BOOK IX. Lviii. 119-121 



had come down to her through the hands of the 

 Kings of the East. When Antony was gorging daily at 

 recherche banquets, she with a pride at once lofty and 

 insolent, queenly wanton as she was, poured contempt 

 on all his pomp and splendour, and when he asked 

 what additional magnificence could be contrived, 

 replied that she would spend 10,000,000 sesterces on 

 a single banquet. Antony was eager to leai-n how 

 it could be done, although he thought it was impos- 

 sible. Consequently bets were made, and on the 

 next day, when the matter was to be decided, she set 

 before Antony a banquet that was indeed splendid, 

 so that the day might not be wasted,** but of the kind 

 served every day — Antony laughing and expostu- 

 lating at its niggardUness. But she vowed it was a 

 mere additional douceur, and that the banquet would 

 round oiF the account and her own dinner alone would 

 cost 10,000,000 sesterces, and she ordered the second 

 course to be served. In accordance with previous 

 instructions the servants placed in front of her only a 

 single vessel containing vinegar, the strong rough 

 quahty of which can melt pearls.* She was at the 

 moment wearing in her ears that remarkable and 

 truly unique work of nature. Antony was fuU of 

 curiosity to see what in the world she was going to 

 do. She took one earring ofF and dropped the pearl 

 in the \inegar, and when it was melted swallowed it. 

 Lucius Plancus, who was umpiring the wager, placed 

 his hand on the other pearl when she was preparing 

 to destroy it also in a similar way, and declared that 

 Antony had lost the battle — an ominous remark that 

 came true. With this goes the story that, when that 

 queen who had won on this important issue was 

 captured, the second of this pair of pearls was 



voL. III. I 245 



