第16章

’Andif，’resumedLydon——’ifthyDeity（methinksthouwiltownbutone？）beindeedthatbenevolentandpityingPowerwhichthouassertestHimtobe，HewillknowalsothatthyveryfaithinHimfirstconfirmedmeinthatdeterminationthoublamest。’

’How！whatmeanyou？’saidtheslave。

’Why，thouknowestthatI，soldinmychildhoodasaslave，wassetfreeatRomebythewillofmymaster，whomIhadbeenfortunateenoughtoplease。

IhastenedtoPompeiitoseethee——Ifoundtheealreadyagedandinfirm，undertheyokeofacapriciousandpamperedlord——thouhadstlatelyadoptedthisnewfaith，anditsadoptionmadethyslaverydoublypainfultothee；ittookawayallthesofteningcharmofcustom，whichreconcilesussooftentotheworst。Didstthounotcomplaintomethatthouwertcompelledtoofficesthatwerenotodioustotheeasaslave，butguiltyasaNazarene？

DidstthounottellmethatthysoulshookwithremorsewhenthouwertcompelledtoplaceevenacrumbofcakebeforetheLaresthatwatchoveryonimpluvium？thatthysoulwastornbyaperpetualstruggle？Didstthounottellmethatevenbypouringwinebeforethethreshold，andcallingonthenameofsomeGreciandeity，thoudidstfearthouwertincurringpenaltiesworsethanthoseofTantalus，aneternityoftorturesmoreterriblethanthoseoftheTartarianfields？Didstthounottellmethis？Iwondered，I

couldnotcomprehend；nor，byHercules！canInow：butIwasthyson，andmysoletaskwastocompassionateandrelieve。CouldIhearthygroans，couldIwitnessthymysterioushorrors，thyconstantanguish，andremaininactive？

No！bytheimmortalgods！thethoughtstruckmelikelightfromOlympus！I

hadnomoney，butIhadstrengthandyouth——thesewerethygifts——Icouldselltheseinmyturnforthee！Ilearnedtheamountofthyransom——I

learnedthattheusualprizeofavictoriousgladiatorwoulddoublypayit。

Ibecameagladiator——Ilinkedmyselfwiththoseaccursedmen，scorning，loathing，whileIjoined——Iacquiredtheirskill——blessedbethelesson！——itshallteachmetofreemyfather！’

’Oh，thatthoucouldsthearOlinthus！’sighedtheoldman，moreandmoreaffectedbythevirtueofhisson，butnotlessstronglyconvincedofthecriminalityofhispurpose。

’Iwillhearthewholeworldtalkifthouwilt，’answeredthegladiator，gaily；’butnottillthouartaslavenomore。Beneaththyownroof，myfather，thoushaltpuzzlethisdullbrainalldaylong，ay，andallnighttoo，ifitgivetheepleasure。Oh，suchaspotasIhavechalkedoutforthee！——itisoneoftheninehundredandninety—nineshopsofoldJuliaFelix，inthesunnypartofthecity，wherethoumaystbaskbeforethedoorintheday——andIwillselltheoilandthewineforthee，myfather——andthen，pleaseVenus（orifitdoesnotpleaseher，sincethoulovestnothername，itisallonetoLydon）——then，Isay，perhapsthoumaysthaveadaughter，too，totendthygreyhairs，andhearshrillvoicesatthyknee，thatshallcallthee"Lydon’sfather！"Ah！weshallbesohappy——theprizecanpurchaseall。Cheerthee！cheerup，mysire！——AndnowImustaway——daywears——thelanistawaitsme。Come！thyblessing！’

AsLydonthusspoke，hehadalreadyquittedthedarkchamberofhisfather；

andspeakingeagerly，thoughinawhisperedtone，theynowstoodatthesameplaceinwhichweintroducedtheporterathispost。

’Oblessthee！blessthee，mybraveboy！’saidMedon，fervently；’andmaythegreatPowerthatreadsallheartsseethenoblenessofthine，andforgiveitserror！’

Thetallshapeofthegladiatorpassedswiftlydownthepath；theeyesoftheslavefolloweditslightbutstatelysteps，tillthelastglimpsewasgone；andthen，sinkingoncemoreonhisseat，hiseyesagainfastenedthemselvesontheground。Hisform，muteandunmoving，asathingofstone。

Hisheart！——who，inourhappierage，canevenimagineitsstruggles——itscommotion？

’MayIenter？’saidasweetvoice。’IsthymistressJuliawithin？’

Theslavemechanicallymotionedtothevisitortoenter，butshewhoaddressedhimcouldnotseethegesture——sherepeatedherquestiontimidly，butinaloudervoice。

’HaveInottoldthee！’saidtheslave，peevishly：’enter。’

’Thanks，’saidthespeaker，plaintively；andtheslave，rousedbythetone，lookedup，andrecognizedtheblindflower—girl。Sorrowcansympathizewithaffliction——heraisedhimself，andguidedherstepstotheheadoftheadjacentstaircase（bywhichyoudescendedtoJulia’sapartment），where，summoningafemaleslave，heconsignedtoherthechargeoftheblindgirl。

ChapterVII

THEDRESSING—ROOMOFAPOMPEIANBEAUTY。IMPORTANTCONVERSATIONBETWEENJULIA

ANDNYDIA。

THEelegantJuliasatinherchamber，withherslavesaroundher——likethecubiculumwhichadjoinedit，theroomwassmall，butmuchlargerthantheusualapartmentsappropriatedtosleep，whichweresodiminutive，thatfewwhohavenotseenthebed—chambers，eveninthegayestmansions，canformanynotionofthepettypigeon—holesinwhichthecitizensofPompeiievidentlythoughtitdesirabletopassthenight。But，infact，’bed’withtheancientswasnotthatgrave，serious，andimportantpartofdomesticmysterieswhichitiswithus。Thecouchitselfwasmorelikeaverynarrowandsmallsofa，lightenoughtobetransportedeasily，andbytheoccupanthimself，fromplacetoplace；anditwas，nodoubt，constantlyshiftedfromchambertochamber，accordingtothecapriceoftheinmate，orthechangesoftheseason；forthatsideofthehousewhichwascrowdedinonemonth，might，perhaps，becarefullyavoidedinthenext。TherewasalsoamongtheItaliansofthatperiodasingularandfastidiousapprehensionoftoomuchdaylight；theirdarkenedchambers，whichfirstappeartoustheresultofanegligentarchitecture，weretheeffectofthemostelaboratestudy。Intheirporticoesandgardenstheycourtedthesunwheneveritsopleasedtheirluxurioustastes。Intheinterioroftheirhousestheysoughtratherthecoolnessandtheshade。

Julia’sapartmentatthatseasonwasinthelowerpartofthehouse，immediatelybeneaththestateroomsabove，andlookinguponthegarden，withwhichitwasonalevel。Thewidedoor，whichwasglazed，aloneadmittedthemorningrays：yethereye，accustomedtoacertaindarkness，wassufficientlyacutetoperceiveexactlywhatcolorswerethemostbecoming——whatshadeofthedelicaterougegavethebrightestbeamtoherdarkglance，andthemostyouthfulfreshnesstohercheek。

Onthetable，beforewhichshesat，wasasmallandcircularmirrorofthemostpolishedsteel：roundwhich，inpreciseorder，wererangedthecosmeticsandtheunguents——theperfumesandthepaints——thejewelsandcombs——theribandsandthegoldpins，whichweredestinedtoaddtothenaturalattractionsofbeautytheassistanceofartandthecapriciousallurementsoffashion。Throughthedimnessoftheroomglowedbrightlythevividandvariouscolouringsofthewall，inallthedazzlingfrescoesofPompeiantaste。Beforethedressing—table，andunderthefeetofJulia，wasspreadacarpet，wovenfromtheloomsoftheEast。Nearathand，onanothertable，wasasilverbasinandewer；anextinguishedlamp，ofmostexquisiteworkmanship，inwhichtheartisthadrepresentedaCupidreposingunderthespreadingbranchesofamyrtle—tree；andasmallrollofpapyrus，containingthesoftestelegiesofTibullus。Beforethedoor，whichcommunicatedwiththecubiculum，hungacurtainrichlybroideredwithgoldflowers。Suchwasthedressing—roomofabeautyeighteencenturiesago。

ThefairJulialeanedindolentlybackonherseat，whiletheornatrix（i。e。

hairdresser）slowlypiled，oneabovetheother，amassofsmallcurls，dexterouslyweavingthefalsewiththetrue，andcarryingthewholefabrictoaheightthatseemedtoplacetheheadratheratthecentrethanthesummitofthehumanform。

Hertunic，ofadeepamber，whichwellsetoffherdarkhairandsomewhatembrownedcomplexion，sweptinamplefoldstoherfeet，whichwerecasedinslippers，fastenedroundtheslenderanklebywhitethongs；whileaprofusionofpearlswereembroideredintheslipperitself，whichwasofpurple，andturnedslightlyupward，asdotheTurkishslippersatthisday。

Anoldslave，skilledbylongexperienceinallthearcanaofthetoilet，stoodbesidethehairdresser，withthebroadandstuddedgirdleofhermistressoverherarm，andgiving，fromtimetotime（mingledwithjudiciousflatterytotheladyherself），instructionstothemasonoftheascendingpile。

’Putthatpinrathermoretotheright——lower——stupidone！Doyounotobservehoweventhosebeautifuleyebrowsare？——OnewouldthinkyouweredressingCorinna，whosefaceisallofoneside。Nowputintheflowers——what，fool！——notthatdullpink——youarenotsuitingcolorstothedimcheekofChloris：itmustbethebrightestflowersthatcanalonesuitthecheekoftheyoungJulia。’

’Gently！’saidthelady，stampinghersmallfootviolently：’youpullmyhairasifyouwerepluckingupaweed！’

’Dullthing！’continuedthedirectressoftheceremony。’Doyounotknowhowdelicateisyourmistress？——youarenotdressingthecoarsehorsehairofthewidowFulvia。Now，then，theriband——that’sright。FairJulia，lookinthemirror；sawyoueveranythingsolovelyasyourself？’

When，afterinnumerablecomments，difficulties，anddelays，theintricatetowerwasatlengthcompleted，thenextpreparationwasthatofgivingtotheeyesthesoftlanguish，producedbyadarkpowderappliedtothelidsandbrows；asmallpatchcutintheformofacrescent，skillfullyplacedbytherosylips，attractedattentiontotheirdimples，andtotheteeth，towhichalreadyeveryarthadbeenappliedinordertoheightenthedazzleoftheirnaturalwhiteness。

Toanotherslave，hithertoidle，wasnowconsignedthechargeofarrangingthejewels——theear—ringsofpearl（twotoeachear）——themassivebraceletsofgold——thechainformedofringsofthesamemetal，towhichatalismancutincrystalswasattached——thegracefulbuckleontheleftshoulder，inwhichwassetanexquisitecameoofPsyche——thegirdleofpurpleriband，richlywroughtwiththreadsofgold，andclaspedbyinterlacingserpents——andlastly，thevariousrings，fittedtoeveryjointofthewhiteandslenderfingers。ThetoiletwasnowarrangedaccordingtothelastmodeofRome。ThefairJuliaregardedherselfwithalastgazeofcomplacentvanity，andrecliningagainuponherseat，shebadetheyoungestofherslaves，inalistlesstone，readtohertheenamouredcoupletsofTibullus。

Thislecturewasstillproceeding，whenafemaleslaveadmittedNydiaintothepresenceoftheladyoftheplace。

’Salve，Julia！’saidtheflower—girl，arrestingherstepswithinafewpacesfromthespotwhereJuliasat，andcrossingherarmsuponherbreast。’I

haveobeyedyourcommands。’

’Youhavedonewell，flower—girl，’answeredthelady。’Approach——youmaytakeaseat。’

OneoftheslavesplacedastoolbyJulia，andNydiaseatedherself。

JulialookedhardattheThessalianforsomemomentsinratheranembarrassedsilence。Shethenmotionedherattendantstowithdraw，andtoclosethedoor。Whentheywerealone，shesaid，lookingmechanicallyfromNydia，andforgetfulthatshewaswithonewhocouldnotobservehercountenance：

’YouservetheNeapolitan，Ione？’

’Iamwithheratpresent，’answeredNydia。

’Issheashandsomeastheysay？’

’Iknownot，’repliedNydia。’HowcanIjudge？’

’Ah！Ishouldhaveremembered。Butthouhastears，ifnoteyes。Dothyfellow—slavestelltheesheishandsome？Slavestalkingwithoneanotherforgettoflattereventheirmistress。’

’Theytellmethatsheisbeautiful。’

’Hem！——saytheythatsheistall？’

’Yes。’

’Why，soamI。Darkhaired？’

’Ihaveheardso。’

’SoamI。AnddothGlaucusvisithermuch？’

’Daily’returnedNydia，withahalf—suppressedsigh。

’Daily，indeed！Doeshefindherhandsome？’

’Ishouldthinkso，sincetheyaresosoontobewedded。’

’Wedded！’criedJulia，turningpaleeventhroughthefalserosesonhercheek，andstartingfromhercouch。Nydiadidnot，ofcourse，perceivetheemotionshehadcaused。Juliaremainedalongtimesilent；butherheavingbreastandflashingeyeswouldhavebetrayed，toonewhocouldhaveseen，thewoundhervanityhadsustained。

’TheytellmethouartaThessalian，’saidshe，atlastbreakingsilence。

’Andtruly！’

’Thessalyisthelandofmagicandofwitches，oftalismansandoflove—philtres，’saidJulia。

’Ithaseverbeencelebratedforitssorcerers，’returnedNydia，timidly。

’Knowestthou，then，blindThessalian，ofanylove—charms？’

’I！’saidtheflower—girl，coloring；’I！howshouldI？No，assuredlynot！’

’Theworseforthee；Icouldhavegiventheegoldenoughtohavepurchasedthyfreedomhadstthoubeenmorewise。’

’Butwhat，’askedNydia，’caninducethebeautifulandwealthyJuliatoaskthatquestionofherservant？Hasshenotmoney，andyouth，andloveliness？

Aretheynotlove—charmsenoughtodispensewithmagic？’

’Toallbutonepersonintheworld，’answeredJulia，haughtily：’butmethinksthyblindnessisinfectious；and……Butnomatter。’

’Andthatoneperson？’saidNydia，eagerly。

’IsnotGlaucus，’repliedJulia，withthecustomarydeceitofhersex。

’Glaucus——no！’

Nydiadrewherbreathmorefreely，andafterashortpauseJuliarecommenced。

’ButtalkingofGlaucus，andhisattachmenttothisNeapolitan，remindedmeoftheinfluenceoflove—spells，which，foroughtIknoworcare，shemayhaveexerciseduponhim。Blindgirl，Ilove，and——shallJulialivetosayit？——amlovednotinreturn！Thishumbles——nay，nothumbles——butitstingsmypride。Iwouldseethisingrateatmyfeet——notinorderthatImightraise，butthatImightspurnhim。WhentheytoldmethouwertThessalian，Iimaginedthyyoungmindmighthavelearnedthedarksecretsofthyclime。’

’Alas！no，murmuredNydia：’wouldithad！’

’Thanks，atleast，forthatkindlywish，’saidJulia，unconsciousofwhatwaspassinginthebreastoftheflower—girl。

’Buttellme——thouhearestthegossipofslaves，alwayspronetothesedimbeliefs；alwaysreadytoapplytosorceryfortheirownlowloves——hastthoueverheardofanyEasternmagicianinthiscity，whopossessestheartofwhichthouartignorant？Novainchiromancer，nojugglerofthemarket—place，butsomemorepotentandmightymagicianofIndiaorofEgypt？’

’OfEgypt？——yes！’saidNydia，shuddering。’WhatPompeianhasnotheardofArbaces？’

’Arbaces！true，’repliedJulia，graspingattherecollection。’Theysayheisamanaboveallthepettyandfalseimposturesofdullpretenders——thatheisversedinthelearningofthestars，andthesecretsoftheancientNox；whynotinthemysteriesoflove？’

’Iftherebeonemagicianlivingwhoseartisabovethatofothers，itisthatdreadman，’answeredNydia；andshefelthertalismanwhileshespoke。

’Heistoowealthytodivineformoney？’continuedJulia，sneeringly。’CanInotvisithim？’

’Itisanevilmansionfortheyoungandthebeautiful，’repliedNydia。’I

haveheard，too，thathelanguishesin……’

’Anevilmansion！’saidJulia，catchingonlythefirstsentence。’Whyso？’

’Theorgiesofhismidnightleisureareimpureandpolluted——atleast，sosaysrumor。’

’ByCeres，byPan，andbyCybele！thoudostbutprovokemycuriosity，insteadofexcitingmyfears，’returnedthewaywardandpamperedPompeian。

’Iwillseekandquestionhimofhislore。Iftotheseorgieslovebeadmitted——whythemorelikelythatheknowsitssecrets！’

Nydiadidnotanswer。

’Iwillseekhimthisveryday，’resumedJulia；’nay，whynotthisveryhour？’

’Atdaylight，andinhispresentstate，thouhastassuredlythelesstofear，’answeredNydia，yieldingtoherownsuddenandsecretwishtolearnifthedarkEgyptianwereindeedpossessedofthosespellstorivetandattractlove，ofwhichtheThessalianhadsooftenheard。

’AndwhodareinsulttherichdaughterofDiomed？’saidJulia，haughtily。

’Iwillgo。’

’MayIvisittheeafterwardstolearntheresult？’askedNydia，anxiously。

’KissmeforthyinterestinJulia’shonour，’answeredthelady。’Yes，assuredly。Thisevewesupabroad——comehitheratthesamehourto—morrow，andthoushaltknowall：Imayhavetoemploytheetoo；butenoughforthepresent。Stay，takethisbraceletforthenewthoughtthouhastinspiredmewith；remember，ifthouservestJulia，sheisgratefulandsheisgenerous。’

’Icannottakethypresent，’saidNydia，puttingasidethebracelet；’butyoungasIam，Icansympathizeunboughtwiththosewholove——andloveinvain。’

’Sayestthouso！’returnedJulia。’Thouspeakestlikeafreewoman——andthoushaltyetbefree——farewell！’

ChapterVIII

JULIASEEKSARBACES。THERESULTOFTHATINTERVIEW。

ARBACESwasseatedinachamberwhichopenedonakindofbalconyorporticothatfrontedhisgarden。Hischeekwaspaleandwornwiththesufferingshehadendured，buthisironframehadalreadyrecoveredfromtheseveresteffectsofthataccidentwhichhadfrustratedhisfelldesignsinthemomentofvictory。Theairthatcamefragrantlytohisbrowrevivedhislanguidsenses，andthebloodcirculatedmorefreelythanithaddonefordaysthroughhisshrunkenveins。

’So，then，’thoughthe，’thestormoffatehasbrokenandblownover——theevilwhichmylorepredicted，threateninglifeitself，haschanced——andyetIlive！Itcameasthestarsforetold；andnowthelong，bright，andprosperouscareerwhichwastosucceedthatevil，ifIsurvivedit，smilesbeyond：Ihavepassed——Ihavesubduedthelatestdangerofmydestiny。NowIhavebuttolayoutthegardensofmyfuturefate——unterrifiedandsecure。

First，then，ofallmypleasures，evenbeforethatoflove，shallcomerevenge！ThisboyGreek——whohascrossedmypassion——thwartedmydesigns——baffledmeevenwhenthebladewasabouttodrinkhisaccursedblood——shallnotasecondtimeescapeme！Butforthemethodofmyvengeance？Ofthatletmeponderwell！Oh！Ate，ifthouartindeedagoddess，fillmewiththydirestInspiration！’TheEgyptiansankintoanintentreverie，whichdidnotseemtopresenttohimanyclearorsatisfactorysuggestions。Hechangedhispositionrestlessly，asherevolvedschemeafterscheme，whichnosooneroccurredthanitwasdismissed：severaltimeshestruckhisbreastandgroanedaloud，withthedesireofvengeance，andasenseofhisimpotencetoaccomplishit。Whilethusabsorbed，aboyslavetimidlyenteredthechamber。

Afemale，evidentlyofrankfromherdress，andthatofthesingleslavewhoattendedher，waitedbelowandsoughtanaudiencewithArbaces。

’Afemale！’hisheartbeatquick。’Issheyoung？’

’Herfaceisconcealedbyherveil；butherformisslight，yetround，asthatofyouth。’

’Admither，’saidtheEgyptian：foramomenthisvainheartdreamedthestrangermightbeIone。

Thefirstglanceofthevisitornowenteringtheapartmentsufficedtoundeceivesoerringafancy。True，shewasaboutthesameheightasIone，andperhapsthesameage——true，shewasfinelyandrichlyformed——butwherewasthatundulatingandineffablegracewhichaccompaniedeverymotionofthepeerlessNeapolitan——thechasteanddecorousgarb，sosimpleeveninthecareofitsarrangement——thedignifiedyetbashfulstep——themajestyofwomanhoodanditsmodesty？

’PardonmethatIrisewithpain，’saidArbaces，gazingonthestranger：’I

amstillsufferingfromrecentillness。’

’Donotdisturbthyself，OgreatEgyptian！’returnedJulia，seekingtodisguisethefearshealreadyexperiencedbeneaththereadyresortofflattery；’andforgiveanunfortunatefemale，whoseeksconsolationfromthywisdom。’

’Drawnear，fairstranger，’saidArbaces；’andspeakwithoutapprehensionorreserve。’

JuliaplacedherselfonaseatbesidetheEgyptian，andwonderinglygazedaroundanapartmentwhoseelaborateandcostlyluxuriesshamedeventheornateenrichmentofherfather’smansion；fearfully，too，sheregardedthehieroglyphicalinscriptionsonthewalls——thefacesofthemysteriousimages，whichateverycornergazeduponher——thetripodatalittledistance——and，aboveall，thegraveandremarkablecountenanceofArbaceshimself：alongwhiterobelikeaveilhalfcoveredhisravenlocks，andflowedtohisfeet：hisfacewasmadeevenmoreimpressivebyitspresentpaleness；andhisdarkandpenetratingeyesseemedtopiercetheshelterofherveil，andexplorethesecretsofhervainandunfemininesoul。

’Andwhat，’saidhislow，deepvoice，’bringsthee，Omaiden！tothehouseoftheEasternstranger？’

’Hisfame，’repliedJulia。

’Inwhat？’saidhe，withastrangeandslightsmile。

’Canstthouask，OwiseArbaces？IsnotthyknowledgetheverygossipthemeofPompeii？’

’SomelittlelorehaveIindeed，treasuredup，’repliedArbaces：’butinwhatcansuchseriousandsterilesecretsbenefittheearofbeauty？’

’Alas！’saidJulia，alittlecheeredbytheaccustomedaccentsofadulation；

’doesnotsorrowflytowisdomforrelief，andtheywholoveunrequitedly，arenottheythechosenvictimsofgrief？’

’Ha！’saidArbaces，’canunrequitedlovebethelotofsofairaform，whosemodelledproportionsarevisibleevenbeneaththefoldsofthygracefulrobe？Deign，Omaiden！toliftthyveil，thatImayseeatleastifthefacecorrespondinlovelinesswiththeform。’

Notunwilling，perhaps，toexhibithercharms，andthinkingtheywerelikelytointerestthemagicianinherfate，Julia，aftersomeslighthesitation，raisedherveil，andrevealedabeautywhich，butforart，hadbeenindeedattractivetothefixedgazeoftheEgyptian。

’Thoucomesttomeforadviceinunhappylove，’saidhe；’well，turnthatfaceontheungratefulone：whatotherlove—charmcanIgivethee？’

’Oh，ceasethesecourtesies！’saidJulia；’itisalove—charm，indeed，thatIwouldaskfromthyskill！’

’Fairstranger！’repliedArbaces，somewhatscornfully，’love—spellsarenotamongthesecretsIhavewastedthemidnightoiltoattain。’

’Isitindeedso？Thenpardonme，greatArbaces，andfarewell！’

’Stay，’saidArbaces，who，despitehispassionforIone，wasnotunmovedbythebeautyofhisvisitor；andhadhebeenintheflushofamoreassuredhealth，mighthaveattemptedtoconsolethefairJuliabyothermeansthanthoseofsupernaturalwisdom。

’Stay；althoughIconfessthatIhaveleftthewitcheryofphiltresandpotionstothosewhosetradeisinsuchknowledge，yetamImyselfnotsodulltobeautybutthatinearlieryouthImayhaveemployedtheminmyownbehalf。Imaygivetheeadvice，atleast，ifthouwiltbecandidwithme。

Tellmethen，first，artthouunmarried，asthydressbetokens？’

’Yes，’saidJulia。

’And，beingunblestwithfortune，wouldstthoualluresomewealthysuitor？’

’Iamricherthanhewhodisdainsme。’

’Strangeandmorestrange！Andthoulovesthimwholovesnotthee？’

’IknownotifIlovehim，’answeredJulia，haughtily；’butIknowthatI

wouldseemyselftriumphoverarival——Iwouldseehimwhorejectedmemysuitor——Iwouldseeherwhomhehaspreferredinherturndespised。’

’Anaturalambitionandawomanly，’saidtheEgyptian，inatonetoograveforirony。’Yetmore，fairmaiden；wiltthouconfidetomethenameofthylover？CanhebePompeian，anddespisewealth，evenifblindtobeauty？’

’HeisofAthens，’answeredJulia，lookingdown。

’Ha！’criedtheEgyptian，impetuously，asthebloodrushedtohischeek；

’thereisbutoneAthenian，youngandnoble，inPompeii。CanitbeGlaucusofwhomthouspeakest！’

’Ah！betraymenot——soindeedtheycallhim。’

TheEgyptiansankback，gazingvacantlyontheavertedfaceofthemerchant’sdaughter，andmutteringinlytohimself：thisconference，withwhichhehadhithertoonlytrifled，amusinghimselfwiththecredulityandvanityofhisvisitor——mightitnotministertohisrevenge？’

’Iseethoucanstassistmenot，’saidJulia，offendedbyhiscontinuedsilence；’guardatleastmysecret。Oncemore，farewell！’

’Maiden，’saidtheEgyptian，inanearnestandserioustone，’thysuithathtouchedme——Iwillministertothywill。Listentome；Ihavenotmyselfdabbledintheselessermysteries，butIknowonewhohath。AtthebaseofVesuvius，lessthanaleaguefromthecity，theredwellsapowerfulwitch；

beneaththerankdewsofthenewmoon，shehasgatheredtheherbswhichpossessthevirtuetochainLoveineternalfetters。Herartcanbringthylovertothyfeet。Seekher，andmentiontoherthenameofArbaces：shefearsthatname，andwillgivetheehermostpotentphiltres。’

’Alas！’answeredJulia，Iknownottheroadtothehomeofherwhomthouspeakestof：theway，shortthoughitbe，islongtotraverseforagirlwholeaves，unknown，thehouseofherfather。Thecountryisentangledwithwildvines，anddangerouswithprecipitouscaverns。Idarenottrusttomerestrangerstoguideme；thereputationofwomenofmyrankiseasilytarnished——andthoughIcarenotwhoknowsthatIloveGlaucus，IwouldnothaveitimaginedthatIobtainedhislovebyaspell。’

’WereIbutthreedaysadvancedinhealth，’saidtheEgyptian，risingandwalking（asiftotryhisstrength）acrossthechamber，butwithirregularandfeeblesteps，’Imyselfwouldaccompanythee。Well，thoumustwait。’

’ButGlaucusissoontowedthathatedNeapolitan。’

’Wed！’