shell seemed, however, to attract him amazingly, but, after measuring it three or four times, he said, with a sigh, 'That it was, alas! a few inches too small for the cedartable for which he had intended it.' Having caused several other objects to be reached down from their places against the wall, he at last departed without buying anything. Gallus, in his turn, looked over the stock, but seeing nothing adapted for a present to Lycoris, left the shop, and went into another. In this, precious metals of Corinthian brass, statues by Polycletus and Lysippus, costly tripods with groups of figures in bronze, and similar objects, were displayed. He thence proceeded to that of a merchant, who kept for sale the best selection of gorgeous trinkets. Beautiful vessels of gold and silver; goblets, of precious stones or genuine murrha; ingenious manufactures in glass, and many-coloured carpets from Babylon and Alexandria; pearl ornaments for females, and all kinds of precious stones; rings set with magnificent cameos, engraved emeralds and beryls; and many other precious wares, were exhibited in such profusion that it was difficult to choose. Gallus selected a pair of pearl ear-drops of great value, a neck ornament of the most beautiful electrum, a pair of pretty glass vessels, and one of the richest carpets. He then despatched Chresimus to the Vicus Tuscus to purchase one of the best silk robes. 'Send the slave with my bathing apparatus to the house of Fortunatus 12,' said he; 'also my sandals, and a synthesis; I am now going to call upon a friend.' With these words he dismissed his domestic, who obeyed in silence, and took charge of the ornaments, while two of the slaves bore off the remainder of the purchases. The others followed their lord. 12 Fortunatus, the owner of a balneum meritorium, mentioned by Martial, ii. 14, 11. SCENE THE NINTH. THE THE BANQUET.' THE hour of the cœna had arrived, and by the activity of his very numerous slaves everything was prepared in the house of Lentulus for a grand reception of guests. Of all the matters, which, in pursuance of the plan of this work, should be touched upon, none appear of so critical a nature as the description of a Roman banquet, and yet it, above all others, ought not to be omitted, considering the importancenot merely in the latest times-that was attached to everything connected with it. The analysis of the habits of the Romans, so entirely different from our own in this respect, the explanation of numerous objects, which were important in their daily life, and are so frequently mentioned in their most popular authors, in short, the antiquarian research itself, is attended with much interest; but, as the dramatic poet can introduce on the stage nothing more tedious than banquets, (of course such scenes as that in Macbeth are an exception,) so the description of them must always be tiresome, and the more so, when the only object is to pourtray the exterior customs of a class of persons. On the other hand, it would be more dangerous to attempt to describe the genuine convivere, the actual conviviality, the spirit which pervaded the conversation and jests of the banquet, instead of confining oneself to the material part of the matter. It might be more feasible in the Latin tongue, but in a modern language the truest copy of antique scenes, especially of common life, must always have something modern about it, which will render it disagreeable to the taste of the literary antiquary. There is, besides, such an abundance of apparatus, attendance, dishes, means of amusement, out of which only a selection can be made in the description of a single meal, and great caution is necessary not to under or over-do anything, and to take exaggerations for habits, nor, on the other hand, to consider anything, to us improbable, as satire or untruth. It is always safer, therefore, to take as our basis, in such matters, some antique description, even though it contain many eccentricities and absurdities, instead of usual matters. Of all such accounts, the detailed one by Petronius of the cœna Trimalchionis is best adapted for our present purpose, since the banquet of Nasidienus was ridiculed by Horace, because everything there was unsuitable and perverted. Petronius describes an unusual cœna at the house of a man, whose equal in prodigality and folly could hardly be found, and therefore, although the satirist may have exaggerated, we unquestionably learn best from him what the general habits 'were, and much that appears absurd and ostentatious in Trimalchio, is shown, by passages in other authors, The fires blazed brightly in the kitchens, where the cook, assisted by a number of underlings, was exhausting all his skill. Whenever the covers were removed from the vessels, a grateful odour, more inviting than the smoke of a fat burnt-offering, diffused itself around, and ascended on high to the habitation of the gods. The pistor and structor were occupied in arranging the dessert, in all the forms that ingenuity could suggest, while the first course was ready for serving. The triclinium had been placed in a spacious saloon, the northerly aspect of which was well adapted for the time of year. Around a beautiful table, covered with cedarwood, stood elegant sofas, inlaid with tortoise-shell; the lower part decked with white hangings embroidered with gold, and the pillows, which were stuffed with the softest. wool, covered with gorgeous purple. Upon the seats, cushions, covered with silken stuff, were laid to separate the places of the guests. The tricliniarch was still arranging the side-tables', on which valuable drinking-vessels to have been nothing uncommon. Should much be here retained that may be thought pure invention of Petronius, the author may submit, that, at a later period, still stranger things occurred, and therefore that they might have happened in the house of Lentulus. It would not be to the purpose to enter here into a detailed account of the various dishes, as not only those mentioned by Horace, Martial, Juvenal, and Macrobius, but also those in the receipt-book of Apicius, must then be described. 2 The cook whom Ballio had hired, speaks thus boastingly of his art. Plaut. Pseud. iii. 2, 51: Ubi omnes patinæ fervent, omnes aperio; 3 The silken cushions, pulvini, on which they supported themselves Jacet occupato galbanatus in lecto 4 The abaci and Delphici as sideboards, are spoken of in the Excursus on the Second Scene. It need only here be mentioned, that besides the necessary utensils, many things were displayed on them merely for show, the proper expression for which is exponere. Petr. 21: In proximam cellam ducti sumus, in qua tres lecti strati erant et reliquus lautitiarum apparatus splendidissime expositus. Ib. 22: Cecidit etiam mensa cum argento. Comp. Ib. 73. were displayed, and in straightening the draperies of the triclinium, when his lord entered, accompanied by the guests. Lentulus had invited only six friends, but Pomponius— anxious that the number of the Muses' should occupy the triclinium, and no place be left empty-brought with him two friends, whom he introduced as gentlemen from Perusia o. It is long, methinks,' said Gallus to his courteous host, on entering, since we last met in this saloon: how beautifully you have in the mean time ornamented it! You certainly could not have chosen a more appropriate picture for a triclinium than those satyrs, celebrating the joyous vintage; and the slain boar, a scene from Lucania, the fruit and provision pieces over the doors, and between them the elegant twigs on which thrushes are sitting,—all are calculated to awaken a relish for the banquet. 'Yes, really,' interposed Pomponius, Lentulus understands far better than Calpurnius how to decorate a dininghall. The other day he had the walls of his finest triclinium painted with the murder of Hipparchus, and the death of Brutus; and instead of agreeable foliage, threatening lictors were to be seen in every corner.' 'He, too, is right in his way,' said Gallus; but where is he? I understood that you had invited him, Lentulus ? ' 'He was unfortunately pre-engaged,' replied the other. —‘But we shall see him before the evening be over,' added 5 Varro on Gellius xiii. 11, writes, | 30, writes to Torquatus: Locus est et Convivarum numerum incipere opportere a Gratiarum numero et progredi ad Musarum, i. e. proficisci a tribus et consistere in novem. 6 We learn from Horace and Plutarch the custom by which invited guests frequently took uninvited persons, called umbræ, with them. Heind. on Hor. Sat. ii. 8, 22. This, however, generally took place only when the host had left it to his guests' option to do so, as when Hor. Ep. i. 5, pluribus umbris; and, tu quotus esse velis scribas. Salmasius thought that the lowest places on the lectus imus were allotted to them, but this will not apply to all cases: the passage he quotes, Juv. v. 17, is not to the purpose, as an uninvited client is there alluded to. In Horace the two um-· bræ introduced by Maecenas lay upon the lectus medius, probably out of regard to him: it generally depended upon what sort of people the umbræ were, and by whom introduced. Pomponius. As our friend Fannius is, you know, averse to sitting late, and Lentulus will not, I am sure, let us go before the crowing of the cock, we shall be one short at the triclinium, unless Calpurnius come according to his promise, and fill the vacant place, so soon as he can get released from his formal consular supper. But I scarcely think we ought to keep the cook waiting any longer. The tenth hour is, I verily believe, almost elapsed. Had we not better take our seats, Lentulus ? ' The host answered in the affirmative, and conducted" Gallus to the lowest place on the middle sofa, which was the seat of honour at the table. At his left, and on the same lectus, sat Pomponius; above him, Fannius. The sofa to the left was occupied by Bassus, Faustinus, and Cæcilianus. To the right, and next Gallus, sat Lentulus himself; below him, the Perusians whom Pomponius had brought. As soon as they had reclined, slaves took off their sandals, and youths, with their loins girded, offered water in silver bowls for their ablutions. At a nod from Lentulus, two slaves entered, and placed upon the table the tray which contained the dishes composing the first course. Lentulus cast his eyes with secret joy around the circle, as if desirous of noting the impression made on his friends. by the novel arrangements of this gustatorium, the invention of which was due to himself; and, indeed, the service was worthy of a nearer observation. In the centre of the plateau, ornamented with tortoiseshell, stood an ass of bronze, on either side of which hung 7 There does not appear to have been any general rule with regard to the distribution of the places: in most cases the host left it to each guest to choose his own, but in others he assigned them. Plutarch, who discusses the matter in a special | chapter, (Sympos. i. 2,) decides, that it ought to be left entirely free to I intimate friends and young people to choose their own, but not so with strangers and persons deserving particular attention. 8 Petron. 31: Cæterum in promulsidari asellus erat Corinthius cum bisaccio positus, qui habebat olivas, in altera parte albus, in altera nigras. |