THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton COTETS BOO! THE FI"STChapter I. Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII BOO! THE SECODChapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX BOO! THE THI"DChapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X Chapter XI BOO! THE FO#"THChapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X Chapter XI Chapter XII Chapter XIII Chapter XIV Chapter XV Chapter XVI Chapter XVII BOO! THE FIFTHChapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X Chapter The Last BOO! THE FI"ST C$a%ter I& THE T'O GETLEME OF POMPEII& 'HO, Diomed, well met! Do you sup with Glaucus to!i"ht#' said a you!" ma! o$ small stature, who wore his tu!ic i! those loose a!d e$$emi!ate $olds which pro%ed him to &e a "e!tlema! a!d a co'com&. '(las, !o! dear Clodius) he has !ot i!%ited me,' replied Diomed, a ma! o$ portly $rame a!d o$ middle a"e. '*y +ollu', a scur%y tric,! $or they say his suppers are the &est i! +ompeii'. '+retty well-thou"h there is !e%er e!ou"h o$ wi!e $or me. It is !ot the old Gree, &lood that $lows i! his %ei!s, $or he prete!ds that wi!e ma,es him dull the !e't mor!i!".' 'There may &e a!other reaso! $or that thri$t,' said Diomed, raisi!" his &rows. '.ith all his co!ceit a!d e'tra%a"a!ce he is !ot so rich, I $a!cy, as he a$$ects to &e, a!d perhaps lo%es to sa%e his amphorae &etter tha! his wit.' '(! additio!al reaso! $or suppi!" with him while the sesterces last. /e't year, Diomed, we must $i!d a!other Glaucus.' 'He is $o!d o$ the dice, too, I hear.' 'He is $o!d o$ e%ery pleasure) a!d while he li,es the pleasure o$ "i%i!" suppers, we are all $o!d o$ him.' 'Ha, ha, Clodius, that is well said! Ha%e you e%er see! my wi!ecellars, &ythe&y#' 'I thi!, !ot, my "ood Diomed.' '.ell, you must sup with me some e%e!i!") I ha%e tolera&le murae!ae i! my reser%oir, a!d I as, +a!sa the aedile to meet you.' 'O, !o state with me!-+ersicos odi apparatus, I am easily co!te!ted. .ell, the day wa!es) I am $or the &aths-a!d you...' 'To the 0uaestor-&usi!ess o$ state-a$terwards to the temple o$ Isis. Vale!' '(! oste!tatious, &ustli!", ill&red $ellow,' muttered Clodius to himsel$, as he sau!tered slowly away. 'He thi!,s with his $easts a!d his wi!ecellars to ma,e us $or"et that he is the so! o$ a $reedma!-a!d so we will, whe! we do him the ho!our o$ wi!!i!" his mo!ey) these rich ple&eia!s are a har%est $or us spe!dthri$t !o&les.' Thus solilo0uisi!", Clodius arri%ed i! the Via Domitia!a, which was crowded with passe!"ers a!d chariots, a!d e'hi&ited all that "ay a!d a!imated e'u&era!ce o$ li$e a!d motio! which we $i!d at this day i! the streets o$ /aples. The &ells o$ the cars as they rapidly "lided &y each other 1i!"led merrily o! the ear, a!d Clodius with smiles or !ods claimed $amiliar ac0uai!ta!ce with whate%er e0uipa"e was most ele"a!t or $a!tastic2 i! $act, !o idler was &etter ,!ow! i! +ompeii. '.hat, Clodius! a!d how ha%e you slept o! your "ood $ortu!e#' cried, i! a pleasa!t a!d musical %oice, ayou!" ma!, i! a chariot o$ the most $astidious a!d "race$ul $ashio!. 3po! its sur$ace o$ &ro!4e were ela&orately wrou"ht, i! the still e'0uisite wor,ma!ship o$ Greece, relie$s o$ the Olympia! "ames) the two horses that drew the car were o$ the rarest &reed o$ +arthia) their sle!der lim&s seemed to disdai! the "rou!d a!d court the air, a!d yet at the sli"htest touch o$ the charioteer, who stood &ehi!d the you!"ow!er o$ the e0uipa"e, they paused motio!less, as i$ sudde!ly tra!s$ormed i!to sto!e-li$eless, &ut li$eli,e, as o!e o$ the &reathi!" wo!ders o$ +ra'iteles. The ow!er himsel$ was o$ that sle!der a!d &eauti$ul symmetry $rom which the sculptors o$ (the!s drew their models) his Grecia! ori"i! &etrayed itsel$ i! his li"ht &ut clusteri!" loc,s, a!d the per$ect harmo!y o$ his $eatures. He wore !o to"a, which i! the time o$ the emperors had i!deed ceased to &e the "e!eral disti!ctio! o$ the 5oma!s, a!d was especially ridiculed &y the prete!ders to $ashio!) &ut his tu!ic "lowed i! the richest hues o$ the Tyria! dye, a!d the $i&ulae, or &uc,les, &y which it was $aste!ed, spar,led with emeralds2 arou!d his !ec, wasa chai! o$ "old, which i! the middle o$ his &reast twisted itsel$ i!to the $orm o$ a serpe!t's head, $rom the mouth o$ which hu!" pe!de!t a lar"e si"!et ri!" o$ ela&orate a!d most e'0uisite wor,ma!ship) the slee%es o$ the tu!ic were loose, a!d $ri!"ed at the ha!d with "old2 a!d across the waist a "irdle wrou"hti! ara&es0ue desi"!s, a!d o$ the same material as the $ri!"e, ser%ed i! lieu o$ poc,ets $or the receptacle o$ the ha!d,erchie$ a!d the purse, the stilus a!d the ta&lets. '6y dear Glaucus!' said Clodius, 'I re1oice to see that your losses ha%e so little a$$ected your mie!. .hy, you seem as i$ you had &ee! i!spired &y (pollo, a!d your $ace shi!es with happi!ess li,e a "lory)a!y o!e mi"ht ta,e you $or the wi!!er, a!d me $or the loser.' '(!d what is there i! the loss or "ai! o$ those dull pieces o$ metal that should cha!"e our spirit, my Clodius# *y Ve!us, while yet you!", we ca! co%er our $ull loc,s with chaplets-while yet the cithara sou!ds o! u!sated ears-while yet the smile o$ Lydia or o$ Chloe $lashes o%er our %ei!s i! which the &lood ru!s so swi$tly, so lo!" shall we $i!d deli"ht i! the su!!y air, a!d ma,e &ald time itsel$ &ut the treasurer o$ our 1oys. 7ou sup with me to!i"ht, you ,!ow.' '.ho e%er $or"ets the i!%itatio! o$ Glaucus!' '*ut which way "o you !ow#' '.hy, I thou"ht o$ %isiti!" the &aths2 &ut it wa!ts yet a! hour to the usual time.' '.ell, I will dismiss my chariot, a!d "o with you. 8o, so, my +hylias,' stro,i!" the horse !earest to him,which &y a low !ei"h a!d with &ac,ward ears play$ully ac,!owled"ed the courtesy2 'a holiday $or you today. Is he !ot ha!dsome, Clodius#' '.orthy o$ +hoe&us,' retur!ed the !o&le parasite-'or o$ Glaucus.' C$a%ter II TH9 *LI/D :LO.95GI5L, (/D TH9 *9(3T7 O: :(8HIO/. TH9 (TH9/I(/'8 CO/:988IO/. TH9 59(D95'8 I/T5OD3CTIO/ TO (5*(C98 O: 9G7+T. T(L;I/G li"htly o! a thousa!d matters, the two you!" me! sau!tered throu"h the streets) they were !ow i! that 0uarter which was $illed with the "ayest shops, their ope! i!teriors all a!d each radia!t withthe "audy yet harmo!ious colors o$ $rescoes, i!co!cei%a&ly %aried i! $a!cy a!d desi"!. The spar,li!" $ou!tai!s, that at e%ery %ista threw upwards their "rate$ul spray i! the summer air) the crowd o$ passe!"ers, or rather loiterers, mostly clad i! ro&es o$ the Tyria! dye) the "ay "roups collected rou!d each more attracti%e shop) the sla%es passi!" to a!d $ro with &uc,ets o$ &ro!4e, cast i! the most "race$ul shapes, a!d &or!e upo! their heads) the cou!try "irls statio!ed at $re0ue!t i!ter%als with &as,ets o$ &lushi!" $ruit, a!d $lowers more alluri!" to the a!cie!t Italia!s tha! to their desce!da!ts ) the !umerous hau!ts which $ul$illed with that idle people the o$$ice o$ ca$es a!d clu&s at this day) the shops, where o! shel%es o$ mar&le were ra!"ed the %ases o$ wi!e a!d oil, a!d &e$ore whose thresholds, seats, protected $rom the su! &y a purple aw!i!", i!%ited the weary to rest a!d the i!dole!t to lou!"e-made a sce!e o$ such "lowi!" a!d %i%acious e'citeme!t, as mi"ht well "i%e the (the!ia! spirit o$ Glaucus a! e'cuse $or its suscepti&ility to 1oy. 'Tal, to me !o more o$ 5ome,' said he to Clodius. '+leasure is too stately a!d po!derous i! those mi"htywalls2 e%e! i! the preci!cts o$ the court-e%e! i! the Golde! House o$ /ero, a!d the i!cipie!t "lories o$ the palace o$ Titus, there is a certai! dul!ess o$ ma"!i$ice!ce-the eye aches-the spirit is wearied) &esides, my Clodius, we are disco!te!ted whe! we compare the e!ormous lu'ury a!d wealth o$ others with the mediocrity o$ our ow! state. *ut here we surre!der oursel%es easily to pleasure, a!d we ha%e the &rillia!cy o$ lu'ury without the lassitude o$ its pomp.' 'It was $rom that $eeli!" that you chose your summer retreat at +ompeii#' 'It was. I pre$er it to *aiae2 I "ra!t the charms o$ the latter, &ut I lo%e !ot the peda!ts who resort there, a!d who seem to wei"h out their pleasures &y the drachm.' '7et you are $o!d o$ the lear!ed, too) a!d as $or poetry, why, your house is literally elo0ue!t with (9schylus a!d Homer, the epic a!d the drama.' '7es, &ut those 5oma!s who mimic my (the!ia! a!cestors do e%erythi!" so hea%ily. 9%e! i! the chase they ma,e their sla%es carry +lato with them) a!d whe!e%er the &oar is lost, out they ta,e their &oo,s a!d their papyrus, i! order !ot to lose their time too. .he! the da!ci!""irls swim &e$ore them i! all the &la!dishme!t o$ +ersia! ma!!ers, some dro!e o$ a $reedma!, with a $ace o$ sto!e, reads them a sectio! o$ Cicero =De O$$iciis=. 3!s,il$ul pharmacists! pleasure a!d study are !ot eleme!ts to &e thus mi'ed to"ether, they must &e e!1oyed separately2 the 5oma!s lose &oth &y this pra"matical a$$ectatio! o$ re$i!eme!t, a!d pro%e that they ha%e !o souls $or either. Oh, my Clodius, how little your cou!tryme!,!ow o$ the true %ersatility o$ a +ericles, o$ the true witcheries o$ a! (spasia! It was &ut the other day that I paid a %isit to +li!y2 he was sitti!" i! his summerhouse writi!", while a! u!$ortu!ate sla%e played o! the ti&ia. His !ephew steel co!%ictio!. I &elie%ei! mi!e ow! ,!owled"e, a!d that has re%ealed to me-&ut !o matter. /ow to earthlier a!d more i!%iti!" themes. I$ I thus $ul$illed my o&1ect with (paecides, what was my desi"! $or Io!e# Thou ,!owest already I i!te!d her $or my 0uee!-my &ride-my heart's Isis. /e%er till I saw her ,!ew I all the lo%e o$ which my !ature is capa&le.' 'I hear $rom a thousa!d lips that she is a seco!d Hele!,' said Cale!us) a!d he smac,ed his ow! lips, &ut whether at the wi!e or at the !otio! it is !ot easy to decide. '7es, she has a &eauty that Greece itsel$ !e%er e'celled,' resumed (r&aces. '*ut that is !ot all2 she has a soul worthy to match with mi!e. 8he has a "e!ius &eyo!d that o$ woma!-,ee!-da44li!"-&old. +oetry $lows spo!ta!eous to her lips2 utter &ut a truth, a!d, howe%er i!tricate a!d pro$ou!d, her mi!d sei4es a!d comma!ds it. Her ima"i!atio! a!d her reaso! are !ot at war with each other) they harmo!i4ea!d direct her course as the wi!ds a!d the wa%es direct some lo$ty &ar,. .ith this she u!ites a dari!" i!depe!de!ce o$ thou"ht) she ca! sta!d alo!e i! the world) she ca! &e &ra%e as she is "e!tle) this is the !ature I ha%e sou"ht all my li$e i! woma!, a!d !e%er $ou!d till !ow. Io!e must &e mi!e! I! her I ha%e a dou&le passio!) I wish to e!1oy a &eauty o$ spirit as o$ $orm.' '8he is !ot yours yet, the!#' said the priest. '/o) she lo%es me-&ut as a $rie!d-she lo%es me with her mi!d o!ly. 8he $a!cies i! me the paltry %irtues which I ha%e o!ly the pro$ou!der %irtue to disdai!. *ut you must pursue with me her history. The &rother a!d sister were you!" a!d rich2 Io!e is proud a!d am&itious-proud o$ her "e!ius-the ma"ic o$ her poetry-the charm o$ her co!%ersatio!. .he! her &rother le$t me, a!d e!tered your temple, i! order to &e !ear him she remo%ed also to +ompeii. 8he has su$$ered her tale!ts to &e ,!ow!. 8he summo!s crowds to her $easts) her %oice e!cha!ts them) her poetry su&dues. 8he deli"hts i! &ei!" thou"ht the successor o$ 9ri!!a.' 'Or o$ 8appho#' '*ut 8appho without lo%e! I e!coura"ed her i! this &old!ess o$ career-i! this i!dul"e!ce o$ %a!ity a!do$ pleasure. I lo%ed to steep her amidst the dissipatio!s a!d lu'ury o$ this a&a!do!ed city. 6ar, me, Cale!us! I desired to e!er%ate her mi!d!-it has &ee! too pure to recei%e yet the &reath which I wish !ot to pass, &ut &ur!i!"ly to eat i!to, the mirror. I wished her to &e surrou!ded &y lo%ers, hollow, %ai!, a!d $ri%olous , i! order to $eel the wa!t o$ lo%e. The!, i! those so$t i!ter%als o$ lassitude that succeed to e'citeme!t-I ca! wea%e my spells-e'cite her i!terest-attract her passio!s-possess mysel$ o$ her heart. :or it is !ot the you!", !or the &eauti$ul, !or the "ay, that should $asci!ate Io!e) her ima"i!atio! must &e wo!, a!d the li$e o$ (r&aces has &ee! o!e sce!e o$ triumph o%er the ima"i!atio!s o$ his ,i!d.' '(!d hast thou !o $ear, the!, o$ thy ri%als# The "alla!ts o$ Italy are s,illed i! the art to please.' '/o!e! Her Gree, soul despises the &ar&aria! 5oma!s, a!d would scor! itsel$ i$ it admitted a thou"ht o$lo%e $or o!e o$ that upstart race.' '*ut thou art a! 9"yptia!, !ot a Gree,!' '9"ypt,' replied (r&aces, 'is the mother o$ (the!s. Her tutelary 6i!er%a is our deity) a!d her $ou!der, Cecrops, was the $u"iti%e o$ 9"yptia! 8ais. This ha%e I already tau"ht to her) a!d i! my &lood she %e!erates the eldest dy!asties o$ earth. *ut yet I will ow! that o$ late some u!easy suspicio!s ha%e crossed my mi!d. 8he is more sile!t tha! she used to &e) she lo%es mela!choly a!d su&dui!" music) she si"hs without a! outward cause. This may &e the &e"i!!i!" o$ lo%e-it may &e the wa!t o$ lo%e. I! either case it is time $or me to &e"i! my operatio!s o! her $a!cies a!d her heart2 i! the o!e case, to di%ert the source o$ lo%e to me) i! the other, i! me to awa,e! it. It is $or this that I ha%e sou"ht you.' '(!d how ca! I assist you#' 'I am a&out to i!%ite her to a $east i! my house2 I wish to da44le-to &ewilder-to i!$lame her se!ses. Our arts-the arts &y which 9"ypt trai!ed her you!" !o%itiates-must &e employed) a!d, u!der %eil o$ the mysteries o$ reli"io!, I will ope! to her the secrets o$ lo%e.' '(h! !ow I u!dersta!d2-o!e o$ those %oluptuous &a!0uets that, despite our dull %ows o$ morti$ied cold!ess, we, the priests o$ Isis, ha%e shared at thy house.' '/o, !o! Thi!,est thou her chaste eyes are ripe $or such sce!es# /o) &ut $irst we must e!s!are the &rother-a! easier tas,. Liste! to me, while I "i%e you my i!structio!s.' C$a%ter ( MO"E OF THE FLO'E"-GI"L& THE P"OG"ESS OF LO(E& TH9 su! sho!e "aily i!to that &eauti$ul cham&er i! the house o$ Glaucus, which I ha%e &e$ore said is !ow called the '5oom o$ Leda'. The mor!i!" rays e!tered throu"h rows o$ small caseme!ts at the hi"her part o$ the room, a!d throu"h the door which ope!ed o! the "arde!, that a!swered to the i!ha&ita!ts o$ the souther! cities the same purpose that a "ree!house or co!ser%atory does to us. The si4e o$ the "arde! did !ot adapt it $or e'ercise, &ut the %arious a!d $ra"ra!t pla!ts with which it was $illed "a%e a lu'ury to that i!dole!ce so dear to the dwellers i! a su!!y clime. (!d !ow the odorous, $a!!ed &y a "e!tle wi!d creepi!" $rom the ad1ace!t sea, scattered themsel%es o%er that cham&er, whosewalls %ied with the richest colors o$ the most "lowi!" $lowers. *esides the "em o$ the room-the pai!ti!" o$ Leda a!d Ty!darus-i! the ce!tre o$ each compartme!t o$ the walls were set other pictures o$ e'0uisite &eauty. I! o!e you saw Cupid lea!i!" o! the ,!ees o$ Ve!us) i! a!other (riad!e sleepi!" o! the &each, u!co!scious o$ the per$idy o$ Theseus. 6errily the su!&eams played to a!d $ro o! the tessellated $loor a!d the &rillia!t walls-$ar more happily came the rays o$ 1oy to the heart o$ the you!"Glaucus. 'I ha%e see! her, the!,' said he, as he paced that !arrow cham&er-'I ha%e heard her-!ay, I ha%e spo,e! to her a"ai!-I ha%e liste!ed to the music o$ her so!", a!d she su!" o$ "lory a!d o$ Greece. I ha%e disco%ered the lo!"sou"ht idol o$ my dreams) a!d li,e the Cypria! sculptor, I ha%e &reathed li$e i!to my ow! ima"i!i!"s.' Lo!"er, perhaps, had &ee! the e!amoured solilo0uy o$ Glaucus, &ut at that mome!t a shadow dar,e!ed the threshold o$ the cham&er, a!d a you!" $emale, still hal$ a child i! years, &ro,e upo! his solitude. 8he was dressed simply i! a white tu!ic, which reached $rom the !ec, to the a!,les) u!der her arm she &ore a &as,et o$ $lowers, a!d i! the other ha!d she held a &ro!4e water%ase) her $eatures were more $ormed tha! e'actly &ecame her years, yet they were so$t a!d $emi!i!e i! their outli!e, a!d without &ei!" &eauti$ul i! themsel%es, they were almost made so &y their &eauty o$ e'pressio!) there was somethi!" i!e$$a&ly "e!tle, a!d you would say patie!t, i! her aspect. ( loo, o$ resi"!ed sorrow, o$ tra!0uil e!dura!ce, had &a!ished the smile, &ut !ot the sweet!ess, $rom her lips) somethi!" timid a!d cautious i! her step-somethi!" wa!deri!" i! her eyes, led you to suspect the a$$lictio! which she had su$$ered $rom her &irth-she was &li!d) &ut i! the or&s themsel%es there was !o %isi&le de$ect-their mela!choly a!d su&dued li"ht was clear, cloudless, a!d sere!e. 'They tell me that Glaucus is here,' said she) 'may I come i!#' '(h, my /ydia,' said the Gree,, 'is that you I ,!ew you would !ot !e"lect my i!%itatio!.' 'Glaucus did &ut 1ustice to himsel$,' a!swered /ydia, with a &lush) '$or he has always &ee! ,i!d to the poor &li!d "irl.' '.ho could &e otherwise#' said Glaucus, te!derly, a!d i! the %oice o$ a compassio!ate &rother. /ydia si"hed a!d paused &e$ore she resumed, without replyi!" to his remar,. '7ou ha%e &ut lately retur!ed#' 'This is the si'th su! that hath sho!e upo! me at +ompeii.' '(!d you are well# (h, I !eed !ot as,-$or who that sees the earth, which they tell me is so &eauti$ul, ca! &e ill#' 'I am well. (!d you, /ydia-how you ha%e "row!! /e't year you will &e thi!,i!" what a!swer to ma,e your lo%ers.' ( seco!d &lush passed o%er the chee, o$ /ydia, &ut this time she $row!ed as she &lushed. 'I ha%e &rou"ht you some $lowers,' said she, without replyi!" to a remar, that she seemed to rese!t) a!d $eeli!"a&out the room till she $ou!d the ta&le that stood &y Glaucus, she laid the &as,et upo! it2 'they are poor, &ut they are $resh"athered.' 'They mi"ht come $rom :lora hersel$,' said he, ,i!dly) 'a!d I re!ew a"ai! my %ow to the Graces, that I will wear !o other "arla!ds while thy ha!ds ca! wea%e me such as these.' '(!d how $i!d you the $lowers i! your %iridarium#-are they thri%i!"#' '.o!der$ully so-the Lares themsel%es must ha%e te!ded them.' '(h, !ow you "i%e me pleasure) $or I came, as o$te! as I could steal the leisure, to water a!d te!d them i! your a&se!ce.' 'How shall I tha!, thee, $air /ydia#' said the Gree,. 'Glaucus little dreamed that he le$t o!e memory so watch$ul o%er his $a%orites at +ompeii.' The ha!d o$ the child trem&led, a!d her &reast hea%ed &e!eath her tu!ic. 8he tur!ed rou!d i! em&arrassme!t. 'The su! is hot $or the poor $lowers,' said she, 'today a!d they will miss me) $or I ha%e &ee! ill lately, a!d it is !i!e days si!ce I %isited them.' 'Ill, /ydia!-yet your chee, has more color tha! it had last year.' 'I am o$te! aili!",' said the &li!d "irl, touchi!"ly) 'a!d as I "row up I "rie%e more that I am &li!d. *ut !ow to the $lowers!' 8o sayi!", she made a sli"ht re%ere!ce with her head, a!d passi!" i!to the %iridarium, &usied hersel$ with wateri!" the $lowers. '+oor /ydia,' thou"ht Glaucus, "a4i!" o! her) 'thi!e is a hard doom! Thou seest !ot the earth-!or the su!-!or the ocea!-!or the stars-a&o%e all, thou ca!st !ot &ehold Io!e.' (t that last thou"ht his mi!d $lew &ac, to the past e%e!i!", a!d was a seco!d time distur&ed i! its re%eries &y the e!tra!ce o$ Clodius. It was a proo$ how much a si!"le e%e!i!" had su$$iced to i!crease a!d to re$i!e the lo%e o$ the (the!ia! $or Io!e, that whereas he had co!$ided to Clodius the secret o$ his$irst i!ter%iew with her, a!d the e$$ect it had produced o! him, he !ow $elt a! i!%i!ci&le a%ersio! e%e! to me!tio! to him her !ame. He had see! Io!e, &ri"ht, pure, u!sullied, i! the midst o$ the "ayest a!d most pro$li"ate "alla!ts o$ +ompeii, charmi!" rather tha! awi!" the &oldest i!to respect, a!d cha!"i!" the %ery !ature o$ the most se!sual a!d the least ideal-as &y her i!tellectual a!d re$i!i!" spells she re%ersed the $a&le o$ Circe, a!d co!%erted the a!imals i!to me!. They who could !ot u!dersta!d her soul were made spiritual, as it were, &y the ma"ic o$ her &eauty-they who had !o heart $or poetry had ears, at least, $or the melody o$ her %oice. 8eei!" her thus surrou!ded, puri$yi!" a!d &ri"hte!i!" all thi!"s with her prese!ce, Glaucus almost $or the $irst time $elt the !o&le!ess o$ his ow! !ature-he $elt how u!worthy o$ the "oddess o$ his dreams had &ee! his compa!io!s a!d his pursuits. ( %eil seemed li$ted $rom his eyes) he saw that immeasura&le dista!ce &etwee! himsel$ a!d his associates which the decei%i!" mists o$ pleasure had hitherto co!cealed) he was re$i!ed &y a se!se o$ his coura"e i! aspiri!"to Io!e. He $elt that he!ce$orth it was his desti!y to loo, upward a!d to soar. He could !o lo!"er &reathe that !ame, which sou!ded to the se!se o$ his arde!t $a!cy as somethi!" sacred a!d di%i!e, to lewd a!d %ul"ar ears. 8he was !o lo!"er the &eauti$ul "irl o!ce see! a!d passio!ately remem&ered-she was already the mistress, the di%i!ity o$ his soul. This $eeli!" who has !ot e'perie!ced#-I$ thou hast !ot, the! thou hast !e%er lo%ed. .he! Clodius there$ore spo,e to him i! a$$ected tra!sport o$ the &eauty o$ Io!e, Glaucus $elt o!ly rese!tme!t a!d dis"ust that such lips should dare to praise her) he a!swered coldly, a!d the 5oma! ima"i!ed that his passio! was cured i!stead o$ hei"hte!ed. Clodius scarcely re"retted it, $or he was a!'ious that Glaucus should marry a! heiress yet more richly e!dowed-?ulia, the dau"hter o$ the wealthy Diomed, whose "old the "amester ima"i!ed he could readily di%ert i!to his ow! co$$ers. Their co!%ersatio! did !ot $low with its usual ease) a!d !o soo!er had Clodius le$t him tha! Glaucus &e!t his way to the house o$ Io!e. I! passi!" &y the threshold he a"ai! e!cou!tered /ydia, who had $i!ished her"race$ul tas,. 8he ,!ew his step o! the i!sta!t. '7ou are early a&road#' said she. '7es) $or the s,ies o$ Campa!ia re&u,e the slu""ard who !e"lects them.' '(h, would I could see them!' murmured the &li!d "irl, &ut so low that Glaucus did !ot o%erhear the complai!t. The Thessalia! li!"ered o! the threshold a $ew mome!ts, a!d the! "uidi!" her steps &y a lo!" sta$$, which she used with "reat de'terity, she too, her way homeward. 8he soo! tur!ed $rom the more "audystreets, a!d e!tered a 0uarter o$ the tow! &ut little lo%ed &y the decorous a!d the so&er. *ut $rom the low a!d rude e%ide!ces o$ %ice arou!d her she was sa%ed &y her mis$ortu!e. (!d at that hour the streetswere 0uiet a!d sile!t, !or was her youth$ul ear shoc,ed &y the sou!ds which too o$te! &ro,e alo!" the o&sce!e a!d o&scure hau!ts she patie!tly a!d sadly tra%ersed. 8he ,!oc,ed at the &ac,door o$ a sort o$ ta%er!) it ope!ed, a!d a rude %oice &ade her "i%e a! accou!t o$ the sesterces. 9re she could reply, a!other %oice, less %ul"arly acce!ted, said2 '/e%er mi!d those petty pro$its, my *ur&o. The "irl's %oice will &e wa!ted a"ai! soo! at our rich $rie!d's re%els) a!d he pays, as thou ,!owest, pretty hi"h $or his !i"hti!"ales' to!"ues. 'Oh, I hope !ot-I trust !ot,' cried /ydia, trem&li!". 'I will &e" $rom su!rise to su!set, &ut se!d me !ot there.' '(!d why#' as,ed the same %oice. '*ecause-&ecause I am you!", a!d delicately &or!, a!d the $emale compa!io!s I meet there are !ot $it associates $or o!e who-who...' 'Is a sla%e i! the house o$ *ur&o,' retur!ed the %oice iro!ically, a!d with a coarse lau"h. The Thessalia! put dow! the $lowers, a!d, lea!i!" her $ace o! her ha!ds, wept sile!tly. 6ea!while, Glaucus sou"ht the house o$ the &eauti$ul /eapolita!. He $ou!d Io!e sitti!" amidst her atte!da!ts, who were at wor, arou!d her. Her harp stood at her side, $or Io!e hersel$ was u!usually idle, perhaps u!usually thou"ht$ul, that day. He thou"ht her e%e! more &eauti$ul &y the mor!i!" li"ht a!d i! her simple ro&e, tha! amidst the &la4i!" lamps, a!d decorated with the costly 1ewels o$ the pre%ious !i"ht2 !ot the less so $rom a certai! pale!ess that o%erspread her tra!spare!t hues-!ot the less so $rom the &lush that mou!ted o%er them whe! he approached. (ccustomed to $latter, $lattery diedupo! his lips whe! he addressed Io!e. He $elt it &e!eath her to utter the homa"e which e%ery loo, co!%eyed. They spo,e o$ Greece) this was a theme o! which Io!e lo%ed rather to liste! tha! to co!%erse2 it was a theme o! which the Gree, could ha%e &ee! elo0ue!t $or e%er. He descri&ed to her thesil%er oli%e "ro%es that yet clad the &a!,s o$ Ilyssus, a!d the temples, already despoiled o$ hal$ their "lories-&ut how &eauti$ul i! decay! He loo,ed &ac, o! the mela!choly city o$ Harmodius the $ree, a!d +ericles the ma"!i$ice!t, $rom the hei"ht o$ that dista!t memory, which mellowed i!to o!e ha4y li"ht all the ruder a!d dar,er shades. He had see! the la!d o$ poetry chie$ly i! the poetical a"e o$ early youth) a!d the associatio!s o$ patriotism were &le!ded with those o$ the $lush a!d spri!" o$ li$e. (!d Io!e liste!ed to him, a&sor&ed a!d mute) dearer were those acce!ts, a!d those descriptio!s, tha! all the prodi"al adulatio! o$ her !um&erless adorers. .as it a si! to lo%e her cou!tryma!# she lo%ed (the!s i! him-the "ods o$ her race, the la!d o$ her dreams, spo,e to her i! his %oice! :rom that time they daily saw each other. (t the cool o$ the e%e!i!" they made e'cursio!s o! the placid sea. *y !i"ht they met a"ai! i! Io!e's porticoes a!d halls. Their lo%e was sudde!, &ut it was stro!") it $illed all the sources o$ their li$e. Heart-&rai!-se!se-ima"i!atio!, all were its mi!isters a!d priests. (s you ta,e some o&stacle $rom two o&1ects that ha%e a mutual attractio!, they met, a!d u!ited at o!ce) their wo!der was,that they had li%ed separate so lo!". (!d it was !atural that they should so lo%e. 7ou!", &eauti$ul, a!d "i$ted-o$ the same &irth, a!d the same soul-there was poetry i! their %ery u!io!. They ima"i!ed the hea%e!s smiled upo! their a$$ectio!. (s the persecuted see, re$u"e at the shri!e, so they reco"!i4ed i! the altar o$ their lo%e a! asylum $rom the sorrows o$ earth) they co%ered it with $lowers-they ,!ew !oto$ the serpe!ts that lay coiled &ehi!d. O!e e%e!i!", the $i$th a$ter their $irst meeti!" at +ompeii, Glaucus a!d Io!e, with a small party o$ chose! $rie!ds, were retur!i!" $rom a! e'cursio! rou!d the &ay) their %essel s,immed li"htly o%er the twili"ht waters, whose lucid mirror was o!ly &ro,e! &y the drippi!" oars. (s the rest o$ the party co!%ersed "aily with each other, Glaucus lay at the $eet o$ Io!e, a!d he would ha%e loo,ed up i! her $ace, &ut he did !ot dare. Io!e &ro,e the pause &etwee! them. '6y poor &rother,' said she, si"hi!", 'how o!ce he would ha%e e!1oyed this hour!' '7our &rother!' said Glaucus) 'I ha%e !ot see! him. Occupied with you, I ha%e thou"ht o$ !othi!" else, or I should ha%e as,ed i$ that was !ot your &rother $or whose compa!io!ship you le$t me at the Temple o$ 6i!er%a, i! /eapolis#' 'It was.' '(!d is he here#' 'He is. '(t +ompeii! a!d !ot co!sta!tly with you# Impossi&le!' 'He has other duties,' a!swered Io!e, sadly) 'he is a priest o$ Isis.' '8o you!", too) a!d that priesthood, i! its laws at least, so se%ere!' said the warm a!d &ri"hthearted Gree,, i! surprise a!d pity. '.hat could ha%e &ee! his i!duceme!t#' 'He was always e!thusiastic a!d $er%e!t i! reli"ious de%otio!2 a!d the elo0ue!ce o$ a! 9"yptia!-our $rie!d a!d "uardia!-,i!dled i! him the pious desire to co!secrate his li$e to the most mystic o$ our deities. +erhaps i! the i!te!se!ess o$ his 4eal, he $ou!d i! the se%erity o$ that peculiar priesthood its peculiar attractio!.' '(!d he does !ot repe!t his choice#-I trust he is happy.' Io!e si"hed deeply, a!d lowered her %eil o%er her eyes. 'I wish,' said she, a$ter a pause, 'that he had !ot &ee! so hasty. +erhaps, li,e all who e'pect too much, heis re%olted too easily!' 'The! he is !ot happy i! his !ew co!ditio!. (!d this 9"yptia!, was he a priest himsel$# was he i!terested i! recruits to the sacred &a!d# '/o. His mai! i!terest was i! our happi!ess. He thou"ht he promoted that o$ my &rother. .e were le$t orpha!s.' 'Li,e mysel$,' said Glaucus, with a deep mea!i!" i! his %oice. Io!e cast dow! her eyes as she resumed2 '(!d (r&aces sou"ht to supply the place o$ our pare!t. 7ou must ,!ow him. He lo%es "e!ius.' '(r&aces! I ,!ow him already) at least, we spea, whe! we meet. *ut $or your praise I would !ot see, to,!ow more o$ him. 6y heart i!cli!es readily to most o$ my ,i!d. *ut that dar, 9"yptia!, with his "loomy &row a!d icy smiles, seems to me to sadde! the %ery su!. O!e would thi!, that, li,e 9pime!ides, the Creta!, he had spe!t $orty years i! a ca%e, a!d had $ou!d somethi!" u!!atural i! the dayli"ht e%er a$terwards.' '7et, li,e 9pime!ides, he is ,i!d, a!d wise, a!d "e!tle,' a!swered Io!e. 'Oh, happy that he has thy praise! He !eeds !o other %irtues to ma,e him dear to me.' 'His calm, his cold!ess,' said Io!e, e%asi%ely pursui!" the su&1ect, 'are perhaps &ut the e'haustio! o$ past su$$eri!"s) as yo!der mou!tai! , which we see dar, a!d tra!0uil i! the dista!ce, o!ce !ursed the $ires $or e%er 0ue!ched.' They &oth "a4ed o! the mou!tai! as Io!e said these words) the rest o$ the s,y was &athed i! rosy a!d te!der hues, &ut o%er that "rey summit, risi!" amidst the woods a!d %i!eyards that the! clom& hal$wayup the asce!t, there hu!" a &lac, a!d omi!ous cloud, the si!"le $row! o$ the la!dscape. ( sudde! a!d u!accou!ta&le "loom came o%er each as they thus "a4ed) a!d i! that sympathy which lo%e had already tau"ht them, a!d which &ade them, i! the sli"htest shadows o$ emotio!, the $ai!test prese!time!t o$ e%il, tur! $or re$u"e to each other, their "a4e at the same mome!t le$t the mou!tai!, a!d $ull o$ u!ima"i!a&le te!der!ess, met. .hat !eed had they o$ words to say they lo%ed# C$a%ter (I TH9 :O.L95 8/(598 (G(I/ TH9 *I5D TH(T H(D ?38T 98C(+9D, (/D 89T8 HI8 /9T8 :O5 ( /9. VICTI6. I/ the history I relate, the e%e!ts are crowded a!d rapid as those o$ the drama. I write o$ a! epoch i! which days su$$iced to ripe! the ordi!ary $ruits o$ years. 6ea!while, (r&aces had !ot o$ late much $re0ue!ted the house o$ Io!e) a!d whe! he had %isited her he had !ot e!cou!tered Glaucus, !or ,!ew he, as yet, o$ that lo%e which had so sudde!ly spru!" up &etwee! himsel$ a!d his desi"!s. I! his i!terest $or the &rother o$ Io!e, he had &ee! $orced, too, a little while, to suspe!d his i!terest i! Io!e hersel$. His pride a!d his sel$ish!ess were aroused a!d alarmed at the sudde! cha!"e which had come o%er the spirit o$ the youth. He trem&led lest he himsel$ should losea docile pupil, a!d Isis a! e!thusiastic ser%a!t. (paecides had ceased to see, or to co!sult him. He was rarely to &e $ou!d) he tur!ed sulle!ly $rom the 9"yptia!-!ay, he $led whe! he percei%ed him i! the dista!ce. (r&aces was o!e o$ those hau"hty a!d power$ul spirits accustomed to master others) he cha$ed at the !otio! that o!e o!ce his ow! should e%er elude his "rasp. He swore i!ly that (paecides should !ot escape him. It was with this resolutio! that he passed throu"h a thic, "ro%e i! the city, which lay &etwee! his house a!d that o$ Io!e, i! his way to the latter) a!d there, lea!i!" a"ai!st a tree, a!d "a4i!" o! the "rou!d, he came u!awares o! the you!" priest o$ Isis. '(paecides!' said he-a!d he laid his ha!d a$$ectio!ately o! the you!" ma!'s shoulder. The priest started) a!d his $irst i!sti!ct seemed to &e that o$ $li"ht. '6y so!,' said the 9"yptia!, 'what has cha!ced that you desire to shu! me#' (paecides remai!ed sile!t a!d sulle!, loo,i!" dow! o! the earth, as his lips 0ui%ered, a!d his &reast hea%ed with emotio!. '8pea, to me, my $rie!d,' co!ti!ued the 9"yptia!. '8pea,. 8omethi!" &urde!s thy spirit. .hat hast thou to re%eal#' 'To thee-!othi!".' '(!d why is it to me thou art thus u!co!$ide!tial#' '*ecause thou hast &ee! my e!emy.' 'Let us co!$er,' said (r&aces, i! a low %oice) a!d drawi!" the relucta!t arm o$ the priest i! his ow!, he led him to o!e o$ the seats which were scattered withi! the "ro%e. They sat dow!-a!d i! those "loomy$orms there was somethi!" co!"e!ial to the shade a!d solitude o$ the place. (paecides was i! the spri!" o$ his years, yet he seemed to ha%e e'hausted e%e! more o$ li$e tha! the 9"yptia!) his delicate a!d re"ular $eatures were wor! a!d colorless) his eyes were hollow, a!d sho!e with a &rillia!t a!d $e%erish "lare2 his $rame &owed prematurely, a!d i! his ha!ds, which were small to e$$emi!acy, the &lue a!d swolle! %ei!s i!dicated the lassitude a!d wea,!ess o$ the rela'ed $i&res. 7ou saw i! his $ace a stro!" resem&la!ce to Io!e, &ut the e'pressio! was alto"ether di$$ere!t $rom that ma1estic a!d spiritual calm which &reathed so di%i!e a!d classical a repose o%er his sister's &eauty. I! her, e!thusiasm was %isi&le, &ut it seemed always suppressed a!d restrai!ed) this made the charm a!d se!time!t o$ her cou!te!a!ce) you lo!"ed to awa,e! a spirit which reposed, &ut e%ide!tly did !ot sleep.I! (paecides the whole aspect &eto,e!ed the $er%or a!d passio! o$ his temperame!t, a!d the i!tellectual portio! o$ his !ature seemed, &y the wild $ire o$ the eyes, the "reat &readth o$ the temples whe! compared with the hei"ht o$ the &row, the trem&li!" restless!ess o$ the lips, to &e swayed a!d tyra!!i4ed o%er &y the ima"i!ati%e a!d ideal. :a!cy, with the sister, had stopped short at the "olde! "oal o$ poetry) with the &rother, less happy a!d less restrai!ed, it had wa!dered i!to %isio!s more i!ta!"i&le a!d u!em&odied) a!d the $aculties which "a%e "e!ius to the o!e threate!ed mad!ess to the other. '7ou say I ha%e &ee! your e!emy,' said (r&aces, 'I ,!ow the cause o$ that u!1ust accusatio!2 I ha%e placed you amidst the priests o$ Isis-you are re%olted at their tric,eries a!d imposture-you thi!, thatI too ha%e decei%ed you-the purity o$ your mi!d is o$$e!ded-you ima"i!e that I am o!e o$ the deceit$ul...' '7ou ,!ew the 1u""li!"s o$ that impious cra$t,' a!swered (paecides) 'why did you dis"uise them $rom me#-.he! you e'cited my desire to de%ote mysel$ to the o$$ice whose "ar& I &ear, you spo,e to me o$ the holy li$e o$ me! resi"!i!" themsel%es to ,!owled"e-you ha%e "i%e! me $or compa!io!s a! i"!ora!t a!d se!sual herd, who ha%e !o ,!owled"e &ut that o$ the "rossest $rauds) you spo,e to me o$ me! sacri$ici!" the earthlier pleasures to the su&lime culti%atio! o$ %irtue-you place me amo!"st me! ree,i!" with all the $ilthi!ess o$ %ice) you spo,e to me o$ the $rie!ds, the e!li"hte!ers o$ our commo! ,i!d-I see &ut their cheats a!d deluders! Oh! it was &asely do!e!-you ha%e ro&&ed me o$ the "lory o$youth, o$ the co!%ictio!s o$ %irtue, o$ the sa!cti$yi!" thirst a$ter wisdom. 7ou!" as I was, rich, $er%e!t, the su!!y pleasures o$ earth &e$ore me, I resi"!ed all without a si"!, !ay, with happi!ess a!d e'ultatio!, i! the thou"ht that I resi"!ed them $or the a&struse mysteries o$ di%i!er wisdom, $or the compa!io!ship o$ "ods-$or the re%elatio!s o$ Hea%e!-a!d !ow-!ow...' Co!%ulsi%e so&s chec,ed the priest's %oice) he co%ered his $ace with his ha!ds, a!d lar"e tears $orced themsel%es throu"h the wasted $i!"ers, a!d ra! pro$usely dow! his %est. '.hat I promised to thee, that will I "i%e, my $rie!d, my pupil2 these ha%e &ee! &ut trials to thy %irtue-it comes $orth the &ri"hter $or thy !o%itiate-thi!, !o more o$ those dull cheats-assort !o more with those me!ials o$ the "oddess, the atrie!ses o$ her hall-you are worthy to e!ter i!to the pe!etralia. I he!ce$orth will &e your priest, your "uide, a!d you who !ow curse my $rie!dship shall li%e to &less it.' The you!" ma! li$ted up his head, a!d "a4ed with a %aca!t a!d wo!deri!" stare upo! the 9"yptia!. 'Liste! to me,' co!ti!ued (r&aces, i! a! ear!est a!d solem! %oice, casti!" $irst his searchi!" eyes arou!d to see that they were still alo!e. ':rom 9"ypt came all the ,!owled"e o$ the world) $rom 9"ypt came the lore o$ (the!s, a!d the pro$ou!d policy o$ Crete) $rom 9"ypt came those early a!d mysterioustri&es which , the aedile $id"eted $ussily away. '+oor +a!sa!' said Lepidus2 'he !e%er has time $or pleasure. Tha!, Hea%e! I am !ot a! aedile!' '(h, Glaucus! how are you# "ay as e%er#' said Clodius, 1oi!i!" the "roup. '(re you come to sacri$ice to :ortu!e#' said 8allust. 'I sacri$ice to her e%ery !i"ht,' retur!ed the "amester. 'I do !ot dou&t it. /o ma! has made more %ictims!' '*y Hercules, a &iti!" speech!' cried Glaucus, lau"hi!". 'The do"'s letter is !e%er out o$ your mouth, 8allust,' said Clodius, a!"rily2 'you are always s!arli!".' 'I may well ha%e the do"'s letter i! my mouth, si!ce, whe!e%er I play with you, I ha%e the do"'s throw i! my ha!d,' retur!ed 8allust. 'Hist!' said Glaucus, ta,i!" a rose $rom a $lower"irl, who stood &eside. 'The rose is the to,e! o$ sile!ce,' replied 8allust, '&ut I lo%e o!ly to see it at the supperta&le.' 'Tal,i!" o$ that, Diomed "i%es a "ra!d $east !e't wee,,' said 8allust2 'are you i!%ited, Glaucus#' '7es, I recei%ed a! i!%itatio! this mor!i!".' '(!d I, too,' said 8allust, drawi!" a s0uare piece o$ papyrus $rom his "irdle2 'I see that he as,s us a! hour earlier tha! usual2 a! ear!est o$ somethi!" sumptuous.' 'Oh! he is rich as Croesus,' said Clodius) 'a!d his &ill o$ $are is as lo!" as a! epic.' '.ell, let us to the &aths,' said Glaucus2 'this is the time whe! all the world is there) a!d :ul%ius, whom you admire so much, is "oi!" to read us his last ode.' The you!" me! asse!ted readily to the proposal, a!d they strolled to the &aths. (lthou"h the pu&lic thermae, or &aths, were i!stituted rather $or the poorer citi4e!s tha! the wealthy , yet, to the crowds o$ all ra!,s who resorted to them, it was a $a%orite place $or co!%ersatio!, a!d $or that i!dole!t lou!"i!" so dear to a "ay a!d thou"htless people. The &aths at +ompeii di$$ered, o$ course, i! pla! a!d co!structio! $rom the %ast a!d complicated thermae o$ 5ome) a!d, i!deed, it seems that i! each city o$ the empire there was always some sli"ht modi$icatio! o$ arra!"eme!t i! the "e!eral architecture o$ the pu&lic &aths. This mi"htily pu44les the lear!ed-as i$ architects a!d $ashio! were !ot capricious &e$ore the !i!etee!th ce!tury! Ourparty e!tered &y the pri!cipal porch i! the 8treet o$ :ortu!e. (t the wi!" o$ the portico sat the ,eeper o$the &aths, with his two &o'es &e$ore him, o!e $or the mo!ey he recei%ed, o!e $or the tic,ets he dispe!sed. 5ou!d the walls o$ the portico were seats crowded with perso!s o$ all ra!,s) while others, asthe re"ime! o$ the physicia!s prescri&ed, were wal,i!" &ris,ly to a!d $ro the portico, stoppi!" e%ery !ow a!d the! to "a4e o! the i!!umera&le !otices o$ shows, "ames, sales, e'hi&itio!s, which were pai!ted or i!scri&ed upo! the walls. The "e!eral su&1ect o$ co!%ersatio! was, howe%er, the spectacle a!!ou!ced i! the amphitheatre) a!d each !ewcomer was $aste!ed upo! &y a "roup ea"er to ,!ow i$ +ompeii had &ee! so $ortu!ate as to produce some mo!strous crimi!al, some happy case o$ sacrile"e oro$ murder, which would allow the aediles to pro%ide a ma! $or the 1aws o$ the lio!2 all other more commo! e'hi&itio!s seemed dull a!d tame, whe! compared with the possi&ility o$ this $ortu!ate occurre!ce. ':or my part,' said o!e 1ollyloo,i!" ma!, who was a "oldsmith, 'I thi!, the emperor, i$ he is as "ood as they say, mi"ht ha%e se!t us a ?ew.' '.hy !ot ta,e o!e o$ the !ew sect o$ /a4are!es#' said a philosopher. 'I am !ot cruel2 &ut a! atheist, o!e who de!ies ?upiter himsel$, deser%es !o mercy.' 'I care !ot how ma!y "ods a ma! li,es to &elie%e i!,' said the "oldsmith) '&ut to de!y all "ods is somethi!" mo!strous.' '7et I $a!cy,' said Glaucus, 'that these people are !ot a&solutely atheists. I am told that they &elie%e i! a God-!ay, i! a $uture state.' 'Auite a mista,e, my dear Glaucus,' said the philosopher. 'I ha%e co!$erred with them-they lau"hed i! my $ace whe! I tal,ed o$ +luto a!d Hades.' 'O ye "ods!' e'claimed the "oldsmith, i! horror) 'are there a!y o$ these wretches i! +ompeii#' 'I ,!ow there are a $ew2 &ut they meet so pri%ately that it is impossi&le to disco%er who they are.' (s Glaucus tur!ed away, a sculptor, who was a "reat e!thusiast i! his art, loo,ed a$ter him admiri!"ly. '(h!' said he, 'i$ we could "et him o! the are!a-there would &e a model $or you! .hat lim&s! what a head! he ou"ht to ha%e &ee! a "ladiator! ( su&1ect-a su&1ect-worthy o$ our art! .hy do!'t they "i%e him to the lio!#' 6ea!while :ul%ius, the 5oma! poet, whom his co!temporaries declared immortal, a!d who, &ut $or this history, would !e%er ha%e &ee! heard o$ i! our !e"lect$ul a"e, came ea"erly up to Glaucus. 'Oh, my(the!ia!, my Glaucus, you ha%e come to hear my ode! That is i!deed a! ho!our) you, a Gree,-to whom the %ery la!"ua"e o$ commo! li$e is poetry. How I tha!, you. It is &ut a tri$le) &ut i$ I secure your appro&atio!, perhaps I may "et a! i!troductio! to Titus. Oh, Glaucus! a poet without a patro! is a!amphora without a la&el) the wi!e may &e "ood, &ut !o&ody will laud it! (!d what says +ytha"oras#-=:ra!,i!ce!se to the "ods, &ut praise to ma!.= ( patro!, the!, is the poet's priest2 he procures him thei!ce!se, a!d o&tai!s him his &elie%ers.' '*ut all +ompeii is your patro!, a!d e%ery portico a! altar i! your praise.' '(h! the poor +ompeia!s are %ery ci%il-they lo%e to ho!our merit. *ut they are o!ly the i!ha&ita!ts o$ a petty tow!-spero meliora! 8hall we withi!#' 'Certai!ly) we lose time till we hear your poem.' (t this i!sta!t there was a rush o$ some twe!ty perso!s $rom the &aths i!to the portico) a!d a sla%e statio!ed at the door o$ a small corridor !ow admitted the poet, Glaucus, Clodius, a!d a troop o$ the &ard's other $rie!ds, i!to the passa"e. '( poor place this, compared with the 5oma! thermae!' said Lepidus, disdai!$ully. '7et is there some taste i! the ceili!",' said Glaucus, who was i! a mood to &e pleased with e%erythi!") poi!ti!" to the stars which studded the roo$. Lepidus shru""ed his shoulders, &ut was too la!"uid to reply. They !ow e!tered a somewhat spacious cham&er, which ser%ed $or the purposes o$ the apodyterium , it mi"ht !ot &e more $itly de!omi!ated di!!er. This do!e, he at le!"th ope!ed his eyes a!d "a%e si"!s o$ retur!i!" li$e. (t the same time, too, 8allust &eto,e!ed &y a lo!" yaw! the e%ide!ce o$ e'iste!ce. 'It is supper time,' said the epicure) 'you, Glaucus a!d Lepidus, come a!d sup with me.' '5ecollect you are all three e!"a"ed to my house !e't wee,,' cried Diomed, who was mi"htily proud o$ the ac0uai!ta!ce o$ me! o$ $ashio!. '(h, ah! we recollect,' said 8allust) 'the seat o$ memory, my Diomed, is certai!ly i! the stomach.' +assi!" !ow o!ce a"ai! i!to the cooler air, a!d so i!to the street, our "alla!ts o$ that day co!cluded the ceremo!y o$ a +ompeia! &ath. C$a%ter (III A"BACES COGS HIS DICE 'ITH PLEAS#"E AD 'IS THE GAME& TH9 e%e!i!" dar,e!ed o%er the restless city as (paecides too, his way to the house o$ the 9"yptia!. He a%oided the more li"hted a!d populous streets) a!d as he strode o!ward with his head &uried i! his &osom, a!d his arms $olded withi! his ro&e, there was somethi!" startli!" i! the co!trast, which his solem! mie! a!d wasted $orm prese!ted to the thou"htless &rows a!d a!imated air o$ those who occasio!ally crossed his path. (t le!"th, howe%er, a ma! o$ a more so&er a!d staid demea!or, a!d who had twice passed him with a curious &ut dou&ti!" loo,, touched him o! the shoulder. '(paecides!' said he, a!d he made a rapid si"! with his ha!ds2 it was the si"! o$ the cross. '.ell, /a4are!e,' replied the priest, a!d his $ace "rew paler) 'what wouldst thou#' '/ay,' retur!ed the stra!"er, 'I would !ot i!terrupt thy meditatio!s) &ut the last time we met, I seemed !ot to &e so u!welcome.' '7ou are !ot u!welcome, Oli!thus) &ut I am sad a!d weary2 !or am I a&le this e%e!i!" to discuss with you those themes which are most accepta&le to you.' 'O &ac,ward o$ heart!' said Oli!thus, with &itter $er%or) a!d art thou sad a!d weary, a!d wilt thou tur! $rom the %ery spri!"s that re$resh a!d heal#' 'O earth!' cried the you!" priest, stri,i!" his &reast passio!ately, '$rom what re"io!s shall my eyes ope! to the true Olympus, where thy "ods really dwell# (m I to &elie%e with this ma!, that !o!e whom $or so ma!y ce!turies my $athers worshipped ha%e a &ei!" or a !ame# (m I to &rea, dow!, as somethi!" &lasphemous a!d pro$a!e, the %ery altars which I ha%e deemed most sacred# or am I to thi!, with (r&aces-what#' He paused, a!d strode rapidly away i! the impatie!ce o$ a ma! who stri%es to "et rid o$ himsel$. *ut the /a4are!e was o!e o$ those hardy, %i"orous, a!d e!thusiastic me!, &y whom God i! all times has wor,ed the re%olutio!s o$ earth, a!d those, a&o%e all, i! the esta&lishme!t a!d i! the re$ormatio! o$ His ow! reli"io!-me! who were $ormed to co!%ert, &ecause $ormed to e!dure. It is me! o$ this mould whom !othi!" discoura"es, !othi!" dismays) i! the $er%or o$ &elie$ they are i!spireda!d they i!spire. Their reaso! $irst ,i!dles their passio!, &ut the passio! is the i!strume!t they use) they$orce themsel%es i!to me!'s hearts, while they appear o!ly to appeal to their 1ud"me!t. /othi!" is so co!ta"ious as e!thusiasm) it is the real alle"ory o$ the tale o$ Orpheus-it mo%es sto!es, it charms &rutes. 9!thusiasm is the "e!ius o$ si!cerity, a!d truth accomplishes !o %ictories without it. Oli!thus did !ot the! su$$er (paecides thus easily to escape him. He o%ertoo, a!d addressed him thus2 'I do !ot wo!der, (paecides, that I distress you) that I sha,e all the eleme!ts o$ your mi!d2 that you are lost i! dou&t) that you dri$t here a!d there i! the %ast ocea! o$ u!certai! a!d &e!i"hted thou"ht. I wo!der !ot at this, &ut &ear with me a little) watch a!d pray-the dar,!ess shall %a!ish, the storm sleep, a!d God Himsel$, as He came o$ yore o! the seas o$ 8amaria, shall wal, o%er the lulled &illows, to the deli%ery o$ your soul. Ours is a reli"io! 1ealous i! its dema!ds, &ut how i!$i!itely prodi"al i! its "i$ts! It trou&les you $or a! hour, it repays you &y immortality.' '8uch promises,' said (paecides, sulle!ly, 'are the tric,s &y which ma! is e%er "ulled. Oh, "lorious werethe promises which led me to the shri!e o$ Isis!' '*ut,' a!swered the /a4are!e, 'as, thy reaso!, ca! that reli"io! &e sou!d which outra"es all morality# 7ou are told to worship your "ods. .hat are those "ods, e%e! accordi!" to yoursel%es# .hat their actio!s, what their attri&utes# (re they !ot all represe!ted to you as the &lac,est o$ crimi!als# yet you are as,ed to ser%e them as the holiest o$ di%i!ities. ?upiter himsel$ is a parricide a!d a! adulterer. .hat are the mea!er deities &ut imitators o$ his %ices# 7ou are told !ot to murder, &ut you worship murderers) you are told !ot to commit adultery, a!d you ma,e your prayers to a! adulterer! Oh! what isthis &ut a moc,ery o$ the holiest part o$ ma!'s !ature, which is $aith# Tur! !ow to the God, the o!e, the true God, to whose shri!e I would lead you. I$ He seem to you too su&lime, two shadowy, $or those huma! associatio!s, those touchi!" co!!ectio!s &etwee! Creator a!d creature, to which the wea, heart cli!"s-co!template Him i! His 8o!, who put o! mortality li,e oursel%es. His mortality is !ot i!deed declared, li,e that o$ your $a&led "ods, &y the %ices o$ our !ature, &ut &y the practice o$ all its %irtues. I! Him are u!ited the austerest morals with the te!derest a$$ectio!s. I$ He were &ut a mere ma!, He had&ee! worthy to &ecome a "od. 7ou ho!our 8ocrates-he has his sect, his disciples, his schools. *ut what are the dou&t$ul %irtues o$ the (the!ia!, to the &ri"ht, the u!disputed, the acti%e, the u!ceasi!", the de%oted holi!ess o$ Christ# I spea, to you !ow o!ly o$ His huma! character. He came i! that as the patter! o$ $uture a"es, to show us the $orm o$ %irtue which +lato thirsted to see em&odied. This was the true sacri$ice that He made $or ma!) &ut the halo that e!circled His dyi!" hour !ot o!ly &ri"hte!ed earth, &ut ope!ed to us the si"ht o$ hea%e!! 7ou are touched-you are mo%ed. God wor,s i! your heart.His 8pirit is with you. Come, resist !ot the holy impulse) come at o!ce-u!hesitati!"ly. ( $ew o$ us are!ow assem&led to e'pou!d the word o$ God. Come, let me "uide you to them. 7ou are sad, you are weary. Liste!, the!, to the words o$ God2 =Come to me=, saith He, =all ye that are hea%y lade!, a!d I will "i%e you rest!=' 'I ca!!ot !ow,' said (paecides) 'a!other time.' '/ow-!ow!' e'claimed Oli!thus, ear!estly, a!d claspi!" him &y the arm. *ut (paecides, yet u!prepared $or the re!u!ciatio! o$ that $aith-that li$e, $or which he had sacri$iced so much, a!d still hau!ted &y the promises o$ the 9"yptia!, e'tricated himsel$ $orci&ly $rom the "rasp) a!d $eeli!" a! e$$ort !ecessary to co!0uer the irresolutio! which the elo0ue!ce o$ the Christia! had &e"u! to e$$ect i! his heated a!d $e%erish mi!d, he "athered up his ro&es a!d $led away with a speed that de$ied pursuit. *reathless a!d e'hausted, he arri%ed at last i! a remote a!d se0uestered part o$ the city, a!d the lo!e house o$ the 9"yptia! stood &e$ore him. (s he paused to reco%er himsel$, the moo! emer"ed $rom a sil%er cloud, a!d sho!e $ull upo! the walls o$ that mysterious ha&itatio!. /o other house was !ear-the dar,some %i!es clustered $ar a!d wide i! $ro!t o$ the &uildi!" a!d &ehi!d it rose a copse o$ lo$ty $orest trees, sleepi!" i! the mela!choly moo!li"ht) &eyo!d stretched the dim outli!e o$ the dista!t hills, a!d amo!"st them the 0uiet crest o$ Vesu%ius, !ot the! so lo$ty as the tra%eler &eholds it !ow. (paecides passed throu"h the archi!" %i!es, a!d arri%ed at the &road a!d spacious portico. *e$ore it, o!either side o$ the steps, reposed the ima"e o$ the 9"yptia! sphi!', a!d the moo!li"ht "a%e a! additio!ala!d yet more solem! calm to those lar"e, a!d harmo!ious, a!d passio!less $eatures, i! which the sculptors o$ that type o$ wisdom u!ited so much o$ lo%eli!ess with awe) hal$ way up the e'tremities o$ the steps dar,e!ed the "ree! a!d massi%e $olia"e o$ the aloe, a!d the shadow o$ the easter! palm cast its lo!" a!d u!wa%i!" &ou"hs partially o%er the mar&le sur$ace o$ the stairs. 8omethi!" there was i! the still!ess o$ the place, a!d the stra!"e aspect o$ the sculptured sphi!'es, which thrilled the &lood o$ the priest with a !ameless a!d "hostly $ear, a!d he lo!"ed e%e! $or a! echo to his !oiseless steps as he asce!ded to the threshold. He ,!oc,ed at the door, o%er which was wrou"ht a! i!scriptio! i! characters u!$amiliar to his eyes) it ope!ed without a sou!d, a!d a tall 9thiopia! sla%e, without 0uestio! or salutatio!, motio!ed to him to proceed. The wide hall was li"hted &y lo$ty ca!dela&ra o$ ela&orate &ro!4e, a!d rou!d the walls were wrou"ht %ast hiero"lyphics, i! dar, a!d solem! colors, which co!trasted stra!"ely with the &ri"ht hues a!d "race$ul shapes with which the i!ha&ita!ts o$ Italy decorated their a&odes. (t the e'tremity o$ the hall, a sla%e, whose cou!te!a!ce, thou"h !ot ($rica!, was dar,er &y ma!y shades tha! the usual color o$ the south, ad%a!ced to meet him. 'I see, (r&aces,' said the priest) &ut his %oice trem&led e%e! i! his ow! ear. The sla%e &owed his head i!sile!ce, a!d leadi!" (paecides to a wi!" without the hall, co!ducted him up a !arrow staircase, a!d the! tra%ersi!" se%eral rooms, i! which the ster! a!d thou"ht$ul &eauty o$ the sphi!' still made the chie$ a!d most impressi%e o&1ect o$ the priest's !otice, (paecides $ou!d himsel$ i! a dim a!d hal$li"hted cham&er, i! the prese!ce o$ the 9"yptia!. (r&aces was seated &e$ore a small ta&le, o! which lay u!$olded se%eral scrolls o$ papyrus, impressed with the same character as that o! the threshold o$ the ma!sio!. ( small tripod stood at a little dista!ce, $rom the i!ce!se i! which the smo,e slowly rose. /ear this was a %ast "lo&e, depicti!" the si"!s o$ hea%e!) a!d upo! a!other ta&le lay se%eral i!strume!ts, o$ curious a!d 0uai!t shape, whose uses were u!,!ow! to (paecides. The $arther e'tremity o$ the room was co!cealed &y a curtai!, a!d the o&lo!" wi!dow i! the roo$ admitted the rays o$ the moo!, mi!"li!" sadly with the si!"le lamp which &ur!ed i!the apartme!t. '8eat yoursel$, (paecides,' said the 9"yptia!, without risi!". The you!" ma! o&eyed. '7ou as, me,' resumed (r&aces, a$ter a short pause, i! which he seemed a&sor&ed i! thou"ht-'7ou as, me, or would do so, the mi"htiest secrets which the soul o$ ma! is $itted to recei%e) it is the e!i"ma o$ li$e itsel$ that you desire me to sol%e. +laced li,e childre! i! the dar,, a!d &ut $or a little while, i! this dim a!d co!$i!ed e'iste!ce, we shape our spectres i! the o&scurity) our thou"hts !ow si!, &ac, i!to oursel%es i! terror, !ow wildly plu!"e themsel%es i!to the "uideless "loom, "uessi!" what it may co!tai!) stretchi!" our helpless ha!ds here a!d there, lest, &li!dly, we stum&le upo! some hidde! da!"er) !ot ,!owi!" the limits o$ our &ou!dary, !ow $eeli!" them su$$ocate us with compressio!, !ow seei!" them e'te!d $ar away till they %a!ish i!to eter!ity. I! this state all wisdom co!sists !ecessarily i! the solutio! o$ two 0uestio!s2 =.hat are we to &elie%e# a!d .hat are we to re1ect#= These 0uestio!s you desire me to decide.' (paecides &owed his head i! asse!t. '6a! must ha%e some &elie$,' co!ti!ued the 9"yptia!, i! a to!e o$ sad!ess. 'He must $aste! his hope to somethi!"2 is our commo! !ature that you i!herit whe!, a"hast a!d terri$ied to see that i! which you ha%e &ee! tau"ht to place your $aith swept away, you $loat o%er a dreary a!d shoreless sea o$ i!certitude, you cry $or help, you as, $or some pla!, to cli!" to, some la!d, howe%er dim a!d dista!t, toattai!. .ell, the!, ha%e !ot $or"otte! our co!%ersatio! o$ today#' ':or"otte!!' 'I co!$essed to you that those deities $or whom smo,e so ma!y altars were &ut i!%e!tio!s. I co!$essed to you that our rites a!d ceremo!ies were &ut mummeries, to delude a!d lure the herd to their proper "ood. I e'plai!ed to you that $rom those delusio!s came the &o!ds o$ society, the harmo!y o$ the world, the power o$ the wise) that power is i! the o&edie!ce o$ the %ul"ar. Co!ti!ue we the! these salutary delusio!s-i$ ma! must ha%e some &elie$, co!ti!ue to him that which his $athers ha%e made dear to him, a!d which custom sa!cti$ies a!d stre!"the!s. I! see,i!" a su&tler $aith $or us, whose se!ses are too spiritual $or the "ross o!e, let us lea%e others that support which crum&les $rom oursel%es. This is wise-it is &e!e%ole!t.' '+roceed.' 'This &ei!" settled,' resumed the 9"yptia!, 'the old la!dmar,s &ei!" le$t u!i!1ured $or those whom we are a&out to desert, we "ird up our loi!s a!d depart to !ew climes o$ $aith. Dismiss at o!ce $rom your recollectio!, $rom your thou"ht, all that you ha%e &elie%ed &e$ore. 8uppose the mi!d a &la!,, a! u!writte! scroll, $it to recei%e impressio!s $or the $irst time. Loo, rou!d the world-o&ser%e its order-its re"ularity-its desi"!. 8omethi!" must ha%e created it-the desi"! spea,s a desi"!er2 i! that certai!ty we $irst touch la!d. *ut what is that somethi!"#-( "od, you cry. 8tay-!o co!$used a!d co!$usi!" !ames. O$ that which created the world, we ,!ow, we ca! ,!ow, !othi!", sa%e these attri&utes-power a!d u!%aryi!" re"ularity-ster!, crushi!", rele!tless re"ularity-heedi!" !o i!di%idual cases-rolli!"-sweepi!"-&ur!i!" o!) !o matter what scattered hearts, se%ered $rom the "e!eral mass, $all "rou!d a!d scorched &e!eath its wheels. The mi'ture o$ e%il with "ood-the e'iste!ce o$ su$$eri!" a!d o$ crime-i! all times ha%e perple'ed the wise. They created a "od-they supposed him &e!e%ole!t. How the! came this e%il# why did he permit it-!ay, why i!%e!t, why perpetuate it# To accou!t $or this, the +ersia! creates a seco!d spirit, whose !ature is e%il, a!d supposesa co!ti!ual war &etwee! that a!d the "od o$ "ood. I! our ow! shadowy a!d treme!dous Typho!, the 9"yptia!s ima"e a similar demo!. +erple'i!" &lu!der that yet more &ewilders us!-$olly that arose $rom the %ai! delusio! that ma,es a palpa&le, a corporeal, a huma! &ei!", o$ this u!,!ow! power-thatclothes the I!%isi&le with attri&utes a!d a !ature similar to the 8ee!. /o2 to this desi"!er let us "i%e a !ame that does !ot comma!d our &ewilderi!" associatio!s, a!d the mystery &ecomes more clear-that !ame is /9C988IT7. /ecessity, say the Gree,s, compels the "ods. The! why the "ods#-their a"e!cy &ecomes u!!ecessary-dismiss them at o!ce. /ecessity is the ruler o$ all we see-power, re"ularity-these two 0ualities ma,e its !ature. .ould you as, more#-you ca! lear! !othi!"2 whether it &e eter!al-whether it compel us, its creatures, to !ew careers a$ter that dar,!ess which we call death-we ca!!ot tell. There lea%e we this a!cie!t, u!see!, u!$athoma&le power, a!d come to that which, to our eyes, is the "reat mi!ister o$ its $u!ctio!s. This we ca! tas, more, $rom this we ca! lear! more2 its e%ide!ce is arou!d us-its !ame is /(T359. The error o$ the sa"es has &ee! to direct their researches to the attri&utes o$ !ecessity, where all is "loom a!d &li!d!ess. Had they co!$i!ed their researches to /ature-what o$ ,!owled"e mi"ht we !ot already ha%e achie%ed# Here patie!ce, e'ami!atio!, are !e%er directed i! %ai!. .e see what we e'plore) our mi!ds asce!d a palpa&le ladder o$ causes a!d e$$ects. /ature is the "reat a"e!t o$ the e'ter!al u!i%erse, a!d /ecessity imposes upo! it the laws &y which it acts, a!d imparts to us the powers &y which we e'ami!e) those powers are curiosity a!d memory-their u!io! is reaso!, their per$ectio! is wisdom. .ell, the!, I e'ami!e &y the help o$ these powers this i!e'hausti&le /ature. I e'ami!e the earth, the air, the ocea!, the hea%e!2 I $i!d that all ha%e a mystic sympathy with each other-that the moo! sways the tides-that the air mai!tai!s the earth, a!d is the medium o$ the li$e a!d se!se o$ thi!"s-that &y the ,!owled"e o$ the stars we measure the limits o$ the earth-that we portio! out the epochs o$ time-that &y their pale li"ht we are "uided i!to the a&yss o$ the past-that i! their solem! lore we discer! the desti!ies o$ the $uture. (!d thus, while we ,!ow !ot that which /ecessity is, we lear!, at least, her decrees. (!d !ow, what morality do we "lea! $rom this reli"io!#-$or reli"io! it is. I &elie%e i! two deities-/ature a!d /ecessity) I worship the last &y re%ere!ce, the $irst &y i!%esti"atio!. .hat is the morality my reli"io! teaches# This-all thi!"s are su&1ect &ut to "e!eral rules) the su! shi!es $or the 1oy o$ the ma!y-it may &ri!" sorrow to the $ew) the !i"ht sheds sleep o! the multitude-&ut it har&ors murder as well as rest) the $orests ador! the earth-&ut shelter the serpe!t a!d the lio!) the ocea! supports a thousa!d &ar,s-&ut it e!"ul$s the o!e. It is o!ly thus $or the "e!eral, a!d !ot $or the u!i%ersal &e!e$it, that /ature acts, a!d /ecessity speeds o! her aw$ul course. This is the morality o$ the dread a"e!ts o$ the world-it is mi!e, who am their creature. I would preser%e the delusio!s o$ priestcra$t, $or they are ser%icea&le to the multitude) I would impart to ma! the arts I disco%er, the scie!ces I per$ect) I would speed the %ast career o$ ci%ili4i!" lore2 i! this I ser%e the mass, I $ul$ill the "e!eral law, I e'ecute the "reat moral that /ature preaches. :or mysel$ I claim the i!di%idual e'ceptio!) I claim it $or the wise-satis$ied that my i!di%idual actio!s are !othi!" i! the "reat &ala!ce o$ "ood a!d e%il) satis$ied that the product o$ my ,!owled"e ca! "i%e "reater &lessi!"s to the mass tha! my desires ca! operate e%il o! the $ew ha&et!' cried they, with a sort o$ yell, ru&&i!" their !er%ous ha!ds. '/o! ha&eo, ye liars) I ha%e !ot "ot it!' shouted the host, as with a mi"hty e$$ort he wre!ched himsel$ $rom those deadly ha!ds, a!d rose to his $eet, &reathless, pa!ti!", lacerated, &loody) a!d $ro!ti!", with reeli!" eyes, the "lari!" loo, a!d "ri!!i!" teeth o$ his &a$$led $oe, !ow stru""li!" he was i!$lue!ced &y a si!"ular a!d dreamli,e de%otio! to all that &elo!"ed to the mystic La!d his a!cestors had swayed. (lthou"h he dis&elie%ed i! her deities, he &elie%ed i! the alle"ories they represe!ted the moder! &rits,a. It was a %ehicle o$ this descriptio! that the lo%ers, accompa!ied &y o!e $emale sla%e o$ Io!e, !ow used i! their e'cursio!. (&out te! miles $rom the city, there was at that day a! old rui!, the remai!s o$ a temple, e%ide!tly Grecia!) a!d as $or Glaucus a!d Io!e e%erythi!" Grecia! possessed a! i!terest, they had a"reed to %isit these rui!s2 it was thither they were !ow &ou!d. Their road lay amo!" %i!es a!d oli%e"ro%es) till, wi!di!" more a!d more towards the hi"her "rou!d o$Vesu%ius, the path "rew ru""ed) the mules mo%ed slowly, a!d with la&or) a!d at e%ery ope!i!" i! the wood they &eheld those "rey a!d horre!t ca%er!s i!de!ti!" the parched roc,, which 8tra&o has descri&ed) &ut which the %arious re%olutio!s o$ time a!d the %olca!o ha%e remo%ed $rom the prese!t aspect o$ the mou!tai!. The su!, slopi!" towards his desce!t, cast lo!" a!d deep shadows o%er the mou!tai!) here a!d there they still heard the rustic reed o$ the shepherd amo!"st copses o$ the &eechwood a!d wild oa,. 8ometimes they mar,ed the $orm o$ the sil,haired a!d "race$ul capella, withits wreathi!" hor! a!d &ri"ht "rey eye-which, still &e!eath (uso!ia! s,ies, recalls the eclo"ues o$ 6aro, &rowsi!" hal$way up the hills) a!d the "rapes, already purple with the smiles o$ the deepe!i!" summer, "lowed out $rom the arched $estoo!s, which hu!" pe!de!t $rom tree to tree. (&o%e them, li"htclouds $loated i! the sere!e hea%e!s, sweepi!" so slowly athwart the $irmame!t that they scarcely seemed to stir) while, o! their ri"ht, they cau"ht, e%er a!d a!o!, "limpses o$ the wa%eless sea, with some li"ht &ar, s,immi!" its sur$ace) a!d the su!li"ht &rea,i!" o%er the deep i! those cou!tless a!d so$test hues so peculiar to that delicious sea. 'How &eauti$ul!' said Glaucus, i! a hal$whispered to!e, 'is that e'pressio! &y which we call 9arth our 6other! .ith what a ,i!dly e0ual lo%e she pours her &lessi!"s upo! her childre!! a!d e%e! to those sterile spots to which /ature has de!ied &eauty, she yet co!tri%es to dispe!se her smiles2 wit!ess the ar&utus a!d the %i!e, which she wreathes o%er the arid a!d &ur!i!" soil o$ yo! e'ti!ct %olca!o. (h! i! such a! hour a!d sce!e as this, well mi"ht we ima"i!e that the :au! should peep $orth $rom those "ree!$estoo!s) or, that we mi"ht trace the steps o$ the 6ou!tai! /ymph throu"h the thic,est ma4es o$ the "lade. *ut the /ymphs ceased, &eauti$ul Io!e, whe! thou wert created!' There is !o to!"ue that $latters li,e a lo%er's) a!d yet, i! the e'a""eratio! o$ his $eeli!"s, $lattery seems to him commo!place. 8tra!"e a!d prodi"al e'u&era!ce, which soo! e'hausts itsel$ &y o%er$lowi!"! They arri%ed at the rui!s) they e'ami!ed them with that $o!d!ess with which we trace the hallowed a!dhousehold %esti"es o$ our ow! a!cestry-they li!"ered there till Hesperus appeared i! the rosy hea%e!s) a!d the! retur!i!" homeward i! the twili"ht, they were more sile!t tha! they had &ee!) $or i! the shadow a!d &e!eath the stars they $elt more oppressi%ely their mutual lo%e. It was at this time that the storm which the 9"yptia! had predicted &e"a! to creep %isi&ly o%er them. (t$irst, a low a!d dista!t thu!der "a%e war!i!" o$ the approachi!" co!$lict o$ the eleme!ts) a!d the! rapidly rushed a&o%e the dar, ra!,s o$ the serried clouds. The sudde!!ess o$ storms i! that climate is somethi!" almost preter!atural, a!d mi"ht well su""est to early superstitio! the !otio! o$ a di%i!e a"e!cy-a $ew lar"e drops &ro,e hea%ily amo!" the &ou"hs that hal$ o%erhu!" their path, a!d the!, swi$t a!d i!tolera&ly &ri"ht, the $or,ed li"ht!i!" darted across their %ery eyes, a!d was swallowed up &y the i!creasi!" dar,!ess. '8wi$ter, "ood Carrucarius!' cried Glaucus to the dri%er) 'the tempest comes o! apace.' The sla%e ur"ed o! the mules-they we!t swi$t o%er the u!e%e! a!d sto!y road-the clouds thic,e!ed, !ear a!d more !ear &ro,e the thu!der, a!d $ast rushed the dashi!" rai!. 'Dost thou $ear#' whispered Glaucus, as he sou"ht e'cuse i! the storm to come !earer to Io!e. '/ot with thee,' said she, so$tly. (t that i!sta!t, the carria"e, $ra"ile a!d illco!tri%ed is !ot so acti%e as he should &e i! this matter.' '.hy, really, the laws are too mild,' replied the dame o$ the helmet. 'There are so $ew o$$e!ces to which the pu!ishme!t o$ the are!a ca! &e awarded) a!d the!, too, the "ladiators are "rowi!" e$$emi!ate! The stoutest &estiarii declare they are willi!" e!ou"h to $i"ht a &oar or a &ull) &ut as $or a lio! or a ti"er, they thi!, the "ame too much i! ear!est.' 'They are worthy o$ a mitre,' replied ?ulia, i! disdai!. 'Oh! ha%e you see! the !ew house o$ :ul%ius, the dear poet#' said +a!sa's wi$e. '/o2 is it ha!dsome#' 'Very!-such "ood taste. *ut they say, my dear, that he has such improper pictures! He wo!'t show them to the wome!2 how ill&red!' 'Those poets are always odd,' said the widow. '*ut he is a! i!teresti!" ma!) what pretty %erses he writes! .e impro%e %ery much i! poetry2 it is impossi&le to read the old stu$$ !ow.' 'I declare I am o$ your opi!io!, retur!ed the lady o$ the helmet. 'There is so much more $orce a!d e!er"y i! the moder! school.' The warrior sau!tered up to the ladies. 'It reco!ciles me to peace,' said he, 'whe! I see such $aces.' 'Oh! you heroes are e%er $latterers,' retur!ed :ul%ia, haste!i!" to appropriate the complime!t specially to hersel$. '*y this chai!, which I recei%ed $rom the emperor's ow! ha!d,' replied the warrior, playi!" with a short chai! which hu!" rou!d the !ec, li,e a collar, i!stead o$ desce!di!" to the &reast, accordi!" to the $ashio! o$ the peace$ul-'*y this chai!, you wro!" me! I am a &lu!t ma!-a soldier should &e so.' 'How do you $i!d the ladies o$ +ompeii "e!erally#' said ?ulia. '*y Ve!us, most &eauti$ul! They $a%or me a little, it is true, a!d that i!cli!es my eyes to dou&le their charms.' '.e lo%e a warrior,' said the wi$e o$ +a!sa. 'I see it2 &y Hercules! it is e%e! disa"reea&le to &e too cele&rated i! these cities. (t Hercula!eum they clim& the roo$ o$ my atrium to catch a "limpse o$ me throu"h the complu%ium) the admiratio! o$ o!e's citi4e!s is pleasa!t at $irst, &ut &urthe!some a$terwards.' 'True, true, O Vespius!' cried the poet, 1oi!i!" the "roup2 'I $i!d it so mysel$.' '7ou!' said the stately warrior, sca!!i!" the small $orm o$ the poet with i!e$$a&le disdai!. 'I! what le"io! ha%e you ser%ed#' '7ou may see my spoils, my e'u%iae, i! the $orum itsel$,' retur!ed the poet, with a si"!i$ica!t "la!ce at the wome!. 'I ha%e &ee! amo!" the te!tcompa!io!s, the co!tu&er!ales, o$ the "reat 6a!tua! himsel$.' 'I ,!ow !o "e!eral $rom 6a!tua, said the warrior, "ra%ely. '.hat campai"! ha%e you ser%ed#' 'That o$ Helico!.' 'I !e%er heard o$ it.' '/ay, Vespius, he does &ut 1o,e,' said ?ulia, lau"hi!". '?o,e! *y 6ars, am I a ma! to &e 1o,ed!' '7es) 6ars himsel$ was i! lo%e with the mother o$ 1o,es,' said the poet, a little alarmed. ';!ow, the!, O Vespius! that I am the poet :ul%ius. It is I who ma,e warriors immortal!' 'The "ods $or&id!' whispered 8allust to ?ulia. 'I$ Vespius were made immortal, what a specime! o$ tiresome &ra""adocio would &e tra!smitted to posterity!' The soldier loo,ed pu44led) whe!, to the i!$i!ite relie$ o$ himsel$ a!d his compa!io!s, the si"!al $or the $east was "i%e!. (s we ha%e already wit!essed at the house o$ Glaucus the ordi!ary routi!e o$ a +ompeia! e!tertai!me!t, the reader is spared a!y seco!d detail o$ the courses, a!d the ma!!er i! which they were i!troduced. Diomed, who was rather ceremo!ious, had appoi!ted a !ome!clator, or appoi!ter o$ places to each "uest. The reader u!dersta!ds that the $esti%e &oard was composed o$ three ta&les) o!e at the ce!tre, a!d o!e at each wi!". It was o!ly at the outer side o$ these ta&les that the "uests recli!ed) the i!!er space was le$t u!te!a!ted, $or the "reater co!%e!ie!ce o$ the waiters or mi!istri. The e'treme cor!er o$ o!e o$ the wi!"s was appropriated to ?ulia as the lady o$ the $east) that !e't her, to Diomed. (t o!e cor!er o$ the ce!tre ta&le was placed the aedile) at the opposite cor!er, the 5oma! se!ator-these were the posts o$ ho!our. The other "uests were arra!"ed, so that the you!" , seemed to share i! the 4eal o$ 8allust) a!d the $ace o$ Diomed &e"a! to "low as he watched the pro%o,i!" complace!cy with which they seco!ded the e'ertio!s o$ the,i!" o$ the $east. '+ardo! me, O se!ator!' said 8allust) 'I see you $li!ch) your purple hem ca!!ot sa%e you-dri!,!' '*y the "ods,' said the se!ator, cou"hi!", 'my lu!"s are already o! $ire) you proceed with so miraculous a swi$t!ess, that +haeto! himsel$ was !othi!" to you. I am i!$irm, O pleasa!t 8allust2 you must e'o!erate me.' '/ot I, &y Vesta! I am a! impartial mo!arch-dri!,.' The poor se!ator, compelled &y the laws o$ the ta&le, was $orced to comply. (las! e%ery cup was &ri!"i!" him !earer a!d !earer to the 8ty"ia! pool. 'Ge!tly! "e!tly! my ,i!",' "roa!ed Diomed) 'we already &e"i! to...' 'Treaso!!' i!terrupted 8allust) '!o ster! *rutus here!-!o i!ter$ere!ce with royalty!' '*ut our $emale "uests...' 'Lo%e a toper! Did !ot (riad!e dote upo! *acchus#' The $east proceeded) the "uests "rew more tal,ati%e a!d !oisy) the dessert or last course was already o!the ta&le) a!d the sla%es &ore rou!d water with myrrh a!d hyssop $or the $i!ishi!" la%atio!. (t the sametime, a small circular ta&le that had &ee! placed i! the space opposite the "uests sudde!ly, a!d as &y ma"ic, seemed to ope! i! the ce!tre, a!d cast up a $ra"ra!t shower, spri!,li!" the ta&le a!d the "uests) while as it ceased the aw!i!" a&o%e them was draw! aside, a!d the "uests percei%ed that a rope had &ee! stretched across the ceili!", a!d that o!e o$ those !im&le da!cers $or which +ompeii was so cele&rated, a!d whose desce!da!ts add so charmi!" a "race to the $esti%ities o$ (stley's or Vau'hall, was !ow treadi!" his airy measures ri"ht o%er their heads. This apparitio!, remo%ed &ut &y a cord $rom o!e's pericra!ium, a!d i!dul"i!" the most %eheme!t leaps,appare!tly with the i!te!tio! o$ ali"hti!" upo! that cere&ral re"io!, would pro&a&ly &e re"arded with some terror &y a party i! 6ay :air) &ut our +ompeia! re%ellers seemed to &ehold the spectacle with deli"hted curiosity, a!d applauded i! proportio! as the da!cer appeared with the most di$$iculty to miss $alli!" upo! the head o$ whate%er "uest he particularly selected to da!ce a&o%e. He paid the se!ator, i!deed, the peculiar complime!t o$ literally $alli!" $rom the rope, a!d catchi!" it a"ai! with his ha!d, 1ust as the whole party ima"i!ed the s,ull o$ the 5oma! was as much $ractured as e%er that o$ the poet whom the ea"le too, $or a tortoise. (t le!"th, to the "reat relie$ o$ at least Io!e, who had !ot much accustomed hersel$ to this e!tertai!me!t, the da!cer sudde!ly paused as a strai! o$ music was heard $rom without. He da!ced a"ai! still more wildly) the air cha!"ed, the da!cer paused a"ai!) !o, it could !ot dissol%e the charm which was supposed to possess him! He represe!ted o!e who &y a stra!"e disorder is compelled to da!ce, a!d whom o!ly a certai! air o$ music ca! cure. (t le!"th the musicia! seemed to hit o! the ri"ht tu!e) the da!cer "a%e o!e leap, swu!" himsel$ dow! $rom the rope, ali"hted o! the $loor, a!d %a!ished. O!e art !ow yielded to a!other) a!d the musicia!s who were statio!ed without o! the terrace struc, up a so$t a!d mellow air, to which were su!" the $ollowi!" words, made almost i!disti!ct &y the &arrier &etwee! a!d the e'ceedi!" low!ess o$ the mi!strelsy2- FESTI5E 67SI3 SHO7LD BE LOWI Hr+! )"rou&" )"ese flowers our mus#' se$%s #)s &ree)#$&To your lo-e% "lls* w"ere urrel so,6y Lesb#"* for s"me* lo-e 6e)"#$+s ')#s s'r'e $ "our &oW"e$ we %#% 2us) )"e sme* lo-e.IIT"e Lo-es* ')#s )"ou&")* were free )#ll )"e$* T"ey "% $o +#$& or lws* %er( Bu) &o%s* l#+e me$* s"oul% sub2e') be* Sy ll )"e $'#e$) sws* %er. .$% so our 'rew resol-e%* for >u#e)* To '"oose+#$& )o 'urb )"e#r r#o). . +#ss8 "! w")&r#e-ous )"#$&For bo)"* me)"#$+s* ')woul% be* '"#l%* If I s"oul% )+e some pru%#s" +#$&*.$% 'ese )o be so free* '"#l%!III.mo$& )"e#r )oys3s>ue )"ey fou$%* I) ws )"e "elm of .res( W#)" "orre$) plumes )"e 'res) ws 'row$'%* I) fr#&")e$e% ll )"e Lres. So f#$e+#$& ws $e-er +$ow$T"ey pl'e% )"e "elme) o$ )"e )"ro$e. 6y rl* s#$'e 5lor w#$s )"e worl%* T"ey '"osem#&")y ms)er( Bu) )"y swee) fl& of sm#les u$furle% Woul% w#$ )"e worl% mu'" fs)er!I5T"e 3s>ue soo$ fou$% )"e Lo-es )oo w#l% . )roop for "#m )o s'"ool )"em( For wrr#ors +$ow "ow o$e su'" '"#l% Hs ye 'o$)r#-e% )o fool )"em. T"ey pl&ue% "#m so* )") #$ %esp#r He )oo+w#fe )"e pl&ue )o s"re. If +#$&s )"emsel-es )"us f#$% )"e s)r#feOf er)"* u$s"re%* se-ere* rl( W"y 2us) )o "l-e )"e #lls of l#fe*3ome* )+e your pr)$er "ere* rl.5 W#)"#$ )") room )"e B#r% of Lo-eT"e w"ole ff#r "% eye% )"e$(T"e mo$r'" "#l'% )"e royl %o-e*.$% pl'e% "er by "#s s#%e )"e$8W") m#r)" m#%s) )"e Lo-es ws see$!'Lo$& l#-e*' )"ey 'r#e%* 'our ?#$& $% Auee$.'."! Lesb#* woul% )") )"ro$es were m#$e*.$% 'row$s )o %e'+ )") brow* lo-e!.$% ye) I +$ow )") "er) of )"#$eFor me #s )"ro$e e$ow* lo-e!5I T"e ur'"#$s "ope% )o )ese )"e m)e.s )"ey "% )ese% )"e "ero(Bu) w"e$ )"e Do-e #$ 2u%&me$) s)eT"ey fou$% "er worse )"$ Nero!E'" loo+frow$* e'" wor%lw(T"e l#))le sub2e')s s"oo+ w#)" we.I$ )"ee I f#$% )"e sme %e'e#) Too l)e* ls!ler$er!For w"erem#e$ more &e$)ly swee),.$% w"ere)yr$) s)er$er,This so!", which "reatly suited the "ay a!d li%ely $a!cy o$ the +ompeia!s, was recei%ed with co!sidera&le applause, a!d the widow i!sisted o! crow!i!" her !amesa,e with the %ery &ra!ch o$ myrtle to which he had su!". It was easily twisted i!to a "arla!d, a!d the immortal :ul%ius was crow!ed amidst the clappi!" o$ ha!ds a!d shouts o$ Io triumphe! The so!" a!d the harp !ow circulatedrou!d the party, a !ew myrtle &ra!ch &ei!" ha!ded a&out, stoppi!" at each perso! who could &e pre%ailed upo! to si!". The su! &e"a! !ow to decli!e, thou"h the re%ellers, who had wor! away se%eral hours, percei%ed it !ot i! their dar,e!ed cham&er) a!d the se!ator, who was tired, a!d the warrior, who had to retur! to Hercula!eum, risi!" to depart, "a%e the si"!al $or the "e!eral dispersio!. 'Tarry yet a mome!t, my $rie!ds,' said Diomed) 'i$ you will "o so soo!, you must at least ta,e a share i! our co!cludi!" "ame.' 8o sayi!", he motio!ed to o!e o$ the mi!istri, a!d whisperi!" him, the sla%e we!t out, a!d prese!tly retur!ed with a small &owl co!tai!i!" %arious ta&lets care$ully sealed, a!d, appare!tly, e'actly similar. 9ach "uest was to purchase o!e o$ these at the !omi!al price o$ the lowest piece o$ sil%er2 a!d the sporto$ this lottery , &y his lo!" sta$$-(r&aces too, his way to the %illa o$ Diomed. (!d &eauti$ul is the moo!li"ht o$ the south! I! those climes the !i"ht so 0uic,ly "lides i!to the day, that twili"ht scarcely ma,es a &rid"e &etwee! them. O!e mome!t o$ dar,er purple i! the s,y-o$ a thousa!d rosehues i! the water-o$ shade hal$ %ictorious o%er li"ht) a!d the! &urst $orth at o!ce the cou!tless stars-the moo! is up-!i"ht has resumed her rei"!! *ri"htly the!, a!d so$tly &ri"ht, $ell the moo!&eams o%er the a!ti0ue "ro%e co!secrated to Cy&ele-thestately trees, whose date we!t &eyo!d traditio!, cast their lo!" shadows o%er the soil, while throu"h theope!i!"s i! their &ou"hs the stars sho!e, still a!d $re0ue!t. The white!ess o$ the small sacellum i! the ce!tre o$ the "ro%e, amidst the dar, $olia"e, had i! it somethi!" a&rupt a!d startli!") it recalled at o!ce the purpose to which the wood was co!secrated-its holi!ess a!d solem!ity. .ith a swi$t a!d stealthy pace, Cale!us, "lidi!" u!der the shade o$ the trees, reached the chapel, a!d "e!tly putti!" &ac, the &ou"hs that completely closed arou!d its rear, settled himsel$ i! his co!cealme!t) a co!cealme!t so complete, what with the $a!e i! $ro!t a!d the trees &ehi!d, that !o u!suspicious passe!"er could possi&ly ha%e detected him. ("ai!, all was appare!tly solitary i! the "ro%e2 a$ar o$$ you heard $ai!tly the %oices o$ some !oisy re%ellers or the music that played cheerily to the "roups that the!, as !ow i! those climates, duri!" the !i"hts o$ summer, li!"ered i! the streets, a!d e!1oyed, i! the $resh air a!d the li0uid moo!li"ht, a milder day. :rom the hei"ht o! which the "ro%e was placed, you saw throu"h the i!ter%als o$ the trees the &road a!d purple sea, rippli!" i! the dista!ce, the white %illas o$ 8ta&iae i! the cur%i!" shore, a!d the dim Lectiaria! hills mi!"li!" with the delicious s,y. +rese!tly the tall $i"ure o$ (r&aces, i! his way to the house o$ Diomed, e!tered the e'treme e!d o$ the "ro%e) a!d at the same i!sta!t (paecides, also &ou!d to his appoi!tme!t with Oli!thus, crossed the 9"yptia!'s path. 'Hem! (paecides,' said (r&aces, reco"!i4i!" the priest at a "la!ce) 'whe! last we met, you were my $oe.I ha%e wished si!ce the! to see you, $or I would ha%e you still my pupil a!d my $rie!d.' (paecides started at the %oice o$ the 9"yptia!) a!d halti!" a&ruptly, "a4ed upo! him with a cou!te!a!ce $ull o$ co!te!di!", &itter, a!d scor!$ul emotio!s. 'Villai! a!d impostor!' said he at le!"th) 'thou hast reco%ered the! $rom the 1aws o$ the "ra%e! *ut thi!,!ot a"ai! to wea%e arou!d me thy "uilty meshes. 5etiarius, I am armed a"ai!st thee!' 'Hush!' said (r&aces, i! a %ery low %oice-&ut his pride, which i! that desce!da!t o$ ,i!"s was "reat, &etrayed the wou!d it recei%ed $rom the i!sulti!" epithets o$ the priest i! the 0ui%er o$ his lip a!d the $lush o$ his taw!y &row. 'Hush! more low! thou mayest &e o%erheard, a!d i$ other ears tha! mi!e had dru!, those sou!ds-why...' 'Dost thou threate!#-what i$ the whole city had heard me#' 'The ma!es o$ my a!cestors would !ot ha%e su$$ered me to $or"i%e thee. *ut, hold, a!d hear me. Thou art e!ra"ed that I would ha%e o$$ered %iole!ce to thy sister. /ay, peace, peace, &ut o!e i!sta!t, I pray thee. Thou art ri"ht) it was the $re!4y o$ passio! a!d o$ 1ealousy-I ha%e repe!ted &itterly o$ my mad!ess. :or"i%e me) I, who !e%er implored pardo! o$ li%i!" ma!, &eseech thee !ow to $or"i%e me. /ay, I will ato!e the i!sult-I as, thy sister i! marria"e-start !ot-co!sider-what is the allia!ce o$ yo! holiday Gree, compared to mi!e# .ealth u!&ou!ded-&irth that i! its $ar a!ti0uity lea%es your Gree, a!d 5oma! !ames the thi!"s o$ yesterday-scie!ce-&ut that thou ,!owest! Gi%e me thy sister, a!d my whole li$e shall ato!e a mome!t's error.' '9"yptia!, were e%e! I to co!se!t, my sister loathes the %ery air thou &reathest2 &ut I ha%e my ow! wro!"s to $or"i%e-I may pardo! thee that thou hast made me a tool to thy deceits, &ut !e%er that thou hast seduced me to &ecome the a&ettor o$ thy %ices-a polluted a!d a per1ured ma!. Trem&le!-e%e! !ow I prepare the hour i! which thou a!d thy $alse "ods shall &e u!%eiled. Thy lewd a!d Circea! li$e shall &e dra""ed to day-thy mummi!" oracles disclosed-the $a!e o$ the idol Isis shall &e a &yword a!d a scor!-the !ame o$ (r&aces a mar, $or the hisses o$ e'ecratio!! Trem&le!' The $lush o! the 9"yptia!'s &row was succeeded &y a li%id pale!ess. He loo,ed &ehi!d, &e$ore, arou!d, to $eel assured that !o!e were &y) a!d the! he $i'ed his dar, a!d dilati!" eye o! the priest, with such a "a4e o$ wrath a!d me!ace, that o!e, perhaps, less supported tha! (paecides &y the $er%e!t dari!" o$ a di%i!e 4eal, could !ot ha%e $aced with u!$li!chi!" loo, that loweri!" aspect. (s it was, howe%er, the you!" co!%ert met it u!mo%ed, a!d retur!ed it with a! eye o$ proud de$ia!ce. '(paecides,' said the 9"yptia!, i! a tremulous a!d i!ward to!e, '&eware! .hat is it thou wouldst meditate# 8pea,est thou-re$lect, pause &e$ore thou repliest-$rom the hasty i!$lue!ces o$ wrath, as yet di%i!i!" !o settled purpose, or $rom some $i'ed desi"!#' 'I spea, $rom the i!spiratio! o$ the True God, whose ser%a!t I !ow am,' a!swered the Christia!, &oldly) 'a!d i! the ,!owled"e that &y His "race huma! coura"e has already $i'ed the date o$ thy hypocrisy a!d thy demo!'s worship) ere thrice the su! has daw!ed, thou wilt ,!ow all! Dar, sorcerer, trem&le, a!d $arewell!' (ll the $ierce a!d lurid passio!s which he i!herited $rom his !atio! a!d his clime, at all times &ut ill co!cealed &e!eath the &la!d!ess o$ cra$t a!d the cold!ess o$ philosophy, were released i! the &reast o$ the 9"yptia!. 5apidly o!e thou"ht chased a!other) he saw &e$ore him a! o&sti!ate &arrier to e%e! a law$ul allia!ce with Io!e-the $ellowchampio! o$ Glaucus i! the stru""le which had &a$$led his desi"!s-the re%iler o$ his !ame-the threate!ed desecrator o$ the "oddess he ser%ed while he dis&elie%ed-the a%owed a!d approachi!" re%ealer o$ his ow! impostures a!d %ices. His lo%e, his repute, !ay, his %ery li$e, mi"ht &e i! da!"er-the day a!d hour seemed e%e! to ha%e &ee! $i'ed $or some desi"! a"ai!st him. He ,!ew &y the words o$ the co!%ert that (paecides had adopted the Christia! $aith2 he ,!ew the i!domita&le 4eal which led o! the proselytes o$ that creed. 8uch was his e!emy) he "rasped his stilus-that e!emy was i! his power! They were !ow &e$ore the chapel) o!e hasty "la!ce o!ce more he cast arou!d) he saw !o!e !ear-sile!ce a!d solitude ali,e tempted him. 'Die, the!, i! thy rash!ess!' he muttered) 'away, o&stacle to my rushi!" $ates!' (!d 1ust as the you!" Christia! had tur!ed to depart, (r&aces raised his ha!d hi"h o%er the le$t shoulder o$ (paecides, a!d plu!"ed his sharp weapo! twice i!to his &reast. (paecides $ell to the "rou!d pierced to the heart-he $ell mute, without e%e! a "roa!, at the %ery &ase o$ the sacred chapel. (r&aces "a4ed upo! him $or a mome!t with the $ierce a!imal 1oy o$ co!0uest o%er a $oe. *ut prese!tly the $ull se!se o$ the da!"er to which he was e'posed $lashed upo! him) he wiped his weapo! care$ully i! the lo!" "rass, a!d with the %ery "arme!ts o$ his %ictim) drew his cloa, rou!d him, a!d was a&out to depart, whe! he saw, comi!" up the path, ri"ht &e$ore him, the $i"ure o$ a you!" ma!, whose steps reeled a!d %acillated stra!"ely as he ad%a!ced2 the 0uiet moo!li"ht streamed $ull upo! his $ace, which seemed, &y the white!i!" ray, colorless as mar&le. The 9"yptia! reco"!i4ed the $ace a!d $orm o$ Glaucus. The u!$ortu!ate a!d &e!i"hted Gree, was cha!ti!" a disco!!ected a!d mad so!", composed $rom s!atches o$ hym!s a!d sacred odes, all 1arri!"ly wo%e! to"ether. 'Ha!' thou"ht the 9"yptia!, i!sta!ta!eously di%i!i!" his state a!d its terri&le cause) 'so, the!, the helldrau"ht wor,s, a!d desti!y hath se!t thee hither to crush two o$ my $oes at o!ce!' Auic,ly, e%e! ere this thou"ht occurred to him, he had withdraw! o! o!e side o$ the chapel, a!d co!cealed himsel$ amo!"st the &ou"hs) $rom that lur,i!" place he watched, as a ti"er i! his lair, the ad%a!ce o$ his seco!d %ictim. He !oted the wa!deri!" a!d restless $ire i! the &ri"ht a!d &eauti$ul eyes o$ the (the!ia!) the co!%ulsio!s that distorted his statueli,e $eatures, a!d writhed his hueless lip. He saw that the Gree, was utterly depri%ed o$ reaso!. /e%ertheless, as Glaucus came up to the dead &ody o$ (paecides, $rom which the dar, red stream $lowed slowly o%er the "rass, so stra!"e a!d "hastly a spectacle could !ot $ail to arrest him, &e!i"hted a!d erri!" as was his "limmeri!" se!se. He paused, placed his ha!d to his &row, as i$ to collect himsel$, a!d the! sayi!"2 '.hat ho! 9!dymio!, sleepest thou so sou!dly# .hat has the moo! said to thee# Thou ma,est me 1ealous) it is time to wa,e'-he stooped dow! with the i!te!tio! o$ li$ti!" up the &ody. :or"etti!"-$eeli!" !ot-his ow! de&ility, the 9"yptia! spru!" $rom his hidi!"place, a!d, as the Gree, &e!t, struc, him $orci&ly to the "rou!d, o%er the %ery &ody o$ the Christia!) the!, raisi!" his power$ul %oice to its hi"hest pitch, he shouted2 'Ho, citi4e!s-oh! help me!-ru! hither-hither!-( murder-a murder &e$ore your %ery $a!e! Help, or the murderer escapes!' (s he spo,e, he placed his $oot o! the &reast o$ Glaucus2 a! idle a!d super$luous precautio!) $or the potio! operati!" with the $all, the Gree, lay there motio!less a!d i!se!si&le, sa%e that !ow a!d the! his lips "a%e %e!t to some %a"ue a!d ra%i!" sou!ds. (s he there stood awaiti!" the comi!" o$ those his %oice still co!ti!ued to summo!s, perhaps some remorse, some compu!ctious %isiti!"s-$or despite his crimes he was huma!-hau!ted the &reast o$ the 9"yptia!) the de$e!celess state o$ Glaucus-his wa!deri!" words-his shattered reaso!, smote him e%e! more tha! the death o$ (paecides, a!d he said, hal$ audi&ly, to himsel$2 '+oor clay!-poor huma! reaso!) where is the soul !ow# I could spare thee, O my ri%al-ri%al !e%er more! *ut desti!y must &e o&eyed-my sa$ety dema!ds thy sacri$ice.' .ith that, as i$ to drow! compu!ctio!, he shouted yet more loudly) a!d drawi!" $rom the "irdle o$ Glaucus the stilus it co!tai!ed, he steeped it i! the &lood o$ the murdered ma!, a!d laid it &eside the corpse. (!d !ow, $ast a!d &reathless, se%eral o$ the citi4e!s came thro!"i!" to the place, some with torches, which the moo! re!dered u!!ecessary, &ut which $lared red a!d tremulously a"ai!st the dar,!ess o$ thetrees) they surrou!ded the spot. 'Li$t up yo! corpse,' said the 9"yptia!, 'a!d "uard well the murderer.' They raised the &ody, a!d "reat was their horror a!d sacred i!di"!atio! to disco%er i! that li$eless clay a priest o$ the adored a!d %e!era&le Isis) &ut still "reater, perhaps, was their surprise, whe! they $ou!d the accused i! the &rillia!t a!d admired (the!ia!. 'Glaucus!' cried the &ysta!ders, with o!e accord) 'is it e%e! credi&le#' 'I would soo!er,' whispered o!e ma! to his !ei"h&or, '&elie%e it to &e the 9"yptia! himsel$.' Here a ce!turio! thrust himsel$ i!to the "atheri!" crowd, with a! air o$ authority. 'How! &lood spilt! who the murderer#' The &ysta!ders poi!ted to Glaucus. 'He!-&y 6ars, he has rather the air o$ &ei!" the %ictim! '.ho accuses him#' 'I,' said (r&aces, drawi!" himsel$ up hau"htily) a!d the 1ewels which ador!ed his dress $lashi!" i! the eyes o$ the soldier, i!sta!tly co!%i!ced that worthy warrior o$ the wit!ess's respecta&ility. '+ardo! me-your !ame#' said he. '(r&aces) it is well ,!ow! methi!,s i! +ompeii. +assi!" throu"h the "ro%e, I &eheld &e$ore me the Gree, a!d the priest i! ear!est co!%ersatio!. I was struc, &y the reeli!" motio!s o$ the $irst, his %iole!t "estures, a!d the loud!ess o$ his %oice) he seemed to me either dru!, or mad. 8udde!ly I saw him raisehis stilus-I darted $orward-too late to arrest the &low. He had twice sta&&ed his %ictim, a!d was &e!di!" o%er him, whe!, i! my horror a!d i!di"!atio!, I struc, the murderer to the "rou!d. He $ell without a stru""le, which ma,es me yet more suspect that he was !ot alto"ether i! his se!ses whe! the crime was perpetrated) $or, rece!tly reco%ered $rom a se%ere ill!ess, my &low was comparati%ely $ee&le, a!d the $rame o$ Glaucus, as you see, is stro!" a!d youth$ul.' 'His eyes are ope! !ow-his lips mo%e,' said the soldier. '8pea,, priso!er, what sayest thou to the char"e#' 'The char"e-ha-ha! .hy, it was merrily do!e) whe! the old ha" set her serpe!t at me, a!d Hecate stood &y lau"hi!" $rom ear to ear-what could I do# *ut I am ill-I $ai!t-the serpe!t's $iery to!"ue hath &itte! me. *ear me to &ed, a!d se!d $or your physicia!) old (9sculapius himsel$ will atte!d me i$ you let him ,!ow that I am Gree,. Oh, mercy-mercy! I &ur!!-marrow a!d &rai!, I &ur!!' (!d, with a thrilli!" a!d $ierce "roa!, the (the!ia! $ell &ac, i! the arms o$ the &ysta!ders. 'He ra%es,' said the o$$icer, compassio!ately) 'a!d i! his delirium he has struc, the priest.