DOMITIA
BY
S.
BARING-GOULD
Author
of
“
The
Broom-Squire
,
”
“
Bladys
,
”
“
Mehalah
,
”
“
Court
Royal
,
”
Etc.
Illustrated
by
IZORA
C
.
CHANDLER
NEW
YORK
FREDERICK
A
.
STOKES
COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
DOMITIA
.
BOOK
I
.
CHAPTER
I
.
THE
PORT
OF
CENCHRÆA
.
Flashes
as
of
lightning
shot
from
each
side
of
a
galley
as
she
was
being
rowed
into
port
.
She
was
a
bireme
,
that
is
to
say
,
had
two
tiers
of
oars
;
and
as
simultaneously
the
double
sets
were
lifted
,
held
for
a
moment
suspended
,
wet
with
brine
,
feathered
,
and
again
dipped
,
every
single
blade
gleamed
,
reflecting
the
declining
western
sun
,
and
together
formed
a
flash
from
each
side
of
the
vessel
of
a
sheaf
of
rays
.
The
bireme
was
approaching
the
entrance
to
the
harbor
of
Cenchræa
.
The
one
white
sail
was
filled
with
what
little
wind
breathed
,
and
it
shone
against
a
sapphire
sea
like
a
moon
.
Now
,
at
a
signal
the
oars
ceased
to
plunge
.
The
sail
was
furled
,
and
the
galley
was
carried
into
the
harbor
between
the
temple
that
stood
on
the
northern
horn
of
the
mole
,
and
the
great
brazen
statue
of
Posei
don
that
occupied
a
rock
in
the
midst
of
the
entrance
,
driven
forward
by
the
impulse
already
given
her
by
the
muscles
of
the
rowers
and
the
east
wind
in
the
sail
.
This
Cenchræan
harbor
into
which
she
swept
was
one
of
the
busiest
in
the
world
.
Through
it
as
through
a
tidal
sluice
rushed
the
current
of
trade
from
the
East
to
the
West
,
and
from
the
Occident
to
the
Orient
.
It
was
planted
on
a
bay
of
the
Saronic
Gulf
,
and
on
the
Isthmus
of
Corinth
,
at
the
foot
of
that
lovely
range
of
mountains
thrown
up
by
the
hand
of
God
to
wall
off
the
Peloponnesus
as
the
shrine
of
intellectual
culture
and
the
sanctuary
of
Liberty
.
And
a
furrow
—
like
an
artificial
dyke
—
ran
between
this
range
and
Hellas
proper
,
a
furrow
nearly
wholly
invaded
by
the
sea
,
but
still
leaving
a
strip
of
land
,
the
Corinthian
isthmus
,
to
form
a
barrier
between
the
Eastern
and
the
Western
worlds
.
On
the
platform
at
the
head
of
a
flight
of
marble
steps
before
a
temple
of
Poseidon
,
in
her
open
litter
,
lounged
a
lady
,
with
the
bloom
of
youth
gone
from
her
face
,
but
artificially
restored
.
She
was
handsome
,
with
finely
moulded
features
and
a
delicate
white
hand
,
the
fingers
studded
with
rings
,
and
a
beautiful
arm
which
was
exposed
whenever
any
one
drew
near
whose
admiration
was
worth
the
acquisition
.
Its
charm
was
enhanced
by
armlets
of
gold
adorned
with
cameos
.
Her
arched
brows
,
dark
in
color
,
possibly
owed
their
perfection
of
turn
and
their
depth
of
color
to
dye
and
the
skill
of
the
artist
who
decorated
her
every
day
,
but
not
so
the
violet-blue
of
her
large
eyes
,
although
these
also
were
enhanced
in
effect
by
the
tinting
of
the
lashes
,
and
a
touch
of
paint
applied
to
their
roots
.
The
lady
,
whose
name
was
Longa
Duilia
,
was
attended
by
female
slaves
,
who
stood
behind
the
litter
,
and
by
a
freedman
,
Plancus
,
who
was
at
her
side
with
a
set
smile
on
his
waxen
face
,
and
who
bowed
towards
the
lady
every
moment
to
hear
her
remarks
,
uttered
in
a
languid
tone
,
and
without
her
troubling
to
turn
her
head
to
address
him
.
“
He
will
soon
be
here
,
”
said
the
lady
;
“
the
bireme
is
in
the
port
.
I
can
see
the
ruffle
before
her
bows
as
she
cuts
the
water
.
”
“
Like
the
wave
in
my
lady’s
hair
,
”
sighed
Plancus
.
“
Abominable
!
”
exclaimed
Duilia
,
“
when
the
ripple
in
my
hair
is
natural
and
abiding
,
and
that
in
the
water
is
made
and
disappears
.
”
“
Because
,
Mistress
,
the
wavelets
look
up
,
see
,
and
fall
back
in
despair
.
”
“
That
is
better
,
”
said
the
lady
.
“
And
the
swelling
sail
,
like
your
divine
bosom
,
has
fallen
,
as
when
—
—
”
“
Ugh
!
I
should
hope
the
texture
of
my
skin
was
not
like
coarse
sail-cloth
;
get
behind
me
,
Plancus
.
Here
,
Lucilla
,
how
am
I
looking
?
I
would
have
my
lord
see
me
to
the
best
advantage
.
”
“
Madam
,
”
said
the
female
slave
,
advancing
,
“
the
envious
sun
is
about
to
hide
his
head
in
the
west
.
He
cannot
endure
,
after
having
feasted
on
your
beauty
,
to
surrender
it
to
a
mortal
.
”
“
Is
not
one
eyebrow
a
trifle
higher
than
the
other
?
”
asked
Duilia
,
looking
at
herself
in
a
hand
mirror
of
polished
metal
.
“
It
is
indeed
so
,
lady
,
but
has
not
the
Paphian
Goddess
in
the
statue
of
Phidias
the
same
characteristic
?
Defect
it
is
not
,
but
a
token
of
divinity
.
”
“
Ah
,
”
said
Duilia
,
“
it
is
hereditary
.
The
Julian
race
descends
from
Venus
Genetrix
,
and
I
have
the
blood
of
the
immortal
ancestress
in
me
.
”
“
Much
diluted
,
”
muttered
Plancus
into
the
breast
of
his
tunic
;
he
was
out
of
humor
at
the
failure
of
his
little
simile
of
the
sail
.
“
By
the
way
,
”
said
the
lady
;
“
the
stay
in
this
place
Cenchræa
is
positively
intolerable
.
No
society
,
only
a
set
of
merchants
—
rich
and
all
that
sort
of
thing
—
but
nobodies
.
The
villa
we
occupy
is
undignified
and
uncomfortable
.
The
noise
of
the
port
,
the
caterwauling
of
sailors
,
and
the
smell
of
pitch
are
most
distasteful
to
me
.
My
lord
will
hardly
tarry
here
?
”
“
My
lord
,
”
said
the
freedman
,
pushing
forward
,
“
he
who
subdued
the
Parthians
,
and
chained
the
Armenians
,
to
whom
all
Syria
bowed
,
arrives
to
cast
himself
at
your
ladyship’s
feet
,
and
be
led
by
you
as
a
captive
in
your
triumphal
entry
into
the
capital
of
the
world
.
”
“
You
think
so
,
Plancus
.
”
She
shook
her
head
,
“
He
is
an
obstinate
man
—
pig-headed
—
I
—
I
mean
resolute
in
his
own
line
.
”
“
Madam
,
I
know
you
to
be
irresistible
.
”
“
Well
,
I
desire
to
leave
this
odious
place
.
I
have
yawned
here
through
three
entire
months
.
”
“
And
during
these
months
,
the
temple
of
Aphrodite
has
been
deserted
,
and
the
approaches
grass-grown
.
”
“
How
would
my
Lady
like
to
remove
to
Corinth
?
”
said
Lucilla
.
“
The
vessel
will
be
taken
to
Diolcus
,
and
there
placed
on
rollers
,
to
be
drawn
across
the
isthmus
.
”
“
Oh
!
Corinth
will
be
noisier
than
this
place
,
and
more
vulgar
,
because
more
pretentious
.
Only
money-lending
Jews
there
.
Besides
,
I
have
taken
an
aversion
to
the
place
since
the
death
of
my
physician
.
As
the
Gods
love
me
,
I
not
see
the
good
of
a
medical
attendant
who
is
so
ignorant
as
to
allow
himself
to
die
,
and
that
at
such
an
inconvenient
moment
as
the
present
.
By
the
Great
Goddess
!
what
impostors
there
be
.
To
think
that
for
years
I
committed
the
care
of
my
precious
health
to
his
bungling
hands
!
Plancus
,
have
you
secured
another
?
I
suffer
frightfully
at
sea
.
”
“
A
sure
token
of
your
divine
origin
,
”
said
the
steward
.
“
The
Foam-born
(
Venus
)
rose
out
of
and
left
the
waves
because
the
motion
of
them
disagreed
with
her
.
”
“
There
is
a
good
deal
in
that
,
”
observed
Longa
Duilia
.
“
Plancus
,
have
you
secured
another
?
I
positively
cannot
across
Adria
without
one
to
hold
my
head
and
supply
anti
—
anti
—
what
do
you
call
them
?
”
“
Madam
,
”
said
the
freedman
,
rubbing
his
hands
together
,
“
I
have
devoted
my
energies
to
your
service
.
I
have
gone
about
with
a
lantern
seeking
an
honest
physician
.
I
may
not
have
been
as
successful
as
I
desired
,
but
I
have
done
my
utmost
.
”
“
I
prithee
—
have
done
with
this
rodomontade
and
to
the
point
.
Have
you
secured
one
?
As
the
Gods
love
me
!
it
is
not
only
one’s
insides
that
get
upset
at
sea
,
but
one’s
outside
also
becomes
so
tousled
and
tumbled
—
that
the
repairs
—
but
never
mind
about
them
.
Have
you
engaged
a
man
?
”
“
Yes
,
my
Lady
,
I
have
lighted
on
one
Luke
,
a
physician
of
Troas
;
he
is
desirous
of
proceeding
to
Rome
,
and
is
willing
to
undertake
the
charge
of
your
health
,
in
return
for
being
conveyed
to
the
capital
of
the
world
at
your
charges
.
”
“
I
make
you
responsible
for
his
suitability
,
”
said
Longa
Duilia
.
“
Body
of
Bacchus
!
”
she
exclaimed
suddenly
,
after
a
pause
,
“
Where
is
the
child
?
”
“
Where
is
the
lady
Domitia
Longina
?
”
asked
Plancus
,
as
he
looked
about
him
.
“
The
lady
Domitia
,
where
is
she
?
”
asked
Lucilla
.
“
The
lady
Domitia
?
”
—
passed
from
one
to
another
.
“
Where
is
she
?
What
has
become
of
her
?
As
the
Gods
love
me
—
you
are
a
pack
of
fools
.
The
more
of
you
there
are
,
so
much
the
more
of
folly
.
You
have
let
her
gallop
off
among
the
odious
sailors
,
and
she
will
come
back
rank
with
pitch
.
Lucilla
,
Favonia
,
Syra
,
where
is
she
?
”
Duilia
sat
upright
on
her
seat
,
and
her
eyes
roamed
searchingly
in
every
direction
.
“
I
never
met
with
such
a
child
anywhere
,
it
is
the
Corbulo
blood
in
her
,
not
mine
.
The
Gods
forbid
!
O
Morals
!
”
“
Madam
,
”
said
a
slave-girl
coming
up
.
“
I
saw
her
with
Eboracus
.
”
“
Well
,
and
where
is
Eboracus
.
They
are
always
together
.
He
spoils
the
child
,
and
she
pays
him
too
much
consideration
.
Where
are
they
?
”
The
slaves
,
male
and
female
,
looked
perplexedly
in
every
direction
.
“
Perhaps
,
”
said
Plancus
,
“
she
has
gone
to
the
altar
of
Poseidon
to
offer
there
thanks
for
the
return
of
her
father
.
”
“
Poseidon
,
nonsense
!
That
is
not
her
way
.
She
has
been
in
a
fever
ever
since
the
vessel
has
been
sighted
,
her
cheeks
flaming
and
in
a
fidget
as
if
covered
with
flying
ants
.
Find
the
girl
.
If
any
harm
shall
have
come
to
her
through
your
neglect
,
I
will
have
you
all
flayed
—
and
hang
the
cost
!
”
She
plucked
a
bodkin
from
her
dress
,
and
ran
it
into
the
shoulder
of
the
slave-woman
,
Favonia
,
who
stood
near
her
,
and
made
her
cry
out
with
pain
.
“
You
are
a
parcel
of
idle
,
empty-headed
fools
,
”
exclaimed
the
alarmed
and
irritated
mother
,
“
I
will
have
the
child
found
,
and
that
instantly
.
You
girls
,
you
have
been
gaping
,
watching
the
sailors
,
and
have
not
had
an
eye
on
your
young
mistress
,
and
no
concern
for
my
feelings
.
There
is
no
more
putting
anything
into
your
heads
than
of
filling
the
sieves
of
the
Danaides
.
”
“
Madam
,
”
said
Plancus
,
for
once
without
a
smile
on
his
unctuous
face
,
“
you
may
rest
satisfied
that
no
harm
has
befallen
the
young
lady
.
So
long
as
Eboracus
is
with
her
,
she
is
safe
.
That
Briton
worships
her
.
He
would
suffer
himself
to
be
torn
limb
from
limb
rather
than
allow
the
least
ill
to
come
to
her
.
”
“
Well
,
well
,
”
said
the
lady
impatiently
,
“
we
expect
all
that
sort
of
thing
of
our
slaves
.
”
“
Madam
,
but
do
we
always
get
it
?
”
“
We
!
The
Gods
save
me
!
How
you
talk
.
We
!
We
,
indeed
.
Pray
what
are
you
to
expect
anything
?
”
“
The
other
day
,
lady
,
”
hastily
continued
the
steward
eager
to
allay
the
ebullition
he
had
provoked
.
“
The
other
day
,
Eboracus
nigh
on
killed
a
man
who
looked
with
an
insolent
leer
at
his
young
mistress
.
He
is
like
a
faithful
Molossus
.
”
“
I
do
not
ask
what
he
is
like
,
”
retorted
the
still
ruffled
lady
,
“
I
ask
where
she
is
.
”
Then
one
of
the
porters
of
the
palanquin
came
forward
respectfully
and
said
to
the
steward
:
—
“
If
it
may
please
you
,
sir
,
will
you
graciously
report
to
my
Lady
that
I
observed
the
young
mistress
draw
Eboracus
aside
,
and
whisper
to
him
,
as
though
urging
somewhat
,
and
he
seemed
to
demur
,
but
he
finally
appeared
to
yield
to
her
persuasions
,
and
they
strolled
together
along
the
mole
.
”
Longa
Duilia
overheard
this
.
It
was
not
the
etiquette
for
an
underling
to
address
his
master
or
mistress
directly
unless
spoken
to
.
She
said
sharply
:
—
“
Why
did
not
the
fellow
mention
this
before
?
Give
him
thirty
lashes
.
Where
did
they
go
,
did
he
say
?
”
“
Along
the
mole
.
”
“
Which
mole
?
”
“
Madam
,
Carpentarius
is
afraid
of
extending
his
communication
lest
he
increase
the
number
of
his
lashes
.
”
“
Well
,
well
!
”
exclaimed
the
mistress
,
“
We
may
remit
the
lashes
—
let
him
answer
.
”
“
Carpentarius
,
”
said
the
steward
,
“
Her
ladyship
,
out
of
the
superabundance
of
her
compassion
,
will
let
you
off
the
thirty
lashes
,
if
you
say
where
be
Eboracus
and
the
young
lady
,
your
mistress
Domitia
Longina
.
”
“
Sir
,
”
answered
the
porter
,
“
that
I
cannot
answer
positively
;
but
—
unless
my
eyes
deceive
me
,
I
see
a
small
boat
on
the
water
,
within
it
a
rower
and
a
young
girl
.
”
“
By
the
Immortal
Brothers
!
he
is
right
,
”
exclaimed
Plancus
.
“
See
,
lady
,
yonder
is
a
cockle
boat
,
that
has
been
unmoored
from
the
mole
,
and
there
be
in
it
a
rower
,
burly
,
broadbacked
,
who
is
certainly
the
Briton
,
and
in
the
bow
is
as
it
were
a
silver
dove
—
and
that
can
be
none
other
than
your
daughter
.
”
“
As
the
Gods
love
me
,
”
gasped
Duilia
,
throwing
herself
back
in
the
litter
;
“
what
indelicacy
!
It
is
even
so
,
the
child
is
besotted
.
She
dotes
on
her
father
,
whom
she
has
not
seen
since
we
left
Antioch
.
And
she
has
actually
gone
to
meet
him
.
O
Venus
Kalypyge
!
What
are
we
coming
to
,
when
children
act
in
this
independent
,
indecent
manner
.
O
Times
!
O
Morals
!
”
CHAPTER
II
.
AN
ILL-OMEN
.
It
was
even
so
.
The
young
girl
had
coaxed
the
big
Briton
to
take
her
in
a
boat
to
the
galley
,
so
as
to
meet
and
embrace
her
father
,
before
he
came
on
shore
.
She
was
a
peculiarly
affectionate
child
,
and
jealous
to
boot
.
She
knew
that
,
so
soon
as
he
landed
,
his
whole
attention
would
be
engrossed
by
her
very
exacting
mother
,
who
moreover
would
keep
her
in
the
background
,
and
would
chide
should
the
father
divert
his
notice
from
herself
to
his
child
.
She
was
therefore
determined
to
be
the
first
to
salute
him
,
and
to
receive
his
endearments
,
and
to
lavish
on
him
her
affection
,
unchecked
by
her
mother
.
As
for
the
slave
,
he
knew
that
he
would
get
into
trouble
if
he
complied
with
the
girl’s
request
,
but
he
was
unable
to
resist
her
blandishments
.
And
now
Domitia
reached
the
side
of
the
galley
,
and
a
rope
was
cast
to
the
boat
,
caught
by
Eboracus
,
who
shipped
his
oars
,
and
the
little
skiff
was
made
fast
to
the
side
of
the
vessel
.
The
eyes
of
the
father
had
already
recognized
his
child
.
Domitia
stood
in
the
bows
and
extended
her
arms
,
poised
on
tiptoe
,
as
if
,
like
a
bird
about
to
leap
into
the
air
and
fly
to
his
embrace
.
And
now
he
caught
her
hand
,
looked
into
her
dancing
,
twinkling
eyes
,
as
drops
of
the
very
Ægean
itself
,
set
in
her
sweet
face
,
and
in
another
moment
she
was
clinging
round
his
neck
,
and
sobbing
as
though
her
heart
would
break
,
yet
not
with
sorrow
,
but
through
excess
of
otherwise
inexpressible
joy
.
For
an
hour
she
had
him
to
herself
—
all
to
herself
—
the
dear
father
whom
she
had
not
seen
for
half
a
year
,
to
tell
him
how
she
loved
him
,
to
hear
about
himself
,
to
pour
into
his
ear
her
story
of
pleasures
and
pains
,
great
pleasures
and
trifling
pains
.
And
yet
—
no
,
not
wholly
uninterrupted
was
the
meeting
and
sweet
converse
,
for
the
father
said
:
“
My
darling
,
hast
thou
no
word
for
Lucius
?
”
“
Lamia
!
He
is
here
?
”
The
father
,
Cnæus
Domitius
Corbulo
,
with
a
smile
turned
and
beckoned
.
Then
a
young
man
,
with
pleasant
,
frank
face
,
came
up
.
He
had
remained
at
a
distance
,
when
father
and
daughter
met
,
but
had
been
unable
to
withdraw
his
eyes
from
the
happy
group
.
“
Domitia
,
you
have
not
forgotten
your
old
playmate
,
have
you
?
”
With
a
light
blush
like
the
tint
on
the
petal
of
the
rose
of
June
,
the
girl
extended
her
hand
.
“
Nay
,
nay
!
”
said
Corbulo
.
“
A
gentler
,
kinder
greeting
,
after
so
long
a
separation
.
”
Then
she
held
up
her
modest
cheek
,
and
the
young
man
lightly
touched
it
with
his
lips
.
She
drew
herself
away
and
said
:
“
You
will
not
be
angry
if
I
give
all
my
thoughts
and
words
and
looks
to
my
father
now
.
When
we
come
on
shore
,
he
will
be
swallowed
up
by
others
.
”
Lamia
stepped
back
.
“
Do
not
be
offended
,
”
she
said
with
a
smile
,
and
the
loveliest
,
most
bewitching
dimples
came
into
her
cheeks
.
“
I
have
not
indeed
been
without
thought
of
you
,
Lucius
,
but
have
spun
and
spun
and
weaved
too
,
enough
to
make
you
a
tunic
,
all
with
my
own
hands
,
and
a
purple
clavus
—
it
nigh
ruined
me
,
the
dyed
Tyrian
wool
cost
—
I
will
not
say
;
but
I
wove
little
crossed
L’s
into
the
texture
.
”
“
What
,
”
said
Corbulo
.
“
For
Lucius
and
Longina
?
”
The
girl
became
crimson
.
Lamia
came
to
her
succor
.
“
That
could
not
be
,
”
said
he
,
“
for
Longina
and
Lucius
are
never
across
,
but
alack
!
Lucius
is
often
so
with
Lamia
,
when
he
has
done
some
stupid
thing
and
he
sees
a
frown
on
his
all
but
father’s
face
,
but
hears
no
word
of
reproach
.
”
“
My
boy
,
”
said
Corbulo
,
“
when
a
man
knows
his
own
faults
,
then
a
reprimand
is
unnecessary
,
and
what
is
unnecessary
is
wrong
.
”
Lamia
bowed
and
retired
.
And
now
again
father
and
daughter
were
alone
together
in
the
prow
observing
the
arc
of
the
harbor
in
which
the
ship
was
gliding
smoothly
.
And
now
the
sailors
had
out
their
poles
and
hooks
,
and
they
ran
the
vessel
beside
the
wharf
,
and
cast
out
ropes
that
were
made
fast
to
bronze
rings
in
the
marble
breasting
of
the
quay
.
Domitia
would
at
once
have
drawn
her
father
on
shore
,
but
he
restrained
her
.
“
Not
yet
,
my
daughter
,
”
he
said
;
“
the
goddess
must
precede
thee
.
”
And
now
ensued
a
singular
formality
.
From
the
bows
of
the
vessel
,
the
captain
and
steerer
took
a
statuette
of
Artemis
,
in
bronze
,
the
Ephesian
goddess
,
with
female
head
and
numerous
breasts
,
but
with
the
lower
limbs
swaddled
,
and
the
swaddling
bands
decorated
with
representations
of
all
kinds
of
beasts
,
birds
,
and
fishes
.
This
image
was
now
conveyed
on
shore
,
followed
by
the
passengers
and
crew
.
On
the
quay
stood
an
altar
,
upon
which
charcoal
ever
burnt
,
under
the
charge
of
a
priest
who
attended
to
it
continuously
,
and
whenever
a
ship
entered
the
port
or
was
about
to
leave
,
added
fuel
,
and
raked
and
blew
up
the
fire
.
Simultaneously
from
a
small
temple
on
the
quay
issued
a
priest
with
veiled
head
,
and
his
attendants
came
to
the
altar
,
cast
some
grains
of
incense
on
the
embers
,
and
as
the
blue
fragrant
smoke
arose
and
was
dissipated
by
the
sea
breeze
,
he
said
:
—
“
The
Goddess
Aphrodite
of
Corinth
salutes
her
divine
sister
,
the
Many-Breasted
Artemis
of
Ephesus
,
and
welcomes
her
.
And
she
further
prays
that
she
may
not
smite
the
city
or
the
port
with
fire
,
pestilence
or
earthquake
.
”
Then
captain
,
steerman
,
pilot
and
the
rest
of
the
company
advanced
in
procession
to
the
temple
,
and
on
reaching
it
offered
a
handful
of
sweet
gums
on
an
altar
there
,
before
the
image
of
the
foam-born
goddess
of
Beauty
,
and
said
:
—
“
We
who
come
from
the
sea
,
having
safely
traversed
the
Ægean
,
escaped
rocks
and
sand-banks
,
whirlpools
and
storms
,
under
the
protection
of
the
great
goddess
of
Ephesus
,
salute
in
her
name
the
goddess
of
Beauty
,
and
receive
her
welcome
with
thankfulness
.
And
great
Artemis
beseeches
her
sister
to
suffer
her
and
the
vessel
with
passengers
and
goods
and
crew
,
that
she
conducts
and
protects
,
to
pass
across
the
isthmus
,
without
let
and
molestation
;
and
she
for
her
part
undertakes
to
pay
the
accustomed
toll
,
and
the
due
to
the
temple
of
Aphrodite
,
and
that
neither
the
passengers
nor
the
crew
shall
in
any
way
injure
or
disturb
the
inhabitants
of
Corinth
or
of
the
Isthmus
.
”
This
ceremony
concluded
,
all
were
at
liberty
to
disperse
;
the
sailors
to
attend
to
the
vessel
,
the
slaves
of
Corbulo
to
look
to
and
land
such
of
his
luggage
as
he
was
likely
to
want
,
and
Corbulo
to
go
to
his
wife
,
who
had
placed
herself
in
an
attitude
to
receive
him
.
The
captain
,
at
the
same
time
,
entered
the
harbor-master’s
office
to
arrange
about
the
crossing
of
the
isthmus
,
and
to
settle
tolls
.
For
the
vessel
was
not
to
make
more
stay
than
a
few
days
at
the
port
of
Cenchræa
.
After
Longa
Duilia
was
ready
,
then
she
and
her
husband
and
family
were
to
proceed
to
Lechæum
,
the
port
on
the
Corinthian
Gulf
,
there
to
embark
for
Italy
.
The
vessel
would
leave
the
harbor
and
go
to
Diolchus
,
that
point
of
the
Isthmus
on
the
east
where
the
neck
of
land
was
narrowest
.
There
the
ships
would
be
hauled
out
of
the
water
,
placed
on
rollers
,
and
by
means
of
oxen
,
assisted
by
gangs
of
slaves
,
would
convey
the
vessel
over
the
land
for
six
miles
to
the
Gulf
of
Corinth
,
where
again
she
would
be
floated
.
Immediately
behind
the
Roman
general
,
Corbulo
,
the
father
of
Domitia
,
walked
two
individuals
,
both
wearing
long
beards
,
and
draped
to
the
feet
.
One
of
these
had
a
characteristically
Oriental
head
.
His
eyes
were
set
very
close
together
,
his
nose
was
aquiline
,
his
tint
sallow
,
his
eyebrows
heavy
and
bushy
,
and
his
general
expression
one
of
cunning
and
subtlety
.
His
movements
were
stately
.
The
other
was
not
so
tall
.
He
was
clumsy
in
movement
,
rugged
in
feature
,
with
a
broken
nose
,
his
features
distinctly
Occidental
,
as
was
his
bullet
head
.
His
hair
was
sandy
,
and
scant
on
his
crown
.
He
wore
a
smug
,
self-complacent
expression
on
his
pursed-up
lips
and
had
a
certain
“
I
am
Sir
Oracle
,
let
no
dog
bark
”
look
in
his
pale
eyes
.
These
two
men
,
walking
side
by
side
,
eyed
each
other
with
ill-concealed
dislike
and
disdain
.
The
former
was
a
Chaldæan
,
who
was
usually
called
Elymas
,
but
affected
in
Greek
to
be
named
Ascletarion
.
The
latter
was
an
Italian
philosopher
who
had
received
his
training
in
Greece
at
a
period
when
all
systems
of
philosophy
were
broken
up
and
jostled
each
other
in
their
common
ruin
.
No
sooner
was
the
ceremony
at
an
end
,
and
Corbulo
had
hastened
from
the
wharf
to
meet
and
embrace
his
wife
,
and
Lamia
had
drawn
off
Domitia
for
a
few
words
,
than
these
two
men
left
to
themselves
instinctively
turned
to
launch
their
venom
at
each
other
.
The
philosopher
,
with
a
toss
of
his
beard
,
and
a
lifting
of
his
light
eyebrows
,
and
the
protrusion
of
his
lower
lip
said
:
“
And
pray
,
what
has
the
profundity
of
Ascletarion
alias
Elymas
beheld
in
the
bottom
of
that
well
he
terms
his
soul
?
”
“
He
has
been
able
to
see
what
is
hidden
from
the
shallowness
of
Claudius
Senecio
alias
Spermologos
over
the
surface
of
which
shallowness
his
soul
careers
like
a
water
spider
.
”
“
And
that
is
,
O
muddiness
?
”
“
Ill-luck
,
O
insipidity
.
”
“
Why
so
?
—
not
,
the
Gods
forfend
,
that
I
lay
any
weight
on
anything
you
may
say
.
But
I
like
to
hear
your
vaticinations
that
I
may
laugh
over
them
.
”
“
Hear
,
then
.
Because
a
daughter
of
Earth
dared
to
set
foot
on
the
vessel
consecrated
to
and
conducted
by
Artemis
before
that
the
tutelary
goddess
had
been
welcomed
by
and
had
saluted
the
tutelary
deity
of
the
land
.
”
“
I
despise
your
prophecies
of
evil
,
thou
crow
.
”
“
Not
more
than
do
I
thy
platitudes
,
O
owl
!
”
“
Hearken
to
the
words
of
the
poet
,
”
said
the
philosopher
,
and
he
started
quoting
the
Œdipus
Tyrannus
:
“
The
Gods
know
the
affairs
of
mortals
.
But
among
men
,
it
is
by
no
means
certain
that
a
soothsayer
is
of
more
account
than
myself
!
”
And
Senecio
snapped
his
fingers
in
the
face
of
the
Magus
.
“
Conclude
thy
quotation
,
”
retorted
Elymas
.
“
“
A
man’s
wisdom
may
surpass
Wisdom
itself
.
Therefore
never
will
I
condemn
the
seer
,
lest
his
words
prove
true
.
”
How
like
you
that
?
”
and
he
snapped
his
fingers
under
the
nose
of
the
philosopher
.
CHAPTER
III
.
CORBULO
.
Cnæus
Domitius
Corbulo
was
the
greatest
general
of
his
time
,
and
he
had
splendidly
served
the
State
.
His
sister
Cæsonia
had
been
the
wife
of
the
mad
prince
Caligula
.
She
was
not
beautiful
,
but
her
flexible
mouth
,
her
tender
eyes
,
the
dimples
in
her
cheeks
,
her
exquisite
grace
of
manner
and
sweetness
of
expression
had
not
only
won
the
heart
of
the
tyrant
,
but
had
enabled
her
to
maintain
it
.
Once
,
in
an
outburst
of
surprise
at
himself
for
loving
her
,
he
threatened
to
put
her
to
the
torture
to
wring
from
Cæsonia
the
secret
of
her
hold
on
his
affections
.
Once
,
as
he
caressed
her
,
he
broke
into
hideous
laughter
,
and
when
asked
the
reason
,
said
,
“
I
have
but
to
speak
the
word
,
and
this
lovely
throat
would
be
cut
.
”
Yet
this
woman
loved
the
maniac
,
and
when
he
had
been
murdered
in
the
subterranean
gallery
leading
from
the
palace
to
the
theatre
,
she
crept
to
the
spot
,
and
was
found
kneeling
by
her
dead
husband
with
their
babe
in
her
arms
,
sobbing
and
wiping
the
blood
from
his
face
.
The
assassins
did
not
spare
her
.
They
cut
her
down
and
dashed
out
the
brains
of
the
infant
against
the
marble
walls
.
Corbulo
was
not
only
able
,
he
was
successful
.
Under
Nero
he
was
engaged
in
the
East
against
the
Parthians
,
the
most
redoubted
enemies
of
the
empire
.
He
broke
their
power
and
sent
their
king
,
Tiridates
,
a
suppliant
to
Rome
.
His
headquarters
had
been
at
Antioch
,
and
there
for
a
while
his
wife
and
daughter
had
resided
with
him
.
But
after
a
while
,
they
were
sent
part
way
homewards
,
as
Corbulo
himself
expected
his
recall
.
They
had
been
separated
from
him
for
over
six
months
,
and
had
been
awaiting
his
arrival
in
a
villa
at
Cenchræa
,
that
had
been
placed
at
their
disposal
by
a
Greek
client
.
It
was
customary
for
those
who
did
not
live
in
Rome
but
belonged
to
a
province
,
to
place
themselves
under
the
patronage
of
a
Roman
noble
;
whereupon
ensued
an
exchange
of
“
cards
”
as
we
should
say
,
but
actually
of
engraved
plates
or
metal
fishes
on
which
the
date
of
the
agreement
was
entered
as
well
as
the
names
of
the
contracting
parties
.
Then
,
when
a
provincial
desired
assistance
at
the
capital
,
in
obtaining
redress
for
a
grievance
in
a
lawsuit
,
or
in
recovering
a
debt
,
his
patron
attended
to
his
client’s
interests
,
and
should
he
visit
Rome
received
him
into
his
house
as
an
honored
guest
.
On
the
other
hand
,
if
the
patron
were
on
a
journey
and
came
to
the
place
where
his
client
could
serve
him
,
the
latter
threw
his
house
open
to
him
,
treated
him
with
the
most
profound
respect
and
accorded
to
him
the
largest
hospitality
.
So
now
the
villa
of
a
client
had
been
placed
at
the
disposal
of
Corbulo
and
his
family
,
and
he
occupied
it
with
as
little
hesitation
as
though
it
were
his
own
.
It
was
a
matter
of
pride
to
a
Roman
noble
to
have
a
large
number
of
silver
engraved
plates
and
fishes
suspended
in
his
atrium
,
announcing
to
all
visitors
what
an
extensive
clientèle
he
had
,
and
the
provincial
was
not
less
proud
to
be
able
to
flourish
the
name
of
his
distinguished
patron
at
the
capital
.
On
the
evening
following
the
disembarkation
,
Corbulo
and
his
wife
were
seated
on
a
bench
enjoying
the
pleasant
air
that
fanned
from
the
sea
;
and
looking
over
the
terraced
garden
at
their
daughter
,
who
was
gambolling
with
a
long
silky-haired
kid
from
Cilicia
,
that
her
father
had
brought
as
a
present
to
his
child
.
She
was
a
lovely
girl
,
aged
sixteen
,
with
a
remarkably
intelligent
face
,
and
large
,
clear
,
shrewd
eyes
.
Yet
,
though
lovely
,
none
could
say
that
she
was
beautiful
.
Her
charm
was
like
that
of
her
aunt
,
Cæsonia
,
in
grace
of
form
,
in
changefulness
and
sweetness
of
expression
,
and
in
the
brimming
intellect
that
flashed
out
of
her
violet
eyes
.
And
now
as
she
played
with
the
kid
,
her
every
movement
formed
an
artist’s
study
,
and
the
simple
joy
that
shone
out
of
her
face
,
and
the
affection
wherewith
she
glanced
at
intervals
at
her
father
,
invested
her
with
a
spiritual
charm
,
impossible
to
be
achieved
by
sculptor
with
his
chisel
or
by
painter
with
his
brush
.
The
eyes
of
Domitius
Corbulo
followed
his
child
,
wherever
she
went
,
whatever
she
did
.
He
was
a
man
of
somewhat
advanced
age
,
shaven
,
with
short
shorn
hair
,
marked
features
,
the
brow
somewhat
retreating
,
but
with
a
firm
mouth
and
strong
jaw
.
Though
not
handsome
,
there
was
refinement
in
his
countenance
which
gave
it
a
character
of
nobleness
,
and
the
brilliant
eye
and
decision
in
the
countenance
inspired
universal
respect
.
Every
one
could
see
that
he
was
not
merely
a
commander
of
men
in
war
,
but
a
man
of
culture
in
the
forum
and
the
academy
.
“
Wife
,
”
said
he
,
“
I
pray
you
desist
.
It
was
for
this
that
I
sent
you
back
from
Antioch
.
You
ever
twanged
one
string
,
and
I
felt
that
your
words
,
if
overheard
,
might
endanger
us
all
.
”
“
I
speak
but
into
thine
ear
.
”
“
A
brimming
vessel
overflows
on
all
sides
,
”
said
Corbulo
.
“
Ah
well
!
some
men
make
themselves
by
grasping
at
what
the
Gods
offer
them
.
Others
lose
themselves
by
disregarding
the
favors
extended
by
the
Immortals
.
”
“
I
deny
that
any
such
offer
was
made
me
,
”
said
the
general
in
a
tone
of
annoyance
.
“
What
!
”
exclaimed
Longa
Duilia
,
“
art
thou
so
blind
as
not
to
see
what
is
obvious
to
every
other
eye
,
that
the
Roman
people
are
impatient
at
having
a
buffoon
,
a
mimic
,
a
fiddler
wearing
the
purple
?
”
“
Nevertheless
,
he
wears
it
,
by
favor
of
the
gods
.
”
“
For
how
long
?
Domitius
,
believe
me
.
In
the
heart
of
every
Roman
citizen
rage
is
simmering
,
and
the
wound
of
injured
pride
rankles
.
He
has
insulted
the
majesty
of
eternal
Rome
.
After
having
acted
the
buffoon
in
Italy
,
running
up
and
down
it
like
a
jester
on
a
tight-rope
mouthing
at
the
people
,
and
with
his
assassins
scattered
about
below
to
cut
them
down
if
they
do
not
applaud
—
then
he
comes
here
also
into
Greece
,
to
act
on
stages
,
race
chariots
,
before
Greeks
—
Greeks
of
all
people
!
To
me
this
is
nothing
,
for
all
princes
are
tyrants
more
or
less
,
and
so
long
as
they
do
not
prick
me
,
I
care
not
.
But
here
it
does
come
close
.
In
every
army
,
in
the
breast
of
every
soldier
,
rebellion
springs
up
.
Every
general
is
uneasy
and
looks
at
the
face
of
every
other
and
asks
,
Who
will
draw
the
sword
and
make
an
end
of
this
?
O
Morals
!
it
makes
me
mad
to
see
you
alone
quiescent
.
”
“
When
the
Gods
will
a
change
,
then
the
change
will
be
granted
.
”
“
You
speak
like
a
philosopher
and
not
a
man
of
action
.
If
you
do
not
draw
,
others
will
forestall
you
,
and
then
—
instead
of
my
being
up
at
the
top
—
I
shall
be
down
in
Nowhere
.
”
“
Never
will
I
be
a
traitor
to
Rome
,
and
go
against
my
oath
.
”
“
Pshaw
!
They
all
do
it
,
so
why
not
you
?
”
“
Because
my
conscience
will
not
suffer
me
.
”
“
Conscience
!
The
haruspices
have
never
found
it
yet
.
They
can
discover
and
read
the
liver
and
the
kidneys
,
but
no
knife
has
yet
laid
bare
a
conscience
as
big
as
a
bean
.
You
were
the
darling
of
the
soldiery
in
Germany
.
You
are
still
the
idol
of
those
who
have
fought
under
you
in
Parthia
and
Armenia
.
I
am
sure
I
did
my
best
to
push
your
cause
.
I
was
gracious
to
the
soldiery
—
sent
tit-bits
from
the
table
to
the
guard
.
I
tipped
right
and
left
,
till
I
spent
all
my
pocket-money
,
and
smiled
benignantly
on
all
military
men
till
I
got
a
horrible
crumple
here
in
my
cheek
,
do
you
see
?
”
“
Yes
,
shocking
,
”
said
Corbulo
,
indifferently
.
“
How
can
you
be
so
provoking
!
”
exclaimed
Duilia
pettishly
.
“
Of
course
there
is
no
wrinkle
,
there
might
have
been
,
I
did
so
much
smiling
.
Really
,
Corbulo
,
one
has
to
do
all
the
picking
—
as
boys
get
winkles
out
of
their
shells
with
a
pin
—
to
extract
a
compliment
from
you
.
And
out
comes
the
pin
with
nothing
at
the
end
.
Plancus
would
not
have
let
that
pass
.
”
“
Do
you
say
that
Nero
is
here
?
”
“
Yes
,
here
,
in
Greece
;
here
at
our
elbow
,
at
Corinth
.
He
has
for
once
got
a
clever
idea
into
his
head
and
has
begun
to
cut
a
canal
through
the
isthmus
.
It
has
begun
with
a
flourish
of
trumpets
and
a
dinner
and
a
dramatic
exhibition
—
and
then
I
warrant
you
it
will
end
.
”
“
The
Prince
at
Corinth
!
”
“
Yes
,
at
Corinth
;
and
you
are
here
with
all
the
wide
sea
between
you
and
your
troops
.
And
docile
as
a
lamb
you
have
come
here
,
and
left
your
vantage
ground
.
What
it
all
means
,
the
Gods
know
.
It
is
no
doing
of
mine
.
I
warned
and
exhorted
at
Antioch
,
but
you
might
have
been
born
deaf
for
all
the
attention
you
paid
to
my
words
.
”
“
Never
would
I
raise
my
sacrilegious
hand
against
Rome
—
my
mother
.
”
“
Nay
—
it
is
Rome
that
cries
out
to
be
rid
of
a
man
that
makes
her
the
scorn
of
the
world
.
”
“
She
has
not
spoken
.
She
has
not
released
me
of
my
oath
.
”
“
Because
her
mouth
is
gagged
.
As
the
Gods
love
me
,
they
say
that
the
god
Caius
(
Caligula
)
named
his
horse
Consul
.
Rome
may
have
a
monkey
as
her
prince
and
Augustus
for
aught
I
care
,
were
it
not
that
by
such
a
chance
the
handle
is
offered
for
you
to
upset
him
and
seat
yourself
and
me
at
the
head
of
the
universe
.
”
“
No
more
of
this
,
”
said
the
general
.
“
A
good
soldier
obeys
his
commander
.
And
I
have
an
imperator
,
”
he
touched
his
breast
;
“
a
good
conscience
,
and
I
go
nowhere
,
undertake
nothing
which
is
not
ordered
by
my
master
there
.
”
“
Then
I
wash
my
hands
of
the
result
.
”
“
Come
hither
!
”
Corbulo
called
,
and
signed
to
his
daughter
who
,
with
a
flush
of
pleasure
,
left
her
kid
and
ran
to
him
.
He
took
both
her
hands
by
the
wrists
,
and
holding
her
before
him
,
panting
from
play
,
and
with
light
dancing
in
her
blue
eyes
,
he
said
,
“
Domitia
,
I
have
not
said
one
grave
word
to
thee
since
we
have
been
together
.
Yet
now
will
I
do
this
.
None
can
tell
what
may
be
the
next
turn
up
of
the
die
.
And
this
that
I
am
about
to
say
comes
warm
and
salt
from
my
heart
,
like
the
spring
hard
by
,
at
the
Bath
of
Helene
.
”
“
And
strong
,
father
,
”
said
the
girl
,
with
flashes
in
her
speaking
eyes
.
“
So
strong
is
the
spring
that
at
once
it
turns
a
mill
,
ere
rushing
down
to
find
its
rest
in
the
sea
.
”
“
Well
,
and
so
may
what
I
say
so
turn
and
make
thee
active
,
dear
child
,
—
active
for
good
,
though
homely
the
work
may
be
as
that
of
grinding
flour
.
When
you
have
done
a
good
work
,
and
not
wasted
the
volume
of
life
in
froth
and
cascade
,
then
find
rest
in
the
wide
sea
of
—
—
”
“
Of
what
?
”
sneered
Duilia
,
“
say
it
out
—
of
nobody
knows
what
.
”
“
That
which
thou
sayest
,
dearest
father
,
will
not
sleep
in
my
heart
.
”
“
Domitia
,
when
we
sail
at
sea
,
we
direct
our
course
by
the
stars
.
Without
the
stars
we
should
not
know
whither
to
steer
.
And
the
steering
of
the
vessel
by
the
stars
,
that
is
seamanship
.
So
in
life
.
There
are
principles
of
right
and
wrong
set
in
the
firmament
—
—
”
“
Where
?
”
asked
Duilia
.
“
As
the
Gods
love
me
,
I
never
saw
them
.
”
“
By
them
,
”
continued
Corbulo
,
disregarding
the
interruption
,
“
we
must
shape
our
course
,
and
this
true
shaping
of
our
course
,
and
not
drifting
with
tides
,
or
blown
hither
and
thither
by
winds
—
this
is
the
seamanship
of
life
.
”
“
By
the
Gods
!
”
said
Duilia
.
“
You
must
first
find
your
stars
.
I
hold
what
you
say
to
be
rank
nonsense
.
Where
are
your
stars
?
Principles
!
You
keep
your
constellations
in
the
hold
of
your
vessel
.
My
good
Corbulo
,
our
own
interest
,
that
we
can
always
see
,
and
by
that
we
ought
ever
to
steer
.
”
“
Father
,
”
said
the
girl
,
“
I
see
a
centurion
and
a
handful
of
soldiers
coming
this
way
—
and
,
if
I
mistake
not
,
Lamia
is
speeding
ahead
of
them
.
”
“
Well
,
go
then
,
and
play
with
the
kid
.
Hear
how
the
little
creature
bleats
after
thee
.
”
She
obeyed
,
and
the
old
soldier
watched
his
darling
,
with
his
heart
in
his
eyes
.
Presently
,
when
she
was
beyond
hearing
,
he
said
:
—
“
Now
about
the
future
of
Domitia
.
I
wish
her
no
better
fortune
than
to
become
the
wife
of
Lucius
Ælius
Lamia
,
whom
I
love
as
my
son
.
He
has
been
in
and
out
among
us
at
Antioch
.
He
returns
with
me
to
Rome
.
In
these
evil
times
,
for
a
girl
there
is
one
only
chance
—
to
be
given
a
good
husband
.
This
I
hold
,
that
a
woman
is
never
bad
unless
man
shows
her
the
way
.
If
,
as
you
say
,
there
be
no
stars
in
the
sky
—
there
is
love
in
the
heart
.
By
Hercules
!
here
comes
Lamia
,
and
something
ails
him
.
”
Lucius
was
seen
approaching
through
the
garden
.
His
face
was
ashen-gray
,
and
he
was
evidently
a
prey
to
the
liveliest
distress
.
He
hastened
to
Corbulo
,
but
although
his
lips
moved
,
he
could
not
utter
a
word
.
“
You
would
speak
with
me
,
”
said
the
old
general
rising
,
and
looking
steadily
in
the
young
man’s
face
.
Something
he
saw
there
made
him
divine
his
errand
.
Then
Corbulo
turned
,
kissed
his
wife
,
and
said
—
“
Farewell
.
I
am
rightly
served
.
”
He
took
a
step
from
her
,
looked
towards
Domitia
,
who
was
dancing
to
her
kid
,
above
whose
reach
she
held
a
bunch
of
parsley
.
He
hesitated
for
a
moment
.
His
inclination
drew
him
towards
her
;
but
a
second
thought
served
to
make
him
abandon
so
doing
,
and
instead
,
he
bent
back
to
his
wife
,
and
said
to
her
,
with
suppressed
emotion
—
“
Bid
her
from
me
—
as
my
last
command
—
Follow
the
Light
where
and
when
she
sees
it
.
”
CHAPTER
IV
.
THERE
IS
NO
STAR
.
A
quarter
of
an
hour
had
elapsed
since
Corbulo
entered
the
peristyle
of
the
villa
,
when
the
young
man
Lamia
came
out
.
He
was
still
pale
as
death
,
and
his
muscles
twitched
with
strong
emotion
.
He
glanced
about
him
in
quest
of
Longa
Duilia
,
but
that
lady
had
retired
precipitately
to
the
gynaikonitis
,
or
Lady’s
hall
,
where
she
had
summoned
to
her
a
bevy
of
female
slaves
and
had
accumulated
about
her
an
apothecary’s
shop
of
restoratives
.
Domitia
was
still
in
the
garden
,
playing
with
the
kid
,
and
Lamia
at
once
went
to
her
,
not
speedily
,
but
with
repugnance
.
She
immediately
desisted
from
her
play
,
and
smiled
at
his
approach
.
They
were
old
acquaintances
,
and
had
seen
much
of
each
other
in
Syria
.
Corbulo
had
not
been
proconsul
,
but
legate
in
the
East
,
and
had
made
Antioch
his
headquarters
.
He
had
been
engaged
against
the
Parthians
and
Armenians
for
eight
years
,
but
the
war
had
been
intermittent
,
and
between
the
campaigns
he
had
returned
to
Antioch
,
to
the
society
of
his
wife
and
little
daughter
.
The
former
,
a
dashing
,
vain
and
ambitious
woman
,
had
made
a
salon
there
which
was
frequented
by
the
best
society
of
the
province
.
Corbulo
,
a
quiet
,
thoughtful
and
modest
man
,
shrunk
from
the
stir
and
emptiness
of
such
life
,
and
had
found
rest
and
enjoyment
in
the
company
of
his
daughter
.
Lamia
had
served
as
his
secretary
and
aide-de-camp
.
He
was
a
youth
of
much
promise
,
and
of
singular
integrity
of
mind
and
purity
of
morals
in
a
society
that
was
self-seeking
,
voluptuous
,
and
corrupt
.
He
belonged
to
the
Ælian
gens
or
clan
,
but
he
had
been
adopted
by
a
Lamia
,
a
member
of
a
family
in
the
same
clan
,
that
claimed
descent
from
Lamius
,
a
son
of
Poseidon
,
or
Neptune
,
by
one
of
those
fictions
so
dear
to
the
Roman
noble
houses
,
and
which
caused
the
fabrication
of
mythical
origins
,
just
as
the
ambition
of
certain
honorable
families
in
England
led
to
the
falsification
of
the
Roll
of
Battle
Abbey
.
Pliny
tells
a
horrible
story
of
the
first
Lamia
of
importance
,
known
to
authentic
history
.
He
had
been
an
adherent
of
Cæsar
and
a
friend
of
Cicero
.
He
was
supposed
to
be
dead
in
the
year
in
which
he
had
been
elected
prætor
,
and
was
placed
on
the
funeral
pyre
,
when
consciousness
returned
,
but
too
late
for
him
to
be
saved
.
The
flames
rose
and
enveloped
him
,
and
he
died
shrieking
and
struggling
to
escape
from
the
bandages
that
bound
him
to
the
bier
on
which
he
lay
.
Lucius
Lamia
had
been
kindly
treated
by
Corbulo
,
and
the
young
man’s
heart
had
gone
out
to
the
venerated
general
,
to
whom
he
looked
up
as
a
model
of
all
the
old
Roman
virtues
,
as
well
as
a
man
of
commanding
military
genius
.
The
simplicity
of
the
old
soldier’s
manner
and
the
freshness
of
his
mind
had
acted
as
a
healthful
and
bracing
breeze
upon
the
youth’s
moral
character
.
And
now
he
took
the
young
girl
by
the
hand
,
and
walked
with
her
up
and
down
the
pleached
avenues
for
some
moments
without
speaking
.
His
breast
heaved
.
His
head
swam
.
His
hand
that
held
hers
worked
convulsively
.
All
at
once
Domitia
stood
still
.
She
had
looked
up
wondering
at
his
manner
,
into
his
eyes
,
and
had
seen
that
they
were
full
.
“
What
ails
you
,
Lucius
?
”
“
Come
,
sit
by
me
on
the
margin
of
the
basin
,
”
said
he
.
“
By
the
Gods
!
I
conjure
thee
to
summon
all
thy
fortitude
.
I
have
news
to
communicate
,
and
they
of
the
saddest
—
—
”
“
What
!
are
we
not
to
return
to
Rome
?
O
Lamia
,
I
was
a
child
when
I
left
it
,
but
I
love
our
house
at
Gabii
,
and
the
lake
there
,
and
the
garden
.
”
“
It
is
worse
than
that
,
Domitia
.
”
He
seated
himself
on
the
margin
of
a
basin
,
and
nervously
,
not
knowing
what
he
did
,
drew
his
finger
in
the
water
,
describing
letters
,
and
chasing
the
darting
fish
.
“
Domitia
,
you
belong
to
an
ancient
race
.
You
are
a
Roman
,
and
have
the
blood
of
the
Gods
in
your
veins
.
So
nerve
thy
heroic
soul
to
hear
the
worst
.
”
And
still
he
thrust
after
the
frightened
fish
with
his
finger
,
and
she
looked
down
,
and
saw
them
dart
like
shadows
in
the
pool
,
and
her
own
frightened
thoughts
darted
as
nimbly
and
as
blindly
about
in
her
head
.
“
Why
,
how
now
,
Lamia
?
Thou
art
descended
by
adoption
from
the
Earth-shakes
,
and
tremblest
as
a
girl
!
See
—
a
tear
fell
into
the
basin
.
Oh
,
Lucius
!
My
very
kid
rears
in
surprise
.
”
“
Do
not
mock
.
Prepare
for
the
worst
.
Think
what
would
be
the
sorest
ill
that
could
befall
thee
.
”
Domitia
withdrew
her
eyes
from
the
fish
and
the
water
surface
rippled
by
his
finger
,
and
looked
now
with
real
terror
in
his
face
.
“
My
father
?
”
Then
Lamia
raised
his
dripping
finger
and
pointed
to
the
house
.
She
looked
,
and
saw
that
the
gardener
had
torn
down
boughs
of
cypress
,
and
therewith
was
decorating
the
doorway
.
At
the
same
moment
rose
a
long-drawn
,
desolate
wail
,
rising
,
falling
,
ebbing
,
flowing
—
a
sea
of
sound
infinitely
sad
,
heart-thrilling
,
blood-congealing
.
For
one
awful
moment
,
one
of
those
moments
that
seems
an
eternity
,
Domitia
remained
motionless
.
She
could
hear
articulate
words
,
voices
now
.
“
Come
back
!
O
Cnæus
!
Come
,
thou
mighty
warrior
!
Come
,
thou
pillar
of
thy
race
!
Come
back
,
thou
shadow
!
Return
,
O
fleeted
soul
!
See
,
see
!
thy
tabernacle
is
still
warm
.
Return
,
O
soul
!
return
!
”
She
knew
it
—
the
conclamatio
;
that
cry
uttered
about
the
dead
in
the
hopes
of
bringing
back
the
spirit
that
has
fled
.
Then
,
before
Lamia
could
stop
her
,
Domitia
started
from
the
margin
of
the
pool
,
startling
the
fish
again
and
sending
them
flying
as
rays
from
where
she
had
been
seated
,
and
ran
to
the
house
.
The
gardener
,
with
the
timidity
of
a
slave
,
did
not
venture
to
forbid
passage
.
A
soldier
who
was
withdrawing
extended
his
arm
to
bar
the
doorway
.
Quick
as
thought
she
dived
below
this
barrier
,
and
next
moment
with
a
cry
that
cut
through
the
wail
of
the
mourners
,
she
cast
herself
on
the
body
of
her
father
,
that
lay
extended
on
the
mosaic
floor
,
with
a
blood-stained
sword
at
his
side
,
and
a
dark
rill
running
from
his
breast
over
the
enamelled
pavement
.
Next
moment
Lamia
entered
.
Around
the
hall
were
mourners
,
slaves
of
the
house
,
as
also
some
of
those
of
Longa
Duilia
,
raising
their
arms
and
lowering
them
,
uttering
their
cries
of
lamentation
and
invocations
to
the
departed
soul
,
some
rending
their
garments
,
others
making
believe
to
tear
their
hair
and
scratch
their
faces
.
In
the
midst
lay
the
dead
general
,
and
his
child
clung
to
him
,
kissed
him
,
chafed
his
hands
,
endeavored
to
stanch
his
wound
,
and
addressed
him
with
endearments
.
But
all
was
in
vain
.
The
spirit
was
beyond
recall
,
and
were
it
to
return
would
again
be
expelled
.
Corbulo
was
dead
.
The
poor
child
clasped
him
,
convulsed
with
tears
;
her
copious
chestnut
hair
had
become
unbound
,
and
was
strewed
about
her
,
and
even
dipped
in
her
father’s
blood
.
She
was
as
though
frantic
with
despair
;
her
gestures
,
her
cry
very
different
from
the
formal
expressions
and
utterances
of
the
servile
mourners
.
But
Lamia
at
length
touched
her
,
and
said
—
“
Come
away
,
Domitia
.
You
cannot
prevent
Fate
.
”
Suddenly
she
reared
herself
on
her
knees
,
and
put
back
the
burnished
rain
of
hair
that
shrouded
her
face
,
and
said
in
harsh
tones
:
—
“
Who
slew
him
?
”
“
He
fell
on
his
own
sword
.
”
“
Why
!
He
was
happy
?
”
Before
an
answer
was
given
,
she
reeled
and
fell
unconscious
across
her
father’s
body
.
Then
Lamia
stooped
,
gathered
her
up
tenderly
,
pitifully
,
in
his
arms
,
and
bore
her
forth
into
the
garden
to
the
fountain
,
where
he
could
bathe
her
face
,
and
where
the
cool
air
might
revive
her
.
Why
was
Corbulo
dead
?
and
why
had
he
died
by
his
own
hand
?
The
Emperor
Nero
was
,
as
Duilia
had
told
her
husband
,
at
this
very
time
in
Greece
,
and
further
,
hard
by
at
Corinth
,
where
he
was
engaged
in
superintending
the
cutting
of
a
canal
,
that
was
to
remove
the
difficulty
of
a
passage
from
the
Saronic
to
the
Corinthian
Gulf
.
Nero
had
come
to
Greece
attended
by
his
Augustal
band
of
five
thousand
youths
with
flowing
locks
,
and
gold
bangles
on
their
wrists
,
divided
into
three
companies
,
whose
duty
it
was
to
applaud
the
imperial
mountebank
,
and
rouse
or
lead
enthusiasm
,
the
Hummers
by
buzzing
approval
,
the
Clappers
by
beating
their
hands
together
,
and
the
Clashers
by
kicking
pots
about
so
as
to
produce
a
contagious
uproar
.
Nero
was
possessed
with
the
delusion
that
he
had
a
fine
voice
,
and
that
he
was
an
incomparable
actor
.
Yet
his
range
was
so
small
,
that
when
striving
to
sink
to
a
bass
note
,
his
voice
became
a
gurgle
,
and
when
he
attempted
to
soar
to
a
high
note
,
he
raised
himself
on
his
toes
,
became
purple
in
face
,
and
emitted
a
screech
like
a
peacock
.
Not
satisfied
with
the
obsequious
applause
of
the
Roman
and
Neapolitan
citizens
who
crowded
the
theatre
to
hear
the
imperial
buffoon
twitter
,
he
resolved
to
contest
for
prizes
in
the
games
of
Greece
.
A
fleet
attended
him
,
crowded
with
actors
,
singers
,
dancers
,
heaped
up
with
theatrical
properties
,
masks
,
costumes
,
wigs
,
and
fiddles
.
He
would
show
the
Greeks
that
he
could
drive
a
chariot
,
sing
and
strut
the
stage
now
in
male
and
then
in
female
costume
,
and
adapt
his
voice
to
the
sex
he
personated
,
now
grumbling
in
masculine
tones
,
then
squeaking
in
falsetto
,
and
incomparable
in
each
.
But
with
the
cunning
of
a
madman
,
he
took
with
him
,
as
his
court
,
the
wealthiest
nobles
of
Rome
,
whom
he
had
marked
out
for
death
,
either
because
he
coveted
their
fortunes
or
suspected
their
loyalty
.
Wherever
he
went
,
into
whatsoever
city
he
entered
,
his
artistic
eye
noted
the
finest
statues
and
paintings
,
and
he
carried
them
off
,
from
temple
as
from
marketplace
,
to
decorate
Rome
or
enrich
his
Golden
House
,
the
palace
he
had
erected
for
himself
.
Tortured
by
envy
of
every
one
who
made
himself
conspicuous
;
hating
,
fearing
such
as
were
in
all
men’s
mouths
,
through
their
achievements
,
or
notable
for
virtue
,
his
suspicion
had
for
some
time
rested
on
Domitius
Corbulo
,
who
had
won
laurels
first
in
Germany
and
afterwards
in
Syria
.
He
had
summoned
him
to
Rome
,
with
the
promise
of
preferments
,
his
purpose
being
to
withdraw
him
from
the
army
that
adored
him
,
and
to
destroy
him
.
No
sooner
did
the
tidings
reach
the
tyrant
at
Corinth
,
that
the
veteran
hero
was
arrived
at
Cenchræa
,
than
he
sent
him
a
message
to
commit
suicide
.
A
gracious
condescension
that
,
for
the
property
of
the
man
who
was
executed
was
forfeit
and
his
wife
and
children
reduced
to
beggary
,
whereas
the
will
of
the
testator
who
destroyed
himself
was
allowed
to
remain
in
force
.
Lamia
washed
the
stains
from
the
hands
and
locks
of
the
girl
,
and
bathed
her
face
with
water
till
she
came
round
.
Then
,
when
he
saw
that
she
had
recovered
full
consciousness
,
he
asked
to
be
allowed
to
hasten
for
assistance
.
She
bowed
her
head
,
as
she
could
not
speak
,
and
he
entered
the
women’s
portion
of
the
villa
to
summon
some
of
the
female
slaves
.
These
were
,
however
,
in
no
condition
to
answer
his
call
and
be
of
use
.
Duilia
had
monopolized
the
attentions
of
almost
all
such
as
had
not
been
commissioned
to
raise
the
funeral
wail
.
Some
,
indeed
,
there
were
,
scattered
in
all
directions
,
running
against
each
other
,
doing
nothing
save
add
to
the
general
confusion
,
but
precisely
these
were
useless
for
Lamia’s
purpose
.
Unwilling
to
leave
the
child
longer
alone
,
Lucius
returned
to
the
garden
,
and
saw
Domitia
seated
on
the
breastwork
of
the
fountain
.
Ten
years
seemed
to
have
passed
over
her
head
,
so
altered
was
she
.
She
was
not
now
weeping
.
The
rigidity
of
the
fainting
fit
seemed
not
to
have
left
her
face
