Fellow of ours never came to himself again, but in a few Days Died raving mad.

We all wonder'd, as not doubting what he faid, and kiffing the Table in reverence to him, defir'd the Privilege of the Night, and .that our Places might be kept till we return'd.

And now we thought the Lamps look'd double, and the whole Room feem'd quite another thing; when Trimalchio again, I fpeak to you Plorimus, won't you come in for a fhare? Will he entertain us with nothing? you us'd to be a pleasant Companion, could fing a Song and tell a Tale with the beft; but alas! alas! the times are chang'd. My Horfes, faid the other, ran away with my Coach, I have been troubled with the Gout ever fince. When I was a young Fellow, I fung fo long, I had well nigh brought my felf into a Confumption. What do you tell me of Songs, Tales, or Barber's Shops? Who ever came near me but one, only A pelles; and thereupon setting his Hand to his Mouth, whistled out fomewhat, I know not what, which afterwards he fwore was Greek. As he was mimicking the Trumpets, Trimalchio looking on his Minion, called him Cræfus: Yet the Boy was blear-ey'd, and employ'd himself in fwathing a little black Bitch with nafty Teeth, and overgrown with Fat, in green Swaddling-clouts, the Boy fet her half a Loaf upon the Table, which he refufing to eat, he cram'd her with it: On which Trimalchio commanded the Guardian

of

of his House and Family, Scylax,to be brought; when presently was brought in a beautiful Mastiff in a Chain, who having a Hint given him by a scrape of the Porter's Foot, lay down before the Table; whereupon throwing him a Manchet, There's no one, faid he,. in this House of mine, loves me better than this Dog. The Boy highly resenting it, that Scylax fhould be fo commended, threw the Bitch on the Floor, and challeng'd the Dog to have a Rubbers with him. On this Scylax after the manner of Dogs, fet up fuch a hideous Barking, that it fill'd the Room; and snapping at him, almost tore off a Locket of Jewels which Crefus wore on his Breast nor did the Scuffle end here, for a great Candlestick being thrown down upon the Table, broke feveral Crystal Glaffes, and threw the fcalding Oyl upon the Guests.

Trimalchio, not to feem concern'd at the lofs, kiffed the Boy and commanded him to get on his Back; nor was it long e're he was a Cock-horse, and flapping his Master's Shoulders, and laughing cry'd out, Fool, fool, and how many of them have we here?

"

Trimalchio thus kept under for a while, commanded a Bumper to be fill'd and given round to the Waiters, with this further Order, That whoever refused it should have it poured down his Collar. Thus one while we were grave, and another while mer

ry.

After

After this came Junkets and Forc't-meats upon the Table, the very remembrance of which, if I may be believ'd, will not yet down with me; for there were several cram'd Hens given about under the notion of Thrufhes, and Goose Eggs with Caps upon them; which Trimalchio, not without Oftenftation, prefs'd us to Eat ; adding withal, that their Bones were taken out.

Nor were the words fcarce out of his Mouth, when a Beadle rapp'd at the Door, and one in white, with a company of Roifters following him, came in upon us: For my part I was not a little furpriz'd; and, by his Lordliness, taking him for the Mayor of a Town, and our felves within his Liberties, was getting upon my Feet. Agamemnon laught to fee me fo concern'd, and bade me fit ftill; for, faid he, this Habinias is a Captain of Horfe, a good Mason, and has a special way with him in making Monu

ments.

Recover'd again with his Words, I kept my Seat, and wholly fix'd my Eye on Habi nias: He came in Drunk, lolling on his Wife's Shoulders, with fome Garlands round about him, his Face all trickling down with Ointment, he feated himself at the head of the Table, and incontinently call'd for Wine and hot Water.

Trimalchio was pleafed with the Humour, und calling for a bigger Glass, asked him what Entertainment he had from whence he came ?

Every thing, faid the other, but your Company, for my Inclination was here; tho', by Hercules, all was very well. Sciffa kept a Nine-days Feaft for his Servant Mifcellus, whom he enfranchiz'd after he was dead: It is faid he had a round Sum in the Chequer, for they reckon he died worth 50000 Crowns; yet this was all done in good order, tho' every one of us was oblig❜d to pour half his Wine on the Grave.

But, faid Trimalchio, what had ye to Eat? I'll tell ye, quoth Habinas, as near as I can, but fometimes I forget my own Name: However, for the first Dish we had a goodly Porker, with a Garland about him, and Puddings, Goose-gibblets, Lamb-ftones, Sweetbreads, and Gizzards; then there were alfo Beets, and Houfhold bread of his own baking, for himfelt, which I had rather have than White; it makes a Man ftrong, and I never complain of what I like, The next was a cold Tart, with excellent warm Honey, right Spanish, running upon it. I eat little of the Tart, but more of the Honey; I tafted alfo the red Pulfe, and Lupines, by the advice of Calvus, and, feveral Apples, of which I carry'd away two in my Handkerchief; for if I bring home nothing to my little fhe-Slave, I fhall have Snubs enough; this Dame of mine puts me often in mind of her. We had alfo on a Side-table the Haunch of a Bear, which Scintilla tafting e're fhe was aware, had like to have vomited her Heart up: I on the other

hand,

hand, eat a pound of it or better, for methought it tasted like Boars-flefh; and, faid I, if a Bear eats a Man, why may not a Man much more eat a Bear? To be fhort, we had Cream Cheese, Wine boil'd off to a third part, fry'd Snails and Chitterlings, Livers, Eggs, Turneps, Muftard, and a Bowl that held a Gallon. Don't difturb me Palamedes; there were alfo handed about a Basket of Sugar-cakes, of which we wantonly took fome, and fent away the Gammon of Bacon. But tell me, Caius, I beseech you, what's the matter that Fortunata Gits not among us? How came you to know her, quoth Trimalchio? till fhe has gotten her Plate together, and distributed what we leave among the Servants, not a Sup of any thing goes down her Throat.

But unless she fits down, replied Habinas, I'll be gone; and was getting up, but that the word being four times given about for her, he came at laft in a greenish Gown, and a Cherry colour'd pair of Bodice, beneath which might be seen her Petticoat and Embroider'd Garters; then wiping her Hands on her Neckcloth, the plac'd her felf on the Bed whereon Scintilla, the Wife of Habinas, was feated; and having given her a Kifs, told her, it was in Compliment to her that The was there. At length it came to this, that she took off her weighty Bracelets, and fhewed them to Scintilla; which the admiring, she also unbuckled her Garters and a Net-work Purle, which she said was of the finest Gold.

Tri