Vergilius: A Tale of the Coming of Christ

man, who had come to see life in Rome and to finish his education. He would inherit the crown-so said they who knew anything of Herodian politics

e might have added that he would rather be the swine of Antipater than his father. But that

l. It had a small arena and was in the midst of a great garden. There he kept a lion from northern Africa, a tiger, and a black leopard from the Himalayas. He was training for the Herodian prize at the Jewis

that no other man should marry her. His gallantry was unwelcome, he knew that, and Appius had assured him that a marriage was impossible; but the wild heart of the Idumean h

of his bath a little before the hour of his banquet, and two slaves, trembling with fear, followed him to his chamber. They put his tunic on him, and his sandals, and wo

ve I not told you never

s arm with a blow and drove him out of the chamber. A few minutes later, in a robe of white silk and

d you, brave Gracus; and you, Aulus, child of Destiny; and you, my learned Man

rple shellfish. When they came to their couches, the dinner-table was covered with rare and costly things. On platters of silver and gold one might have seen tunny fishes from Chalcedon, murcenas from the Straits of Gades, peacocks from Samos, grouse from Phrygia, cranes from Me

you drink with me to Arria, sister of

alace and have tasted of your meat, and am therefore sacred. You make your wine bitter when you

of silenc

d, craftily. "Be not so jealous, my noble friend.

ing the praise of Salome, sister of our noble prince. Of all the forms in f

the best men," said Anti

some draped, some nude, and all having the look of old marble. Two lay in volup

rful and palpitating heart. They were beautiful slave-girls captured on the frontiers of Judea. In spite of aching sinew and muscle, they had to stand like

revels. All heard the voice of a maiden singing, and turned to see whence it came. A sweet voice it was, trembling in tones that told of ancient wrong, in words full of a new hope. Had l

; let me not be

God of my

end, the new ki

as the l

ty afraid and t

e wicked t

the great song

ep of the

ntern of light

of the

nds. They could see her reeling, and suddenly she fell headlong to

Galilean slave of my father. She

n, cursing, and kicked the shapely form tha

only am your king? You shall be punished;

the floor. Antipater rose quickly and approached the young Roman, a

ur slave, and I-I am no longer master of myself. I doubt not some strange god is

d laughter. Antipater stood mutterin

his lady's-maid. Mother of the gods! I felt as if the blows were falling on my own ba

ughed

d long hair," said Antipat

hed, his brows and chin lifting a bit with anger. When

my courage, within a moment

or a breath. Antipate

u will have it tried I can show you a better way, and

g Gracus remarked: "By Apollo

is to know sorro

rgilius now understood the test of courage to be put upon him. The great beasts were asleep in their cages, and Antipater prodded them with a lance. A thunder in their throats seemed

er!" he

ment put his head and fore-paws into the arena; then a swift step or two, a lowering of the great head, and side-long he stood, with eyes aglow and

eeping his gaze on the face of the tiger. "He will be quick to move

f his length aside, with a great, bursting roar, and,

d the tall Antipater

a huge setting of bone and muscle strangely fitted to its fierceness, with eyes of fire and feet of dea

shouted. "He h

lance into his heart. He bore with all his strength and rushed away, seizing an other weapon. The big cat fell and rose and struck at the clinging lance, and stood a second flooding the floor with blood. Then down he went shuddering to his death. The young men shouted loud their applause in h

chants of her new king," said he

d Vergilius, with rising ire. "I could not bear to see you

rned to see if Vergilius would really accept the challenge. No man had ever

can supply it as well as she. Surely I have more blood in me. If

was the slave-girl, si

send, the new k

as the l

ty afraid and t

e wicked t

the great song

ep of the

ntern of light

of the

rm, draped in soft, transparent linen, like that of a goddess in i

hat you cannot live an hour in the ar

g a lance. He entered the arena and closed its gate behind him. "Drive the beas

held its eye, his lance raised. The hissing ceased, the growl diminished, the stealthy paws moved slowly. Soon it rolled upon its side, purring, and seemed to caress the floor with head and paws-a trick to divert the gaze of Vergilius. The Satanic eyes were ever on its fo

the slave. "He cannot wai

he

palace

er hurr

went close to t

ps are burning dimmer. They will go out soon. It is a trick.

resting thoughtfully on his hand. The great Augustus did not look up nor even cha

eror thoughtfully, "-a pretty

gested the y

at fair Vergilius, son of Varro? A headstrong, foolish youth he is

gustus were looking int

" said the latter

is shall occur on the same day-a fine, great, amusing funeral," he added, thoughtfully. "It shall be so. Do not worry, I shall see you well bur

the other, tremb

d, angrily. "Call me ass, if you

ng man, his eyes staring with terror, "but

e sly emperor, in his mildest tones.

ads of perspiration. He dared not to stay; he dared not to go. He was

bland emperor repeated, smiling wi

am

smiling as Antip

lf, with a chuckle of satisfaction. "Upon

sar Octavianus Augustus, made his way to the entr

feet?" he inquired of the lady wh

hat mea

d a movement of his hand.

a man through th

ds the lion-house, that small tra

ickered for a little and gone out. The

rushing to the gate of the arena, o

and steps forward and is cau

a, roaring. Its eyes glow fiery in the dusk. The beast is become furious with continued baiting. Half the lamps are out

, come quickly, son of Varro," he whispers again. "The light is f

d, facing the leopar

ave the wager,"

r answers. "Come, good frie

claws on the floor. A black ball, bound hard with tightened sinew, rose in the ai

himself on a big divan, his breath coming fast. "I forgot the lights. I thought of them suddenly

not have meant to slay

paws of th

door, weeping. Antipa

gil

d he. "I am glad to be d

l dress and be ready to join his pedisequi in the outer hal

ll be of those who part the briers in y

noble son of Varro," sa

deep atrium of the palac

ay you five thousand aurei to relinquish i

ou would buy of m

shortly and be flung aside. The thing happen

wed this remark a stern look of inq

is the sister of Appius,"

out of its scabbard, "I shall cut you down and fling

he leopard, with an evil leer at his foe, and thinking no doubt of the warning of Augustus. The stiff, straight hairs in his mustache quivered as he tur

"and before these men I denounce you as a

e of the Jew, now white with passion. Half

aid the young knight, t

one wit

walked to the farther side of the atrium. He t

e one to stand for the honor of good women. If you do bu

ted with Cyran, while the oth

nd flung his sword far across the dim atrium with a shout of anger. Like the great cats in his rage, he was like them also in his methods of attack

almed his passion, he rose and snarled: "Good sirs, never quarrel w