The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-22
NUMBER z.

| turning half round he merely directed glanes
at herr "that Claudius the slave will not and
| cannot BIO devoured by Seianus-I mean that
beast Sejanus."
Paulus. CHANGING to look toward the two
pr@torian sentries, whose general he supposed
to be mentioned, observed them covertly
smiling. More puzzled than ever, he gave ALI
his attention to the tipsy dispute which was
| raging in tho palace doorway.
"Well, prove it ther," roared Flaccus, with
your logiow
" Have 1 not o thumb :" resumed Lucius
Piso {" and can not turn it down in the nick
of time, and so save the wretchi"
clio! no ho!" laughed out the other "and
| what notice will horse take of your thumb
Is this horse such an as to mind whether
your thumb be up or down, though you are
governor of Romef"
Perhaps you think" retorted Piso, in o
tone Of concentrated bitterness, a. with your
rules Of logic, that the horse is not properly
trained to his mannersr
"Have l not told YOU" said Flaccus, " in
spite of your rules of thumb. that tho horse ia
not ass 7"
The rudeness and coarseness of Pomponius
Flaccus had succeeded in SOLDERING Lucius Piso.
He here remained moment silent, drew HIM
self up with dignity to the full height of his
portiy person, and at last said:
Enough! When you have drunk little
more. you will be able to understand q plain
demonstration. But whom have we here
Why, it is our glorious Apcius, whose table no
other table rivals for either abundance or
delicacy. Who is your venerable friend,
Apicius Z"
This was addressed to dispeptic looking
youth, magnificently attired, who, in company
with person in the extreme decline of life,
approached tho door. Paulus and Benigna
stood aside, finding themselves still con-
strained to listen while waiting for room to
enter the blocked-up door of the palace.
"Is it possible" replied Apcius, " that you
forget Vedus Polio, who, since you mention
my poor table, has often kindly furnished it
with such lampreys as no other mortal ever
reared :"
The old man, whose age was not redolent Of
holiness, but rocking with the peculiar aroma
of life passed in boundless and systematic
selfindulgence, leered with running, blood
shot eyes, and murmured that they paid him
too much honor.
Sir, you feed your lampreys WE'LL" said
Pomponius Flaccus, ain your Vesuvian villa.
They eat much living, and they eat welt dead"
Il assure you," said Polio, that nothing
0NN
have been circulated upon that subject.
can, with the strictest accuracy, establish the
statement that no human being ever died
merely and simply in order that my lampreys
should grow fat and luscious. On the other
hand, do not deny thRtif some slave, guilty
Of great enormities, had in any event to forfeit
life, the lampreys may in such cases, perhaps,
have availed themselves of the circumstances.
An opportunity might then arise which they
had neither caused nor coutrived."
" The flavor in other words, never was the
final cause Of any slaves punishment" said
Lucius Piso.
You use words, sir" said Polio, &" which
are correct as to the fact, and philosophical rs
to the STYLE"
"Talking of philosophy" said Apicius, " do
you hold with this young Greek, this Athenian
Dion who has lately visited the court, that
nan eats in order to livel or, with me, that he
lives in order to eat 7"
"Horror of horrors" murmured Flaccus,
" the Athenian boy is demented."
Whenever there is any thing to eat with
you, my Apicius," said Lucius Piso, unless
there be something to drink with my Pompo-
Mus here, may be alive to do either the one
or the other"
"Why not do both - wheezed Yediua
Polio. whittier are you even now goingP
ITO the camp for an appetite" said Pompo-
MUS Flaccus, descending the steps out of the
palace hall into the street, and reeling against
Pauus, who held him from staggering next
against Benigna.
"What do you two want herei' he suddenly
asked steRdying himself
al am accompanying" replied Pauluss
f" this damsel, who comes hither by cssar's
0rdsE.".