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 PISO AND THE PR.EFECT. 
 
 ., VOL. I.
 
 Digitized by the Internet Arciiive 
 
 in 2009 witii funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/pisopraefectoran01lond
 
 PISO 
 
 AND 
 
 THE PREFECT 
 
 OR 
 
 THE ANCIENTS OFF THEIR STILTS. 
 
 '' Rem, cum videas, censeas." — Terence. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES, 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 SMITH, ELDER AND CO., CORNHILL, 
 
 TO THtl 
 
 1837. 
 
 BOOKSELLEIIS TO THtlU MAJESTIES.
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED BY STEWART AND CO., 
 
 OLD BAILEY.
 
 e 
 
 I 
 
 (j>nL 
 
 ^ 
 
 !^ PISO AND THE PREFECT, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE PATRICIAN S DOMICILE. 
 
 ,-j The town of Aricia was situated on the Appian 
 r5 Way, at the distance of about sixteen miles from 
 oi Rome, and the road in its vicinity was particularly 
 steep. 
 
 It was on a fine genial evening in the month of 
 June, that certain mendicants were seen posted on 
 the hill within a few hundred yards of the gates of 
 the town : here, indeed, it had from time immemo- 
 rial been the custom with persons of their class to 
 take their station, in order to avail themselves of the 
 delay caused to travellers by the acclivity of the 
 
 J ground. 
 
 VOL. I. B
 
 Z PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 These wretches conversed with each other volubly 
 as they stood ; one of them, however, was loquacious 
 beyond the rest. He was a tall, stout, burly-looking 
 ruffian, dressed like a sailor, and having a small ship 
 fixed firmly on his head. 
 
 "This has been a bad day's work," said he, ad- 
 dressing himself to one of his compeers, ** heu me 
 miserum! — there are no travellers on the road." 
 
 '*You are no worse ofi" than your neighbours," 
 replied the other, who was a small, pale-faced, un- 
 washed personage, having the appearance of a me- 
 tropolitan artisan out of employ ; "for my own part, 
 I have not gained the value of a denarius during the 
 last hour-and-a-half. Death to our hopes! — the 
 Appian Way, once the most frequented in the 
 empire, is a deserted place !" 
 
 At this moment a cloud of dust was observed rising 
 just under the arch-way at the entrance of the town; 
 presently afterwards, the heads of several horses, 
 together with a portion of their riders, became visible, 
 peering out from amidst the bosom of the cloud 
 itself. 
 
 ** Thanks to the gods!" exclaimed the nautical 
 mendicant, "here is a party of travellers, — and a 
 considerable one too, it should seem, coming at last. 
 Now let us stand by each other, and attack them 
 vigorously as they approach."
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. O 
 
 "Hold ! — be cautious !" whispered his friend; "let 
 us first see what they are like ; there are dangerous 
 people on the road ;" and then, after a short pause, 
 during which he stood straining his eyes towards the 
 new comers, "Ah!" cried he, suddenly, "look at 
 their bright steel helmets, and their long spears, 
 glancing in the sun ; they are a party of the military, 
 as I live! Let us shun them like a pestilence; we 
 shall get nothing out of them but blows." 
 
 " True," replied the other, " the soldiers are no 
 friends to us ; — but stay," added he, as if struck 
 with a thought, " do you not know that it is by no 
 means uncommon for our great men when they 
 travel, to be preceded by a party of light armed 
 troops ; these may therefore only be an advanced 
 guard of Numidians, and we shall find their master 
 in the rear." 
 
 The travellers, whoever they were, having now got 
 clear of the town, were seen approaching towards 
 the spot occupied by the two mendicants, though 
 still at a slow pace, in consequence of the inequalities 
 of the ground. The dust by which they had been 
 enveloped having also in some measure subsided, 
 those who came first were discerned to be men of 
 a very martial aspect, heavily armed, and mounted 
 upon large strong horses, ranged four a-breast. 
 
 *• These are not Numidians," said the smaller of 
 b2
 
 4 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 the paupers, " they are too big for them by 
 half." 
 
 ** They are gladiators," replied his friend ; " I see 
 them now plainly enough ; I was not far wrong in 
 my guess, though, for these fellows answer the same 
 purpose of guarding the rest by the way." 
 
 ** Let us stand aside while they pass," said the 
 other, ** there is nothing to be got from them ; let 
 us wait till the great man draws near himself; I see 
 his chariot in the rear." 
 
 So saying, the two mendicants withdrew to one 
 side of the road, and stood waiting for a favourable 
 opportunity to commence their meditated attack. 
 Tn a few seconds more the cavalcade began to ap- 
 proach. First came the gladiators, to the number 
 of fifty, marshalled with an appearance of order and 
 regularity, almost military ; then followed several 
 baggage horses, laden not only with provisions, but 
 with all the utensils requisite for cooking and serving 
 them up ; not only with clothes, but with tents and 
 their furniture, chairs, tables, and beds ; for in those 
 days, luxurious as they were, the comforts of a 
 road-side inn were wholly unknown, and unless a 
 traveller was so situated as to be able to command 
 the hospitality of a succession of friends, placed con- 
 veniently along the line of his march, he had no other 
 resource than to provide himself with a temporary
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. O 
 
 home whenever he had occasion for it, from the com- 
 mencement of his journey to the end. 
 
 After these baggage horses came a variety of 
 attendants, either free or servile, attached to the 
 establishment of the chief traveller ; amongst others, 
 for example, were seen the secretary and the reader, 
 trotting side by side on sturdy nags, engaged in me- 
 taphysical chat,' being men of education, and like 
 most of their class, addicted to the pedantries of the 
 schools. They both wore the elegant flowing garb 
 of Greece, of which country they were natives ; the 
 latter, in particular, whose occupation rendered it 
 necessary that his language should be pure,^ had 
 once been a citizen of Athens. 
 
 The equipage of the great man himself brought up 
 the rear of the procession, as the pauper had re- 
 marked. It was one of those vehicles termed 
 carruccB ; small, clumsy, and inconvenient to a re- 
 markable degree ; rather, in fact, resembling an ill- 
 constructed two-wheeled cart than any thing else to 
 which it could at present be compared. It was 
 open, too, at the top ; for though close carriages were 
 occasionally employed, they were chiefly destined for 
 the accommodation of the ladies, and repudiated as 
 effeminate by the men. The chief point in which it 
 
 * It was his business to " read out loud to his master."
 
 6 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 failed, however, was its total want of springs ; while 
 the uncomfortable consequences of this deficiency 
 were further augmented by the union of the axles 
 with the wheels ; they both moved together. Never- 
 theless, this rude vehicle was overspread with tawdry 
 ornaments, nay, bedizened with jewels and gold, as 
 were also the trappings of the four stout mules which 
 drew it. 
 
 The occupant of the carrucce was a young man, 
 apparently about twenty years of age, dressed in the 
 ordinary garb of a traveller, which, though neither 
 splendid nor elegant, was well suited to the purpose 
 of defending him against the weather and the other 
 annoyances of the road. His head, which was 
 classically shaped, and covered with a profusion of 
 short, dark, closely curled hair, growing low down 
 in the nape of the neck, was surmounted with a hat 
 having a low conical crown, and a round flat brim, 
 not unlike the head-gear commonly represented as 
 peculiar to the god of messengers. A short, rough, 
 dark-brown tunic, of that sort termed a pcEnulciy 
 enveloped his whole person, from the shoulders to 
 the knees, while the legs beneath were protected by 
 a substitute for inexpressibles known by the name of 
 fascice, and consisting of silken bands wound neatly 
 round the limb, from the middle of the calf upwards. 
 Below these, again, were seen a large thick substan-
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 7 
 
 tial pair of boots, by no means unlike the " Hessians" 
 so fashionable a few years since ; nor altogether dis- 
 similar from the " Wellingtons" of our contempo- 
 raries; their hue was, moreover, the same, though 
 their brilliancy was probably inferior to that which 
 the important discoveries of our own happy times 
 have enabled us to display. 
 
 The whole person of the traveller was thus accu- 
 rately covered from his shoulders to his feet. His 
 neck, however, was exposed, and exhibited the 
 curved lines and fair tints of youth. 
 
 His countenance was of the true old Roman cast 
 and character — the bright, dark eyes ; the broad open 
 forehead ; the high, arched nose ; the short upper 
 lip; the chin round, but something prominent; the 
 grave, thoughtful, and intelligent expression of the 
 whole, bore witness to his descent from the con- 
 querors of the earth. His complexion, however, bore 
 traces of exposure to a sun more ardent than his 
 own; it was considerably bronzed, though neither 
 burnt nor weather-beaten. 
 
 This personage (I need not make a mystery of his 
 name) was Lucius Calpurnius Piso, the last Patri- 
 cian Senator alive.* 
 
 * That is to say, the last patrician of ancient birth : doubtless 
 there was a numerous aristocracy of more recent creation.
 
 b PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 The two paupers watched him narrowly as he 
 approached. '* He is just the very man for us," said 
 one of them ; ^' he is young, rich, and I dare say 
 generous : youth and prosperity open the heart." 
 
 " And the hand, too,'' added the other ; ^* but 
 what I like still better in him is, that he is to all 
 appearance either a foreigner, or one who has re- 
 sided for a long time past in foreign parts : being 
 therefore unaccustomed to the tricks of the metro- 
 polis, he will be the more easily imposed upon by a 
 well-feigned tale of distress." 
 
 '^ Recte — right!" cried his friend, *' and so now 
 for the attack." 
 
 With these words they both looked as miserable 
 as they could. Then limping forth from their re- 
 treat, and shuffling up to the side of the carriage, 
 they commenced their supplications for relief; exert- 
 ing themselves in the enterprise with a vigour and 
 perseverance alone to be met with amongst the 
 practised mendicants of a great capital. '* Charity, 
 charity!" exclaimed they, both speaking at once, 
 " take pity on us, O traveller, for we starve I" Then 
 having recourse to individual importunity, the dis- 
 tressed mariner implored for compassion on a "poor 
 unfortunate sailor, who had served his country in the 
 wars, and distinguished himself by his heroism on 
 more occasions than one, yet had, nevertheless, been
 
 PISO AND THE PR^EFECT. 9 
 
 disbanded and turned adrift in his old age, to beg 
 through the streets," and in support of this solemn 
 assertion, he pointed to the full-rigged galley sailing 
 on his head. The unwashed artificer also chiming in 
 with his peculiar tale of woe, piteously represented 
 himself to have been once upon a time a thriving 
 citizen of the metropolis, living in comfort and re- 
 spectability in one of the principal streets, and sup- 
 porting a large family of small children, to say 
 nothing of an amiable wife, the mother of them all ; 
 *' but, alas!" added he, bursting into tears, *'what 
 was the use of my industry and care ? Some villains 
 came in the night, and set my house on fire ; the 
 wind blew a hurricane, and there were no engines to 
 be had ; my wife and my little ones perished in the 
 flames ; my property went in the same way, and I 
 was reduced to the condition of a pauper." So say- 
 ing, he produced the pictorial representation of a 
 burning house, neatly framed, though vilely executed, 
 which he held up for the examination of the traveller, 
 and evidently expected that it would be received as 
 proof positive of the veracity of his tale. 
 
 Thus assailed on both sides at once, the patrician 
 wayfarer felt himself considerably annoyed. Never- 
 theless, though he suspected a cheat, such was his 
 good nature and generosity, that instead of permit- 
 ting his attendants to drive away the supplicants, he 
 b5
 
 10 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 endeavoured to get rid of them by the milder method 
 of acceding to their prayer ; bestowing alms upon 
 them both with a profuse hand. But this act of 
 liberality was no sooner observed by other members 
 of the same fraternity, who had been watching him 
 from a distance, than his carriage was surrounded by 
 a swarm of wretches the most abominable that can 
 be conceived; maimed, crippled, wounded, and dis- 
 eased ; who, nevertheless, in spite of their infirmities, 
 followed him at a pace which his mules were unable 
 to outstrip, wearied as they were by a lengthened 
 journey, and retarded by the difficulties of the way. 
 It was in vain that he endeavoured to satisfy their 
 rapacity by the distribution of his sesterces ; his 
 liberality only increased their clamours, and their 
 numbers were augmented in proportion to the readi- 
 ness with which he granted their demands. 
 
 ** A strange welcome this," muttered he, "to the 
 country of my birth. '^ Then getting quite out of 
 patience with his welcomers, he consented to the 
 adoption of certain forcible measures for his relief. 
 His gladiators rode in amongst the crowd, and dis- 
 tributed blows with their sheathed swords after a 
 fashion no less liberal than that employed by their 
 master in the distribution of his cash. Nor were 
 these warlike demonstrations made without effect ; 
 the alarmed paupers hastily dispersed, and left the
 
 PISO AND THE PR-ffiFECT. 
 
 11 
 
 travellers at liberty to pursue their interrupted 
 journey. 
 
 Soon after they had thus got rid of their persecu- 
 tors, they reached the termination of the steep hill 
 which had caused them to be beset, when goading 
 their steeds, they proceeded along the level, well- 
 paved, and terrace-like road at a pace which in the 
 course of little more than an hour, brought them to 
 within a few miles of the southern boundaries of the 
 metropolis. 
 
 It was now for the first time that the Patrician 
 Piso evinced signs of uneasiness, or at least became 
 roused from the state of abstraction in which he had 
 for some time previously sat. He stood up in the 
 vehicle, looked out upon the road in the direction of 
 the town, and anxiously scrutinized the passing way- 
 farers, who were every instant becoming more nume- 
 rous, owing to the proximity of the capital. Finding, 
 however, that his situation in the rear of the caval- 
 cade obstructed his view, he commanded the whole 
 party to halt, alighted from his carriage, and mount- 
 ing a led horse, rode on briskly at their head. 
 
 It was not long ere he perceived the advantages of 
 the plan which he had thus adopted; for having now ob- 
 tained an extensive view over the road, uninterrupted 
 by the bodies of his gladiators and their steeds, his 
 sharp eye speedily detected an advancing object of
 
 12 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 the most engrossing interest, so that his whole atten- 
 tion became fixed upon it at once. Yet so tardily 
 did it move, that notwithstanding his own quick 
 pace, several more minutes elapsed before its form 
 and features became so far developed as to enable 
 him to judge of what it was. There were legs 
 visible, and there was something like a body in the 
 midst. *' Is it an elephant or a rhinoceros ?" muttered 
 Piso to himself, " it is not like a carriage or a cart." 
 
 Such was the first thought which shot across his 
 mind as he beheld the unexampled object making 
 towards him at a snail's pace along the road. The 
 distance, however, being lessened by degrees, it 
 eventually became apparent that the said object, 
 which he had at first supposed to be of a homo- 
 geneous kind, was in reality a compound of inanimate 
 things with living ones, being no other than one of 
 those litters, or palanquins, not unfrequently used by 
 the luxurious in preference to the uneasy carriages of 
 the times, supported on the shoulders of eight Illyrian 
 slaves, remarkable for their bulk and stature, and 
 the enduring sturdiness of their frames. 
 
 This discovery satisfied his mind at once. He 
 immediately conjectured that the singular vehicle 
 contained an individual for whom he had for some 
 time past been anxiously looking out. When it 
 arrived within a moderate distance, therefore, he
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 13 
 
 commanded his followers to halt, and drew towards 
 it by himself. 
 
 Nor, as the event proved, was he at all mistaken 
 in his guess. No sooner did he approach the side of 
 the litter than its curtains were undrawn, and a long, 
 pale, dismal-looking visage became visible at the 
 aperture, gazing at him wistfully from within. Then 
 a hoarse, gruff, unmusical voice saluted him in tones 
 which he seemed to recollect, saying, " Art thou my 
 nephew, the last scion of the Calpurnian stock ?" 
 
 Rejoiced at the meeting, for Piso remembered 
 that his venerable relative, though a pedant and a 
 humourist, was nevertheless a worthy man ; he leaped 
 from his horse, and was in a moment at the side of 
 the palanquin. His eye grew bright, the gloom 
 vanished from his brow, and a smile of satisfaction 
 played about his lips. He grasped the hand of his 
 uncle, while he expressed his delight at seeing him 
 with an appearance of sincerity which it was im- 
 possible to mistake. Neither did that respectable 
 personage seem to enjoy less pleasure in return ; 
 he forgot the solemnity of his character, and ex- 
 changed his stoical indifference for the feelings of 
 more ordinary men. Spreading his attenuated fingers 
 on the forehead of the youth, he seemed to be 
 tracing out some family resemblance amongst his 
 features. Then exclaiming, *' Yes, Piso, your visage
 
 14 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 is worthy of your illustrious birth ! — the Calpur- 
 nian eye ! — the Scribonian brow ! — the lips of Pom- 
 pey ! — the locks of Brutus ! — yea, Caesar's nose itself 
 is here !" He proceeded in an earnest, but less 
 elevated strain, to question his nephew about his 
 journey, and explain his own reasons for coming forth 
 to meet him on the way. 
 
 From this conversation it appeared that the young 
 Patrician had for some time past been residing at 
 Athens, where, according to the fashion of the age, 
 he had pursued his studies under the professors of 
 philosophy abounding in that celebrated place. 
 Having completed his education, he was now on his 
 return to the Roman capital, in the suburbs of which 
 he possessed an ancient residence. He was not, 
 however, in very affluent circumstances. A small 
 landed estate, and some five or six millions of sester- 
 ces,* placed him above the reach of want ; but 
 fines and confiscations had deprived his ancestors of 
 the greater part of their wealth, which had once been 
 immense, as their station in society was exalted. 
 His parents. had both of them been dead for years. 
 While yet in his infancy, persecution had forced 
 them to seek an asylum in a distant land, where they 
 lived in the strictest seclusion, perhaps forgotten by 
 
 * From forty to fifty thousand pounds ; a small fortune in 
 those days.
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 15 
 
 their enemies as well as by their friends. When 
 death deprived him of their protection, his maternal 
 uncle, Scribonius Mummius, a senator of Rome, 
 succeeded to his guardianship. But Piso was not 
 immediately withdrawn from Greece. Provided 
 with suitable instructors, he was suffered to remain 
 there till he had acquired the accomplishments at 
 that time deemed indispensable in a person of his 
 rank. That object attained, his guardian consented 
 to his return ; an event which he had long desired. 
 A time was appointed for his journey, and a letter 
 informed him that his kinsman would come forth to 
 meet him ere he entered the city. He was not 
 therefore altogether unprepared for the encounter 
 which has been described. 
 
 After many qustions asked and answered, Piso 
 and his relative resumed their journey ; both now 
 moving in the same direction, the latter of course 
 retracing his steps. The young man rode leisurely 
 beside the litter, conversing with its occupant as they 
 went. Thus they proceeded for upwards of a mile, 
 still keeping in the track of the Appian Way, when 
 arriving at the entrance of a narrow path, which 
 branched off to the right, the bearers of the litter, 
 instructed by a sign from their master, abruptly 
 turned into it, and the rest of the party followed. 
 
 They now entered a lovely valley, the hills on both
 
 16 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 sides of which were decorated with trees, few and 
 straggling at its entrance, but growing thicker by 
 degrees, till at last, in the interior, they assumed the 
 appearance of an umbrageous grove. As the travel- 
 lers went on, the gurgling sound of water became 
 audible ; nor was it long ere they caught a glimpse 
 of a silvery stream, winding lazily along, beneath the 
 shade of acacias, arbutuses, and palms. For a while 
 this stream was only visible at intervals, but as they 
 approached its source, the trees receded on either 
 side, opening into a glade of some extent, at the 
 extremity of which appeared a small bat ancient 
 temple. Near this, a low dark grotto concealed the 
 source of the rivulet. Rushing from beneath its 
 moss-grown roof, the water descended over broken 
 and uneven ground till it reached a sort of natural 
 basin which it filled to the brim, and afterwards fell 
 by its own weight into the hollow of the vale below, 
 where meandering along, it disappeared amongst the 
 trees. 
 
 The faint recollections of infancy stole over the 
 mind of Piso as he viewed this spot. He was con- 
 scious of having seen it before, but at a period so 
 remote, that believing as he did in the mysterious 
 aoctrines of Pythagoras, he almost fancied his remi- 
 niscences referred to a prior state of existence. His 
 metaphysical speculations were, however, soon inter-
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 17 
 
 rupted by his uncle, who, addressing him in a manner 
 more than usually sententious, spake as follows : — 
 
 ** Behold, O Piso, the consecrated spot where 
 thine ancestor* of old held converse with the blessed 
 nymph Egeria. Here into this sacred grove, when 
 disgusted with the cares and troubles of the world, 
 he withdrew to receive the dictates of immortal 
 wisdom. Here, with the assistance of his heavenly 
 adviser, he framed those laws which so mainly con- 
 tributed to the security of the infant state, and which 
 are held in respect even unto this day. Here, too, 
 O my son, he enjoyed the pleasures of a celestial 
 marriage. The fane thou seest hath since been erected 
 to the memory of the goddess. To her memory, I 
 say, for after the death of Nimia, she was never 
 known to honour the grove with her presence ; — a 
 circumstance which, I fear, has given rise to the im- 
 pious allegation, that Egeria was no other than a 
 mortal maid, with whom the royal philosopher was 
 accustomed to solace himself when fatigued by the 
 cares of government." 
 
 Just as he concluded this speech, the worthy old 
 orator, together with the person to whom it was 
 addressed, approached the source of the stream. 
 
 * The Calpurnian family are said to have been descended from 
 Numa Pompilius, through his third son Calpus.
 
 18 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 The water was so clear, especially in the natural 
 basin, that a number of small coins could be dis- 
 tinguished lying scattered about at the bottom. 
 These had been thrown into it from time to time by 
 different pious individuals desirous of proving their 
 veneration for the sanctity of the place. Calpurnius 
 Piso and his companion, each of them appropriated a 
 handful of money to the same purpose ; nor did even 
 the meanest of their attendants fail to contribute his 
 mite. 
 
 Passing by the temple, the younger of the tra- 
 vellers could not help observing that its interior was 
 unprovided with a statue of the goddess ; and on 
 questioning his uncle, he was informed that Numa 
 had prohibited the use of images, under the idea that 
 it was impossible to represent the true form of the 
 deity, a spiritual and unseen thing. His injunctions 
 had been respected for upwards of a century, and 
 though afterwards very generally disregarded, the 
 fane of his patroness was still uncontaminated by the 
 handiwork of the sculptor. 
 
 Entering an avenue of stately poplars, which 
 opened just behind the temple, the party proceeded 
 on their route. A building of very singular appear- 
 ance terminated this avenue. It was evidently of 
 great antiquity ; so much so, indeed, as to be almost 
 ruinous; large, but not lofty, and irregular without
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 19 
 
 being inelegant. It was neither a palace, a castle, 
 nor a cottage ; but something between them all; partly 
 resembling a town house, and partly a country villa. 
 A venerable porch facing the avenue, first presented 
 itself to view, on either side of which were seen ex- 
 tensive porticoes, and above these several detached 
 portions of the building, varying in height, but none 
 of them exceeding two stories. The whole was sur- 
 rounded and overtopped by an immense quantity of 
 trees, some of which spread their branches nearly 
 across the roof, and intercepted the light of the sun, 
 while parasite plants of every description, crept up 
 the walls, twined round the pillars, and penetrated 
 through the windows into the interior of the place. 
 
 Arrived before the entrance of this sylvan retreat, 
 the wayfarers paused, and at the same moment 
 several domestics, by whom it had alone been te- 
 nanted for some years past, came forth to receive 
 them with many demonstrations of pleasure and 
 respect. Piso alighted from his horse, and assisted 
 his uncle to get out of the litter ; which done, they 
 entered the mansion together. They passed through 
 the porch, crossed a spacious court, and found them- 
 selves in what had once been a sumptuous hall, 
 though now most miserably dilapidated. The mar- 
 ble pavement over which they trod chilled their feet, 
 and notwithstanding the extreme warmth of the
 
 20 
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 weather, the very atmosphere of the place felt cold 
 and comfortless, like that of a vault or cellar. 
 
 The walls looked damp and mildewed ; fissures 
 gave admittance to the dark green ivy, which crept 
 up the arches of the roof, intermingled here and 
 there with a sickly looking tendril of the honey- 
 suckle or the vine. Not an article of furniture was 
 seen any where ; the place seemed quite dismantled ; 
 with the exception indeed, of a very singular species 
 of decoration, which was held too sacred for removal, 
 namely, a great number of dark and dusky images, 
 ranged upon pedestals, tier above tier, against the 
 walls. They were formed of various materials ; wax, 
 clay, wood, or marble ; and seemed to have been 
 produced at different periods, some of them being 
 much defaced by time, while others were yet in a 
 tolerable state of preservation. Looking round at 
 these with an imposing air, Scribonius Mummius thus 
 addressed his nephew : — 
 
 '^ Welcome, O Piso, to the home of thy forefa- 
 thers ! Under this roof thou first sawest the light, 
 and though, alas ! it seemeth cracked in many 
 places, it may yet afford thee shelter. Here, I trust, 
 thou mayest at least dwell in peace, ^ — perhaps in 
 comfort. Rich indeed thou art not ; but Cleobulus 
 the son of Evagoras hath informed us that a measure 
 is the best.''
 
 PISO AND THE PR.EFECT. 21 
 
 Here the sage paused for a moment, and observing 
 that his auditor was attentive, waved his hand grace- 
 fully, and proceeded with his discourse. 
 
 " These are the images of your ancestors, O 
 youthful scion of an ancient stock ! How awfully 
 do their dark countenances frown upon us from the 
 walls ! How majestic are their features ! How 
 dignified is their aspect and appearance ! Amongst 
 these thou wilt find the most distinguished characters 
 of ancient Rome. That venerable statue with the 
 broken head is no other than the great Pompey ; the 
 noseless one beside him is the wealthy Crassus ; and 
 there stands Pliny, the statesman and philosopher, 
 whose wife was thy great-great-grandmother." 
 
 ** But stay," continued the speaker, as he walked 
 across the apartment, " let us examine these inesti- 
 mable relics with more attention ; if my memory fail 
 me not, I can give thee information touching them 
 on more points than one." 
 
 Then fixing his eyes on the crumbling remnants of 
 an earthen statue, which held a distinguished place 
 amongst the rest, being elevated on a very tall 
 pedestal, at the upper end of the room, equidistant 
 from the corners, the floor, and the ceiling. ** Oh, 
 Numa !" he exclaimed, ** I cannot forget thy vene- 
 rable face, thou best of the ancient kings ! thou saint, 
 patriot, and philosopher ! Well mightest thou have
 
 22 
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 said with Solon, O my country, I have assisted thee 
 both in word and deed !" 
 
 Here the orator paused again, overcome by the 
 intensity of his emotions. Recovering" himself by 
 degrees, and turning away from the dilapidated 
 object which had affected him so much, he resumed 
 his harangue, indicating with the thumb of his left 
 hand in what direction the young man should look. 
 
 " This image to the right of Numa," said he, 
 ^* represents a very different sort of person ; a man 
 of whom much may be said, although his history is 
 comparatively little known. He was once upon a 
 time a great military commander. He was valiant 
 to a fault, and possessed many other very excellent 
 qualities besides. Unluckily, however, his temper 
 was somewhat irregular and hasty. That is a me- 
 morable anecdote which Seneca relates concerning 
 him. He tells us that a soldier having returned 
 from a foraging expedition without his comrade, he 
 was charged with having slain him, and Piso sen- 
 tenced the supposed offender to be decapitated. His 
 head was on the block, his neck stretched out to 
 receive the stroke of the axe, when the truant, whom 
 he was accused of having murdered, returned unex- 
 pectedly to his post. The centurion whose duty it 
 had been to see the sentence performed, stayed the 
 proceedings, and led back the culprit, with his com-
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 23 
 
 panion, to the general, thus making manifest the 
 innocence of the former, while the whole army 
 followed them with acclamations of joy. Now a 
 moderate man, under such circumstances as these, 
 would probably have pardoned the two wretches at 
 once. But your ancestor in a rage, gets him up to 
 the tribunal, and forthwith condemns them both, the 
 one for returning without his comrade, the other for 
 lingering behind ; unto which barbarous decree he 
 adds the condemnation of the centurion, for having 
 dared to postpone the execution of his own accord. 
 Thus were three innocent persons put to death as a 
 punishment for the guiltlessness of one. 
 
 " Underneath this testy gentleman," continued the 
 speaker, " we have the bust of that Calpurnius Piso 
 who was surnamed Frugi, or the Thrifty, on account 
 of his extravagance." 
 
 *' How odd !" muttered his descendant, under his 
 breath. 
 
 " Such was his prodigality," resumed the learned 
 genealogist, " that in a time of public scarcity, he is 
 said to have maintained many thousands of the citizens 
 at his own expense. Yet, strange to say, his fortune 
 was by no means particularly great, nor did he ruin 
 himself by his profuse expenditure after all." 
 
 ** Then I opine," said Piso, '* that he was desig- 
 nated the Thrifty not so much on account of his
 
 24 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 prodigality, as because he contrived by a judicious 
 system of economy to make a little money go so far." 
 
 ** Very likely," replied his uncle, *' perhaps that 
 was the case. But never mind him ; let us look at 
 his neighbour, here, to the right. He was named 
 Lucius, like yourself, and was chiefly remarkable for 
 the atrocious cruelty of his government when he was 
 Proconsul of Spain ; in consequence of which, the 
 natives of the country regarded him with abhorrence, 
 and frequently endeavoured to release themselves 
 from his tyranny by putting him to death. Once, 
 in particular, a countryman who had suff'ered some 
 grievous wrong at his hands, was very near being 
 successful in the attempt. He was, however, found 
 out in time, and very properly sentenced to the rack, 
 to extort a confession of his accomplices. He en- 
 dured his torments the first day with indomitable 
 fortitude ; but fearing on the second that the weak- 
 ness of humanity should force him to disclose that 
 which he had sworn to conceal, he contrived on his 
 way to the place of execution to break from his 
 tormentors, and casting himself with violence against 
 a wall, succeeded in dashing out his brains. 
 
 "The grim looking personage now before you," 
 continued Scribonius Mummius, advancing a few 
 steps with his nephew, in the course of their progress 
 round the room, *^was celebrated in his day for
 
 PISO ATs^D THE PREFECT. 25 
 
 having attempted one of the most barbarous and 
 savage murders on record ; an attempt, however, in 
 which he failed. He, and his accomplice, Marcus 
 Silius, were detected with daggers in their hands, 
 prepared for the assassination of their patron Quintus 
 Cassius, at that time governor of Spain, and under 
 whom they both held inferior posts, your ancestor 
 being the treasurer of the province, and his con- 
 federate something else. Yet, strange to say, they 
 both escaped unpunished, notwithstanding the enor- 
 mity of their offence, and the clear evidence on 
 which it had been proved ; for such was the avarice 
 of the governor, that he could not resist a bribe, even 
 from the hands of those who had so treacherously 
 conspired against his life. He consented to let them 
 off for a valuable consideration, amounting to about 
 a hundred and ten thousand sesterces between the 
 two ; and it was facetiously said at the time, that 
 had they been able to come down with a still more 
 considerable sum, he would rather have permitted 
 them to accomplish their purpose as originally de- 
 signed, than have rejected the cash." 
 
 Here the orator made a short pause, looked 
 pleased, and chuckled. Then turning up his eyes 
 towards an ancient image which stood at no great 
 distance from that of the sanguinary quaestor, " This,'' 
 said ho, " if I do not mistake, is the representation 
 
 VOL. I. C
 
 26 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 of one of the most illustrious of your ancestors : it 
 is Lucius Calpurnius Piso, surnamed Bestia, or the 
 Beast." 
 
 ** What an honourable appellation!" whispered 
 the young scion of the stock. 
 
 " Yes, he was a great man, this Bestia," resumed 
 Scribonius Mummius, overhearing the remark, " and 
 I could say much concerning him. As, however, we 
 have little time to spare, I must content myself with 
 giving you a short summary of his proceedings 
 during the Numidian war, in which he is well known 
 to have enacted a distinguished part. 
 
 *' Bestia was one of the consuls when the war 
 broke out, and it fell to his lot to be despatched into 
 Numidia at the head of a vast army, for the purpose 
 of inflicting punishment on Jugurtha, who had 
 usurped the throne. But although this was the in- 
 tention of the senate, your ancestor had himself, 
 privately, no other design than that of filling his 
 purse, either at the expense of the enemy, or by 
 sacrificing the interests of his own country, as the 
 case might serve. Knowing, however, that he might 
 be called to account for his misconduct on his return 
 home, he had very prudently, as he though't, provided 
 himself with a scape-goat in the person of his lieu- 
 tenant Scaurus, who, although a man of high birth, 
 and holding the distinguished office of prince of the
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 27 
 
 senate, was notorious for his venality and want of 
 principle, and accordingly very likely to be suspected 
 of sharing in the crimes which Bestia intended to 
 commit. 
 
 ** This matter settled to his mind, your worthy 
 progenitor made the best of his way into Africa, 
 where he forthwith commenced operations by taking 
 several fortified towns, and making as many prisoners 
 as he could. But these warlike demonstrations were 
 only intended to terrify the enemy, and bring him 
 into terms. Nor did the expedient fail. Jugurtha 
 demanded a parley, and proposed that a private con- 
 ference should take place between the mercenary 
 consul, his lieutenant, and himself. The proposal 
 was agreed to ; the three met accordingly, and every 
 thing was arranged. It was determined that the 
 usurper should, nominally, purchase the friendship 
 of the Romans at the moderate price of thirty ele- 
 phants, a few horses and oxen, and a small sum of 
 money ; but it was notorious at the time, that this 
 apparent moderation on the part of the negociators 
 was in reality attributable to a large bribe which 
 they shamefully pocketed themselves. 
 
 **This scandalous piece of business caused no little 
 discontent when it became known in the capital. 
 The people were exasperated to a degree, and de- 
 manded the heads of the consul and his colleague, by 
 c2
 
 28 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 whom they had been betrayed ; so that it was at 
 last actually found necessary to institute a judicial 
 process for the settlement of the affair. But what 
 was the upshot after all ? The villain Scaurus, whom 
 your ancestor, in the pride of superior intellect, had 
 considered as nothing better than a scape-goat, to 
 be made use of at his pleasure and then cast away, 
 actually had the art to get himself appointed one of 
 the chief commissioners to try the offence, and there- 
 upon proceeded to pass sentence on his own accom- 
 plices with all the rigour of an upright judge, indig- 
 nant at the wickedness of the wretched culprits at 
 the bar ! 
 
 " Thus was Lucius Calpurnius Piso Bestia caught 
 in his own trap. He was undoubtedly one of the 
 most remarkable of your progenitors : a man brave to 
 a fault, highly talented, and only liable to the impu- 
 tation of being somewhat deficient in honesty, venal 
 in the extreme, and considerably more attentive to 
 his own interests than to the public good." 
 
 Stopping for a while at the conclusion of this in- 
 teresting little bit of biography, and stepping back a 
 few paces, in order to bring all the images within the 
 scope of his eye, which, rolling about from side to 
 side, seemed in search of an object upon which to 
 rest, Scribonius Mummius grasped his nephew by 
 the arm, and having at last singled out a very hand-
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 29 
 
 some piece of statuary, which appeared less anti- 
 quated than its neighbours, he exclaimed, "Ah! 
 here we have, indeed, the likeness of an extraordi- 
 nary man ! — a fellow of indomitable pluck and 
 spirit ! — splendid, proud, and ostentatious ! — fierce, 
 impetuous, and ungovernable ! — This, O my son, is 
 the likeness of Cneius Piso, the friend of Tiberius, 
 the rival of Germanicus himself. You are, doubtless, 
 well acquainted with his history, which, indeed, is 
 pretty generally known. To enlarge on it would, 
 therefore, be superfluous ; nevertheless I cannot re- 
 frain from giving you a hasty sketch of the last 
 transactions of his life. 
 
 ** Piso was appointed by Tiberius to the govern- 
 ment of Syria, into which country Germanicus had 
 been sent with the title of commander-in-chief ; and 
 it has often been alleged, that the politic emperor 
 designed by thus bringing them together, to nourish 
 the enmity that was well known to subsist between 
 them, so that in the end it might destroy them both. 
 The rivals encountered each other for the first time 
 after they left home, near the Isle of Rhodes, and the 
 meeting took place under circumstances of peculiar 
 interest. Germanicus had already landed on the 
 coast, and Piso was sailing towards it in a galley, 
 which, besides himself, contained his family and 
 suite, when a sudden storm came on which threatened
 
 20 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 the vessel with destruction. Germanicus, with his 
 usual magnanimity, immediately despatched boats 
 and seamen to rescue his enemy from a watery grave. 
 He succeeded in the attempt. Piso spent the day 
 with his benefactor, and continued his journey to 
 Syria, where he forthwith took measures for the 
 ruin of the man to whom he thus stood indebted for 
 his life. He endeavoured to secure the favour of 
 the troops by indulging them in all sorts of licen- 
 tiousness, while his wife Plancina, reviewed them in 
 the field as if she had been their general herself. By 
 these arts he succeeded so well that they hailed him 
 as ' the Father of the Legions.' Germanicus was 
 disgusted at the base ingratitude of your ancestor. 
 Nevertheless he smothered his resentment, and in 
 hopes of a reconciliation invited him to a feast. They 
 met in great apparent amity, sat together at the same 
 table, and ere the meal was over, Germanicus was 
 seized with a malady which resembled the effects of 
 poison. Death, however, did not immediately en- 
 sue. He lingered for a couple of days, and before he 
 died it was discovered that the walls of his apart- 
 ment were lined throughout with charms and spells, 
 the horrid implements of sorcery. He gave up the 
 ghost, declaring, with his dying breath, that poison 
 and witchcraft had been the ruin of him. Your 
 ancestor, when informed of this melancholy event,
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 31 
 
 was transported with joy, and behaved with the 
 utmost indecorum. He hastened to the temples, 
 sacrificed victims, and gave thanks to the gods. 
 
 "After this, being charged with the murder of 
 Germanicus, Piso returned to Rome ; not in a 
 sneaking, dastardly manner, but openly, by daylight, 
 and in the face of the whole people. He entered the 
 city by the Flaminian Gate, and passed through the 
 Campus Martius in a sort of triumphal procession. 
 That very same night he prepared a magnificent en- 
 tertainment for his friends, and the following day he 
 was impeached before the senate. 
 
 " He was charged with various ofi^ences, some of 
 which he managed to rebut, while others were unde- 
 niable. It was proved pretty clearly that he and his 
 wife had assisted in impious rites, and encouraged 
 the professors of astrology. But the poisoning part 
 of the business could not be so easily brought home 
 to him. It only appeared in evidence, that when 
 he pledged Germanicus in a bowl of wine, the latter 
 was seized with an indisposition which ended in his 
 death.* Piso made a tender of his slaves to be ex- 
 
 * Scribonius Mummius might have added another very re- 
 markable circumstance, namely, that after the body of CJerma- 
 nicus had been burnt, his heart was found amongst the aslies, 
 untouched by the flames. This fact was adduced on the trial 
 before the senate, in proof of his having come unfairly by his
 
 32 PISO AND THE PR^EFECT. 
 
 amined on the rack ; but this liberal offer was de- 
 clined. His judges were prejudiced against him. 
 Such, too, was the wrath of the populace, that they 
 surrounded the senate-house, and threatened to tear 
 him to pieces. Planciua was an object of general 
 detestation, as well as himself; but protected by the 
 emperor's mother, she obtained her pardon, and with 
 the usual fickleness of her sex, abandoned her hus- 
 band to his fate. Reduced to these extremities, his 
 courage sunk for the first time ; and when conducted 
 back to prison after the termination of the process, 
 it appears that he resolved to put a period to his 
 life. He was found next morning with his heart 
 pierced through, and his trusty sabre sticking in the 
 wound. Thus died Cneius Piso, who with courage 
 unexampled in our own degenerate days, at once 
 defied the emperor, the senate, and the people. He 
 failed in the struggle, to be sure; yet, Piso, thou 
 mayst well be proud of thy descent from so illustrious 
 a character. Let us now proceed with our re- 
 searches." 
 
 " Hold !" cried the young man, with impetuosity, 
 before his venerable relative could again open his 
 lips, " hold, Mummius, I beseech you, and pollute 
 
 end ; for it was a received opinion with the naturalists of the 
 period, that the hearts of those who had died by poison were 
 incorruptible in the fire.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 33 
 
 my ear no more with these execrable anecdotes ! If 
 all you have told me be true, as unquestionably it is, 
 these ancestors of mine must have been a shame to 
 their country, a dishonour to their blood, and even a 
 disgrace to human nature. Oh, Numa, the pious 
 and the just ! how thy spirit must have mourned for 
 the degeneracy of thy descendants !" 
 
 c D
 
 34 PISO AND THE PR^FECT« 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE PHILOSOPHER IN HIS RETREAT. 
 
 Long and unbroken were the slumbers of Calpur- 
 nius Piso on the first night after his return to his 
 paternal residence. Nevertheless, having retired to 
 rest at an early hour, the morning was not far ad- 
 vanced when the twittering of birds, and the rays of 
 the sun glancing through the windows of his cham- 
 ber, awakened him. Starting from his pillow, and 
 opening a small door which connected the apart- 
 ment by a flight of steps with the surrounding gar- 
 dens, he prepared to descend, but paused ere he did 
 so, to view the lovely scene which presented itself 
 to his eyes. 
 
 The grounds in the vicinity of the villa had once 
 been ingeniously laid out, and carefully cultivated. 
 Terraces and grass-plots, groves, arbours, and al- 
 coves, might yet be distinguished, though no longer 
 preserving their original forms. Obelisks and sta-
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT, 35 
 
 tues piercing through the underwood, were visible 
 on every side. Fountains dried up, moss-grown and 
 canopied with ivy, appeared amongst the brambles 
 here and there ; while a rivulet, by which they had 
 once been fed, crept along the ground in zig-zag 
 lines, diverted from its channel, but abundant as 
 before. Time and neglect had, however, done their 
 work. A wilderness of trees overshadowed the 
 whole place ; destroying, or at least interfering with, 
 the beautiful regularity of the original design. The 
 trees themselves were indeed perfect, and of every 
 description : olives, myrtles, figs, mulberries, bays, 
 arbutuses, and planes, wildly intermingled with each 
 other, of various hues, but all equally pleasing to 
 the eye ; their stems clothed with creeping plants, 
 their branches borne down by the weight of their 
 own fruit, or by that of the vine, which clung round 
 them for support, extended on all sides, and almost 
 converted the site of the gardens into an impene- 
 trable forest. 
 
 The cloudless sky of Italy canopied this sylvan 
 scene, and birds without number peopled it. A 
 breeze from the west rustled gently amongst the 
 boughs ; a skylark fluttering in the air poured forth 
 its lively notes; and the industrious tenants of a 
 neighbouring apiary hummed cheerily as they pur- 
 sued their daily labours.
 
 36 
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 Having g-azed for a while with mingled feelings of 
 satisfaction and regret at the wild scene before him, 
 Piso descended into the garden, and strolled at 
 his leisure amongst the trees. What may have 
 been the nature of his reflections, whilst thus ob- 
 cupied, it is impossible for me to explain, seeing 
 and considering that he kept them carefully to him- 
 self; but judging from the expression of his counte- 
 nance at the time, it is not improbable that he con- 
 templated some high design, — perhaps nothing less 
 than the improvement of his estate. Neither is it 
 easy to divine whether he succeeded in settling the 
 matter to his satisfaction ere he finished his peregri- 
 nations, inasmuch as they appeared to have no other 
 immediate result than that of increasing his appetite, 
 which he forthwith proceeded to gratify after a fashion 
 by no means uncommon in Italy, without retiring 
 into the house. His domestics being summoned, 
 spread a carpet on the grass at the foot of a majestic 
 plane, and protected by the shade of its leafy 
 branches, he addressed himself diligently to his meal. 
 It was frugal however, as the sternest philosopher 
 could have wished. A manchet, an apple, and a 
 small bunch of grapes, sufficed for the young patri- 
 cian's breakfast. He drank not at all ; the acidulous 
 juices of the fruit being sufficient to allay his thirst,
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 37 
 
 moderate as it was from a sound constitution, and 
 unexcited by previous debauchery. 
 
 The demands of nature being satisfied, Piso pre- 
 pared for a visit to the metropolis, where his uncle 
 (who had quitted him the night before) was, he knew, 
 anxious to receive him. Getting into his chariot 
 and commanding a large party of his attendants to 
 follow him on horseback, Piso set forth from the 
 gates of his paternal mansion. He bowled through 
 the avenue of poplars, hurried past the temple and 
 the rivulet, left the consecrated grove far behind 
 him, and emerging from the valley, near the Gardens 
 of Terentius, again found himself on the Appian 
 Way. He soon reached the Porta Capena, or 
 Conduit Gate, which gave him admission into the 
 metropolis. Then through a long succession of 
 splendid streets, adorned with porches, porticoes, 
 and triumphal arches, he rapidly pursued his way, 
 till he found himself before the dwelling of his 
 kinsman. 
 
 The mansion of Scribonius Mummius was one of 
 the most magnificent in Rome. It was situated on 
 the very summit of the Palatine Hill, within half a 
 stadium * of the imperial residence, and commanded 
 
 * A measure of ground, containing about six hundred and 
 twenty-five feet, English.
 
 38 
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 from its numerous windows a prospect no less splen- 
 did than extensive. As Piso drove towards the 
 entrance, he could not help gazing with awe and 
 admiration at the view which presented itself on 
 every side. The Capitol to the west, with the golden 
 cupola of its temple glittering in the sun, and the 
 white battlements of its fortress reflecting 'the sun's 
 light, appeared like Parnassus, a forked mountain. 
 Extending from its base, an avenue of fanes and 
 temples marked the course of the Sacred Way, 
 which terminated at Vespasian's Amphitheatre and 
 the Suburra. The columns of Trajan and of Marcus 
 Antonius were seen towering above these at a 
 distance : and though still more remotely situated, 
 the vast Mausoleum of Augustus could just be dis- 
 cerned in the same 'direction. The Forum to the 
 north, with its chapels and its shrines, its porticoes, 
 its porches, and its courts of justice ; the arch of 
 Severus, and the prison of Servius Tullius, lay 
 crowded together, apparently in some confusion. 
 The majestic sweep of the great Circus, and the 
 Aventine, crowned with the temple of Juno Regina, 
 bounded the prospect to the south.* The streets, as 
 far as the eye could reach, were every where laid out 
 
 * I believe this description will be found to coincide with that 
 of the profound Kennett. I confess I am at loss to understand 
 either of them.
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 39 
 
 with the utmost regularity ; but the houses were in 
 general detached from each other, and many of the 
 larger ones were surrounded with considerable 
 gardens. 
 
 But nothing within sight was so astonishing as the 
 overgrown palace of the Caesars. Piso saw it with 
 wonder, but he could not have described it with 
 accuracy. He beheld a series of sumptuous edifices 
 extending for miles in all directions. The principal 
 of these, an enormous mass in itself, crowned the 
 Palatine Mount, and appeared to form the nucleus 
 of the whole. The rest, of inferior dimensions, and 
 variously constructed, ramified thence in straggling 
 lines to the remotest parts of the city. They did 
 not, however, interfere with its general economy and 
 arrangement. For the several divisions of the impe- 
 rial residence, having once been the separate habita- 
 tions of the Roman nobles, still retained much of 
 their insulated form and character. They had no 
 connexion with each other, or with the Palatine, but 
 by bridges thrown over the streets and the river, or 
 by staircases cut in the sides of the hills. 
 
 Having reached bis uncle's porch, and demanded 
 admittance, the gates were unclosed to the applicant 
 by a venerable Janitor, with a huge bunch of keys at 
 his girdle ; then announcing his name, Piso was 
 reverentially conducted into the interior of the dwell-
 
 40 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 ing. He passed through a spacious hall, mounted 
 a flight of marble steps, and reached a sort of ante- 
 room, or lobby, where several grave-looking domestics 
 received him with the obsequiousness due to his rank, 
 and ushered him into a spacious apartment, fitted up 
 with book-shelves, a clepsydra (or water clock), and 
 various statues representing poets, philosophers, and 
 rhetoricians. 
 
 At one end of this studious retreat, Piso beheld 
 the stately figure of his uncle reclining on a couch in 
 a posture of meditation. He did not for awhile 
 appear conscious of the presence of the young man, 
 who stood waiting patiently for a favourable moment 
 to accost him. At last, starting up as if just awak- 
 ened from a comfortable nap, he greeted his nephew 
 with sententious courtesy, as follows : 
 
 *' Salve, O Piso ! Much do I rejoice to see thee, 
 and I trust thou wilt forgive me for not perceiving 
 thine entrance before. Thou hast studied in the 
 schools of Athens, and doubtless thou knowest how the 
 heavenly pursuits of science darken a man's eyes. I 
 was engaged, when thou enteredst, in certain weighty 
 speculations, and had lost all perception of external 
 things. I would thou couldst assist me in the 
 solution of a very difficult problem which hath long 
 agitated my mind. How thinkest thou, nephew ? 
 was Anaxagoras right when he affirmed that the sun
 
 PISO AND THE PR.EFECT. 41 
 
 was as big" as Peloponnesus, and hotter than red-hot 
 iron ? — that the moon was a habitable place, full of 
 valleys, hills, and rivers, like the world in which we 
 live ? — and that heaven itself (or the hemisphere 
 above us) being framed of solid stone, is only pre- 
 vented from falling on our heads by the rapidity of 
 its own movements ?" 
 
 "■ Truly," answered Piso, smiling within himself at 
 the pedantry ^f his relative ; ** these questions of 
 yours are weighty, and I fear I have scarcely learn- 
 ing enough to answer them as you would wish. 
 However, with regard to the greatest of the celestial 
 bodies, I should rather suppose with Anaximander, 
 that it not only exceeds the size of a paltry penin- 
 sula of Greece, but surpasses that of the whole earth, 
 which is but a small concern after all. Touching the 
 * Queen of Night,' (as our versifiers call the moon) I 
 should not be surprised if the sage of Clazomene 
 were right in his conjectures; but as for his doc- 
 trines about the stone-built skies, I confess they are 
 wholly unintelligible to my mind, and as such, I 
 would rather say nought more concerning them." 
 
 *' Papce r cried Scribonius Mummius, with a look 
 of astonishment; *' I am ravished, O nephew ! to 
 find you so well-informed, and though I do not en- 
 tirely subscribe to your opinions, I grant they are 
 plausible and ingenious. Unquestionably you have
 
 42 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 prosecuted your studies with success ; and I take no 
 little credit to myself for having prolonged your re- 
 sidence in Greece, to which circumstance alone yoii 
 are no doubt indebted for all your knowledge. You 
 have stored your mind with the wisdom of the an- 
 cients, and are well acquainted with their works. 
 Let us see; — are you equally familiar with their 
 features ? — Can you single out one from another, and 
 name each in his turn ? — Look ! — these are their 
 sculptured resemblances around you, with which I 
 have decorated my favorite retreat. Come, tell me 
 the name of the venerable individual who stands in 
 the corner by himself?" 
 
 So saying, the antiquary, who appeared to enter- 
 tain a particular predilection for statues and images of 
 every kind, — probably because they afforded him an 
 occasional opportunity of showing off his lore and 
 knowledge, — directed the young man which way to 
 look ; and Piso, very dutifully complying with his 
 humour, beheld a most gloomy and lugubrious-looking 
 bust, which he at once recognized, and said, 
 
 ** Oh ! — this is the likeness of Heraclitus, that 
 melancholy sage who did nothing but weep, weep, 
 weep, morning, noon, and night; who actually ap- 
 pears to have placed his chief happiness in making 
 himself miserable. I have never ceased wondering
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 4^ 
 
 why the world should have agreed to dub this mad- 
 man a philosopher ! His tenets were absurd, his 
 actions frantic, and he died as ridiculously as he had 
 lived. What can be said for a man who systema- 
 tically shunned the society of his fellow creatures, 
 fled to the mountains for solitude, and grazed in the 
 fields like a beast ? — who affirmed that the whole air 
 was filled with spirits, which occasionally became 
 visible to men ! — and who, finally, went so far as to 
 daub himself over with mud and filth, and exhibited, 
 in his disguise, so revolting- an appearance, that the 
 very dogs with whom he fraternized were moved to 
 anger, and punished him with death for his grievous 
 want of cleanliness ?" 
 
 " Nephew !" exclaimed Scribonius Mummius, in 
 a stern voice, " take heed what thou sayest in the 
 presence of a * lover of wisdom,' for such without 
 vanity I may term myself. He of whom you speak 
 so contemptuously was a very great man ; though, I 
 grant you, a little eccentric. He wept for the sins 
 of men, and forsook their society because he found it 
 impossible to correct their vices. The absurdities 
 which he committed during the latter years of his 
 life, may be accounted for by his peculiar habits and 
 pursuits, which it is not to be denied, were calculated 
 to aff'ect his brain. However, let us pass by him,
 
 44 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 and direct our attention towards his neighbour (on 
 the pedestal to your right) whose character was such 
 as to set all malice and ridicule at defiance." 
 
 " Mehercule! you must joke !" cried Piso, looking 
 askance at his extraordinary companion as he spoke ; 
 " surely, my dear uncle, you cannot be serious in 
 your praise ; for this (if I do not mistake his dia- 
 bolical countenance) is the bust of Menedemus the 
 Cynic. A more melancholy case of insanity than his 
 it would perhaps be diflQcult to find on record. His 
 madness was such that he went up and down in the 
 character of one of the Furies, exclaiming that he was 
 come from Tartarus, commissioned by the infernal 
 gods to punish the sins of men. Yet, maniac as he 
 was, he does not appear to have wanted followers. 
 Menippus at least was his disciple ; and a weak gene- 
 ration permitted him to found a school instead of in- 
 carcerating him in a madhouse." 
 
 Scribonius Mummius was silent. He replied not 
 unto his nephew's speech ; being probably a little out 
 of countenance. For, sooth to say, he had made a 
 most egregious blunder, having confounded Mene- 
 demus the Cynic with his namesake of Euboea, a 
 philosopher of a different stamp. Wishing, therefore, 
 to conceal his error, he affected, when Piso ceased 
 speaking, to be lost in one of those reveries on which 
 he prided himself so much, as indicative of his
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 45 
 
 thoughtful temperament ; and afterwards, when he 
 came to himself, turned the conversation a little, 
 still, however, harping on the statues, which he could 
 not persuade himself to relinquish all at once. 
 
 *' I have often thought," said he ; " that it is not 
 one of the least remarkable circumstances with which 
 we are acquainted touching the ancient sages, that 
 most of them died in extreme old age, notwithstand- 
 ing the hard sort of life which it was generally their 
 fate to lead. Thus, for example, my master Zeno, — 
 for I humbly confess myself to be a member of the 
 sect of Stoics, — was at least ninety-eight when he 
 terminated his existence by his own hand. Clean- 
 thes, his scholar, sometimes called * the Ass,' (a 
 name which evil-minded persons have affirmed he 
 justly merited,) attained the age of eighty, and then 
 committed suicide, in imitation of his great pro- 
 totype. Chrysippus, in his turn, a pedant and a 
 profligate, though learned beyond his fellows, laugh- 
 ed himself to death at a very similar age.* Pytha- 
 goras, again, was at least ninety-three when he gave 
 up the ghost ; and his worthy disciple Epicharmus 
 was no less tenacious of life. Pyrrhon the sceptic, 
 
 * Having seen a donkey eat a plate of figs, he desired his 
 slave to give the animal some wine after them, and was so much 
 delighted with his own conceit, that he died of laughing on the 
 spot.
 
 46 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 and Thales ' the First of the Sages,' were each about 
 fourscore and ten when the gods thought proper to 
 call them away ; — the one, I presume, to punishment, 
 the other to meet with a crown of glory. Demo- 
 critus lived to a hundred and nine ; Demonax com- 
 pleted his century ; Epicurus, with all his sloth and 
 luxury, was just seventy-two when he died. 
 
 ''These, I should think," continued Scribonius 
 Mummius, '* are examples enough to prove the 
 truth of that which I have asserted ;^ and thus thou 
 wilt perceive, O nephew ! that the calling of a philo- 
 sopher is not without its advantages, even though 
 judged by vulgar rules ; for none will deny the 
 unspeakable blessings of a long life. Let us then 
 devote ourselves to the study of philosophy, so that 
 if we succeed not in acquiring wisdom, we may at 
 least prolong our days." 
 
 Concluding his harangue with this pithy advice, 
 the sage. turned away from the images, which he had 
 hitherto never ceased to contemplate, pointing first 
 at one, and then at another, as he named their several 
 originals ; then dismounting from his high horse, he 
 
 * It is a pity, however, that he did not mention the example of 
 Epimenides tlie Cretan, who is said to have attained the moderate 
 age of two hundred and ninety-eight! or, according to the least 
 credulous of his biographers, a hundred and fifty-seven ! — which 
 is almost long enough!
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 47 
 
 proceeded to converse in a grave and very sensible 
 manner, without any of the pedantry which had 
 lately marked his eloquence, about the badness of 
 the times, and the atrocity of the government. The 
 tyrant Maximin had now, he said, ruled the empire 
 for upwards of two years. He still, however, re- 
 mained stationary in his camp on the banks of the 
 Danube, and as yet had never condescended to visit 
 the metropolis, which during his absence, was 
 governed by the Praetorian Praefect, Vitalianus. Pos- 
 sessed of boundless power, that functionary indulged 
 himself in the commission of a thousand crimes. The 
 sufferings of the people exceeded all belief. Sur- 
 rounded by spies and informers, the noblest of the 
 citizens were liable at any time to be accused without 
 cause, condemned without trial, and punished with- 
 out mercy or compassion. One by one, the ancient 
 families of Rome had fallen before the hand of the 
 oppressor. Their birth, rank, or virtues, had 
 awakened the envy of the low-born prince, or their 
 wealth had excited the cupidity of his minion. Fines 
 and confiscations had beggared them on the one 
 hand ; exile, imprisonment, and death, had destroyed 
 them on the other. The few miserable survivors 
 were hardly less deserving of pity than those who 
 had perished. They lived in the constant dread of 
 unknown evils, which encompassed them on every
 
 4S PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 side. Day after day, were they shocked by some 
 new act of cruelty and horror. When they rose in 
 the morning, they were not unfrequently told that 
 some friend or relation had been sacrificed during- 
 the nighty when they lay down to rest it was often 
 in fear lest their slumbers would be broken by a visit 
 from the assassin or the executioner. Yet in spite 
 of these intolerable evils, in spite of the tyranny of 
 their rulers, in spite of their own discontent, in spite 
 of the efforts of patriotic individuals, so degraded 
 were the people, that they continued to suffer with- 
 out resistance, though not without murmurs and 
 complaints. Nothing could arouse them from their 
 lethargy. The unworthy sons of the conquerors of 
 the world tamely submitted in peaceful times to be 
 treated by their own sovereign like the people of a 
 conquered land. They saw the streets of the 
 capital filled with licentious troops, — the savage 
 cohorts of their Thracian master, — who broke 
 open their houses, stripped them of their property, 
 and insulted those they loved most ; > they saw 
 the most illustrious of their countrymen, alike 
 distinguished for birth, dignity of station, and 
 personal accomplishments, seized by the myrmidons 
 of the tyrant, cruelly tortured, and unjustly put 
 to death ; they saw the temples of their gods 
 sacrilegiously invaded, plundered of their orna-
 
 PISO AND THE PR^EFECT. 49 
 
 ments, and levelled with the ground ; they saw 
 deeds even more atrocious than these, yet they basely 
 and pusillanimously submitted to the yoke. The 
 nobles, immersed in luxury, and emasculated by in- 
 dolence, could not be prevailed upon to exert them- 
 selves in defence of their liberties, or even of their 
 lives. They witnessed the destruction of their order 
 with supine indifference, or unavailing regret, and 
 relinquished the honours of the state, for which 
 their ancestors had so often and so fiercely contended, 
 for the precarious enjoyment of their villas, their 
 baths, and their theatres. They strove to drown 
 in pleasure the remembrance of their calamities, and 
 wilfully closed their eyes to the dangers which en- 
 compassed them. Sometimes, indeed, when a dis- 
 tinguished victim was taken from their class, a panic 
 would seize them, and they could not help acknow- 
 ledging the desperate circumstances under which 
 they were placed. But alarms like these made no 
 lasting impression on their minds. They soon forgot 
 the unfortunate wretch who had been sacrificed, and 
 relied on the gods, or on their own dexterity for 
 escaping a like fate themselves. Little, therefore, 
 could be hoped from this enervated aristocracy; while 
 the populace, equally degenerate, and less influential, 
 were still more unfit to achieve the liberation of their 
 country. 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 50 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 Such was in substance the political part of the in- 
 formation conveyed by the worthy old senator Scri- 
 bonius Mummius unto his nephew Calpurnius Piso. 
 The latter heard the melancholy tale, — the woful 
 history of national disgraces and misfortunes, — with 
 feelings of dismay, indignation, and disgust. His 
 boyhood had been passed in such deep seclusion, his 
 youth in such studious retirement, that he had as yet 
 paid little attention to the political situation of the 
 empire. He was no doubt aware that the period of 
 Roman greatness had elapsed, that the character of 
 the people had undergone a change, and that after a 
 succession of native despots, — tyrants over the 
 country of their birth, — the supreme authority had at 
 last been usurped by a savage and sanguinary stran- 
 ger. But he was not aware of the magnitude of the 
 evils resulting from these several causes, nor consci- 
 ous of the extent to which they had proceeded. He 
 had not expected to hear of the almost complete ex- 
 tinction of public spirit ; the effeminate and corrupt 
 lives of the nobility ; the vice, cowardice, and ser- 
 vility, of the lower classes ; the barbarous cruelty and 
 insatiable avarice of their rulers ; and accordingly, 
 the picture thus suddenly presented to his mind, had 
 filled him with surprise and anguish. 
 
 Overcoming these painful feelings, which at first 
 had almost deprived him of the power of speech, he
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 51 
 
 proceeded to interrogate his kinsman about the cha- 
 racter of their governor, the Praetorian Praefect him- 
 self. 
 
 *' I have already told you," replied the senior, 
 " that Vitalianus is one who, possessed of unbounded 
 pov^er, scruples not to employ it in the commission of 
 the most horrid crimes. He anticipates the sangui- 
 nary orders of his master, and wherever an offence 
 has been given, sheds the blood of his fellow-creatures 
 with unsparing hand. Many too, have been sacri- 
 ficed to his private feelings of resentment, and the 
 wretch who incurs his hatred rarely escapes un- 
 scathed. Yet he is not a rude, unlettered barbarian 
 like his master. On the contrary, his manners are 
 polished ; and his mind, which is naturally strong, 
 has been cultivated with success. It cannot be 
 doubted that he is possessed of considerable talents, 
 though he seldom applies them to a good end. He 
 is also a refined voluptuary, no less elegant than 
 magnificent in all his habits, profuse in his expendi- 
 ture beyond the bounds of belief, and graspingly 
 rapacious to supply the means of his extravagance. 
 He delights in social feasting, practises an ostentati- 
 ous hospitality, entertains the public in a princely 
 style, and does the honours of his table Avith a grace 
 peculiar to himself. He resides at present in the 
 
 O Ol^rLU LIU
 
 52 
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 imperial palace, which the better enables him to dis- 
 play his grandeur. His wife is a woman of exalted 
 birth, and enormous fortune. Of her character, 
 however, I shall say but little, — for one ought not to 
 speak in disparagement of a lady. I shall only in- 
 sinuate, that in pride and insolence, she exceeds her 
 husband, while in luxury and extravagance she at 
 least equals him." 
 
 " But, uncle," said Piso ; *^ is it possible that a man 
 so cruel and overbearing as you describe the Praefect, 
 can be visited on terms of equality by the wretches 
 subject to his power, and suffering from the effects of 
 his oppressive sway 1 Can his victims approach him 
 with confidence, or treat him with familiarity ? Does 
 he invite them to come, or does he command their 
 presence? — And how do they suppress the angry 
 feelings which the sight of their oppressor must 
 inspire ?" 
 
 '* Piso," replied the man of experience, ** these 
 questions of yours are natural, but they indicate how 
 little you know of your own countrymen. Remem- 
 ber that the Praefect has the best cook in Rome, — 
 that his guests are in general the very vilest of man- 
 kind. They accept what he offers with humility, 
 and deem themselves honoured by his slightest 
 notice. Their craven hearts are incapable of che-
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 53 
 
 rishing a sentiment of virtuous indignation. Besides, 
 as I hinted before, our arbitrary ruler is by no means 
 uncourteous in his manners. He treats his compa- 
 nions pretty much as they deserve. His knowledge 
 of mankind enables him to discover how every one 
 expects to be received, and he bears himself towards 
 each accordingly. The base and servile are often 
 very scornfully used ; but guests of a superior cha- 
 racter are sure to meet with a polite reception. Of 
 this, doubtless, you will soon have occasion to judge. 
 The Prefect will hear of your arrival under my roof, 
 and you will not escape an invitation to the imperial 
 residence. I shall in all probability be condemned 
 to the same punishment myself (not indeed for the 
 first time), and we must both endure it in the best 
 way we can, for it would not be safe to refuse." 
 
 Here ended the political part of the conversation 
 between the relatives, after which they chatted 
 together about their own family affairs, in a manner 
 somewhat desultory, and with the tenor of which it 
 is unnecessary to acquaint the reader. I shall there- 
 fore only remark, that amongst other things, it was 
 arranged that Piso should continue to reside for the 
 present, in his uncle's house, as being a place more 
 conveniently situated than his own suburban villa. 
 Apartments were therefore prepared for him with 
 every attention to his comfort.
 
 54 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 That very same night a message arrived from the 
 Praetorian Praefect inviting the young patrician to a 
 banquet at the palace on the ensuing day. The 
 presence of Scribonius Mummius was also required ; 
 thus fulfilling the predictions of that sagacious per- 
 sonage to the letter.
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 55 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE GREAT LADY AT HER TOILET. 
 
 And now, taking leave of the two relatives, the 
 reader must accompany me into the imperial resi- 
 dence itself. It is the day destined for the celebra- 
 tion of the feast, and early as the hour still is, the 
 noble lady of the Praefect has already commenced the 
 preliminary labours of the toilet. 
 
 Let us into her dressing-room ! My friend, we 
 are privileged persons, and may dispense with the 
 ceremony of announcing ourselves at the door ; — let 
 us enter her dressing-room, with the familiarity 
 which v/e enjoy; — then station ourselves in a dark 
 corner, and deliberately scrutinize her doings from 
 our obscure retreat. 
 
 Lo ! there doth she sit, — it is impossible to be 
 mistaken in her, — it is Laurentia Ogulnia, herself! 
 Yea, there doth she sit, enthroned as it were, upon 
 an ivory chair, before a small table of solid silver,
 
 56 PISO AND THE PREFECT, 
 
 beautifully sculptured and embossed, while a large 
 circular mirror of great brilliancy hangs suspended 
 over it, precisely on a level with her face. And 
 behold the worthy use she makes of it ! Stretching 
 out her neck, and gazing at the much-loved image 
 presented to her view, she takes up a long silver 
 instrument, not unlike a modern knitting-needle, 
 which she has previously extracted from one of the 
 minute filagreed caskets with which the whole 
 surface of the table is overlaid : holding this instru- 
 ment between the fore finger and thumb of her right 
 hand, she first dips the point in a vessel filled with 
 antimony, and then carefully applies it to the inside 
 of her eye-lids, where it leaves, as it goes, a dark 
 bluish stain, clearly perceptible through the skin. 
 She performs the operation with steadiness and skill, 
 yet it evidently puts her to considerable pain, the 
 outward signs of which she cannot wholly suppress ; 
 still less can she stifle the indignation which she feels 
 inwardly against the inexorable enactments of the 
 mode, for she knows them to be the origin of her 
 pangs. Alas, for the hapless wretch that stands 
 behind her chair ! — the fair young slave with the 
 golden locks, imported last month from Greece. 
 Look at her, my friend, and your heart will be torn 
 with compassion. Bondmaid as she is, her form and 
 her features are delicate as those of a high-born
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 57 
 
 lady, and her manners are so naturally graceful, that 
 when you have once noticed her, you cannot help 
 watching all her movements. See how she trembles 
 as she gazes at the angry expression which kindles by 
 degrees on the countenance of her mistress ; who, to 
 judge from these tokens, is, I fear, accustomed to 
 treat her with unreasonable severity ; — how, indeed, 
 can the fact be doubted, when the damsel actually 
 stands prepared for the whip, with her snow-white 
 shoulders stripped and naked, save that her own 
 bright yellow tresses hang dishevelled over them ; 
 while just at hand, that hideous black Getulian, 
 strong as the rhinoceros, and savage as the hyena of 
 his native deserts, grins frightfully upon her, bran- 
 dishing his accursed scourge, in readiness to obey the 
 cruel mandates of his lady. 
 
 And now hath that magnificent lady completed 
 the discolouration of her peepers. Looking, there- 
 fore, in her own estimation, considerably more beau- 
 tiful than before she commenced, she hath also, in 
 some sort, recovered the temper which she had lost 
 during the execution of her agonizing task. Still, 
 however, doth a frown of the most portentous cha- 
 racter sit enthroned upon her brow ; and ere long 
 that brow may be darkened by a storm of fury more 
 desolating than the whirlwind which entombed Cam- 
 byses and his host in Egypt. 
 d5
 
 58 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 The miserable Eudocia approaches with humility, 
 and attempts her arduous task. Twining her small 
 white fingers in the coarse black hair of her mistress, 
 she endeavours to arrange it, according to the fashion 
 of the period, in mighty masses of heavy curls, piled 
 tier above tier to an immense height. All her art, 
 however, cannot subdue its wirey harshness ; the 
 long stiff bristles will not assume the proper form, 
 and she fails to effect her purpose. Again and again 
 she renews the difiicult attempt. She calls in the, 
 aid of the pincers and curling-irons ; wastes oils and 
 unguents with unsparing hand ; and at last has 
 recourse to the wig-box, hoping to supply the defects 
 of nature by tha borrowed finery within. Alas, it all 
 avails her nothing ! She relaxes her efforts in despair ; 
 a blush rises on her modest cheek at her own want of 
 success, and a tear starts forth in her clear blue eye 
 when she thinks of the punishment that awaits her. 
 Well does she know what she will soon have to 
 endure; for it is not the first time she has been 
 unable to content her mistress. 
 
 And lo ! how the haughty woman turns her head 
 when she finds that her handmaiden hath relinquished 
 the severe task imposed on her. ' She scowls upon 
 her victim with an expression truly diabolical, — with 
 the eye of a tiger about to pounce on its prey, — and 
 having thus inflicted the preliminary pains of fear.
 
 PISO AND THE PR^EFECT. 59 
 
 she intimates by a sign to the ferocious African that 
 which she would have him do. The monster eagerly 
 approaches, flourishing his weapon in his hand. Fall- 
 ing on one knee, — not with the vain hope of moving 
 his compassion, but because her trembling limbs 
 refuse to bear her weight, — the wretched damsel 
 shrinks away from him, yet looks up in his face with 
 an expression of such intense terror, that were he a 
 free agent, it might perchance move his heart, and 
 avert the threatened punishment; but slave as he is 
 himself, he must not refuse to perform his cruel 
 office. Down comes the lash upon her naked arms 
 and shoulders ; blood follows every stroke, and the 
 vaulted roof of the apartment re-echoes with her 
 cries. # # # ^^ # 
 
 It was just at this interesting moment, that a light, 
 quick, springy step was heard upon the tessellated 
 pavement of the room ; presently afterwards, from 
 amongst the marble columns which sustained the 
 roof, a single female figure made its appearance, 
 advancing towards the spot occupied by the unhappy 
 slave and her tormentors. 
 
 The exterior of the intruder, — for such she seemed 
 to be considered by the great lady and the rest, — was 
 so striking and remarkable, as to demand something 
 like a particular description ; and although the writer 
 of this authentic narrative does not pique himself on
 
 GO FISO AND THE PRJSFECT. 
 
 his talent for portraying female loveliness, he will 
 endeavour to give the reader a certain notion of the 
 interesting individual thus presented to him for the 
 first time. To begin therefore with the beginning, 
 he will first treat of her head. 
 
 Her hair was of a colour seldom seen at Rome, or, 
 indeed, any where but in the most remote regions of 
 the north ; where, perhaps, by some such process of 
 nature as that which bleaches the fur of the ermine 
 during the prevalence of the winter snows, this 
 natural ornament sometimes assumes a hue scarcely 
 darker than the snow itself. Her long, wavy, silky 
 ringlets were, in fact, of the very lightest shade de- 
 signated by the word flaxen ; and such was their 
 abundance, that they not only shaded, but almost 
 completely covered the whole of her wide, rounded, 
 and magnificent shoulders, on each side ; which shoul- 
 ders, be it remarked, but for such a provision of 
 nature, would have been even more exposed by her 
 dress than those of a modern fine lady when attired 
 for a birth-day or a ball. Her eyes were of a hue 
 still more singular, and which the writers of the 
 period have endeavoured to describe by the word 
 cerulean*; a word which, however, is supposed to 
 
 * These were also the oculi herhei (eyes green as grass) of 
 Plautus.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 61 
 
 have been far from meaning the *' celesticj azure" of 
 broad daylight ; it was, rather, applied to the pale, 
 greenish tint not unfrequently visible in the evening 
 skies at sun-set. And should the fastidious reader 
 find fault with a green-eyed heroine, thoughtlessly 
 accusing her of too near a resemblance to the feline 
 race, it may at least be alleged in defence of the 
 peculiarity, that the " divine Shakspeare" has him- 
 self described the npble County Paris, as " a lovely 
 man with quick green eyes," and that several of his 
 contemporary dramatists have attributed the same 
 characteristic to the loveliest creations of their muse. 
 
 Proceeding regularly downwards, the nose of 
 my heroine is the next thing to be portrayed ; but I 
 shall not devote more words to this interesting 
 feature than can be helped. Let the reader be con- 
 tent to know that it was a nose of the most beau- 
 tiful proportions ; yet neither was it Greek nor 
 Roman ; it was not quite straight enough for the 
 one, nor sufficiently aquiline for the other. It was, 
 in fact, a nose a little turned up ; but the curvature 
 was of the slightest, the most graceful, and most 
 fascinating kind. 
 
 The lips follow the nose, and the teeth go with 
 the lips. But what can I say of either, but that 
 pearls, rubies, emeralds, and amethysts would have 
 looked paltry and uninteresting by their side.
 
 G2 PISO AND I'HE PRiEFECT. 
 
 And now for her skin — her incomparable skin. 
 How shall I describe it without injustice, and what 
 shall I liken it to without disparagement? Ivory 
 or alabaster, — snow, swansdown, or a powder-pufF, 
 might, indeed, be called in aid ; but little would they 
 avail me after all. Neither would it answer my 
 purpose to say that " the lily predominated over the 
 rose." Elegant and unhackneyed as the phrase is, 
 it would be far from conveying a just and adequate 
 notion of the peculiar fairness which I wish to repre- 
 sent ; for not only was the skin incomparably white, 
 soft, and delicate, but it also looked fresh, firm and 
 healthy, in an extraordinary degree ; while the 
 slight colour in the cheeks, neither resembling the 
 glow of heat, nor the flush of excitement, had a 
 steady, permanent appearance, which promised to 
 withstand the withering effects of even time itself. 
 This admirable skin had, moreover, the very sin- 
 gular quality of improving on a close inspection ; nay, 
 so fine and delicate was its grain, that it would al- 
 most have stood the test of examination with a 
 microscope. 
 
 Having thus despatched my heroine's face, I can- 
 not refrain from saying a few words concerning her 
 figure. As the present, however, is an age of 
 prudery, this is a subject upon which I well know I 
 must touch with the utmost tenderness and delicacy ;
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 63 
 
 nay, with as much care and caution as if I were 
 treading in the suspected neighbourhood of a trap. 
 I shall therefore say little more than that her stature 
 was of the tallest, and that though far from mascu- 
 linej she was proportionally stout ; that her shoul- 
 ders, which, as I have already observed, were con- 
 siderably exposed by her dress, sprung from the 
 throat on each side with a most graceful curve, with- 
 out having either too precipitous a *' fall," or the 
 opposite fault of too much angularity ; that her arms, 
 which though exquisitely fair, and of the most accu- 
 rate preportions, were, nevertheless, pretty tolerably 
 thick, partook of the substantial character of the 
 whole figure unto which they appertained, while the 
 bosom in their vicinity was of a beauty — of which 
 the less said the better. Both were, moreover, dis- 
 played with a liberality which in a more modern age 
 might have been thought to border upon the inde- 
 licate ; yet notwithstanding the scantiness of the 
 garb, so modest seemed the manners of the wearer, 
 that the most rigid of moralists could scarcely have 
 found fault with an arrangement evidently made 
 rather in compliance with established rules than from 
 eccentricity of taste. 
 
 The rest of the figure was in all things parallel with 
 what has been detailed. The hips were wide in pro- 
 portion to the shoulders ; the waist was taper, but not
 
 64 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 slender to tenuity, nor had it any appearance of being 
 forcibly compressed by stays ; there was a moderate 
 bend in the back ; the legs were sufficiently full, and 
 terminated in ankles, which, without the least ap- 
 proach to clumsiness, were just plump enough to 
 seem wholly destitute of bone. Neither were the 
 feet with which they were united, of a construction 
 at all less neat. The elevated instep, and the short 
 small heel, were seen in conjunction with toes more 
 like fingers than any thing else — so delicate was 
 their shape, and so unrestrained their motions, un- 
 shackled as they were by a stocking or a shoe. 
 
 The dress which adorned this remarkable figure 
 was formed of the finest woollen cloth, and exhibited 
 a variety of brilliant colours, tastefully disposed in 
 checks and spots. Though made without sleeves, 
 and leaving the upper part of the person a good deal 
 exposed, it nevertheless covered all the rest of the 
 body with broad, ample folds of drapery, which de- 
 scended as low as the knees, thus constituting a sort 
 of tunic, while the limbs beneath it were invested 
 with long, loose trowsers of the same stuff.* 
 
 * The party-coloured dress of the ancient Germans seems to 
 have borne a strong resemblance to the plaid, or tartan, of the 
 Scotch Highlanders as seen at present. The trews, or trowsers, 
 are also of very ancient origin ; — the kilt is a mere modern inno- 
 vation, not worth speaking of.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 65 
 
 It may easily be conceived that this singular- 
 looking personage claimed no alliance with the 
 swarthy sons of Italy. Fair, stately, and dignified 
 as she was, the meanest citizen of the empire would 
 have branded her with the appellation of a bar- 
 barian. Thusnelda was the daughter of a German 
 chieftain, and a captive or a hostage in the Prsefect's 
 house. 
 
 As she entered the presence of Laurentia Ogulnia, 
 the august wife of the Praefect, her countenance 
 was filled with an expression of extreme surprise, 
 mingled with disgust. Scarcely did she seem to 
 think it possible that a scene of such atrocious cruelty 
 could be enacted under the eye, and apparently with 
 the sanction of the noble dame before her. She 
 gazed at the victim of the scourge, then at her 
 gigantic torturer, and finally fixed her eye, with a 
 look of inquiry, upon the great lady herself. Nor, 
 strange to say, did that dignified individual endure 
 her scrutiny with the composure which she for the 
 most part displayed. Casting down her eyes, and 
 moving restlessly on her seat, she presented the ap- 
 pearance of one detected in the commission of some 
 unpardonable off*ence ; but it was only for an instant 
 that she was thus abashed; her confidence returned, 
 and she was herself again. Waving her hand with 
 an air of the loftiest afiability, she begged to be iu-
 
 66 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 formed for what reason her " dear Thusnelda" had 
 sought her presence ; and when told in reply, that 
 the interesting barbarian had been brought from her 
 chamber by the sound of screams, the origin of which 
 she was anxious to ascertain, she condescendingly 
 replied that she had been obliged to inflict a slight 
 punishment upon one of her domestic slaves, not 
 for a trifling off'ence, as might be supposed, but for a 
 crime of the first magnitude. Then rising from her 
 chair, and turning away from the questioner, she 
 commanded the African to withdraw from the apart- 
 ment, and indicated by a contemptuous motion of her 
 hand, that the slave Eudocia might do the same. 
 The miserable maiden rose with difficulty from the 
 ground, and wiping off* the blood from her lacerated 
 shoulders as she went, silently obeyed the not un- 
 welcome mandate. 
 
 Thusnelda was far from being well satisfied with 
 the explanation she had received. She could not 
 doubt that a most brutal punishment had been 
 inflicted upon one of her own sex, and she much 
 doubted whether the punishment had been deserved. 
 Nevertheless, as her entrance had aff'orded the suf- 
 ferer a respite, she deemed it best to stifle the expres- 
 sion of an indignation which she well knew she had 
 little right to vent, being herself but a prisoner, 
 though an honoured and respected one, in the palace.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. (>7 
 
 She was accordingly just about to retire from the 
 apartment, when Laurentia Ogulnia called her back, 
 and entreated her to remain with her during the few 
 minutes more which she said would be necessary for 
 the completion of her toilet. For the truth was, that 
 with all her haughtiness, the august Roman matron 
 was anxious to propitiate the barbarian nymph ; she 
 involuntarily respected the purity of a character so 
 unlike, and so superior to her own. 
 
 Yet such was the obtuseness of her intellect, that, 
 incapable of distinguishing between decorum and 
 impropriety, she now commenced a conversation far 
 more calculated to shock her hearer than to gratify 
 her ; detailing a variety of fashionable news, and 
 relating anecdotes of fashionable people no less scan- 
 dalous than improbable and absurd. Unconscious of 
 the difference between her companion and herself, 
 she seemed to suppose that the unsophisticated 
 daughter of the wilds would listen with delight to a 
 disquisition on the iniquities of the metropolis, and 
 behold with admiration the possessor of knowledge 
 and information so much more extensive than her own. 
 While, therefore, she discoursed on a variety of the 
 most abominable themes, her eyes sparkled and her 
 cheeks glowed ; for she gloried in the thoughts of the 
 reverential feelings which she was exciting in the 
 bosom of her friend. Nor did any thing happen to
 
 68 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 undeceive her ; the astonished maiden stood silent by 
 her side ; and engrossed as she was with the interest 
 of her subject, she failed to observe the expression of 
 a countenance which might, otherwise, have served 
 to inform her of the signal displeasure with which 
 her strange communications were received. The 
 scales therefore fell not from her eyes, and she con- 
 tinued to enjoy the pleasures of her mistake. She 
 grew warmer by degrees ; she reached the point of 
 rapture ; and at last, holding forth in a strain of 
 enthusiasm which would admit of no control, she 
 descanted on the passing occurrences of the day with 
 a boldness of phraseology not to be described, and in 
 a manner so diffusive, that she at once comprehended 
 the most opposite and incongruous themes within the 
 limits of her discourse : politics and play-going, con- 
 spiracies and bacchanalian revels, amatory intrigues, 
 and the worship of the gods, formed but a small part 
 of the tedious and almost interminable list. 
 
 At length, forsaking these heterogeneous themes, 
 the whole flood of her eloquence was directed towards 
 those gladiatorial exhibitions which had once been so 
 fashionable, and which still continued to be regarded 
 with enthusiasm by certain members of the old school, 
 who adhered to the customs of their forefathers. 
 
 '* I confess," said she, when she had thus got into 
 the vein, '^ that I still retain a strong predilection for
 
 PISO AND THE PR-EFECT. 69 
 
 the manly sports of the arena; I think that they 
 fostered a warlike spirit in the people ; and T cannot 
 but suspect that the disrepute into which they have 
 fallen latterly, may rather be attributed to the effemi- 
 nacy than to the increasing humanity of the times. 
 Why, indeed, should we be so much more scrupulous 
 than our forefathers ? The most moral of the an- 
 cients are well known to have countenanced these 
 martial sports. Marcus Brutus, the tyrannicide, a 
 man no less remarkable for his philanthropy than for 
 his patriotism, was the first who exhibited a fight of 
 gladiators at Rome, and that too upon a very melan- 
 choly occasion, for he caused a great number of 
 armed slaves to slay each other before the funeral 
 pile of his father, under the idea that the Manes of 
 the deceased would be propitiated by the sacrifice. 
 T do not mean to allege that his conduct was deserving 
 of a literal imitation : I think that gladiatorial com- 
 bats are more fit for the amphitheatre than for the 
 burying-ground. But I am unquestionably of opinion, 
 that if so illustrious an individual, — to say nothing of 
 others scarcely less renowned, — countenanced and 
 encouraged such warlike spectacles, the puny mortals 
 of our own times can have little reason to disparage 
 them ; — nor, indeed, perhaps would they do so, were 
 it not for the pernicious doctrines of the Cliristians, — 
 a sect now rapidly increasing in all parts of the
 
 70 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 empire, — which inculcate such sneaking notions 
 about the wickedness of spilling blood, that I should 
 not be surprised if our remote descendants were to 
 eschew all weapons but their own fists, and pommel 
 each other to their heart's content without committing 
 murder. 
 
 '' However," continued the lady, " though these 
 pursuits have now in some measure fallen into disuse, 
 and are seldom practised in public, I assure you, 
 my dear Thusnelda, they are far from being wholly 
 abandoned. The noble science of defence is still 
 taught in private, and acquired at the expense of 
 vast labour by many persons of both sexes, often the 
 most distinguished in the empire. I confess to you 
 I am one of them myself. I have long studied to 
 obtain a knowledge of this beautiful art, and I flatter 
 myself that under the tuition of one of the most 
 celebrated Lanistae in the city, I have at length become 
 so accomplished a swordswoman, as only to be se- 
 condary to my renowned master himself. And in 
 order that you may not suppose this assertion of 
 mine to be a vain boast (for I scorn the character 
 of a braggart), I will now, my sweet girl, afford you 
 a specimen of my skill, which, though practised 
 against an inanimate antagonist, will, I hope, serve 
 to convince you of the great things I could perform 
 were I opposed to a living one."
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 71 
 
 So saying, the Amazonian matron tucked up her 
 dressing-gown in such a manner as to form a sort of 
 kilt, which descended no lower than her knees, and 
 left the legs beneath at liberty. Then calling for 
 her " arms," in a loud, hoarse voice, (which she 
 assumed in imitation of a gladiator's) a sword and a 
 buckler were presented to her by an attendant; and 
 furnished with these, she placed herself in a scientific 
 attitude, standing with her right foot somewhat ad- 
 vanced, and the left drawn back, so as to preserve 
 the equilibrium of her whole body. That done, she 
 flourished her blade, and to the utter consternation 
 of Thusnelda, vigorously attacked a Doric column 
 in her vicinity, beating and battering it with such 
 force that the wounded marble flew off* in chips at 
 every stroke which she bestowed. Meanwhile, as 
 she fought, she kept constantly varying her position ; 
 leaping about from side to side — approaching at one 
 moment, and retreating at another ; fixing her eyes, 
 as if watching the motions of her foe — bending down 
 her head, as if endeavouring to avoid his blows, and 
 occasionally giving utterance to a loud deep *' hah !" 
 as she made the most effective of her lunges. 
 
 By degrees her spirits became so much excited, 
 that she seemed to forget the scientific delibera- 
 tion with which she had commenced, and struck 
 out wildly at her antagonist, as if she thought
 
 72 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 to subdue him by a blind ferocity, unaided by the 
 efforts of her skill. Dreadful were her thrusts and 
 passes ; annihilating were her cuts and blows ; she 
 fought with the desperation of a mad woman, and 
 wholly intent upon the subjugation of her enemy, so 
 far overlooked her own safety as to stretch forth her 
 buckler-arm, and leave the major part of her person 
 unprotected. Yet no ill consequences resulted from 
 her indiscretion. Conscious of his own strength, 
 and certain of the hardness of his own sides, her 
 colossal adversary scorned to take advantage of her 
 imprudence. He evidently despised her puny efforts, 
 and laughed at the manifestations of her useless 
 wrath. 
 
 But this coolness on the part of the foe rather 
 served to exasperate than to mollify her. Either 
 mistaking its origin, and supposing that it rose from 
 a want of pluck, or divining the true cause, and 
 being unable to stomach the contempt which it 
 evinced, the fury of her soul at length attained a 
 point little short of insanity. Stamping with her 
 feet, and almost foaming at the mouth, she endea- 
 voured to provoke him by the most bitter taunts, to 
 retaliate. 
 
 " Come on, ye coward !" she exclaimed, in a voice 
 choked with passion, '* come on, dastard, if ye dare, 
 and receive the punishment ye merit ! Ah, hah !
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 73 
 
 ye villain, do you fear me ? Do you shrink from 
 the arm of an unprotected woman ? Down, then, 
 like a dog, and confess yourself subdued ! Grovel 
 on the ground, while I trample on your breast in 
 triumph !" 
 
 Thus did she run on with astonishing volubility, 
 displaying no less skill in the art of vituperation than 
 she had already shown in the science of defence. 
 But she wasted her breath to no purpose, and ex- 
 pended her epithets of abuse upon one who was 
 either too politic or too contemptuous to reply. 
 
 Meanwhile, Thusnelda stood watching her with 
 feelings which at first partook of wonder and disgust, 
 but which afterwards assumed the milder aspect oi 
 contempt, not unmingled with amusement. She saw 
 with astonishment a noble dame, by no means re- 
 markable for her loveliness, nor in the flower of her 
 age, but well known for her haughtiness, and her 
 high estimation of herself, suddenly assume the cha- 
 racter of a gladiator, and fall upon a lifeless adversary 
 with a hardihood and perseverance worthy of a better 
 cause. Nor was the absurdity of the scene dimi- 
 nished by the solemnity with which the female war- 
 rior went to work, and the signal importance which 
 she very evidently attached to the whole affair. Her 
 countenance preserved its wonted gravity, even while 
 she was the most vehement in her exertions, and she 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 74 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 appeared totally unconscious that there could be any- 
 thing" which savoured of the ridiculous in her own 
 conduct throughout. 
 
 It was, therefore, with the utmost difficulty that, 
 as the affair went on, Thusnelda could suppress the 
 risibility which it excited. She gazed at the gro- 
 tesque figure of her hostess, — her streaming hair and 
 short thick limbs, — her inflamed visage and disor- 
 dered dress, — till the absurdity of the exhibition 
 struck her so forcibly, that she would inevitably have 
 committed a breach of good manners by indulging in 
 a laugh, had she not contrived to take possession of a 
 sprig of bay-tree, which formed part of a bouquet upon 
 a neighbouring sideboard, and allay her disposition 
 to mirthfulness by chewing its bitter and unpalatable 
 leaves between -her teeth.* ' 
 
 Wearied by her exertions, Laurentia Ogulnia at 
 length desisted from ber occupation, and throwing 
 herself into a chair, ber attendants proceeded to en- 
 velope her in a large, rough, shaggy cloak of a peculiar 
 fabric, called an eiidromis, and commonly made use of 
 by professional fencers to prevent them from getting 
 cool too quickly after exercise. She then sat motion- 
 
 * This expedient is said to have been found useful by the 
 spectators when the Emperor Commodus exhibited himself in the 
 public games ; — they chewed bay or laurel leaves, to prevent 
 themselves from laughing at him.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 75 
 
 less for some minutes, blowing like a grampus, and 
 rolling her eyes after a strange unearthly fashion to 
 behold. But in spite of her exhaustion, her organs 
 of speech were far too vigorous to be long incapaci- 
 tated ; and addressing Thusnelda in a voice inter- 
 rupted by incessant pants, — 
 
 ** I am really quite ashamed," said she, '* that 
 you should see me thus fatigued. It looks like effe- 
 minacy, and may be thought incompatible with the 
 character of an experienced swordswoman. But the 
 truth is, that I have not of late been sufficiently par- 
 ticular about my diet. I have indulged myself in 
 various sorts of food, instead of eating nothing but 
 colipJiia, which, as perhaps you know, — though I 
 must say, my dear young friend, your ignorance is 
 deplorable in all such matters, — are a kind of unlea- 
 vened cakes made of flour and cheese, very unpalat- 
 able it must be owned, but so nutritious and good for 
 the wind, that we who are gladiators should eat 
 nothing else. I confess, indeed, that it is hard upon 
 a woman nursed in the lap of luxury to forsake all 
 her early habits, and adopt so abominable a regimen ; 
 she is exposed to temptations almost irresistible, 
 when seated at a table groaning under delicacies of 
 which she is forbidden to partake. Nevertheless it 
 is her duty to persevere. It is the price which she 
 pays for her renown ; and she ought not to regret 
 e2
 
 76 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 sufferings which may be recompensed by immor- 
 tality." 
 
 After this apologetic speech, which the heroine 
 seemed to think requisite to clear her character, she 
 rose solemnly from her seat, and recommenced the 
 business of the toilet. 
 
 Having- again placed herself before the glass, she 
 proceeded to scrape off the medicated paste with 
 which her whole face had been encrusted over-night, 
 in order to preserve the delicacy of her skin, or at least 
 to prevent it from becoming more coarse, hideous, 
 and horrible than nature had intended it to be. Then 
 calling for asses' milk, — that most celebrated of clas- 
 sical cosmetics, and to have which in abundance 
 many of the ladies of the period maintained whole 
 herds of long-eared beasts, — a gigantic ewer filled 
 with the precious fluid, and accompanied by a basin 
 of proportionable magnitude, was presented for her 
 use. Provided with these, she washed off the re- 
 sidue of the paste which still adhered to her skin ; 
 laved by turns her hands, her arms, her bosom, and 
 her neck ; and thought herself at the conclusion of 
 the lustral ceremony, the most sweet, fragrant, and 
 fascinating little creature in the world. 
 
 The united efforts of her numerous attendants at 
 last effected that which the miserable Eudocia had 
 been unable singly to perform. They raised on her
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 77 
 
 head such a tower of curls, that a hasty observer 
 would probably have been doubtful what had become 
 of her face. A more careful inspection, however, 
 would have enabled him to judge, that it occupied in 
 reality the very centre of her person ; one moiety 
 of the same being placed above, and the other half 
 below it. 
 
 Doffing her dressing-gown, she next proceeded to 
 wind herself up from the hips to the bosom, in a kind 
 of strong supple bandages, called fascicB, like those 
 worn on the legs of the men, and intended to supply 
 the want of stays, as the latter were substituted 
 for inexpressibles; a contrivance which had a con- 
 siderable effect in disguising the clumsiness of her 
 figure, and prevented it from looking so hideous as 
 might have been expected when she finally assumed 
 her milk-white stole, and thus exhibited herself in 
 the same garb which had been worn in the days of the 
 chaste Lucretia. 
 
 And now came the jewels ; — those splendid bau- 
 bles, to obtain which (if the scandal of the times may 
 be credited) many of the noblest dames in Rome had 
 been known to sacrifice more than their good name. 
 How brilliant were the pendants inserted in her ears ! 
 And, lo ! they were the gift of an eastern prince, 
 who whilom regarded her with the purest brotherly 
 affection, and for whom she entertained an equally
 
 78 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 platonic love. The rich pearl necklace which she 
 put on next, was derived from a very different source: 
 she received it as a propitiatory offering from the Pro- 
 consul of Africa, who being threatened with an im- 
 peachment for certain malpractices, was anxious to 
 secure her husband's favour ; the strange-looking 
 ornament attached to it in front, she received from 
 the hands of a crafty Egyptian priest, but whether 
 as a gift or by purchase, the public had never ascer- 
 tained. 
 
 At length the decoration of her whole person was 
 completed, and nothing could be more gorgeous than 
 the appearance she exhibited. Her head-gear was 
 piled up to an unprecedented height ; her eyes 
 shone in their sockets, from the effects of the anti- 
 mony, like a couple of burning coals ; and her 
 waist was so unnaturally compressed that it scarcely 
 exceeded the dimensions of a wasp's. Her domestics 
 stood gazing at her open-mouthed ; lost in wonder at 
 her surpassing loveliness, and filled with surprise at 
 the alteration which their own labours had brought 
 about ; for from one of the least attractive of her 
 sex she had now, in their opinion, become one of the 
 most beautiful, and as such they knew she would also 
 be considered by the illlustrious company amongst 
 whom she was to mix. For strange as it may appear 
 to the unobservant, this noble dame, ordinary as in
 
 PISO AND THE PR.EFECT. 79 
 
 fact she was, had obtained the reputation of a first- 
 rate beauty, nay, was very generally regarded by her 
 contemporaries as something little inferior to a living 
 Venus. This character she had acquired at an early 
 age ; partly in consequence of her good luck, partly 
 on account of the audacity with which she had laid 
 claim to it, partly through the influence of her wealth 
 and station ; but principally, from the insensibility 
 of the multitude to that which constitutes real love- 
 liness ; and having once established a name, she had 
 afterwards preserved it for above a quarter of a cen- 
 tury with undeviating success. 
 
 While this celebrated beauty, surrounded by her 
 attendants, stood admiring herself in the glass, and 
 discoursing about her own charms, the attention of 
 the whole party was suddenly attracted by the sound 
 of voices, which seemed to proceed from some remote 
 quarter of the house ; whereupon, relinquishing the 
 employment in which she was engaged, the august 
 lady seized Thusnelda by the arm, and led her from 
 the chamber into an adjacent corridor, whence they 
 proceeded down a broad staircase towards the rooms 
 on the ground-floor. Presently, as they went, the 
 voices became more audible, and the words of the 
 chief speaker, when uttered with peculiar emphasis, 
 articulate. ** Oh, Jupiter !" he was heard to say, 
 (for the interlocutor was evidently of the male sex,
 
 80 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 his accents being deep, hoarse, and guttural) — " Ob, 
 Jupiter, father of gods and men, look down upon a 
 poor unhappy mortal, and grant him a pot suffi- 
 ciently capacious for his wants I" 
 
 Just as this strange apostrophe was finished, Lau- 
 rentia Ogulnia and her companion entered the pre- 
 sence of its devout utterer, who stood in the centre 
 of a vast hall, or atrium, with his hands clasped 
 together in an attitude of entreaty, and his eyes 
 fixed steadfastly upon the ceiling : three or four 
 individuals, known by their dress to be professors of 
 the culinary art, were seen stationed at a respectful 
 distance, bearing in their hands a mighty fish, round 
 as the full moon, and whiter than the snows of 
 Caucasus. 
 
 No sooner did he perceive the entrance of the 
 ladies, than the Prsefect Vitalianus, — for it was the 
 great man himself, — made a sudden rush towards 
 them, and addressing them with frantic vehemence, 
 entreated their attention to the unprecedented di- 
 lemma in which it was his misfortune to be involved. 
 
 ** Behold that fish !" he exclaimed, and he wildly 
 pointed at it as he spoke, '* fat, fair, and delicate as 
 it is, it must be wasted ! Instead of delighting the 
 discriminating palate of an epicure, it will be rejected 
 by the dogs as off'al." 
 
 ** Oh, horrible profanation !" responded his august
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 81 
 
 spouse, sympathising in his distress ; ** but never can 
 it be necessary ! Surely, O Vitalianus, you are only 
 endeavouring to lead me astray, and give me a 
 fright. Explain yourself, my friend ; and that too, 
 distinctly, though with brevity." 
 
 ** Dearest woman, I will do so," replied the affec- 
 tionate husband ; '* your curiosity is natural, and 
 should be indulged. Happy is he, who in the midst 
 of his distress, is soothed by the attentions of so fond 
 a wife." 
 
 " True," said the lady : '' but come, come, tell me 
 about the fish ; your compliments may be reserved 
 till I am more at leisure to listen to them." 
 
 '' Well, then," replied the Praefect, *' thus stands 
 the case. Scarcely had I risen from your side an 
 hour ago, and commenced my morning meal — which, 
 as you know, my love, is for the most part one of the 
 very slightest kind, merely consisting of a few pounds 
 of grapes, a hundred or two of peaches, some dozens 
 of melons, and three or four hundred oysters, — 
 scarcely, I say, had I commenced this moderate 
 repast, when my chamberlain came to inform me that 
 a certain stranger had arrived at the palace, who 
 demanded an immediate audience. The boldness of 
 the requisition I must say, at first quite startled me, 
 and I felt not only inclined to reject it with contempt, 
 e5
 
 8*2 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 but to inflict some severe punishment upon the pre- 
 sumptuous wretch by whom it had been made. Re- 
 membering, however, the great urgency of state 
 affairs, and that the visitor might really have business 
 to transact with me that it would be imprudent to neg- 
 lect, I resolved to admit him to my august presence." 
 
 ** I suppose," interrupted Laurentia Ogulnia, 
 '^ you thought he was come with a bribe." 
 
 Her husband gave utterance to a chuckling laugh, 
 and continued his narrative as follows : 
 
 ** Having issued my orders to the domestics, I 
 accordingly repaired to this atrium, where, as you 
 know, I am in the -habit of receiving people who 
 come to me on business ; and it so fell out, that as I 
 entered through one door from the interior of the 
 house, I saw the stranger approaching through 
 another opposite. His appearance was that of a 
 seafaring man, and he was closely followed by several 
 other persons of the same class, loaded with a basket 
 of immense size, which their united efforts scarcely 
 enabled them to support. Advancing with an air of 
 confidence, he halted within a yard of my person, 
 and saluted me in a manner which, though bluff, was 
 by no means deficient in respect. Then, • without 
 waiting to be questioned, he proceeded to explain 
 that he was a poor fisherman from the Aquilian Gulf, 
 who had lately had the good fortune to capture a
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 83 
 
 rhombus* of unprecedented bulk. ' Over sea and 
 land/ said he, *for many a weary mile, have I 
 brought it to your door ; yet it is still fresh and 
 taintless as when I first drew it from the deep. 
 Deign, then, to accept it as a tribute from your 
 slave, — as the gift of the gods, — as the just reward 
 of your merit. Your fame, as an epicure, extends to 
 the remotest corners of the earth : it is alike known 
 on the burning plains of Africa, and on the stormy 
 coasts of Britain. Then to whom, great sir, could I 
 so appropriately make an offering of this inestimable 
 treasure of the ocean ?' " 
 
 " How very complimentary !" exclaimed the great 
 dame. 
 
 ** I confess," resumed the Praefect, *' that I was 
 not a little gratified when I heard this speech ; for 
 despising its flattery as I did, I could not be insensi- 
 ble to the advantages of receiving so handsome a 
 present at the very moment when I most stood in 
 need of it. I therefore requested that the basket 
 might be unpacked, and its contents exposed to view. 
 My desire was of course complied with ; the mighty 
 fish was extracted from its repository, and displayed 
 upon the ground. Yet, highly as my expectations had 
 been raised, I confess that I was astonished at the 
 
 * Probably the lurbot of our own times.
 
 84 PISO AND THE PRJilFECT. 
 
 splendour of the spectacle thus presented to me for 
 the first time. I beheld a rhombus of unparalleled 
 dimensions, yet less remarkable for its size than for 
 its symmetry of shape, purity of hue, and fragrancy 
 of odour. It indeed smelt like all the spices of the 
 East, and looked like an orb of cygnet's down. Oh 
 how my enraptured eye kept wandering over it ! — 
 now resting on the head, — anon glancing at. the tail, 
 — then dwelling on the gills or fins, — and still seeing 
 nothing to find fault with. How often I devoured it 
 in thought ! How often did I cut (in imagination) 
 the first delicious slice ! But then, again, I reflected 
 that hours must elapse before the actual season of 
 enjoyment, and sighing as I did for the moment of 
 fruition, 1 yet trembled to think of the tremendous 
 raptures which must then agitate my soul!" 
 
 '* Oh, Praefect, how beautiful is your description !" 
 cried his admiring wife. ** It makes my mouth 
 water (cedepol) and my stomach yearn to hear it ! 
 Of a verity, the ennobling nature of your theme has 
 inspired you with unwonted eloquence." 
 
 "My enthusiasm having somewhat subsided," con- 
 tinued the epicure, " I ordered a handsome reward 
 to be given to the fisherman, promising to bestow 
 some more signal mark of my favour upon him when- 
 ever I should have an opportunity of doing so. And 
 I fully intend to perform this promise ; nor need you
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 85 
 
 be surprised, O Laurentia, should you find this 
 worthy person raised hereafter to the highest ofiices 
 in the state ; even honoured with the consulship, or 
 the government of a province." 
 
 ** Hui /" exclaimed the lady, *' stultus es — you are 
 a fool." 
 
 •* Having thus displayed my generosity," resumed 
 the object of her abuse, ** I called our cooks together, 
 and consigned the rhombus to their care, enjoining 
 them to dress it with all possible expedition for the 
 approaching banquet. They, of course, promised the 
 most implicit obedience to my commands. Then, 
 lifting up the monster with the tenderness of a 
 mother handling her new-born babe, they bore it into 
 the kitchen by the united efforts of their strength. 
 But now mark the sequel. * No sooner did they at- 
 tempt the indispensable ceremony of seething it on 
 the fire, than they found to their horror, that the 
 establishment was unprovided with a pot of sufficient 
 capacity for the purpose !" 
 
 *' EheiL ! how distressing!" sighed the Praefect's 
 wife ; " and what did the poor men do when thus 
 baffled in their attempt?" 
 
 ** After some delay," resumed Vitalianus, ** the 
 ohsonatoVf or chief clerk of the kitchen, plucked up 
 courage, and told his comrades that he would take 
 upon himself to make me acquainted with the cause
 
 S6 piso AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 of their distress. This offer, as you may easily con- 
 ceive, they accepted with great readiness, under the 
 idea that their companion would have to bear the 
 whole brunt of my indignation, while they should 
 themselves get off with, perhaps, nothing worse than 
 a moderate rebuke. Addressing himself to the task, 
 therefore, he crept trembling from the kitchen, (fol- 
 lowed however at a distance by the rest, loaded 
 with the fish,) and having sought my august pre- 
 sence, proceeded to unfold his tale, in the most con- 
 ciliatory language he could frame, saying much in 
 vindication of his colleagues, as well as of himself, 
 and endeavouring to exonerate the whole party from 
 the charge of mismanagement or neglect, to which 
 he knew they might be exposed. Yet in spite of 
 these precautions, I ccfnfess I was almost incensed 
 to madness when I first heard the news. I could 
 not control my indignation, nor restrain the trans- 
 ports of my wrath. I roared like a mad bull — I 
 stamped on the floor till I shook the whole house, — I 
 threatened to tear the miserable wretch to pieces. 
 In vain did he assert that the present was an un- 
 precedented case ; that so vast a fish having never 
 at any former period been extricated from the deep, 
 it was impossible to have anticipated the want of such 
 a huge vessel to boil it in. Nothing could appease or 
 mollify me. I threatened the offender with all sorts
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 87 
 
 of pains and penalties — scoffed at his excuses — and 
 replied to the last by saying, that as a parallel case 
 might be found in the history of Domitian, my cooks 
 should have been prepared for its recurrence." 
 
 " That was a home-thrust, at any rate," said Lau- 
 rentia Ogulnia, " and how did the culprit answer 
 it?" 
 
 " He did not attempt to make any reply at all," 
 said the great man ; " I had silenced him, and he 
 stood staring at me like a fool." 
 
 *' Well done, by Hercules !" exclaimed the refined 
 female, in a loud voice. 
 
 " Seeing him thus brought to a stand," continued 
 the orator, ** I had not the heart to press him further : 
 my wrath had, indeed, by this time somewhat eva- 
 porated, and my ire given place to melancholy. 
 From complaints and reproaches I proceeded to 
 lamentations ; and it was truly distressing to observe 
 the poignancy of my grief. The humane cook, (for 
 he is not uncompassionate after all) shed tears of 
 sympathy, and addressing me soothingly, begged 
 leave to suggest as a remedy, that the vast fish should 
 be divided into four equal parts, and a pot appro- 
 priated to each." 
 
 " And what did you reply to that ?" asked the 
 matron, eagerly ; *'in my humble opinion it was a 
 suggestion well worth attending to."
 
 88 PI80 AND. THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 " I rejected it with disdain,'' cried the disinterested 
 epicure ; " I declared that it was an infamous pro- 
 position, and that nothing should induce me to con- 
 sent to the dismemberment of so grand a fish." 
 
 Laurentia Ogulnia shrank within herself. She 
 stood self-convicted in her own opinion, and felt that 
 she must have forfeited the esteem of the noble- 
 minded man before her. She saw by his frowns that 
 he regarded her with contempt ; that he despised 
 her for her littleness of soul ; and would have told 
 her as much, but for his courtesy. She feared that, 
 in his scorn, he would write her a bill of divorce, 
 repudiating her from his bed, and stamping her with 
 infamy for ever. 
 
 It very naturally therefore became her object to 
 atone for the fault she had committed, in the best way 
 she could ; and as she saw that her husband had dis- 
 continued his narrative, either because he had really 
 brought it to a close, or because he was too much 
 disgusted with the grovelling spirit of his hearer to 
 proceed, the idea occurred to her that she should in 
 no way be so likely to reinstate herself in his good 
 opinion, (for which she was now much more anxious 
 than in ordinary, on account of the admiration with 
 which he had inspired her by his noble sentiments,) 
 as by devising a remedy for the disaster which had 
 vexed and puzzled him so much. Revolving the
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 89 
 
 matter in her mind accordingly for this purpose, it 
 was not long ere her fertile and feminine imagina- 
 tion suggested an expedient, which, if not alto- 
 gether unobjectionable, at least seemed better than 
 suffering the fish to be wasted, or condemning its 
 beautiful proportions to be marred by the knife. She 
 advised that the treasure should be broiled or 
 roasted over a slow fire. Nothing, she protested, 
 but imperative necessity should have induced her to 
 prescribe that method of dressing a rhombus, which 
 she acknowledged to be incorrect, although there were 
 many mitigating circumstances which prevented it 
 from being wholly rejected by the professors of gastro- 
 nomy ; but as there did not appear to be any less ob- 
 jectionable alternative, she ventured to submit it to 
 the notice of her lord and master. The craticulce, or 
 gridirons in the kitchen might not, indeed, be large 
 enough singly for the purpose, but she thought that by 
 connecting some dozens of them together, a sufficient 
 extent of surface might be obtained. 
 
 No sooner was this bright expedient communi- 
 cated to the Praefect, than his whole countenance 
 changed, and instead of an expression of the deepest 
 gloom, assumed a cast of gaiety. The corners of his 
 mouth, before drawn down, were now elevated to- 
 wards his eyes, and the eyes themselves sparkled with 
 the brilliancy of a pair of glow-worms. He em-
 
 90 pIso and the prefect. 
 
 braced his amiable adviser with all the enthusiasm 
 of love, supervening on admiration, and he confessed, 
 while he hung upon her neck, and bedewed her cheek 
 with his tears, that she had raised him on a sudden 
 from the lowest abyss of misery, to the highest point 
 of sublunary happiness. Then turning to the oh- 
 sonator, who still stood trembling by his side, he 
 commanded him to act upon the suggestions of his 
 noble mistress, and enforced the order by swearing 
 in the name of " Jupiter and twelve other gods," to 
 have him crucified alive unless he punctually per- 
 formed his task. Thus ended for the present this 
 moment ousbusiness ; and thus by an effort of her 
 own mighty mind, did Laurentia Ogulnia overcome 
 a difficulty which had once staggered the wisdom of 
 an emperor and a whole senate.* 
 
 * In the case of Domitian already alluded to. Vid. Juv. Sat. 4.
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 91 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE GREAT MAN AND HIS GUESTS. 
 
 The affair of the rhombus being settled in a manner 
 so satisfactory to himself and so much to the credit 
 of his spouse, the Praetorian Praefect decorated his 
 person with extraordinary care ; which done, he 
 repaired to the great hall of the palace, and began to 
 perambulate its vast extent with a degree of solem- 
 nity very suitable to the grandeur of his character, 
 and the magnificence of the place. With measured 
 steps and folded arms, did he stalk repeatedly from 
 one end of the apartment to the other, exhibiting 
 himself in all points of view as he went, and thus 
 affording me an excellent opportunity of delineating 
 his outward man. 
 
 He appeared to be a person about fifty years of 
 age, somewhat above the middle height, and more 
 than proportionably bulky. His features, which 
 were naturally good, had perhaps suffered a little
 
 92 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 from the effects of a jovial life ; thus a nose which had 
 once been aquiline, had now assumed a lumpish form 
 and variegated colour. His cheeks, too, were singu- 
 larly rubicund, and so oddly distended about the 
 region of the jaws as to make them in some sort 
 resemble the alforjas of a monkey. A weight, ex- 
 pressive of a drowsy temperament, seemed to rest 
 upon his eye-lids, but the brightness of the orbs 
 beneath, neither time nor luxury had been able to 
 subdue. The crown of his head would have been 
 bald but for a wig,* and his brow was marked with 
 wrinkles. 
 
 His dress was an ample tunic ; so ample indeed as 
 to reach down to his ankles, and provided with 
 sleeves of so unreasonable a length as to be fastened 
 round his wrists with bracelets. This dress, though 
 but recently introduced in the metropolis, had already 
 superseded almost every other garb, and such was 
 its popularity, that it seemed destined to become at 
 no distant period the universal costume of the nation. 
 The long white gowns which had distinguished the 
 citizens of the republic, had fallen into disuse under 
 the early emperors, and the short close tunics, origin- 
 ally designed to be worn underneath them, had been 
 adopted in their stead. But as all sublunary things 
 
 * Perukes were often used at Rome by the bald of both sexes, 
 old and young.
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 93 
 
 are liable to mutation, this new apparel was ere long 
 in its turn voted vulgar and indecorous : the skirt 
 was too short for decency, as it only reached the 
 knees ; and though this objection was obviated for a 
 time by a contrivance intended to supply the want of 
 small-clothes,* much fault still continued to be found 
 with the brevity of the sleeves, which did not even 
 reach the elbow, and left the whole arm below it naked . 
 The skirts and the sleeves were both therefore 
 augmented in length, while their fullness was propor- 
 tionably increased at the same time ; and thus, after 
 the lapse of several successive centuries, during 
 which they kept constantly growing wider and longer 
 by degrees, they at last assumed a striking resem- 
 blance to those ample petticoats and mighty gigots 
 appropriated in our own times to the exclusive use of 
 the fair sex. 
 
 Thus attired in the very height of the mode, the 
 great man commenced his promenade ; but he had 
 not extended it to the distance of a quarter of a mile, 
 which, allowing for the turnings at each end of the 
 room, might have occupied about seven minutes in 
 the performance, when his guests began to drop in. 
 For " persons of quality" in those days, had notions 
 of gentility quite peculiar to themselves, and contrary 
 
 '* The fascia; or bands, already alluded to in the description 
 of " our hero."
 
 94 
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 to the custom of modern times, an entertainment 
 was reckoned fashionable in proportion to the earli- 
 ness of the hour at which it was celebrated. This 
 may partly have arisen from the habits of abstinence 
 which prevailed amongst the lower classes of the 
 people. The vulgar, from choice or necessity, were 
 accustomed to eat only one meal a-day, which they 
 commonly postponed till sunset, when their labours 
 being over, they were enabled to enjoy it without 
 interruption ; their superiors, therefore, used to ban- 
 quet at noon, or even earlier, in order to distinguish 
 themselves from the mob. 
 
 First entered several graceful youths of equestrian 
 rank, — fops too of the first order, — priding them- 
 selves on their exclusiveness, and anxious to prove 
 the refinement of their manners, by arriving before 
 the rest of the company. They were dressed in a 
 style no less indelicate than absurd, and strongly in 
 contrast with the decent garb of their host. They 
 wore the multicia, or sericce vestes ; long, loose, flow- 
 ing robes, ample indeed as to width, but of so fine a 
 texture as to be transparent, being in fact, made of 
 the finest muslins imported from the East. These 
 strange garments, — reprobated by the moralists, and 
 satirised by the poets of antiquity, — had probably been 
 brought into fashion some centuries before ; for it
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 95 
 
 is placed on record that Ptolemy Physcon,^ king of 
 Egypt, was found arrayed in one of them when Scipio 
 Africanus visited him on an embassy ; and as the 
 customs of the East were commonly introduced at 
 Rome with all possible despatch, it is not to be sup- 
 posed that the followers of the ambassador would 
 have neglected so good an opportunity of signalizing 
 themselves on their return, by imitating the ap- 
 parel of the monarch at whose court they had 
 sojourned. We are assured, indeed, that the envoy 
 himself was disgusted at the puppyism of the 
 Egyptian potentate, and that he could hardly con- 
 ceal his indignation at the sight of a short, squat 
 prince, with bandy legs, and a bloated carcase, wad- 
 dling through the streets of his capital, clad in a 
 muslin gown. But these feelings of the ambassador 
 may not have been shared in by his attendants ; nor 
 is it unreasonable to suppose that they may have 
 admired a costume so original and new, and infected 
 their countrymen on their return, with the same 
 strange taste. 
 
 But however this be, it is certain that the custom 
 crept into the empire by degrees, and that although 
 the softer sex, in their passion for improvement, 
 were the first to adopt it, the innovation was at last 
 
 * So called from the prominency of that part of his person 
 known in the Fives Court as " the bread-basket."
 
 96 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 sanctioned by the men. Not that it was ever very 
 generally in vogue, or authorized by universal pa- 
 tronage. It was always confined to a few exquisites, 
 more remarkable for their efi'eminacy than for their 
 good taste. It is true that Juvenal has reproached 
 a judge with sitting on his tribunal in a transparent 
 vest ; and that Seneca has accused the fashionable 
 ladies of his times with a similar impropriety. But 
 these are questionable authorities ; the one having 
 spoken with the licence of a satirist, and the other 
 with the exaggeration of a puritan. A more trust- 
 worthy evidence is, perhaps, to be found in those 
 medals and intaglios which have come down to us, 
 representing several distinguished personages of both 
 sexes, in this extraordinary dress. Amongst others, 
 we have, for example, the empress Faustina, the 
 depraved wife of the virtuous Aurelius, who is por- 
 trayed upon a medal still extant, in a multicium of 
 the lightest fabric, which displays her whole person 
 with a freedom not to be described. Had it not 
 been for such testimonies as these, we might have 
 supposed that a thin robe of silk or muslin was oc- 
 casionally worn over some thicker garment, accord- 
 ing to the usage of our own times. But thus wit- 
 nessed by a pictorial representation, the fact appears 
 unquestionable, that a web of perfectly transparent 
 gauze was sometimes adopted by the Roman fa-
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 97 
 
 shionables a& their exclusive dress. Faustina was 
 indeed one of the vilest of her sex, but she was also 
 an individual of the highest rank, and it is hardly to 
 be supposed that she would have exhibited herself 
 in a garb wholly unauthorized by the customs of her 
 age, or inappropriate to her station. 
 
 But whatever may have been the general practice 
 of the times, the young equestrians now presented to 
 the Praefect had undoubtedly assumed this prepos- 
 terous dress, which, however, they apologised for 
 wearing on account of the heat of the weather. 
 Nevertheless the state of the atmosphere had not 
 prevented them from loading their heads with an 
 immense quantity of artificial curls, in comparison 
 with which the wig of their host was as nought, 
 strewed over with pulverized gold, which sparkled in 
 the sunbeams as they moved, and occasionally be- 
 sprinkled their pellucid garments with a scintillating 
 shower. 
 
 These dainty carpet-knights, — alas, how different 
 from their rough but valorous progenitors, once the 
 bulwark of the Latian state ! — were ushered with 
 some ceremony into the presence of the great man, 
 by whom they were welcomed with civility, though 
 evidently regarded with contempt. Nor did he 
 evince any displeasure at the indelicacy of their 
 clothes, for such was the licence of the age in which 
 
 VOL. I. F
 
 98 
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 he lived, that customs of the most opposite and in- 
 congruous nature were tolerated at the same time : 
 monsters of vice and paragons of virtue were received 
 in society on equal terms ; and while one man prided 
 himself on the propriety of his conduct, another 
 glorying in his contempt for decency, was, perhaps, 
 his most respected friend. 
 
 But scarcely had they taken their places on the 
 seats appropriated to tKeir use, when ten or twelve 
 guests of a very different description were announced. 
 These were apparently citizens of the lower class, 
 not rich enough to rank with the equestrians, — for 
 the rank of the equites depended on their wealth, — 
 nor sufficiently refined to vie with them in the ele- 
 gancy of their dress. Their apparel, indeed, if not 
 their manners, rather seemed to belong to a former 
 age than to the present one, inasmuch as they wore 
 the short close tunics which have been alluded to as 
 an exploded garb, and which exposed their attenu- 
 ated arms in a manner deemed far more indelicate 
 than the transparency of the multicium itself. 
 
 No sooner did the great man behold these wretches, 
 than he knew them for his clients, and commanded 
 tkem to approach. Then with a dubious varying look, 
 half angry, half sarcastic, he accosted them in a ban- 
 tering strain, expressing the most extravagant de- 
 light at seeing them, giving thanks for their conde-
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. tiy 
 
 scension in visiting his dvvelliug, and apologizing 
 with extreme humility for the coarseness of the fare 
 which he should be obliged to offer them. Galled 
 by the bitterness of his irony, but too much in awe of 
 his authority to express their anger, they stammered 
 out some unintelligible reply, and withdrew to con- 
 ceal their disgust and mortification, into a remote 
 corner of the room. 
 
 An interval of some minutes now ensued, during 
 which the Praefect kept stalkiug up and down the 
 hall without taking the least notice of his company, 
 whom he seemed to consider as unworthy of a word, 
 or even of a look, so highly did he estimate his own 
 importance. At last, however, a bustle in the house 
 was heard, and pricking up his ears (which were 
 somewhat of the longest) he stood ready to receive 
 the noble visitor whose arrival had been indicated 
 by the unwonted uproar. Ere long, the doors were 
 thrown open with a crash, and his expected guest 
 walked in : Basilides of Antioch was the man. 
 
 Clad in flowing robes of embroidered silk ; spark- 
 ling all over with jewels of inestimable worth ; his 
 head crowned with a tiara ; his neck encased with 
 carcanets, and his arms bound with bracelets ; his 
 eyebrows tinged with black, and his cheeks dyed 
 with vermilion ; — this singular personage (the most 
 illustrious Pantomimus of the age) sailed slowly into 
 f2
 
 100 PISO AND THE PR-SIFECT. 
 
 -the room. Then approaching his noble entertainer, 
 he salaamed in the truest oriental style, lifting up his 
 hands till they almost touched his head, and bowing 
 down his head till it almost brushed the ground. 
 Meeting with a reception of corresponding affability, — 
 for indeed the Praefect was more than usually po- 
 lite,-r-he proceeded to the pronunciation of an excul- 
 patory speech in language much disfigured with pro- 
 vincialisms. 
 
 " E oped," he began, " that Is Ighness would 
 pardon im for not harriving hearlier ; but really the 
 eat ad been so hoppressive hall the morning that e 
 could not find it in is eart to urry the bearers of is 
 litter, 00, poor devils, were halmost hexhausted and 
 quite hout of breath before they reached the hend of 
 their journey, is ouse being a long way hoff, hat the 
 bother side of the Haventine 111." 
 
 The Praefect admitted the apology as valid, though 
 he could not help smiling at the strange phraseology 
 in which it was couched. He had, however, often 
 heard the language of Rome marred by the natives of 
 Syria in the same way before. For, whatever may be 
 alleged by Caledonian critics on the subject, the 
 abuse of the aspirate has not always been confined to 
 the modern populace of Cockney-land. 
 
 Such troops of visitors now came in that it would 
 be tedious and supererogatory to describe them all.
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 101 
 
 I shall therefore attempt nothing more than to give 
 a hasty glance at two or three individuals distin- 
 guished from the rest by some striking peculiarity of 
 character, which the reader ought to notice. Novel- 
 lius Bibulus was one of them. He was a man of 
 mighty stature, with broad round muscular shoulders, 
 an expansive chest, and strong coarse features. He 
 was celebrated throughout the empire as a great 
 drinker, and had performed many marvellous exploits 
 in tippling, some of which he intended to repeat on 
 the present occasion should time and opportunity 
 serve. Suillius Crassus was another : he was no less 
 famous as a mighty eater ; such too was his obesity, 
 that his paunch entered the apartment in solitary 
 grandeur first, the rest of his person coming after it 
 by degrees. With these came Vibius Puppius and 
 Auruncus Flaccus; the former remarkable for his 
 feats of gallantry, in consequence of which he had 
 more than once incurred the penalties of the Julian 
 Law, nay, had once been condemned to death for the 
 ruin of a Vestal Virgin, yet still lived and flourished, 
 a memorable example of the powerful effects of 
 bribery, timeously applied: — the latter deserving of 
 notice for having grown old in the service of several 
 successive tyrants, though himself a man of spotless 
 character, and remarkable for the reply which he had 
 once made when asked by what contrivance he had
 
 102 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 foiled the machinations of the wicked ? He answered, 
 with grave and sententious brevity, '* by receiving 
 injuries and returning thanks," 
 
 Last, but not least, Calpurnius Piso and Scribonius 
 Mummius, were announced. The Prsefect received 
 them with distinguished courtesy, for he was well 
 aware of the princely birth of the one, and the splen- 
 did fortune of the other. His treatment of the 
 younger in particular was at once friendly and re- 
 spectful ; he congratulated him on his return to the 
 metropolis, where his ancestors had from time imme- 
 morial held so conspicuous a place ; assured him that 
 the very name of Piso was venerated by all classes of 
 the people, and expressed a hope that the last scion 
 of a stock so noble would not fail to aim at the 
 highest honours of the state, which indeed could 
 hardly be refused to him. Piso listened with com- 
 placency to this flattering address, which nevertheless 
 he was aware savoured strongly of rhodomontade, 
 and replied to it in a strain of becoming diffidence. 
 After that, the great man communed with Scribonius 
 Mummius upon ^' the progress of the sciences," till 
 a slave having announced that the banquet was in 
 readiness, the whole party adjourned to the Coena- 
 culum.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 103 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE BANQUET. 
 
 Upon entering this apartment, the company per- 
 ceived a table of considerable length set out in its 
 centre, and surrounded on three sides by lofty beds, 
 or couches, covered with splendid Babylonian carpets, 
 which their host took care to inform them, had been 
 lately purchased at the moderate price of eighty 
 thousand sesterces a-piece.* The Praefect mounted 
 one of these conveniences, placed at the upper end of 
 the board, and his august spouse, who now for the 
 first time made her appearance, accompanied by 
 Thusnelda and the rest of the ladies who had been 
 invited to the feast, seated herself beside him with 
 much solemnity. His guests then took possession of 
 the beds on either hand, voluntarily choosing a posture 
 of the utmost awkwardness, forasmuch as that they 
 
 ■ About six Imudred and forty pounds sterling.
 
 104 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 grovelled on their faces one above another, so that 
 the head of each man nearly reposed upon his neigh- 
 bour's back, from which it was only defended by a 
 pillow or a bolster. T allude to adults of the male sex 
 alone ; for the ladies very rationally preferred an 
 upright attitude, which was also assumed by two or 
 three youths under the age of seventeen who chanced 
 to be present. Every individual was marshalled 
 according to his rank. Calpurnius Piso and Scribo- 
 nius Mummius were honourably placed at the upper 
 end of the board, in the immediate vicinity of their 
 host ; as were also the illustrious Pantomimus, the 
 celebrated drinker, the renowned eater, the elegant 
 rom, and the wary courtier : the delicate equestrians 
 were situated next to these, and several of the ladies 
 were interspersed amongst them here and there. 
 The miserable clients of the Praefect were alone 
 stationed below the salt-cellar, which,* placed upon 
 the middle of the table, divided them from the rest of 
 the company, and strongly marked the contempt in 
 which persons of their class were held. Such was 
 the barbarous distinction which the Romans (a people 
 so civilized and refined !) were accustomed to make 
 in the treatment of their guests ; a distinction which 
 is often supposed to have been peculiar to the "dark," 
 or feudal ages."^ 
 
 * Antiquaries may allege that the use of the " salt" had be-
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 105 
 
 Having arranged themselves on the couches, the 
 guests were presented with water for their hands ; 
 they performed their ablutions, and prepared for an 
 attack upon the delicacies within their reach. Ere 
 they commenced operations, however, their noble 
 entertainer lifted up his head from his pillow, and 
 looking round him with an expression of countenance 
 which bespoke attention, addressed them in the fol- 
 lowing explanatory speech, which he pronounced 
 with great emphasis, and accompanied with much 
 action, pointing from time to time at the several 
 dishes as he named them, and specified their contents. 
 
 "The introductory course, my friends, which I 
 have now the honour to offer you, principally consists 
 of eggs, fish, and insects. I need not inform you 
 that the first of these articles has from time imme- 
 morial formed the leading dish at every Roman 
 feast ; nor do I think it necessary to apologise for 
 adhering to a custom which may be considered as one 
 of the few surviving relics of ancient simplicity ; and 
 from which the boldest of our modern epicures have 
 never ventured to depart. The several preparations 
 of fish which accompany the eggs, have been care- 
 fully, selected, and I trust will not be found wholly 
 
 come obsolete in ilie days of Piso. This objection, however, 
 cannot apply to the manner in which the guests were distin- 
 guished from each other by their host. 
 
 F 5
 
 106 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 unworthy of your notice. Here is a dish, for in- 
 stance, which I think few of you will despise. It 
 consists of a dozen surmullets,^ the least of which 
 weighs three pounds and a half, and the largest 
 more than six. I purchased the latter at the rate of 
 a thousand sesterces a pound ,t — a great price it must 
 be confessed, — but the value of the fish increases in 
 proportion to its magnitude ; so that I was obliged 
 to pay heavily for those of the larger size, though the 
 little ones were reasonable enough. But, perhaps," 
 added he, with an inquiring look, '' I should prove to 
 the company that I have asserted nothing but the 
 truth respecting these enormous mulli. Let us put 
 their ponderosity to the test." 
 
 So saying, he called for a pair of scales; then, 
 with their assistance, he proceeded to ascertain the 
 weight of the fattest of the fish he named, with 
 as much care and accuracy as would have been 
 employed by a chemist or a coiner, in the perform- 
 ance of some nice experiment. The result proved 
 satisfactory ; the truth of his assertion was con- 
 firmed, and he grinned frightfully in triumph. 
 
 Having sent away the scales, ** Here also/' said he, 
 " you will find the scarus and lagois — fish of ines- 
 
 * Mullus barbatus, or red surmullet of the Mediterranean; or 
 perhaps the surmuletJis, striped surmullet; both good in their way. 
 t About forty-eight pounds for each fish.
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 107 
 
 timable worth, and of which many strange tales are 
 related by naturalists, — so strange, indeed, that it is 
 impossible to believe one half of them. The first is 
 said to be a ruminating fish, which chews the cud 
 like a beast ; the other, though a native of the ocean, 
 partakes of the nature of the hare. 
 
 ** I have likewise, as you may perceive, taken care 
 to provide you with shell-fish, of various sorts, and 
 adapted to the rank of the respective eaters. There 
 are lobsters of extraordinary delicacy at this end of 
 the board ; crabs of inferior quality for the folk below 
 the salt-cellar. Those oysters to the left are of the 
 genuine Rutupian * sort. Suillius Crassus, oblige 
 me by putting them to the proof. You will find 
 them, I think, considerably better than those bred on 
 the Lucrine Sands, which, however, are excellent in 
 their way. All the oysters obtained from the coast 
 of Britain are particularly sweet, unless, — which, 
 indeed, not unseldom happens, — they spoil upon the 
 voyage to our shores. 
 
 *'Doyou see," continued he, addressing himself 
 to Scribonius Mummius, " do you see that large, 
 globular, transparent vessel to the rights It con- 
 tains cold water, with six living fish swimming 
 about in it, as in thnir native deep. They are also 
 
 * RutKj)in(i litoru^ the Foreland of Kent,
 
 108 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 a kind of mullus ; not so palatable as the others, but 
 remarkable for the strange property which they pos- 
 sess of changing their colour while in the agonies of 
 death. Now watch them well; one of the attend- 
 ants is just about to place a small lamp under the 
 vessel, for the purpose of boiling them alive. Factum 
 est, — it is done. The sweet little things ! — they will 
 soon feel the heat, and then we may expect a spec- 
 tacle of the most engrossing interest. JEheu ! — lo ! 
 see ! behold ! the water begins to boil already ! the 
 bubbles are rising to the top ! Look how the ill- 
 fated victims dash about from one side of the vessel 
 to the other, in their endeavours to escape ! At jam 
 hoc opus est, — but here is the difficulty, — they cannot 
 find an outlet. And observe how their colour keeps 
 varying by degrees. From white to yellow, from 
 yellow to red, from red to purple, it changes in 
 regular succession. And now they assume a dingy 
 hue, which indicates their approaching end." 
 
 He ceased, and ordered the vessel with its par- 
 boiled inhabitants to be removed, while his guests 
 resumed the prostrate attitude from which they had 
 started with one accord on the commencement of the 
 sport. Gratified at the pleasure they expressed, for 
 they were enthusiastical in their praise, he now called 
 one of his professional carvers, and commanded him 
 to attack the mighty rhombus which smoked on the
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 109 
 
 centre of the board. Meanwhile he poured forth a 
 long string of apologies for the manner in which it was 
 dressed, explained the cause which had prevented 
 his cooks from boiling it, and during the process of 
 cutting it up, familiarly discussed its merits. No por- 
 tion of this sacred food would he permit the wretches 
 at the bottom of the table to enjoy : he ordered them 
 instead a great tough polypus, which the artificers of 
 the kitchen had scarcely rendered eatable by an 
 hour's pounding in the mortar. Having himself 
 devoured some, mouthfuls of the rhombus, and ob- 
 serving that the magnates in his vicinity were still 
 employed upon it, he thought himself bound to re- 
 sume the discourse, for their edification and amuse- 
 ment. 
 
 " Touching the insects," said he, ** which form a 
 peculiar feature in our repast, I would have you to 
 know that there are two sorts on the table, the one 
 being snails, the other green caterpillars. The first 
 you will observe are of very tolerable size ; they are 
 almost as big a» ordinary pullets. It is true that our 
 ancestors would have regarded such dimensions with 
 contempt; but I speak of the size which they com- 
 monly attain at present. Oh that I had lived in 
 the days of Fulvius Herpinus ! * that illustrious 
 
 * Pliny relates that this wonderful man once showed him a
 
 110 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 snail-feeder, who so well understood his art, that bis 
 snails became larger than the largest turkeys ! 
 
 "The other dish of insects which I have the honour 
 to present to you is a fricassee of caterpillars ; * not 
 the brown-headed caterpillars of Phrygia and Pontus, 
 but our own indigenous green ones. They were 
 found upon an oak tree at one of my country villas, 
 and I ordered them to be preserved in bran till they 
 grew fat and verdant." 
 
 So saying he called for the delicious viands which 
 he so well described, and presently gobbled up half 
 a snail, and several large green caterpillars. 
 
 The first course of the banquet was now drawing 
 to a close. Two-thirds of the rhombus were at least 
 devoured. Suillus Crassus had consumed to his own 
 share no less than three of the greatest surmullets, a 
 scarus, a lagois, and some two or three hundred 
 Rutupian oysters. Animated by his example, the 
 rest of the company had all crammed to suffocation ; 
 a thing which seems almost incredible, for they could 
 not but have known that the best pa**t of the treat 
 yet remained behind. In short, the whole party lay 
 back on their beds, in a posture of supine abandon- 
 ment, (for they had now reversed their first position) 
 
 snail-shell which contained two gallons of liquor without over- 
 flowing! 
 
 * These are thought to have been the larvae of the stag-beetle.
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 Ill 
 
 waiting, as it seemed, with entire resignation for any- 
 thing more which it might please their host to send 
 them, in addition to the blessings which they had 
 already enjoyed. Nor was their patience put severely 
 to the proof; for the fragments of the feast being 
 removed, a long train of servants were seen to enter 
 the apartment, and place the second course upon the 
 table. 
 
 A peacock occupied the centre dish, standing bolt 
 upright, with all its feathers on ; some blazing tow 
 being placed between its beak to increase the eccen- 
 tricity of its appearance. How the gastronomers of 
 the kitchen had contrived to dress the carcase of the 
 bird without injuring its gorgeous plumage, it is 
 impossible to divine ; the thing is involved in that 
 sort of obscurity which the eye of an antiquary in 
 vain endeavours to pierce. If, however, I might 
 venture to make a guess upon the subject, (like the 
 scholiasts of old, who never failed to conjecture 
 where they could not expound,) 1 should say that 
 the cooks had denuded the creature in the ordinary 
 way, and after submitting it to the roasting process, 
 had cleverly replaced its feathers^ 
 
 About forty other dishes of poultry surrounded the 
 important peacock. There were phoenicopters (or 
 flamingoes) in abundance ; nightingales, thrushes, 
 larks, and linnets ; pheasants, quails, partridges,
 
 112 PISO ANB THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 and the like. There were, also, ducks and geese, 
 but these being common, were regarded with con- 
 tempt, and only made their appearance on the lower 
 division of the table. Several made-dishes, and a 
 profusion of vegetables, formed an agreeable addition 
 to this part of the meal. 
 
 When every thing was arranged, and the carvers 
 stood flourishing their knives and forks, in readiness 
 to obey the orders of their master, that important 
 personage raised himself '^ on end," and spake sen- 
 tentiously as follows : 
 
 " I trust, my friends, I shall not be deemed il- 
 liberal for having thus stinted you to a single pea- 
 cock. I assure you that I was actuated by no paltry 
 motives of economy, but rather by a laudable 
 attention to your own welfare, for it is a melancholy 
 fact that nothing can be more tough and indigestible 
 than the flesh of this beautiful though pernicious 
 bird. Should you eat of it to excess, and then 
 enter the warm bath, the best physicians agree in 
 thinking that death must inevitably ensue. I have 
 determined therefore to circumscribe your enjoy- 
 ments in order to preserve your health, — perhaps 
 your very existence ; and at the same time I have 
 endeavoured to supply you copiously with more 
 wholesome sorts of food. These singing-birds, for
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 113 
 
 example, you will find both tender and nutritious, 
 nay, so highly salutary, that physicians do not un- 
 frequently prescribe them to the sick instead of 
 medicine ; thus Pliny the younger informs us in his 
 epistles, that during his convalescence from a lin- 
 gering illness, he once found it expedient to eat a 
 thrush. Suillius Crassus, permit me to send you a 
 couple of the nightingales: I think you will find 
 them of very tolerable quality; and no doubt you 
 will be able to distinguish the wild ones from the 
 tame, the male from the female, and so on, by the 
 peculiar flavour of each ; for I am told that none of 
 our Roman epicures have a more discriminating 
 palate than yours." 
 
 The bulky gourmand, nothing loth, received the 
 proffered songsters on his plate, and their delicate 
 limbs were soon heard to crunch between his strong 
 though ancient grinders. His small grey eyes 
 twinkled with delight; his cheeks reddened from the 
 excess of his raptures, and a portion of saliva (it was 
 but a little) flowed slowly from the corners of his 
 mouth. At length, having completed the work of 
 mastication, his wonted equanimity returned. Then 
 facing about towards a large raised pie, he sat with 
 his eyes fixed steadfastly upon its substantial crust. 
 The lord of the feast failed not to observe him, and
 
 114 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 hastened to relieve his wants. Ere he did so, how- 
 ever, he addressed him in a soothing and concilia- 
 tory strain as follows : — 
 
 " That pie, O Crassus, which yon seem to regard 
 with such tender affection, contains within its bosom 
 the livers of three geese, — the genuine geese of 
 Ferrara, — swelled by a particular process to an im- 
 mense size. Your gastronomical studies have 
 doubtless made you acquainted with that process, 
 but for the benefit of the uninitiated, I shall say a 
 few words concerning it. You must know then," 
 continued he, raising his voice, and addressing him- 
 self to the whole company, '' that the operators take 
 a living goose, strip its breast of feathers, chain the 
 creature in the chimney corner, and nourish it before 
 the fire. The heat and the confinement give rise to 
 a species of hepatical disorder, and the liver in con- 
 sequence becomes enlarged."^ 
 
 That said, he ordered one of his carvers to dissect 
 the pie; and notwithstanding the horrible effluvia 
 which issued from its interior on the removal of the 
 crust, Suillius Crassus eagerly accepted of a huge 
 slice, which he forthwith gobbled up with as much 
 voracity as if he had eaten nothing for a week. His 
 host, who seemed to regard him with increasing ad- 
 
 * These were the " Strasburg pies" of antiquity.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 115 
 
 miration, now sent him an immense plate of stewed 
 mushrooms, assuring him at the same time that they 
 were not a whit inferior to those designated by 
 Nero, " food for the gods," in allusion to his deified 
 predecessor, Claudius, who had been poisoned by 
 eating them. After this, the great man looked 
 scornfully towards the bottom of the table, and sent 
 a quantity of spongy toadstools to his miserable 
 clients. 
 
 Meanwhile the rest of the company devoured the 
 good things that fell in their way with much appa- 
 rent satisfaction. The warblers were sacrificed 
 without distinction to their inordinate appetites ; the 
 game of all sorts fell a prey to their insatiable maws ; 
 even the ducks and geese were involved in the uni- 
 versal carnage, and the tumefied livers shared a 
 similar fate. The peacock was alone preserved, — 
 preserved by its own toughness, and the awful de- 
 nunciations of its master. Mounted on the shoulders 
 of a stalwart slave, it withdrew from the field in a 
 whole skin, while the mutilated bodies of its con- 
 federates and allies were hastily swept away, and 
 abandoned to the dogs. 
 
 Some minutes elapsed ere the introduction of the 
 third course ; and this interval (I speak it with 
 regret,) was employed by the company after a fashion 
 which, though sanctioned by the customs of the age^
 
 116 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 would unquestionably be criminal to the last degree 
 in the eyes of our contemporaries. To touch upon 
 the subject in any way is difficult ; to treat of it with 
 delicacy is impossible. Nevertheless, it is my duty 
 to chronicle the revolting incident, and I shall not 
 flinch from my task. 
 
 Be it known, then, that just about the period in 
 question, several of the company were seen to slip 
 down from their beds, and quit the apartment in pro- 
 found silence. Then entering an adjoining chamber, 
 certain persons received them with an air of mys- 
 tery, and proffered unto each a silver goblet, the 
 contents of which they forthwith swallowed as fast as 
 they could, — holding their noses at the same time as 
 if they abominated the taste. The effects of the 
 potion were presently perceived. Scarce was it 
 down when the features of the drinkers became con- 
 vulsed ; their cheeks turned pale, their lips grew 
 black, and the heavings of their chest bore witness 
 to the struggles taking place within. What ensued 
 afterwards I do not think it necessary to describe. 
 Luckily there were lots of basins in readiness, and 
 the slaves were used to the job. The patients 
 speedily recovered, purified themselves by an ablu- 
 tion, and returned to the Coenaculum as brisk as 
 bees, and as hungry as hounds. I forbear to desig- 
 nate the individuals concerned in this scaodalous
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 117 
 
 affair ; with the exception indeed, of Suillius Crassus, 
 who having set the example, deserves to be branded 
 with the disgrace. Two persons, however, I must 
 exempt from having borne any part in it throughout. 
 This pair were our friends Pi^o and his philosophical 
 uncle ; who from the first resisted the importunities 
 of their companions, and declared they would rather 
 expire from repletion than adopt so villanous a cure. 
 
 The third course chiefly consisted of roast meat, 
 and other substantial dishes. Amongst the rest, a 
 monstrous wild boar, served up whole like the pea- 
 cock, formed a beautiful and attractive object from 
 which few of the company were able to withdraw 
 their eyes. The Prsefect, in particular, kept viewing 
 it with an expression of almost parental tenderness, 
 and spake of it in terms of the highest praise, so that 
 many of his hearers thought him fulsome, and inordi- 
 nately proud of his own possessions. 
 
 ** That splendid^animal," said he, ^* is in my mind 
 infinitely superior to the Caledonian boar slain by 
 Meleager of old ; and what greatly adds to its merits 
 in my eyes, is, that I captured it myself, about a 
 week ago, after a chase which lasted five hours and 
 a half. Not that I pursued the beast myself; for 
 that would have been a very unprofitable manner of 
 spending my time. No, no, my friends ; I sat still 
 under a spreading plane-tree all the while, composing
 
 118 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 a philosophical essay, which I had almost finished 
 when my huntsmen came to inform me that they had 
 driven the game into the nets spread to receive it. 
 Then, grasping my spear, I hastened to the place 
 which they pointed out', and there found the monster 
 caught securely in the toils, — so firmly and securely, 
 indeed, that all his effbrts to escape were ineff'ectual. 
 Instantly, I rushed towards him, and regardless of 
 the grunts with which he greeted me, pricked him 
 repeatedly with my long sharp lance, whereby his 
 rage was so much increased, that an ordinary man 
 would have been almost frightened out of his senses. 
 I, however, kept my place, and made such good use 
 of my weapon, that ere long, the bristly creature fell 
 prostrate on the earth in an exhausted state ; then 
 plunging a knife in his brawny throat, I put a period 
 to his existence." 
 
 Having described this safe and easy method of 
 hunting, which, by the by, was far from being pecu- 
 liar to himself, but rather, on the contrary, a common 
 practice with his countrymen, the Praefect ordered 
 the mighty porker to be cut up, and during the per- 
 formance of the ceremony, continued to hold forth 
 about other culinary matters. 
 
 " Peradventure," said he, addressing himself to 
 the whole company in a grave authoritative style, 
 " peradventure it would be impossible for the art of
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 119 
 
 man to devise a more celestial dish than the sumen 
 of a sow, fried with sweet wine and honey, oil, 
 pepper, and cloves. Such a delicious morsel have I 
 now the honour to offer you ; you will find it under 
 the cover to the right of the central dish; — and, 
 moreover, I can assure you with a safe conscience, 
 that it has been very carefully prepared, — the process 
 having been superintended by myself. The animal 
 to which it belonged was reared at one of my country 
 villas ; and the day after she had farrowed, I con- 
 trived by a dexterous application of ligatures, to 
 prevent the milk from making its escape, and thus 
 confined, it gradually diffused itself through the 
 whole body of the beast. As for the dressing, you 
 all know that I have a very good cook, and that 
 no condiments, however costly, are spared in my 
 kitchen. There the most precious spices of the East 
 are used as if they were common garden herbs ; 
 ginger and cinnamon are employed instead of mint, 
 and pepper, which sells for its weight in gold, is used 
 instead of cummin. The sumen you will find has 
 the true milky taste. 
 
 " On the other side of the boar," continued the 
 magisterial epicure ; ** you may perceive a large sil- 
 ver platter, containing a sort of olio, or hotchpotch, 
 originally invented by that much slandered prince 
 Vitellius, who, whatever may have been his capacity
 
 120 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 for government, was at least a man of good taste in 
 eating. In this incomparable mess are blended toge- 
 ther the livers of giltheads, the brains of pheasants 
 and peacocks, the tongues of phoenicopters, and the 
 melts of lampreys, besides many other rarities, too 
 tedious to be named. I regret much that T am un- 
 able to gratify you with a. sight of the identical 
 platter used by Vitellius himself. It was valued at 
 no less a sum than a million of sesterces, yet the bar- 
 barous Hadrianus caused it to be destroyed. I am 
 only in possession of an ordinary dish, which cost me 
 comparatively but a trifle." 
 
 Here the Praefect terminated his harangue, for a 
 vast plate of rich and juicy swine's flesh was set before 
 him. Falling to with redoubled energy, he shouted 
 to his admiring compeers to follow his example, and 
 in the twinkling of an eye the whole host of assembled 
 epicures rushed to the assault, struggling pro- 
 miscuously amongst the dishes, and striving for pre- 
 eminence, like warriors on the field of battle. 
 
 Meanwhile a number of Gaditanean dancing girls 
 were introduced, who performed the bolero, and 
 other Spanish dances, for the amusement of the com- 
 pany. They were at first little noticed ; but when 
 the spectators had satisfied their hunger, or rather, 
 when every one amongst them had crammed to suf- 
 focation, the voluptuous exhibition began to be more
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 121 
 
 particularly observed, and the saltatory young ladies 
 had the pleasure of hearing their graceful movements 
 extolled in the most enthusiastic terms, and their 
 personal attractions commended in a no less flattering 
 strain. 
 
 During the performance of this solemn ceremony, 
 the Praifect, who affected to look upon it with con- 
 tempt, called for his writing materials, and proceeded 
 to scribble a good many notes and letters ; not that 
 he had actually any pressing business on his hands , 
 on the contrary, he was never more at leisure in his 
 life ; but he wished to make the company admire the 
 vast grasp of his mind, which could thus fix itself on 
 state affairs in the midst of a jovial entertainment. 
 
 When he had finished the task, he despatched a 
 tabellarius, (or letter carrier) with his epistolary pi;o- 
 ductions, and leaned back on his couch ; whereupon 
 the attendants, seeing him unemployed, placed 
 several huge flagons of wine before him, together 
 with a variety of splendid drinking-cups, made of 
 massive gold, and studded with the richest jewels. 
 These preparations seemed to indicate an approach- 
 ing tippling match. It is not to be supposed, how- 
 ever, that the guests had hitherto abstained from 
 liquor, for such a supposition would not only be 
 erroneous, but unjust and derogatory to their host, 
 who had, throughout, treated them with the utmost 
 
 VOL. I. G
 
 122 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 liberality, and indulged them in frequent potations to 
 wash down their food. 
 
 Being thus provided with his implements, and 
 having his cup-bearer at hand, the great man eyed 
 the several flagons with an air of satisfaction, and 
 scrutinised their seals ; after which he named them 
 in rotation, one by one. 
 
 " The first," said he, '* is Falernian, — properly so 
 called. The next is genuine Setian, which, being 
 also the produce of Campania, is sometimes con- 
 founded with the wines of Mount Falernus. The 
 third is Alban ; famous stuff when old, — as this is, — 
 but rather hot and heady when first expressed from 
 the grape. The fourth is Surrentine, a light but 
 delicious wine, and so wholesome that the faculty 
 prescribe it to their patients. Rhetian is the fifth, — 
 the favorite beverage of the great Augustus. The 
 sixth vessel, which you perceive has a wide neck, is 
 more than half filled with that precious balm which a 
 few years since sold for its weight in gold, and which 
 can hardly now be obtained at that, or any other 
 price. It is wine two centuries old at least. Time 
 has changed it to the consistency of honey, so that it 
 is no longer drinkable, but it still imparts an exquisite 
 flavour to the liquors in which it is infused. We 
 shall try its effects to-day. — Novellius Bibulus, which 
 wine will you have?"
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 123 
 
 The person to whom this question was addressed, 
 had reserved himself surprisingly throughout the 
 banquet. He had eaten little in comparison with the 
 rest, he had availed himself of the opportunity to 
 reinvigorate his digestive organs, which occurred 
 after the second course, and he had as yet drunk 
 nothing but some vinegar and water with his meat. 
 When, therefore, he heard the question of his host, 
 which he justly regarded in the light of a challenge, 
 he replied with a good deal of confidence and pluck, 
 that he preferred the true Falernian; adding mo- 
 destly at the end of this spirited response, that he 
 " wished for a pretty large draught." 
 
 The host assented with a nod of approbation, and 
 directed his Ganymede to fill one of the goblets to the 
 brim. No sooner, however, did the toper perceive 
 what they were about, than he gave utterance to a 
 strange sound between a chuckle and a grunt, and 
 inquired whether it was their intention to insult him 
 by offering him such a nut-shell as that? — ''The 
 contents of which," he added, " a child might swallow 
 at a gulp." 
 
 Surprised at what he heard, for the goblet held 
 upwards of a quart, the Prasfect was nevertheless by 
 no means inclined to undervalue the declaration as a 
 brag, or disregard it as a joke. Commanding his 
 attendants, therefore, to produce a huge alabaster 
 g2
 
 124 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 vase which stood upon a neighbouring side-board, 
 ready for use, he proceeded to charge it with the 
 choicest Falernian, to the full amount of the three 
 congii which it was calculated to contain, and then 
 presented it with a smile of encouragement to his 
 extraordinary guest, who stood waiting its approach 
 in silence. Novellius Bibulus was far from being 
 daunted at the sight; he straightways raised the 
 mighty vessel to his mouth, which his great strength 
 enabled him to do without assistance. Grasping it 
 in his arms, he thus held the burthen aloft on a 
 level with his face, hoisting it higher and higher by 
 degrees, as he unloaded it of its contents ; nor, in- 
 credible as it may seem, did he once remove it from 
 his lips till every drop was drained, when turning to 
 the company, who beheld him with astonishment, he 
 triumphantly displayed it, empty. 
 
 This wonderful exploit called forth reiterated 
 plaudits, and all the spectators agreed in thinking 
 that Novellius Bibulus was little, if at all, inferior to 
 his celebrated ancestor,^' who once performed a very 
 similar feat in the august presence of Tiberius. 
 
 Among the rest, Basilides of Antioch was hugely 
 delighted with the performance ; and wishing to dis- 
 
 * This was probably Novellius Torquatus, surnamed Tricon - 
 gius, or (as it may be translated) the Man of Three Gallons. 
 A con^ius however was not quite so much as an English gallon.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 125 
 
 tinguish himself in the same way, he started from his 
 couch, and called for the great vase, declaring that 
 he would swallow its contents, or perish in the at- 
 tempt. In vain did his host and others endeavour to 
 dissuade him from the rash design. He was deaf 
 to the remonstrances of his friends ; laughed at their 
 apprehensions, and assured them in his elegant phra- 
 seology, that '* is ead was strong, and is and steady, 
 and e oped the dose would do im no arm." It was 
 therefore found necessary to yield to his request, and 
 the vessel being again filled, was brought to him by 
 two stout slaves, who, sturdy as they were, almost 
 sank beneath its weight. He received it from their 
 hands with many demonstrations of joy, supported it 
 in his arms with less difficulty than had been ex- 
 pected, and putting his lips to the brink, began to 
 gulp down its contents with the utmost perseverance 
 and despatch. When however he had swallowed 
 some three or four quarts, his countenance was seen 
 to alter, and his whole frame became tremulous from 
 head to foot. His cheeks grew turgid, his eyes 
 started from their sockets, and the veins of his fore- 
 head so palpably increased, that they seemed on the 
 very point of bursting. But nothing could subdue 
 his valiant heart. Encouraged by the plaudits libe- 
 rally bestowed upon him, he still continued to drink, 
 and doubtless would have accomplished his purpose.
 
 126 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 had not frail nature given way in the attempt. His 
 senses suddenly forsook him ; — he fell flat on his face 
 as if struck by a thunderbolt. The vessel dropped 
 from his hands ; one-third of the liquor ran out upon 
 the floor ; the rest was ingulfed in his capacious maw 
 for ever. 
 
 Prompt assistance was rendered to the suff^erer. 
 He was raised with the greatest care, and placed on 
 one of the couches, where he lay for some time with- 
 out exhibiting any signs of life, so that his friends 
 began to apprehend he had actually fallen a sacrifice 
 to his noble ambition. But their fears proved ground- 
 less, for after giving utterance to a dismal groan, 
 he came to himself; and the first thing he did upon 
 opening his eyes, was to inquire whether he had 
 swallowed the stipulated quantity ? the confusion of 
 his mind having been such as to prevent him from 
 knowing the true state of the case. It therefore be- 
 came necessary to tell him that he had failed to per- 
 form his task; but the painful intelligence being con- 
 veyed to him with delicacy, the sharpness of the 
 sting was removed, and he bore his disappointment 
 with a great deal of patience and resignation. The 
 resources of his own mind, too, administered conso- 
 lation to him in his extremity, for, said he to himself, 
 ** Does not istory hinform hus, that Halexhander 
 the Great once met with a similar mishap ; nay, that
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 127 
 
 is death was at last hoccasioned by himmoderate 
 drinking? Why then should I, a simple hindivi- 
 dual, repine at a lot which his not, hafter hall, by 
 hany means so bad as that of the conqueror of the ole 
 world r 
 
 Warned by this deplorable example, no one else at 
 table presumed to rival the doughty Bibulus in his 
 own way ; but anxious to distinguish himself after 
 another fashion, Vibius Puppius, the man of gal- 
 lantry, arose, and proposed that the company should 
 drink the healths of their sweethearts, in as many 
 cups as each of those ladies had letters in her name ; 
 a proposal which met with very general approbation, 
 almost every man present being anxious to boast of 
 his own amatory exploits. Accordingly the goblets 
 were all filled ; and Vitalianus himself, as the first in 
 rank, was called upon to begin. 
 
 Looking askance towards his wife, who still sat 
 pompously at his right hand, he seemed to hesitate 
 for a moment about what was to be done ; but ob- 
 serving the supercilious expression of her counte- 
 nance, which at once betokened indifference and 
 contempt, he turned to the company, and told them 
 with a simper, that he should first drink five cups to 
 Lydia, then three to Ida, and lastly seven to Lycoris ; 
 those being the names of his three chief favourites. 
 Many of the ladies present, upon hearing him thus
 
 128 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 acknowledge the variety of his inclinations, tittered 
 among themselves, and began to regard him with a 
 feeling of veneration for which they could not ac- 
 count; nor was this sentiment abated when they saw 
 him absorb the fifteen potions to which he had so 
 gallantly condemned himself. Having finished the 
 task, he plumped down upon his couch, and ordered 
 the cups to be given to Calpurnius Piso, who re- 
 ceived them with a smile, and naming a Grecian 
 nymph for whom he had once entertained a transient 
 liking, drank off" a small quantity of liquor, and 
 gave up the contest. His behaviour was little 
 relished by his neighbours, who had expected some- 
 thing more, from a youth of his appearance; but as 
 he manifested no further inclination to reveal his 
 amatory secrets, they were obliged to have recourse 
 to his philosophical uncle, whose character they 
 thought would now be exhibited in a ludicrous point 
 of view. Scribonius Muramius was therefore re- 
 quested to perform his part; whereupon he arose 
 Avith so dolorous an aspect, that his nephew was in 
 pain for him, and the rest of the party looked forward 
 with joy to the sport which was likely to ensue. They 
 were, consequently, not a little surprised, when a 
 smile was seen quivering about the corners of his 
 mouth; and after replenishing the cyathi^^ with wine, 
 
 * Small drinking-cups commonly employed on occasions like this.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 129 
 
 he declared that he drank to " Eudocia and Pul- 
 cheria," two beauteous ladies whom he had long: 
 adored, and by whom he was most tenderly beloved 
 in return. The astonishment of 'every one was com- 
 plete when he tossed off the liquor with immense 
 despatch, and, moreover, rose triumphant over its 
 eflfects, as if the unusual solidity of his character had 
 strengthened his constitution, and exempted him from 
 the infirmities of ordinary men. They could not 
 withhold the tribute of applause so justly due to 
 him ; and the ladies in particular evinced their 
 anxiety to atone for the illiberality with which they 
 had judged of him at first. 
 
 It now fell to the lot of Suillius Crassus to display 
 his gallantry, and far worse did he come off than his 
 predecessor, for having named an individual whose 
 health he wished to drink, and being closely interro- 
 gated concerning her, he was forced to confess that 
 having no mistress, he had ventured to propose his 
 own wife as a toast. It would be impossible to con- 
 vey any adequate idea of the derision with which 
 this artifice was treated. The unfortunate glutton 
 was hissed and hooted by the whole company at 
 once, and nothing but the fame which he had pre- 
 viously acquired as an eater, could have saved him 
 from the infiiction of some cruel though absurd 
 punishment, — such as that of having a gallon of wine 
 g5
 
 130 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 pouted through a funnel down his throat, — to ex- 
 piate the enormity of his offence. But when the 
 tumult had had time to subside, and his extraor- 
 dinary merits were taken into consideration, they 
 agreed to pardon him, on condition of his taking the 
 first opportunity to provide himself with a suitable 
 inamorata, which he readily engaged to do, well 
 knowing as he did, that his age being against him, 
 and his person far from beautiful, it was not very 
 likely that such an opportunity would ever more 
 occur. 
 
 Novellius Bibulus followed next. The company 
 declared their willingness to exempt him on account 
 of the great things he had already performed ; but 
 he scorned to avail himself of this privilege, and 
 without more ado gulped down six good cups to 
 "Veleda," a Gallic damsel, for whom he professed 
 the most devoted love, albeit she was once a captive 
 and a barbarian. Nearly the same thing happened 
 in the case of Basilides, who had now so much reco- 
 vered from the effects of his inordinate draught, that 
 he seized on the occasion to prove his mettle, and 
 toasted a couple of Syrian nymphs, one of whom he 
 said was remarkable for her loveliness, and the other 
 for having " a royal nativity," as the astrologers of 
 the east had discovered at her birth. 
 
 After that, Auruncus Flaccus, the grey-headed
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 131 
 
 courtier, got upon his legs, and looking mysteriously 
 towards the Prsefect's spouse, drank nine times 
 running to " Laurentia," which, as being the pras- 
 nomen of that illustrious dame, excited suspicions 
 of a very peculiar nature amongst the guests, who 
 equally admired the sagacity of the man, and won- 
 dered at the boldness of his conduct. 
 
 Last of all came Vibius Puppius, the proposer of 
 the sport, and every eye was rivetted upon him as 
 he rose. Glancing at the drinking cups which stood 
 before him to the number of twenty, he begged to be 
 furnished with a score or two more of the same sort, 
 in order that he might not be delayed by the process of 
 filling and re-filling, '' which might otherwise," he 
 said, ** last all night long." His request being com- 
 plied with, and the expectations of the company 
 raised to the highest pitch by so curious a pre- 
 liminary, he smirked with an air of incredible pup- 
 pyism, and declared that he should drink in the 
 first place to " Ida, Lydia, and Lycoris, three lovely 
 young persons by whom he had long been wor- 
 shipped." So saying, he supped up the stipulated 
 quantity of liquor, without seeming to notice the 
 stare of astonishment which sat upon the Praefect's 
 visage ; then, sending away the empty vessels, he 
 slightly named the Grecian nymph whose health had 
 been drunk bv Piso ; after which he exclaimed, in
 
 132 
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 a thundering voice, " to Eudocia and Pulcheria !" 
 and tossed off the right number of doses with un- 
 precedented rapidity, as if he was much pressed for 
 time. In short, to the utter consternation of his 
 friends, he re-toasted all their favourite toasts, not 
 excepting the wife of Suillius Crassus, or the mighty 
 and mysterious ** Laurentia." Happily for the 
 braggart, the Romans of that age were little addicted 
 to jealousy ; so that when they had overcome their 
 first feelings of surprise, they rather evinced a dis- 
 position to applaud his vain-glorious flourishes than 
 to censure them ; and the ladies very generally de- 
 claring themselves in his favour, he bore away the 
 palm from all competitors. 
 
 By order of the host, a number of garlands were 
 now produced, and twined about the brows of those 
 who had distinguished themselves the most, while 
 sumptuous cloaks were thrown over their shoulders, 
 the better to mark the admiration in which they 
 were held. 
 
 The female part of the company had been hitherto 
 quiescent, except in so far as they had aided and 
 abetted the eflbrts of the stronger sex. The fumes 
 of the liquor which they had silently consumed hav- 
 ing however by degrees mounted into their heads, 
 they now very evidently began to be uneasy at the 
 obscurity of their lot, which they deemed incompa-
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 133 
 
 tible with their merits. Laureiitia Ogulnia was the 
 first of them roused to action. Her eyes flashed fire, 
 and the tower of curls shook tumultuously on her 
 head, as she seized an enormous goblet and attempt- 
 ed the composition of a luscious draught, by the in- 
 termixture of various wines, oils, ointments and 
 essences, flavoured with spices, and refrigerated with 
 snow. Then raising the vessel to her lips, she tossed 
 off" its contents ** to the honour of her friends ;" who 
 acknowledged the compliment by repeated cheers, 
 and assured her with sincerity, that a more extra- 
 ordinary feat had not that day been performed, con- 
 sidering the nature of the mixture she had swal- 
 lowed. They also expressed their hopes that the 
 potion might have no ill effects ; but she replied with 
 a smile, that they need not be fearful on her account, 
 for having accustomed herself to such stimulating 
 doses, they merely produced a temporary elevation 
 of spirits, without endangering her constitution ; nay, 
 even as she spoke, the truth of her words became 
 apparent; her utterance grew thick, she staggered 
 in her seat, and betrayed many other signs of mental 
 excitement; while the flushing of her cheeks, and 
 the flashing of her eyes, (which though generally dull 
 as a whiting's, now beamed with intolerable brightness) 
 seemed to prove the continuance of her bodily health 
 and vigour.
 
 134 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 The example of Laurentia Ogulnia was followed 
 by many of her friends ; — many ventured upon the 
 unctuous dose, and all who did so were for a while sen- 
 sible of its effects. In general, however, the draught 
 seemed rather to madden than to stupify them, and 
 they committed acts of the most frantic kind under 
 its influence. Crowning their patroness with vine- 
 leaves, they danced round her like tipsy Menades, 
 howling out the praises of Bacchus and the Mother 
 of the Gods. At last, in a state bordering upon in- 
 sanity, they rushed from the apartment, and quitted 
 the house. What befel them afterwards, it might 
 not, perhaps, be decorous to inquire ; — it is a subject 
 upon which I would rather be ambiguous than minute. 
 Let it suffice to say, that in order to allay the excite- 
 ment of their minds, they repaired to the temple of 
 Isis, in a remote quarter of the city, and employed 
 themselves (as we may suppose) in the worship of the 
 goddess during a great portion of the night. What 
 else could they have done in a place so holy, amongst 
 pious priests and their disciples ? 
 
 Soon after the departure of the ladies, it became 
 evident that the revels were drawing to a close, the 
 majority of the guests being quite overcome, and their 
 host in a state of such violent excitement, that some 
 terrible consequences seemed likely to ensue, unless 
 he could be speedily withdrawn from table. It is
 
 PISO AND THE PR^EFECT. 135 
 
 true that a few old stagers, with Novellius Bibulus 
 at their head, still sat soaking amongst the wine- 
 flagons, without appearing to have suffered in any 
 serious degree from the awful depth of their potations. 
 Some persons at the lower end of the board, having 
 been less plied with liqour than the rest, had also 
 preserved the use of their faculties, amid the general 
 intellectual wreck, and now attempted to avail them- 
 selves of the exemption after a manner no less extra- 
 ordinary than characteristic of the age in which they 
 lived. Observing that their host was incapable of 
 watching their movements, these ingenious indivi- 
 duals embraced the opportunity of pouncing on such 
 of the drinking-cups as stood within their reach, and 
 endeavouring with their nails to extract the valuable 
 jewels with which they were embossed. Could they 
 once have succeeded in that arduous task, it would 
 not have been a work of much difficulty to have 
 pocketed their gains afterwards, and borne them off 
 in triumph. But, alas, for the purloiners ! they were 
 watched by a troop of trusty slaves, stationed in their 
 rear for the express purpose. Caught in the fact, 
 they were punished with the most horrible severity 
 upon the spot, — beaten with rods, stripped to the 
 skin, and thrust into the streets with ignominy : — 
 their relentless persecutors could devise nothing- 
 worse. How they got home afterwards no one took
 
 136 PISO AND THE PR^'fECT. 
 
 the trouble to inquire. For in that barbarous age, 
 cheats and pilferers met with little commiseration, 
 unlike the more fortunate fraudulent debtor of our 
 own enlightened times, whose sufferings awake the 
 sympathies of a philanthropic generation, and excite 
 the indignation of all mankind against the cruelties 
 practised by the defrauded creditor. 
 
 At last, the night being pretty far advanced, the 
 whole party rose to depart, or were lifted from their 
 couches by their friends. Then sallying forth in a 
 body, the weak were conveyed in litters, while the 
 strong proceeded on foot, accompanied by music to 
 cheer them on the way, and lighted by flambeaux to 
 make amends for the want of a more permanent illu- 
 mination of the streets. And thus reaching their 
 respective homes, they were welcomed by their 
 spouses with a warmth and cordiality unprecedented 
 in the records of connubial tenderness.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 137 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE SPECTRES OF THE NIGHT. 
 
 When the revels were concluded, Thusnelda was 
 perhaps the only one of the whole party who remained 
 quite sober, and withdrew from the Coenaculum with 
 a steady step. Rejecting the entreaties of her com- 
 panions, who had wished her to accompany them in 
 their devout pilgrimage to the fane of Isis, she pre- 
 ferred seeking the retirement of her own chamber, 
 and there endeavouring to allay the excitement of 
 her mind by solitary reflection, and overcome her 
 weariness by rest. She was not therefore altogether 
 well pleased when, upon entering the apartment, she 
 found it occupied by an individual different from her 
 ordinary attendant, whom she had alone authorised 
 to wait for her. The stranger, however, came for- 
 ward with such an aspect of humility, and falling 
 upon one knee, so devoutly kissed the hem of her 
 garment as she approached, that she soon forgot her
 
 138 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 temporary displeasure, and smiled with an air of 
 encouragement while she told the suppliant to rise. 
 But even had her wrath been more implacable, it 
 could hardly have failed to be mollified when she 
 found that its object was no other than the young 
 slave whom she had herself rescued from punishment 
 the same morning, and who was now come to return 
 her grateful thanks for the obligation. Full of com- 
 passion for the ill-used girl, and desirous of inspiring 
 her with confidence, she addressed her in a tone the 
 very mildest she could assume, and directing her to 
 a seat at the upper end of the apartment, took a place 
 by her side, and encouraged her to speak with 
 freedom. 
 
 Little used to the voice of kindness, Eudocia was 
 evidently surprised, and almost terrified at being 
 thus treated by one so much her superior in rank. 
 She coloured, and even trembled as she seated her- 
 self by the side of her patroness, nor was it for some 
 time that the latter could overcome her diffidence. 
 At length, however, the soothing language of the 
 young lady produced its due effect ; the lips of the 
 bondmaid were unclosed, and beginoing with a few 
 disjointed sentences, she by degrees got on to speeches 
 of more considerable length, till at last the whole 
 floodgates of her eloquence being opened, she dis- 
 coursed with the volubility of a modern Abigail in
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 139 
 
 the presence of an indulgent mistress. Thusnelda 
 encouraged her to proceed ; and finding from her 
 communications, that she had been present at the 
 foregoing banquet, or at least that she had watched 
 the proceedings of the company from some obscure 
 corner of the room, she went on to interrogate her 
 concerning the several guests, with whose persons 
 and circumstances she appeared to be sufficiently 
 acquainted to reply. Yet it is worthy of 
 remark, that in propounding these questions, the 
 noble nymph made no mention of Calpurnius Piso, 
 who, though rather a distinguished member of the 
 party, seemed to have been quite obliterated from 
 her memory by his more conspicuous neighbours, 
 Vibius Puppius and Basilides of Antioch. About 
 the latter in particular, she was very anxious to be 
 informed, for she had been much surprised at finding 
 an actor admitted into the best society, and even 
 treated with as much consideration as the noblest of 
 the guests. But Eudocia assured her that there was 
 nothing unusual in the circumstance, for that although 
 stage-players in general were regarded with con- 
 tempt, the pantomimes formed a splendid exception 
 to the rule, and were held in respect by all classes of 
 people in the empire. 
 
 It was also insinuated by the waiting-maid, that 
 there might be an additional reason for the distinc-
 
 140 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 tion with which Basilides was received at the table 
 of her lord. *' For," said she, *' he is a man of the 
 most ^ fascinating address, and his extraordinary 
 beauty renders him but too acceptable to the ladies. 
 Laurentia Ogulnia hath a discriminating eye, a sound 
 judgment, and an admirable taste. It is not there- 
 fore impossible that she may entertain a predilection 
 for so interesting a being ; — a predilection which 
 may be returned ; — neither is it to be supposed that 
 the Prasfect would throw any obstacles in the way of 
 their Platonic intercourse. Nevertheless, it is neces- 
 sary that the utmost caution should be observed; — 
 not on account of the lady herself, but in consideration 
 of her friend, the conduct of an actor being closely 
 watched by the public eye, and the smallest deviation 
 from the path of rectitude visited with the most 
 terrible severity on his head : that which would be 
 deemed a venial fault in others, is in him condemned 
 as an unpardonable offence." 
 
 Thusnelda refrained from pushing her inquiries 
 farther, for though a good deal surprised at finding 
 that the character of an actor was so perishable a 
 commodity, while that of a high-born lady was com- 
 paratively secure against the shafts of scandal, she 
 had too much good sense to express her astonish- 
 ment, or to seek for an explanation of the anomaly 
 from one whose own notions of morality were, in all
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 141 
 
 likelihood, biassed by her servile habits, or influenced 
 by the example of her superiors. Turning the con- 
 versation, therefore, she questioned the young slave 
 about her own personal affairs, and in particular, 
 asked her how long she had been in the service of the 
 Prajfect's wife. Eudocia replied that " it was but a 
 few months since she had been a free citizen of 
 Greece," and as she evidently designed by this lofty 
 answer to call forth additional inquiries, her patroness 
 proceeded to demand how it had happened that she 
 had so speedily fallen from her high estate. ^' Give 
 me," said she, '* a brief history of your adventures ; 
 tell me where you were born, who were your parents, 
 and how it came to pass that you were sold into 
 slavery. I would know all concerning you." 
 
 This was enough for the fair bondmaid. She did 
 not wait for further encouragement, but at once com- 
 menced the history of her life from the earliest 
 period ; — a period indeed so early, that it was evident 
 she must have collected the greater part of her 
 materials at second-hand, instead of merely recording 
 the events of which she was cognisant herself. She 
 went back to an era prior to her birth ; chronicled 
 the genealogy of her father's house, and dwelt upon 
 the character of her great-grandmother. She then 
 spoke of her more immediate relatives. From this 
 account it appeared that her father had been a person
 
 142 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 of some note in one of the ^gean Islands, and that 
 her mother had been a celebrated beauty in the same 
 place. In after life, it appeared, also, that she had 
 been no less celebrated for her minute knowledge of 
 the principles of her religion, and her strict obser- 
 vance of its forms. 
 
 '' No sooner was I ushered into the world,'' con- 
 tinued the damsel, *' than this excellent woman spat 
 three times running in my face, to preserve me 
 against the influence of the evil eye. Then pouring 
 out a libation of milk, she put up a prayer to the 
 goddess Rumelia^ in my behalf, imploring her to 
 take me under her peculiar care, and endow me with 
 all sorts of good qualities, so that in the end my 
 virtues might rival those of the vulture, the best and 
 holiest of birds.f Afterwards, when I grew up, she 
 was equally solicitous for my good. She never per- 
 mitted me to rise in the morning till I had first 
 chewed three heads of garlic, well knowing as she 
 did, that without such a precaution, I should be liable 
 to the attacks of certain deadly maladies, such as 
 cramp, rheumatism, and catarrh. Whenever I ate 
 
 * Ruraelia, or Rumea dea the patroness of young children ; in 
 the worship of whom nothing but milk was employed. 
 
 t The ancients held the Vulture in great respect, on account of 
 its usefulness in clearing away carrion.
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 143 
 
 an egg at breakfast, she commanded me to pound the 
 shell." 
 
 " Why so?" asked Thusnelda, inquisitively. 
 
 " To prevent the sprites from getting into it, and 
 using it as a boat/' replied the waiting-maid ; ** a 
 common thing for them to do." And then going on 
 with her narrative : " when I arrived at a mar- 
 riageable age," said she, ** my mother instructed me 
 to make certain little dolls, or puppets, no bigger 
 than my thumb, and present them to the Cyprian 
 goddess, in token, as she said, of my having relin- 
 quished the pursuits of childhood, and become a 
 woman. Some girls of my acquaintance told me, 
 indeed, that the real object of the offering was to 
 insure me the blessing of a fine large family in the 
 nuptial state ; — but that made little difference. 
 When, however, she insisted upon cutting off the 
 whole of my beautiful golden locks for the same pur- 
 pose, I confess that I was exasperated to a degree, 
 and I determined to resist her orders. But what 
 was the use of my opposition, after all ? My mother 
 was as strong as a horse, and as unalterable in her 
 resolutions as the Fates. Clapping her hands upon 
 my shoulders, she compelled me to kneel down at 
 her feet, and then taking advantage of my helpless 
 situation, forcibly deprived me of my curls with an 
 enormous pair of shears. Oh, what a cruel act I
 
 144 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 thought it ! Never shall I forget my feelings when 
 I first looked into the glass, and beheld my shorn 
 head ! I thought I should have died outright." 
 
 Here the poor girl stopped short. She could not 
 get on with her discourse. The recollection of her 
 sufferings seemed to have overcome her disposition 
 to be talkative, and she sat quite silent, Thusnelda, 
 on the contrary, was hugely inclined to laugh ; 
 nevertheless, adjusting her countenance to an ex- 
 pression of sympathy, she besought her companion 
 to pass over those passages in her life, the remem- 
 brance of which was so affecting, and advert to some- 
 thing more consolatory. 
 
 Alas !" cried the damsel, ** I fear that it is out of 
 my power ; for the disaster I have told you of only 
 proved the harbinger of worse calamities. My hair 
 soon grew again, and became as beautiful as ever ; 
 but shortly after that, my parents fell into distress, 
 and could not pay their taxes. What then was to be 
 done ? The collectors were inexorable, and all the 
 furniture in our house was insufficient to satisfy their 
 demands. I was myself the only species of available 
 property which my parents still possessed. My 
 father therefore proposed that I should be sold. My 
 mother wept bitterly, and declared that nothing 
 should induce her to part with her beloved girl. 
 The more she was opposed, the more determined she
 
 PISO AND THE PRyEFECT. 145 
 
 became. She clasped me in her arms, strained me 
 to her breast, and swore that she would rather be 
 separated from her liege lord himself than from the 
 child of her affections. My father, however, was a 
 prudent man, and knew how to manage her. In- 
 stead of persevering in his design, he affected to give 
 way, and even to be rather ashamed of the proposal 
 which his necessities had prompted him to make. 
 The matter thus seemed settled. I felt quite com- 
 fortable, dried up my tears, and supposed that I had 
 now nothing worse to expect than the domestic 
 slavery of our own house. But I was not aware 
 that my father's acquiescence was nothing but a 
 feint, — a mere soldier's stratagem to throw the 
 enemy off her guard, and enable him to obtaJB the 
 victory over her with the greater ease. He knew 
 that she chiefly objected to his plan from the wish of 
 having her own way, and that when she once 
 thought she had gained her point, her opposition 
 would subside. Nor was he, as the event proved, 
 at all out in his reckoning. No sooner did the 
 worthy woman find that she had succeeded, than her 
 transports of maternal love gave place to indiffer 
 ence, and after a little hesitation, — for consistency's 
 sake, — she actually came round to her husband's way 
 of thinking, nay, espoused it with such warmth, that 
 when he affected to oppose the plan, slie announced 
 VOL. I. H
 
 146 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 her resolution to * sell the girl whether he would or 
 no, and in spite of his teeth ! ' 
 
 " Having at length settled this point to their sa- 
 tisfaction," continued Eudocia, '* my respected 
 parents carried me to the nearest Mango — " 
 
 " A Mango," interrupted Thusnelda, *' what is 
 that?" 
 
 " A Mango," replied the bondmaid, " is a fiend, 
 — a monster of iniquity — a base, venal, mercenary 
 wretch who deals in human flesh and blood; — in 
 short, he is a trafficker in slaves." 
 
 *' Enough," said Thusnelda, '* I comprehend you ; 
 and I do not find fault with the strong language you 
 employ. Proceed therefore with your tale. What 
 passed between this miscreant and the authors of your 
 being?" 
 
 " The Mango," said Eudocia, going on with her 
 narrative, " was a tall, stout, middle-aged man, with 
 a red nose and a bald forehead. No sooner was I 
 brought into his presence than his eyes twinkled, and 
 I saw that he was quite delighted with my slender 
 waist, yellow locks, and fair complexion. Then pro- 
 ceeding to examine me more closely, he looked into 
 my mouth to make sure that my teeth were all quite 
 sound, and felt my pulse to ascertain the state of my 
 health. He would even have gone so far as to re- 
 move the covering from my neck had I permitted it ;
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 147 
 
 but this outrage I resisted. Neither would I suffer 
 him to make free with my ankles, as he was much in- 
 clined to do, under the pretence that I might be 
 lame or dropsical. I kicked and struggled with all 
 my might ; and turning to my mother, he declared 
 with an oath that I was a vixen, and that he would 
 have nothing to do with me. However, the good 
 woman soon pacified him by affirming, that this out- 
 rageous modesty of mine was a strong proof of my 
 possessing a certain rare and valuable qualification, 
 which, as he well knew, would be worth any money 
 in the slave-market. He consented, therefore, to 
 open a negociatlon ; and presently afterwards com- 
 menced it by naming eight sesterces* as the sum 
 which he was willing to give for me, although a good 
 stout slave had been purchaseable in Cappadocia some 
 years before for less than half the money."f 
 
 " Truly," said the German lady, ** that was esti- 
 mating your charms at a high price." 
 
 "The monster!" exclaimed Eudocia; "could I 
 ever pardon such an insult? I confess it galled me 
 to the quick. My parents too, were quite exaspe- 
 rated, and abused the niggard to their heart's con- 
 tent. My beloved father, in particular, vowed that 
 
 * About thirteen pence. 
 
 f In the time of Lucullus, slaves were certainly sold in Cappa- 
 docia for about sixpence a-piece.
 
 148 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 he would rather kill me with his own hand than thus 
 throw me away." 
 
 " That was very right and proper," observed 
 Thusnelda, parenthetically. 
 
 ** When the base Mango found that he had no 
 chance of obtaining me at so low a price," continued 
 Eudocia, " a change came over him, and he offered 
 to come down with a hundred sesterces ; — a sum suf- 
 ficiently considerable to make my father pause, al- 
 though it was by no means equal to his expectations, 
 nor what he intended to accept. He therefore 
 shrugged up his shoulders with an expression of 
 contempt, and declared in a gruff tone, that he 
 would not sell me for a thousand. This refusal led 
 to a farther offer on the part of the merchant, which 
 was again rejected, though somewhat less disdain- 
 fully than before. In short, the bargaining was 
 maintained on both sides with great spirit, and the 
 end of it all was, that I was at last knocked down 
 to the chapman for fifteen hundred sesterces;^ — a low 
 price, 1 confess, but better, perhaps, than could have 
 been expected from the mean character of the pur- 
 chaser." 
 
 " Indeed, I think it was," said Thusnelda, ** and 
 you have much reason to be satisfied." 
 
 * About twelve pounds sterling.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 149 
 
 " My parents now took leave of me," resumed the 
 bondmaid, *' and I cannot describe to you how 
 deeply they were affected. Yet it was necessary to 
 submit. The authors of my being departed ; grieved 
 to the soul, and only supported by the reflection 
 that they had obtained enough by selling me to pay 
 their taxes. I, on the contrary, remained behind ; 
 equally afflicted, no less miserable, and not even 
 comforted by knowing that I had derived any pecu- 
 niary advantage from the change. I was an un- 
 happy wretch indeed !" 
 
 Here the poor girl began to weep bitterly. Thus- 
 nelda endeavoured to console her ; and as her grief 
 was of a nature rather sharp than lasting, it subsided 
 by degrees, and smiling through her tears, she thus 
 proceeded with the tale. 
 
 " I was now the sole and exclusive property of the 
 Mango. What were my feelings when I first found 
 myself left alone with Him, and saw him eyeing me all 
 over with an expression of countenance which made 
 me think he entertained the most abominable designs 
 respecting me ! I trembled from head to foot, and 
 secretly resolved to resist the hideous profligate to 
 the last. After all, however, I frightened myself 
 about nothing. The sordid wretch was insensible to 
 beauty ; and I soon found that his only reason for ex- 
 amining me with so much care, was to enable him to
 
 150 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 judge in wbat respects my person was defective, and 
 how it might be improved. The result was, that he 
 thought I was too fat, and he resolved to have me 
 lowered. Then, leading me into the Gynseceum, he 
 made me over to certain persons of my own sex ; who 
 no sooner beheld me than, turning up the whites of 
 their eyes, they exclaimed in a loud voice, ' A pu- 
 gilist 1 a pugilist! she is as brawny as a pugilist!' 
 and affected to be quite surprised that an expe- 
 rienced Mango like their friend should have thought 
 of buying such a great, fat, vulgar-looking thing. 
 Indeed, so unanimously did they condemn me as an 
 unsaleable article, that my disappointed purchaser 
 could scarcely help thinking they were right. Never- 
 theless he endeavoured to defend himself by making 
 them observe my beautiful yellow locks, and saying 
 that although I was certainly too fat at present, it 
 would be easy to have me reduced. For my own 
 part, I was indifferent to their abuse, knowing as I 
 did, that it proceeded from the meanest jealousy. 
 But I was not so well contented at the prospect of 
 being put upon short commons, and starved into a 
 handsome skeleton." 
 
 «* Then is it really the fashion in your country," 
 said Thusnelda, interrupting her, " to admire nothing 
 but such fleshless beauties as these ?" 
 
 '* Undoubtedly," replied the young Greek ; '' there
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 151 
 
 is a strong taste among my countrymen for the study 
 of anatomy ; all plumpness is derided ; scragginess is 
 the standard of perfection, and flesh is an abomina- 
 tion which should be discarded from- the bones. 
 Lantern-jaws and spindle-shanks are the two greatest 
 virtues which a youthful virgin can possess." * 
 
 '* Horrible !" exclaimed the German nymph, — 
 ** Proceed with your discourse, and let me hear how 
 they treated you." 
 
 "They treated me most barbarously," continued 
 Eudocia ; " they laced me up in stays so tight that 
 I could scarcely breathe, confined me to a meagre 
 diet, and compelled me to swing a pair of grea 
 heavy dumb-bells all day long. Fancy to yourself 
 what I must have suffered while leading such a life 
 as this ! I, who had always been accustomed to 
 eat my fill of good wholesome food, and to endure no 
 harder labour than that of handling the distaft'. The 
 pangs of hunger preyed upon my vitals, my chest 
 ached from compression, and I was sometimes so 
 exhausted by my exertions, that I thought I should 
 
 * How much the Grecian mammas seem to have resembled our 
 own ! 
 
 " Haud similis virgo est virginum jiostrarum, quas matres student 
 Demissis humeris esse, vinclo pectore, ut graciles sient ; 
 Si qua est habitiorpaulo, pngilem esse aiunt : reducunt cibum. 
 Tametsi bona 'st natura, reddunt curatura junceas." 
 
 Terence, Eunuchus.
 
 152 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 have dropped. Meanwhile, too, it was evident that 
 my whole person was undergoing a decided change ; 
 my bones were becoming visible at all points, and I 
 had salt-cellars in my neck which you might have 
 put your fist in. But it was of no use making com- 
 plaints. The process of reduction was not to be 
 interrupted by any discontents of mine, either secret 
 or expressed. I still continued to be starved and 
 exercised without mercy or compassion; my stays 
 were drawn tighter as I decreased in bulk, and I was 
 as much squeezed as ever. At last I reached the 
 proper point of emaciation ; I looked like a bullrush, 
 I felt like a bone gnawed by a dog ; and the women 
 round about me acknowledged with astonishment, 
 that I was scarcely fatter than themselves. They 
 all protested that I was infinitely improved ; never- 
 theless, it is remarkable that they now displayed no 
 signs of the envy which had been so rife amongst 
 them at first ; they seemed to feel conscious that I 
 had become one of themselves, and that they had no 
 further reason to be jealous of my superior love- 
 liness !" 
 
 " The spiteful things !" muttered Thusneld^, under 
 her breath. 
 
 " I fear," rejoined her conipanion, ** that spite is 
 the foible of our sex. But that is nothing to the 
 purpose. My master, the Mango, did not seem to
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 153 
 
 participate in their feelings to their full extent. He 
 was actuated by other motives than those of spite and 
 malice. The love of gain reigned paramount in his 
 V heart. When, therefore, after a confinement of some 
 months in the Gynaeceum, I was again produced 
 before him, looking like the shadow of my former 
 self, he could not help hinting that he thought the 
 process of starvation had been pushed a little too 
 far. This innuendo of his was, however, received with 
 so much contempt, that he was obliged perforce to eat 
 his own words, and profess himself highly delighted 
 with the increased gentility of my appearance." 
 
 " Poor map/' said Thusnelda, " he seems to have 
 been pretty well hen-pecked." 
 
 " He was," replied the waiting-maid ; and then 
 going on with her narrative; ** having taken me out 
 of the hands of his female allies," said she, *' he pre- 
 pared to carry me to market. For this purpose it 
 was necessary to cross the seas, and even to make a 
 voyage of considerable length. The markets in the 
 neighbourhood were all overstocked. Athens, An- 
 tioch and Alexandria were well known to be over- 
 flowing with youthful beauties who could not find a 
 purchaser. Rome itself was the only place where a 
 ready sale fot me was likely to be found ; my owner 
 accordingly embarked with me on board a small 
 vessel bound for Ostia, and laden with a mixed cargo 
 II 5
 
 154 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 of figs, slaves, and raisins of the sun. I shall not 
 say much about the voyage. It was quite as disagree- 
 able as I should suppose most voyages are, and at- 
 tended with the usual consequences, — sickness dur- 
 ing the first few days, and ennui during the re- 
 mainder ; besides which, I was a good deal annoyed 
 by the attentions of my fellow- passengers, a pretty 
 numerous assortment of newly-purchased slaves, 
 which, as I have already hinted, formed a portion of 
 the ship's freight. These bipeds were of all sorts, 
 sexes, and ages, and designed for various purposes. 
 Some of them were hideous blacks, — like the one 
 you saw whipping me this morning, — others were 
 mechanics and artificers, well skilled in their several 
 trades, and I was even assured that there was a 
 learned leech amongst them who had practised his 
 art in Mytilene with considerable success, although 
 now undergoing the process of importation into Rome, 
 where his owner hoped to derive still greater advan- 
 tages from his professional skill.* 
 
 " Well ! the voyage was at last finished. Our 
 barque reached the destined port. We landed at 
 Ostia, and were conveyed thence to the capital in 
 close carriages," — so close indeed, that I saw little of 
 the country by the way, and nothing of the city 
 
 * Many of the physicians in Rome were slaves, and regularly 
 let out by their owners.
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 155 
 
 when I entered it. My master had meanwhile 
 formed a sort of alliance with the other Mangoes, in 
 consequence of which, the slaves who had been fel- 
 low voyagers still remained together, and were depo- 
 sited in the same quarter of the slave-market. We 
 were allowed to rest ourselves for a few days before 
 we were exposed to sale, and during this period my 
 owner fed me so plentifully, that I regained some 
 portion of my former fat. Nevertheless as I still 
 remained pale, he dyed my cheeks with vermilion in 
 such a manner as to make them look more like the 
 wings of a flamingo than any thing else. Thus 
 vamped up, with bare feet, and clad in a robe which 
 displayed my beauties somewhat more liberally than 
 I could have wished, I was one fine morning put into 
 the Catasta, and exhibited to the passers-by." 
 
 Here the German young lady interrupted her com- 
 panion by asking what was the nature of the *' Ca- 
 tasta," which she had just named. 
 
 " How fortunate are you not to know !" answered 
 the bondmaid with a sigh ; " but I will describe 
 what it is, as well as I can; — or at least what 
 the one was in which I was myself confined. 
 Fancy to yourself a vast cage, containing several 
 floors, or platforms, one behind another, upon which 
 the slaves stand side by side, in long formal rows, 
 marshalled with as much regularity as well disciplined
 
 156 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 troops, and having their faces all turned in the same di- 
 rection, that is to say, towards the front of the machine, 
 the whole of which is covered with neat trellis-work, 
 sufficiently compact to prevent the prisoners from 
 being touched from without, but not close enough to 
 obstruct the view of the purchasers. The slaves are 
 divided into squads, or lots, the best and most valu- 
 able being placed in front, while those of secondary 
 quality are stationed in the rear : the latter, too, are 
 distinguished from the rest hy having their feet 
 marked with chalk. 
 
 " I was myself, as you may imagine, placed in the 
 very foremost row. I was not undervalued by the 
 comptrollers of the market. They at once saw that 
 I was worth a considerable sum; and with great 
 good sense they stationed me in the very front of the 
 Catasta. I was proud of my position, I confess. I 
 knew that I was preferred before the rest, and I 
 gazed round me with an air of triumph. But this 
 was nothing to the sequel ; for when crowds of buyers 
 flocked round me, — persons of the highest considera- 
 tion, and all equally anxious to become my pur- 
 chaser, — I thought I should have died with rapture. 
 What too were my feelings, when my temporary pro- 
 prietor, the worthy Mango (as I now thought him) 
 came quietly behind me, clapped my shoulders, strok- 
 ed me on the head, and puffed me off in the grandest
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 157 
 
 style you can imagine ! My transports were beyond 
 endurance." 
 
 ** Indeed," said Thusnelda, "you had good reason 
 to be pleased ; I do not wonder at your transports." 
 
 '* The biddings having commenced," resumed the 
 Abigail, without at all perceiving that her companion 
 smiled ironically as she spoke, ** the biddings having 
 commenced, I discovered that the chief competitors 
 were likely to be two persons of senatorial rank, the 
 one named Scribonius Mummius, and the other 
 Vibius Puppius. I did not know their names at the 
 tinie, but I have learned them since, and I need not 
 inform you that the first of these individuals was an 
 old philosophical greybeard, anything but attractive 
 personally, though a good man in the main ; while the 
 other was as elegant a looking youth as you would 
 wish to meet with. In short, judging from externals, 
 there could be no comparison between the two ; 
 and as they both seemed equally anxious to obtain 
 possession of me, I must say that I became dread- 
 fully agitated as the contest went on, — now trembling 
 with apprehension at the prospect of being consigned 
 to the cross old churl, and now elated with the hope 
 of being knocked down to the interesting young man. 
 Meanwhile my master still kept puffing me off. 
 'Friends and Quirites,' said he with a loud voice; 
 ' now is your time for making a good purchase. Here
 
 158 PISO AND THE PREFECT'. 
 
 she stands, — a nice, young female slave, — rising 
 sixteen years of age, — warranted healthy and in 
 good case; — who bids? who bids? — Two thousand 
 sesterces, do you say, my friend ? — Well, that is a 
 beginning at any rate. But you will not have her 
 for so little, you may be sure. — Friends and Qui- 
 rites! two thousand sesterces are bid ; two thousand 
 sesterces are bid; — does nobody bid any more? — 
 Friends and Quirites ! look at her again, — make use 
 of your eyes, and tell me what you think of her. 
 Her locks are as yellow as the crocus, and her 
 cheeks are as crimson as the rose.' (Here a voice in 
 the crowd called out ' It is nothing but paint, you old 
 cheat!') — ' Some one tells me that she paints; but 
 who will believe that it could be necessary to paint a 
 young thing like that ? Why the girl is as fresh as 
 the morning ; — she smells like a rose, and her cheeks 
 are precisely of the same colour.' (* More like the 
 colour of raw beef,' cried the same voice.) ' Qui- 
 rites ! Quirites ! I cannot permit myself to be in- 
 sulted thus. Somebody has the impudence to tell me 
 that my slave's cheeks are the colour of raw beef. 
 But it is a base falsehood ! a most atrocious calumny ! 
 — for the poor little thing is as fair as a lily, as every 
 one may see; — yes, yes, my patrons, that she is.' 
 And here my master was so much affected at the 
 outrage offered me, that the tears started in his eyes,
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 159 
 
 nay, he actually began to weep, exhibiting such 
 absurd tokens of distress, that the spectators could 
 not help indulging in a peal of laughter at his expense. 
 
 " Recalled to a sense of his folly by their conduct, 
 he wiped his eyes with a soiled napkin, and resumed 
 the duties of an auctioneer. ' Two thousand sester- 
 ces are bid,' he reiterated, 'does nobody bid any 
 more ? — she is well worth ten times the sum. Thank 
 you,' said he to Vibius Puppius, who now added a 
 hundred sesterces to the price. ' I see, sir, you are 
 a man of good taste, — a man of discernment, — you 
 judge for yourself, and can perceive the merits of this 
 young person in spite of the malicious insinuations of 
 others. Yet you are not acquainted with one-half 
 the good qualities of which she is possessed. You 
 see that she is a beauty of the first class ; but you 
 are not aware that besides her natural endowments, 
 her mind has been cultivated with the utmost care, 
 and the most extraordinary success. She can dance, 
 sing, play on the cithara, and spin wool beautifully. 
 In short, she is the most accomplished of her sex.' 
 
 ** This judicious praise on the part of my master, 
 soon caused the biddings to be renewed with more 
 spirit than ever. Vibius Puppius and Scribonius 
 Mummius were still the two chief competitors ; and 
 at length the former, tired of the contest, resolved to 
 put an end to it by bidding so large a sum at once as
 
 160 PISO AND THE PR^EFECT. 
 
 to stagger his antagonist, and drive Lim off the field. 
 From four thousand seven hundred sesterces, the 
 amiable young man all of a sudden rose to six thou- 
 sand, — thundering out the offer in a loud voice, and 
 looking round him with an air of triumph. There 
 was in consequence a considerable pause. The rest 
 of the bidders were surprised at his prodigality, and 
 stood staring at each other without opening their 
 lips ; Scribonius Mummius amongst the rest. Even my 
 master was silenced for a while, and thought the bid- 
 dings were brought to a close. By degrees, however, 
 it occurred to him, that there might yet be a chance 
 of obtaining something more, and raising his voice, 
 he cried out lustily, * Six thousand sesterces are bid, 
 — six thousand sesterces are bid, — a-going, a-going,' 
 — My heart was in my mouth, for I hoped he would 
 knock me down, — 'a-going,' he repeated, and was just 
 about to do so, when Scribonius Mummius suddenly 
 interfered by bidding a hundred and fifty sesterces, 
 a sum, which inconsiderable as it was, was sufficient 
 to prevent the bargain from being concluded as I 
 had wished. Vibius Puppius also was, I saw, much 
 vexed. He perceived that his stratagem had failed, 
 and he looked quite foolish. * A-going, a-going,' 
 said my master again. Nobody uttered one word. 
 * A-going, a-going,' he repeated. Still every one 
 was silent."
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 161 
 
 " It was an awful crisis !" said Thusnelda. 
 
 " Awful, . indeed," rejoined the bondmaid ; " I 
 thought I should have died with fright. But things 
 did not terminate as I had expected, for at the very 
 moment when my owner was about to accept the 
 sum bid for me, voices were heard exclaiming * Make 
 way ! make way !' A bustle took place amongst the 
 crowd, and a close litter borne by eight slaves was 
 seen advancing towards the spot where I stood 
 waiting my doom. Every body bowed down as this 
 vehicle approached. I saw that it contained some im- 
 portant personage ; and when an ugly little woman 
 was seen peeping from its interior, a presentiment 
 informed me that I was destined to be hers. Nor did 
 this secret feeling prove deceptive. Laurentia Ogulnia 
 — for it was the Praefect's wife herself — came close 
 up to the Catasta, examined me with much care, and 
 inquired my qualifications. The point about which 
 she seemed the most solicitous, was whether I had 
 been instructed in the business of the toilet ; and 
 when the Mango assured her that I was one of the 
 most skilful waiting-maids in the world, she at once 
 announced her determination of appropriating me to 
 herself. It is true that my master had no warrant 
 for that which he affirmed ; but that made little 
 difference ; auctioneers are not in general over scru- 
 pulous about the means which they employ in puffing
 
 162 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 off their wares ; and thus did I obtain a character 
 which, as I afterwards found, tended greatly to my 
 disadvantage, much more being expected from me 
 than would otherwise have been required. But the 
 Mango gained his point. The fallacy which he had 
 advanced could not be detected before trial, and the 
 consequence was, that I was knocked down to the 
 great lady for the sum of eight thousand sesterces, 
 which she paid upon the nail, and bore me off in 
 triumph." 
 
 When the fair slave reached this point of her nar- 
 rative, which we may reasonably conclude to have 
 been not far from its end, she was prevented from 
 spinning it out to a greater length by the sudden 
 occurrence of a loud, rumbling, thundering sound, 
 which seemed to have its rise in some distant place, 
 and come booming along the empty galleries till it 
 reached the chamber in which the two damsels sat. 
 They were both startled at the incident. The hour 
 was so late,, and the house had hitherto seemed so 
 silent, that they had very naturally concluded them- 
 selves to be the only two members of the establish- 
 ment yet out of their beds. They knew not, there- 
 fore, to what cause to attribute what they heard. 
 Thieves and incendiaries first entered their thoughts ; 
 conspirators and cut-throats followed. These con- 
 jectures and apprehensions were, however, only
 
 PISO AND THE PR.EFECT. 
 
 163 
 
 temporary, and held no lasting place in their minds. 
 But the terrors of superstition soon ensued ; and then 
 it was that the two forlorn maidens rose trembling 
 from their seats, looked round them fearfully, and 
 remembered that they were alone in a remote quarter 
 of a vast mansion, which they doubted not was 
 haunted. Such was their consternation, that they 
 could not speak a word ; Eudocia was herself silent, 
 and they both stood motionless, with their eyes fixed 
 upon the door. 
 
 Nothing could be more dreary than their situation. 
 Every moment did they expect to see some hideous 
 spectre stalk into the room, and assail their ears with 
 a history of the wrongs which it had sustained during 
 its earthly pilgrimage. Nevertheless, this miracu- 
 lous event did not immediately ensue. Every thing 
 remained quite quiet; there was no clanking of 
 chains, and the lamp upon the table still burnt stea- 
 dily, without showing any signs of that sepulchral 
 lividness which is well known to be caused by the 
 proximity of a ghost. After some moments, there- 
 fore, of intolerable suspense, the distressed damsels 
 took courage, and began to entertain hopes that the 
 worst of their apprehensions would not be fulfilled. 
 Eudocia, in particular, though naturally the least 
 valiant of the two, so far recovered her composure as 
 to be able to alter the position in which she had for
 
 164 PISO AND THE PRJEFEGT. 
 
 some time past stood transfixed. Then, tottering 
 towards one corner of the room, she placed herself 
 in an attitude of humility before several small earth- 
 enware images, which occupied a niche in the wall, 
 and with much appearance of devotion, claimed their 
 protection for herself and her companion, imploring 
 them to remember that, as the household gods, they 
 were the natural guardians of every dweller beneath 
 the roof. She, moreover, took the liberty of repre- 
 senting, that there were certain evil spirits called 
 Lemures, who were well known to be constantly en- 
 deavouring to gain a footing in respectable estab- 
 lishments, and that it was the bounden duty of the 
 Lares, (whom she now addressed) to keep them 
 out. 
 
 Having thus supplicated the gods, the damsel felt 
 inspired with confidence, and returning to her com- 
 panion, they again seated themselves beside the small 
 table upon which stood the lamp. As they thus sat 
 down, *' I am glad," said Eudocia, " that I thought 
 of asking the protection of the Lares. They are nice 
 little deities, very beneficent, and, though not over 
 powerful, sufiiciently so, I should think, to defend us 
 against those mischievous Lemures. They might 
 not, indeed, have much chance in a contest with the 
 more potent members of the diabolical race, such as 
 genii or caco-daemons, should they venture to intrude.
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 165 
 
 Still less would they be a match for those monstrous 
 Larvae, which of late years have proved so trouble- 
 some at Rome. I trust, however, that the latter 
 will hardly think it worth their while to interfere 
 with two poor helpless innocents like ourselves. 
 They are rather considered to be the enemies of the 
 guilty, and the avengers of the wronged." 
 
 These random hints thrown out by the young 
 bondmaid, led to a more extended conversation upon 
 the subject of demonology, and it soon became ap- 
 parent that a vast difference of opinion existed be- 
 tween the two speakers upon this interesting theme. 
 Each explained to the other her own ideas of a 
 ghost. Thusnelda described a tall, thin, shadowy 
 looking being, with fixed eyes and a pale complex- 
 ion, which usually made its appearance soon after 
 midnight, standing at the foot of one's bed, and 
 pointing with its lean bony finger to a great wound 
 in its breast. ** It cannot speak,^' said she, " till 
 you have spoken to it first yourself, and although its 
 aspect is rather melancholy than menacing, such is 
 the awe with which it inspires you, that you do not 
 dare perhaps to open your lips. Both, therefore, 
 continue quite dumb. The spectre vanishes, and 
 reappears the following night ; you are again silent, 
 it again departs, and again returns. This is re- 
 peated for three successive nights ; on the last there
 
 166 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 is a change, for the vision frowns angrily, waves its 
 right hand> and seems to threaten you with death. 
 You then pluck up courage, and address a few 
 questions to your strange visitor; whereupon, its 
 tongue being released from bondage, it replies to you 
 in a long, sad, moving speech, setting forth the in- 
 juries which it had sustained during its sojourn in 
 the flesh, and imploring you to inter its bones in 
 some comfortable vault, after which it will give you 
 no further annoyance. You, of course, pledge your- 
 self to do what it demands ; and perhaps in your joy 
 at the prospect of its departure, you make an effort 
 to embrace it in your arms. Now, for the first time, 
 however, you become aware of the most singular at- 
 tribute of this extraordinary being : it is nothing but 
 a shadow after all ! You cannot even feel it with 
 your hands. Its body is a vacuum, and its limbs re- 
 semble empty space." 
 
 Such was the account given by Thusnelda of her 
 national apparition ; Eudocia described her classical 
 hobgoblin as a far more tangible and substantial 
 being. " It is seen," said she, '* at all hours, 
 though certainly oftener at night than during the 
 day, and its personal appearance, instead of being 
 always alike, varies much in different individuals of 
 the same class. Thus at one time it assumes the 
 likeness of a black, huge, horrid monster, taller than
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 167 
 
 the SOUS of men, with great glaring eye-balls. Such, 
 for instance, is supposed to have been the spectre 
 which appeared to Brutus in his tent, warning him 
 of its return before the battle of Philippi; and such 
 probably was the phantom which haunted the Lamian 
 Garden after the murder of Caligula, whose body 
 was interred in that place.* At times, however, our 
 supernatural visitants are extremely different, for 
 they put on the appearance of a lovely youth, or a 
 fascinating nymph, and in that agreeable form, come 
 boldly up to us in broad day-light." 
 
 After this mutual explanation, Thusnelda pro- 
 ceeded to make certain inquiries about those pe- 
 culiar specimens of the demoniacal race previously 
 alluded to by her friend. 
 
 *' In truth," said Eudocia, " I do not very well 
 know what to say concerning them. Genii and 
 cacodaemons are a class with which I have never had 
 much intercourse. Nevertheless, I presume that 
 some of them are good, and some bad ; a few benign, 
 and perhaps many malevolent ; for indeed the evil 
 generally preponderates in this world of ours." 
 
 ** But what are the Larvae?" asked the other. 
 
 ** Oh the abominations ! " cried the Abigail, *' I 
 cannot bear to think of them. The nasty, empty, 
 
 * It was afterwards removed, on account of the uproar made 
 by the ghost, which disturbed the whole neighbourhood.
 
 168 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 walking shells ! — the brainless, heartless effigies ! — I 
 loathe them from my very inmost soul." 
 
 *^ Explain yourself more clearly," said Thusnelda, 
 " I do not comprehend your words." 
 
 *^ I wish we had the sage Scribonius Mummius 
 here," replied the bondmaid ; '* he would be the man 
 to satisfy you. It would require one well versed in 
 occult causes and their effects, to explain the nature 
 of these mysterious beings, while I am but a poor, 
 half-educated girl myself I remember, however, 
 having once met with a passage in a certain old 
 author,* whose name I have forgotten, — which would 
 serve to throw some light upon the subject, — could 
 I recollect it as I ougbt. But my memory is treach- 
 erous. Nevertheless, I will do my best ; and the 
 substance of what I read is, — as nearly as I can 
 recollect, — as follows. 
 
 Here the lovely metaphysician made a short pause, 
 and after a little consideration, during which her 
 countenance assumed an aspect of becoming gravity, 
 recommenced the discourse, in a slow formal voice, 
 admirably adapted to the solemnity of her theme. 
 
 " The author is speaking of ghosts," said she, '* and 
 though sceptical upon most other subjects, he does 
 not attempt to deny the existence of these superna- 
 
 * Lucretius, I think; but my memory is scarcely better than 
 Eudocia's.
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 169 
 
 tural beings. Yet such is his general unbelief' 
 — for he impiously derides our whole system of 
 theology at the same time, — that he makes the ac- 
 knowledgment with reluctance, and endeavours to 
 excuse himself by saying that their occasional ap- 
 pearance upon earth may be accounted for by an 
 ordinary cause, nay, that they are not of so spiritual 
 a nature as we commonly suppose ; — that, in fact, 
 they should rather be considered as detached frag- 
 ments of mortality, endued with a sort of life of their 
 own, and continuing to exist by themselves after the 
 dissolution of the body unto which they have be- 
 longed. This obscure doctrine he endeavours to 
 illustrate by comparing a man to an onion, which, as 
 every one knows, does not consist of one solid, homo- 
 geneous substance, but of several distinct coats, laid 
 nicely one over the other, yet separable with ease; 
 like this vegetable, he supposes a man to be incased 
 in a series of coats, or shells, which though closely 
 united during his sublunary career, are divided by 
 death from the more compact portion of the corpse, 
 or at least that a few of the uppermost layers gene- 
 rally escape interment with the rest, and go walking 
 about by themselves, preternaturally vivified, as we 
 may suppose, by some detached atom of the soul 
 itself. These are the Larvae I alluded to ; and if I 
 
 VOL. I. I
 
 170 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 have not stated the theory with undeviating accu- 
 racy, I do not think I have very materially erred." 
 
 After this luminous exposition, Thusnelda remained 
 more puzzled and perplexed than ever. She did 
 not, therefore, venture to reply; — more especially as 
 the night was now pretty far advanced, and it seemed 
 better to dedicate the few remaining hours to repose 
 than to a discussion of any sort, however interesting- 
 it might be. The process of disrobing was accordingly 
 just about to be commenced, when a strange noise 
 was again heard at a distance, and the two damsels 
 were again thrown into a state of agitation and alarm. 
 This time, however, Thusnelda did not suffer herself 
 to be wholly overcome. She roused the courage 
 which she had inherited from her sires, and resolved 
 to find out the origin of the unearthly sounds. In 
 vain did Eudocia endeavour to divert her from her 
 awful purpose. Calm, but inflexible, she armed her- 
 self with the lamp, — well knowing as she did, that 
 where supernatural adversaries were concerned, a 
 light was the most formidable weapon she could em- 
 ploy, — and issued from the apartment with a steady 
 step, while the less courageous Grecian crept trem- 
 bling at her heels, clinging to the skirts of her gar- 
 ment, and making her, as it were, a stalking-horse to 
 conceal her from the foe. 
 
 *• Thus linked together, they entered a gallery of
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 171 
 
 great extent, silent as the tomb, except for the sound 
 of their own footsteps, and invested with a no less 
 sepulchral darkness, saving where it was enlightened 
 by their own dim lamp. The hearts of both were 
 chilled by the gloom. Thusnelda herself hesitated 
 to advance, and such was the agitation of the waiting- 
 maid that she could with difficulty keep upon her 
 feet. What then was the horror of their souls, when 
 the pervading silence was interrupted by a deep, 
 dismal voice, apparently at the further end of the 
 gallery, repeating something which was unintelligible 
 owing to the distance, but in so continuous a manner, 
 and with such regular intonations, that it resembled 
 the sing-song of a rhetorician in the schools, or the 
 spouting of a player on the stage ! Their limbs re- 
 fused to bear them farther ; they both stood motion- 
 less. 
 
 Yet things were far from being at the worst ; — 
 horror upon horror seemed ready to overwhelm them; 
 — the voice was growing louder by degrees, heavy 
 footsteps were beginning to be heard, and a huge 
 hideous object was becoming dimly visible at the ex- 
 tremity of the corridor. 
 
 Alas ! what could it be? Nothing could be more 
 diabolical than its appearance. Black, bulky, mon- 
 strous, — taller than the sons of men, — it seemed to 
 topple as it advanced, swaying about heavily from 
 I 2
 
 172 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 side to side, in a strange manner to behold, and ap- 
 parently every instant on the point of falling to the 
 ground. Yet it never in effect came down, nor irre- 
 coverably lost its equilibrium. Regaining the per- 
 pendicular, it always came forward as before, and 
 pursuing the same tortuous course, gradually ap- 
 proached the two unhappy maidens. 
 
 They now saw that it was a giant, — or at least 
 that its proportions were gigantic. But its figure 
 was uncouth in the extreme. Its limbs were thick 
 and shapeless, especially its legs, which, moreover, 
 were so oddly constructed that the shank was at 
 least three times the length of the thigh, while the 
 arms were so short that they looked like fins, and the 
 hands were not larger than those of an ordinary 
 man. The shoulders also were of the narrowest 
 span, and the body was of the same thickness in all 
 parts, so that it rather resembled an immense bolster 
 than any thing else. But its head was the greatest 
 curiosity of the whole ; — it was, indeed, perfectly 
 unique. Vast in size, it was covered with a mighty 
 casque, from beneath which on each side descended 
 an enormous quantity of coarse black hair, while in 
 front was seen a visage of immense length, with 
 hollow cheeks, Ian thorn-jaws, bushy eye-brows, and 
 a formidable beard. The most remarkable charac- 
 teristic of this countenance, however, was its im-
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 173 
 
 moveable rigidity ; the eyes were motionless in their 
 sockets, and the lips though parted, seemed incapable 
 of being closed. It was the physiognomy of a statue 
 or a mummy. 
 
 Besides the helmet on its head, this strange object 
 was decorated with a bright steel corslet, and other 
 articles of defensive armour. Yet its apparel was 
 not exclusively military, for a long purple mantle 
 depended from its shoulders, and gave it an appear- 
 ance of magisterial dignity, while its legs were en- 
 cased in long buskins, neither resembling the caligce 
 of the soldier, nor the sandals of an ordinary man. 
 In its right hand was brandished a truncheon, which 
 partook strongly of the warlike character. 
 
 On the whole, it was a terrible apparition to be- 
 hold. There was something so ambiguous in its 
 aspect that the most experienced observer could 
 hardly have determined whether it belonged to the 
 living or the dead. It is true that it walked, and 
 breathed, and moved. But its face was that of a 
 corpse; and its gait was so infirm, its steps so waver- 
 ing, and its motions so eccentric, that it did not 
 appear to be endued with more than a small por- 
 tion of vitality ; — a faint spark or emanation from the 
 soul which animates a man. 
 
 Such at least were the reflections of Thusnelda as 
 the frightful monster came towards her. Yet ter-
 
 174 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 rifled as she was, she made no attempt to get out of 
 its way, though she saw that it must inevitably come 
 in contact with her companion or herself. In truth, 
 she was incapable of even trying to escape ; her fears 
 disabled her, — her limbs were paralyzed, — and she 
 sank upon the ground motionless. 
 
 At length it arrived within one pace of her, and 
 its right leg was again raised, as in the act of march- 
 ing. When, however, it was about to put down 
 its foot, in doing which it must inevitably have 
 crushed the damsel to death, it seemed suddenly to 
 perceive her situation, and remained stationary upon 
 one leg, with its hands resting against the walls, and 
 its face inclined over her. Thus both continued 
 motionless ; the one from apprehension, the other 
 seemingly from surprise. The great, hideous, mask- 
 like visage of the spectre was, indeed, still inex- 
 pressive as before ; its rigid features were incapable 
 of change ; but its attitude evinced astonishment the 
 most profound ; nor could any agitation of the 
 countenance have more clearly demonstrated this 
 feeling, than the constrained posture of its stooping 
 body, stretched-out neck, and foot suspended in 
 the air. 
 
 Presently this state of things received a partial 
 interruption. A deep, chuckling, cackling laugh, 
 which to the ears of Thusnelda sounded like the
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 175 
 
 risibility of a fiend, was heard to issue from the 
 thorax of the apparition, and passing through its 
 half-open lips, which, nevertheless, remained quite 
 motionless, filled the whole place with sounds of the 
 most diabolical and monstrous kind. There was, 
 indeed, something peculiarly shocking in the cachin- 
 nation. Long, loud, continued peals, were follow- 
 ed by explosions, short, sharp, and guttural ; these 
 again were succeeded by a grunt or a squeal, inter- 
 mingled with a sputter. But the most abominable 
 peculiarity of the whole, was an air of suffocation, 
 which prevented the sounds from becoming distinctly 
 audible, and even caused them to appear more distant 
 than in fact they were. 
 
 After a while these signs of mirthfulness began to 
 be intermixed with words, either pronounced sepa- 
 rately in an exclamatory manner, or in short dis- 
 jointed sentences, scarcely intelligible, and uttered 
 like the laughter in a stifled tone of voice. '* Oh ! 
 ho! ho!" cried the ghost, "oh, what a shame! — 
 oh, what a shame ! — poor thing, poor thing ! — oh, 
 what a shame ! — we've done it, we've done it ! — oh, 
 what a shame ! come, come, come ! — get up from the 
 ground, — get up, get up ! — that's right my darling, — 
 I'll help, you up, — I'm the man to help you, — oh, 
 what a shame ! — can't get you up, can't get you up — 
 heavy as lead, heavy as lead, — dead drunk, dead
 
 176 PISO AND THE PREFECT, 
 
 drunk, — oh, what a shame ! — hae, hae, hae, bae ! — I'm 
 the man to help you, — hae, hae, hae, has!" and 
 another peal of smothered laughter burst from the 
 apparition, whose enormous figure was agitated and 
 convulsed at the same time with such violence, that 
 it seemed on the point of splitting in two, or tum- 
 bling into bits. Its right foot had descended to the 
 ground ; it bestrode the prostrate maiden, after the 
 manner of a colossus ; and while its fin-like arms 
 dangled impotently by its sides, its mighty head 
 rolled tumultuously upon its shoulders, as if the neck 
 
 was in a dislocated state. 
 
 The astonishment of Thusnelda was complete. 
 What could be the meaning of what she saw and 
 heard? Was it possible that a supernatural being of 
 any sort, — even of the most degraded and accursed 
 kind, — could behave itself with so little dignity, and 
 give utterance to such abominable stuff? The thing 
 seemed incredible ; — it was absolutely anomalous ; — 
 it implied a contradiction, and could not be believed. 
 Yet how else was the strange transaction to be ex- 
 plained ? The huge figure standing over her was 
 not that of a man ; neither was it that of a god ; nor 
 did it bear any resemblance to those ambiguous 
 beings, half human, half divine, known to the classical 
 community by the name of Satyrs, Fauns, or Dryads. 
 It must surely be a Larva after all ! Perhaps, too.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 177 
 
 it was a Larva in an intoxicated state. There was 
 an idea which would at once account for every thing ! 
 It shot across her mind, and she was enlightened. 
 
 Meanwhile the monster kept playing off its antics 
 as before ; throwing about its head in a strange 
 manner to behold, swinging its arms from side to 
 side with the regularity of a pendulum, and giving 
 utterance to reiterated peals of laughter, intermixed 
 with words of doubtful import, wild, incoherent, 
 maudlin, and absurd. At last, however, a change 
 came over it ; its mirthfulness was repressed ; its 
 movements became less vehement ; and retreating one 
 pace, it assumed an attitude of composure, stretched 
 forth its right hand, waved its truncheon with an 
 air of dignity, and in slow solemn accents commenced 
 a set speech in blank, verse, which it apparently ad- 
 dressed either to vacancy or to the walls, for its 
 face was averted from the two damsels, whom it 
 seemed now to have completely overlooked. Neither 
 did the words of its harangue appear to have any 
 reference to passing events, or present circumstances. 
 They seemed, rather, to bear upon some remote 
 occurrence, historical or imaginary, and probably 
 formed part of an oration addressed by a hero to his 
 troops, inasmuch as the words *' soldiers, friends, and 
 countrymen,' were frequently repeated, together 
 with a great number of high-flown phrases calculated 
 i5
 
 178 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 to awaken patriotism, and inspire courage, such as 
 '' think of Leonidas ! — remember the Straits of 
 Thermopylae ! — dishonour not your sires ! — Greeks 
 are ye all, and as Greeks ye should behave." This 
 spirited exhortation was, however, occasionally inter- 
 rupted by a hiccup, which burst, as it were, from the 
 speaker's lips, in spite of himself, and marred the 
 effect of his most impressive language by its vulgar 
 sound. 
 
 '* Poor drunken Larva !" thought Thusnelda to 
 herself, "ye know not what ye say! I pity you 
 from my inmost soul : yet I cannot but despise you 
 while I do so, too." 
 
 At last the apparition ceased spouting. It had 
 finished its rhapsody, and that seemingly much to its 
 own satisfaction, for it laughed, chuckled, rubbed its 
 hands, and testified many other symptoms of ap- 
 plause. Then wheeling about, and turning its back 
 upon the ladies without bidding them adieu, it be- 
 gan to retreat down the gallery with the same un- 
 steady gait which had characterised its approach. 
 When, however, it had withdrawn to the distance of 
 a few yards, and began to be rendered indistinct by 
 the darkness of the place, it was seen suddenly to 
 stop short, and become violently agitated from head 
 to foot. This convulsive movement was followed by 
 an operation of the most extraordinary kind. The
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 179 
 
 phantom seemed to fall to pieces ; a portion of it 
 stalked away, and left the residue upon the ground, 
 prostrate. 
 
 Thusnelda was horror-stricken at the sight. It was 
 loathsome and revolting in the extreme ; her blood 
 froze in her veins, and her flesh crept on her bones 
 when she thought of it. 
 
 Eudocia was still lying in a state of insensibility 
 at her feet. Even before the spectre had become 
 completely visible she had fainted ; its voice alone 
 bad *' done her up." But now that the apparition 
 had taken its departure, Thusnelda with some diffi- 
 culty roused her from her oblivious state, commu- 
 nicated what had passed with as much brevity as 
 possible, and declared her resolution to unravel the 
 mystery by a personal inspection of the spot where she 
 supposed the fragments of the Larva to be laid. In 
 vain did the Abigail deprecate the step. The heroine 
 was inexorable; no dangers could appal her; neither 
 was she merely satisfied with encountering them her- 
 self; she resolved that her attendant should share 
 them too ; seizing her by the hand, therefore, she 
 compelled her to accompany her towards the fatal 
 goal; — stepping cautiously along, and examining the 
 floor on all sides as she went. Nor did she long ex- 
 amine it in vain. Something was observed lying 
 iu a heap ; — it looked like the body of a man. Yet
 
 180 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 she knew not what to make of it. There was un- 
 questionably a head, and that one of extraordinary 
 size. It was moreover covered with a casque ; and 
 though the face was turned downwards, it was evi- 
 dently furnished with a beard. There was also a 
 pair of legs, thick, shapeless, and of an unreasonable 
 length. But there did not appear to be anything 
 else ; the body and the arms were both wanting ; 
 they had never had an existence, or they had dis- 
 appeared. 
 
 After gazing at these mutilated reliques for some 
 time, and perceiving that they did not stir, Thus- 
 nelda proceeded to examine them more closely, and 
 soon satisfied herself that the head was the same 
 which she had seen upon the shoulders of the appari- 
 tion ; or at least that it was externally alike. Never- 
 theless, upon reversing its position, and turning it up- 
 side down, she discovered, to her astonishment, that 
 it was nothing but an empty shell, destitute of brains, 
 and so completely hollow that she could with ease 
 have thrust her whole arm inta it through the aper- 
 ture at the neck. The legs also were of the same 
 construction, or rather resembled an immense pair of 
 boots. The mystery, therefore, was explained. It 
 was clear that she beheld the reliques of a real, ge- 
 nuine and undoubted Larva ; for they were pre-emi- 
 nently distinguished by that want of an interior
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 181 
 
 which she had been assured was the characteristic of 
 the whole race. 
 
 She pondered on the phenomenon, and the blood 
 ran cold in her veins. " The nasty, hateful, loathsome 
 things !" whispered she to her companion, shudder- 
 ing as she spoke. How, then, was she surprised 
 when the damsel suddenly gave emission to a burst 
 of laughter, and bestowing a kick upon the huge 
 head as it lay upon the ground, sent it rolling away 
 to a distance, while she exclaimed with a loud voice, 
 " The Larva! the Larva! — yes, indeed, it is a larvay — 
 a larva of the proper sort !*' — and again gave way to 
 such vehement hilarity that she made the roof re- 
 verberate with her voice. After a space, however, 
 her raptures began to subside ; and as her tranquillity 
 returned, she seemed to feel conscious that she had 
 been guilty of an impropriety for which it was her 
 duty to account. She accordingly commenced an 
 explanation, and Thusnelda now for the first time be- 
 came aware that there were two sorts of larvcB ; the 
 mask and head-piece of an actor on the stage being 
 distinguished by the same name appropriated to that 
 peculiar class of visionary beings which they were 
 supposed to resemble in their hollowness, and vie 
 with in their fearful aspect. The German young 
 lady, in her ignorance of classical affairs, had mis- 
 taken the substantial Larva for the spiritual.
 
 182 
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 " I now understand the whole thing perfectly," 
 said the waiting-maid, going close up to her patro- 
 ness, and whispering in her ear ; " I know how it all 
 has happened; there is a mystery in the business, 
 but it is easily explained. The truth is," continued 
 she that, as I have already hinted to you, my mis- 
 tress and Basilides are sworn friends ; but as the 
 latter is extremely careful of his character, he is 
 obliged to have recourse to all sorts of tricks and 
 stratagems to effect a private interview, and I sus - 
 pect this is one of them, although not conducted with 
 the prudence which he commonly displays. He was, 
 I suppose, more than half-seas over when he retired 
 from the supper-table. He probably went home with 
 the intention of sleeping off the effects of his debauch, 
 but being seized with an inclination to revisit his be- 
 loved, it no doubt occurred to him in his intoxication, 
 that the best way to effect a meeting would be to 
 disguise himself in his theatrical attire, and return 
 thus to the palace. He must, no doubt, have for- 
 gotten that the object of his adoration had herself 
 quitted it some time before ; and finding her apart- 
 ments empty, he has been since seeking her else- 
 where, and exposing himself to detection as we see. 
 I think it would be but friendly in us to follow him, 
 and endeavour to avert the consequences of his fault. 
 Thusnelda, agreeing with her in this, they pro-
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 183 
 
 ceeded on their expedition, walking down the gal- 
 lery arm in arm, with great confidence and compo- 
 sure, unmolested by any fears of the supernatural ; 
 ere long reaching its end, they passed through an 
 archway into a large room ; which they had no 
 sooner entered than their ears were again assailed by 
 the sound of spouting ; and on penetrating farther, 
 they perceived the figure of Basilides, undisguised by 
 his mask, and reduced to the size of an ordinary man 
 by the loss of his immense boots, or cothurni. He 
 still, however, wore his bright steel cuirass, and held 
 his truncheon in his hand, while, owing to his reduced 
 stature, his enormous purple cloak trailed behind him 
 to a vast distance on the ground, and looked like the 
 robe of a monarch ridiculously caricatured. 
 
 Pitying his condition, Eudocia went up to him, and 
 addressed him soothingly, while she took him by the 
 hand. But it was all to no purpose, for though he 
 broke off his rhapsody, and even halted in his march, 
 it was evident that her words made no impression on 
 his mind ; he gazed at her as she spoke with a vacant 
 countenance, lolled out his tongue foolishly, and 
 grinned with the expression of an inebriatc^d ape. 
 
 " All is lost I" cried she, '^ alas, poor wretch, his 
 fate is sealed ! and how dreadful will be the punish- 
 ment of his offence ! The noise he makes must dis- 
 turb the whole house; he will be found where it is
 
 184 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 death for him to intrude, — death, I would say, to his 
 theatrical character at once. He will be hooted off 
 the stage for his immorality ; — scourged by the hand 
 of the public lictor ; — banished from the land for the 
 remainder of his life, and fined to the amount of his 
 whole fortune." 
 
 And the sympathising girl shed tears while she 
 apostrophised him. She felt for his situation; she 
 compassionated his offence, and she deplored her 
 inability to befriend him. 
 
 A loud noise was now heard in the house : the 
 fatal crisis was at hand ! People could not sleep in 
 their beds for ever while a drunken man was ranting, 
 and raving, and tearing about right over their heads, 
 — sleep hard as they would. They were roused 
 therefore at last. They were coming to punish him 
 for his diabolical offence. Nothing could assuage 
 their wrath and anger. Nothing could induce them 
 to forgive so detestable a wretch ; — a wretch who 
 had infringed the hours sacred to repose, and marred 
 by his noisiness the happiness of a night. 
 
 Yet, culpable as he was, the tender-hearted Abigail 
 was still anxious to rescue her intoxicated protegee. 
 
 '* Dear, dear ! what can I do ?" cried she, whim- 
 pering, and wringing her hands. Then rushing up 
 to him in a paroxysm of distress, she endeavoured to 
 envelope him in his own cloak, throwing the tail of it
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 185 
 
 all over his face to blind him, after the manner 
 pursued by butchers in the treatment of an un- 
 manageable ox. But deprivation of sight, had 
 not the same effect in taming the man, which it is 
 sometimes found to produce upon the brute. The 
 overwhelmed actor struggled to get loose, and voci- 
 ferated more outrageously than ever. 
 
 Meanwhile the sounds of the approaching enemy 
 became every instant more distinctly audible, and 
 the terrors of the waiting-maid augmented in propor- 
 tion. '* Here they come, here they come !" cried 
 she, despairingly. At the same moment the door 
 was thrown open with a loud crash, and in rushed, 
 not the expected persecutors of the drunken man, 
 but the very individual whom he had braved so many 
 dangers to embrace, Laurentia Ogulnia herself, who 
 with sparkling eyes and inflamed cheeks, came im- 
 petuously along, returned from her excursion to the 
 much-sought fane of Isis. 
 
 ** What a fortunate occurrence !" said Eudocia to 
 herself, " the secret of the poor wretch is in safe 
 keeping after all." And perceiving that conceal- 
 ment was no longer necessary, she extricated him 
 from the trammels of his cloak.
 
 186 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 A JOURNEY TO TUSCULUM. 
 
 One day, soon after the banquet, Scribonius Mum- 
 mius informed his nephew that he had received a 
 very pressing invitation from a Consular Senator 
 named Magnus to spend a day with him at his Tus- 
 culan villa, where he always resided during the sum- 
 mer months. *' Thou art also asked," added the 
 senior, " and Magnus hath expressed himself parti- 
 cularly desirous of thy company, as thou wilt perceive 
 by this billet, which he has commissioned me to put 
 into thy hands. He was once intimate with thy 
 father, and as he is a man of spotless character, thou 
 canst not do better than accept his proffered friend- 
 ship." So saying, he presented Piso with an unsealed 
 letter, which was found to contain the following 
 words :
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 187 
 
 **To Calpurnius Piso. 
 
 " Although I am not personally known to thee, 
 yet, peradventure, thou hast heard my name, which 
 is neither obscure nor infamous. I trust, therefore, 
 thou wilt not refuse me an opportunity of cultivating 
 thine acquaintance. I have long been desirous of 
 embracing the son of my ancient friend. 
 
 ** Thy worthy uncle will inform thee I have re- 
 quested him to visit me at Tusculum ; and should he 
 accept the invitation, may I venture to hope thou 
 wilt also favour me with thy presence ? 
 
 '* I cannot offer thee in my sylvan abode, the 
 luxurious gratifications of the metropolis ; but if the 
 simple amusements of the country, and the rational 
 conversation of a few plain men, have charms for thy 
 yet uncorrupted mind, I trust thou wilt not be dis- 
 satisfied with thine entertainment. Farewell. 
 
 "Magnus." 
 
 Having read this epistle, Piso declared his readi- 
 ness to comply with the hospitable request of the 
 writer, and it was accordingly determined that a 
 messenger should be at once despatched to Tuscu- 
 lum with a favourable answer. The following day 
 was appointed for the visit, for Magnus in his letter 
 to Scribonius Mummius (which accompanied that to
 
 188 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 the young man) had particularly requested that no 
 time might be lost ; — for reasons which, he said, he 
 would explain afterwards. 
 
 Soon after sunrise on the morning which succeeded 
 the receipt of this invitation, Piso therefore descend- 
 ed into the atrium, or entrance-hall of the mansion, 
 at the gates of which stood his uncle's best travelling- 
 chariot, while four very splendid horses were pre- 
 paring for the journey by the grooms. On per- 
 ceiving the young nobleman, these operatives began 
 bustling about, and in two or three minutes harnessed 
 in the animals, putting all four of them abreast, ac- 
 cording to the practice of the times, the long leather 
 traces of a modern stage-coach being still at that 
 period undiscovered. 
 
 Scarcely had they finished the job, when their 
 venerable master made his advent. He entered the 
 atrium with a limping gait, and a countenance expres- 
 sive of intense bodily pain, so that his nephew was in- 
 duced to inquire at him, what was the matter with his 
 leg? — whereunto he replied, in a whimpering voice, 
 that he had just met with a very unpleasant acci- 
 dent, — which, moreover, he feared was no less omi- 
 nous than ag^onizing, — having broken the nail of his 
 right great toe as he came down stairs from his 
 dormitory. So saying, he exhibited the lacerated 
 member to the young man ; and while an attendant
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 189 
 
 was binding- it up, ''exactly such an accident as 
 this," added he, " befel the patriot Tiberius Grac- 
 chus the day before he was murdered. Alas ! I fear 
 it bodes me no good ; or at least it indicates some sad 
 mishap, unless we put off that accursed jaunt to 
 Tusculum. Let us, then, nephew, obey the will of the 
 gods, and stay quietly at home till the danger be 
 past." 
 
 But Piso was by no means inclined to accede to 
 this proposal; he promised himself a good deal of 
 pleasure from the projected trip, and placed far less 
 reliance on prognostics than his uncle. He there- 
 fore derided such superstitious notions, which he said 
 were unfit for an enlightened age like the present ; 
 and he added, that his kinsman would infallibly be- 
 come the laughing-stock of all the world, if he suf- 
 fered his conduct to be influenced by a circumstance 
 which would hardly have had weight with the most 
 credulous soothsayers of antiquity. He could not 
 have employed a more eff'ective argument, consider- 
 ing the person to whom it was addressed ; for Mum- 
 mius was a slave to the opinion of the world, and 
 dreaded the ridicule of his compatriots beyond all 
 other evils which the gods in their wrath, or men in 
 their malice could inflict. Piso, consequently, gained 
 his point. Blushing up to the eyes at his own want 
 of scepticism, the modest old senator pulled on his
 
 190 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 boots, called for his hat, and was just in the act of 
 putting it on his head, when a small green lizard 
 crept from the interior, and falling on the ground, 
 disappeared amongst the stones which formed the 
 pavement. 
 
 His horror and astonishment are not to be de- 
 scribed when he witnessed this phenomenon. Turn- 
 ing to the youth with a ghastly smile, *' Now, Piso," 
 he exclaimed, " I trust thou wilt acknowledge that I 
 was not under a mistake ! Thou hast seen the thing 
 with thine own eyes. Thou didst scoff impiously at 
 the first omen, but thou canst not disregard the 
 second. This is exactly parallel with the other 
 warning received by Tiberius Gracchus ; for when 
 that illustrious demagogue was about to put on his 
 helmet, he found that two venomous serpents had 
 privily crawled into it, and there laid their eggs. 
 However," continued he, *' these were not the only 
 omens which forewarned the miserable end of Grac- 
 chus. There was also an unfavourable augury of 
 that sort called Tripudium, taken from the manner 
 in which cocks and hens are observed to peck their 
 food ; and, Piso, as I am myself a member of the 
 College of Augurs, it may not be amiss for us to have 
 recourse to this mode of divination, before we pro- 
 ceed any further with the business." 
 
 That said, he gave the necessary orders to his
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 191 
 
 slaves, who thereupon produced a hen-coop of con- 
 siderable size, from the interior of which issued 
 shrill cackling sounds, and placed it in the middle 
 of the hall. Silence being then proclaimed, the 
 venerable Augur caused the coop to be opened, and 
 threw a handful of barley on the ground before it ; 
 but none of the chickens coming forth, he struck the 
 top of their habitation with his hand. It was all to 
 no purpose : he could not prevail upon one of them 
 to stir. He became agitated, and shook the coop 
 with so much violence, that a solitary individual at 
 last made its appearance. It was a miserable look- 
 ing little bird, with a pale sickly face, and ruffled 
 feathers. It came limping out as if it could scarcely 
 walk, stood still for a moment, stretched out its 
 right wing and the leg on the same side, and without 
 eating a morsel, ran back again into its hutch, where 
 it persevered in remaining with its companions, in 
 spite of the reiterated efforts made to expel it. 
 
 Scribonius Mummius trembled all over from head 
 to foot. His nerves were unable to resist the shock ; 
 his knees smote each other, and he gasped for breath. 
 Three dreadful prodigies had now occurred, — each 
 almost sufficient in itself to have destroyed his peace 
 of mind for ever. Piso endeavoured to administer 
 consolation ; but his arguments and entreaties were 
 alike unheeded by the affrighted Augur, who could
 
 192 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 only exclaim that some terrible fate awaited him, 
 which he feared it would be impossible to avert. 
 The youth, therefore, jSnding- that words availed him 
 nothing, had recourse to a plan of a different kind ; 
 calling for a bowl of potent wine, he recommended 
 the unhappy man to drink it off*, in order to defend 
 his stomach against the morning air, which blew 
 damp and chilly through the entrance of the uncom- 
 fortable place in which they stood. The sage took 
 his advice, and gulped down the liquor. A smile of 
 satisfaction lighted up his countenance. He spread 
 his hand upon his bosom, and seemed to enjoy the 
 feeling of warmth which gradually diff'used itself 
 through his meagre and attenuated frame. His 
 spirits rose in a manner quite miraculous, and losing 
 all remembrance of the perils which surrounded 
 him, he turned upon his heel, shuffled across the 
 hall with irregular but hasty steps, and leapt into the 
 carriage in a trice. Piso lost no time in following 
 his example, and away they dashed down the Pa- 
 latine Mount, and through the streets of the city, on 
 their way towards the Latian Gate. Whilst thus 
 driving along, the temporary excitement caused by 
 the draught beginning to subside, Scribonius Mum- 
 mius betrayed signs of uneasiness, and repented (as 
 it seemed) of the rash step which he had been in- 
 duced to take.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 193 
 
 ^* Piso," said he at last in a loud shrill voice, 
 which nevertheless was but just audible amidst the 
 horrible din occasioned by the transit of their clumsy 
 vehicle across the rough and rugged pavement, ** it 
 really was a strange phenomenon, that, of the chick- 
 ens. I never before met with any thing of the sort. 
 I have seen the animals decline their food, or peck 
 at it daintily as if they had little inclination to eat. 
 I have seen them scatter it about with their wings, 
 or even turn away from it in disgust. And bad 
 enough have such prognostics always been esteemed. 
 But never did I find them so determined not to leave 
 their coop. Indeed, I believe it is altogether an 
 unprecedented event, and bodes some hitherto un- 
 heard-of horrors. But hold, nephew ! — look at those 
 birds of ill omen on the top of the arch ! — 3Iehercule! 
 — how desperately they fight !" 
 
 And in fact, as he spoke thus, the carriage was 
 approaching the arch of Lucius Verus, on the summit 
 of which two carrion-crows were seen engaged in 
 single combat, with all the desperation and implaca- 
 bility peculiar to that mode of settling a dispute. In 
 another moment the chariot passed under the arch, 
 when a small fragment of marble, dislodged by the 
 birds during their strife, fell down perpendicularly 
 upon the head of the philosopher, which it struck 
 with so much violence, that he could not forbear crying 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 194 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 out in a tone of anguish, that " the Gods were re- 
 solved on his destruction." Even Piso was alarmed 
 at these repeated prodigies ; and though far less 
 superstitious than his countrymen in general, acknow- 
 ledged within himself that it was a shame and a 
 scandal to have commenced the journey under such 
 unfavourable auspices. However, not wishing to 
 discourage his companion, and being unwilling to dis- 
 appoint the noble individual they were about to visit 
 by turning back, he affected to laugh at the accident 
 which had just occurred, as well as at those preceding 
 it ; while the old philosopher himself, being sorely 
 ashamed of the unmanly cry which he had uttered in 
 his agony, — inconsistent as it was with his assumed 
 character of a Stoic, — resolved to make amends for 
 the slip by the quiet intrepidity of his conduct after- 
 wards. On, therefore, they went, in silence and in 
 fear, as if they were conscious of the impending evils 
 without knowing how to shun them ; till passing the 
 south-eastern boundaries of the metropolis, they 
 entered on the Latian Way. 
 
 The Latian Way, like many other roads in the 
 vicinity of the capital, was devoted to sepulchral 
 purposes. When, therefore, the travellers issued 
 from the city, they at once found themselves in an 
 avenue of tombs, — a dark, dismal, horrid place, the 
 termination of which they were unable to distinguishi
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 195 
 
 Aud presently, as they proceeded, a funeral proces- 
 sion of no ordinary magnificence interrupted their 
 career. Being consequently reduced to the necessity 
 of following it at a decreased pace, they very naturally 
 employed themselves in watching the progress of the 
 defunct, and in making inquiries at his surviving 
 friends concerning him. A venerable senator, who 
 enacted the part of chief mourner, took upon 
 himself to reply ; when they heard, to their unequi- 
 vocal astonishment and disgust, that the deceased 
 was no other than an extraordinary magpie. 
 
 '* The bird," said the senator, *' belonged to a poor 
 shoemaker, who lived near the Forum, and it pos- 
 sessed the strange faculty of speaking like a man. 
 Every morning at the same hour it used to hop up 
 into the Rostrum, and there evinced its attachment 
 to the established government by exclaiming in a 
 shrill voice, ** Health to the Emperor Maximin ! 
 health to our noble Praefect ! long may they live and 
 prosper !" with many other phrases of the same sort. 
 This went on for years. But at last another cobbler, 
 envious of the fame which his brother of the awl 
 acquired by the possession of so talented a creature, 
 watched his opportunity, and treacherously put it to 
 death. The murderer fell a sacrifice to the just 
 resentment of the populace. He was torn into atoms 
 as a punishment for the deed, and the mangled rem- 
 K 2
 
 196 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 nants of his carcase were abandoned to the dogs. 
 The corpse of the bird, on the other hand, was care- 
 fully preserved, and we are now about to deposit it 
 in a sepulchre which has been prepared for its recep- 
 tion." 
 
 Piso and his uncle accompanied the murdered 
 chatterer to its last home, and saw it interred with as 
 much pomp as would have been bestowed upon the 
 reliques of a warrior or a statesman. The mourners 
 stood round to the number of a thousand, weeping, 
 and wailing, and gnashing their teeth ; the funeral 
 trumpets sent forth a dull and dismal sound ; the 
 lurid glare of numerous torches mixed unnaturally 
 with the pure light of the sun. Garlands of flowers 
 were placed upon the sepulchre, and victims were 
 sacrificed at its foot to propitiate the Infernal Gods. 
 The supper of the dead was then produced. It con- 
 sisted of some milk and some honey, a lettuce or two, 
 and a small piece of bread ; which slender repast 
 being left upon the tomb, was designed to be eaten 
 by the ghost of the deceased after the mourners had 
 departed.''^ 
 
 * This custom of feeding the Manes was religiously observed at 
 all Roman funerals. Nor was it altogether without its use ; for 
 as it sometimes happened that the ghosts were not hungry, a great 
 many mendicants used to frequent the burying-grounds at night, 
 in order to partake of their leavings.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 19? 
 
 The travellers having witnessed this remarkable 
 ceremony, proceeded on their way ; and without 
 having met with any further interruption, arrived in 
 the neighbourhood of Tusculum. As they approached 
 that celebrated spot, Piso was struck with the beauty 
 of the scenery which presented itself on every side. 
 The summit of the hill, as seen from a distance, 
 appeared to be thickly studded with white villas, em- 
 bosomed in woods, or separated from each other by 
 meadows, lawns, or gardens. The surrounding 
 country was laid out in vineyards, agreeably inter- 
 spersed with the snug-looking dwellings of the 
 peasantry ; and this prospect was bounded on the 
 east by the dark line of the Apennines, which, how- 
 ever, were extremely remote. In the same direction, 
 but not so far off, was seen the village of Praeneste, 
 situated, like Tusculum, on an eminence, and adorned 
 in the same manner with the summer residences of 
 the nobility ; — as Piso well knew, though it is not to 
 be supposed that he could distinguish them, being 
 several miles from the place. The pleasant mount of 
 Alba, so famous for the grapes grown on its sunny 
 sides, with the blue waves of the ocean seen beyond 
 it, gratified the eye of the traveller when he looked 
 towards the west. He pondered as he gazed upon 
 the glories of his country, and thanked the Gods for 
 havinof made him an Italian.
 
 198 
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 Having arrived at the entraDce of the village, or 
 rather the assemblage of villas and palaces, groves 
 and gardens, which he had seen from a distance, 
 he paused to look back, and found that he had as- 
 cended a hill of considerable height. From this ele- 
 vated situation he was able to discern the domes and 
 cupolas of the eternal city ; nay, so clear was the 
 atmosphere and so powerful his vision, that he 
 thought he could recognise the particular edifices to 
 which each and all of them belonged. 
 
 But these objects were soon excluded from his 
 view. The carriage entered an umbrageous lane, 
 where nothing could be seen but the boughs of fruit- 
 trees spreading across the way, and forming as it 
 were a delicious canopy above his head. The sweet- 
 ness of the smells which here regaled his nose, and 
 the coolness of the breezes which blew upon his 
 cheek, formed a contrast with the dust and the heat 
 of the road truly refreshing to the senses. The cha- 
 riot was more than once in danger of upsetting from 
 the cars loaded with grapes and olives which came 
 across its path ; yet so pleasant was the journey on 
 the whole, that Piso hardly wished it at an end. 
 
 After making several turns, the carriage drew up 
 before an elegant abode, in front of which appeared a 
 white marble porch, and a portico of the same mate- 
 rial. The travellers alighted, and went in. Passing
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 199 
 
 through the porch, they were conducted into a large 
 airy apartment, where their noble entertainer stood 
 ready to receive them. He was apparently a man 
 well stricken in years, with grave dignified manners, 
 and a thoughtful countenance. He welcomed the 
 elder of his visitors with a great deal of courtesy ; 
 then bent his eyes upon the younger while he offered 
 him his hand, with an earnestness of gaze which 
 evinced the interest he felt for him. Satisfied with 
 his scrutiny, he addressed him in a manner at once 
 frank and courteous, repeating the civilities which he 
 had written in his letter, and adding many more of 
 the same sort ; so that Piso, — distrustful of compli- 
 ments as he was, — had no reason to be discontented 
 with his reception. 
 
 Besides Magnus himself, there were several other 
 individuals present ; and to these the new comers 
 were now introduced. Scribonius Mummius, indeed, 
 was well acquainted with most of them already, and 
 he privately informed his nephew that they were men 
 of rank, wealth, and consideration in the empire, but 
 by no means remarkable for their attachment to the 
 established government, and the existing order of 
 things. 
 
 After a little conversation on indifferent subjects, 
 Magnus proposed that as the morning was now 
 pretty far advanced, his guests should adjourn to the
 
 200 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 Sphaeristerium (or tennis-court) and take a little pre- 
 paratory exercise before they went into the bath. 
 This being readily assented to, he led the way to the 
 place specified, where, having pulled off a part of 
 their clothes, and rubbed their bodies with Venafran 
 oil, the whole company disported themselves in the 
 manner recommended by their host, who, notwith- 
 standing his age, did not think it beneath him to en- 
 gage in the same amusement himself. 
 
 When they had sufficiently warmed their blood, 
 and began to grow tired of the sport, they descended 
 from the Sphaeristerium, and entered an ** undress- 
 ing-room," situated underneath it. From thence, 
 having stripped to the skin, they repaired to the 
 baths, which adjoined the preparatory chamber. Piso, 
 upon entering, was astonished at the magnificence 
 of the place. There were three vast apartments, 
 opening one into another, and respectively appropri- 
 ated to cold water, to tepid, and to hot; besides 
 which, there were cells for the convenience of bath- 
 ing in steam, but these were not often used, being 
 chiefly designed for invalids. The walls were in- 
 crusted with the marble of Alexandria, and its veins 
 were so curiously disposed as to have the appearance 
 of a regular picture, while statues and columns of the 
 most magnificent description decorated the whole 
 suite throughout.
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 201 
 
 The whole company now plunged into the water, 
 selecting the hot, the cold, or the tepid baths, as each 
 individual felt inclined. Piso, amongst others, pre- 
 ferred the last, where he swam very much at his ease, 
 enjoying a view of the adjacent gardens at the same 
 time, the windows of the chamber being so cleverly 
 contrived, that the bathers could look through them 
 without quitting the water. 
 
 But no one present seemed better pleased with his 
 dip than the sage Scribonius Mummius. He plung- 
 ed, and splashed, and tossed about like a porpoise 
 during a storm. Sometimes he floated on his back, 
 and beat the surface of the water with his heels. 
 Sometimes he dived to the bottom and endeavoured 
 to catch a small piece of money, which he had thrown 
 in previously for the purpose. Anon he rose again 
 to the top, with his thin grey hairs streaming about 
 his face, which, in spite of the violence of his exercise, 
 looked even more cadaverous than usual. 
 
 The swimmers having landed, the strigils^ were 
 put in requisition for their use, and they forthwith 
 proceeded to scarify their flesh with a degree of 
 cruelty worthy of the great Augustus himself, and 
 
 * The strigil appears to have consisted of a crooked blade fixed 
 to a short handle : its use vs'as to remove the perspiration from the 
 skin after bathing. Tiie Emperor Augustus injured his health by 
 scraping liimself too violently with this instrnment.
 
 202 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 which threatened to leave their whole persons in a 
 state of universal rawness. 
 
 This ceremony over, they perfumed themselves 
 with great care, put garlands on their heads, and re- 
 sumed their clothes. Thus equipped, they were con- 
 ducted by their host through a long, close portico, 
 which had two rows of windows, one above the other, 
 on each side ; till arriving at the end, they entered a 
 large handsome apartment, opening upon a sort of 
 terrace, adorned with statues, and bounded to the 
 right and left by a box-tree hedge. Here their con- 
 ductor paused for a moment, and told them that, the 
 weather being hot, he proposed to dine in the gar- 
 den, where he thought they would find themselves 
 more comfortable than in the house. Then opening 
 a pair of folding doors, he stepped forth upon the 
 terrace, which he crossed, and followed by the whole 
 party, descended to a lawn covered with that soft 
 mossy plant which has been sometimes termed by 
 botanists the '' liquid" Acanthus. Passing through 
 a little gate at the opposite end of this lawn, they en- 
 tered a straight walk, planted at each side with lofty 
 plane-trees, the trunks of which were overgrown 
 with variegated ivy, honeysuckles, and vines. Box 
 and bay-trees occupied the space between these 
 planes, thus forming a thick shrubbery on each side 
 of the walk, which, however, was intersected at re-
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 203 
 
 gular intervals by other paths, which branched away 
 from it to the right and left. These passages or 
 avenues appeared to be in general also bordered 
 with box-trees, cut into a variety of shapes, such as 
 animals, obelisks, and letters ; the last being so ar- 
 ranged as to form regular words, among which was 
 sometimes seen the name of " Magnus," the pro- 
 prietor, but much more frequently that of '^ Codes," 
 his gardener, who perhaps hoped to extend his fame 
 by this ingenious contrivance. The chief path ter- 
 minated in a small hippodrome, — or at least a place of 
 that appearance, — surrounded by trees of various 
 sorts, but all of them clipped into formal shapes, like 
 the box-tree hedges ; and just in the centre there was 
 an extraordinary looking fountain, which threw up the 
 water to a great height in the air. At the end of the 
 enclosure appeared an elegant alcove of white mar- 
 ble, overhung with vines, and supported by small 
 Carystian columns. 
 
 This agreeable recess contained a long low bench, 
 and just before the entrance there was sunk in the 
 earth a large marble basin, into which flowed several 
 jets of water, through little silver pipes inserted in 
 the front of the seat itself. The whole was sur- 
 rounded with immense planes, which warded off the 
 heat of the sun, while a thousand shrubs and flowers 
 filled the air with an exquisite perfume.
 
 204 PISO AND THE PRJLFECT. 
 
 Entering the alcove, Magnus bade his friends be 
 seated on the bench, and no sooner had they taken 
 their places as he desired, than a long train of slaves 
 were seen coming from a small building, which occu- 
 pied one corner of the hippodrome. 
 
 *' Here they are with the dinner," said Magnus, 
 rubbing his hands, '' and I am not sorry to see it, for 
 in good truth the exercise of the Sphseristerium has 
 given me a wondrous appetite, — That building," 
 added he, pointing towards it as he spoke, ** was in 
 former times a green-house, but I have turned it 
 into a kitchen, which is very convenient when I 
 dine in this place." 
 
 The slaves were loaded with dishes, and now, as 
 they approached, the company began to indulge in 
 speculations as to where these utensils would be 
 placed, for nothing like a table could they see within 
 reach. The pond, however, and its flowery banks, 
 answered the purpose just as well ; the larger class 
 of vessels being placed upon the margin, while the 
 smaller, shaped like ducks and drakes, dolphins, 
 galleys, and amphibious animals, floated about upon 
 the surface of the pool, and were only hauled on shore 
 when their contents were required for the guests. 
 
 The company now regaled themselves deliciously, 
 for the fare was choice in itself, and admirably 
 dressed, though less sumptuous than that which Piso
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 205 
 
 and his uncle had enjoyed at the table of the Praefect. 
 The fruit and vegetables were particularly good, and 
 must also have been very expensive, considering the 
 distant places from which some of them had been 
 brought : there were peaches from Campania, melons 
 from Ostia, olives from Andalusia, and grapes from 
 Lavinium ; besides gourds, pumpkins, cucumbers, 
 and the like, produced in the garden of their host. 
 The wine too was capital, and cooled with the purest 
 snow, of which article there was also a considerable 
 quantity reserved for the purpose of refrigerating the 
 stomachs of the guests after the meal was over. 
 
 Whilst thus usefully employed, they did not neg- 
 lect the pleasures of colloquial intercourse, but 
 chatted away upon divers themes as the whim of the 
 moment prompted them. Amongst other matters, 
 Magnus took occasion to ask his friends," what they 
 thought of his house and grounds ? There could be 
 but one opinion as to the general character of the 
 establishment, and they all accordingly expressed 
 themselves in terms of the highest praise. Never- 
 theless, Piso made bold to remark, that he thought 
 there was something forced and unnatural in the 
 custom of shearing the trees into forms so different 
 from their own. ** Surely," said he, "a tree should be 
 a tree, not a bird or a beast, an obelisk, or a letter of 
 the alphabet ! Neither do I think that such a number
 
 206 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 of statues can be desirable in a garden. They give 
 it an appearance of formality which is far from being 
 pleasing to the eye ; and, besides, they augment the 
 heat, — or at least I have always thought they had 
 such an effect, by reflecting the rays of the sun." 
 
 '* I perfectly agree with you," replied Magnus; 
 *' the fashions you find fault with are in very bad 
 taste ; — but how can we break through established 
 rules, or set the customs of our countrymen at defi- 
 ance? Time was, undoubtedly, when nature was 
 left to herself, instead of being thus tortured and dis- 
 torted. But that was in the days of the Republic, 
 when all mankind were wise and happy. Bad taste, 
 and bad morals, were introduced with the emperors. 
 It was Marius, the friend of Augustus, who first 
 taught in Italy this senseless mode of gardening." 
 
 The meal being over, Magnus ordered the slaves, 
 ere they withdrew, to pour several buckets of wine 
 upon the roots of the plane-trees which grew round 
 about ; perhaps under the idea that these vegetable 
 friends of his must delight in a liquor so peculiarly 
 agreeable to himself. That done, he got up, and ex- 
 amined the alcove with an anxious eye, as if to make 
 certain of there being no eves-dropper concealed 
 within, or behind it. Discovering nothing of the 
 sort, he quietly resumed his seat ; and after some 
 moments of abstraction, during which no one present
 
 PISO AND THE , PREFECT. 
 
 207 
 
 thought proper to interrupt him, addressed himself to 
 Piso, thus : 
 
 *' It grieves me to think, O Piso, that the son of 
 my dearest friend, — and allow me to add, a son well 
 worthy of so excellent a sire, — should be doomed to 
 enter life at a period like the present, fraught, as it 
 is, with danger, misery, and disgrace. The good 
 Gods protect thee ! — thou art much in need of their 
 aid! 
 
 '* Rome groans under the yoke of a sanguinary 
 tyrant, who seems bent on the destruction of every 
 thing great and noble throughout the land. You 
 will scarcely escape the fate of others. The splen- 
 dour of your birth will afford you no protection, but 
 rather, on the contrary, by attracting the despot's 
 notice, will increase the dangers to which you are 
 exposed. Your personal accomplishments will be 
 still more against you ; for, like most uneducated 
 persons, Maximin loathes in others the qualities of 
 which he is destitute himself." 
 
 Piso was somewhat surprised, and a little discon- 
 certed at this address, which he observed was pro- 
 nounced with considerable bitterness, more indeed 
 than the occasion seemed to warrant ; for though con- 
 scious that no man was safe under the existing go- 
 vernment, he had not as yet any reason to think 
 that the sovereign had marked him for destruction.
 
 208 
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 He therefore asked, with some anxiety, whether 
 Magnus supposed that the emperor viewed him with 
 suspicion or dislike ? 
 
 '' No," replied Magnus ; '' I am not aware that he 
 is at present even acquainted with your name; but, 
 doubtless, he will know it soon ; and, moreover, ob- 
 tain a very tolerable notion of your character, habits, 
 and pursuits. For the truth of it is, that the whole 
 country is overrun with spies ; our words and our 
 actions are alike watched, and every thihg we do is 
 reported (with additions) to our rulers. For my 
 part," continued he, after a short pause, ''I live in 
 constant apprehension of a visit from the myrmidons 
 of the despot. I know that he regards me with pe- 
 culiar feelings of aversion, because I once had the 
 ill luck to preserve him from beggary and ruin." 
 
 " Surely," cried Piso, in astonishment, " he cannot 
 be so base as to aim at the destruction of his bene- 
 factor !" 
 
 " You know little of the man, if you think so," 
 replied the other ; " he has already imbrued his 
 hands in the blood of many of his best friends, and 
 he will not be satisfied till he has exterminated the 
 rest. For the greatest of all crimes in his eyes, is a 
 knowledge of his sordid origin, and the meanness 
 of his early prospects. Those who have been guilty 
 of this offence, he punishes with unmitigated rigour,
 
 PISO AND THE PR.EFECT. 209 
 
 and, unfortunately, I am one of them myself. I was 
 his patron when he first came from Thrace. He was 
 then a common legionary, remarkable for nothing but 
 his strength, stature, and intrepidity. These qua- 
 lities, however, he possessed in an eminent degree ; 
 and as I was myself at that time a military man, I 
 felt an inclination to befriend him, which I did ac- 
 cordingly in various ways, till rising into notice him- 
 self, he no longer stood in need of my assistance. It 
 is now many years since I saw him last ; nevertheless 
 I am told that he well recollects our former inter- 
 course, and bears me a grudge for having known him 
 as a young and friendless stranger, — an uncouth and 
 ignorant barbarian. He will, doubtless, therefore, 
 take the first opportunity of removing me out of his 
 way." 
 
 Piso was confounded at what he heard, and made 
 no reply. The rest of the company were also silent ; 
 they appeared to think it almost treasonable to 
 listen to the strong language of their host. Yet it 
 was plain they heard him with secret satisfaction, for 
 many significant glances were exchanged between 
 them while they affected to be busy with the desert, 
 — cracking nuts, peeling peaches and apricots, or 
 cooling their stomachs with the snow. 
 
 At length an individual named Vulcatius Asper, 
 whose sour, sulky, discontented looking visage
 
 210 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 seemed to prove how correctly the latter appellation 
 had been bestowed, saw fit to break through the 
 silence which prevailed by thus detailing his 
 grievances. 
 
 " Your case, O Magnus, differs much from mine. 
 The tyrant hates you for having known and adminis- 
 tered to his wants; — me, for having known them too, 
 but refused him all assistance. Soon after his 
 arrival in Italy- — he was then, as you say, a common 
 soldier in the army of Severus, — he fancied that his 
 merits entitled him to the rank of Vexillarius,"* and 
 importuned me about his imaginary claims, which 
 my office as one of the military tribunes enabled me 
 to promote. But I never was a friend to strangers 
 and barbarians; I was always of opinion that our 
 own countrymen ought to be preferred before others, 
 if the merits of both are pretty much alike ; and in 
 these days it seldom happens when a post falls 
 vacant, that we have not plenty of native claimants, 
 without calling in foreigners to our assistance. Be- 
 sides which, I had a personal dislike to Maximin, 
 whose savage aspect and. uncultivated mind inspired 
 me with disgust. I therefore rejected his petition, 
 and often was he driven from my door by the inso- 
 lence of my slaves, who, like many of their claSs, 
 
 * Ensign — standard-bearer.
 
 PISO AND THE PR.1:FECT. 
 
 211 
 
 were, I fear,' but too apt to abuse the delegated 
 authority they enjoyed. Never has the Thracian 
 pardoned the insults which he supposes himself to 
 have received at my hands. From time to time he 
 has taken opportunities of showing his resentment. 
 He did me many ill offices with the late emperor, 
 and now that he is sovereign himself, my only 
 wonder is that he has not as yet poured the phials of 
 his wrath upon my head. However, the evil day 
 will come at last. I cannot in reason expect to 
 escape much longer ; for having now exterminated 
 almost all his friends, he must soon take venge- 
 ance on his foes." 
 
 Magnus and Asper having thus unequivocally de- 
 clared their opinion of the prince, the rest of the 
 company took courage, and almost every one present 
 related some instance of his cruelty, ingratitude, or 
 rapacity. These anecdotes excited the indignation of 
 Piso to such a degree, that he could not help asking 
 with some heat, whether no one had spirit enough to 
 rid the world of such a monster ? The question 
 seemed to startle his companions, more especially 
 Scribonius Mummius, who implored him to beware 
 of what he said. But his host seemed to admire the 
 strength of his language, and assured him that he 
 might speak without reserve, as none but friends 
 were present.
 
 212 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 " And well may you ask," he continued, '' how 
 Romans can submit to wrongs like these, without 
 endeavouring to free themselves from the yoke. But 
 know, there are thousands who would rather suffer 
 in silence than make the least exertion to obtain their 
 freedom; nay, many there are, who, possessing a 
 kind of passive courage alone, would rather lay their 
 head upon the block, and invite the axe of the exe- 
 cutioner, than expose themselves to danger by endea- 
 vouring to avert the stroke. They live like dastards, 
 and die like heroes ; for the spirit of the nation still 
 exists, though subdued by habits of luxurious indo- 
 lence. Yet I would not have you to suppose that 
 all your countrymen are such as these. No ; thanks 
 to the Gods, there are still Romans of a bolder cha- 
 racter ; men who would risk both life and fortune to 
 regenerate the land. They only want a leader to 
 direct their efforts ; and, Piso, wert thou but a few 
 years older, how gladly should I see thee act in that 
 capacity thyself, and how willingly should I follow in 
 thy footsteps," 
 
 "And why, O Magnus !" cried the youth, "shouldst 
 not tliou be the leader? Why shouldst not thou 
 aspire to the honours which thy rank and character 
 so well entitle thee to claim ?" 
 
 " Yes !" shouted several voices in support of Piso's 
 motion, *' let Magnus undertake the liberation of his
 
 PISO AND THE PR.^FECT. 213 
 
 country ! Let Magnus declare himself against the 
 tyrant, and who will not hasten to his standard ? Let 
 Magnus aspire to the purple, and who will deny that 
 it is his due?" 
 
 But Magnus was exceedingly reluctant to accede 
 to the wishes of his friends. He was far from being 
 dazzled at the prospect of imperial honours ; and he 
 viewed the dangerous pre-eminence with dread rather 
 than desire. He begged them to remember that he 
 was no longer in the vigour of his age ; that he had for 
 many years since withdrawn from public life, with 
 the intention of passing the remainder of his days in 
 peace and privacy ; that owing to his voluntary 
 seclusion, his name had in a great measure ceased to 
 be known ; and finally, that the same circumstance 
 had contributed to render him unfit for public life by 
 giving him habits of indolence which he should find 
 it very difficult to throw off. Nevertheless, he con- 
 tinued, if no better leader could be found, he was 
 ready to sacrifice all private considerations to the 
 public good; and farther, if his friends were of 
 opinion that any efforts of his could rouse the people 
 from their lethargy, he would willingly conceal his 
 grey hairs under a casque, grasp the truncheon of 
 command in his hand, and march against the oppres- 
 sor with whatever forces the awakened patriotism of 
 the nation might enable him to collect.
 
 214 PISO AND THE PERFECT. 
 
 This declaration was received with great applause 
 by all the listeners, and they proceeded to combat the 
 objections he had raised on account of his age and 
 secluded habits, by saying that many of the emperors 
 had been older at the time of their elevation, and no 
 less devoted to a life of retirement. They also took 
 care to urge the dangerous situation in which he was 
 placed by the enmity of the reigning monarch, and 
 reminded him that according to his^ own acknowledg- 
 ment, he could scarcely hope for a continuance of 
 the peace which he now enjoyed. It was therefore 
 much better, they said, to make an effort for the 
 recovery of the national independence at once, though 
 the attempt might be attended with some risk, than 
 to wait till the persecution was commenced, and then 
 perish in obscurity, like the miserable wretches whom 
 he had himself stigmatised as cowardly, effeminate, 
 and supine. 
 
 The truth of these arguments was admitted by 
 Magnus, who repeated that he should be willing to 
 place himself at the head of any party of his country- 
 men who desired to vindicate their rights, but he 
 hoped they would meet with a leader more worthy of 
 the trust ; after which he began to deliberate with 
 his friends about the measures which ought to be 
 adopted to ensure the success of their enterprise. It 
 was agreed on all hands that the life of the emperor
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 215 
 
 must be taken, and many were of opinion that neither 
 his son nor the Praefect should be spared. But it 
 was not so easy to determine how their destruction 
 should be brought about. Some recommended open 
 war ; others were of opinion that a conspiracy was 
 the thing-. Those who advocated the latter measure 
 urged the danger of encountering the veteran troops 
 of Maximin with such hasty levies as could be raised 
 in Italy by private individuals, or even by the Senate, 
 before he was able to march against them. On the 
 other hand, they said, it would not be difficult to des- 
 patch him by poison, or the knife ; and were he once 
 out of the way, the army, deprived of their leader, 
 would submit without opposition to an emperor chosen 
 by the people. 
 
 The other party observed, in reply, that it might 
 not be so easy to destroy the tyrant in his strong-hold 
 on the banks of the Danube, whence he seldom re- 
 moved, and where he was surrounded by his^ troops, 
 who were well known to be much attached to him. 
 Neither could a conspiracy against his life be con- 
 ducted without great danger of detection, because 
 many persons must be let into the secret ; and the 
 consequences of a discovery would be dreadful. 
 But, said they, let us go down to the Senate, and 
 openly declare our purpose, having first secured a 
 certain number of voices in our favour ; then let us
 
 216 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 trust to the hatred which that body in general, and 
 the great mass of the citizens, are known to bear 
 against the author of all their miseries. He will 
 soon be declared a public enemy, his son will be in- 
 volved in his ruin, and the Praefect, being near at 
 hand, may be disposed of afterwards, as shall be 
 deemed expedient. As for the soldiers, if they prove 
 intractable, it will be our cue to bring them over by 
 the promise of a large donative ; for the mercenary 
 spirit of these men will always place them in the 
 power of the highest bidder. 
 
 Such were the arguments of the two factions 
 which already divided the councils of the incipient 
 emperor, who, for his own part, rather appeared to 
 coincide with those who recommended warlike mea- 
 sures, though he did not openly avow his predilec- 
 tion, for fear of discouraging or giving otfence to the 
 more peaceful portion of his adherents. But as this 
 politic conduct prevented him from coming to any 
 immediate decision, he thought it better to terminate 
 the debate by saying, that in his opinion the discus- 
 sion had been carried quite far enough, because some 
 time must elapse ere matters could be brought to 
 bear, and they would doubtless have many opportu- 
 nities of settling the particulars of the scheme in the 
 interim. The first thing to be done, he said, was to 
 trengt hen their cause by enlisting as many influential
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 217 
 
 recruits as possible, which, however, must be managed 
 with the utmost caution, lest their secret should 
 reach the ears of traitors. He named several indivi- 
 duals whom he thought might be sounded on the 
 subject, but advised his colleagues to disclose no 
 more than could be helped even to these, till their 
 sentiments were pretty clearly ascertained. They 
 readily undertook the office ; and every one present 
 mentioned some friend of his own who would be 
 likely to embrace their views and join their party ; 
 after which they agreed to separate for the present, 
 and meet again that day week at the house of Scri- 
 bonius Mummius, in order to report progress. This 
 being settled, the assembly was broken up, and Piso 
 with his uncle, declining the invitation of their host 
 to pass the night at his villa, stepped into their 
 chariot, and drove towards home. 
 
 As they went, the conversation naturally turned 
 upon the transactions of the day, and Scribonius 
 Mummius expressed no little uneasiness at the en- 
 gagements into which they had been induced to enter. 
 
 " I cannot say that I quite approve of your con- 
 duct," said he to Piso, with a deep sigh, which par- 
 took of the nature of a groan; *'you were certainly 
 too eager to join a party which after all may not have 
 much chance of success, nor am I free from blame 
 myself for having encouraged the measure as I did 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 218 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 In short, we have both acted with a degree of preci- 
 pitation which we may ere long have good reason to 
 repent."' 
 
 " Nevertheless, uncle, I do not repent as yet," 
 answered Piso, with composure ; *' or at least I have 
 no fears for myself. I should greatly regret indeed, 
 were my only surviving relative to be involved in 
 trouble on my account ; and even now I would 
 endeavour to retrace my steps, did I think that by 
 taking them I had done that which might prove 
 injurious to one whom I consider as my best friend. 
 But, uncle," continued he, " have I not often heard 
 you lament the degradation of your countrymen, and 
 their tame submission to their wrongs ? Verily, I 
 thought you would be anxious to embrace any chance 
 of rescuing them from their state of thraldom ; but 
 perchance I have been mistaken ; — I beseech you, 
 let me know the truth." 
 
 " Piso," replied Scribonius Mummius, with an 
 offended air, '* you are unnecessarily hasty and 
 severe ; know that I would spend the last drop of 
 my blood in the good cause of freedom ; but with 
 this understanding, that something like a reason- 
 able chance should exist of my efforts being rewarded 
 with success; for I would not throw away my life 
 for nothing.'* 
 
 " Then, uncle," said Piso, '* I presume you are of
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 219 
 
 opinion that Magnus and his associates are about to 
 play a desperate game ?" 
 
 " I do not say that," replied the other : " but I 
 like not the principles on which they act. It is easy 
 to perceive that motives of a personal nature rather 
 than a disinterested regard for the commonwealth, 
 have induced them to conspire against the prince, 
 whose enmity they have been so unfortunate as to 
 incur, and whose ruin would insure their safety. 
 Self-interest, therefore, being their chief object, it is 
 not impossible that some one amongst them may 
 betray the rest, in order to make his peace with the 
 offended monarch." 
 
 " Alas !" cried Piso, " can Romans of noble blood 
 be justly suspected of such baseness? But surely," 
 added he, "you do not imagine that our intended 
 leader would himself be guilty of an act like this ?" 
 
 '* The Gods forbid I should harbour so injurious a 
 thought !"«exclaimed the philosopher, " for Magnus 
 is an honourable man. I wish I could speak with as 
 much confidence of the rest. But in truth, I know 
 little of these gentry ; and that little peradventure 
 has not served to impress me very strongly in their 
 favour. I marvel indeed, that so honourable a man 
 should not be more select in his friendships. To be 
 sure, at a period like the present, it does not do to be 
 over nice or particular ; he who should determine to 
 l2
 
 220 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 have no intercourse with the bad, would find himself 
 compelled to lead a very solitary life. 
 
 " However, I trust we shall yet do well. Magnus 
 must needs know our confederates much better than 
 I do, and doubtless he is not a man to be easily taken 
 in. Yet I cannot help dreading that grim-looking 
 churl Vulcatius Asper; — if the secret is safe in his 
 keeping, it is odd." 
 
 ''And, uncle," said Piso, "after what you have 
 told me, I cannot help wishing that these conspirators 
 had not been appointed to meet in your house. It is 
 now evident to me that the whole scheme had been 
 regularly organised before Magnus invited us to visit 
 him, and that his chief object for doing so was to 
 draw us into the plot."
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 221 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE CONSPIRATORS. 
 
 So generally had the wrath and indignation of the 
 people been excited by the iron rule of Maximin, 
 that when a conspiracy was once organised against 
 him, it rapidly increased in strength. Day by day 
 the most illustrious of the citizens hastened to enroll 
 themselves amongst the followers of his rival. 
 Knights, senators, magistrates, and commoners, 
 emulously gave in their names. Yet it is not to be 
 supposed that all these were animated by motives of 
 disinterested patriotism. Far from it : many were 
 governed by considerations not unlike those which 
 had influenced Vulcatius Asper, and even Magnus 
 himself. Others there were who had reasons of a 
 nature peculiar to themselves. One individual, for 
 instance, being a military man, had aspired to the 
 command of the Praetorian Cohorts, but havino been 
 supplanted by Vitalianus, through the favour of the
 
 222 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 Emperor, had sworn an everlasting enmity against 
 them both. Another, being a poet, had presumed to 
 rival the former of these personages in a very different 
 way ; for having composed a volume of elegies, which 
 the Praefect, though a tolerable versifier himself, 
 was unable to excel, the luckless bard was prohibited 
 from publishing his work; a prohibition which in- 
 spired him with the deadliest wrath, and prompted 
 him to take vengeance upon his powerful competitor 
 for having thus tried to stifle what he could not 
 surpass. 
 
 Meanwhile Scribonius Mummius was in a truly 
 lamentable state. He laboured under horrid super- 
 stitious fears, — inward apprehensions of impending 
 ruin, and presentiments of woe. He did nothing but 
 consult the auspices, over and over again ; standing 
 on the top of a high tower five mornings running, with 
 his lituus ^ in his hand, to watch the flight of birds ; 
 yet never was he once cheered with a favourable 
 omen throughout these protracted experiments. He 
 slaughtered and dissected victims on half the altars 
 in the city ; but always found that the livers of the 
 beasts were wanting, or that their hearts were so 
 miserably small as to indicate the anger of the gods. 
 Once too, on an occasion of this sort, his life was 
 
 * The crosier, or wand, appropriated to the use of augurs,
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 223 
 
 placed in jeopardy, for the bullock which he was 
 about to sacrifice, made an effort to toss him on its 
 horns. He was also disconcerted by the unfavorable 
 presages which occurred when he tried to burn his 
 offerings, inasmuch as that the flames were black and 
 smoky, or scattered about by the wind ; not steady 
 and brilliant as they should have been. In short, he 
 was shocked in various ways ; and the terrors of su- 
 perstition were thus superadded to the veritable fears 
 which his situation inspired. 
 
 Piso, who perceived the state of his mind, and 
 pitied the agonies he endured, endeavoured to per- 
 suade him that he might yet withdraw from his en- 
 gagements without dishonour, as he had not pledged 
 himself by a direct promise, nor, indeed, by any pro- 
 mise at all ; — he had merely assented in general 
 terms to the proposals made by Magnus and the 
 rest. Mummius, however, was of a ditferent opinion; 
 and declared that, considering the great lengths he 
 had gone, he could not in decency draw in his 
 horns. 
 
 *' Would that I had obeyed the will of the gods," 
 said he, "and refrained from making that accursed 
 jaunt to Tusculum I Thou knowest, O Piso, they 
 sent me warnings enough, and indubitably I ought 
 to have respected them. I cannot imagine why I 
 did not. I was much frightened, as I well remem-
 
 224 FISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 ber, and had determined to stay at home. But, all 
 of sudden, I found myself seated in the carriage, — 
 without knowing how I got there; — nor from that 
 day to this have I ever been able to discover how the 
 thing fell out. Then came the incident of the carrion 
 crows, — I should at least have taken a hint from 
 that, — yet I slighted it likewise, and went my ways ; 
 blind to the consequences of my folly. However, 
 having once arrived at Tusculum, dined with the 
 conspirators, and entered into their plot, it would not 
 become me to recede. I must now take my chance 
 with the rest. I have offered them the use of my 
 house, and here they will assemble three days 
 hence." 
 
 After this exposition of his sentiments, Piso de- 
 sisted from further argument with the venerable man. 
 Both parties therefore kept their thoughts to them- 
 selves ; ruminating in silence till the time drew near 
 for the reception of their friends. Scribonius Mum- 
 mius then bespoke a sumptuous banquet, to which, 
 as had been previously arranged, a good many mem- 
 bers of the faction received regular invitations, the 
 better to disguise the real purposes of the meeting ; 
 and saying that it became a man of his temperate 
 habits to abstain from food during the early part of 
 the day, he forbade the meals to be served up till 
 an hour after sunset ; thereby hoping to veil the pro-
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 225 
 
 ceedings of the conspirators under the gloom and ob- 
 scurity of night. 
 
 Having given these directions, he put on an ele- 
 gant suit of clothes, and sitting up in state, (for an 
 affair of this sort was always conducted with a great 
 deal of formality) proceeded to make his last will and 
 testament. He left the bulk of his estate to Piso, 
 but distributed a considerable number of legacies 
 amongst his friends, some of whom, he acknowledged, 
 belonged to that peculiar class of persons known at 
 Rome by the name of heredipetcBy and who made it 
 the business of their lives to ingratiate themselves 
 with the rich, for the sake of a testamentary be- 
 quest. 
 
 That ceremony over, he commanded all his slaves 
 to appear before him ; and to such as he deemed the 
 most worthy, he generously gave their freedom ; per- 
 forming the rite in the speediest manner authorised 
 by the law ; thwacking their shoulders, turning them 
 round, and presenting them each with a cap. To the 
 rest of his thralls (though undeserving of their 
 liberty) he made considerable gifts in money. He 
 then thanked them generally for their faithful ser- 
 vices, which he said he never could requite, and bade 
 them adieu with such pathetic earnestness, that the 
 hardest-hearted clod-hopper of the set was unable to 
 refrain from tears, — more especially when their just 
 L 5
 
 226 
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT, 
 
 and generous master was observed to weep piteously 
 himself. 
 
 Having thus prepared for death, a feeling of satis- 
 faction pervaded his mind, to which he had long been 
 a stranger. He entered the supper-room with a firm 
 step and a serene countenance, took his place on a 
 couch at the upper end of the table, and waited the 
 arrival of his guests. They came at the appointed 
 hour. Magnus was amongst the first, and Vulcatius 
 Asper followed him. The rest, not wishing to be 
 seen together, dropped in successively, one by one ; 
 and ere the shades of night had quite darkened the 
 apartment, eleven individuals, the whole number in- 
 vited, had arrived. The lamps were then lighted, 
 the supper served up, and every one ate, or affected 
 to eat, with a good appetite. A sprightly conver- 
 sation was also kept up on divers unimportant topics, 
 but this was designed for no other purpose than to 
 baffle the curiosity of their attendants, which object it 
 in some measure served to effect, though it could not 
 prevent them from discovering that something un- 
 usual was in the wind. They were therefore on the 
 watch to find out a little more ; and ere they quitted 
 the apartment, one of them at least had formed con- 
 jectures not far distant from the truth. 
 
 However, as the conspirators imagined their stra- 
 tagem to have succeeded, they were no sooner freed
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 227 
 
 from the presence of the domestics, than regardless 
 of the plots which that worthy fraternity might be 
 hatching against them, they entered into a considera- 
 tion of their own project, which they found by the 
 reports made by each to the rest, had thriven and 
 flourished, as far as it had gone, beyond even their 
 most sanguine expectations. 
 
 Being therefore very well satisfied with their pro- 
 gress, they proceeded to discuss the measures which 
 yet remained to be taken. It was agreed on all 
 hands that a blow must soon be struck, owing to the 
 difficulty of concealing a scheme which had already 
 been revealed to so great a number of persons ; and 
 it was particularly urged that what increased the risk 
 of a discovery tenfold was, that several females had 
 been intrusted with the secret. The old dispute was 
 then renewed between those who wished for an open 
 declaration of war, and those who recommended a 
 more subtle mode of acting. It will not be neces- 
 sary to recapitulate the arguments employed in the 
 course of this discussion, for indeed they differed 
 little from those advanced on the former occasion. 
 Suffice it to say, that both parties adhered so tena- 
 ciously to their favorite doctrines, and supported 
 them with such vehemence, that a rupture would in- 
 evitably have ensued between them, had not their 
 leader taken upon himself to act the part of umpire,
 
 228 
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 and in that capacity prescribed a middle course, by 
 which it was resolved to sacrifice the Praefect first, 
 and make war upon the emperor afterwards. This 
 line of conduct, he said, would remove several of the 
 objections which had been made to both the other 
 projects, for the Praefect was the enemy they had 
 the most reason to fear, on account of his proximity, 
 and so long as he lived, his influence would prevent 
 the Senate from taking any hostile steps against the 
 sovereign, whereas, were he once out of the way, 
 they would, no doubt, embrace the opportunity of 
 asserting their old privileges, one of the most re- 
 markable of which, was that of electing and dethron- 
 ing their own rulers. 
 
 This proposal of their leader being unanimously 
 adopted, not so much on account of its superior 
 wisdom, as because it served to reconcile the adverse 
 parties to each other, the confederates next pro- 
 ceeded to discuss the manner in which they should 
 effbct their purpose. They delivered their opinions 
 in rotation : Vulcatius Asper was the first to speak. 
 
 "The Praefect," said he, *' is fond of ruralizing in 
 the country. Let Magnus invite him to his villa, 
 and he will not fail to attend. We must then all of 
 us be ready to receive him, armed with our poniards 
 under our gowns. He will probably come alone, and 
 unattended by his guards. Death may be inflicted
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 229 
 
 on him when he first enters the house, or afterwards 
 — at our leisure — when he goes into the bath." 
 
 " Never will I consent to that !" cried Magnus 
 with an indignant look. " What will be thought of 
 my principles if I violate the laws of hospitality by 
 the murder of my own guest? No, no, my friends; 
 Rome is the place where we must strike the blow. 
 Let him fall in the midst of the people whom he has 
 so grievously oppressed. Let us take his life while 
 the eye of the public is upon us. An act of retri- 
 bution should not be performed as if it were a shame- 
 ful crime." 
 
 '* I agree with thee in part," said Gracilis Furcifer, 
 a conspirator of a cautious character, though less 
 unscrupulous than Vulcatius Asper; "I agree with 
 thee so far as to reject the plan of making thy own 
 house the scene of vengeance. But I do not assent 
 to the proposition thou hast made instead of it. Our 
 foe is for the most part surrounded by his guards 
 when he comes forth in public, — which thou knowest 
 is but seldom, — and it would not be easy to despatch 
 him while attended thus. The thing, therefore, must 
 not be thought of; we should only expose ourselves 
 to ruin by making the attempt, But here is a plan 
 which I think might answer better. The Praefect is 
 addicted to nocturnal frolics, and accompanied by his 
 dissolute associates, sometimes rambles through the
 
 230 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 city all night long. He waylays the passengers in 
 the streets, worries them with questions, and even 
 assaults them with so much violence, that, ignorant 
 as they are of their assailant's rank, they cannot oc- 
 sionally be prevented from returning his blows ; 
 in consequence of which he has more than once found 
 himself involved in very unpleasant scrapes, nay, has 
 actually stood in danger of his life. Now nothing 
 would be easier than for some of our party to throw 
 themselves in his way when he next sallies forth, 
 and affecting to be ignorant of his person, which in- 
 deed for his own sake he is anxious to conceal, to 
 poniard him during the scuffle which will arise upon 
 his own attack and the resistance of our friends." 
 
 " The proposal of Gracilis Furcifer is not un- 
 worthy of attention," said Piso, joining in the debate 
 when he thought his suggestions might be service- 
 able; "and far rather would I see it adopted than 
 that of Asper. Yet surely it would not much 
 redound to our credit to cut off the tyrant in a mid- 
 night brawl. He should fall in a manner more dis- 
 tinguished. We must slay him in the presence of 
 assembled numbers ; not, however, without taking 
 due precautions to insure the success of the attempt. 
 The Secular Games are soon to be celebrated, and 
 will terminate with the performance of a grand spec- 
 tacle in the theatre. Our enemy will unquestion-
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 231 
 
 ably be present on the occasion ; and, perhaps, unat- 
 tended by his guards. Let a strong party of us then 
 conceal ourselves in some obscure part of the house, 
 armed with our weapons under ou'r cloaks, and pre- 
 pared to attack him on the first favourable opportu- 
 nity which occurs. We shall not, I suspect, long 
 wait for it in vain. A popular tumult will very pro- 
 bably arise ; and the multitude will not be slow to 
 assist us against one who is no less their enemy and 
 oppressor than our own." 
 
 This scheme of Piso's appeared the least objec- 
 tionable of any yet proposed, and after some further 
 deliberation the confederates decided in its favour. 
 They also resolved, that, as it would not be consist- 
 ent with the dignity of his character for their future 
 emperor to take an active part in the transaction 
 himself, Magnus should be stationed in a neighbour- 
 ing temple till it was brought to a close, when his 
 adherents should inform him of their success, and 
 present him to the Senate as the fittest person to 
 support their cause against the distant sovereign, who 
 would doubtless be exasperated even to madness by 
 the death of his most favoured servant. Piso, having 
 laid the plot, claimed to himself the right of striking 
 the first blow ; a privilege which none of his collea- 
 gues seemed at all inclined to dispute ; and Magnus, 
 after complimenting him on the readiness with which
 
 2J32 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 he undertook so dangerous an ofiQce, proceeded to give 
 him the following instructions and advice concern- 
 ing it. 
 
 " In the Temple of the Sun on the Quirinal, a 
 consecrated dagger is preserved. It is not my busi- 
 ness at present to give you a history of this mystic 
 blade; — suffice it to say, that it was not the work of 
 mortal hands ; and withal, that it possesses the ex- 
 traordinary property of never missing its aim, though 
 wielded by the hand of childhood, imbecility, or age ; 
 — such at least is the popular belief respecting it. 
 This poniard, Piso, must thou take from its shrine. 
 The act is equivocal, I admit; but the purity of the 
 motive serves to sanction it ; — and thus miraculously 
 armed, thou wilt find the less difficulty in accom- 
 plishing thy patriotic purpose." 
 
 Piso declared his readiness to follow the directions 
 of his leader, and added that as he could not too soon 
 make so valuable an acquisition, he had best go forth 
 at once. Magnus expressed his approbation of the 
 plan ; and after having given him some further infor- 
 mation touching the means which must be adopted 
 in order to get possession of the sacred weapon, he 
 desired him to stand upon no ceremony with the 
 company, who would readily excuse his necessary 
 absence, and wait where they were till his return.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 238 
 
 Piso accordingly enveloped himself in a mantle, and 
 quitted their presence at once. 
 
 The second watch of the night was almost over, 
 when the adventurous youth thus left his uncle's 
 mansion, and wended on his way towards the Temple 
 of the Sun on the Quirinal. The night was dark 
 and unusually tempestuous, considering the season 
 of the year; the streets too, were involved in such 
 obscurity, that he found it necessary to employ the 
 utmost caution in order to avoid stumbling, or wan- 
 dering from his path. By degrees, however, his 
 eyes became accustomed to the gloom, and though 
 still obliged to proceed slowly, he was enabled to 
 distinguish one object from another with a sufficient 
 accuracy for his purpose. Thus groping his way, he 
 descended the Palatine, passed under the arch of 
 Titus, and entered the Sacred Way, where he pro- 
 ceeded with less difficulty and more despatch, for the 
 temples were in general brilliantly illuminated, and 
 at regular intervals shed a broad stream of light 
 across his path. But when he left this gorgeous 
 place, he again found himself in the dark, and would 
 perchance have gone astray, had he not now been in 
 the vicinity of that immense column dedicated to the 
 memory of Trajan, which loomed through the atmo- 
 sphere, murky as it was, and served as a land-mark 
 to guide him on his way.
 
 234 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 At last he began to ascend the Quirinal Mount, 
 guided by the lights which issued from the holy 
 edifice on its summit. As he approached the en- 
 trance, he perceived that notwithstanding the late- 
 ness of the hour, the place was far from being de- 
 serted either by the priests or their disciples, for 
 several of the former in their strange fantastic 
 dresses, were visible at intervals as they flitted past 
 the sashless windows in the lower part of the build- 
 ing, while a considerable number of persons were 
 seen issuing from the gates, as if they had but just 
 finished their devotions. Few, however, were going 
 in the opposite direction; Piso therefore judged that 
 he should not have long to wait ere the whole con- 
 gregation had departed. He took his station behind 
 a small obelisk near the entrance, in order to escape 
 observation, and thus situated, watched the progress 
 of the religionists, as they silently and solemnly 
 withdrew from the fane. The stream grew thinner 
 and thinner by degrees, and at length a few strag- 
 gling individuals were all that remained of the 
 crowd. These after a while followed the rest ; the 
 whole column penetrated the darkness ; and, as the 
 sound of their footsteps died away, Piso issued from 
 his hiding-place, and went into the sanctuary. 
 
 It was a vast and splendid structure, but so jic- 
 curately proportioned as to seem somewhat under
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 235 
 
 its actual size. The walls were tessellated with 
 various marbles, and decorated, or defaced, with 
 numerous paintings on mythological subjects, which 
 were no less remarkable for their pictorial merits 
 than for their gross indelicacy; and interspersed 
 amongst these were seen a multitude of gold and 
 silver legs, arms, eyes, ears, noses, teeth, toes, 
 fingers, and the like; all of which had been pre- 
 sented to the temple by pious individuals who, 
 through the interference of its tutelary deity, had 
 been cured of certain incurable diseases in the corre- 
 sponding members of their own bodies: this Piso 
 well knew, "though not being gifted with prescience, 
 he could not foresee that the same custom would be 
 adopted by the Christian descendants of his country- 
 men, and by them be communicated to many other 
 nations acknowledging the supremacy of Rome. 
 
 When Piso first entered this venerable place, he 
 supposed it to be empty, but on looking about him 
 more narrowly, he perceived that a few straggling 
 devotees yet lingered within its precincts. Amongst 
 these, he observed a solitary female stationed near 
 the image of the god, which occupied the centre of 
 the building. Her back was turned towards him, 
 and owing to that circumstance, or because her me- 
 ditations were too deep to be easily disturbed, she 
 did not appear to notice his approach. Taking ad-
 
 236 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 vantage of her abstraction, he paused to watch her 
 for a few moments. She was seemingly a very 
 young girl, not above sixteen years of age, alike re- 
 markable for the symmetry of her form, and the 
 beauty of her countenance; which, moreover, was 
 marked with an expression of fervent piety, not un- 
 mixed with superstition. Her large blue eyes were 
 fixed upon the rude representation of the deity be- 
 fore her, — for the idol was nothing more than a 
 conical block of stone, elevated on a porphyry pe- 
 destal, — and from the motion of her lips, though no 
 sound escaped them, it was plain she was engaged in 
 prayer. Her orisons were however soon concluded. 
 Then in compliance with the forms prescribed by her 
 religion, she produced a small slip of parchment 
 upon which were written the particulars of her vow. 
 This scroll she attached with wax to that part of the 
 idol which might be supposed to represent its knees, 
 where she left it for the present, and probably in- 
 tended to leave it till the God had granted her re- 
 quest, after which (if she still adhered to established 
 rules) she would take it away, tear it to pieces, and 
 compliment the object of her worship, or his priests, 
 with the guerdon she had promised when she put up 
 her prayers. 
 
 Having thus disposed of her petition, the damsel, 
 whose mind was now perhaps less occupied by
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 237 
 
 heavenly things than before, seemed for the first 
 time to discover that she had been watched ; and she 
 started a little, as her eyes encountered those of the 
 attentive youth. But it was only for an instant that 
 she thus looked towards him. Catching up a small 
 basket which stood by her side, and drawing the 
 folds of her mantle closely round her, she cast a 
 single glance towards the scroll, as if to make certain 
 that it was properly fastened to the sacred image, — 
 whence she knew no good heathen would venture to 
 remove it, — and prepared to quit the sanctuary. 
 
 Piso followed her with his eyes as she retreated 
 towards the door. He was much struck with her ap- 
 pearance, and still more by the manner in which she 
 had been employed. Not that there was any thing 
 singular in the circumstance of a young female offer- 
 ing up her vows to the gods, time and place fitting, 
 but that she had chosen an unusual hour^ and a 
 temple little frequented by persons of her age and 
 sex. He gazed at the shapeless pagod he had seen 
 her worship, and wondered that a youthful virgin 
 should have selected so unattractive an object as the 
 repository of her secret thoughts, while a hundred 
 fanes, filled with the beautiCul creations of the Gre- 
 cian sculptors, opened their doors to her in every 
 part of the city. 
 
 Whilst he thus pondered and gazed, it suddenly
 
 238 PISO AND THE PRJSFECT. 
 
 occurred to him that the jBgure of the young suppli- 
 ant was not altogether unfamiliar to his eye, and 
 struck with the idea, he involuntarily followed her 
 as she went. She quickened her pace, and seemed 
 anxious to escape unnoticed. Finding, however, 
 that her pursuer was at hand, she abruptly halted in 
 her career, assumed an attitude of humility, and 
 stood waiting his approach in silence. He was soon 
 close to her side. The obscurity of the place, and 
 the concealment of her cloak, nevertheless still served 
 to baffle his curiosity, and he was as much at fault as 
 ever. But Piso was undisguised himself. No 
 sooner, therefore, did he pass under a lamp, the light 
 of which glared strongly on his face, than the damsel 
 on her part gave token of having recognised him, by 
 faintly articulating his name. " Piso !" said she, " is 
 it you after all ? — I am glad it was nobody else." 
 
 Piso was more astonished than before. " Who art 
 thou ?" asked he in a hesitating voice. Then catching 
 off the mantle from her face, and examining her with 
 care, he presently recalled to his memory the features 
 of one with whom, though by no means familiarly ac- 
 quainted, he had often met before. It was the in- 
 teresting Eudocia, the slave of the Prasfect's lady, 
 the companion of Thusnelda, and (as he had some 
 reason to know) the platonically beloved of Scribo- 
 nius Mummius himself.
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 239 
 
 But as this discovery was far from diminishing his 
 surprise, he proceeded to question the Abigail about 
 her motives for repairing to so strange a place, and at 
 so unreasonable an hour ; whereunto, after some 
 hesitation, she replied, that not having lately had the 
 pleasure of seeing his uncle, and being much grati- 
 fied at hearing that he had toasted her at the Prae- 
 fect's table a few weeks before, she had slipped out 
 after dark, with the intention of paying him a visit, 
 and returning him thanks. She had found the gates 
 of his mansion open, and the servants bustling about, 
 from which circumstances she conjectured that some- 
 thing unusual must be going forward within. She had 
 at first determined to withdraw; but urged by a feeling 
 of curiosity which she could not repress, she con- 
 cealed herself in the Atrium, and watching the op- 
 portunity when the coast was clear, made her way 
 up stairs to the entrance of the Coenaculum, where, 
 attracted by the sound of voices, amongst which she 
 recognised that of her venerable admirer, she tarried 
 for a while without well knowing why, or duly con- 
 sidering w^hat she was about. Thus temptingly si- 
 tuated, she confessed that being still prompted by an 
 irresistible thirst of knowledge^ she applied her ear to 
 a small aperture in the door, — not however with the 
 intention of listening to any thing improper for one of 
 her sex and age to hear, — and it so fell out that the
 
 240 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 first articulate sounds which she distinguished, im- 
 pressed her with the idea that the speakers were 
 vituperating the female portion of the creation, al- 
 though in fact, as she afterwards discovered, they 
 were only lamenting that some of their fair confede- 
 rates were less taciturn than themselves. Filled 
 with indignation at what she conceived such an un- 
 provoked attack upon the ladies, she could hardly 
 refrain from throwing herself amongst the slanderers, 
 and daring them to prove their wicked assertions to 
 her face. But reflecting that this desperate mode of 
 vindicating her sex might not after all answer her 
 purpose, she endeavoured to subdue the rage which 
 boiled within her bosom, and listened with her sweet 
 little ear at the crevice more attentively than ever. 
 It was then that, with feelings of awe and astonish- 
 ment she heard the schemes of the conspirators de- 
 veloped. More than once she had intended to retire, 
 being conscious that she had no right to possess her- 
 self surreptitiously of such important secrets; but 
 the strength of her curiosity, and the interest which 
 she took in the debate, prevented her from putting 
 the wise resolve into practice. At length, she had 
 actually withdrawn. Then, anxious to make amends 
 for her conduct in the best way she could, she had 
 determined to repair to a temple, and offer up her 
 vows for the success of the enterprise she had just
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 241 
 
 heard planned. This design she executed at once, 
 and by a curious coincidence selected the same holy 
 place for the scene of her devotions to which Piso had 
 been despatched afterwards himself. 
 
 Piso was by no means very well satisfied with this 
 explanation ; and he could not help telling the damsel 
 that in his estimation, her conduct had been highly 
 reprehensible, not only in listening like a spy at first, 
 but in slipping out of the house afterwards, without 
 acknowledging what she had done. To these ge- 
 neral strictures he added the remark, that unless he 
 had previously formed a good opinion of her cha- 
 racter from the communications of his uncle, he 
 should infallibly now have suspected her of watching 
 his companions for the sake of betraying them to her 
 lord, the Praefect. 
 
 To this cutting observation she replied with some 
 warmth, that he need not remind her of her having 
 done a dishonourable thing, as she was well aware 
 of the fact already. ''But oh!" added she, "be- 
 lieve me when I say, that all the" wealth of Croesus 
 should not tempt me to betray the secret, nor all the 
 pains of Tartarus extort it from my bosom. Fear 
 not, then, a discovery from me. Weak as I am, I 
 still can brave danger, and encounter death in a good 
 cause. And, why," continued she, in a milder 
 VOL. I. M
 
 242 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 strain, while tears flowed from her eyes, which she 
 wiped with the corner of her pallium as she spoke," 
 why should I be suspected of a wish to sacrifice those 
 I love, to gratify ray enemies and oppressors ? You 
 know not, Piso, the treatment I have met with from 
 the Praefect and his lady, or you would not suppose 
 me anxious to prevent their downfall by informing 
 against a band of patriots, and dishonouring myself 
 for ever by the act. It is true that Laurentia 
 Ogulnia is my sovereign lady, and as* such, the world 
 may think me bound to assist her in the hour of her 
 need. But I owe her no gratitude or love. I can- 
 not repay her scorn with affection, or her malice with 
 tenderness and respect. Still less do I think myself 
 bound to succour her husband, who has ever encou- 
 raged the cruel usage which I have met with at her 
 hands. I leave him to the fate he merits ; and may 
 the gods prosper the enterprise which your associates 
 have planned against him !" 
 
 Piso was satisfied with what he heard. He be- 
 lieved the damsel's promises of secrecy, and placed 
 no small reliance on her hatred of the tyrant and his 
 wife. He therefore merely cautioned her against 
 an unintentional discovery, and advised her to return 
 home without delay, in order that her absence might 
 not be known, or its cause suspected. She engaged
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 243 
 
 in all things to follow bis directions ; and they parted 
 with a chaste salute. 
 
 Whilst these matters were in progress, he did not 
 perceive that one of the priests was coming towards 
 him from the interior of the temple; he, therefore, 
 almost started, when on turning round suddenly, he 
 beheld the sacerdotal personage close at hand. 
 Nevertheless, he was glad of the encounter, and 
 saluting the holy man with great respect, he inquired 
 for one of the guardians of the fane, by the name 
 of Theodosius, with whom he said he had busi- 
 ness of importance, which would not brook delay. 
 ** The man for whom thou seekest stands before 
 thee," replied the priest ; " thou art welcome to 
 the sanctuary : — what wouldst thou have with 
 me?" 
 
 Piso was rejoiced at hearing this response, for he 
 recognised in the speaker one of his own confeder- 
 ates, and a friend of Magnus, by whom he had been 
 early initiated into the plot. Had the youth had 
 half the superstition of his uncle, he would infallibly 
 have reckoned it a good omen to have thus met 
 with the very individual he most wished to see, and 
 whose aid he came to ask. But credulity was by no 
 means his fault ; so that, merely considering the 
 meeting in the light of an accident, though a lucky 
 M 2
 
 244 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 one, lie forthwith proceeded to inform the ecclesiastic 
 of the object of his visit. 
 
 Theodosius seemed rather startled when he found 
 that Piso wished to obtain possession of the sacred 
 weapon, which, he said, could not lawfully be taken 
 from its shrine without the sanction of the Sovereign 
 Pontiff. However, he continued, as he wished to 
 oblige his friends, and was extremely anxious for the 
 success of their plot, he should not hesitate to stretch 
 his privilege in their behalf, and entrust them with 
 the holy thing they coveted, on condition of their 
 returning it as soon as their enterprise was accom- 
 plished. So saying, and having received the as- 
 surances of Piso that such was the intention of his 
 colleagues, he withdrew into the penetralia of the 
 temple, w hence he speedily returned bearing a long 
 straight dirk with a silver haft, and a sheath of the 
 same metal, which he handled with an air of the 
 most profound reverence and respect. This he pre- 
 sented to the young Patrician, assuring him that it 
 was the same weapon that Flavius Scevinus took 
 from the Temple of Health in Etruria during the 
 celebrated conspiracy against Nero undertaken by a 
 member of the Calpurnian house. 
 
 " I trust," added the worthy priest, " thou wilt be 
 more successful than thy forefather, who not only failed 
 to slay the tyrant, but lost his own life in making
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 245 
 
 the attempt. Nevertheless, I think thy friends were 
 wrong in advising thee to use this ill-fated implement 
 in a contest so nearly resembling that which proved 
 so calamitous the last time it was employed." 
 
 While he spoke thus, he accompanied Piso to the 
 gates of the temple, where, after again enjoining him 
 to take great care of the weapon, and return it as 
 speedily as he could, he once more expressed his 
 hopes that the confederates would be successful, and 
 bidding the young man farewell, withdrew into the 
 interior of the place. 
 
 Piso, therefore, was left alone in the porch, which 
 was partly lighted by the moon, whose broad bright 
 face now peeped out cheerily from amongst the 
 clouds, and partly by the lamps and fires which 
 burned within the edifice itself. The gates were 
 still unclosed, and by looking through these he could 
 just discern the statue of the God, exalted on its 
 pedestal of porphyry. He had wrapped the dagger 
 in a scarf provided for the purpose, and placed it 
 under his arm ;— he had taken a look at the weather, 
 and congratulated himself on the favourable change 
 which seemed to have occurred since he came from 
 home; — he had drawn his mantle closely round him, 
 and was just preparing to depart, — when a strange 
 indescribable sound appeared to issue from the fane, 
 accompanied by a rush of wind. Immediately after-
 
 246 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 wards, a terrible voice, which seemed to proceed 
 from the same quarter, was heard to pronounce these 
 awful words, '' Doomed ! doomed ! — the rash enter- 
 prise will fail !" 
 
 Piso was astonished and alarmed. Notwithstand- 
 ing his general incredulity, he was strongly impressed 
 with the idea that he had been addressed by the 
 tutelary deity of the place. He turned towards the 
 entrance of the building, and his suspicious seemed 
 confirmed. The idol was surrounded with a blaze 
 of light, so vivid and refulgent, that he was unable to 
 contemplate it for more than an instant at a time ; 
 but during those brief glances he perceived, or fan- 
 cied he perceived, that the black conical stone which 
 represented the deity, thrice revolved upon its pe- 
 destal, while at every revolution the same strange 
 sound was repeated which had first reached his ear. 
 Piso fell prostrate on the earth, and worshipped in 
 silence for a few minutes. 
 
 It may be easily conceived that after he had over- 
 come his first feelings of surprise and consternation, 
 he lost no time in returning home, where he found 
 the conspirators still in close conclave, and deliber- 
 ating as before. His entrance put an end to the de- 
 bate, and they eagerly interrogated him about the 
 result of his enterprise. He produced the conse- 
 crated weapon without speaking a word ; then briefly
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 247 
 
 informed them of the adventure he had just met 
 with. The communication affected them in various 
 ways. Magnus was incredulous, and appeared to 
 think his young friend had been deceived by the 
 workings of a lively imagination. Scribonius Mum- 
 mius, on the contrary, was alarmed to a degree, and 
 declared that his nephew had without doubt really 
 heard the voice of the God, adding that such things 
 had often happened before ; ** For example," said 
 he, ** the invasion of the Gauls was foretold pre- 
 cisely in the same way." Vulcatius Asper differed 
 from them both ; saying that he thought the pheno- 
 menon might be accounted for by supposing that some 
 person acquainted with their plans had concealed 
 himself in the temple, and pronounced the words; 
 but whether in so doing he had been actuated by 
 friendly motives, or a wish to lead them astray, it 
 might not be so easy to determine. Other opinions 
 were delivered by different individuals on the same 
 subject ; but upon the whole, the majority seemed 
 inclined to think that the warning should not be 
 neglected, from whatever source it came. They re- 
 solved, therefore, to dissolve the meeting, and re- 
 turn to their respective homes, where they might 
 keep themselves secluded till they were able to ascer- 
 tain whether their secret had actually transpired. 
 Having once taken this resolution, they acted upon
 
 248 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 it without delay, and indeed, it may be said, with the 
 most commendable despatch. The house was there- 
 fore soon cleared ; and Piso was left alone with his 
 venerable kinsman, to deliberate about the measures 
 which it next became them to adopt.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 249 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE INSPIRED MUMMER. 
 
 I HAVE now been unto the reader even as a gentle- 
 man usher, or a master of the ceremonies, upon more 
 occasions than one. I have taken him by the hand, 
 and conducted him into the inmost recesses of a 
 despot's palace, there to observe what the despot was 
 about. I have, moreover, made him acquainted with 
 the doings of the despot's spouse, introducing him 
 into her dressing-room, and disclosing to him the 
 secrets of her toilet-table. I have also taken the 
 liberty of bringing him privily into the sleeping 
 chamber of a damsel for whose character, neverthe- 
 less, I have the most profound respect and reverence. 
 I am now going to conduct him into a place almost 
 equally occult, — equally proscribed to vulgar eyes, — 
 even into the cuhiculum of Basilides the actor. 
 
 It was a small, close room, without windows, and 
 M 5
 
 250 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 only enlightened by means of a narrow aperture in the 
 roof. In one corner of this apartment there was a 
 square wooden platform, raised upon legs about two 
 feet from the ground, and somewhat resembling the 
 lower part of a modern four-post bed ; having how- 
 ever neither posts nor tester, curtains nor canopy, 
 nothing could be more naked than the appearance 
 of the whole concern. Upon this uncomfortable 
 piece of furniture, — upon the bare surface of the 
 polished wood, — lay stretched at full length the 
 person of a man ; a tall, stout, and bulky one ; per- 
 fectly motionless, and as rigid as a corpse. His at- 
 titude was supine, — that is to say, he lay prostrate 
 on his back ; and he was effectually prevented from 
 altering his position by a series of leathern straps, 
 which passed across his limbs, and fastened them 
 down to the extraordinary-looking couch itself. He 
 had no sheets or blankets ; no pillow under his head ; 
 no counterpane to cover him ; no mattrass to defend 
 him from the boards : — he looked like the most 
 miserable of mankind. Neither did his wretchedness 
 seem confined to matters of privation ; he was appa- 
 rently in a state bordering upon actual torture, a 
 large thick substantial sheet of lead being deposited 
 upon his chest, as if for the express purpose of impe- 
 ding his respiration by its weight. 
 
 Yet, wretched as he was in many respects, it did
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 251 
 
 not appear that be was altogether desolate, or aban- 
 doned to his fate. On the contrary, there was an 
 individual sitting by his side whose chief or exclu- 
 sive business seemed to be that of administering to 
 his wants, and defending him against the flies which 
 buzzed about his ears in innumerable swarms. 
 Armed with a fan of feathers, this faithful friend, or 
 duteous servant, kept brushing them away as they 
 intruded on his face, cursing them with energy, 
 though in a suppressed voice, at the same time, and 
 occasionally spitting a few that he had captured upon 
 the point of a thorn, after the manner of the sage 
 Domitian, whom he seemed to have chosen for a 
 prototype. This labour of love lasted for a consi- 
 derable time. The winged pests were extremely 
 persevering, and the object of their attacks was 
 either so drowsy by nature, or so exhausted by 
 fatigue, that he continued to sleep soundly in spite of 
 their reiterated efforts to disturb him. By degrees, 
 however, there were seen signs of returning con- 
 sciousness. The miserable man was indeed unable 
 to move except by stretching himself longitudinally. 
 But he did what he could. He straightened his 
 limbs, contracted his sinews, and separated his toes 
 from each other as far as they would go. Then 
 uttering a deep groan, he opened his eyes widely, 
 turned his head with some difficulty to one side,
 
 252 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 and stared at his attendant. He was at length hroad 
 awake. 
 
 " Cleon," said he, in a low voice, as he thus came 
 to himself, '^ what time is it ? — is it still night, or 
 has the morning dawned ?" 
 
 " It is time for you to rise, O Basilides," replied 
 the man with the feathers ; *' the first hour ^ is past." 
 
 "Then take off the lead, and unfasten the straps," 
 rejoined the prisoner: " verily I shall not be sorry to 
 be released ; they oppress me beyond endurance." 
 
 Cleon obeyed his orders ; and when thus set at 
 liberty, he rose painfully from the boards, rubbing his 
 back with his hands, as he got up, and making wry 
 faces symptomatic of the inconvenience to which he 
 was exposed by the sudden change of posture. ** Oh !" 
 exclaimed he, seating himself on the edge of his 
 couch, stretching out his arms, and endeavouring to 
 make himself familiar with his new position ; — '*oh !" 
 he reiterated, with a groan ; •* how my poor bones do 
 hache ! — and how huncomfortable I feel about the 
 stomach! — I am really in an orrid state." Then, 
 after a short pause, during which his mind seemed to 
 be occupied by melancholy thoughts, he continued — 
 ** and this it is to be a great hactor ! — this is the pe- 
 nalty of fame ! — Is appiness honly for the hobscure t 
 
 * The first hour after sun-rise.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 253 
 
 Are the great halways miserable ? — alas ! I fear it is 
 the case. I am a living proof of it myself." 
 
 After this apostrophe, which he apparently rather 
 addressed to the walls than to his companion, he 
 proceeded to perform the business of his toilet, 
 painting his eyebrows, and colouring his cheeks with 
 a dexterity which would have done credit to Lau- 
 rentia Ogulnia herself. Meanwhile Cleon sedu- 
 lously attended him, and in order to soothe his ruffled 
 mind, administered copious doses of that *' oil of 
 fool " which has so often been found successful on 
 occasions of the sort. ** Basilides," said the syco- 
 phant, " it is true that you endure much suffering. 
 Even I myself pity you when I see you lying 
 stretched out upon your back, chained to your bed 
 like Prometheus to his rock ; and I cannot help 
 thinking how uncomfortable you must feel with that 
 great, thick, substantial plate of lead upon your 
 stomach. But then you must remember that it is 
 all for your own good, and that by enduring these 
 temporary inconveniencies, you are enabled to render 
 your voice the sweetest, the loudest, the grandest, 
 the most mellifluous, that was ever heard before, or 
 will, perhaps, be ever heard hereafter." 
 
 " Yes, Cleon, it is true that I have a sweet voice," 
 rejoined the illustrious singer in his modesty. 
 
 •* You are at the head of your profession," con-
 
 254 
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 tinued the attendant ; *^ your acting, your singing, 
 and your dancing, are all transcendant alike. Your 
 contemporaries are astonished at you, and posterity 
 will hear of your performances with disbelief. You 
 stand alone in the world, without a rival ; — for every- 
 body knows that the miserable Glaphyrus is un- 
 worthy of being named in the same breath with your- 
 self. The shallow pretender should be treated with 
 the contempt which he deserves. Audacious as the 
 miscreant is, he never can excite a feeling of un- 
 easiness in the mind of one so immeasurably his 
 superiors as my beloved patron.'' 
 
 " Wretch ! rogue ! ruffian I rascal ! — screech-owl ! 
 ideot ! dunce ! — bo, bo, bo, bo !" roared the in- 
 furiated Basilides, driven apparently to the very 
 brink of madness by the mere mention of one whom 
 he viewed with feelings of the most diabolical aver- 
 sion and abhorrence. 
 
 Cleon seemed quite terrified at the explosion. His 
 fears, however, were not for himself. He was only 
 apprehensive that his patron would injure the tone 
 of his voice by exerting it over much. Seizing a 
 napkin, therefore, which he kept ready for the pur- 
 pose, he ran up to the enraged vocalist, and clapped 
 it firmly on his mouth, exclaiming as he did so, *' in 
 the name of the gods, Basilides, mind what you are 
 about ! — You will ruin yourself by your vehemence !
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 255 
 
 Have I Dot told you over and over again, that these 
 bursts of passion must infallibly end in the complete 
 destruction of your voice? Will you never learn 
 wisdom from experience, nor submit to be governed 
 by others in a point so essential to your professional 
 
 success 
 
 " Alas !" replied the other, in a subdued tone, 
 without any of the impetuosity which he had dis- 
 played a few moments before, ** I confess I was in 
 fault ; and I am infinitely obliged to you, worthy 
 Cleon, for checking me in the indulgence of my 
 wrath — my contempt, I would say, — for as you very 
 justly observe, it is far beneath a man of ray eminence 
 to be exasperated on account of the base wretch in 
 question, — the base, vile, odious wretch, who, with- 
 out talents or endowments, has been encouraged by 
 the factious to become my rival. It is true that he 
 has now obtained a sort of spurious popularity him- 
 self. It cannot be denied that he is supported by a 
 considerable party in the city; and for this reason, 
 though not on account of his own merits, I feel him 
 as a thorn in my side, — a thorn which I would wil- 
 lingly pluck out." 
 
 " And doubtless you will soon do so," rejoined the 
 attendant. ** But tell me, I beseech you," added he, 
 ** how was it that this rivalry first had its rise? 
 You should remember, Basilides, that I am but a
 
 256 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 stranger in the capital myself; — that it is but a few 
 weeks since I arrived from Athens, — sent for at your 
 particular request, and offered a considerable salary 
 to act as your Phonascus,"^ — and that since my ar- 
 rival I have been so much occupied by the duties of 
 my office, — arduous as they are, — that I have had 
 little leisure for inquiring into the state of parties in 
 the city. If it would not therefore be putting you to 
 too much trouble, I should be greatly obliged by 
 your informing me not only how this Glaphyrus 
 brought himself into notice, but also how you your- 
 self attained to such unprecedented eminence, and 
 became the wonder of the whole world for your sub- 
 lime performances." 
 
 " Willingly will I do so," replied the actor. " It 
 will afford me great pleasure to enlighten you on 
 these subjects. But it will be necessary, I think, to 
 go back farther, and take a more comprehensive 
 view of theatrical matters than you perhaps suppose. 
 I must briefly trace the origin of the Pantomimes, in 
 order to account for the manner in which dramatical 
 exhibitions of this class have by degrees superseded 
 every other, and obtained a popularity hitherto un- 
 exampled, — a popularity shared to its full extent by 
 
 ^ Or Vocal Governor. Nero was always attended by an 
 officer of this sort, whose duty it was to take care of his voice.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 257 
 
 the chief performers in these delightful spectacles, 
 and even enjoyed in an inferior degree by the most 
 insignificant members of the same troop." 
 
 ** I shall listen to your communications with de- 
 light," said the Phonascus. " Before you commence, 
 however," added he, " let me entreat you to swallow 
 this small dose of medicine, which is good for your 
 voice, and at the same time so slow in its operation 
 that it will not at all prevent you from going on with 
 your discourse. I trust, at least, that its effects will 
 not be fully developed till after you have done talk- 
 ing, and finished your dress." 
 
 So saying, he produced a filthy looking black 
 draught in a cup, and after stirring it well up witb a 
 spoon, presented it to his patient, who, in spite of the 
 repugnance which he evidently felt, did not venture 
 to reject a prescription so conducive to his vocal wel- 
 fare. He gulped down the abominable potion, while 
 his chest heaved convulsively with disgust. Nor 
 was this disgust at all mitigated by the frequency 
 with which he had endured the same punishment be- 
 fore. Morning after morning had he been dosed 
 thus ever since the arrival of the Phonascus from the 
 City of the Wise; and his sufferings were augmented 
 at every repetition of the drench. 
 
 When he had in some measure overcome the 
 nausea caused by the performance of this operation,
 
 258 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 he composed his countenance, cleared his voice, and 
 held forth as follows in the Greek tongue, which he 
 ipoke well, and without any of those peculiarities 
 which marked his pronunciation of the Latin. ^ 
 
 ** Cleon, you are an educated man. I need not 
 therefore inform you that the Romans had originally 
 no drama of their own. They borrowed their ideas 
 of theatrical representations from the Greeks, and 
 aspired to no higher merit than that of being skilful 
 copyists of the old Attic authors. Thus the scene of 
 their plays was generally laid in Greece, and their 
 dramatis personce were distinguished by names once 
 common in the Peloponnesus ; their choruses also 
 were closely modelled upon those of ^schylus and 
 Euripides. Even the dress of their actors was Athe- 
 nian. The larva and cothurnus^ invented by their 
 predecessors, were adopted on the Latin stage, and 
 marked the tragic actors from the sock-footed fol- 
 lowers of Thalia. 
 
 * A friend has suggested, that, unless I quote " chapter and 
 verse," people will be apt to doubt whether any old Roman could 
 have been vulgar enough to mispronounce his aspirates like a 
 modern Cockney. I therefore take the present opportunity of 
 referring the sceptical to a passage in Catullus {de Arrio^ Carmen 
 LXXXIV.) commencing 
 
 " ^ Chommoda' dicebat, si quando commoda vellet 
 Dicere, et ' hinsidias Arrius insidias;" — 
 which will, I hope, be sufficient to prove that the character of 
 Basilides is neither anomalous, nor inconsistent with the truth.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 259 
 
 " These imitations probably were but cold produc- 
 tions in comparison with the original works. As, 
 however, nothing of a more lively or attractive nature 
 was at that time known, they were not only tolerated, 
 but to a certain extent admired, and during several 
 successive centuries,— that is to say, from their first 
 introduction at Rome till the termination of the Re- 
 public, — these half Greek, half Latin spectacles con- 
 tinued to be attended by audiences, which, if neither 
 particularly numerous nor remarkable for their en- 
 thusiasm, were at least sufficiently so to encourage a 
 set of actors whose expectations were perhaps mo- 
 derate, and who, moreover, had been accustomed to 
 share their popularity with gladiators, wild beasts, 
 and race-horses. But after the fall of the Republic, 
 and the establishment of the Empire, a great change 
 took place in the public taste. People began to get 
 quite tired of sitting immoveable, for five hours at a 
 stretch, listening to the long, dull, dismal speeches of 
 a man mounted upon stilts, and covered with a mask, 
 who kept stalking about, sawing the air with his 
 arms, while a parcel of screech-owls, no less ridicu- 
 lous than himself, stood at the back of the stage, fil- 
 ling up the pauses in his harangue with the unmean- 
 ing nonsense which they poured forth in chorus. 
 People, I repeat, began to grow quite tired of such 
 fooleries as these ; and when two great geniuses sud-
 
 260 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 denly appeared at Rome who professed to perform 
 by action alone, — to the total exclusion of words, — 
 they were welcomed with enthusiasm not only by the 
 populace, but by the whole body of the nobility, and 
 even by the emperor himself. Bathyllus and 
 Pylades were the names of these two extraordinary 
 men ; and fortunately for themselves they started 
 into notice during the reign of one of the most illus- 
 trious of our monarchs, — Augustus himself, — who, 
 by the advice of his no less illustrious minister, 
 Maecenas, (whose slave, indeed, Bathyllus had origi- 
 nally been) countenanced and encouraged them in 
 various ways, and built a magnificent theatre for their 
 exclusive use. It was also his pleasure to grant 
 them a great number of important privileges, such as 
 persons of their class never had enjoyed before. He 
 exempted them for instance from being flogged by 
 the command of the magistrates when they behaved 
 themselves ill ; and although there is good reason to 
 suppose that he afterwards infringed this humane law 
 himself, — for he caused Hylas, the pupil of Pylades, 
 to be whipped publicly in front of his own house on 
 account of his impertinence, and treated Stephano in 
 the same way because he kept a concubine,* — yet 
 
 * He did worse. He caused the poor wretch to be publicly 
 whipped through the three chief theatres; and this merely because 
 he had a young lady under his protection to whom he was not
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 263 
 
 the regulation was observed by the inferior function- 
 aries, and conferred a sort of respectability upon the 
 Pantomimes which had never been possessed by the 
 more regular professors of the histrionic art. 
 
 " Patronage and applause, however, sometimes do 
 harm as well as good. Pylades and Bathyllus, 
 talented as they were, were still mere mortals ; sub- 
 ject to the same infirmities, and by no means exempt 
 from the same faults. It therefore came to pass that 
 they presumed upon the encouragement they receiv- 
 ed, and gave themselves such airs that the emperor 
 was at last under the necessity of banishing them 
 from the city. But the clamours of the people soon 
 forced him to recall them. They returned in triumph, 
 though they had departed in disgrace, and their inso- 
 lence was increased a hundred-fold by the victory 
 they had obtained. 
 
 "But a consequence more disastrous to themselves 
 than the anger of the prince, resulted from the vanity 
 with which they had become so ridiculously puffed 
 up ; for this vanity gave rise to jealousy ; and this 
 jealousy produced such rancorous hate, that after 
 spitting their spite at each other for some time, in an 
 underhand way, these two eminent individuals at 
 length broke out into acts of open violence, in which 
 
 lawfully united. Such was the hypocrisy of Augustus! — who had 
 himself been guilty of every moral enormity under the sun.
 
 262 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 they were encouraged and supported by the whole 
 body of the people, divided into parties which mutu- 
 ally espoused their cause. Desperate conflicts took 
 place between them ; the theatre became a scene of 
 blood ; and nothing- could appease the animosity 
 which subsisted between the adverse factions, till the 
 death of one of their leaders left the other without a 
 rival on the stage. Pylades was the survivor ; and 
 his haughtiness knew no bounds, when he saw that 
 there was nobody to oppose him. He often insulted 
 his audience for not comprehending him properly, or 
 for not paying him the tribute of applause in the 
 right place ; and this conduct of his, I must observe, 
 has been since imitated by all actors of corresponding 
 eminence, who invariably consider it their duty to 
 rebuke the people for a want of taste." 
 
 Here Cleon interrupted his patron by asking him 
 whether *' He did not begin to feel a little uncomfort- 
 able about the stomach?" Basilides replied in the 
 negative, and continued his discourse. 
 
 " I do not think it necessary," said he, *' to detail 
 the progress of the Pantomimes under the succeed- 
 ing monarchs, step by step. Suffice it to say, that 
 they fully maintained the popularity which they had 
 acquired in the time of Augustus, and that at dif- 
 ferent periods the dissensions to which the rivalry of 
 the actors gave rise, broke out with such violence as
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 263 
 
 to threaten an insurrection in the city, or even a 
 civil war throughout the empire. These disorderly 
 proceedings reached their greatest height during 
 the reign of Nero, when the Senate thought it 
 their duty to interfere, and after much consulta- 
 tion, determined upon passing several very severe 
 laws against the performers, who were supposed to 
 be the chief authors of the tumults. Among other 
 decrees, it was enacted that they should no longer 
 enjoy the privilege of exemption from corporal 
 punishment, and that the praetors should be allowed 
 to flog them whenever they chose. It was also or- 
 dained, that no person of knightly or senatorial rank 
 should attend upon them at their levees, or follow in 
 their train when they walked through the streets ; 
 for before these cruel regulations were enforced, the 
 proudest nobles in the empire had thought themselves 
 honoured by the notice of the Pantomimes, who, on 
 their part, treated their titled followers with the ut- 
 most insolence and contempt.*" 
 
 ** But the barbarism of the Senate" — 
 ^* Pardon me for interrupting you again,'' said the 
 Phonascus; *' but surely, O Basilides ! your stomach 
 must be getting troublesome by this time?" 
 
 * Seneca calls the nobility of his times, the Slaves of the Panto- 
 mimes ; an appellation which, it seems, jhey well deserved.
 
 264 PISO AND THE PR^EFECT. 
 
 " Not in the least, I give you my word," answered 
 his patron; and then going on with his narrative, 
 *• the barbarism of the Senate," said he, " was de- 
 feated by the better taste of the populace. They 
 were determined to support their dumb dancing 
 favorites; and no such unjust laws could be executed, 
 in spite of their teeth. An attempt was again made 
 at banishment ; but it again failed, as it had done in 
 the time of Augustus, and my illustrious predeces- 
 sors were triumphant. In short," continued the 
 eloquent player, '^ the same game was played over 
 and over again. There seemed to be a constant 
 struggle for supremacy between rival actors, rival 
 factions, wrathful emperors, and enraged senates. 
 Battles were fought, and there was much effusion of 
 blood ; dancers grew insolent, and they were whip- 
 ped ; the prince was offended, and he banished them 
 from the capital; the people were discontented, and 
 they were recalled. Thus was the same process 
 constantly going on ; and thus, after the lapse of 
 several centuries, do things remain now in very much 
 the same position as that which they occupied during 
 the reign of the first emperor, immediately subse- 
 quent to the introduction of this peculiar class of 
 theatrical spectacles. I myself may be termed the 
 Bathyllus of the preseqt age, — I might also say the
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 265 
 
 Pylades ;* — for my talents are, in fact, equally well 
 adapted to tragic and to comic subjects ; in which 
 respect I possess a wonderful advantage over my 
 predecessors, who were for the most part obliged to 
 confine themselves to the practice of a single branch 
 of the art. I, however, shall not boast. It is far 
 beneath a man of my transcendant genius to become 
 his own trumpeter. So miserable an expedient would 
 be more fit for the vile, paltry, pitiful wretch, who, 
 founding his hopes of success upon his own impu- 
 dence and the gullibility of mankind, has dared to 
 establish a sort of rival power to mine, even upon the 
 very boards which I myself tread, and where no one 
 before ever ventured to dispute my supremacy. May 
 the vengeance of the gods light upon the base mis- 
 creant for his presumption! May all the fiends of 
 Tartarus pursue him with their fiery goads ! May 
 every ill befall him" — 
 
 Here Basilides became so vehement, that his vocal 
 governor deemed it necessary to interfere, by stop- 
 ping his mouth with the napkin which he had used 
 before for the same purpose. Recalled to a sense of 
 his imprudence, the irritated actor grew quite calm 
 in a moment, or at least subdued all outward appear- 
 
 * Pylades was chiefly remarkable as a tragic actor, and Bathyl- 
 lus as a comic one. 
 
 VOL. I. N
 
 266 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 ance of perturbation, though the bitterness of his 
 words when he again began to speak, seemed to 
 evince that he still cherished the same feelings of 
 resentment against his theatrical competitor, and was 
 only prevented from expressing them with so much 
 impetuosity by the dread of injuring his voice. 
 
 '^ I really ought to be ashamed of myself," said 
 he, for allowing my serenity to be disturbed by the 
 thoughts of this paltry knave; — who was origin- 
 ally, I believe, nothing better than a lamp-lighter in 
 the very theatre where he now pretends to rival the 
 greatest Pantomimus of the present age. How he 
 contrived to emerge from his first obscurity, I am 
 unable to explain. He did not attract my notice till 
 he had obtained a certain portion of celebrity. He 
 was then, — when I first condescended to observe 
 him, — just beginning to be looked upon as a dancer 
 of some merit, and though I saw at a glance that he 
 would never attain the dexterity of even a second- 
 rate performer, I did not think him altogether un- 
 worthy of my patronage, which I accordingly ex- 
 tended to him by appointing him to fill up a 
 vacancy which had occurred in my saltatory troop. 
 I thus nourished a viper in my bosom, which has 
 since grown strong enough to sting me. It was long 
 however before he rendered himself sufficiently con- 
 spicuous to become troublesome. It was long before
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 267 
 
 he obtained supporters among the populace, or pa- 
 trons among the nobility. But by dint of persever- 
 ance, he at last secured one of the latter in the per- 
 son of a young Senator of whom I shall not say 
 worse than that he is the greatest coxcomb in the 
 city, notorious for his debaucheries, and anxious for 
 nothing so much as to render himself conspicuous, 
 even at the expense of his fortune, or the hazard of 
 his life. After specifying these characteristics of his, 
 I need not inform you that his name is Vibius Pup- 
 pius : — there is not such another in the whole empire." 
 
 " I know him well/' said Cleon, with a sly wink, 
 *' he is just the fellow you describe. But I wonder, 
 O Basilides, how you contrive to go on talk, talk, 
 talk, talking at this rate ? — for assuredly you must be 
 miserably sick." 
 
 ** Not so much as you think," replied the actor, 
 " though I must say, I do not feel so comfortable 
 now, as I did half an hour ago. But never mind 
 that ; I can still contrive to talk a little more. In- 
 deed I find myself much comforted by thus disbur- 
 dening my mind, and pouring out my griefs. I am 
 sure that you have a sympathising soul." 
 
 " Do not doubt it, my dear patron," answered the 
 
 Phonascus, " I feel acutely for the injuries you have 
 
 sustained, and despise the wretches who have treated 
 
 you with such base ingratitude. But tell me," added 
 
 n2
 
 268 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 he, '^ how did it come to pass that Vibius Puppius 
 patronised your rival, and what resulted from the 
 alliance ?" 
 
 ** I have already told you," resumed the Panto- 
 mimus, " that Vibius Puppius was desirous beyond 
 all things of rendering himself conspicuous. He cared 
 little about the means which he employed ; neither 
 did he seem to make any distinction between a ge- 
 nuine fame, and a spurious notoriety. So that he 
 was sufficiently talked about, it was enough. Abuse 
 was scarcely less agreeable to his ear than praise, 
 provided it was uttered with as loud a voice. He 
 sighed to be calumniated, as well as to be flattered 
 by the mob. Now he knew that in the dissensions 
 of the theatre, he could gain nothing by siding with 
 one who, like myself, had already reached a point of 
 popularity which rendered patronage superfluous. 
 In the blaze of my reputation, he felt that his own 
 paltry claims to notice would be obscured ; and he 
 very prudently determined upon coming forward as 
 the protector of a wretch even more contemptible 
 than himself. Glaphyrus was the very man for his 
 purpose. The miscreant had risen from the dust ; 
 his nature was as abject as his talents were despic- 
 able ; and at the period of which I speak, he was 
 going about to the houses of all the great men of the 
 city by turns, soliciting their patronage with a servi-
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 269 
 
 lity nothing short of loathsome, so that many of them 
 in their disgust, drove him from their doors with 
 ignominy. Vibius Puppius, on the contrary, re- 
 ceived him with distinction. Instead of being dis- 
 gusted, he was delighted with the humility of his 
 address, and at once declared himself his protector. 
 
 *' I have no patience to inform you of the base, 
 underhand tricks by which these two wretches en- 
 deavoured to promote their views: — how they sought 
 for partisans amongst the lowest of the people, and 
 assembled them in the theatre for the express pur- 
 pose of annoying me whenever I performed my best 
 parts ; raising a disturbance which prevented my 
 voice from being heard, or distracting the attention 
 of the spectators from my sublime dancing ; — how 
 the same infamous mob were gathered together upon 
 all occasions, to applaud the doings of my competitor, 
 as well as to condemn my own ; — how they greeted 
 him with cheers when he first appeared upon the 
 stage, and reiterated them at every pause in the 
 execrable bowlings which he uttered. Neither shall 
 I tell you how this scandalous fraternity, growing 
 bolder with success, at length actually had the auda- 
 city to pelt me with onion-peel during the perform- 
 ance of my most interesting scenes ; — an act of such 
 unparalleled turpitude that the great body of the 
 nobility were at last roused in my defence, and es-
 
 270 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 poused my cause with a warmth which the wretched 
 faction of my rival seemed unable to withstand. 
 Nevertheless, it was not so easily annihilated as 
 could have been wished. There was treachery 
 amongst my own partisans ; and divers unpleasant 
 stories were circulated to my prejudice. My moral 
 character was impugned. It was alleged — most 
 falsely and scandalously, — that I was too great a 
 favourite with the ladies; and though nothing like 
 proof in support of this heinous charge could be pro- 
 duced, my enemies made a handle of it to attack my 
 theatrical reputation, violently asserting that it was 
 impossible for a gallant man to be a good dancer or a 
 tolerable vocalist ; while my friends, on the other 
 hand, were so overwhelmed by the monstrosity of the 
 accusation, that they did not dare to contradict it 
 openly, but in a sneaking and dastardly manner, en- 
 deavoured to apologize for my fault. In short, it is 
 a melancholy fact, that in consequence of these odi- 
 ous calumnies, my own party rapidly declined in 
 strength, while that of my rival was augmented in 
 proportion. In vain did we strive to vilify him in 
 return ; the ugliness of his person, the hoarseness of 
 his voice, and the inelegance of his mien, had pre- 
 cluded him from the favour of the fair. We could 
 discover nothing in his conduct to afford food for 
 scandal.
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 271 
 
 *' In the end, therefore, he and I took the field 
 against each other upon pretty equal terms; — not 
 equal, indeed, in respect of our qualifications for the 
 contest, but equal with regard to our popularity, and 
 the number of our supporters ; who are now, also, 
 pretty equally divided as to rank, wealth, and consi- 
 deration in the city. The faction of Glaphyrus is 
 still headed by Vibius Puppius, who has thus raised 
 himself to an eminence, and acquired a notoriety upon 
 which he had, probably, never calculated even when 
 the most sanguine, and which he certainly does not 
 enjoy with meekness. Yet I must do him the justice 
 to say, that he makes a much better bear-leader than 
 his wretched client merits. He exerts himself inces- 
 santly in his behalf; promotes his popularity by 
 every means in his power, and never neglects an op- 
 portunity of showing him off* to the best advantage. 
 For all this, he deserves great praise ; and I cannot 
 but acknowledge that I have often wished to have 
 an equally efficient leader for my own party, which, I 
 regret to say, is at present under the direction of one, 
 who, though no doubt a very excellent man, is at the 
 same time, unquestionably, a most miserable wadlog. 
 Scribonius Mummius is the man. 
 
 " I might now give you an account of the various 
 bloody battles which have been fought between these 
 two great adverse parties in the state, were it not for
 
 272 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 certain qualmish and uncomfortable feelings which 
 are gradually creeping over me, and rendering me 
 unfit for the pleasures of colloquial intercourse. I 
 shall, therefore, refrain from saying anything more 
 upon this highly interesting theme, than that one of 
 the most terrible trials of strength which has yet been 
 made, is expected to take place in the course of a few 
 days, during the celebration of the Secular Games, 
 when the controversy will probably be decided by the 
 downfall of my rival or myself. Which of the two 
 may be favoured by the gods in this awful struggle, 
 it is difficult to predict. If, indeed, the laws of 
 eternal justice are to prevail,! shall assuredly myself 
 come off triumphant, and my execrable competitor 
 will be overthrown. Yes, yes, my Cleon, he will 
 fall. Such will be his fate, I say, if the gods do not 
 permit themselves to be biassed by that low feeling of 
 jealousy which, it is not to be denied, they sometimes 
 entertain towards a mortal whose talents or virtues 
 have elevated him above the crowd ; nay, perhaps, 
 raised him to a point of popularity which causes their 
 own more obsolete pretensions to be overlooked. If, 
 however, they should thus bear me a grudge, — which 
 is not wholly impossible, considering my manifest 
 superiority, and the manner in which I am idolized 
 by the populace, — they will, in all likelihood, concoct 
 some knavish plot against me, and in favour of my
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 273 
 
 adversary, enabling him, by their machinations, to 
 palm himself off upon the public for a far better actor 
 than in fact he is ; while I, on the contrary, shall be 
 disabled and incapacitated by the same base tricks. 
 My death, then, must inevitably ensue; for never 
 will I survive my disgrace, or re-appear before the 
 public under less favourable circumstances than of old. 
 However, it is a consolatory reflection that with my 
 life will terminate my sufferings. My daily emetics 
 will be discontinued, and the lead will be removed 
 from my chest. My bed in the earth will be softer 
 than the boards on which I now pass the night, and 
 the qualms which I endure at this moment, will, I 
 trust, never be renewed." 
 
 So saying, with a ghastly smile, he discontinued 
 his discourse. The Phonascus administered to his 
 necessities. A vessel like a wash-hand basin was in 
 readiness, and there was much need thereof. So 
 be it. 
 
 N D
 
 274 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 COLLOQUY DIVINE. 
 
 Soon after this conversation between Basilides and 
 the Phonascus, Laureutia Ogulnia and Thusnelda 
 were one morning sitting together in an apartment of 
 the palace, which, being exclusively appropriated to 
 the use of the ladies, may not be unaptly styled their 
 boudoir. 
 
 " Gravest of your sex," said the former to her fas- 
 cinating friend, interrupting the silence which had for 
 some time past prevailed between the two, *' I know 
 not what to make of you." 
 
 "Why so?" asked the sweet barbarian, with her 
 eyes fixed on the ground, and without moving a 
 muscle of her countenance. 
 
 "Why so!" repeated Laurentia Ogulnia, in an 
 accent of surprise, " how can you ask the question ? 
 all Rome is in a tumult ; the Secular Games are in 
 the act of celebration, as you know, — those mystic
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 275 
 
 games, which few mortals have an opportunity ot 
 witnessing even once in the course of a life ; and yet 
 here you sit moping all day long, without betraying 
 the slightest curiosity to know any thing concerning 
 them ! I am, really, quite astonished at you. You 
 seem to have none of the inquisitiveuess usually at- 
 tributed to our sex ; and allow me to say, that I do 
 not think the deficiency at all commendable in one so 
 youthful as yourself." 
 
 " Be not offended at my indifference," replied the 
 damsel ; " remember that I am a captive and an 
 exile. Is it not natural that my spirits should be 
 depressed by my situation ? and is there anything so 
 wonderful in the circumstance of my taking but little 
 interest in the rites of a religion different from my 
 own?" 
 
 ^^ Bonibax — stuff!" exclaimed the matron : ** what 
 signifies your captivity, or your banishment ? Are 
 you not honourably entertained in the house of the 
 greatest man in Rome, and placed on a level with his 
 own wife ? — What more would you have?" 
 
 ^* I complain not of my treatment," said the pen- 
 sive nymph. 
 
 '* Your imprisonment is but nominal," continued 
 the dame ; ** and as for your exile, you ought rather 
 to consider it as a blessing than a punishment ; for, 
 surely, a residence in the capital during the best
 
 276 
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 season of the year must be preferable to being cooped 
 up in a log-house, on the banks of the Danube, sur- 
 rounded by ice, and exposed to the nipping winds 
 which, I am told, blow incessantly through your 
 native forests." 
 
 ** Such, no doubt, must be the opinion of a Roman 
 matron," replied the daughter of the wilds ; '* but the 
 woods and rivers of my native land are dear to me, 
 cold as they may be ; nor would I voluntarily ex- 
 change them for the richest cities of the south." 
 
 " Your patriotism is commendable," answered the 
 other, with a sneer. " But tell me," added she, ** is 
 this hankering after your country the real, sole, and 
 only cause of your discontent? For my part, 1 
 really believe it has nothing at all to do with the 
 matter." 
 
 "Of what do you suspect me, then?" asked the 
 damsel, in a low tone, opening her eyes widely, and 
 looking as if she did not feel quite comfortable at the 
 insinuation against her want of truth ; *^ of what do 
 you suspect me?" she repeated, while her companion, 
 instead of replying to the interrogatory, kept prying 
 into her face with an expression which she did not 
 understand, but which was certainly neither encou- 
 raging nor agreeable. When, however, she reiterated 
 the question for the third time, it drew forth an 
 answer ; for the august dame, without discontinuing
 
 PISO AND THE PR.EFECT. 277 
 
 her scrutiny, smiled maliciously, and pronounced 
 these words in a tone full of awfulness, ''Thusnelda, 
 you are in love, you simpleton !" Then clapping her 
 hands, and throwing herself back in her chair, the 
 magnificent lady indulged in a long, loud, and rather 
 vulgar ebullition of risibility, which was not at all 
 checked or mitigated by the very evident confusion 
 of the young nymph, whose alleged tenderness of 
 heart had called it forth. Thusnelda was, indeed, 
 terribly abashed. She coloured up to the eyes, and 
 down to the shoulders, in an instant, and could only 
 reply to the accusation by a few broken sentences like 
 the following: '* I am not, I am not; indeed, indeed, 
 I am not ; you never was more mistaken in your 
 life ; — I am not such a simpleton as you suppose." 
 
 These faint denials only served to increase the 
 merriment of the hearer, who laughed more obstre- 
 perously than ever, and exclaimed with boisterous 
 vehemence, ** Never be ashamed of the thing, my 
 dear, it does you no discredit. The object of your 
 affections is a nice young man. I know him per- 
 fectly — as well as you do yourself." 
 
 ** Is it possible !" cried Thusnelda, in astonishment. 
 
 " Oh, quite possible," replied her friend; *' quite 
 possible, I assure you. And why not, I wonder? I 
 have eyes to see, and ears to hear with." 
 
 "Indeed, you have!" exclaimed the maiden,
 
 278 
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 placing a strong emphasis on each of the three words 
 as she pronounced them, though at the same time 
 speaking in a tone scarcely above her breath. 
 
 *' But what have you observed in my conduct," 
 continued she, rallying her spirits, and speaking with 
 more composure than before, " which should lead 
 you to suppose that I feel a greater interest in any 
 one than I ought?" 
 
 " I never said that you did," replied the great 
 lady, making the disclaimer with considerable ve- 
 hemence, " I never meant to say, or even to insinu- 
 ate, that you entertained an improper affection for 
 any one. On the contrary, I have a high opinion of 
 your virtue; and although I know you are deeply 
 enamoured of Calpurnius Piso, I do not believe that 
 you ever gave him undue encouragement, or even 
 went so far as to tell him your sentiments to his 
 face." 
 
 " Oh, Thor and Woden ! " cried the rustic maiden, 
 in her modesty. 
 
 '• Why, what is the matter with you?" inquired 
 the fashionable dame, have I not expressed myself 
 sufficiently in your praise ? Would you have me to 
 suppose that you did not fall in love with this ami- 
 able young man on the day of the banquet ? and that 
 having conceived the affection, you have not been 
 whining, and weeping, and whimpering about him
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 
 
 279 
 
 ever since? Or would you have me to believe that 
 being thus ensnared, you have not contrived (with- 
 out committing yourself too much) to make the youth 
 acquainted with the passion he has inspired? No, 
 no, my sweetest, with all your ingenuity you never 
 will persuade me of that ; — the thing is completely 
 out of nature. Yet, as I said before, I do not be- 
 lieve that you would have communicated your senti- 
 ments to him in a manner inconsistent with female 
 delicacy and reserve. You would doubtless have 
 done nothing more than favoured him with a smile 
 when you thought yourself unobserved, or looked 
 over your shoulder when he chanced to stand behind 
 you. For I hardly think you would even have gone 
 so far as to write him a letter, though considering the 
 proximity of his uncle's house to your own abode, 
 the temptation must have been almost irresistible to 
 throw one in at his window ; and supposing it un- 
 signed, and ambiguously expressed, I do not think 
 there could have been much harm in favouring him 
 with such a testimony of your esteem." 
 
 Thusnelda made no reply to this delicate speech ; 
 she perceived that her own notions of propriety were 
 so different from those of her companion, that it 
 would be impossible for them to agree. But Lau- 
 rentia Ogulnia was not to be deterred by her silence 
 from pursuing a theme so much to her taste as a love
 
 280 
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 affair, whether real or imaginary, and she accordingly 
 continued to hold forth in the following strain of de- 
 liberation and advice, — of commendation mingled 
 with reproof. 
 
 *' I am of opinion, Thusnelda," she began, '^ that 
 you have not on the whole done wrong in selecting 
 Calpurnius Piso for your beloved. He is certainly a 
 promising young man ; high in birth, and though not 
 rich at present, likely to become so hereafter by in- 
 heriting the fortune of his uncle. He is not indeed 
 exactly to my own taste, either personally or in cha- 
 racter ; his countenance is too grave, and his manners 
 are marked with a severity which would have better 
 suited a stoic of the old school than a follower of the 
 epicurean doctrines now chiefly prevalent. But that 
 is nothing to the purpose. The youth is without 
 doubt well enough in his way, and his faults such as 
 they are, would be easily corrected by the superin- 
 tendence of an accomplished female. There is, how- 
 ever, I apprehend, a more serious obstacle in the way 
 of your love; an obstacle which you may perhaps 
 consider as little short of insurmountable; — for know, 
 O Thusnelda, that his unquestioned wife it is impos- 
 sible for you ever to become ! " 
 
 " Alas! — why?" gasped out convulsively the dis- 
 appointed innocent.
 
 PISO AND THE PR.EFECT. 281 
 
 " The blood of a noble Roman," said the matron, 
 with a look of ineffable haughtiness, " must never be 
 polluted by intermixture with a foreign stream. The 
 free hand of a senator, — so it is enacted both by the 
 laws of the republic and of the empire, — can never 
 be bestowed upon a slave, a captive, or a barbarian. 
 
 *' But forgive the plainness of my speech," added 
 she hastily; •* I take shame to myself for thus calling 
 you a barbarian to your face ; it was rude and inhos- 
 pitable to a degree. But we Romans are a haughty 
 race. We cannot help feeling our superiority over 
 all the rest of mankind, and in our dealings with the 
 secondary nations of the earth, we do not always 
 comport ourselves with so much affability as they may 
 expect, or as indeed may be their due. It cannot be 
 denied, however, that Italy and Greece are the only 
 two civilized countries in the world, and that conse- 
 quently the inhabitants of these favoured realms are 
 justly entitled to bestow the appellation of barbarians 
 on the remainder. This right they have always been 
 accustomed to exert. With the utmost impartiality, 
 they have distinguished the various nations of the 
 East and the West, the North and the South, by the 
 same opprobrious epithet. Egypt, the most ancient 
 — India the most opulent, — Persia the most luxuri- 
 ous of oriental lands, — have been at once stigmatized
 
 282 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 as barbarous. Why, therefore, my Thusnelda, 
 should you deem it an affront when I thus add Ger- 
 many to the list?" 
 
 This somewhat laboured apolog-y on the part of 
 the great lady had the effect of softening the resent- 
 ment which had been stirred up in the bosom of her 
 companion by the allusion to her national barbarism, 
 and the inferiority of her station personally to that of 
 a Roman noble. But though it thus checked her 
 anger, it rather served to augment the feelings of 
 humiliation and disappointment with which she had 
 been inspired at the same time. She could not help 
 perceiving with how much contempt the pretensions 
 of a stranger, however high in rank at home, were 
 likely to be regarded amongst the proud citizens of 
 the capital; and accustomed as she had been from 
 her earliest years to be treated with a deference 
 bordering upon idolatry by the tribes subject to her 
 father's sway, she now saw with astonishment, that 
 in the metropolis of the world, she had more chance 
 of being stared at as an interesting savage, than of 
 being honoured as the descendant of a potent 
 monarch, or reverenced as the possessor of those 
 mystic virtues very generally attributed to the 
 virgins of her native land. 
 
 Laurentia Ogulnia soon perceived the workings of
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 283 
 
 her mind, and proceeded to console her after the 
 following fashion of her own. 
 
 " My dear Thusnelda, do not permit yourself to be 
 thus downcast and dispirited. It is true that it is 
 impossible for you to espouse Piso in a lawful w^ay, — 
 that is to say, according to those solemn forms which 
 chiefly consist in making offerings of burnt cakes to 
 the gods, and which are sanctioned by the presence 
 of the Chief Pontiff' and the High Priest of Jupiter ; 
 — for there is no instance on record of a barbarian 
 being thus united to a free citizen of Rome ; even 
 Cleopatra, the last and most renowned queen of 
 Egypt, was held incapable of so becoming the wife 
 of Caesar, and Berenice the Jewess, was equally 
 prohibited in the case of Titus ; nay, when Ptolemy 
 Physcon offered his hand and crown to * the mother of 
 the Gracchi/ it was deemed little short of an insult, 
 and the proud matron rejected him with contempt. It 
 is therefore, as I said before, wholly out of the ques- 
 tion for you to think of forming a connexion of this 
 solemn and indissoluble kind vvith your beloved. But 
 be not discouraged on that account. There is still 
 another resource, and one too, which I assure you is 
 not thought beneath the adoption of even Roman 
 females of the highest rank. It is a marriage of a 
 secondary class ; — less formal, less binding, and more
 
 284 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 easily contracted than the first, but now considered 
 little less honourable, though formerly repudiated by 
 the more rigid of the people. Indeed I may say that 
 this marriage hy use, as it is termed, has now come 
 pretty generally into fashion. It is found so conve- 
 nient, — while the other was so troublesome, — that 
 every one prefers it ; — ^for in order to its legal contrac- 
 tion, nothing more is requisite than that a lady should 
 be permitted by her friends to reside with the object 
 of her choice for the space of a whole year, without 
 the performance of any previous ceremony whatso- 
 ever, and if she never once quits him during the 
 stipulated period for as much as three days at a time, 
 the marriage is esteemed valid. It is true indeed, 
 that even after this, the husband still enjoys the 
 privilege of turning off his wife whenever he thinks 
 proper ; but it is no less true, that the wife herself 
 is for the most part found so much inclined to imitate 
 his example, — or at least to enjoy the same preroga- 
 tive, — that she contrives to evade the law which 
 makes the contract binding on her side alone, by 
 purposely absenting herself from her companion for 
 the three days during the period of probation to 
 which I have alluded ; and thus continues as free as 
 himself even after the twelvemonth has expired." 
 
 Thusnelda listened very attentively to this learned 
 and luminous exposition of the Roman Marriage
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 285 
 
 Law, which nevertheless did not afford her such 
 signal satisfaction as had been expected by her 
 friend ; for having been accustomed from her earliest 
 years to consider marriage as an institution of the 
 most sacred character, and equally binding upon both 
 parties concerned, from the moment of its contraction 
 till the hour of their death, there was something 
 peculiarly revolting to her feelings in the laxity of 
 the union now described to her for the first time. 
 What could be more degrading, thought she, than to 
 be taken upon trial for a twelvemonth, and afterwards 
 turned adrift, if it suited the convenience of her tem- 
 porary lord and master? Yet humiliating as was 
 the privilege to be thus enjoyed by her husband, it 
 scarcely seemed so detestable in her eyes, as the 
 contrivance by which it was proposed to secure a 
 similar exemption for herself. Is it possible, whis- 
 pered she, that a woman can be so base as to calcu- 
 late, at the time of her espousals upon changing her 
 mind subsequently, and wishing to get rid of the 
 husband of her choice ; or while in the full enjoyment 
 of connubial happiness, can she coldly look forward 
 to the period of satiety, and the returning inclination 
 to be free ? 
 
 After a little hesitation, she ventured to acknow- 
 ledge these strange sentiments to her companion ; 
 but what was the contempt with which they were
 
 286 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 
 
 received, nay, the anger and indignation which they 
 excited in her breast ! The august lady seemed to 
 consider such fastidious delicacy as insulting in the 
 highest degree to her own more liberal principles, 
 and rules of action. Firing up suddenly, 
 
 ^'' Vah ! vah ! vali !^' cried she, in a loud voice, 
 '^ this is not to be borne ! Was there ever such 
 abominable nonsense! Why, who ever heard of a 
 little barbarian like you objecting to be married in 
 the way I have mentioned to a Roman of such illus- 
 trious rank as Piso ? Why, I myself, the last de- 
 scendant of one of the most illustrious families in the 
 empire, have been five times married on the same 
 terms. Yes, Thusnelda, I repeat it to your face. 
 Why, indeed, should I try to disguise a fact which is 
 known to the whole city, and in which, moreover, 
 there is nothing like disgrace ? The Praefect, Vita- 
 lianus, is the fifth husband whom I have deemed it 
 my duty to espouse. Upon four happy men had I 
 previously bestowed my hand, and four times also 
 had I been divorced. Nobody now thinks the worse 
 of me, nor would any one think the worse of you 
 were you to follow my example. I do not say, how- 
 ever, that you would be able to do so, even if you 
 wished it, and were to try. You are not such a 
 beauty as myself ; — neither have you, probably, so 
 much money. Where, indeed, should you get it
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 287 
 
 from 1 I inherited mine from a long line of fore- 
 fathers, who had all been governors of provinces ; 
 and I now carry it about with me from one husband 
 to another as I go. For this is a privilege which we 
 Roman ladies enjoy when we are divorced ; our 
 dowry must be repaid to us in full ; and thus are we 
 enabled to change about as often as we please with- 
 out sustaining the least pecuniary loss in consequence 
 of our fickleness. It is a glorious prerogative to be 
 sure ! and I trust it never will be abrogated.'* 
 
 AVhile the Roman lady held forth with so much 
 candour about the transactions of her past life, Thus- 
 nelda sat listening with her eyes fixed upon the 
 ground, from which she did not even raise them 
 when the strange speech was finished. But whether 
 she would have attempted a reply, — which in the 
 puzzled and perplexed state of her mind she would 
 probably have found it difficult to make, — remains to 
 this time present a matter of conjecture, for just at 
 the very moment when she might have been expected 
 to commence, the doors of the apartment were thrown 
 open, and her august host the Praefect walked in, 
 followed at a respectful distance by several person- 
 ages scarcely less important than himself. Vibius 
 Puppius was the first of them who made his advent ; 
 his indomitable coxcombry prompting him on all oc- 
 casions to put himself more forward than he ought,
 
 288 PISO AND THE PR^EFECT. 
 
 and even to take precedence of those undeniably his 
 superiors in rank, age, or station. Thus did he now 
 come bustling" along, with his elbows squared, and 
 his nose elevated in the air, considerably in advance 
 of Scribonius Mummius, with whose claims to honour 
 a stranger might have thought him unacquainted, had 
 it not been for the anxiety which he evinced to cast 
 them into the shade. His manners, however, though 
 assuming and pragmatical towards his compeers, were 
 dashed with an obsequiousness bordering upon ser- 
 vility when he approached the magnificent Ogulnia, 
 and addressed her in the terms of compliment and 
 inquiry, which it was customary to employ on first 
 meeting. Nor was the reception which he met with 
 calculated to inspire him with greater confidence. 
 The demeanour of the lady was singularly haughty 
 and reserved ; she even frowned upon the dandy as 
 he drew near, and replied to his questions touching 
 her health with the most appalling brevity and blunt- 
 ness. It was indeed quite evident that her blood 
 was up ; nor was it less manifest that her wrath was 
 specially directed against the well dressed youth 
 himself; a thing which, considering the fascinations 
 he was acknowledged to possess, seemed so porten- 
 tous and unnatural, that the whole company, as they 
 witnessed it, trembled in their shoes. 
 
 Very different was her behaviour towards Scribo-
 
 PISO AND THE PRJEFECT. 289 
 
 nius Mummius, for no sooner did that illustrious 
 philosopher become visible at the door, than she 
 smiled sweetly, beckoned him to approach her, and 
 addressing him with much suavity, playfully com- 
 manded him to be seated on a low stool at her feet ; 
 an injunction which with some difficulty he obeyed, 
 though, by reason of his long legs, the position was 
 by no means the most convenient that could have 
 been selected for him. Then, with an air at once 
 familiar and patronising, she laid her hand upon his 
 shoulder, and peering into his face, with as much 
 apparent satisfaction as if she had been contem- 
 plating the visage of an Adonis, she proceeded to 
 make the most tender inquiries, not only concerning 
 the state of his health, but the condition of his mind, 
 the progress of his studies, and the general welfare 
 of the Stoics ; unto all which interrogatories the gra- 
 tified sage responded with befitting readiness. — 
 Neither did she neglect the remainder of her visitors. 
 Suillius Crassus, whose dimensions were such that it 
 was impossible for him to be overlooked, though his 
 dullness and taciturnity prevented him from holding 
 so conspicuous a place in society as he deserved, was 
 received with a condescension which he would have 
 thought pleasing, had he been capable of deriving 
 pleasure from any thing but a luxurious repast ; and 
 Vulcatius Asper, notwithstanding the severity of his 
 
 VOL. I. O
 
 290 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 countenance, was greeted with a cordiality to which 
 he must, indeed, have been unreasonable to object. 
 
 O, reader, how strange and unaccountable must it 
 seem to thee, that the most interesting individual of 
 the whole party, — an elegant young man, with a 
 jaunty air, and dressed in the very height of the 
 mode, — should alone have been treated with indig- 
 nity by the discriminating dame ; nay, almost ejected 
 from the privileged apartment into which he had so 
 sweetly swaggered ! But the mystery may be ac- 
 counted for in a few words. Vibius Puppius was the 
 enemy of Basilides, and the patron of his rival on 
 the stage. 
 
 When the first greetings were finished, the Praefect 
 took his seat over against his wife, supported on each 
 side by a couple of the guests ; for the middle place, 
 either in sitting or walking, being esteemed the most 
 honourable, this illustrious personage did not see fit 
 to dispense with the prerogative which he enjoyed 
 even in his own house. Then opening the conver- 
 sation, '* How comes it, my Laurentia," said he, *' that 
 you do not go forth? What keeps you at home 
 during a period of such general excitement as the 
 present ? It cannot be unknown to you that this is 
 the third and last day for the celebration of the 
 Games, — those mysterious games which are only 
 repeated once in a hundred years, and which will cer-
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 291 
 
 tainly never occur again in the course of your life. 
 All Rome is flocking to behold them. The Field of 
 Mars is so crowded that you might walk upon the 
 people's heads, and such multitudes have collected 
 on the banks of the Tiber that many unfortunate 
 persons have already lost their footing, and been 
 drowned. And yet here you still stay moping at 
 home ! — Arouse yourself, my Laurentia, I implore ! 
 — if not for your own sake, at least for that of your 
 lovely friend Thusnelda, who, I am sure, will never 
 Cease to repent if she loses the opportunity which now 
 offers of making herself acquainted with the most 
 remarkable rites known to our religion." 
 
 " Why, that is just what I have been telling her," 
 said Laurentia Ogulnia; *' it is no fault of mine, I 
 assure yon, that either she or T thus stay * moping at 
 home.' I have been urging her to go out for the 
 last half-hour, but I cannot make her stir." 
 
 '''Papoe! how extraordinary!" exclaimed the 
 Praefect. 
 
 " I wish," continued the great lady, " you would 
 try what you could do with her yourself. But I 
 much fear it would be to no purpose. In fact," 
 added she, lowering her voice, and glancing round 
 towards the young lady, with a strange look of in- 
 telligence as she spoke, " I cannot help suspecting 
 that she has good reasons of her own for wishing to 
 o2
 
 2^ PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 remain at home, though it does not suit her to reveal 
 them." 
 
 " Atat — adad !" said the Praefect, '' there is a 
 lover in the case/' and as he uttered this coarse in- 
 sinuation, he laughed, chuckled, rubbed his hands, 
 and fixed his eyes upon the victim of his ribaldry 
 with a fiend-like air of triumph. 
 
 Poor Thusnelda was quite overwhelmed when she 
 thus saw herself become an object of raillery, not 
 only to an individual of her own sex, but also to one 
 of those lords of the creation whom she deemed little 
 better than ferocious ogres, delighting in the torments 
 which they inflicted upon the more amiable portion 
 of the human race. Nor were her sufferings at all 
 mitigated by the circumstance of these unfeeling 
 jokes being played off in the presence of an illus- 
 trious coxcomb, a renowned philosopher, a distin- 
 guished epicure, and a man so remarkable for the 
 acerbity of his aspect, that the very sight of him alone 
 was almost sufficient to produce a fit of hysterics : 
 what, then, were her agonies, when she beheld the 
 countenance of this monster become distorted by a 
 sneer, devilish beyond anything which she had pre- 
 viously conceived, while the visage of the puppy also 
 betrayed tokens of a scandalous delight, and the 
 features of the sage became relaxed by a smile of less 
 malignant character ! The celebrated feeder was the
 
 PISO AND THE PRiEFECT. 293 
 
 only one amongst them who, throughout the whole 
 transaction, preserved an undeviating gravity and 
 composure ; a singularity for which she loved him in 
 her heart. 
 
 Strange as it may seem, however, this last-men- 
 tioned individual was the first to interrupt the silence 
 which succeeded the ungenteel apostrophe of the 
 great man. " Mayhap/' said he, with a look of un- 
 precedented stolidity, " the young lady stays at 
 home because she wants her dinner." 
 
 A loud burst of laughter followed this character 
 istic speech. " Ohe I that is good, indeed!" cried 
 Vibius Puppius, joyously ; ** to suppose that the most 
 beautiful of her sex would confine herself to the 
 house for a whole day, on account of her dinner ! 
 What a likely story to be sure !" 
 
 " The most beautiful of her sex!" exclaimed Lau- 
 rentia Ogulnia, tossing her head with an air of out- 
 raged vanity ; '* some people have a good taste, at 
 any rate," added she, glancing towards the elegant 
 youth, in a manner no less angry than contemptu- 
 ous. 
 
 '' Oh, I only meant to say," rejoined he, eagerly, 
 though in an under-voice, for he perceived his error, 
 and was anxious to retrieve himself, — " 1 only meant 
 to say, the most beautiful of her nation, — that was 
 the phrase which I intended to employ, — for every-
 
 294 
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 body knows that Laurentia Ogulnia is herself the 
 most beautiful of her sex !" 
 
 '' Very true," said the lady, in the same tone, and 
 with the utmost gravity, the compliment not being at 
 all too highly seasoned for the national taste. Then, 
 a little softened towards the youth, but still over- 
 flowing with spite against the damsel, of whom, 
 to say the truth, she had not unfrequently been 
 jealous before, notwithstanding the exalted opinion 
 which she entertained of her own loveliness ; ^' Why, 
 indeed,'^ said she, *' it would not be fair to suppose 
 that my dear young friend secludes herself for the 
 reason alleged by Suillius Crassus. It would be 
 charging her with a vice, — or at least a peculiarity, — 
 from which I feel certain she is free. The youns; 
 are, indeed, seldom too much addicted to the plea- 
 sures of the table. Love, love, — enthralling love, — 
 is a passion which admits of no rival in the youthful 
 breast ; — all else succumbs to it." 
 
 *' Ho ! ho ! ho !" chuckled the Prsefect as before, 
 *' then Thusnelda really is enamoured ? Oh, poor 
 thing ! Oh, how I pity her ! — ha ! ha ! ha ! — Oh, 
 how she blushes! — But Laurentia," continued he, 
 in the midst of his merriment, '* what is the name of 
 the happy man 1 Who is the object of her young 
 affections? Come, come, tell us all about it." 
 
 *' Aye, aye, do tell us all about it," reiterated
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 295 
 
 Vibius Puppius, with unparalleled effrontery : the 
 Praefect frowned, and every body else was astonished 
 at his impudence. 
 
 " Young man," said Scribonius Mummius, whis- 
 pering him; *^ your ears are fallen into your tongue; 
 — I use the words of Zeno, — be attentive to them." 
 
 ** I do not think I should be justified in disclosing 
 the secrets of my friend," said Laurentia Ogulnia, 
 replying to the question of her husband ; *' though I 
 am in possession of the facts, — which are singular 
 enough, it must be acknowledged, and calculated to 
 excite surprise even in the minds of those who are 
 best acquainted with the wayward fancies of the 
 young. Besides, there are circumstances connected 
 with this remarkable case," added she, looking 
 curiously towards Scribonius Mummius, " which 
 would render it indelicate for me to explain myself 
 more particularly at present." 
 
 '' Elio ! — what is in the wind now?" muttered 
 Vitalianus, looking quite puzzled and confused ; 
 ** why, surely the damsel cannot have fallen in love 
 with that old withered, philosophical personage Scri- 
 bonius Mummius, who looks like a mummy just 
 extracted from the catacombs ? After all, however, 
 there is no accounting for tastes." 
 
 Then addressing himself to his wife, " I cannot 
 conceive," said he, " what is the meaning of all
 
 29S PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 this mystery. Why make so much ado about a 
 trifle?" 
 
 " It may not be such a trifle as you suppose," 
 answered the lady, *^ or at least, not such a trifle to 
 the chief parties concerned. Do but look at the 
 poor young thing as she sits there blushing on the 
 couch ! Would you have me to break her heart 
 by exposing its most holy secrets to the whole com- 
 pany ? Discontinue the unseasonable inquiry, I im- 
 plore." 
 
 ^'I would not ask another question for the world," 
 cried Vibius Puppius, no longer able to contain him- 
 self; " far be it from me to put the young lady to 
 the blush, or to say any thing that might make her 
 feel uncomfortable. 1 know what I am about too 
 well, I assure you, to make such a blunder as that. 
 No, no, — thanks to the gods, — I am not such a ninny 
 as to ruin myself in the opinion of a lovely young 
 person who might otherwise be inclined to look upon 
 me with a favourable eye." 
 
 *' Oh, doubtless, you are an universal favourite,'* 
 cried Laurentia Ogulnia, tossing her head as before ; 
 " but do not suppose on that account, that you have 
 made any impression on the heart of my fair friend, 
 susceptible as it is. For although I am ready to 
 acknowledge that it was with one of the company at 
 our last banquet that she fell in love, I give you my
 
 PISO AND THE PR.i:FECT. 297 
 
 assurance at the same time, that it was with a very 
 different sort of person from yourself." 
 
 So saying, she looked significantly towards Scribo- 
 nius Mummius, who blushed up to the eyes as he 
 encountered her glance, while the whole company 
 gazed at him with astonishment, under the erroneous 
 impression that he was the favoured man ; a pheno- 
 menon for which they were unable to account, till 
 they called to mind the well filled state of his coff'ers, 
 and reflected upon the disinterested nature of the 
 fair. Then, indeed, a light broke in upon them, and 
 their surprise either totally disappeared, or became 
 amalgamated with a feeling of jealousy and discontent. 
 But it was in the bosom of the fop that the latter sen- 
 timent chiefly predominated ; for though willing to 
 admit the general influence of hard cash, he could 
 not endure to think that, in an aff*air of the heart, 
 even this overpowering principle should render an 
 old, worn-out churl more acceptable to a young 
 female than so interesting a personage as himself. It 
 was therefore with a sourness of aspect almost 
 worthy of Vulcatius Asper, that he began to inveigh 
 against mercenary women, and the superannuated 
 dotards upon whom they preyed. 
 
 ^* Can any one be so silly as to suppose," said he, 
 *' that a girl of sixteen can really become enamoured 
 of a sexagenarian, or that she will not lead him the 
 o 5
 
 298 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 life of a dog if he choose her for a spouse? For 
 even when entered into under the most favourable 
 circumstances, the marriage state is not always one 
 of unmixed happiness ; nay, many formidable objec- 
 tions may be raised against it. How much worse, 
 then, must be the prospect, when two parties of 
 unsuitable age, and consequently ill adapted to each 
 other in their habits and pursuits, unthinkingly bind 
 themselves together for a whole life?" 
 
 To this moralizing speech, — which no one present 
 ever expected to have heard from Vibius Puppius, — 
 the ancient philosopher deemed it his duty to reply, as 
 being especially aimed against himself, and the beau- 
 teous young person of whom he had made a conquest. 
 
 *' Vibius Puppius," he began, " you are no doubt 
 pretty right in saying that the nuptial state is not 
 always one of unmitigated bliss, — for many of the 
 greatest philosophers have been of the same opinion. 
 Thus Bion asserted that it was impossible for a 
 woman to be beautiful and virtuous at the same 
 time ; yet that if a man, being aware of this circum- 
 stance, took refuge in ugliness, he would be sure to 
 connect himself with a shrew. It is true that Socrates 
 expressed an opinion somewhat more equivocal upon 
 the same subject, for he affirmed that the inconve- 
 niences of celibacy were so nicely balanced against 
 those of wedlock, that repentance was equally sure
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 299 
 
 to result from the choice of either state. But 
 this theory of his, was by no means over favour- 
 able to matrimony. I repeat, therefore, that you 
 are not far wrong in that which you have affirmed. 
 Nevertheless, it should be remembered, that those 
 very sages who spoke so doubtfully about connubial 
 happiness, were, for the most part, married men 
 themselves ; or that when their practice accorded 
 with their precepts, and they remained single, they 
 generally devoted themselves to the fair sex after a 
 fashion, neither consistent with morality, nor at all 
 indicative of wisdom. Thus, for example, the Sta- 
 girite literally worshipped a lady of easy virtue, 
 singing hymns in her praise as if she had been a god- 
 dess, and sacrificing victims to propitiate her on half 
 the altars in the city : — a proceeding whereby the 
 Athenians were so much scandalized, that they pro- 
 secuted the philosopher for impiety, and obliged him 
 to abscond. He took refuge, we are told, in Chalcis; 
 but despair for the loss oi his idol, very soon put 
 a period to his days.""^' 
 
 ** All this may be vastly fine," said Vibius Puppius, 
 breaking in upon the oration of the sage before it was 
 
 * Perhaps there is not much truth in this strange tale, "^'et 
 Scribonius Mummius did not speak without good authority; a 
 scandalous report of the kind was very generally circulated in 
 Greece.
 
 300 PISO AND THE PR.EFECT. 
 
 half finished ; " but what has it to do with the point 
 at issue I My objections were not raised against the 
 marriage state generally, but against those antiquated 
 churls who marry young wives, and expect them- 
 selves to be adored by the wretched victims whom 
 they thus sacrifice." 
 
 " Sacrifice !" repeated Scribonius Mummius, with 
 an intonation of contempt ; '* know, young man, that 
 some of the happiest marriages on record have been 
 those contracted between persons of unequal years. 
 Did not Seneca, when as old as the hills, espouse a 
 virgin young enough to be his grand-daughter ? And 
 did she not love him so enthusiastically, that when 
 the tyrant Nero commanded him to die, she also 
 endeavoured to put a period to her existence? — by 
 the same token after her veins had been opened for 
 the purpose of bleeding her to death, the despot 
 ordered them to be bound up again, and thus saved 
 her life." 
 
 *' Yes," cried Vibius Puppius, impudently, '*and 
 by the same token, the old fool her husband learned 
 to dance at the age of seventy, or thereabouts, — in 
 order, I suppose, to render himself agreeable to so 
 young a wife. How well he must have looked skip- 
 ping about the room upon his gouty toes !" 
 
 '' I do not think he was quite so old as you say," 
 replied Scribonius Mummius. " It is not to be
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 301 
 
 denied, however, that he acquired this elegant ac- 
 complishment at an advanced age ; nor do I think 
 the circumstance of his having done so can be reason- 
 ably alleged against him as a fault. It would be 
 well, O Puppius, if thou didst bear in mind that sage 
 saying of Chilon the Spartan, which teaches us to 
 restrain the- tongue ^ — to say nothing of that other ex- 
 cellent aphorism of his which forbids us to speak evil 
 of the dead.'' 
 
 "If I do not bear in mind those two admirable 
 apophthegms of the Spartan," replied Vibius Puppius, 
 " I have not forgotten his saying that it is good to 
 honour old age. I trust, therefore, O Mummius, that 
 I have not inadvertently given thee offence, as thy 
 language would imply." 
 
 " Bellua ! — you great beast !" cried the philoso- 
 pher in a rage, " do you mean to insinuate that I am 
 old myself? — entitled to your respect on account of 
 my antiquity? So help me Hercules, I could crush 
 you to the earth !" 
 
 "Oh Mummius, it is good to restrain the tongue,'' 
 said Vibius Puppius, jeeringly. 
 
 " Yes," rejoined the sage, and loquacity is a great 
 fault in a young man, — or Zeno was mistaken. Take 
 that to yourself." 
 
 " Petulance is dangerous,' said the dandy, quot^ 
 ing the words of Periander, and looking fierce.
 
 302 PISO AND THE PR-^FECT. 
 
 *' Do not utter vain threats : it is womanish/' re- 
 taliated the Stoic, in the words of Chilon, again. 
 
 ** An ungoverned tongue is less to he trusted than 
 an unbridled horse/' returned the coxcomb, dictato- 
 rially, making use of the adage of Theophrastus. 
 
 ** Vahl vahV cried the senior, driven to the wall 
 by the apt quotations of his adversary; " I am quite 
 out of patience. What is the use of talking to one 
 so obviously blinded by a base feeling of jealousy? — 
 for did not Antisthenes the Cynic say that, as iron is 
 consumed by its own rust, so is the jealous man by his 
 own manners? and was he not quite right in what he 
 said?" 
 
 " And was it not a remark of the same sapient 
 personage," said Vibius Puppius, that one had better 
 become the prey of vultures than fall itito the hands 
 of sycophants ; and yet such is your unreasonable 
 vanity, that you are exasperated with me for telling 
 you the truth, and endeavouring to give you a knoic- 
 ledge of yourself which, as Thales has remarked, is 
 the best sort of hnowledge a man can possess'' 
 
 " There you are most miserably mistaken," ex- 
 claimed Scribonius Mummius in a loud voice; '^ I am 
 pleased with your abuse, and should be humiliated by 
 your praise, for, like Antisthenes himself, I am of 
 opinion that the approbation of a rogue is a strong 
 proof of one's own faultiness^
 
 PISO AND THE PR-EFECT. 
 
 303 
 
 ** By Castor! this insolence is not to be borne!" 
 cried the fop vehemently ; " how much better it 
 would be, O Mummius, if instead of thus reviling 
 others, thou didst utter reproaches against thyself, 
 and then say, like Cleanthes, when asked what thou 
 wast about, that thou didst only rebuke an old grey- 
 haired reprobate without a soul." 
 
 " Oh, incredible audacity ! Oh, impudence worthy 
 of being placed on record!" cried Scribonius Mum- 
 mius with the impetuosity of a Cicero, '' Oh, degene- 
 rate age ! oh, manners incurably corrupt ! That the 
 great and the good should be thus vilified with impu- 
 nity, while vice linked with etfrontery stalk abroad 
 triumphant! Oh, Jupiter, where is thy avenging 
 fire?" 
 
 " Well," said Vibius Puppius, with his character- 
 istic levity of speech, *' I perceive, old fellow, you 
 are considerably enraged ; but may the fiends take 
 me if I ever praise a worthless man on account of his 
 wealth, — for Bias hath condemned it, — and there- 
 fore you must forgive me if I do not praise you." 
 
 •* Now may the Infernal Gods become my captors," 
 cried Scribonius Mummius starting up from his seat 
 in a paroxysm of wrath, " if thou art not the most 
 impertinent little puppy in the universe ! What ! 
 dost thou dare, thou despicable mannikin ! — thou 
 base, paltry, bedizened marmoset ! — thou shallow
 
 304 
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 pretender to philosophy ! — dost thou dare, I say, to 
 traduce me thus shamefully to my face? — me, thy 
 unapproachable superior in all earthly things, — thy 
 lord, thy master, thy instructor? — Dost thou dare to 
 call me old ? — dost thou dare to question my immor- 
 tality? — dost thou dare to stigmatise me as a mere 
 rich man, possessing nought to recommend me but a 
 well tilled purse ? — Foul-mouthed, false-hearted, un- 
 conscionable scamp! — But what," continued he, after 
 a short pause, during which he seemed endeavouring 
 to compose the irritation of his mind, " but what can 
 be expected from a wretch who has shown himself so 
 deficient in good taste as to become the patron of the 
 miserable Glaphyrus? — that insignificant upstart who, 
 with the voice of a peacock and the legs of an ele- 
 phant, presumes to rival the renowned Basilides in 
 the two divine arts of which he is so complete a 
 master? — What, what, I say, — and I appeal to the 
 whole company — can be expected from the patron 
 of a cheat like that?" 
 
 "Aye, aye, — what indeed?" cried Laurentia 
 Ogulnia, now taking part in the controversy for the 
 first time. 
 
 " But why should I say the patron?" asked Scri- 
 bonius Mummius in continuation; *' why should I 
 call Vibius Puppius the patron of Glaphyrus, when 
 Glaphyrus is in fact the liege lord of Vibius Pup-
 
 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 305 
 
 pius I — For is it not notorious to all Rome that this 
 wretched effigy of an actor has purchased the ser- 
 vices of the debauched senator who affects to patro- 
 nise him ?" 
 
 "He feeds him well at any rate," said Suillius 
 Crassus in his wheezing tone, ''for I myself was once 
 present at a banquet given by this same Glaphyrus 
 in his honour^ when the company were entertained in 
 a manner more luxurious and extravagant than any 
 thing which I remember to have seen before." 
 
 '* How so, my friend ?" inquired Scribonius Mum- 
 mius, " describe the particulars, if it please you; for 
 I would willingly know more of this base pretender's 
 private life." 
 
 *' Why, thus stands the case," said the gourmand, 
 drawing a long breath, and preparing himself for a 
 speech ; *' the guests, you will observe, were six in 
 number, and our host made the seventh. Vibius 
 Puppius and I sat in the most honourable places at 
 the upper end of the table. There was nothing par- 
 ticular in the fare ; it was good, undoubtedly ; but 
 that was all ; nor should I ever have thought of it 
 again, had it not been for what occurred during the 
 performance of the last course. Then, indeed, a 
 transaction took place of the most extraordinary cha- 
 racter. And what do you think it was? — You never 
 would guess, if you were to sit there considering
 
 306 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 about it all the rest of your life. I shall tell you 
 therefore at once. A domestic entered the room, and 
 presented his master with a small silver casket, beau- 
 tifully ornamented, and securely locked. Out of this 
 repository the latter extracted several things which 
 we at first supposed to be pigeon's eggs, — they were 
 so much like them in size, shape, and colour. Then 
 addressing us in a set speech, he told us he had been 
 credibly informed that nothing could be more deli- 
 cious than pearls dissolved in vinegar, and that he 
 had accordingly provided one of these jewels for each 
 of us, — besides another for himself, — which he should 
 be highly obliged by our immediately drinking up ; — 
 neither, he added, need we be at all scrupulous 
 about the expense, his fortune being adequate to 
 bear a far greater outlay. So saying, he sent these 
 rarities round to us on a plate, and we each helped 
 ourselves to one. Then being provided with goblets, 
 and cruets of vinegar, — the very sharpest that could 
 be procured, — and finding ourselves encouraged by 
 the example of our host, we commenced the sacrifice 
 by resolutely plunging our pearls into the acid; by 
 the potency of which we soon saw that they were dis- 
 solved. Satisfied of that, we next proceeded to gulp 
 down this extraordinary beverage ; and never, oh 
 never, shall I forget the transports which I experi- 
 enced as it passed over my palate ! Its deliciousness
 
 PISO AND THE PRJSFECT. 307 
 
 was overpowering. — I have no moretosay; except it be 
 to entreat you to look with a favourable eye upon the 
 wonderful individual who has thus so far outdone the 
 vaunted feat of Cleopatra."* 
 
 ** Now all ye gods ! " exclaimed Scribonius Mum- 
 mius in a loud voice, '* was such an outrageous in- 
 stance of prodigality ever heard of before ? To think 
 that a miserable Pantomimus should be rich enough 
 to regale his guests with a solution of pearls as big as 
 pigeon's eggs ! What would Cato of Utica say, 
 were he to rise out of his grave, and be told such an 
 anecdote! — that illustrious Cato whose own notions 
 of economy were so rigid that he sifted the ashes of 
 his beloved brother Caepio through a sieve, in order 
 to preserve the gold which had been melted down 
 with the body on the funeral pyre." 
 
 '* Yes/' added Vibius Puppius, ironically, " an(l 
 whose abhorrence of luxury was such that he usually 
 went tramping about the streets without his shoes, 
 and in other respects so scantily attired, that the 
 whole city was scandalized at the indecency of the 
 spectacle." 
 
 •' Now Basilides," continued the sage, without 
 taking the least notice of the profane speech of his 
 adversary, *' though unquestionably rich, is also eco- 
 
 * A similar exploit is said to have been performed by Clodius, 
 the son of .Ksop the tragedian, in the time of Cicero.
 
 '308 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 nomical to a degree ; — yet generous is he at the same 
 time, and withal extremely prudent. In short, he 
 possesses so many good qualities that it would be te- 
 dious to enumerate one half of them." 
 
 ** Basiiides is a god !" ejaculated the august Ogul- 
 nia, rapturously. 
 
 *' How extraordinary, and withal how ingenious, is 
 the expedient which this great actor has adopted to 
 excite his passions on the stage," pursued the philo- 
 sopher: " none of the company now present can 
 have failed to observe, for instance, how admirably 
 he portrays the passion of grief, — of grief amounting 
 to despair ; — but few are perhaps aware of the origin 
 of his emotions on occasions of the sort. I will ex- 
 plain the mystery to you, — though I fear I may be 
 deserving of blame for betraying his confidence. 
 Basiiides had a son whom he loved tenderly, and who 
 died in his infancy. Whenever he desires to be more 
 pathetic than usual, he causes a small urn containing 
 the ashes of the youth to be placed privily on the 
 stage, out of the sight of the spectators, but so 
 situated that he can himself keep it in his eye during 
 the whole time of the performance. This melancholy 
 object of course renews the grief which he expe- 
 rienced when the beloved child was torn away from 
 him, and as he rather encourages than restrains the 
 ebullition of his feelings, he is enabled, without any
 
 PISO AND THE PR-1:FECT. 309 
 
 forced effort or attempt at display, to delight the 
 audience by an expression of agony which they sup- 
 pose to be counterfeit, but which is in fact real. Thus 
 does he profit by the paternal sorrows which he was 
 once fated to endure; and the loss of his son has 
 undoubtedly, in the end, been a considerable source 
 of gain to him." 
 
 ^' An ingenious trick, indeed !" cried Vibius Pup- 
 pius with his customary sneer ; " it does honour to 
 his heart as well as to his head, in truth !" 
 
 *' Basilides is a god !" reiterated the Roman Dol- 
 lalolla, more enthusiastically than before. 
 
 Here the Praefect exhibited strong symptoms of 
 impatience. Whether it was that he was dissatisfied 
 with a discussion upon topics in which he felt little 
 interest, or that he did not altogether approve of the 
 rapturous encomiums bestowed upon the absent actor 
 by his wife, certain it is that he rose from his chair 
 in great apparent haste, and with the evident design 
 of terminating the conference, exclaimed, ** Come, 
 come, — I think we have now heard quite enough of 
 young ladies and love-affairs, — money and mar- 
 riages, — sages and old saws, — singers, dancers, 
 actors, play-houses and the like. Let us now 
 attend to matters of more importance, or at least 
 of more immediate urgency. I came home for the 
 express purpose of inviting my wife and her young
 
 310 PISO AND THE PREFECT. 
 
 friend, here, to go forth, and participate in the sports. 
 It was then early enough to have done so, for I my- 
 self had but just returned from the banks of the 
 Tiber, where I had been assisting in the sacrifice of 
 three lambs, after which the people were to have ad- 
 journed to the Capitol, and listened to the hymns 
 sung in honour of Jupiter by twelve old ladies care- 
 fully selected for the purpose. I fear, however, that 
 so much time has been consumed in conversation, 
 that we should now find ourselves too late. I pro- 
 pose, therefore, that, giving up all thoughts of wit- 
 nessing these interesting rites, we should first par- 
 take of a slight repast, — in which I trust the friends 
 who came in with me will all be so obliging as to 
 join, — and afterwards repair in a body to the theatre, 
 where, as you are probably aware, a grand spectacle 
 is to be performed by all the chief actors in the city, 
 who have unanimously volunteered their services, 
 and promised to exert themselves to the utmost ; so 
 that I think we may reasonably expect to derive no 
 little gratification from their performance. This 
 exhibition will conclude the Games, of which, indeed, 
 it is considered to form a most important portion.'' 
 
 ** O Praefect, it is an admirable plan !" exclaimed 
 Laurentia Ogulnia, in an applauding voice. 
 
 " Nothing could be more truly philosophical,'* said
 
 PISO AND TPIE PRiEFECT. 311 
 
 Scribonius Mummius, in a milder tone of approba- 
 tion. 
 
 •' By Castor, it is capital !" cried Vibius Puppius, 
 flippantly. 
 
 " All must approve of what our lord ordains," 
 growled Vulcatius Asper, not daring to dissent. 
 
 '^ More especially when he ordains that we should 
 be well fed and ftted,'' added Suillius Crassus, 
 bringing up the rear. 
 
 Thusnelda said nothing. 
 
 K\D OF VOL. I.
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED BY STEWART AND CO. 
 
 15, OLD BAILEV. 
 
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