One of these, a tall and broad-shouldered Lygian, called Ursus in the house, who with other servants had in his time gone with Lygia's mother and her to the camp of the Romans, fell now at her feet, and then bent down to the knees of Pomponia, saying,--"O domina! permit me to go with my lady, to serve her and watch over her in the house of Caesar." "Thou art not our servant, but Lygia's," answered Pomponia; "but if they admit thee through Caesar's doors, in what way wilt thou be able to watch over her ?" "I know not, domina; I know only that iron breaks in my hands just as wood does." When Aulus, who came up at that moment, had heard what the question was, not only did he not oppose the wishes of Ursus, but he declared that he had not even the right to detain him.

They were sending away Lygia as a hostage whom Caesar had claimed, and they were obliged in the same way to send her retinue, which passed with her to the control of Caesar.

Here he whispered to Pomponia that under the form of an escort she could add as many slaves as she thought proper, for the centurion could not refuse to receive them.
There was a certain comfort for Lygia in this.

Pomponia also was glad that she could surround her with servants of her own choice.

Therefore, besides Ursus, she appointed to her the old tire-woman, two maidens from Cyprus well skilled in hair-dressing, and two German maidens for the bath.