g home, but it seems that my back is turned to my own
house, and I am going toward the market-place, although the Gods know that
I have no business with the brawling lawyers, with whom it is alive by
this time."

"Come with us, then," replied the other; "Aristius, here, and I, have made
a bet upon our coursers' speed. He fancies his Numidian can outrun my
Gallic beauty. Come with us to the Campus; and after we have settled this
grave matter, we will try the _quinquertium_,(7) or a foot race in armor,
if you like it better, or a swim in the Tiber, until it shall be time to
go to dinner."

"How can I go with you, seeing that you are well mounted, and I afoot, and
encumbered with my gown? You must consider me a second Achilles to keep up
with your fleet coursers, clad in this heavy toga, which is a worse garb
for running than any panoply that Vulcan ever wrought."

"We will alight," cried the other youth, who had not yet spoken, "and give
our horses to the boys to lead behind us; or, hark you, why not send Geta
back to your house, and let your slaves bring down your horse too? If they
make tolerable speed, coming down by the back of the Coelian, and thence
beside the _Aqua Crabra_(8) to the Carmental gate, they may overtake us
easily before we reach the Campus. Aurelius has some errand to perform
near the Forum, which will detain us a few moments longer. What say you?"

"He will come, he will come, certainly," cried the other, springing down
lightly from the back of his beautiful courser, which indeed merited the
eulogium, as well as the caresses which he now lavished on it, patting his
favorite's high-arched neck, and stroking the soft velvet muzzle, which
was thrust into his hand, with a low whinnying neigh of recognition, as he
stood on the raised foot path, holding the embroidered rein carelessly in
his hand.

"I will," said Arvina, "gladly; I have nothing to hinder me this morning;
and for some days past I have been detained with business, so that I have
not visited the campus, or backed a horse, or cast a javelin--by Hercules!
not since the Ides, I fancy. You will all beat me in the field, that is
certain, and in the river likewise. But come, Fuscus Aristius, if it is to
be as you have planned it, jump down from your Numidian, and let your Geta
ride him up the hill to my house. I would have asked Aurelius, but he will
let no slave back his white NOTUS."

"Not I, by the twin horsemen! nor any free man either--ple