Volume I Part 32 (1/2)
CHAPTER IX.
It was a turbot weighing six pounds, which for years had been fed with goose-liver in the sea-water fishponds of Kallistratos. The much-prized ”Rhombus” was served upon a silver dish, with a little golden crown on its head.
”All ye G.o.ds, and thou, Prophet Jonah!” stammered Balbus, sinking back upon the cus.h.i.+ons, ”that fish is worth more than I!”
”Peace, friend,” said Piso, ”let not Cato hear thee, who said, 'Woe to that city where a fish is worth more than an ox.'”
A burst of laughter, and the loud call of ”_Euge belle!_” drowned the angry exclamation of the half-drunken Sicilian.
The fish was carved, and was found delicious.
”Now, slaves, away with the weak Ma.s.sikian. A n.o.ble fish must swim in n.o.ble liquid. Quick, Syphax, the wine which I have contributed to the banquet will suit exactly. Go, and let the amphora, which the slaves have set in snow outside, be brought in, and with it the cups of yellow amber.”
”What rare thing have you brought--from what country?” asked Kallistratos.
”Ask this far-travelled Odysseus, from what hemisphere,” said Piso.
”You must guess. And whoever guesses right, or whoever has already tasted this wine, shall have an amphora from me as large as this.”
Two slaves, crowned with ivy, dragged in the immense dark-coloured vase; it was of brown-black porphyry and of a singular shape, inscribed with hieroglyphics and well closed at the neck with plaster.
”By the Styx! does it come from Tartarus? It is indeed a black fellow!”
said Marcus, laughing.
”But it has a white soul--show, Syphax.”
The Nubian carefully knocked off the plaster with an ebony hammer which Ganymede handed to him, took out the stopper of palm-rind with a bronze hook, poured away the oil which swam at the top of the wine, and filled the cups. A strong and intoxicating odour arose from the white and sticky fluid.
Every one drank with an air of examination.
”A drink fit for the G.o.ds!” cried Balbus, setting down his cup.
”But as strong as liquid fire,” said Kallistratos.
”I do not know it,” said Lucius Licinius.
”Nor I,” affirmed Marcus Licinius.
”And I am happy to make its acquaintance,” said Piso, and held his empty cup to Syphax.
”Well,” said the host, turning to an, until now, almost silent guest at his right hand, ”well, Furius, valiant sailor, discoverer and adventurer! you who have sailed round the world, is _your_ wisdom also at fault?”
The guest slightly raised himself from the cus.h.i.+ons. He was a handsome athletic man of about thirty years of age, with a bronzed weather-beaten complexion, coal-black, deep-set eyes, dazzling white teeth, and a full beard, trimmed in Oriental fas.h.i.+on. But before he could speak Kallistratos interposed:
”By Jupiter Xenios! I believe you do not know each other!”
Cethegus measured his unknown and attractive companion with a keen look.