Vergilius: A Tale of the Coming of Christ

glowing in the sunlight. Its hills were white with marble and green with gardens, and traced and spotted and flecked w

n; knight and lady were now

and her daughter; three young noblemen, the purple stripes on each angusticlave telling of knightly rank; a Jewish prince in purple and gold; an old philosopher, and a poet who had been reading love lines. It was the age of

ten the love of women t

dow of the Praefect Publius, who fell w

ught gold. She stopped, facing the company, between two columns of white marble beautifully sculptured. Upon each a vine rose, limberly

come to me?" sa

ehind. From below the knot a row of curls fell upon the folds of her outer tunic. It was a filmy, transparent

should think that scarlet rug had caught fire an

olor of roses," said an old philosopher who sat by

th a happy smile, as she raised her d

shows how lightly they treat

e senator, Aulus Va

r my heart and my fortune, and the strength of my arms and

d to her daughter wi

" said the fair Roman maiden

ckerchief, frilled robe and lady's sandals. He was of

id he, "I would

said Arria, raising a jewell

g. "I offer," said he, "my heart and wealth and half my hopes, and the

rl remarked, thoughtfully. "Je

thood. His full name was Quintus Vergilius Varro, but all knew the youth by his nomen. Tall and erect, with curly blond locks and blue eyes and lips delicately curved, there was in that hall no ance

my feet, for they may fail me tomorrow; nor my courage, for that has never been tried; nor the renown of my fathers, for that is not mine to give; nor my life, for that belo

ink. All had flung off the mask of co

e poet, "this young kn

e in him, and so shall Rome. A lucky girl is she, for has he not riches, talent,

y had such a way with them-never a smile and a melancholy look in their faces when they spoke of love. I give y

g, took the girl's

go with me

answered, looking down a

it

ith philosophy and the poets,

ove," the matron added

tender feeling as they passed the figures of embattled horse and host in carven wood, and mural painting and colored mosaic and wrought metal-symbols of the martial

" said she. "It is almost

r eyes. "I love you, sweet girl," he said, soft

" she exclaimed

as it may b

down at her sandal, "that when a man speaks

ould be nobler if they were dumb as dogs. Albeit I suppose they would find a new way of lying. But, O s

ot," said she, wi

mus

soon, for I shall say t

Capitoline, where the toil and art of earth had wrought to show the splend

simulation." She looked up at him as she spoke,

hink it fashioned by Praxiteles-a

he must decei

now among

t unders

not ever to be trusted. Shall I tell you a story? One day I was in the Via Sacra and a young man cau

ia, and I am sure he had been over-drinking. I cried 'Help!' and quickly a man came and stood betwee

e is a grave. It is that of one who kissed a vestal and was buried alive. There are sacred people in Rome, and among them i

k me home and said he would be my father, and th

rant that h

orbid it, s

d w

h assumed seve

I-do-not-

nd biting his lips. "Your words

you?" She touched his ha

made me sic

," said she, tenderly, slippin

and. "And do you

o-not-l

pital," said he, taking her hand in both of his

te bosom, and with her delicate fingers brushed off a

aid she, thoughtfully, still

me," he

u," she answere

row in a death-hand. And the hag had an odd dream of this coin, so she told me-that it fell out of the sky, and was, indeed, from the treasury of the gods, and had in it a wonderful power in all mysteries. And one might tell b

nd lay at

he exclaim

" she inquired, eagerly, her che

e woman who

s it," said she,

now if I love yo

e walk. Both followed eagerly, he leading, and, as it st

id she, her hand

not

e it!" she

knees, do not look at the coin! I will give you

wrist, and now, indeed, there was a pretty pleading in her vo

a li

ll not

her eyes, "I know that you are mine now! You

I care for you?" She stopp

in?" said he. "But, look! Upon my soul

"I swear the coin lies, f

t lie," she

is arm a

think it cannot lie. It said, before

en fear of him, ran a few paces up the walk. She turned quickly,

peak with you agai

ius!" said the young knight, and there was a not

g slowly, as he advanced, "I do

, and, stopping not to glance back at him, e

the hollow of the city, had laid its golden timbers from hill to hill; and for a little the young ma