standing in the banquet doorway , i gazed upon the feast.table after table was loaded with roasted pheasant , succulent baked fish , glazed sweet potatoes , bread , figs , dates , nuts , fruit and honey.rows of oil lamps adorned each table , lighting the room with soft , flickering light.dancers danced , flutes played and everyone in this room was merry , even though they knew that tomorrow , octavian would arrive.perhaps they were merry because of that very thing.he had n't arrived yet .