’SothinktheyoungphilosophersoftheGarden，’repliedtheEgyptian；’theymistakelassitudeformeditation，andimaginethat，becausetheyaresatedwithothers，theyknowthedelightofloneliness。ButnotinsuchjadedbosomscanNatureawakenthatenthusiasmwhichalonedrawsfromherchastereserveallherunspeakablebeauty：shedemandsfromyou，nottheexhaustionofpassion，butallthatfervor，fromwhichyouonlyseek，inadoringher，arelease。When，youngAthenian，themoonrevealedherselfinvisionsoflighttoEndymion，itwasafteradaypassed，notamongstthefeverishhauntsofmen，butonthestillmountainsandinthesolitaryvalleysofthehunter。’
’Beautifulsimile！’criedGlaucus；’mostunjustapplication！Exhaustion！
thatwordisforage，notyouth。Byme，atleast，onemomentofsatietyhasneverbeenknown！’
AgaintheEgyptiansmiled，buthissmilewascoldandblighting，andeventheunimaginativeClodiusfrozebeneathitslight。Hedidnot，however，replytothepassionateexclamationofGlaucus；but，afterapause，hesaid，inasoftandmelancholyvoice：
’Afterall，youdorighttoenjoythehourwhileitsmilesforyou；therosesoonwithers，theperfumesoonexhales。Andwe，OGlaucus！strangersinthelandandfarfromourfathers’ashes，whatisthereleftforusbutpleasureorregret！——foryouthefirst，perhapsformethelast。’
ThebrighteyesoftheGreekweresuddenlysuffusedwithtears。’Ah，speaknot，Arbaces，’hecried——’speaknotofourancestors。LetusforgetthattherewereeverotherlibertiesthanthoseofRome！AndGlory！——oh，vainlywouldwecallherghostfromthefieldsofMarathonandThermopylae！’
’Thyheartrebukestheewhilethouspeakest，’saidtheEgyptian；’andinthygaietiesthisnight，thouwiltbemoremindfulofLeoenathanofLais。
Vale！’
Thussaying，hegatheredhisrobearoundhim，andslowlysweptaway。
’Ibreathemorefreely，’saidClodius。’ImitatingtheEgyptians，wesometimesintroduceaskeletonatourfeasts。Intruth，thepresenceofsuchanEgyptianasyonglidingshadowwerespectreenoughtosourtherichestgrapeoftheFalernian。’
’Strangeman！saidGlaucus，musingly；’yetdeadthoughheseemtopleasure，andcoldtotheobjectsoftheworld，scandalbelieshim，orhishouseandhisheartcouldtelladifferenttale。’
’Ah！therearewhispersofotherorgiesthanthoseofOsirisinhisgloomymansion。Heisrich，too，theysay。Canwenotgethimamongstus，andteachhimthecharmsofdice？Pleasureofpleasures！hotfeverofhopeandfear！inexpressibleunjadedpassion！howfiercelybeautifulthouart，O
Gaming！’
’Inspired——inspired！’criedGlaucus，laughing；’theoraclespeakspoetryinClodius。Whatmiraclenext！’
ChapterIII
PARENTAGEOFGLAUCUS。DESCRIPTIONOFTHEHOUSESOFPOMPEII。CLASSICREVEL。
HEAVENhadgiventoGlaucuseveryblessingbutone：ithadgivenhimbeauty，health，fortune，genius，illustriousdescent，aheartoffire，amindofpoetry；butithaddeniedhimtheheritageoffreedom。HewasborninAthens，thesubjectofRome。Succeedingearlytoanampleinheritance，hehadindulgedthatinclinationfortravelsonaturaltotheyoung，andhaddrunkdeepoftheintoxicatingdraughtofpleasureamidstthegorgeousluxuriesoftheimperialcourt。
HewasanAlcibiadeswithoutambition。Hewaswhatamanofimagination，youth，fortune，andtalents，readilybecomeswhenyoudeprivehimoftheinspirationofglory。HishouseatRomewasthethemeofthedebauchees，butalsooftheloversofart；andthesculptorsofGreecedelightedtotasktheirskillinadorningtheporticoesandexedraeofanAthenian。HisretreatinPompeii——alas！thecolorsarefadednow，thewallsstrippedoftheirpaintings！——itsmainbeauty，itselaboratefinishofgraceandornament，isgone；yetwhenfirstgivenoncemoretotheday，whateulogies，whatwonder，diditsminuteandglowingdecorationscreate——itspaintings——itsmosaics！Passionatelyenamouredofpoetryandthedrama，whichrecalledtoGlaucusthewitandtheheroismofhisrace，thatfairymansionwasadornedwithrepresentationsofAEschylusandHomer。Andantiquaries，whoresolvetastetoatrade，haveturnedthepatrontotheprofessor，andstill（thoughtheerrorisnowacknowledged）theystyleincustom，astheyfirstnamedinmistake，thedisburiedhouseoftheAthenianGlaucus’THEHOUSEOFTHEDRAMATICPOET’。
Previoustoourdescriptionofthishouse，itmaybeaswelltoconveytothereaderageneralnotionofthehousesofPompeii，whichhewillfindtoresemblestronglytheplansofVitruvius；butwithallthosedifferencesindetail，ofcapriceandtaste，whichbeingnaturaltomankind，havealwayspuzzledantiquaries。Weshallendeavortomakethisdescriptionasclearandunpedanticaspossible。
Youenterthen，usually，byasmallentrance—passage（calledcestibulum），intoahall，sometimeswith（butmorefrequentlywithout）theornamentofcolumns；aroundthreesidesofthishallaredoorscommunicatingwithseveralbedchambers（amongwhichistheporter’s），thebestofthesebeingusuallyappropriatedtocountryvisitors。Attheextremityofthehall，oneithersidetotherightandleft，ifthehouseislarge，therearetwosmallrecesses，ratherthanchambers，generallydevotedtotheladiesofthemansion；andinthecentreofthetessellatedpavementofthehallisinvariablyasquare，shallowreservoirforrainwater（classicallytermedimpluvium），whichwasadmittedbyanapertureintheroofabove；thesaidaperturebeingcoveredatwillbyanawning。Nearthisimpluvium，whichhadapeculiarsanctityintheeyesoftheancients，weresometimes（butatPompeiimorerarelythanatRome）placedimagesofthehouseholdgods——thehospitablehearth，oftenmentionedbytheRomanpoets，andconsecratedtotheLares，wasatPompeiialmostinvariablyformedbyamovablebrazier；
whileinsomecorner，oftenthemostostentatiousplace，wasdepositedahugewoodenchest，ornamentedandstrengthenedbybandsofbronzeoriron，andsecuredbystronghooksuponastonepedestalsofirmlyastodefytheattemptsofanyrobbertodetachitfromitsposition。Itissupposedthatthischestwasthemoney—box，orcoffer，ofthemasterofthehouse；thoughasnomoneyhasbeenfoundinanyofthechestsdiscoveredatPompeii，itisprobablethatitwassometimesratherdesignedforornamentthanuse。
Inthishall（oratrium，tospeakclassically）theclientsandvisitorsofinferiorrankwereusuallyreceived。Inthehousesofthemore’respectable’，anatriensis，orslavepeculiarlydevotedtotheserviceofthehall，wasinvariablyretained，andhisrankamonghisfellow—slaveswashighandimportant。Thereservoirinthecentremusthavebeenratheradangerousornament，butthecentreofthehallwaslikethegrass—plotofacollege，andinterdictedtothepasserstoandfro，whofoundamplespaceinthemargin。Rightoppositetheentrance，attheotherendofthehall，wasanapartment（tablinum），inwhichthepavementwasusuallyadornedwithrichmosaics，andthewallscoveredwithelaboratepaintings。Herewereusuallykepttherecordsofthefamily，orthoseofanypublicofficethathadbeenfilledbytheowner：ononesideofthissaloon，ifwemaysocallit，wasoftenadining—room，ortriclinium；ontheotherside，perhaps，whatweshouldnowtermacabinetofgems，containingwhatevercuriositiesweredeemedmostrareandcostly；andinvariablyasmallpassagefortheslavestocrosstothefurtherpartsofthehouse，withoutpassingtheapartmentsthusmentioned。Theseroomsallopenedonasquareoroblongcolonnade，technicallytermedperistyle。Ifthehousewassmall，itsboundaryceasedwiththiscolonnade；andinthatcaseitscentre，howeverdiminutive，wasordinarilyappropriatedtothepurposeofagarden，andadornedwithvasesofflowers，placeduponpedestals：while，underthecolonnade，totherightandleft，weredoorsadmittingtobedrooms，toasecondtriclinium，oreating—room（fortheancientsgenerallyappropriatedtworoomsatleasttothatpurpose，oneforsummer，andoneforwinter——or，perhaps，oneforordinary，theotherforfestive，occasions）；andiftheowneraffectedletters，acabinet，dignifiedbythenameoflibrary——foraverysmallroomwassufficienttocontainthefewrollsofpapyruswhichtheancientsdeemedanotablecollectionofbooks。
Attheendoftheperistylewasgenerallythekitchen。Supposingthehousewaslarge，itdidnotendwiththeperistyle，andthecentrethereofwasnotinthatcaseagarden，butmightbe，perhaps，adornedwithafountain，orbasinforfish；andatitsend，exactlyoppositetothetablinum，wasgenerallyanothereating—room，oneithersideofwhichwerebedrooms，and，perhaps，apicture—saloon，orpinacotheca。Theseapartmentscommunicatedagainwithasquareoroblongspace，usuallyadornedonthreesideswithacolonnadeliketheperistyle，andverymuchresemblingtheperistyle，onlyusuallylonger。Thiswastheproperviridarium，orgarden，beingcommonlyadornedwithafountain，orstatues，andaprofusionofgayflowers：atitsextremeendwasthegardener’shouse；oneitherside，beneaththecolonnade，weresometimes，ifthesizeofthefamilyrequiredit，additionalrooms。
AtPompeii，asecondorthirdstorywasrarelyofimportance，beingbuiltonlyaboveasmallpartofthehouse，andcontainingroomsfortheslaves；
differinginthisrespectfromthemoremagnificentedificesofRome，whichgenerallycontainedtheprincipaleating—room（orcaenaculum）onthesecondfloor。Theapartmentsthemselveswereordinarilyofsmallsize；forinthosedelightfulclimestheyreceivedanyextraordinarynumberofvisitorsintheperistyle（orportico），thehall，orthegarden；andeventheirbanquet—rooms，howeverelaboratelyadornedandcarefullyselectedinpointofaspect，wereofdiminutiveproportions；fortheintellectualancients，beingfondofsociety，notofcrowds，rarelyfeastedmorethannineatatime，sothatlargedinner—roomswerenotsonecessarywiththemaswithus。
Butthesuiteofroomsseenatoncefromtheentrance，musthavehadaveryimposingeffect：youbeheldatoncethehallrichlypavedandpainted——thetablinum——thegracefulperistyle，and（ifthehouseextendedfarther）theoppositebanquet—roomandthegarden，whichclosedtheviewwithsomegushingfountormarblestatue。
ThereaderwillnowhaveatolerablenotionofthePompeianhouses，whichresembledinsomerespectstheGrecian，butmostlytheRomanfashionofdomesticarchitecture。Inalmosteveryhousethereissomedifferenceindetailfromtherest，buttheprincipaloutlineisthesameinall。Inallyoufindthehall，thetablinum，andtheperistyle，communicatingwitheachother；inallyoufindthewallsrichlypainted；andalltheevidenceofapeoplefondoftherefiningeleganciesoflife。ThepurityofthetasteofthePompeiansindecorationis，however，questionable：theywerefondofthegaudiestcolors，offantasticdesigns；theyoftenpaintedthelowerhalfoftheircolumnsabrightred，leavingtherestuncolored；andwherethegardenwassmall，itswallwasfrequentlytintedtodeceivetheeyeastoitsextent，imitatingtrees，birds，temples，etc。，inperspective——ameretriciousdelusionwhichthegracefulpedantryofPlinyhimselfadopted，withacomplacentprideinitsingenuity。
ButthehouseofGlaucuswasatonceoneofthesmallest，andyetoneofthemostadornedandfinishedofalltheprivatemansionsofPompeii：itwouldbeamodelatthisdayforthehouseof’asinglemaninMayfair’——theenvyanddespairofthecoelibianpurchasersofbuhlandmarquetry。
Youenterbyalongandnarrowvestibule，onthefloorofwhichistheimageofadoginmosaic，withthewell—known’Cavecanem’——or’Bewarethedog’。
Oneithersideisachamberofsomesize；fortheinteriorpartofthehousenotbeinglargeenoughtocontainthetwogreatdivisionsofprivateandpublicapartments，thesetworoomsweresetapartforthereceptionofvisitorswhoneitherbyranknorfamiliaritywereentitledtoadmissioninthepenetraliaofthemansion。
Advancingupthevestibuleyouenteranatrium，thatwhenfirstdiscoveredwasrichinpaintings，whichinpointofexpressionwouldscarcelydisgraceaRafaele。YoumayseethemnowtransplantedtotheNeapolitanMuseum：theyarestilltheadmirationofconnoisseurs——theydepictthepartingofAchillesandBriseis。Whodoesnotacknowledgetheforce，thevigour，thebeauty，employedindelineatingtheformsandfacesofAchillesandtheimmortalslave！
Ononesidetheatrium，asmallstaircaseadmittedtotheapartmentsfortheslavesonthesecondfloor；therealsoweretwoorthreesmallbedrooms，thewallsofwhichportrayedtherapeofEuropa，thebattleoftheAmazons，etc。
Younowenterthetablinum，acrosswhich，ateitherend，hungrichdraperiesofTyrianpurple，halfwithdrawn。Onthewallswasdepictedapoetreadinghisversestohisfriends；andinthepavementwasinsertedasmallandmostexquisitemosaic，typicaloftheinstructionsgivenbythedirectorofthestagetohiscomedians。
Youpassedthroughthissaloonandenteredtheperistyle；andhere（asI
havesaidbeforewasusuallythecasewiththesmallerhousesofPompeii）
themansionended。Fromeachofthesevencolumnsthatadornedthiscourthungfestoonsofgarlands：thecentre，supplyingtheplaceofagarden，bloomedwiththerarestflowersplacedinvasesofwhitemarble，thatweresupportedonpedestals。Atthelefthandofthissmallgardenwasadiminutivefane，resemblingoneofthosesmallchapelsplacedatthesideofroadsinCatholiccountries，anddedicatedtothePenates；beforeitstoodabronzedtripod：totheleftofthecolonnadeweretwosmallcubicula，orbedrooms；totherightwasthetriclinium，inwhichtheguestswerenowassembled。
ThisroomisusuallytermedbytheantiquariesofNaples’TheChamberofLeda’；andinthebeautifulworkofSirWilliamGell，thereaderwillfindanengravingfromthatmostdelicateandgracefulpaintingofLedapresentinghernewborntoherhusband，fromwhichtheroomderivesitsname。
Thischarmingapartmentopeneduponthefragrantgarden。Roundthetableofcitreanwood，highlypolishedanddelicatelywroughtwithsilverarabesques，wereplacedthethreecouches，whichwereyetmorecommonatPompeiithanthesemicircularseatthathadgrownlatelyintofashionatRome：andonthesecouchesofbronze，studdedwithrichermetals，werelaidthickquiltingscoveredwithelaboratebroidery，andyieldingluxuriouslytothepressure。
’Well，Imustown，’saidtheaedilePansa，’thatyourhouse，thoughscarcelylargerthanacaseforone’sfibulae，isagemofitskind。HowbeautifullypaintedisthatpartingofAchillesandBriseis！——whatastyle！——whatheads！——whata—hem！’
’PraisefromPansaisindeedvaluableonsuchsubjects，’saidClodius，gravely。’Why，thepaintingsonhiswalls！——Ah！thereis，indeed，thehandofaZeuxis！’
’Youflatterme，myClodius；indeedyoudo，’quoththeaedile，whowascelebratedthroughPompeiiforhavingtheworstpaintingsintheworld；forhewaspatriotic，andpatronizednonebutPompeians。’Youflatterme；butthereissomethingpretty——AEdepol，yes——inthecolors，tosaynothingofthedesign——andthenforthekitchen，myfriends——ah！thatwasallmyfancy。’
’Whatisthedesign？’saidGlaucus。’Ihavenotyetseenyourkitchen，thoughIhaveoftenwitnessedtheexcellenceofitscheer。’
’Acook，myAthenian——acooksacrificingthetrophiesofhisskillonthealtarofVesta，withabeautifulmuraena（takenfromthelife）onaspitatadistance——thereissomeinventionthere！’
Atthatinstanttheslavesappeared，bearingatraycoveredwiththefirstpreparativeinitiaofthefeast。Amidstdeliciousfigs，freshherbsstrewedwithsnow，anchovies，andeggs，wererangedsmallcupsofdilutedwinesparinglymixedwithhoney。Asthesewereplacedonthetable，youngslavesboreroundtoeachofthefiveguests（fortherewerenomore）thesilverbasinofperfumedwater，andnapkinsedgedwithapurplefringe。Buttheaedileostentatiouslydrewforthhisownnapkin，whichwasnot，indeed，ofsofinealinen，butinwhichthefringewastwiceasbroad，andwipedhishandswiththeparadeofamanwhofelthewascallingforadmiration。
’Asplendidnappathatofyours，’saidClodius；’why，thefringeisasbroadasagirdle！’
’Atrifle，myClodius：atrifle！TheytellmethisstripeisthelatestfashionatRome；butGlaucusattendstothesethingsmorethanI。’
’Bepropitious，OBacchus！’saidGlaucus，incliningreverentiallytoabeautifulimageofthegodplacedinthecentreofthetable，atthecornersofwhichstoodtheLaresandthesalt—holders。Theguestsfollowedtheprayer，andthen，sprinklingthewineonthetable，theyperformedthewontedlibation。
Thisover，theconvivialistsreclinedthemselvesonthecouches，andthebusinessofthehourcommenced。
’Maythiscupbemylast！’saidtheyoungSallust，asthetable，clearedofitsfirststimulants，wasnowloadedwiththesubstantialpartoftheentertainment，andtheministeringslavepouredforthtohimabrimmingcyathus——’Maythiscupbemylast，butitisthebestwineIhavedrunkatPompeii！’
’Bringhithertheamphora，’saidGlaucus，’andreaditsdateanditscharacter。’
TheslavehastenedtoinformthepartythatthescrollfastenedtothecorkbetokeneditsbirthfromChios，anditsagearipefiftyyears。
’Howdeliciouslythesnowhascooledit！’saidPansa。’Itisjustenough。’
’Itisliketheexperienceofamanwhohascooledhispleasuressufficientlytogivethemadoublezest，’exclaimedSallust。
’Itislikeawoman’s\"No\"，’addedGlaucus：’itcools，buttoinflamethemore。’
’Whenisournextwild—beastfight？’saidClodiustoPansa。
’ItstandsfixedfortheninthideofAugust，’answeredPansa：’onthedayaftertheVulcanalia——wehaveamostlovelyyounglionfortheoccasion。’
’Whomshallwegetforhimtoeat？’askedClodius。’Alas！thereisagreatscarcityofcriminals。Youmustpositivelyfindsomeinnocentorothertocondemntothelion，Pansa！’
’IndeedIhavethoughtveryseriouslyaboutitoflate，’repliedtheaedile，gravely。’Itwasamostinfamouslawthatwhichforbadeustosendourownslavestothewildbeasts。Nottoletusdowhatwelikewithourown，that’swhatIcallaninfringementonpropertyitself。’
’NotsointhegoodolddaysoftheRepublic，’sighedSallust。
’Andthenthispretendedmercytotheslavesissuchadisappointmenttothepoorpeople。Howtheydolovetoseeagoodtoughbattlebetweenamanandalion；andallthisinnocentpleasuretheymaylose（ifthegodsdon’tsendusagoodcriminalsoon）fromthiscursedlaw！’
’Whatcanbeworsepolicy，’saidClodius，sententiously，’thantointerferewiththemanlyamusementsofthepeople？’
’WellthankJupiterandtheFates！wehavenoNeroatpresent，’saidSallust。
’Hewas，indeed，atyrant；heshutupouramphitheatrefortenyears。’
’Iwonderitdidnotcreatearebellion，’saidSallust。
’Itverynearlydid，’returnedPansa，withhismouthfullofwildboar。
Heretheconversationwasinterruptedforamomentbyaflourishofflutes，andtwoslavesenteredwithasingledish。
’Ah，whatdelicacyhastthouinstoreforusnow，myGlaucus？’criedtheyoungSallust，withsparklingeyes。
Sallustwasonlytwenty—four，buthehadnopleasureinlifelikeeating——perhapshehadexhaustedalltheothers：yethadhesometalent，andanexcellentheart——asfarasitwent。
’Iknowitsface，byPollux！’criedPansa。’ItisanAmbracianKid。Ho（snappinghisfingers，ausualsignaltotheslaves）wemustprepareanewlibationinhonourtothenew—comer。’
’IhadhopedsaidGlaucus，inamelancholytone，’tohaveprocuredyousomeoystersfromBritain；butthewindsthatweresocrueltoCaesarhaveforbidustheoysters。’
’Aretheyintruthsodelicious？’askedLepidus，looseningtoayetmoreluxuriouseasehisungirdledtunic。
’Why，intruth，Isuspectitisthedistancethatgivestheflavor；theywanttherichnessoftheBrundusiumoyster。But，atRome，nosupperiscompletewithoutthem。’
’ThepoorBritons！Thereissomegoodinthemafterall，’saidSallust。
’Theyproduceanoyster。’
’Iwishtheywouldproduceusagladiator，’saidtheaedile，whoseprovidentmindwasmusingoverthewantsoftheamphitheatre。
’ByPallas！’criedGlaucus，ashisfavoriteslavecrownedhisstreaminglockswithanewchaplet，’Ilovethesewildspectacleswellenoughwhenbeastfightsbeast；butwhenaman，onewithbonesandbloodlikeours，iscoldlyputonthearena，andtornlimbfromlimb，theinterestistoohorrid：Isicken——Igaspforbreath——Ilongtorushanddefendhim。TheyellsofthepopulaceseemtomemoredirethanthevoicesoftheFurieschasingOrestes。Irejoicethatthereissolittlechanceofthatbloodyexhibitionforournextshow！’
Theaedileshruggedhisshoulders。TheyoungSallust，whowasthoughtthebest—naturedmaninPompeii，staredinsurprise。ThegracefulLepidus，whorarelyspokeforfearofdisturbinghisfeatures，ejaculated’Hercle！’TheparasiteClodiusmuttered’AEdepol！’andthesixthbanqueter，whowastheumbraofClodius，andwhosedutyitwastoechohisricherfriend，whenhecouldnotpraisehim——theparasiteofaparasite——mutteredalso’AEdepol！’
’Well，youItaliansareusedtothesespectacles；weGreeksaremoremerciful。Ah，shadeofPindar！——theraptureofatrueGreciangame——theemulationofmanagainstman——thegenerousstrife——thehalf—mournfultriumph——soproudtocontendwithanoblefoe，sosadtoseehimovercome！
Butyeunderstandmenot。’
’Thekidisexcellent，’saidSallust。Theslave，whosedutyitwastocarve，andwhovaluedhimselfonhisscience，hadjustperformedthatofficeonthekidtothesoundofmusic，hisknifekeepingtime，beginningwithalowtenorandaccomplishingthearduousfeatamidstamagnificentdiapason。
’Yourcookis，ofcourse，fromSicily？’saidPansa。
’Yes，ofSyracuse。’
’Iwillplayyouforhim，’saidClodius。’Wewillhaveagamebetweenthecourses。’
’Betterthatsortofgame，certainly，thanabeastfight；butIcannotstakemySicilian——youhavenothingsoprecioustostakemeinreturn。’
’MyPhillida——mybeautifuldancing—girl！’
’Ineverbuywomen，’saidtheGreek，carelesslyrearranginghischaplet。
Themusicians，whowerestationedintheporticowithout，hadcommencedtheirofficewiththekid；theynowdirectedthemelodyintoamoresoft，amoregay，yetitmaybeamoreintellectualstrain；andtheychantedthatsongofHoracebeginning’Persicosodi’，etc。，soimpossibletotranslate，andwhichtheyimaginedapplicabletoafeastthat，effeminateasitseemstous，wassimpleenoughforthegorgeousrevelryofthetime。Wearewitnessingthedomestic，andnottheprincelyfeast——theentertainmentofagentleman，notanemperororasenator。
’Ah，goodoldHorace！’saidSallust，compassionately；’hesangwelloffeastsandgirls，butnotlikeourmodernpoets。’
’TheimmortalFulvius，forinstance，’saidClodius。
’Ah，Fulvius，theimmortal！’saidtheumbra。
’AndSpuraena；andCaiusMutius，whowrotethreeepicsinayear——couldHoracedothat，orVirgileithersaidLepidus。’Thoseoldpoetsallfellintothemistakeofcopyingsculptureinsteadofpainting。Simplicityandrepose——thatwastheirnotion；butwemodernshavefire，andpassion，andenergy——weneversleep，weimitatethecolorsofpainting，itslife，anditsaction。ImmortalFulvius！’
’Bytheway，’saidSallust，’haveyouseenthenewodebySpuraena，inhonourofourEgyptianIsis？Itismagnificent——thetruereligiousfervor。’
’IsisseemsafavoritedivinityatPompeii，’saidGlaucus。
’Yes！’saidPansa，’sheisexceedinglyinreputejustatthismoment；herstatuehasbeenutteringthemostremarkableoracles。Iamnotsuperstitious，butImustconfessthatshehasmorethanonceassistedmemateriallyinmymagistracywithheradvice。Herpriestsaresopious，too！
noneofyourgay，noneofyourproud，ministersofJupiterandFortune：theywalkbarefoot，eatnomeat，andpassthegreaterpartofthenightinsolitarydevotion！’
’Anexampletoourotherpriesthoods，indeed！——Jupiter’stemplewantsreformingsadly，’saidLepidus，whowasagreatreformerforallbuthimself。
’TheysaythatArbacestheEgyptianhasimpartedsomemostsolemnmysteriestothepriestsofIsis，’observedSallust。’HeboastshisdescentfromtheraceofRameses，anddeclaresthatinhisfamilythesecretsofremotestantiquityaretreasured。’
’Hecertainlypossessesthegiftoftheevileye，’saidClodius。’IfIevercomeuponthatMedusafrontwithoutthepreviouscharm，Iamsuretoloseafavoritehorse，orthrowthecanesninetimesrunning。’
’Thelastwouldbeindeedamiracle！’saidSallust，gravely。
’Howmeanyou，Sallust？’returnedthegamester，withaflushedbrow。
’Imean，whatyouwouldleavemeifIplayedoftenwithyou；andthatis——nothing。’
Clodiusansweredonlybyasmileofdisdain。
’IfArbaceswerenotsorich，’saidPansa，withastatelyair，’Ishouldstretchmyauthorityalittle，andinquireintothetruthofthereportwhichcallshimanastrologerandasorcerer。Agrippa，whenaedileofRome，banishedallsuchterriblecitizens。Butarichman——itisthedutyofanaediletoprotecttherich！’
’Whatthinkyouofthisnewsect，whichIamtoldhasevenafewproselytesinPompeii，thesefollowersoftheHebrewGod——Christus？’
’Oh，merespeculativevisionaries，’saidClodius；’theyhavenotasinglegentlemanamongstthem；theirproselytesarepoor，insignificant，ignorantpeople！’
’Whoought，however，tobecrucifiedfortheirblasphemy，’saidPansa，withvehemence；’theydenyVenusandJove！Nazareneisbutanothernameforatheist。Letmecatchthem——that’sall。’
Thesecondcoursewasgone——thefeastersfellbackontheircouches——therewasapausewhiletheylistenedtothesoftvoicesoftheSouth，andthemusicoftheArcadianreed。Glaucuswasthemostraptandtheleastinclinedtobreakthesilence，butClodiusbeganalreadytothinkthattheywastedtime。
’Benevobis！（Yourhealth！）myGlaucus，’saidhe，quaffingacuptoeachletteroftheGreek’sname，withtheeaseofthepractiseddrinker。’Willyounotbeavengedonyourill—fortuneofyesterday？See，thedicecourtus。’
’Asyouwill，’saidGlaucus。
’Thediceinsummer，andIanaedile！’saidPansa，magisterially；’itisagainstalllaw。’
’Notinyourpresence，gravePansa，’returnedClodius，rattlingthediceinalongbox；’yourpresencerestrainsalllicense：itisnotthething，buttheexcessofthething，thathurts。’
’Whatwisdom！’mutteredtheumbra。
’Well，Iwilllookanotherway，’saidtheaedile。
’Notyet，goodPansa；letuswaittillwehavesupped，’saidGlaucus。
Clodiusreluctantlyyielded，concealinghisvexationwithayawn。
’Hegapestodevourthegold，’whisperedLepidustoSallust，inaquotationfromtheAululariaofPlautus。
’Ah！howwellIknowthesepolypi，whoholdalltheytouch，’answeredSallust，inthesametone，andoutofthesameplay。
Thethirdcourse，consistingofavarietyoffruits，pistachionuts，sweetmeats，tarts，andconfectionerytorturedintoathousandfantasticandairyshapes，wasnowplaceduponthetable；andtheministri，orattendants，alsosettherethewine（whichhadhithertobeenhandedroundtotheguests）
inlargejugsofglass，eachbearinguponitthescheduleofitsageandquality。
’TastethisLesbian，myPansa，’saidSallust；’itisexcellent。’
’Itisnotveryold，’saidGlaucus，’butithasbeenmadeprecocious，likeourselves，bybeingputtothefire：——thewinetotheflamesofVulcan——wetothoseofhiswife——towhosehonourIpourthiscup。’
’Itisdelicate，’saidPansa，’butthereisperhapstheleastparticletoomuchofrosininitsflavor。’