, I assure you; and the poor
girl felt the effects of it too. But it was not her fault that she was
blind, for she had been so from her birth. By degrees, we got
reconciled to our purchase. True, she had not the strength of Staphyla,
and was of very little use in the house, but she could soon find her way
about the town, as well as if she had the eyes of Argus; and when one
morning she brought us home a handful of sesterces, which she said she
had got from selling some flowers she had gathered in our poor little
garden, we thought the gods had sent her to us. So from that time we
let her go out as she likes, filling her basket with flowers, which she
wreathes into garlands after the Thessalian fashion, which pleases the
gallants; and the great people seem to take a fancy to her, for they
always pay her more than they do any other flower-girl, and she brings
all of it home to us, which is more than any other slave would do. So I
work for myself, but I shall soon afford from her earnings to buy me a
second Staphyla; doubtless, the Thessalian kidnapper had stolen the
blind girl from gentle parents. Besides her skill in the garlands, she
sings and plays on the cithara, which also brings money, and lately--but
that is a secret.'

'That is a secret! What!' cried Lydon, 'art thou turned sphinx?'

'Sphinx, no!--why sphinx?'

'Cease thy gabble, good mistress, and bring us our meat--I am hungry,'
said Sporus, impatiently.

'And I, too,' echoed the grim Niger, whetting his knife on the palm of
his hand.

The amazon stalked away to the kitchen, and soon returned with a tray
laden with large pieces of meat half-raw: for so, as now, did the heroes
of the prize-fight imagine they best sustained their hardihood and
ferocity: they drew round the table with the eyes of famished
wolves--the meat vanished, the wine flowed. So leave we those important
personages of classic life to follow the steps of Burbo.

Chapter II

TWO WORTHIES.

IN the earlier times of Rome the priesthood was a profession, not of
lucre but of honour. It was embraced by the noblest citizens--it was
forbidden to the plebeians. Afterwards, and long previous to the
present date, it was equally open to all ranks; at least, that part of
the profession which embraced the flamens, or priests--not of religion
generally but of peculiar gods. Even the priest of Jupiter (the Flamen
Dialis) preceded by a lictor, and entitled by his office to the entrance
o