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144 DAKKNESS AND DAWN
'Petronius, as the 'arbiter of elegance' ; Tigellinus, as the most
pliable of parasites the actor Paris, because of his wit, grace,
;
and beauty ; Vatinius, as the most unspeakable of buffoons ;
Clodius Pollio, an ex-praetor, Pedanius Secimdns, the Prsefect
of the city, and Octavius Sagitta, a tribune of the people,
whom Nero liked for their dissolute manners.
Pricelessuess and refinement as refinement was understood
by the most effeminate of Roman exquisites were to
be the characteristics of the feast. The dining-room was a
model of the latest and most fashionable art. It was not large,
but its roof was upheld by alternate columns of the rare
marbles of Synnada and Carystus the former with crimson
streaks, the latter green-veined while the two columns at
the entrance showed the golden yellow of the quarries of
Numidia, and the fretted roof was richly gilded and varied
with arabesques of blue and crimson. The walls were inlaid
with mother-of-pearl, alternated with slabs of ivory delicately
flushed with rose-colour. The chandeliers were of antique
shapes, and further light was given by candelabra of gold.
In front of Nero was one of exquisite workmanship, which
represented Silenus lying on a rock, with his head leaning
against a tree which overshadowed it. The table was of
cedar wood, supported by pillars of ivory, and it sparkled with
goblets of gold and silver embossed by Mys and Mentor,
among which were scattered amber cups, and chrysendeta
which were of silver rimmed with gold. The bowls in which
the rare wines were mixed were of pure crystal or the rubied
glass of Alexandria. Although it was winter, garlands of
exotic roses were provided for every guest, and these garlands
were fastened to lappets of perfumed
silk. None but the
most youthful and beautiful of Otho's slaves bright Greeks,
and dark Egyptians, and fair-haired Germans, in sumptuous
dresses, one or two of whom Otho had purchased for no less
than eight hundred pounds were permitted to wait upon
the guests.
The supper was no supper of Trimalchio, with its coarse
and heavy gluttonies. Everything was delicate and rechercM.
The oysters were from Kichborough ; the lampreys from the
fishponds of a senator who was said to have flung into them
more than one slave who had offended him ;
the mullet came
from Tauromenos ;
the milk-cheeses from Sarsina ;
the fruits