` 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 -- Gaul and Britain . '' ' `` Five years hence you will remember that you have drunk '' -- he passed me the cup and there was blue borage in it -- `` with the Emperor of Rome ! '' ' `` No ; you ca n't drive three mules . They will tear you in pieces , '' said my Father . ' `` And you on the Wall , among the heather , will weep because your notion of justice was more to you than the favour of the Emperor of Rome . '' ' I sat quite still .
One does not answer a XXXXX who wears the Purple . '
Emperor Father Gaul General Legion Parnesius Prefect Rome borage wine-skins