And now Alfidius and his myrmidon bound their captive to a furca, a wooden yoke passing down the back of the neck and down each arm.

The rude thongs cut the flesh cruelly, and the wretches laughed to see how the delicate boy writhed and faltered under the pain and the load.
"Ah, ha! my fine _Furcifer_,"[45] cried Alfidius, when this work was completed.

"How do you find yourself ?" [45] Furca-bearer, a coarse epithet.
"Do you mock at me, you '_three letter man_' ?" retorted Agias in grim despair, referring cuttingly to FVR[46] branded on Alfidius's forehead.
[46] Thief.

Branding was a common punishment for slaves.
"So you sing, my pretty bird," laughed the executioner.

"I think you will croak sorrowfully enough before long.