148 



Apicius offered a prize to any one who would 

 invent a new brine, made with the liver of red mul- 

 lets. Juvenal informs us that Asinius Celer offered 

 sixty pounds for one of these fish which weighed six 

 pounds.* 



In the reign of Domitian, there was a prodigious 

 large turbot caught, such as had never before been 

 seen. It was ordered to the imperial kitchen. The 

 Emperor convoked the Senate to consider in what 

 dish it should be cooked, and served up entire. The 

 deliberation was long and stormy ; all Rome was in 

 a state of excitement by the debate ; and the august 

 body of Senators endeavoured to prove itself worthy 

 of the confidence reposed in them by Csesar. They 

 were unanimous in their resolutions that a dish 

 should be made expressly for this enormous fish, 

 since there were none large enough ready made ; and 

 also that a stove should be constructed sufficiently 

 capacious to allow the dish to be conveniently placed 

 upon it. The Emperor, the city, and the whole court, 

 applauded the singular sagacity of the Senate ; and 

 " le turbot fut mis a la sauce piquant ." 



Many of the Latin poets make allusions to these 

 extravagant whims about fish. 



" Grandes rhombi patinscque 

 Grande ferunt una cum damno dedecus." 



HOR. 



" Quamvis lata gerat patella rhombum, 

 Rhombus latior est tamen patellas." 



* Juvenal, 4, 11. 



