I do not think I could possibly find a sweeter and more endearing animal than the dormouse. It is quite undeserving of the Romans' tendency to consume it in vast quantities.The Stoic Seneca was right to criticize the practice of eating flamingo tongues - I dare not say this to my master, who constantly and heartily ridiculed this particular opinion of the man in front of everyone, including the slaves - but I wonder why he did not have more to say about the deaths of these poor little things.
The children of the family have a lot of fun feeding and playing with the mice as they fatten up. The creatures become fattened to bursting, and especially docile, when they are transferred to the perforated jars specifically designed for such a purpose.
Most of the slaves and I do not have the heart to inform the children that the dear animals they coo to are destined for the oven.
It is probably why they munch so happily on the finished dish when I have it brought to the table.
DORMOUSE
Pound dormouse meat with pepper. Place in an earthenware bowl with caraway, cumin, bay leaves, dates, honey, vinegar, wine, liquamen, and olive oil. Roast in the oven.
