Vespasianus, An Emperour of Rome, descended but of a base stocke, but in valiaunt prowes, and knightly courage to bee compared to the best: for his honestie and wisedome highly commended. He neuer bare grudge ne malice to anye man, were he neuer so much his enimie. For only anarice he was euill spoken of among his subiectes. It is sayd he aduaunced to high promotions, diuerse in couetousnesse most notable, to the ende that when they had well gathered, he mighte vse them as spunges, and by making some pretensed quarell against them, to wring from them that whiche by excorcion they had gotten. He ordained a tribute to be gathered on the quantitie of vrine made in euery house. For whiche, because he was euill spoken of, his sonne came to him, and perswaded him to leaue it, as a thing very vile and dishonourable vnto him. Vespasian at that present sayd nothing, but, when the money of that taxe was next brought in, he taking his handfull of it, and calling his sonne to him, helde it to his nose, and asked him whether the money sanoured wel or no: he aunswered, it sauoureth well: why (sayd he) and this cõmeth of vrine, wherfore thon mayst see, The sauour of gaine is sweete, whereof soeuer it commeth.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
Vespăsĭānus, i, m.: Ti. Flavius Vespasianus, a Roman emperor, reigned between 69 and 79 A. D., Suet. Vesp. 1 sq.; Sid. Carm. 5, 327.