第20章

II

ItisnotthatourlateryearsOfcaresarewovenwholly，Butsmileslessswiftlychasethetears，Andwoundsarehealedmoreslowly。

AndMemory’svowTolostonesnow，Makesjoystoobright，unholy。

AndeverfledtheIrisbowThatsmiledwhencloudswereo’erus。

Ifstormsshouldburst，uncheeredwego，Adrearierwastebeforeus——

AndwiththetoysOfchildishjoys，We’vebrokethestaffthatboreus！

WiselyanddelicatelyhadIonechosenthatsong，sadthoughitsburthenseemed；forwhenwearedeeplymournful，discordantaboveallothersisthevoiceofmirth：thefittestspellisthatborrowedfrommelancholyitself，fordarkthoughtscanbesofteneddownwhentheycannotbebrightened；andsotheylosethepreciseandrigidoutlineoftheirtruth，andtheircolorsmeltintotheideal。Astheleechappliesinremedytotheinternalsoresomeoutwardirritation，which，byagentlerwound，drawsawaythevenomofthatwhichismoredeadly，thus，intheranklingfestersofthemind，ourartistodiverttoamildersadnessonthesurfacethepainthatgnawethatthecore。AndsowithApaecides，yieldingtotheinfluenceofthesilvervoicethatremindedhimofthepast，andtoldbutofhalfthesorrowborntothepresent，heforgothismoreimmediateandfierysourcesofanxiousthought。HespenthoursinmakingIonealternatelysingto，andconversewithhim；andwhenherosetoleaveher，itwaswithacalmedandlulledmind。

’Ione，’saidhe，ashepressedherhand，’shouldyouhearmynameblackenedandmaligned，willyoucredittheaspersion？’

’Never，mybrother，never！’

’Dostthounotimagine，accordingtothybelief，thattheevil—doerispunishedhereafter，andthegoodrewarded？’

’Canyoudoubtit？’

’Dostthouthink，then，thathewhoistrulygoodshouldsacrificeeveryselfishinterestinhiszealforvirtue？’

’Hewhodothsoistheequalofthegods。’

’Andthoubelievestthat，accordingtothepurityandcouragewithwhichhethusacts，shallbehisportionofblissbeyondthegrave？’

’Sowearetaughttohope。’

’Kissme，mysister。Onequestionmore。ThouarttobeweddedtoGlaucus：

perchancethatmarriagemayseparateusmorehopelessly——butnotofthisspeakInow——thouarttobemarriedtoGlaucus——dostthoulovehim？Nay，mysister，answermebywords。’

’Yes！’murmuredIone，blushing。

’Dostthoufeelthat，forhissake，thoucouldstrenouncepride，bravedishonour，andincurdeath？Ihaveheardthatwhenwomenreallylove，itistothatexcess。’

’Mybrother，allthiscouldIdoforGlaucus，andfeelthatitwerenotasacrifice。Thereisnosacrificetothosewholove，inwhatisbornefortheonewelove。’

’Enough！shallwomanfeelthusforman，andmanfeellessdevotiontohisGod？’

Hespokenomore。Hiswholecountenanceseemedinstinctandinspiredwithadivinelife：hischestswelledproudly；hiseyesglowed：onhisforeheadwaswritthemajestyofamanwhocandaretobenoble！HeturnedtomeettheeyesofIone——earnest，wistful，fearful——hekissedherfondly，strainedherwarmlytohisbreast，andinamomentmorehehadleftthehouse。

LongdidIoneremaininthesameplace，muteandthoughtful。Themaidensagainandagaincametowarnherofthedeepeningnoon，andherengagementtoDiomed’sbanquet。Atlengthshewokefromherreverie，andprepared，notwiththeprideofbeauty，butlistlessandmelancholy，forthefestival：onethoughtalonereconciledhertothepromisedvisit——sheshouldmeetGlaucus——shecouldconfidetohimheralarmanduneasinessforherbrother。

ChapterIII

AFASHIONABLEPARTYANDADINNERALAMODEINPOMPEII。

MEANWHILESallustandGlaucuswereslowlystrollingtowardsthehouseofDiomed。Despitethehabitsofhislife，Sallustwasnotdevoidofmanyestimablequalities。Hewouldhavebeenanactivefriend，ausefulcitizen——inshort，anexcellentman，ifhehadnottakenitintohisheadtobeaphilosopher。BroughtupintheschoolsinwhichRomanplagiarismworshippedtheechoofGrecianwisdom，hehadimbuedhimselfwiththosedoctrinesbywhichthelaterEpicureanscorruptedthesimplemaximsoftheirgreatmaster。Hegavehimselfaltogetheruptopleasure，andimaginedtherewasnosagelikeabooncompanion。Still，however，hehadaconsiderabledegreeoflearning，wit，andgoodnature；andtheheartyfranknessofhisveryvicesseemedlikevirtueitselfbesidetheuttercorruptionofClodiusandtheprostrateeffeminacyofLepidus；andthereforeGlaucuslikedhimthebestofhiscompanions；andhe，inturn，appreciatingthenoblerqualitiesoftheAthenian，lovedhimalmostasmuchasacoldmuraena，orabowlofthebestFalernian。

’Thisisavulgaroldfellow，thisDiomed，’saidSallust：’buthehassomegoodqualities——inhiscellar！’

’Andsomecharmingones——inhisdaughter。’

’True，Glaucus：butyouarenotmuchmovedbythem，methinks。IfancyClodiusisdesiroustobeyoursuccessor。’

’Heiswelcome。AtthebanquetofJulia’sbeauty，noguest，besure，isconsideredamusca。’

’Youaresevere：butshehas，indeed，somethingoftheCorinthianabouther——theywillbewellmatched，afterall！Whatgood—naturedfellowswearetoassociatewiththatgamblinggood—for—nought。’

’Pleasureunitesstrangevarieties，’answeredGlaucus。’Heamusesme……’

’Andflatters——butthenhepayshimselfwell！Hepowdershispraisewithgold—dust。’

’Youoftenhintthatheplaysunfairly——thinkyousoreally？’

’MydearGlaucus，aRomannoblehashisdignitytokeepup——dignityisveryexpensive——Clodiusmustcheatlikeascoundrel，inordertolivelikeagentleman。’

’Haha！——well，oflateIhaverenouncedthedice。Ah！Sallust，whenIamweddedtoIone，ItrustImayyetredeemayouthoffollies。Wearebothbornforbetterthingsthanthoseinwhichwesympathizenow——borntorenderourworshipinnoblertemplesthanthestyeofEpicurus。’

’Alas！’returnedSallust，inratheramelancholytone，’whatdoweknowmorethanthis——lifeisshort——beyondthegraveallisdark？Thereisnowisdomlikethatwhichsays"enjoy"。’

’ByBacchus！Idoubtsometimesifwedoenjoytheutmostofwhichlifeiscapable。’

’Iamamoderateman，’returnedSallust，’anddonotask"theutmost"。Wearelikemalefactors，andintoxicateourselveswithwineandmyrrh，aswestandonthebrinkofdeath；but，ifwedidnotdoso，theabysswouldlookverydisagreeable。IownthatIwasinclinedtobegloomyuntilItooksoheartilytodrinking——thatisanewlife，myGlaucus。’

’Yes！butitbringsusnextmorningtoanewdeath。’

’Why，thenextmorningisunpleasant，Iown；but，then，ifitwerenotso，onewouldneverbeinclinedtoread。Istudybetimes——because，bythegods！

Iamgenerallyunfitforanythingelsetillnoon。’

’Fie，Scythian！’

’Pshaw！thefateofPentheustohimwhodeniesBacchus。’

’Well，Sallust，withallyourfaults，youarethebestprofligateIevermet：andverily，ifIwereindangeroflife，youaretheonlymaninallItalywhowouldstretchoutafingertosaveme。’

’PerhapsIshouldnot，ifitwereinthemiddleofsupper。But，intruth，weItaliansarefearfullyselfish。’

’Soareallmenwhoarenotfree，’saidGlaucus，withasigh。’Freedomalonemakesmensacrificetoeachother。’

’Freedom，then，mustbeaveryfatiguingthingtoanEpicurean，’answeredSallust。’Buthereweareatourhost’s。’

AsDiomed’svillaisoneofthemostconsiderableinpointofsizeofanyyetdiscoveredatPompeii，andis，moreover，builtmuchaccordingtothespecificinstructionsforasuburbanvillalaiddownbytheRomanarchitect，itmaynotbeuninterestingbrieflytodescribetheplanoftheapartmentsthroughwhichourvisitorspassed。

Theyentered，then，bythesamesmallvestibuleatwhichwehavebeforebeenpresentedtotheagedMedon，andpassedatonceintoacolonnade，technicallytermedtheperistyle；forthemaindifferencebetweenthesuburbanvillaandthetownmansionconsistedinplacing，inthefirst，thesaidcolonnadeinexactlythesameplaceasthatwhichinthetownmansionwasoccupiedbytheatrium。Inthecentreoftheperistylewasanopencourt，whichcontainedtheimpluvium。

Fromthisperistyledescendedastaircasetotheoffices；anothernarrowpassageontheoppositesidecommunicatedwithagarden；varioussmallapartmentssurroundedthecolonnade，appropriatedprobablytocountryvisitors。Anotherdoortotheleftonenteringcommunicatedwithasmalltriangularportico，whichbelongedtothebaths；andbehindwasthewardrobe，inwhichwerekeptthevestsoftheholidaysuitsoftheslaves，and，perhaps，ofthemaster。Seventeencenturiesafterwardswerefoundthoserelicsofancientfinerycalcinedandcrumbling：keptlonger，alas！

thantheirthriftylordforesaw。

Returnwetotheperistyle，andendeavornowtopresenttothereaderacoupd’oeilofthewholesuiteofapartments，whichimmediatelystretchedbeforethestepsofthevisitors。

Lethimthenfirstimaginethecolumnsoftheportico，hungwithfestoonsofflowers；thecolumnsthemselvesinthelowerpartpaintedred，andthewallsaroundglowingwithvariousfrescoes；then，lookingbeyondacurtain，threepartsdrawnaside，theeyecaughtthetablinumorsaloon（whichwasclosedatwillbyglazeddoors，nowslidbackintothewalls）。Oneithersideofthistablinumweresmallrooms，oneofwhichwasakindofcabinetofgems；

andtheseapartments，aswellasthetablinum，communicatedwithalonggallery，whichopenedateitherenduponterraces；andbetweentheterraces，andcommunicatingwiththecentralpartofthegallery，wasahall，inwhichthebanquetwasthatdayprepared。Alltheseapartments，thoughalmostonalevelwiththestreet，wereonestoryabovethegarden；andtheterracescommunicatingwiththegallerywerecontinuedintocorridors，raisedabovethepillarswhich，totherightandleft，skirtedthegardenbelow。

Beneath，andonalevelwiththegarden，rantheapartmentswehavealreadydescribedaschieflyappropriatedtoJulia。

Inthegallery，then，justmentioned，Diomedreceivedhisguests。

Themerchantaffectedgreatlythemanofletters，and，therefore，healsoaffectedapassionforeverythingGreek；hepaidparticularattentiontoGlaucus。

’Youwillsee，myfriend，’saidhe，withawaveofhishand，’thatIamalittleclassicalhere——alittleCecropian——eh？ThehallinwhichweshallsupisborrowedfromtheGreeks。ItisanOEcusCyzicene。NobleSallust，theyhavenot，Iamtold，thissortofapartmentinRome。’

’Oh！’repliedSallust，withahalfsmile；’youPompeianscombineallthatismosteligibleinGreeceandinRome；mayyou，Diomed，combinetheviandsaswellasthearchitecture！’

’Youshallsee——youshallsee，mySallust，’repliedthemerchant。’WehaveatasteatPompeii，andwehavealsomoney。’

’Theyaretwoexcellentthings，’repliedSallust。’But，behold，theladyJulia！’

Themaindifference，asIhavebeforeremarked，inthemanneroflifeobservedamongtheAtheniansandRomans，was，thatwiththefirst，themodestwomenrarelyornevertookpartinentertainments；withthelatter，theywerethecommonornamentsofthebanquet；butwhentheywerepresentatthefeast，itusuallyterminatedatanearlyhour。

Magnificentlyrobedinwhite，interwovenwithpearlsandthreadsofgold，thehandsomeJuliaenteredtheapartment。

Scarcelyhadshereceivedthesalutationofthetwoguests，erePansaandhiswife，Lepidus，Clodius，andtheRomansenator，enteredalmostsimultaneously；thencamethewidowFulvia；thenthepoetFulvius，liketothewidowinnameifinnothingelse；thewarriorfromHerculaneum，accompaniedbyhisumbra，nextstalkedin；afterwards，thelesseminentoftheguests。Ioneyettarried。

Itwasthemodeamongthecourteousancientstoflatterwheneveritwasintheirpower：accordinglyitwasasignofill—breedingtoseatthemselvesimmediatelyonenteringthehouseoftheirhost。Afterperformingthesalutation，whichwasusuallyaccomplishedbythesamecordialshakeoftherighthandwhichweourselvesretain，andsometimes，bytheyetmorefamiliarembrace，theyspentseveralminutesinsurveyingtheapartment，andadmiringthebronzes，thepictures，orthefurniture，withwhichitwasadorned——amodeveryimpoliteaccordingtoourrefinedEnglishnotions，whichplacegoodbreedinginindifference。Wewouldnotfortheworldexpressmuchadmirationofanotherman’shouse，forfearitshouldbethoughtwehadneverseenanythingsofinebefore！

’AbeautifulstatuethisofBacchus！’saidtheRomansenator。

’Ameretrifle！’repliedDiomed。

’Whatcharmingpaintings！’saidFulvia。

’Meretrifles！’answeredtheowner。

’Exquisitecandelabra！’criedthewarrior。

’Exquisite！’echoedhisumbra。

’Trifles！trifles！’reiteratedthemerchant。

Meanwhile，Glaucusfoundhimselfbyoneofthewindowsofthegallery，whichcommunicatedwiththeterraces，andthefairJuliabyhisside。

’IsitanAthenianvirtue，Glaucus，’saidthemerchant’sdaughter，’toshunthosewhomweoncesought？’

’FairJulia——no！’

’Yetmethinks，itisoneofthequalitiesofGlaucus。’

’Glaucusnevershunsafriend！’repliedtheGreek，withsomeemphasisonthelastword。

’MayJuliarankamongthenumberofhisfriends？’

’Itwouldbeanhonourtotheemperortofindafriendinonesolovely。’

’Youevademyquestion，’returnedtheenamouredJulia。’Buttellme，isittruethatyouadmiretheNeapolitanIone？’

’Doesnotbeautyconstrainouradmiration？’

’Ah！subtleGreek，stilldoyouflythemeaningofmywords。Butsay，shallJuliabeindeedyourfriend？’

’Ifshewillsofavorme，blessedbethegods！ThedayinwhichIamthushonoredshallbeevermarkedinwhite。’

’Yet，evenwhileyouspeak，youreyeisresting——yourcolorcomesandgoes——youmoveawayinvoluntarily——youareimpatienttojoinIone！’

ForatthatmomentIonehadentered，andGlaucushadindeedbetrayedtheemotionnoticedbythejealousbeauty。

’Canadmirationtoonewomanmakemeunworthythefriendshipofanother？

Sanctionnotso，OJuliathelibelsofthepoetsonyoursex！’

’Well，youareright——orIwilllearntothinkso。Glaucus，yetonemoment！

YouaretowedIone；isitnotso？’

’IftheFatespermit，suchismyblessedhope。’

’Accept，then，fromme，intokenofournewfriendship，apresentforyourbride。Nay，itisthecustomoffriends，youknow，alwaystopresenttobrideandbridegroomsomesuchlittlemarksoftheiresteemandfavoringwishes。’

’Julia！Icannotrefuseanytokenoffriendshipfromonelikeyou。IwillacceptthegiftasanomenfromFortuneherself。’

’Then，afterthefeast，whentheguestsretire，youwilldescendwithmetomyapartment，andreceiveitfrommyhands。Remember！’saidJulia，asshejoinedthewifeofPansa，andleftGlaucustoseekIone。

ThewidowFulviaandthespouseoftheaedilewereengagedinhighandgravediscussion。

’OFulvia！IassureyouthatthelastaccountfromRomedeclaresthatthefrizzlingmodeofdressingthehairisgrowingantiquated；theyonlynowwearitbuiltupinatower，likeJulia’s，orarrangedasahelmet——theGalerianfashion，likemine，yousee：ithasafineeffect，Ithink。I

assureyou，Vespius（VespiuswasthenameoftheHerculaneumhero）admiresitgreatly。’

’AndnobodywearsthehairlikeyonNeapolitan，intheGreekway。’

’What，partedinfront，withtheknotbehind？Oh，no；howridiculousitis！

itremindsoneofthestatueofDiana！YetthisIoneishandsome，eh？’

’Sothemensay；butthensheisrich：sheistomarrytheAthenian——Iwishherjoy。Hewillnotbelongfaithful，Isuspect；thoseforeignersareveryfaithless。’

’Oh，Julia！’saidFulvia，asthemerchant’sdaughterjoinedthem；’haveyouseenthetigeryet？’

’No！’

’Why，alltheladieshavebeentoseehim。Heissohandsome！’

’Ihopeweshallfindsomecriminalorotherforhimandthelion，’repliedJulia。’Yourhusband（turningtoPansa’swife）isnotsoactiveasheshouldbeinthismatter。’

’Why，really，thelawsaretoomild，’repliedthedameofthehelmet。

’Therearesofewoffencestowhichthepunishmentofthearenacanbeawarded；andthen，too，thegladiatorsaregrowingeffeminate！Thestoutestbestiariideclaretheyarewillingenoughtofightaboarorabull；butasforalionoratiger，theythinkthegametoomuchinearnest。’

’Theyareworthyofamitre，"repliedJulia，indisdain。

’Oh！haveyouseenthenewhouseofFulvius，thedearpoet？’saidPansa’swife。

’No：isithandsome？’

’Very！——suchgoodtaste。Buttheysay，mydear，thathehassuchimproperpictures！Hewon’tshowthemtothewomen：howill—bred！’

’Thosepoetsarealwaysodd，’saidthewidow。’Butheisaninterestingman；whatprettyverseshewrites！Weimproveverymuchinpoetry：itisimpossibletoreadtheoldstuffnow。’

’IdeclareIamofyouropinion，returnedtheladyofthehelmet。’Thereissomuchmoreforceandenergyinthemodernschool。’

Thewarriorsauntereduptotheladies。

’Itreconcilesmetopeace，’saidhe，’whenIseesuchfaces。’

’Oh！youheroesareeverflatterers，’returnedFulvia，hasteningtoappropriatethecomplimentspeciallytoherself。

’Bythischain，whichIreceivedfromtheemperor’sownhand，’repliedthewarrior，playingwithashortchainwhichhungroundthenecklikeacollar，insteadofdescendingtothebreast，accordingtothefashionofthepeaceful——’Bythischain，youwrongme！Iamabluntman——asoldiershouldbeso。’

’HowdoyoufindtheladiesofPompeiigenerally？’saidJulia。

’ByVenus，mostbeautiful！Theyfavormealittle，itistrue，andthatinclinesmyeyestodoubletheircharms。’

’Weloveawarrior，’saidthewifeofPansa。

’Iseeit：byHercules！itisevendisagreeabletobetoocelebratedinthesecities。AtHerculaneumtheyclimbtheroofofmyatriumtocatchaglimpseofmethroughthecompluvium；theadmirationofone’scitizensispleasantatfirst，butburthensomeafterwards。’

’True，true，OVespius！’criedthepoet，joiningthegroup：’Ifinditsomyself。’

’You！’saidthestatelywarrior，scanningthesmallformofthepoetwithineffabledisdain。’inwhatlegionhaveyouserved？’

’Youmayseemyspoils，myexuviae，intheforumitself，’returnedthepoet，withasignificantglanceatthewomen。’Ihavebeenamongthetent—companions，thecontubernales，ofthegreatMantuanhimself。’

’IknownogeneralfromMantua，saidthewarrior，gravely。’Whatcampaignhaveyouserved？’

’ThatofHelicon。’

’Ineverheardofit。’

’Nay，Vespius，hedoesbutjoke，’saidJulia，laughing。

’Joke！ByMars，amIamantobejoked！’

’Yes；Marshimselfwasinlovewiththemotherofjokes，’saidthepoet，alittlealarmed。’Know，then，OVespius！thatIamthepoetFulvius。ItisIwhomakewarriorsimmortal！’

’Thegodsforbid！’whisperedSallusttoJulia。’IfVespiusweremadeimmortal，whataspecimenoftiresomebraggadociowouldbetransmittedtoposterity！’

Thesoldierlookedpuzzled；when，totheinfinitereliefofhimselfandhiscompanions，thesignalforthefeastwasgiven。

AswehavealreadywitnessedatthehouseofGlaucustheordinaryroutineofaPompeianentertainment，thereaderissparedanyseconddetailofthecourses，andthemannerinwhichtheywereintroduced。

Diomed，whowasratherceremonious，hadappointedanomenclator，orappointerofplacestoeachguest。

Thereaderunderstandsthatthefestiveboardwascomposedofthreetables；

oneatthecentre，andoneateachwing。Itwasonlyattheoutersideofthesetablesthattheguestsreclined；theinnerspacewasleftuntenanted，forthegreaterconvenienceofthewaitersorministri。TheextremecornerofoneofthewingswasappropriatedtoJuliaastheladyofthefeast；thatnexther，toDiomed。Atonecornerofthecentretablewasplacedtheaedile；attheoppositecorner，theRomansenator——thesewerethepostsofhonour。Theotherguestswerearranged，sothattheyoung（gentlemanorlady）shouldsitnexteachother，andthemoreadvancedinyearsbesimilarlymatched。Anagreeableprovisionenough，butonewhichmustoftenhaveoffendedthosewhowishedtobethoughtstillyoung。

ThechairofIonewasnexttothecouchofGlaucus。Theseatswereveneeredwithtortoiseshell，andcoveredwithquiltsstuffedwithfeathers，andornamentedwithcostlyembroideries。Themodernornamentsofepergneorplateauweresuppliedbyimagesofthegods，wroughtinbronze，ivory，andsilver。Thesacredsalt—cellarandthefamiliarLareswerenotforgotten。

Overthetableandtheseatsarichcanopywassuspendedfromtheceiling。

Ateachcornerofthetablewereloftycandelabra——forthoughitwasearlynoon，theroomwasdarkened——whilefromtripods，placedindifferentpartsoftheroom，distilledtheodorofmyrrhandfrankincense；andupontheabacus，orsideboard，largevasesandvariousornamentsofsilverwereranged，muchwiththesameostentation（butwithmorethanthesametaste）

thatwefinddisplayedatamodernfeast。

Thecustomofgracewasinvariablysuppliedbythatoflibationstothegods；andVesta，asqueenofthehouseholdgods，usuallyreceivedfirstthatgracefulhomage。

Thisceremonybeingperformed，theslavesshoweredflowersuponthecouchesandthefloor，andcrownedeachguestwithrosygarlands，intricatelywovenwithribands，tiedbytherindofthelinden—tree，andeachintermingledwiththeivyandtheamethyst——supposedpreventivesagainsttheeffectofwine；thewreathsofthewomenonlywereexemptedfromtheseleaves，foritwasnotthefashionforthemtodrinkwineinpublic。ItwasthenthatthepresidentDiomedthoughtitadvisabletoinstituteabasileus，ordirectorofthefeast——animportantoffice，sometimeschosenbylot；sometimes，asnow，bythemasteroftheentertainment。

Diomedwasnotalittlepuzzledastohiselection。Theinvalidsenatorwastoograveandtooinfirmfortheproperfulfilmentofhisduty；theaedilePansawasadequateenoughtothetask：butthen，tochoosethenextinofficialranktothesenator，wasanaffronttothesenatorhimself。Whiledeliberatingbetweenthemeritsoftheothers，hecaughtthemirthfulglanceofSallust，and，byasuddeninspiration，namedthejovialepicuretotherankofdirector，orarbiterbibendi。

Sallustreceivedtheappointmentwithbecominghumility。

’Ishallbeamercifulking，’saidhe，’tothosewhodrinkdeep；toarecusant，Minoshimselfshallbelessinexorable。Beware！’

Theslaveshandedroundbasinsofperfumedwater，bywhichlavationthefeastcommenced：andnowthetablegroanedundertheinitiatorycourse。

Theconversation，atfirstdesultoryandscattered，allowedIoneandGlaucustocarryonthosesweetwhispers，whichareworthalltheeloquenceintheworld。Juliawatchedthemwithflashingeyes。

’Howsoonshallherplacebemine！’thoughtshe。

ButClodius，whosatinthecentretable，soastoobservewellthecountenanceofJulia，guessedherpique，andresolvedtoprofitbyit。Headdressedheracrossthetableinsetphrasesofgallantry；andashewasofhighbirthandofashowyperson，thevainJuliawasnotsomuchinloveastobeinsensibletohisattentions。

Theslaves，intheinterim，wereconstantlykeptuponthealertbythevigilantSallust，whochasedonecupbyanotherwithaceleritywhichseemedasifhewereresolveduponexhaustingthosecapaciouscellarswhichthereadermayyetseebeneaththehouseofDiomed。Theworthymerchantbegantorepenthischoice，asamphoraafteramphorawaspiercedandemptied。Theslaves，allundertheageofmanhood（theyoungestbeingabouttenyearsold——itwastheywhofilledthewine——theeldest，somefiveyearsolder，mingleditwithwater），seemedtoshareinthezealofSallust；andthefaceofDiomedbegantoglowashewatchedtheprovokingcomplacencywithwhichtheysecondedtheexertionsofthekingofthefeast。

’Pardonme，Osenator！’saidSallust；’Iseeyouflinch；yourpurplehemcannotsaveyou——drink！’

’Bythegods，’saidthesenator，coughing，’mylungsarealreadyonfire；

youproceedwithsomiraculousaswiftness，thatPhaetonhimselfwasnothingtoyou。Iaminfirm，OpleasantSallust：youmustexonerateme。’

’NotI，byVesta！Iamanimpartialmonarch——drink。’

Thepoorsenator，compelledbythelawsofthetable，wasforcedtocomply。

Alas！everycupwasbringinghimnearerandnearertotheStygianpool。

’Gently！gently！myking，’groanedDiomed；’wealreadybeginto……’

’Treason！’interruptedSallust；’nosternBrutushere！——nointerferencewithroyalty！’