be content with a morsel of bread and a little porridge, at home he
highly appreciated the pleasures of the table. Whenever he gave the
word, an abundant meal must at once be ready. It was all the same to him
what was kept waiting or postponed, so long as something to his taste was
set before him. Macrinus, indeed, humbly reminded him that the guardians
of the peace were awaiting him; but he only waved his hand with contempt,
and proceeded to the dining-room, which was soon filled with a
large number of guests. Within a few minutes the first dish was set
before his couch, and, as plenty of good stories were told, and an
admirable band of flute-playing and singing girls filled up the pauses
in the conversation, he enjoyed his meal. In spite, too, of the warning
which Galenus had impressed on his Roman physician, he drank freely of
the fine wine which had been brought out for him from the airy lofts of
the Serapeum, and those about him were surprised at their master's
unwonted good spirits.

He was especially gracious to the high-priest, whom he bade to a place by
his side; and he even accepted his arm as a support, when, the meal being
over, they returned to the tablinum.

'There he flung himself on a couch, with a burning head, and began
feeding the lion, without paying any heed to his company. It was a
pleasure to him to see the huge brute rend a young lamb. When the
remains of this introductory morsel had been removed and the pavement
washed, he gave the "Sword of Persia" pieces of raw flesh, teasing the
beast by snatching the daintiest bits out of his mouth, and then offering
them to him again, till the satiated brute stretched himself yawning at
his feet. During this entertainment, he had a letter read to him from
the senate, and dictated a reply to a secretary. His eyes twinkled with
a tipsy leer in his flushed face, and yet he was perfectly competent;