Vergilius: A Tale of the Coming of Christ

occur in the triclinium, or great banquet-hall, of a palace-that of the Lady Lucia. There were portrait-masks and mural paintings on either wall; ancestral statues of white marble stood in

fillets of gold. There was always a pretty artfulness in the match-making of a pa

ring him here at once and sit down by this heap of cushions, and then-Oh, g

t to say," said the matron. "Only do not let him kn

w-the wretch!" said Arria, rubbi

not let him caress you for an hou

d, with contempt. "How

answered, with a sigh. "But you can use them up i

the yellow cushions," she added, quickly. "Here, take these and bring me two violet ones, and that cushion of gauze filled

that in your cheeks. I dou

htfully. "Oh, son of Varro! come, I am waiting

-tell him that yo

all I do if

e. We have no need

y brother kill him. Oh, wretch!" She jumped to her feet with a merry cry. "I have an idea," she adde

rick!" said

tiently. "I love him so I could die for him-I could die for

er court, whispering a

me quickly, s

white silk rustled as she ran to meet him. Her cheeks had the pink of roses and her e

, with his arms about her. "Oh

little toss of her head

said she-"not yet. You have

re at the palace o

not told me,

ou." He was

nswered, taking his ha

will race

ugh an inner hall and up the long triclinium. There,

her robe and then feeling her

n her face and form, the value of a small kingdom on her body. "Not so near," said

u," he beg

at hall. "It is for me alone. I will not share the words with any other. Now t

o me than crowns of laurel and gold, more than all that is

ressing her han

ness, looking down at the golden braces on

have told a bird h

is words lighted by the fire in his heart. T

he earth, no hope or glory in the future, no joy in my heart.

ly, with almost a

id she, with a sigh;

ble knight; do

her plan. He took her in

" said she, "and I wi

was a golden square of sunlight, and, tabret in hand, she sprang up and began to dance in it. She moved swiftly

love me?" she said, throwing herself upon

uty," said he. "When I look upon you I forget my dreams of war and conquest; I think only of peace and love

be very happy." Her eyes had turned serious and thoughtful. Her girlish t

er face, her hair, her eyes. "Say it all again, de

can say. Now am I prepared to speak i

n air of preoccupation, her chin resting upon her hand, her elbow upon the

nk the gods for it, but your sweet self, your soul, is mor

she had thought of had become as the mummery of fools. She sat in silence for a lit

aid she, presently-"I

ou truly throw your s

ust tell you-" He paused, and Arria turned qu

erusalem," he added, "by

ed, her eyes taking years u

two y

t old, familiar cry, which had in it the history and the doom of Ro

let it tread you down as it has other women.

nd added: "I leave her in your care. Eve