A "flash house" in POMPEII. 41 



" By Pollux," said one of the gladiators, as he leant 

 against the wall of the threshold, " the wine thou 

 sellest us, old Silenus," and as he spoke he slap- 

 ped a portly personage on the back, " it is enough 

 to thin the best blood in one's veins." 



The man thus caressingly saluted, and whose 

 bared arms, white apron, and keys and napkin 

 tucked carelessly within his girdle, indicated him 

 to be the host of the tavern, was already passed into 

 the autumn of his years ; but his form was still 

 so robust and athletic, that he might have shamed 

 even the sinewy shapes beside him, save that the 

 muscle had seeded as it were into flesh, that the 

 cheeks were swelled and bloated, and the increasing 

 stomach threw into shade the vast and massive chest 

 which rose above it. 



" None of thy scurrilous blusterings with me," 

 growled the gigantic landlord, in the gentle semi- 

 roar of an insulted tiger, " my wine is good enough 

 for a carcase which shall soon soak the dust of the 

 spoliarium." 



" Croakest thou thus, old raven," returned the 

 gladiator, laughing scornfully, " thou shalt live to 

 hang thyself with despite when thou seest me 

 win the palm crown ; and when I get the purse at 

 the Amphitheatre, as I certainly shall, my first 

 vow to Hercules shall be to forswear thee and 

 thy vile potations evermore." 



" Hear to him — hear to this modest Pyrgopo- 

 linices ! He has certainly served under Bombo- 

 chides Cluninstaridysarchides," cried the . host. 

 " Sporus, Niger, Tetraides, he declares he shall 

 win the purse from you. Why, by the gods, each 

 of your muscles is strong enough to stifle all his 

 body, or /know nothing of the arena !" 



" Ha !" said the gladiator, colouring with rising 

 fury, " our lanista would tell a different story." 



" What story could he tell against me, vain 

 Lydon ?" said Tetraides, frowning. 



VOL. VI. 1835. F 



