SERVANT Very well.
HIEROCLES What sacrifice is this? to what god are you offering it?
TRYGAEUS (TO THE SERVANT) Silence!—(ALOUD.) Look after the roasting and keep your hands off the meat.
HIEROCLES To whom are you sacrificing? Answer me. Ah! the tail(1) is showing favourable omens.
f(1) When sacrificing, the tail was cut off the victim and
thrown into the fire. From the way in which it burnt the
inference was drawn as to whether or not the sacrifice was
agreeable to the deity.
SERVANT Aye, very favourable, oh, loved and mighty Peace!
HIEROCLES Come, cut off the first offering(1) and make the oblation.
f(1) This was the part that belonged to the priests and
diviners. As one of the latter class, Hierocles is in haste
to see this piece cut off.
TRYGAEUS 'Tis not roasted enough.
HIEROCLES Yea, truly, 'tis done to a turn.