ace, Ring, Bracelets, and Ear-rings found at
Pompeii.]

Her toilet completed, Sabina descended from her room in the upper story.
The ordinary guests, the friend of the house, the clients and _the
shadows_ (such was the name applied to the supernumeraries, the humble
doubles whom the invited guests brought with them), awaited her in the
peristyle. Nine guests in all--the number of the Muses. It was forbidden
to exceed that total at the suppers of the triclinium. There were never
more than nine, nor less than three, the number of the Graces. When a
great lord invited six thousand Romans to his table, the couches were
laid in the atrium. But there is not an atrium in Pompeii that could
contain the hundredth part of that number.

The ninth hour of the day, i.e., the third or fourth in the afternoon,
has sounded, and it is now that the supper begins in all respectable
houses. Some light collations, in the morning and at noon, have only
sharpened the appetites of the guests. All are now assembled; they wash
their hands and their feet, leave their sandals at the door, and are
shown into the triclinium.

The three bronze bedsteads are covered with cushions and drapery; the
one at the end (_the medius_) in one corner represents the place of
honor reserved for the important guest, the consular personage. On the
couch to the right recline the host, the hostess, and the friend of the
house. The other guests take the remaining places. Then, in come the
slaves bearing trays, which they put, one by one, upon the small bronze
table with the marble top which is stationed between the three couches
like a tripod. Ah! what glowing descriptions I should have to make were
I at the house of Trimalcion or Lucullus! I should depict to you the
winged hares, the pullets and fish carved in pieces, with pork meat; the
wild boar served up whole upon an enormous platter and stuffed with
living thrushes, which fly out in every direction when the boar's
stomach is cut open; the side dishes of birds' tongues; of enormous
_murenae_ or eels; barbel caught in the Western Ocean and stifled in salt
pickle; surprises of all kinds for the guests, such as sets of dishes
descending from the ceiling, fantastic apparitions, dancing girls,
mountebanks, gladiators, trained female athletes,--all the orgies, in
fine, of those strange old times. But let us not forget where we really
are. Paratus is not an emperor, and has to confine himself to a simple
citizen repas