`` You 've taken my men out of my command . I should only be your butcher if I killed him now . '' Do you see what I meant ? ' Parnesius turned to Dan . ` Yes , ' said Dan . ` It would n't have been fair , somehow . ' ` That was what I thought , ' said Parnesius . ` But Maximus frowned . `` You 'll never be an Emperor , '' he said . `` Not even a General will you be . '' ' I was silent , but my Father seemed pleased . ' `` I came here to see the last of you , '' he said . ' `` You have seen it , '' said Maximus . `` I shall never need your son any more . He will live and he will die an officer of a Legion -- and he might have been Prefect of one of my Provinces . Now eat and drink with us , '' he said . `` Your men will wait till you have finished . '' ` My miserable thirty stood like wine-skins glistening in the hot sun , and Maximus led us to where his people had set a meal . Himself he mixed the wine . ' `` A year from now , '' he said , `` you will remember that you have sat with the Emperor of Britain -- and Gaul . '' '
`` Yes , '' said the Pater , `` you can drive two mules -- XXXXX and Britain . '' '
Britain Dan Emperor Gaul General Legion Maximus Parnesius Prefect wine-skins