MULLID^ OE MULLETS. 135 



make so light) he thoroughly appreciated, and knew 

 practically, alike its difficulties and details; with him 

 it was a joint afiFair of honour and conscience not to al- 

 low any neighbovir's mullet to become more accompHshed 

 than his own; and thus with heart and sonl, intellect 

 and reputation entirely devoted to this one object, the 

 work of tuition prospered in his hands {' quid non facit 

 amor !') and was attended with surprising results: the 

 ' Red Rovers' of the fish-pond would at length know 

 and acknowledge their master; at his whistle flock 

 emulously together, at his sight leap joyously into 

 the air; and as he plunged his arm into the agitated 

 basin, each individual of the serried shoal strove who 

 should first present fins, and rub scales against the well- 

 known fingers ! With only one coadjutor, a trusty and 

 very dear functionary — his nomenclator — whose particu- 

 lar oflice it was to assign and teach each fiimy favourite 

 its distinctive appellation, the devoted master would di- 

 vide the glory of these trigla-paideutic exMbitions, to 

 witness which (near Naples) ftdl lialf the city sometimes 

 poured out to Bauli, and there beheld, in wide-mouthed 

 wonder — 



Each weU-tram'd pupil anBwering to the roll, 

 Approach the ' namester," and receive his dole.* 



Nor did their lord's arduous duties close with the re- 

 view; as dinner drew near, other cares, in which muUet 

 still occupied tlie first place, demanded prompt attention 

 and settlement: well-dressed guests expected well-dressed 

 fish; and thus a culinary consultation, long as Domitian's 

 with his privy councillors on the same subject, would 

 ensue with the cook, as to how his favourites should be 

 served; and by the time that important point was ad- 

 justed, the himgry guests, with hospitality tickets,t the 



* Martial. + Tesserae hospitales. 



