Only those who seek happiness in the fulfillment of their obligations are those who live freely.

- Marcus Tulius Cicero (Roman statesman, orator, orator, jurist, and philosopher)

After the carriage stopped, Oscar walked out of the carriage with Mingyue; As soon as the two got out of the carriage, old Carabes hurriedly appeared in front of Oscar. After explaining the arrival and departure of Lady Honoria in a few words, Oscar thought that something important had happened to the Maxentius family; He gave Mingyue to old Karabes, and told him to arrange Mingyue and treat her like Tukaraka.

Immediately, Oscar hurried towards Prisca's backyard; When Oscar found Prisca, Prisca was sitting alone in a pavilion in the garden. Oscar walked up to Prisca, and before Oscar could ask, Prisca said indifferently: "Did you go to Tuscany Avenue with Quintus today, we just got married, why did you go to that kind of place?" ”

Prisca's words made Oscar a little embarrassed, as if he went out to be a thief and was suddenly caught; It seems that Madame Honoria had accidentally seen herself and Quintus in Tuscany Street, and then told Prisca about it. Either way, though, it's something that Oscar needs to explain slowly; Otherwise, I'm afraid this backyard will catch fire.

So, Oscar told Prisca why he went out with Quintus today, and everything that happened that day; Even Mingyue's affair Oscar did not hide the slightest. Of course, Oscar wouldn't be stupid enough to say the reason for his affection for Mingyue; It's just that it is simply explained as her life experience, so he wants to take her as his sister, so that Prisca can have a companion.

Oscar's explanation is not very convincing, but the attitude is very satisfying to Prisca; When Prisca said what he just said, he was ready to quarrel with Oscar, which was also told to Prisca by his parents' experience. In the Roman Republic, the supremacy of men dictated that they would not accept any questioning from women; Oscar's patience in explaining everything has made Prisca happy.

As for the question of Mingyue. Prisca also chose to believe in the Oscars; If Oscar really fell in love with Mingyue, it would be impossible to accept her as a sister, and a banquet would be held to publicize it. Although Prisca doesn't believe Oscar's so-called sympathy for Mingyue, as long as he doesn't let Mingyue be his lover or something else. Prisca wouldn't mind having an extra idler in the Augustus family.

Having said that, Prisca no longer has any complaints about Oscar, but has a trace of guilt in his heart because of his impulsiveness and Oscar's honesty. Therefore, for Oscar wants to hold a confession banquet for Mingyue tomorrow night; Prisca not only did not object, but also stated that he would strongly support it. Of course, Oscar couldn't ask for this; He didn't know how to throw a banquet himself. This had to be done by Prisca, who was constantly present at various upper-class banquets.

In Rome, all banquets are planned, invited, and set up according to a prescribed pattern. Banquets were usually held in private residences, which were one of the most important social occasions in Rome, and it was even a major leisure event to participate in or organize a banquet. Banquets were also a suitable occasion for private affairs, business, and political matters, and the banquets in Rome were clearly a further development than the Greek drinking parties.

This is mainly reflected in two aspects: one is that women are no longer forcibly excluded in principle, which marks the beginning of women's social status in the social sphere. Moreover, Roman banquets were not exclusive to the upper classes, and were also widely popular among the common people. Although the feast of the commoners was extremely simple and miniaturized.

Extravagant family banquets were of great importance in the social life of the Romans, as it was both the main way for friends and family to gather and the host of the banquet as a means to show his social and economic status. The more slaves were busy around the table, the more richly they dressed, the more they showed the richness of the banquet host. Slaves were responsible for serving food, and successful feasts were often accompanied by a variety of joyful performances, such as recitations, singing, musical instruments, dances, or acrobatics.

Sometimes, the host of the banquet who wants to show off his wealth will give a special gift as a special souvenir. These gifts are usually small sculptures of bronze, ivory, or silver, and sometimes caricatures, and these gifts may also be won in a game of craps that takes place after dinner.

Most of the banquets are held in the evening. Usually starting at 4 p.m. and possibly continuing into the second half of the night, this is a truly enjoyable social feast. The location was carefully chosen, initially in an open-air space in the middle of the residence. It is then replaced by a mezzanine room facing the terrace, which opens into a central open space and a columned corridor in the garden, before finally being transferred to the richly decorated rectangular dining room known as Trikrinium.

The term "trikrinium" refers to three wooden couches arranged in the shape of a horseshoe in the dining room. This couch has a backrest at one end and is elaborately decorated with bronze, ivory or bone. Guests occupy the upper seat, i.e. the right and middle couches, and the host and family members use the lower seats. Each couch can accommodate three people, and diners recline on the couch. One elbow rests on a cushion and the other takes food from the round table. Round tables made of wood, bronze or marble, covered with a tablecloth, and filled with a variety of fine foods.

Wine is the most important part of the banquet, usually the housewife or slave of the banquet will dilute the wine with water in advance, add spices and honey to prepare it at the beginning of the meal, and then pour it for the guests to drink, and only drink pure wine without water during the ritual of worshipping the god of wine. At particularly important banquets and winter dinners, the Romans used a special insulated utensil to heat the wine and keep it at a certain temperature.

The dishes were prepared by the slaves, but usually in small quantities, and diners had to reach out and grab the food themselves. Cutlery is rarely used, the most important being the spoon, and other cutlery is not, in order to imitate the eating habits of the Roman ancestors. During the meal, each dish is served in a precise and orderly manner: first it is light, usually made with eggs, followed by a main course, consisting of several dishes, the main course is meat or fish, and finally spicy food or dried fruit, the purpose of which is to make the diner indulge in drinking because of thirst; All dishes are served hot or cold. Easy for guests to grab.

Flowers and perfumes are said to ward off evil spirits and ward off evil spirits; So the Romans liked to use roses in large quantities at banquets. Flowers were scattered from the ceiling during the feast, and the more the better, so much that the guests felt like they were about to suffocate. Saffron is widely used in banquets. It can be used to make flower crowns or to make wine.

Prisca, who was familiar with the various banquets of the upper class in Rome, told Oscar about these common sense things, and Oscar regretted his hasty decision. Although there were a large number of trained slaves in the Augustan mansion, the previous wedding had exhausted the wine in the Augustan mansion; Also, there is no way to prepare enough food for the time being!

And that's not all. Oscar didn't know how to solve the recitation, singing, musical instruments, dances, and acrobatic performers that were necessary for the upper class banquet; And it's too late to prepare a small sculpture gift in bronze, ivory or silver as a special souvenir! These questions made Oscar sigh helplessly: Impulse is the devil! I knew that I wouldn't open this mouth, and I originally thought that the so-called banquet was very casual to invite some nobles to eat and drink, but I didn't expect that there would be so much exquisiteness.

The chagrin of Oscar made Prisca's heart a little happy, in fact, this is what Prisca deliberately embarrassed Oscar; Who made Oscar go to a place like a brothel, and brought back a girl of unknown origin. Although he has forgiven him, this means that he will not mind this matter; However, Prisca's original intention was only to tease Oscar, so soon Prisca provided Oscar with a solution to these problems.

I saw that Prisca also pretended to be contemplative for a long time. Then he said slowly: "Oscar, since your words have been spoken, then our Augustus family naturally can't break their word; I can find a way to solve these problems. Wine and food can be brought to my eldest brother tomorrow, and recitation, singing, musical instruments, dances, and acrobatic performers can also be arranged by my second brother; As for the small gifts, you can gather all the craftsmen in Rome tomorrow morning, and one day will be enough to make enough sculptures. ”

Prisca's solution was indeed a good one, but it basically put the problem on Sevio and Marcus; This makes Oscar really embarrassed to speak! Prisca also saw Oscar's embarrassment, and said very casually: "The eldest brother is the procurator, and the second brother is the consul; They have more than enough resources to solve these problems, and we are all family. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. ”

Once these issues have been discussed, the next step is the guest list; In Roman banquets, the number of the most distinguished guests was also particular, at least three. The aim is to be consistent with the number of the three goddesses of beauty and wisdom. It can be up to nine people, and it cannot exceed the number of the nine goddesses of the Muse. Since it was only a confession banquet, Prisca suggested that only Sevious, Marcus, and Quintus be invited as guests; Oscar agreed.

Ordinary guests should try to avoid even numbers, as even numbers are considered unlucky in Rome. And, who was the last to finish eating, or the last to leave the table. He will be celibate for the rest of his life. Whoever leaves the table in the middle of the meal is not good for him, and he may die that year. With these taboos in mind, Oscar finally decided to invite ninety-nine wealthy aristocratic merchants who were close to the House of Augustus as ordinary guests.

After discussing this, Prisca discovers that Oscar is not very familiar with many banquet taboos; told Oscar another taboo that he must pay attention to. The meal process is also inseparable from the symbolic number "three", and a meal must have three parts: first, cold dishes; second, the main course; Third, dessert. In the case of a feast, the guests must drink three glasses of wine, or nine glasses of wine; In the same way, it is unlucky to step on your left leg first when you enter a restaurant. When eating, you must also use your left arm to support your body and use your right hand to eat.

All guests must follow the rules of the party, and when they enter the restaurant, they are required to wear loose clothes, light robes, and no belts. According to Roman custom, no sash could be worn in a formal dress, and no knots could be worn on guests; Because the knot is a closed circle, it is unlucky to have it. Again, these are for Oscar as the master; So Oscar himself must also take off his robe tomorrow and change into a light robe.

Watching Prisca carefully teach himself little by little the etiquette that needs to be paid attention to at these banquets, Oscar's heart suddenly had a warm current flowing; You know, tomorrow is Oscar's banquet for another woman, and Prisca can do so much to give advice to herself, which really touches Oscar. If you have a wife like this, what more can a husband ask for! (To be continued.) )