But that was before Augustus had learned that even his own household was unworthy of full confidence.
Antipater had brought many slaves to Rome, and some of the noblest horses in the empire.

He had hired a palace and built a lion-house, where, before intimates, he was wont to display his courage and his skill.

It had a small arena and was in the midst of a great garden.
There he kept a lion from northern Africa, a tiger, and a black leopard from the Himalayas.

He was training for the Herodian prize at the Jewish amphitheatre in Caesarea.

These great, stealthy cats in his garden typified the passions of his heart.