Aspendius

Aspendos, i, f., = Aspendos, a town built by the Argives, in Pamphylia, on the Eurymedon, now Minugat, Cic. Verr. 1, 20, 53; Mel. 1, 14, 1.—Also, Aspendum, i, n., Plin. 5, 27, 26, § 96; cf. id. 31, 7, 39, § 73.— Hence, Aspendĭus, a, um, adj., of Aspendos: Aspendii, ōrum, m., the inhabitants of Aspendos, Liv. 37, 23; Nep. Dat. 8, 2. A harper of Aspendos was distinguished in antiquity for playing with the fingers of the left hand (instead of the plectrum), and on the side of the instrument turned inwards, and accordingly concealed from the view of the spectators. Hence, Aspendius was used proverbially of a man that took more thought for his own than for others' advantage:

Aspendius citharista, quem omnia intus canere dicebant,

Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 20 Ascon.; cf.:

atque hoc carmen hic tribunus plebis non vobis, sed sibi intus canit,

id. Agr. 2, 26.