Idem sensit proxima maiorum nostrorum gravitati Spartana civitas, quae severissimis Lycurgi legibus obtemperans aliquamdiu civium suorum oculos a contemplanda Asia retraxit, ne illecebris eius capti ad delicatius vitae genus prolaberentur: audierant enim inde lautitiam et immodicos sumptus et omnia non necessariae voluptatis genera fluxisse, primosque Ionas unguenti coronarumque in convivio dandarum et secundae mensae ponendae consuetudinem, haud parva luxuriae irritamenta, repperisse.
The Spartan community, which came close to the gravity of our ancestors, felt the same. Obeying the austere laws of Lycurgus, for some long time it drew the eyes of its members back from gazing at Asia, lest ensnared by her seductions they should slide into a daintier style of living. For they had heard that from Asia flowed elegance and extravagance and all kinds of unnecessary pleasure, and that the Ionians had invented the custom of providing perfume and garlands at dinner and serving dessert, no small stimulants to luxury.
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