Three days ago certain friends had been invited to dinner by Gaius Cornelius. For this reason, Aurelia bought dormice in the forum. Also a pig had been bought by Pseudolus. Now the day of dinner had arrived. Early in the morning, slaves were sent to the forum and there, they bought vegetables, bread, and chicken. Also eggs and apples and many other things were bought, for when a Roman Senator invites friends to dinner, the best dinner ought to be served.
Now the hour of dinner was approaching. While food was cooked in thef kitchen, slave women were preparing the dining room. A table had now been brought into the middle of the dining room by slaves; three beds had been placed around the table.
The dining room of Cornelius was most beautiful and decorated. On the walls were beautiful pictures. In one picture, the dog Cerberus was being pulled out of the kingdom of Pluto, in another Mercury was leading the dead to Charon, in another Orpheus was going down to the underworld.
Cornelius was ordering the slaves to hurry, for now it was the ninth hour. Aurelia, always worried, was violently urging the slave women. Suddenly a certain slave woman, who was very afraid of Aurelia, rushing here and there, overturned one of the lamps accidentally. The lamp-stand fell onto the couch; immediately oil poured out onto the sheets; these quickly caught fire. An angry Aurelia was scolding the careless slave woman, but Cornelius quickly put out the fire with a cloak.
Cheer up! said Cornelius. Look! The fire is now out! Then the other slave women were called by him: Syra! Phrygia! Bring other sheets! It is necessary to redo everything immediately for the guests will soon be here. All of Corneliuss commands were done.
The guests were arriving, in which several clients had been invited to eat dinner. The guests were carrying napkins with them, for when dinner is finished, it will be allowed for them to take food home in their napkins. For a short time, they were standing in the atrium, waiting for Cornelius. At last they were greeted in a friendly way by Cornelius himself.
No one was absent except Titus Cornelius, uncle of Marcus. For a short time everyone was looking out for him, but at last although he had not yet arrived, the dinner guests had been led to the dining room. Their deposited sandals were taken away by slaves. Everyone was reclining on couches and waiting for dinner.