A man with an ox goad comes running through the central arch.
THE OX DRIVER.
Here, you soldiers! clear out of the way for the Emperor.
THE CENTURION.
Emperor! Where’s the Emperor? You ain’t the Emperor, are you?
THE OX DRIVER.
It’s the menagerie service. My team of oxen is drawing the new lion to the Coliseum. You clear the road.
CENTURION.
What! Go in after you in your dust, with half the town at the heels of you and your lion! Not likely. We go first.
THE OX DRIVER.
The menagerie service is the Emperor’s personal retinue. You clear out, I tell you.
CENTURION.
You tell me, do you? Well, I’ll tell you something. If the lion is menagerie service, the lion’s dinner is menagerie service too. This (pointing to the Christians) is the lion’s dinner. So back with you to your bullocks double quick; and learn your place. March. (The soldiers start). Now then, you Christians, step out there.
LAVINIA.
(marching) Come along, the rest of the dinner. I shall be the olives and anchovies.
ANOTHER CHRISTIAN.
(laughing) I shall be the soup.
ANOTHER. I shall be the fish.