In every direction trays circulated, covered with divers kinds of meats,[XXXV_72] which they took care to humect with peppered garum,[XXXV_73] that strange condiment, which the freed-slave procured from Spain at a price equal to its weight in gold.
Suddenly the symposiarch commands silence: the musicians obey—the slaves are motionless.
“Let us drain our cups,” said he, “in honour of Cæsar. Let us celebrate the tenth anniversary of his glorious reign, and his happy return to the metropolis of the world. Let us drink, senators and knights, as many craters as there are letters in the cherished name of the emperor.”[XXXV_74]
Sense and reason must have succumbed, had the patrician assembly toasted Caius Lucius Domitius Nero: it would have been constructive treason not to empty twenty-three cups; but they limited themselves to four, which represented the last of these names.
Joy unrestrained floated with the fumy wine, furnished from large
DESCRIPTION OF [PLATE No. XXXI.]
No. 1. Curious silver dish, with Etruscan letters engraved around the head of Medusa. Petronius speaks of two silver dishes, upon which were engraved the name of Trimalcion, and the weight of each dish.—Athen.; Stuart.
Nos. 2 and 3. Silver dishes.—Gorrie, “Etruscan Mus.”
