"Better call me
a lion than a lapdog." He turned to an officer who stood near and
added: "You will now obey the orders of the king."
Forthwith, Vergilius went aboard the new-come vessel and seized the
goods of Antipater and put them on their way to the king. Meanwhile,
the soldiers, many of whom had borne with the cruelty and insolence of
their prisoner, were little inclined to mercy. He struggled, cursing,
but they bore him down, binding him hand and knee to an open litter, so
he stood, like a beast, upon all fours, for such, indeed, was the order
of the king. Then they put on him the skin of a wild ass and carried
him up and down, jeering as the long ears flapped. Vergilius,
returning, removed the skin of the ass and loosed the fetters a little,
and forbade the soldiers any further revenge.
"The skin of a leopard would become you better," said Vergilius to
Antipater, as he unlashed the coat of shame.
The wrathful Jew, still cursing, tried to bite the friendly hand of his
keeper. "My noble prince," said Vergilius, "you flatter me; I am not
good to eat.
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