be when he desired to bring his citizenship home to a Roman court, and we should probably be quite mistaken in imagining that he travelled about with a toga in his baggage, or, as the Authorised Version calls it, his “carriage.”  When out of town, in his country-seat or when amusing himself at home in the city, especially in the warmer weather, the Roman cast off his toga with a sigh of relief.  In the provincial towns of Italy, though theoretically as much in demand, this blanket-like covering was little used by any man except on the most formal public and religious occasions, and, as a poet says, “when dead,” for then the toga was indispensable.  Nevertheless at Rome it was the necessary dress for all men of position when appearing in any sort of public life.  The Roman emperors insisted upon its use in all places of public amusement—­the theatre, circus, or amphitheatre.  In a court of justice the president certainly could not “see” a pleader unless he wore it.  You cannot be present at a formal social ceremony—­a wedding, a betrothal, a coming of age, a levee—­without this outward and visible mark of respect.  Nor was it sufficient that you should wear it.  It must be properly draped and must fall to the right point, which, in front, was aslant over the lower part of the shin, while behind it fell to the heel.  Your wardrobe slave must see that it has been kept properly folded and pressed.  If you claimed to be a gentleman, and were not in mourning and not an official, it must be simply and scrupulously white.  Poorer people might wear a toga of a duller or dark-grey wool, which would better conceal a stain and require to go less frequently to the fuller.  The same dull hue was also worn in time of mourning, or as an ostentatious token of a gloomy spirit, as for example, when one of your friends was in peril of condemnation in the law-courts, or when you fancied that some serious injustice was being done or threatened to your social order.  The only person privileged to wear a toga of true purple was the emperor.  On the whole the Roman dress was very simple; far more so than in mediaeval times or the days of Elizabeth or Charles II.  Velvet and satin were not yet known, furs hardly so, and there were very few changes of fashion.

Silius will also wear at least one large signet-ring as well as his plain ring of gold, but he will leave it to the dandies to load their fingers with half-a-dozen and to keep separate sets for winter and summer.  When Quintilian, in his Training of the Orator, touches upon the subject of rings, he recommends as requisite for good form that “the hand should not be covered with rings, and especially should they not come below the middle joint.”  A handkerchief will be carried, but only to wipe away perspiration.

Having finished his dressing, he may choose this time for taking his morning “snack,” corresponding to the coffee and roll or tea and bread-and-butter of modern times.  It is but a light repast of wine or milk, with bread and honey, or a taste of olives or cheese or possibly an egg.  Schoolboys seem to have often eaten a sort of suet dumpling.  In the strength of this meat our friend will go till mid-day.