of King Antiochus; (3) the Greek slaves who taught their Roman masters' children the classics and the arts'; (4) the love poems to bonded (slave) girls; (5) Plutarch's account of the slave-gladiator Spartacus; and (6) the account of philosopher Diogenes the Cynic, who—after being sold into slavery—said that a useful skill he had was "ruling men."