Chapter 5

Arria and her mother sat with the emperor. He was at home and in a
playful humor. The hour of his banquet was approaching. Soon he would
be summoned to receive his guests.

"Nay, but I am sure he loves me," the girl was saying.

The cunning emperor smiled and spoke very gently. "Think you so, dear
child? I will put him to the test. Soon we shall know if he be worthy
of so great a prize. I will try both his wit and his devotion, but
you--you cannot be here."

"And why, great father?"

"Think you it could be a test with your eye upon him?"

"Oh, but I must see it," said the girl. "Unless I see it I shall not
know. Let me be your slave and stand behind you in gray cloth.
Beloved father, I implore you, let me see the test."

"Ah, well," said the emperor, rising, with a smile. "I shall know
nothing but that you have gone above-stairs to find Clia, mistress of
the robes. Tell her to give you a box of tablets, and when I raise my
finger--so--they are to be delivered. Away with you."

Arria left with a cry of joy, and presently Augustus went with the Lady
Lucia to meet his guests.

The "commands" of the emperor had given the hour of the banquet and
prescribed the dress to be worn. Vergilius had waited anxiously for
the moment when he should again see the great god of Rome, who could
give or take away as he would. Standing at the door of Caesar, he
wondered whether he were nearing the end of all pleasure or the gate of
paradise. A plate of polished brass hung on its lintel, bearing in
large letters the word Salve. A slave opened the door and took his
pallium. Julia, that wayward daughter of Augustus, now three times
married but yet beautiful, met him in the inner hall, and together they
walked to the banquet-room. There the emperor, limping slightly, came
to meet Vergilius, and there, also, were the guests, seven in number:
Appius and his mother, the Lady Lucia; Terentia, wife of the late
Maecenas; Manius, an assessor in Judea; Hortensius, legate of Spain;
Antipater, son of Herod the Great; and Aulus Valerius Maro, the senator.

"It enters my thought to say to you," said the emperor, aside, as he
put his hand upon the shoulder of Vergilius, "keep the number one in
your mind, so that by-and-by you can tell me what you make of it."

Slaves had covered the table with fish and fowl in dishes of unwrought
silver. The guests reclined upon three great divans set around as many
sides of the table. They ate resting on their elbows, and were so
disposed that each could see the host without turning. The emperor
asked only for coarse bread, a morsel of fish, two figs, and a bit of