Page:The Satire of Seneca on the Apotheosis of Claudius.djvu/152

, where Licinus reigned for many years. But you, who have tramped more lands than any wandering muleteer, ought to know men from Lugudunum and that there are a good many miles between the Xanthus and the Rhone.” At this point Claudius fired up and angrily grumbled as loudly as he could. What he was saying, nobody understood, except that he commanded Fever to be led away to punishment. With the familiar gesture of his limp hand, that was steady enough for the one purpose of decapitating people as he was accustomed, he had ordered her head to be struck off. You would suppose all those present were his freedmen, so little attention did any one pay him. Then Hercules said, “Listen to me and stop talking nonsense. You have come to a place where the mice gnaw iron. Tell me the truth, quick, or I’ll knock the silliness out of you.” And in order to be more terrifying, he struck the attitude of a tragedian and said:

“Declare at once the place you call your natal town, Or else, by this tough cudgel smitten, down you go! This club has slaughtered many a mighty potentate. What’s that, that in a muffled voice you’re trying to say? Where is the land or race to own your shaky head? Speak out. Oh, I remember when afar I sought The triple-bodied king’s domains, whose famous herd