Page:The Children's Plutarch, Romans.djvu/116

 Many slaves moved from room to room. Fountains shot up sprays of water to make the sitting-rooms cool and musical. At dinner the gentlemen ate while slaves played on sweet flutes. He had another villa near Rome, in which there was more than one great dinner-room, the largest being called Apollo.

One day, being in the forum at Rome, he met his two friends—Cicero, the orator, who lived from 106 to 43, and Pompey, the soldier.

“Good-day, Lucullus,” said Cicero. “We have not spent an evening with you lately.”

“Nothing would please me better than to entertain you to-night to dinner.”

“Many thanks; but you are not to prepare a grand reception for us. We want to dine with you just in the ordinary way.”

“My dear Cicero, you shall hear my orders to the servant. They will be very plain and simple.”

Calling a slave, he said:

“My two friends and I will dine in the Apollo this evening."

“Yes, sir.”

That was all. But when they reached the villa the Apollo chamber was decked with gold, silver, purple carpets. The dishes on the table were golden. Bands of musicians played. Dancers danced on the polished floor. Roses were scattered. The feast cost many thousands of dollars.