"Ah! how well I know these polypi, who hold all they touch," answered Sallust, in the same tone, and out of the same play. The second course, consisting of a variety of fruits, pistachio nuts, sweetmeats, tarts, and confectionary tortured into a thousand fantastic and airy shapes, was now placed upon the table, and the ministri, or attendants, also set there the wine (which had hitherto been handed round to the guests) in large jugs of glass, each bearing upon it the schedule of its age and quality. "Taste this Lesbian, my Pansa," said Sallust; "it is excellent." "It is not very old," said Glaucus, "but it has been made precocious, like ourselves, by being put to the fire; the wine to the flames of Vulcan, we to those of his wife, to whose honor I pour this cup." "It is delicate," said Pansa, "but there is perhaps the least particle too much of rosin in its flavor." "What a beautiful cup!" cried Clodius, taking up one of transparent crystal, the handles of which were wrought with gems, and twisted in the shape of serpents, the favorite fashion at Pompeii. "This ring," said Glaucus, taking a costly jewel from the first joint of his finger and hanging it on the handle, "gives it a richer show, and renders it less unworthy of thy acceptance, my Clodius, whom may the gods give health and fortune long and oft to crown it to brim!" "You are too generous, Glaucus," said the gamester, handing the cup to his slave, "but your love gives it a double value." "This cup to the Graces!" said Pansa, and he thrice emptied his calix. The guests followed his example. "We have appointed no director to the feast," cried Sallust. "Let us throw for him, then," said Clodius, rattling the dice-box. "Nay," cried Glaucus; "no cold and trite director for us; no dictator of the banquet; no _rex convivii_. Have not the Romans sworn never to obey a king? shall we be less free than your ancestors? Ho! musicians, let us have the song I composed the other night; it has a verse on this subject, 'The Bacchic Hymn of the Hours.'" The musicians struck their instruments to a wild Ionic air, while the youngest voices in the band chanted forth in Greek words, as numbers, the following strain: THE EVENING HYMN OF THE HOURS. I.