The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-01-30
a ROMAN BANQUET.
DescrIption of a Dinner Party where tns
Patricians Were Feasted.

The tricllnlum: "A DeauJlul oolOhS
apartment, gorGeously painted with
arabcsques of gold and scarlet upon
deep azure groundwork. circular
table covered with n white cloth, bor-
dered with Il deep edge of purple and
deeper fringe of gold, stood in the CEN
ter and around it three couches, nearly
of the same height with the board, each
of the segment of Il circle, the three
forming horseshoe.
The couchcs We're Of the finest rose
wood inlaid with tortoise she'll and
ivory and brass. strcwcd with richest
tapcstrics. and piled with cushions glow
ing with splendid necdlework. And
over all, upheld by richly nodded shafts
of Corinthian bronze, was Il canopy q
Tyrian purple, tasseled and fringcd
with gold.
The method of reclining Mt the table
was that the guests should place them
selves on the left side propped partly by
the left elbow and partly by pile of
cushions; each couch being made to con-
tain in general three persons, the head
Of the second coming below the right
arm of the first, and the third in like
manner; the body of each being placed
transvcrsely, so as to allow space for
the limbs of the next below in front OF
him.
The middle place on each couch was
esteemed the most honorable, and tho
middle couch of the three was that as
signed to guests of the highest rank;
the master of the feast, for the most,
occupied the central position on the
third, or left-hand sofa.
The slaves stood round the outer cir
cult of the whole with the cup-bearcITs,
but the carver and steward, if he might
| so be termed, occupied that side Of the
table which was left open to their at
tendance.
No sooner were all placed and the due
libati0n made Of wine, with an offering
| of salt, to the domestic gods-a silver
group of statues occupying the center OF
the board, where we should now place
the plateau and epergne-than louder
! burst of music uShered i'll three beauti-
| full female slaves in succinct TUNES. like
those seen in the sculptures of Diana
with half the bosom bare, dancing and
singing and carrying in their hands gar
| lands of roses and myrtle woven with
stripes of the philyra, or inner bark OF
the linden tree, which was believed to
I be "a specific against intoXication. Cir
cling around the board in time to soft
music they crowned each of the guests,
and sprinlllcd with rich perfumes the
garments and the hair of each, and then,
with more animated and eccentric gest-
| ~, e ha A,,fn
shrillcr and more piercing, they bounded
from the banquet hall and were sue
ceeded by six boys with silver basins
full of tepid water, perfumed with
costly essences, and soft embroidered
napkins, which they handed to every
banouetcr to wash the hands before
eating This done, the music died away
into a low, faint close, and was silent,
and in the hush that followed an aged
slave bore round a mighty flask of Chan
wine, diluted with snow water, and re-
pIenishcd the goblets of stained glass
which stood beside each guest, while
another dispensed bread from "a lordly
basket of wrought gilded scroll-work.
And now the feast commenced in
earnest; as the first course, consisting
of fresh eggs, boiled hard, with lettuce,
radishes, endivc End rookie S, olives OF
Venatrum; anchOvies and Sardines, and
tn choicest luxury Of the day, hot sau-
sages served upon gridirons of silver.
with the rich gravy dripping through
the bars upon n sauce of Syrian prunes
and pomcgranate berries was placed
upon the board. Then, to the mel dy
of Lydian lutes, two slaves introduced Il
huge silver dish loaded by the vast
Drawn of the Umbit;in boar, garnished
with leaves of chevril, and floating in a
rich sauce of anchovies, her dregs OF
Coan wine, white pepper, vinegar, and
olives
All daintics that were known in those
days ministered to this feast; oysters
from Baie; phcasants-a rarity but
lately introduced since Pompcy's con-
quests in the east. having been brought
all the way from Phasis, upon the south
ern shores Of the Black Sea; woodcock
from the valleys of lonia and the
watery plains of Troas; livers of geese
forced to an unnatural size by cram
ming the unhappy bird with figs, and
turbots fricaseed in cream, and peacocks
stuffed with truffles. The wines 10y
which these dainties were diluted diff
fered but little, as the wisest critics
say, from the Madeiras and sherries OF
the nineteenth century. Home Journal