of the Romans in their own families, or among private friends, hung
on the back of an armed chair; of ample size and fine material, but
undistinguished by the marks of senatorial or equestrian rank. Such was
the aspect, such the bearing of the youth, who might be safely deemed the
girl's permitted suitor, from his whole air and manner, as he listened to
the soft voice of his beautiful mistress. For as they sat there side by
side, perusing from an illuminated scroll the elegies of some
long-perished, long-forgotten poet, now reading audibly the smooth and
honeyed lines, now commenting with playful criticism on the style, or
carrying out with all the fervor and romance of young poetical temperament
the half obscure allusions of the bard, no one could doubt that they were
lovers; especially if he marked the calm and well-pleased smile that stole
from time to time across the proud features of that patrician lady; who,
sitting but a little way apart, watched--while she reeled off skein after
skein of the fine Byssine flax in silence--the quiet happiness of the young
pair.

Thus had the evening passed, not long nor tediously to any of the party;
and midnight was at hand; when there entered from the atrium a grey-headed
slave bearing a tray covered with light refreshments--fresh herbs, endive
and mallows sprinkled with snow, ripe figs, eggs and anchovies, dried
grapes, and cakes of candied honey; while two boys of rare beauty
followed, one carrying a flagon of Chian wine diluted with snow water, the
other a platter richly chased in gold covered with cyathi, or drinking
cups, some of plain chrystal, some of that unknown myrrhine fabric,(3)
which is believed by many scholars to have been highly vitrified and
half-transparent porcelain.

A second slave brought in a folded stand, like a camp stool in shape, on
which the tray was speedily deposited, while on a slab of Parian marble
near which the two boys took their stand, the wine and goblets were
arranged in glittering order.

So silently, however, was all this done, that, their preparations made,
the elder slaves had retired with a deep genuflexion, leaving the boys
only to administer at that unceremonious banquet, ere the young couple,
whose backs were turned towards the table, perceived the interruption.

The brilliant smile, which has been mentioned, beamed from the features of
the elder lady, as she perceived how thoroughly engrossed, even to the
unconsciousness of any pa