While the staid elders looked on with smiles, Nero and the younger part of the company amused themselves with various games.
‘And now,’ said the Emperor, ‘you must all obey your symposiarch, and I am going to tell you each in turn what to do.’
Otho was bidden to take off his garland, and place it on the head of the person whom he loved best; and of course he placed it on the head of Nero.
Lucan, as he was fond of stories, was bidden to tell a complete story in one minute; and with surprising readiness he quoted the two Greek lines—
‘A, finding some gold, left a rope on the ground;
B, missing his gold, used the rope which he found.’[54]
‘Piso Licinianus, you are to pay me the highest compliment you can.’
Piso was no flatterer, and did not like the command, but after a moment’s hesitation he quoted Horace’s lines—
‘How great thy debt to Nero’s race,
O Rome, let red Metaurus say,