ecruited alike from the lower orders of the great city and
from the tribes and people who own her sway.

Near the large grove in which the troops are encamped is a smaller one.
A space in the centre has been cleared of trees, and in this a large
tent has been erected. Around this numerous slaves are moving to and
fro.

A Roman cook, captured in a sea fight in which his master, a wealthy
tribune, was killed, is watching three Greeks, who are under his
superintendence, preparing a repast. Some Libyan grooms are rubbing down
the coats of four horses of the purest breed of the desert, while
two Nubians are feeding, with large flat cakes, three elephants, who,
chained by the leg to trees, stand rocking themselves from side to side.

The exterior of the tent is made of coarse white canvas; this is thickly
lined by fold after fold of a thin material, dyed a dark blue, to keep
out the heat of the sun, while the interior is hung with silk, purple
and white. The curtains at each end are looped back with gold cord to
allow a free passage of the air.

A carpet from the looms of Syria covers the ground, and on it are spread
four couches, on which, in a position half sitting half reclining,
repose the principal personages of the party. The elder of these is a
man some fifty years of age, of commanding figure, and features which
express energy and resolution. His body is bare to the waist, save for
a light short sleeved tunic of the finest muslin embroidered round the
neck and sleeves with gold.

A gold belt encircles his waist, below it hangs a garment resembling the
modern kilt, but reaching halfway between the knee and the ankle. It
is dyed a rich purple, and three bands of gold embroidery run round
the lower edge. On his feet he wears sandals with broad leather lacings
covered with gold. His toga, also of purple heavily embroidered with
gold, lies on the couch beside him; from one of the poles of the tent
hang his arms, a short heavy sword, with a handle of solid gold in a
scabbard incrusted with the same metal, and a baldrick, covered with
plates of gold beautifully worked and lined with the softest leather, by
which it is suspended over his shoulder.

Two of his companions are young men of three or four and twenty, both
fair like himself, with features of almost Greek regularity of outline.
Their dress is similar to his in fashion, but the colours are gayer.
The fourth member of the party is a lad of some fifteen years old