Mock-burial anointing with nard (Sat. 77.7-78.4): “Sic amicus vester, qui fuit rana, nunc est rex. Interim, Stiche, profer vitalia, in quibus volo me efferri. Profer et unguentum et ex illa amphora gustum, ex qua iubeo lavari ossa mea.” (78) Non est moratus Stichus, sed et stragulam albam et praetextam in triclinium attulit. <Vitalia Trimalchio accepit> iussitque nos temptare, an bonis lanis essent confecta. Tum subridens: “Vide tu, inquit, Stiche, ne ista mures tangant aut tineae; alioquin te vivum conburam. Ego gloriosus volo efferri, ut totus mihi populus bene imprecetur.” Statim ampullam nardi aperuit omnesque nos unxit et: “Spero, inquit, futurum ut aeque me mortuum iuvet tanquam vivum.” Nam vinum quidem in vinarium iussit infundi et: “Putate vos, ait, ad parentalia mea invitatos esse” .

(Sat. 77.7-78.4) “So your humble servant, who was a toad once upon a time, is a king now. Meantime, Stichus, just bring out the graveclothes I propose to be buried in; also the unguent, and a taste of the wine I wish to have my bones washed with.” (78) Without a moment’s delay, Stichus produced a white shroud and a magistrate’s gown into the dining-hall, and asked us to feel if they were made of good wool. Then his master added with a laugh, “Mind, Stichus, mice and moth don’t get at them; else I’ll have you burned alive. I wish to be buried in all my bravery, that the whole people may call down the blessings on my head.” Immediately afterwards he opened a pot of spikenard, and after rubbing us all with the ointment, “I only hope,” said he, “it will give me as much pleasure when I’m dead as it does now when I’m alive.” Further he ordered the wine vessels to be filled up, telling us to “imagine you are invited guests at my funeral feast.” (Allinson 1930).