ANCIENT TOM AND JERRY.
The Emperor Nero would frequently ramble in the streets of Rome, diguised by night, with a band of disorderly companions, abusing all that fell in their way. In the beginning of Nero's reign, Otho, who was then distinguished as a young man of graceful person but licentious manners, was one of Nero's favourites and accompanied him from his palace, to visit the meanest taverns and scenes of debauchery which Rome contained.
Suetonius tells us—"The Emperor Otho, would stroll out in dark nights, and where he met a helpless, or drunken man, he gave him the discipline of the Blanket, which was a kind of punishment called sagatio; alias 'Tossing in a Blanket:"
"All, oh! he cried—what street, what lane, but knows
Our purgings, pumpings, blanketings, and blows?"
POPE.
In truth, Nero and Otho were the Tom and Jerry (or something worse) of ancient days, and if now in existence they would be tossed into a jail or tread-mill, or else find special good bail.[26]
P.T.W.
An Irish footman, who got a situation at the west end of London, on entering a room where there was a vase with golden fish, exclaimed, "Well, by J——, this is the first time I ever saw red herrings alive."