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56 DARKNESS AND DAWN
nobles. With them was the brilliant Petronius Arbiter, a
man of refined culture and natural wit, but the most cynically
shameless liver and talker even in Borne. The group was completed
by the able and rough -ton gued but not over-scrupulous
Vestinus, the dissolute Quintianus, and the singularly handsome
Tigellinus,
who was as yet only at the beginning of
his cnreer, but who, of all the minions of that foul Court,
became the most cruel, the most treacherous, and the most
corrupt.
And yet weariness reigned supreme over these luxurious
votaries of fashion. They had at first tried to get some amusement
out of the antics of Massa,a half-witted boy, and Asturco,
a dwarf ;
but when they had teased Massa into sullenness, and
Asturco into tears and bellowings of rage, Petronius interfered,
and voted such amusements boorish and in bad taste. Then
they tried to kill time by betting and gambling over games at
marbles and draughts. The ' pieces ' (latrunculi and ocellata)
of glass, ivory, and silver lay scattered over tables, just as they
were when the players got tired of the games, and the draught
boards (tabnlce latruncularice) had been carelessly tossed on the
floor. Then they sent for plates of honey-apples, and bowls of
Falernian wine, and took an extemporised meal. Nero even
condescended to amuse himself with rolling little ivory chariots
down a marble slab, and betting on their speed. Still
they all felt that the hours were somewhat leaden-footed, till
a bright thought struck the Emperor. He had passed some of
his early years in poverty, and this circumstance, together
with his sesthetic appreciation of things beautiful, made him
delight in showing his treasures to his intimates. By way of
finding something to do, he suggested to his friends that they
should come and look at the wardrobes of the former empresses,
which were under the charge of a multitude of dressers,
folders, and jewellers. Orders were given that everything
should be laid out for their inspection. Except Petronius,
they all had an effeminate passion for jewellery, and
whiled they
away an hour in inspecting the robes, stiff with gold
brocade and broideries of pearl, sapphire, and emerald.
By this time Nero was in high good-humour, and seized the
opportunity of a little ostentation towards the ' lisping hawthorn-buds
'
of fashion by whom he was surrounded.
He chose out a superb cameo, on which was carved a Venus