All officials were required to take part in the festivities.

The influence of the priests was exerted to beat up carnival recruits amongst their flocks, and yet the people obstinately declined coming.

The revel was ready, but the revellers were wanting.

The stiff-necked Romans were not content with stopping away, but insisted on going elsewhere.

By one of those tacit understandings, which are always the characteristic of a country without public life or liberty, a place of rendezvous was fixed upon.