I.the Roman pound, of twelve ounces: “as erat libra pondus,” Varr. L. L. 5, § 169 Müll.: “coronam auream libram pondo ex publica pecunia in Capitolio Iovi donum posuit,” Liv. 4, 20: “mulli binas libras ponderis raro exsuperant,” Plin. 9, 17, 30, § 64: “expende Hannibalem, quot libras in duce summo invenies?” Juv. 10, 147: “neque argenti in convivio plus pondo quam libras centum inlaturos,” Gell. 2, 24, 2: “dipondii pondo duas erant libras,” Gai. Inst. 1, 122.—
II. Transf.
B. 1.. A balance, pair of scales: “cum in alteram librae lancem animi bona imponebat, in alteram corporis, etc.,” Cic. Tusc. 5, 17, 51; cf. id. Fin. 5, 30, 91.—
2. A water-poise, plummet-level, level, line: “sin autem locus ... pari libra cum aequore maris est,” Col. 8, 17, 4: libratur autem dioptris aut libris aquariis aut chorobate, Vitr. 8, 6, 1.—Hence, ad libram: alteram navem pluribus aggressus navibus in quibus ad libram fecerat turres, of equal height or of equal weight, Caes. B. C. 3, 40, 1.—
3. Counterpoise, balance: “contra flatus quoque pervicax libra Bononiensibus calamis,” Plin. 16, 36, 65, § 161: aes et libra, v. aes.—
4. The constellation Libra, The Balance, Verg. G. 1, 208; Ov. F. 4, 386; Plin. 18, 25, 59, § 221: “felix aequato genitus sub pondere Librae,” Manil. 4, 545.—
