PRETORIANS surrounded the groves on the banks of the pond of Agrippa, lest
over-numerous throngs of spectators might annoy Caesar and his guests; though
it was said that everything in Rome distinguished for wealth, beauty, or intellect
was present at that feast, which had no equal in the history of the city. Tigellinus
wished to recompense Caesar for the deferred journey to Achaea, to surpass all
who had ever feasted Nero, and prove that no man could entertain as he could.
With this object in view, while with Caesar in Naples, and later in Beneventum,
he had made preparations and sent orders to bring from the remotest regions of
the earth beasts, birds, rare fish, and plants, not omitting vessels and cloths,
which were to enhance the splendor of the feast. The revenues of whole
provinces went to satisfy mad projects; but the powerful favorite had no need to
hesitate. His influence grew daily. Tigellinus was not dearer than others to Nero
yet, perhaps, but he was becoming more and more indispensable. Petronius
surpassed him infinitely in polish, intellect, wit; in conversation he knew better
how to amuse Caesar: but to his misfortune he surpassed in conversation
Caesar himself, hence he roused his jealousy; moreover he could not be an
obedient instrument in everything, and Caesar feared his opinion when there
were questions in matters of taste. But before Tigellinus, Nero never felt any
restraint. The very title, arbiter elegantiarum, which had been given to Petronius,
annoyed Nero's vanity, for who had the right to bear that title but himself?
Tigellinus had sense enough to know his own deficiencies; and seeing that he
could not compete with Petronius, Lucan, or others distinguished by birth, talents,
or learning, he resolved to extinguish them by the suppleness of his services,
and above all by such a magnificence that the imagination of Nero himself would
be struck by it. He had arranged to give the feast on a gigantic raft, framed of
gilded timbers. The borders of this raft were decked with splendid shells found in
the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, shells brffliant with the colors of pearls and
the rainbow. The banks of the pond were covered with groups of palm, with
groves of lotus, and blooming roses. In the midst of these were hidden fountains
of perfumed water, statues of gods and goddesses, and gold or silver cages filled
with birds of various colors. In the centre of the raft rose an immense tent, or
rather, not to hide the feasters, only the roof of a tent, made of Syrian purple,
resting on silver columns; under it were gleaming, like suns, tables prepared for
the guests, loaded with Alexandrian glass, crystal, and vessels simply beyond
price, -- the plunder of Italy, Greece, and Asia Minor. The raft, which because of
plants accumulated on it had the appearance of an island and a garden, was
joined by cords of gold and purple to boats shaped like fish, swans, mews, and
flamingoes, in which sat at painted oars naked rowers of both sexes, with forms
and features of marvellous beauty, their hair dressed in Oriental fashion, or
gathered in golden nets. When Nero arrived at the main raft with Poppae and the
Augustians, and sat beneath the purple tent-roof, the oars struck the water, the
boats moved, the golden cords stretched, and the raft with the feast and the
guests began to move and describe circles on the pond. Other boats surrounded
