.Elymas
stood
back
and
assumed
a
deferential
attitude
.
Titus
waved
him
to
withdraw
,
and
was
obeyed
.
Then
he
took
Domitia
by
the
hand
.
“
A
philosopher
,
are
you
?
”
“
No
,
I
ask
questions
,
but
get
no
answers
that
content
me
.
”
“
Ah
!
you
asked
a
favor
of
me
the
other
day
and
spiced
it
with
a
sneer
—
your
jibes
hit
me
.
”
“
I
meant
not
to
give
pain
.
”
“
I
have
come
to
you
touching
this
very
matter
.
I
am
not
sure
,
child
,
that
the
scandal
is
not
greater
so
long
as
you
and
Domitian
remain
linked
together
,
and
pulling
opposite
ways
,
than
if
you
were
parted
.
Your
quarrels
are
now
the
talk
of
Rome
,
and
many
a
cutting
jest
is
put
into
your
pretty
mouth
at
our
expense
;
invented
by
others
,
attributed
to
you
.
”
“
You
will
have
us
divorced
!
”
her
breath
came
quick
and
short
.
“
Listen
to
what
I
propose
.
Domitia
,
I
am
not
well
.
I
have
this
accursed
Roman
fever
on
me
.
”
“
Sire
,
I
mark
suffering
in
your
face
.
”
“
It
has
been
vexing
me
for
some
days
,
and
it
is
my
intent
to
leave
Rome
and
be
free
from
business
and
take
my
cure
at
Cutiliæ
—
our
old
estate
in
the
Sabine
country
.
Perhaps
the
air
,
the
waters
of
the
old
home
,
the
nest
of
our
divine
family
—
”
his
mouth
twitched
,
but
there
was
a
sad
expression
in
his
face
—
“
they
may
do
me
good
.
It
is
something
,
Domitia
,
to
stand
on
the
soil
that
was
turned
by
one’s
forbears
,
when
they
bent
as
humble
farmers
over
the
plough
.
They
were
honest
men
and
happy
;
and
when
one
is
down
at
heart
,
there
is
naught
like
home
—
the
old
home
where
are
the
bones
of
one’s
ancestors
,
though
they
may
have
been
yeomen
,
and
one
a
commissioner
,
and
another
an
usurer
,
and
so
on
.
They
were
honest
men
.
Aye
!
the
rate-collector
,
he
was
an
honest
man
.
Here
all
is
false
,
and
unreal
,
and
—
Domitia
—
I
feel
that
I
want
to
stand
on
the
soil
where
my
worthy
,
humble
,
dear
old
people
worked
and
worshipped
,
and
laid
them
down
to
die
.
”
“
You
are
downcast
indeed
,
”
said
Domitia
.
“
And
because
downcast
,
I
have
been
brooding
over
your
troubles
,
little
sister-in-law
.
Come
!
I
did
something
for
your
poor
Lamia
,
—
I
made
him
consul
,
and
I
will
do
more
.
Can
you
be
patient
and
tarry
till
my
strength
is
restored
?
I
shall
return
from
my
family
farm
in
rude
health
,
I
trust
,
and
by
the
Gods
!
the
first
matter
I
will
then
take
in
hand
will
be
yours
.
I
know
what
my
brother
is
.
By
Jupiter
Capitolinus
!
if
Rome
should
ever
have
him
as
its
prince
,
it
will
weep
tears
of
blood
.
I
know
his
savage
humor
and
his
sullen
mind
.
No
,
Domitia
,
you
cannot
be
happy
with
him
.
A
cruel
wrong
was
done
you
,
and
when
I
return
from
Cutiliæ
I
will
right
it
.
You
shall
be
separated
!
”
She
threw
herself
at
his
feet
.
He
smiled
,
and
withdrawing
from
her
clasp
,
said
:
—
“
I
will
do
more
than
that
for
your
very
good
friend
,
in
whom
you
still
take
such
a
lively
interest
.
I
shall
find
means
to
advance
him
to
some
foreign
post
—
he
knows
Antioch
,
I
will
give
him
the
proconsulship
of
Syria
and
Cilicia
,
and
so
move
him
away
from
Rome
.
And
then
—
”
he
took
a
turn
,
looked
smilingly
at
Domitia
,
and
said
,
—
“
I
do
not
see
that
you
need
mope
at
Gabii
.
You
know
Antioch
;
you
were
there
for
some
years
.
It
is
,
I
believe
,
not
well
for
a
governor
to
take
his
wife
with
him
;
she
has
the
credit
of
being
a
very
horse-leech
to
the
province
.
But
I
can
trust
thee
,
little
woman
!
There
,
no
thanks
,
I
seek
mine
own
interest
,
and
to
protect
our
divine
images
and
the
new
gilding
from
the
rasp
of
that
tongue
.
That
is
the
true
motive
of
my
making
this
offer
.
Do
not
thank
me
.
On
my
return
from
Cutiliæ
you
may
reckon
on
me
.
”
Then
hastily
brushing
away
her
thanks
,
and
evading
her
arms
,
extended
to
clasp
him
,
he
walked
from
the
terrace
.
“
Euphrosyne
!
”
cried
Domitia
,
“
did
you
hear
!
The
comet
has
reached
its
extreme
limit
,
it
is
turning
—
it
is
drawing
to
the
light
—
to
hope
.
Happiness
is
near
—
ah
!
”
In
her
excitement
she
had
struck
her
jewel-case
that
stood
on
the
marble
balustrade
,
and
sent
it
,
with
all
its
costly
contents
,
flying
down
the
precipice
into
the
thronged
lanes
at
the
back
of
the
forum
in
a
glittering
rain
.
“
Ye
Gods
!
”
gasped
Domitia
,
“
the
omen
!
O
ye
Gods
!
the
bad
omen
.
”
“
Lady
,
”
said
Euphrosyne
,
“
all
is
not
lost
”
“
What
remains
?
Ah
!
the
Fish
!
”
“
Yes
,
mistress
dear
,
when
all
else
is
lost
,
remember
the
Fish
.
”
CHAPTER
III
.
IN
THE
“
INSULA
.
”
“
Now
,
for
a
while
I
am
as
one
who
has
cast
off
a
nightmare
,
”
said
Domitia
to
herself
.
“
He
is
away
—
why
he
has
attended
Titus
to
the
Sabine
land
I
know
not
,
unless
the
Emperor
could
not
trust
him
in
Rome
—
or
may
be
,
in
his
goodness
he
has
done
it
to
relieve
me
of
his
presence
.
I
will
go
see
my
mother
.
”
Domitia
ordered
her
litter
and
bearers
.
She
had
no
trinkets
to
put
on
,
save
the
fish
of
cornelian
.
Her
mother
liked
to
see
her
tricked
out
,
and
usually
when
Domitia
paid
her
a
visit
she
adorned
herself
to
please
the
old
lady
,
—
now
she
could
not
assume
jewelry
as
she
had
lost
all
her
articles
of
precious
stones
and
metal
.
So
she
hung
the
cornelian
amulet
about
her
neck
.
When
a
Roman
lady
went
forth
in
palanquin
,
it
was
in
some
state
.
Before
her
went
two
heralds
in
livery
,
to
clear
the
way
and
announce
her
coming
at
the
houses
where
she
purposed
calling
,
then
she
had
six
bearers
,
and
attendants
of
her
own
sex
,
carrying
her
scent
bottles
,
kerchiefs
,
fans
,
and
whatever
she
might
think
it
possible
she
would
require
.
Domitia
was
impatient
of
display
,
but
it
had
been
imposed
on
her
by
the
Emperor
.
“
The
Flavians
,
”
said
he
smiling
,
“
must
make
a
show
in
public
.
”
A
Roman
lady
was
at
this
period
expected
to
wear
yellow
hair
,
if
she
would
be
in
the
fashion
.
Under
the
Flavians
,
it
was
a
compliment
to
the
reigning
princes
to
affect
this
color
.
It
was
true
that
the
word
flavus
meant
anything
in
color
,
from
mud
upwards
to
what
might
be
termed
yellow
by
courtesy
.
It
was
employed
as
descriptive
of
the
Tiber
,
that
was
of
the
dingiest
of
drabs
,
and
of
the
Campagna
when
every
particle
of
vegetation
was
burnt
up
on
it
,
and
the
tone
was
that
of
the
dust-heaps
.
But
now
that
the
parsnip-haired
Flavians
were
divine
and
all-powerful
,
the
adjective
was
employed
to
describe
the
harvest
field
and
gold
.
Ladies
talked
of
their
hair
as
“
flavan
”
when
it
had
been
dyed
with
saffron
and
dusted
with
gold
.
Not
to
have
yellow
hair
was
expressive
of
disaffection
to
the
dynasty
—
so
every
lady
who
would
be
in
the
fashion
,
and
every
husband
who
wanted
office
,
first
bleached
and
then
dyed
their
hair
,
and
as
hair
was
occasionally
thin
,
they
employed
vast
masses
of
padding
and
borrowed
coils
from
German
“
fraus
”
to
make
the
utmost
show
of
their
loyalty
to
the
august
house
of
the
divine
Flavii
.
Domitia
dared
not
be
out
of
fashion
,
and
she
was
constrained
to
submit
to
having
her
chestnut
hair
dredged
with
gold-dust
before
she
went
forth
on
her
visit
.
For
her
,
conspicuously
to
wear
her
hair
in
its
natural
color
would
at
once
have
provoked
animadversion
,
and
been
interpreted
as
a
publication
,
in
most
defiant
manner
,
of
the
domestic
discord
that
was
a
topic
of
gossip
in
the
saloons
of
Rome
.
When
she
had
entered
her
palanquin
,
she
gave
her
orders
and
was
carried
lightly
down
the
sloping
road
into
the
Forum
.
This
was
crossed
,
and
then
,
drawing
back
the
curtains
of
her
litter
,
she
said
:
—
“
Eboracus
,
tell
the
fellows
not
to
go
at
once
to
the
Carinæ
.
I
have
a
fancy
to
see
the
wife
of
Paris
the
actor
,
in
the
Insula
of
Castor
and
Pollux
.
”
She
was
playing
with
the
fish
suspended
on
her
bosom
,
as
she
was
being
conveyed
down
the
hill
,
and
the
thought
had
come
to
her
that
she
had
not
seen
Glyceria
for
a
long
time
,
and
that
now
was
a
good
occasion
as
her
husband
—
whom
these
visits
annoyed
,
and
who
had
in
fact
forbidden
them
—
was
absent
from
Rome
.
The
porters
at
once
entered
the
narrow
,
tortuous
lanes
,
where
the
lofty
blocks
of
buildings
cut
off
all
sun
and
made
twilight
in
midday
.
As
Domitia
stepped
out
of
her
litter
,
she
saw
coming
down
the
street
,
a
man
much
in
the
company
of
Domitian
,
for
whom
she
entertained
a
particular
dislike
.
He
was
a
very
dark
man
,
and
blind
;
his
face
was
pointed
,
and
his
nose
long
;
he
ran
with
projecting
head
,
turning
his
sharp
nose
from
side
to
side
,
like
a
dog
after
game
.
His
name
was
Valerius
Messalinus
.
One
of
his
slaves
whispered
something
into
his
ear
,
and
he
twisted
about
his
head
,
and
then
came
trotting
in
the
direction
of
the
litter
of
Domitia
.
“
Quick
,
”
said
she
,
“
I
must
go
in
;
I
will
not
speak
with
that
man
.
If
he
asks
for
me
,
say
I
am
out
—
out
of
the
litter
.
”
She
at
once
entered
the
block
of
lodgings
,
and
impatiently
waved
back
her
heralds
,
who
would
have
ascended
the
stairs
before
her
and
pompously
announced
her
arrival
.
Taking
Euphrosyne
along
with
her
,
Domitia
made
her
way
towards
the
apartments
of
the
crippled
woman
.
But
already
the
news
had
spread
that
men
in
the
im
perial
livery
had
entered
the
building
,
and
there
was
a
rush
to
the
balustrade
to
see
them
.
When
Domitia
reached
the
first
landing
,
she
saw
that
the
women
and
children
,
and
such
men
as
were
there
,
had
ranged
themselves
on
either
side
,
to
give
her
passage
,
every
face
was
smiling
,
and
lit
with
pleasure
,
the
men
raised
their
forefingers
and
thumbs
to
their
mouths
,
and
the
women
and
children
strove
to
catch
her
hand
,
or
kneeling
to
touch
,
raise
and
kiss
the
hem
of
her
dress
.
If
,
at
one
time
it
had
caused
surprise
that
she
a
rich
lady
,
should
enter
a
common
haunt
of
the
poor
,
it
was
now
a
matter
of
more
than
surprise
,
of
admiration
and
delight
—
to
welcome
the
sister-in-law
of
the
Emperor
,
one
who
it
was
whispered
would
some
day
be
herself
Empress
,
Augusta
,
and
an
object
of
religious
worship
.
This
sort
of
welcome
always
went
to
the
heart
of
Domitia
,
and
gave
her
a
choke
in
the
throat
.
The
great
people
never
regarded
the
poor
,
save
as
nuisances
.
An
emperor
had
said
of
the
populace
that
it
was
a
wolf
he
held
by
the
ears
.
And
it
was
wolf-like
because
brutally
treated
,
pampered
as
to
food
given
without
pay
,
supplied
with
scenes
of
bloodshed
,
also
without
cost
,
in
the
arena
,
every
encouragement
to
work
taken
from
it
,
every
demoralizing
,
barbarizing
influence
employed
to
degrade
it
.
The
great
people
were
supremely
indifferent
to
the
sufferings
of
the
small
,
provided
no
hospitals
for
the
poor
who
were
sick
,
no
orphanages
for
the
homeless
children
—
let
them
die
—
and
the
faster
the
better
,
—
that
was
one
wish
of
the
great
;
—
then
shall
we
be
alone
on
the
earth
with
our
slaves
.
Had
these
poor
people
hopes
,
ambitions
,
cares
,
sor
rows
?
Did
they
love
their
wives
,
and
hold
to
their
hearts
their
cubs
of
children
?
Did
they
have
any
desire
that
their
children
should
grow
up
to
be
good
men
and
virtuous
women
?
Oh
,
no
!
such
rabble
were
not
of
one
blood
with
the
rich
.
They
had
no
fine
feelings
,
they
were
like
the
beasts
;
they
were
without
human
souls
;
and
so
,
when
the
poor
died
their
bodies
were
rammed
down
wells
contrived
to
contain
a
thousand
corpses
at
a
time
,
and
then
heaped
over
with
a
little
earth
.
But
Domitia
had
learned
that
it
was
not
as
supposed
.
Amidst
the
falsity
,
barbarity
of
heart
,
and
coarseness
of
mind
of
such
as
were
of
the
noble
Roman
order
,
—
the
cultured
,
the
rich
,
the
philosophic
—
there
was
no
sincerity
,
no
truth
.
She
felt
happier
and
better
after
one
of
these
visits
to
the
Insula
in
the
Suburra
as
though
her
lungs
had
inhaled
a
purer
atmosphere
.
To
the
smiles
and
kisses
and
blessings
lavished
on
her
,
she
answered
with
kindly
courtesy
—
and
then
stepped
into
the
room
of
the
paralyzed
woman
.
Glyceria
was
as
much
a
cripple
as
when
first
visited
.
She
was
more
wasted
—
some
time
had
passed
—
but
she
hardly
seemed
older
,
only
more
beautiful
in
her
purity
,
a
diaphanous
lamp
of
mother-of-pearl
through
which
shone
a
supernatural
light
.
Domitia
drew
a
deep
sigh
.
“
Glyceria
,
”
she
said
,
“
when
I
come
here
,
it
is
to
me
like
seeing
a
glimpse
of
blue
sky
after
a
day
of
rain
,
or
—
like
the
scent
of
violets
that
came
on
me
the
first
time
I
visited
you
.
”
“
And
when
you
,
lady
,
come
to
me
,
it
is
as
though
a
sunbeam
shone
into
my
dark
chamber
.
”
“
Nay
,
nay
—
no
flattery
from
thee
,
or
I
shall
hate
thee
.
I
get
that
till
it
cloys
.
But
tell
me
now
,
times
have
been
better
,
and
why
has
not
Paris
moved
into
superior
quarters
?
Surely
he
is
in
better
employ
and
pay
than
of
old
.
”
“
It
is
so
,
but
only
to
a
small
degree
,
”
answered
the
actor’s
wife
.
“
Paris
performs
in
the
grand
old
dramas
in
Greek
only
;
in
those
of
Æschylus
and
Eurypides
and
Sophocles
,
he
is
a
tragic
actor
,
—
and
—
”
the
poor
woman
smiled
,
“
perhaps
home
troubles
have
taken
the
laughter
out
of
him
.
He
is
a
sad
bungler
in
comedy
.
Now
the
taste
of
Rome
is
not
for
the
masterpieces
of
the
ancients
.
The
people
clamor
to
see
an
elephant
dance
on
a
tight-rope
,
and
a
man
crucified
who
pours
forth
blood
enough
to
swamp
the
stage
—
the
Laureolus
!
that
is
the
piece
to
bring
down
the
house
.
Or
some
bit
of
buffoonery
and
indecency
.
To
that
the
people
crowd
.
However
,
we
live
;
I
hang
as
a
log
about
my
Paris’s
neck
,
but
thank
God
,
he
loves
his
log
and
would
not
be
rid
of
it
,
so
I
am
content
.
”
“
But
if
you
will
suffer
me
to
assist
you
,
”
said
Domitia
.
Glyceria
shook
her
head
.
“
No
,
dear
lady
,
do
not
take
it
ill
if
I
refuse
your
kind
offer
,
made
,
not
for
the
first
time
.
I
am
very
happy
here
,
very
—
with
these
dear
kind
people
about
me
,
running
in
and
out
all
the
day
,
offering
their
gracious
good
wishes
,
lending
their
ready
help
.
On
my
word
,
lady
!
I
do
believe
that
they
would
all
be
in
tears
and
feel
it
as
a
slight
if
I
were
to
go
;
and
for
myself
,
I
could
never
be
happy
away
from
them
.
”
Domitia
stood
up
and
went
to
the
door
.
Her
heart
swelled
in
her
bosom
.
“
None
but
the
poor
know
,
”
said
the
cripple
,
“
how
kind
,
how
tender
the
poor
are
to
one
another
.
Poverty
is
a
brotherhood
—
we
are
all
of
one
blood
,
and
one
heart
.
”
“
And
I
—
”
said
the
great
lady
,
looking
out
on
the
balcony
with
its
swarm
of
people
,
some
busy
,
some
idle
,
most
merry
—
“
And
I
—
”
said
she
,
dreamily
—
“
I
love
the
poor
.
”
“
Then
,
”
said
a
low
firm
voice
,
“
thou
art
not
far
from
the
Kingdom
of
Heaven
.
”
She
turned
and
started
.
She
recollected
him
,
that
stately
man
with
deep
,
soft
eyes
.
Luke
,
the
Physician
.
“
I
am
not
surprised
,
”
he
added
,
“
if
you
be
His
disciple
,
”
and
he
touched
the
cornelian
fish
.
It
was
not
strange
that
in
this
splendid
lady
with
golden
hair
he
did
not
recognize
the
timid
,
crushed
girl
with
auburn
locks
,
he
had
seen
on
the
Artemis
.
But
the
recollection
of
that
night
came
back
with
a
rush
like
a
tidal
wave
,
over
Domitia
,
and
she
threw
forth
the
question
,
“
Why
did
you
cut
the
thong
?
”
He
did
not
comprehend
her
.
She
saw
it
,
and
added
,
“
You
do
not
recollect
me
.
Do
you
not
recall
when
we
nearly
ran
down
the
galley
of
that
monster
Nero
?
On
that
night
,
we
would
have
sent
him
to
the
bottom
of
the
sea
,
but
for
you
,
—
you
spoiled
it
all
;
you
cut
the
thong
of
the
rudder
.
Why
did
you
prevent
us
from
doing
it
?
”
“
Because
,
”
answered
the
physician
,
“
It
is
written
,
Vengeance
is
mine
,
I
will
repay
,
saith
the
Lord
.
It
was
not
for
you
to
do
it
.
You
were
not
called
to
be
the
minister
of
His
sentence
.
”
“
I
understand
you
not
.
”
“
My
daughter
—
—
”
“
Hold
!
”
said
Domitia
,
rearing
herself
up
.
“
Dost
thou
know
to
whom
thou
addressest
thyself
?
I
—
I
thy
daughter
?
I
am
Domitia
Longina
,
daughter
of
the
great
Corbulo
,
and
—
”
but
she
would
not
add
,
“
wife
of
the
Cæsar
Domitian
.
”
“
Well
,
lady
,
”
said
Luke
,
“
forgive
me
.
I
thought
,
seeing
that
sign
on
thy
breast
,
and
hearing
thee
say
that
thou
didst
love
the
poor
,
that
thou
wast
one
whom
,
whatever
thy
rank
and
wealth
and
position
I
might
so
address
,
not
indeed
as
one
of
the
Brethren
,
but
as
a
hearer
and
a
seeker
—
enough
—
I
was
mistaken
.
”
“
What
means
this
fish
?
”
asked
Domitia
,
her
wounded
pride
oozing
away
at
once
.
“
I
pray
you
forgive
me
.
I
spoke
hastily
.
”
“
The
fish
,
”
said
he
—
But
before
he
could
offer
any
explanation
,
Paris
appeared
,
his
face
expressive
of
alarm
;
he
had
seen
the
servants
in
the
imperial
white
below
,
and
knew
therefore
whom
to
find
in
his
wife’s
lodgings
.
He
hastily
saluted
her
and
said
:
—
“
Lady
!
I
beseech
thee
to
go
at
once
.
Something
has
occurred
most
grave
.
Return
immediately
to
the
palace
.
”
“
What
is
it
?
Tell
me
.
”
“
Madam
,
I
dare
not
name
it
,
lest
it
be
untrue
.
To
speak
of
it
if
untrue
were
to
be
guilty
of
High
Treason
.
”
“
High
Treason
!
”
gasped
Domitia
.
She
knew
what
such
a
charge
entailed
.
“
The
Cæsar
Domitian
has
passed
at
full
gallop
through
the
streets
,
his
attendants
behind
him
.
”
“
Whither
has
he
gone
?
”
“
To
the
Prætorian
barracks
.
”
“
Ye
Gods
!
”
spoke
Domitia
,
she
could
not
raise
her
voice
above
a
whisper
.
“
Then
the
worst
has
happened
.
My
light
is
out
once
more
.
”
CHAPTER
IV
.
ANOTHER
APPEAL
.
On
reaching
the
street
,
Domitia
saw
at
once
that
the
aspect
of
the
populace
was
changed
.
Instead
of
the
busy
hum
of
trade
,
the
calls
of
hucksters
,
the
laugh
of
the
mirthful
,
a
stillness
had
come
on
every
one
;
no
face
smiled
,
no
voice
was
raised
,
scarcely
any
person
moved
.
Those
who
had
been
bustling
here
and
there
stood
motionless
,
trade
had
ceased
.
A
sudden
frost
had
arrested
the
flow
of
life
and
reduced
all
its
manifestations
to
the
lowest
term
.
Such
as
had
been
running
about
collected
in
clusters
,
and
conversed
in
whispers
.
Blank
faces
looked
at
Domitia
as
she
entered
her
litter
,
with
awed
respect
.
“
Eboracus
!
What
is
the
meaning
of
this
?
”
asked
the
lady
.
“
Madam
,
I
know
not
.
None
will
confide
what
they
seem
to
know
or
to
suspect
.
”
“
Go
forward
,
”
said
she
,
“
I
will
visit
my
mother
in
the
Carinæ
.
She
will
know
everything
.
”
In
another
moment
her
train
was
in
movement
,
and
as
she
passed
along
,
all
bowed
and
saluted
with
their
hands
;
they
had
done
as
much
previously
,
but
without
the
earnestness
that
was
now
observable
.
In
the
heart
of
Domitia
was
as
it
were
a
blade
of
ice
transpiercing
it
.
She
was
in
deadly
alarm
lest
her
surmise
should
prove
true
.
She
would
not
draw
the
curtains
of
her
litter
,
but
looked
at
everything
in
the
streets
,
and
saw
that
all
were
in
the
same
condition
of
stupefaction
.
On
reaching
the
entrance
to
the
palace
occupied
by
her
mother
,
Domitia
noticed
another
palanquin
and
attendants
.
“
The
Vestal
Abbess
,
Cornelia
,
is
with
the
Lady
Duilia
,
”
said
Eboracus
.
“
I
will
go
in
!
—
I
know
her
well
,
and
esteem
her
,
”
said
Domitia
.
She
passed
the
vestibule
,
traversed
the
Atrium
and
entered
the
Tablinum
.
But
Longa
Duilia
was
not
there
.
A
slave
coming
up
,
said
that
she
had
entered
with
the
Great
Mother
into
a
private
apartment
,
where
she
might
not
be
disturbed
.
“
Well
!
I
am
no
stranger
.
Lead
the
way
.
”
In
another
instant
she
was
ushered
into
her
mother’s
presence
,
and
at
once
Duilia
bowed
to
her
with
profound
respect
.
“
Mother
—
what
does
this
mean
?
”
“
Here
is
the
Lady
Abbess
,
Cornelia
,
let
me
present
her
to
your
Highness
.
”
“
Mother
—
I
salute
the
Lady
Cornelia
—
what
is
this
that
has
cast
a
shadow
over
Rome
and
frightened
the
people
as
with
an
eclipse
?
”
“
My
dear
,
of
course
you
have
heard
.
It
may
be
only
rumor
and
yet
,
—
he
was
suffering
when
he
left
Rome
.
”
“
Ye
Gods
!
do
not
say
so
!
Mother
,
withdraw
your
words
of
bad
omen
.
Naught
has
befallen
him
!
It
was
but
a
slight
fever
.
”
“
So
we
esteemed
it
,
but
—
—
”
“
But
,
mother
—
—
”
Domitia
panted
.
“
The
news
are
weighty
,
and
concern
you
vastly
,
my
daughter
.
”
“
It
is
too
horrible
for
me
to
think
.
Surely
,
surely
,
mother
,
it
is
false
.
”
“
Hearken
,
my
dear
,
—
Lady
Cornelia
,
come
also
to
the
top
of
the
house
.
It
is
a
fine
situation
for
seeing
and
hearing
,
and
out
of
all
reach
of
eavesdroppers
.
I
hear
shouts
,
I
hear
horns
blowing
.
Come
—
speedily
!
let
us
to
the
house-top
.
”
Laying
hold
of
Domitia
and
the
Vestal
Superior
by
the
wrists
,
she
drew
them
with
her
to
the
roof
.
The
silence
that
had
fallen
on
Rome
had
passed
away
,
the
town
was
now
resonant
with
horns
and
trumpets
pealing
from
the
Prætorian
camp
,
with
the
shouting
of
many
voices
from
the
same
quarter
.
In
the
streets
,
messengers
were
running
,
armed
with
knotted
sticks
,
and
were
hammering
at
the
doors
of
Senators
to
summon
them
to
an
extraordinary
meeting
.
The
clash
of
arms
resounded
,
so
also
the
tramp
of
feet
,
as
the
city
police
marched
in
the
direction
of
the
Palatine
.
Here
and
there
rose
loud
cries
,
but
what
they
signified
could
not
be
judged
.
In
another
moment
Eboracus
came
out
on
the
housetop
,
and
hastening
to
his
mistress
,
said
:
—
“
Madam
,
the
Augustus
—
Titus
,
has
been
.
The
Cæsar
Domitian
is
proclaimed
Emperor
by
the
troops
.
The
vigiles
are
hastening
in
cohorts
to
swear
allegiance
.
”
“
I
congratulate
you
—
I
congratulate
you
with
all
my
heart
!
”
exclaimed
Longa
Duilia
,
throwing
her
arms
round
her
daughter
.
“
I
have
reached
the
summit
of
my
ambition
.
I
vow
a
kid
to
Febronia
for
her
opportune
—
ahem
!
—
but
who
would
have
thought
the
Roman
fever
would
have
been
so
speedy
in
bringing
us
luck
.
Run
,
Eboracus
,
summon
the
housekeeper
;
order
the
ancestral
masks
to
be
exposed
,
all
the
boxes
opened
,
dust
the
noses
with
the
feather
brush
;
let
the
lares
be
garlanded
.
Tell
Paulina
to
bring
out
the
best
incense
,
not
the
cheapest
this
time
,
and
I
vow
I
will
throw
a
double
pinch
on
the
altar
of
the
household
gods
.
Who
would
have
thought
it
!
I
—
I
,
mother
to
an
empress
.
I
would
dance
on
the
house-top
,
but
that
my
wig
is
not
properly
pinned
,
and
might
come
off
.
I
must
,
I
positively
must
embrace
you
again
,
Domitia
;
and
you
too
,
Cornelia
,
I
am
so
happy
!
—
As
the
Gods
love
me
!
Wig
pinned
or
not
,
I
must
dance
.
”
“
Let
us
go
down
,
”
said
Domitia
in
a
hard
tone
.
“
Come
down
,
by
all
means
,
”
acquiesced
her
mother
.
“
I
must
see
that
the
Gods
be
properly
thanked
.
I
stepped
this
morning
out
of
bed
left
leg
foremost
.
I
knew
some
happiness
would
come
to
me
to-day
.
As
the
Gods
love
me
!
I’ll
give
a
little
supper
.
Domitia
!
whom
shall
I
invite
?
None
of
your
second-class
men
now
.
There
!
—
I
thought
as
much
;
my
wig
has
come
off
.
Never
mind
!
no
men
can
see
me
,
and
women
don’t
count
.
”
On
reaching
the
private
apartment
of
the
lady
,
Domitia
said
:
—
“
Mother
—
a
word
.
”
She
was
white
,
save
that
a
flame
was
kindled
on
each
cheek-bone
and
her
eyes
scintillated
like
burning
coals
.
“
Well
,
my
dear
,
I
am
all
ears
—
even
to
my
toes
.
”
“
Mother
,
he
murdered
him
.
I
know
it
—
I
feared
there
was
mischief
meant
,
when
Domitian
attended
him
to
Cutiliæ
and
took
Elymas
with
him
.
It
was
not
fever
that
—
—
”
“
My
dear
,
don’t
bother
your
head
about
these
matters
.
They
all
do
it
.
We
women
,
I
thank
the
Gods
,
are
outside
of
politics
.
But
—
well
—
well
,
you
must
not
say
such
things
,
not
even
think
them
.
It
is
all
for
the
best
in
the
best
of
worlds
.
I
never
had
the
smallest
wish
to
see
behind
the
scenes
.
Always
eat
your
meat
cooked
and
spiced
,
and
don’t
ask
to
see
it
as
it
comes
from
the
shambles
.
If
you
are
quite
positive
,
then
I
won’t
throw
away
the
kid
on
Febronia
.
It
is
of
no
use
wasting
money
on
a
goddess
who
really
has
not
helped
.
”
“
Mother
,
”
said
Domitia
,
her
whole
frame
quivering
with
excitement
;
“
I
am
sure
of
it
.
Did
not
the
Augustus
give
his
daughter
Julia
to
Flavius
Sabinus
?
I
know
that
Domitian
was
alarmed
at
that
.
I
saw
it
in
his
looks
,
I
heard
it
in
his
voice
;
his
movements
of
hand
and
foot
proclaimed
it
.
He
feared
a
rival
.
He
feared
what
the
will
of
Titus
might
be
—
whom
he
might
name
as
his
successor
.
Mark
me
,
my
mother
;
the
first
to
fall
will
be
Flavius
Sabinus
.
”
“
Hist
!
the
word
is
of
bad
omen
.
”
“
It
was
of
bad
omen
to
Sabinus
and
to
Titus
alike
when
Julia
was
given
to
her
cousin
.
”
“
Well
,
my
dear
,
”
said
Longa
Duilia
,
“
I
do
not
see
that
we
need
concern
ourselves
about
politics
.
You
see
,
—
every
night
,
stars
drop
out
of
the
heavens
;
the
firmament
is
overcrowded
,
and
those
stars
that
are
firmest
planted
elbow
out
the
weakest
.
It
is
their
way
in
heaven
,
and
what
other
can
you
expect
on
earth
?
Of
course
,
it
were
much
to
be
desired
—
and
all
that
sort
of
thing
;
but
we
did
not
make
the
world
,
neither
do
we
rule
it
.
All
eggs
in
a
nest
do
not
hatch
out
,
some
addle
.
”
“
Mother
,
I
will
not
go
back
to
him
.
”
“
Folly
!
you
cannot
do
other
.
”
“
I
will
not
.
My
condition
was
bad
enough
before
,
it
will
be
worse
now
.
”
“
Domitia
,
set
your
mind
at
rest
.
I
have
no
doubt
that
there
have
been
little
unpleasantnesses
.
Man
and
wife
do
not
always
agree
.
Your
poor
father
would
not
be
ruled
by
me
.
If
he
had
—
ah
me
!
—
Things
would
have
been
very
different
in
Rome
.
But
he
suffered
for
his
obstinacy
.
You
must
be
content
to
take
things
as
you
find
them
.
Most
certainly
it
would
be
better
in
every
way
if
peacocks
had
eyes
on
both
sides
of
their
tails
,
but
as
they
have
not
,
only
very
silly
peacocks
turn
about
and
expose
the
eyeless
side
.
Make
the
best
of
matrimony
.
It
is
not
many
marriages
are
like
young
walnuts
,
that
you
can
peel
off
the
bitter
and
eat
only
the
sweet
.
In
most
,
the
skin
adheres
so
tightly
that
you
have
to
take
the
sweet
with
the
gall
,
and
be
content
that
there
is
any
sweet
at
all
.
”
“
I
shall
go
away
.
I
will
not
return
to
the
palace
.
”
“
Go
whither
?
the
world
belongs
to
Domitian
.
There
is
not
a
corner
where
you
can
hide
.
There
are
officials
,
and
when
not
officials
—
spies
.
I
have
no
doubt
that
the
fish
in
that
tank
put
up
their
heads
and
wish
they
were
butterflies
to
soar
above
the
roof
and
get
away
and
sport
among
the
flowers
,
instead
of
going
interminably
about
the
impluvium
.
But
,
my
dear
,
they
can’t
do
it
,
so
they
acquiesce
in
tank
existence
.
Yours
is
the
finest
and
best
lot
in
the
world
,
—
and
you
would
surrender
it
!
From
being
a
lioness
you
would
decline
to
be
a
house
cat
!
”
Domitia
turned
abruptly
away
,
tears
of
anger
and
disappointment
were
in
her
eyes
.
She
said
in
a
muffled
voice
:
—
“
Lady
Cornelia
,
will
you
come
with
me
?
”
“
I
am
at
your
service
,
”
answered
the
Vestal
.
The
ladies
departed
together
,
and
at
the
portal
each
entered
her
own
litter
.
“
To
the
Atrium
Vestæ
,
”
said
Domitia
.
Her
retinue
started
,
and
a
moment
after
followed
that
of
the
Vestal
Cornelia
.
The
streets
were
full
of
excited
multitudes
,
currents
running
up
one
side
,
down
another
,
meeting
,
coming
to
a
standstill
,
clotting
,
and
choking
the
thoroughfares
,
then
breaking
up
and
flowing
again
.
If
it
had
not
been
for
the
liveries
of
the
two
heralds
,
the
palanquin
of
Domitia
could
not
have
got
through
,
but
when
it
was
observed
whose
litter
and
servants
were
endeavoring
to
make
way
,
the
crowd
readily
divided
,
and
every
obstacle
gave
way
immediately
.
But
the
Vestal
Superior
needed
not
that
the
Cæsar’s
wife
should
open
the
road
for
her
.
As
much
respect
was
accorded
to
her
as
to
Domitia
.
Both
trains
,
the
one
following
immediately
after
the
other
,
entered
and
traversed
the
Forum
,
passed
the
Temple
of
Julius
,
and
at
the
south
extremity
reached
the
Atrium
of
the
Vestal
Virgins
,
a
long
building
without
a
window
,
communicating
with
the
outer
world
by
a
single
door
.
At
this
door
Domitia
descended
from
her
litter
,
and
awaited
the
Abbess
.
Cornelia
also
stepped
from
her
litter
.
She
was
a
tall
and
stately
lady
of
forty
years
,
who
had
once
been
beautiful
,
but
whose
charms
were
faded
.
She
smiled
—
“
You
will
pay
me
a
visit
,
as
you
go
your
way
?
that
is
a
gracious
favor
.
”
“
A
lengthy
visit
,
”
said
Domitia
.
“
Time
will
never
seem
long
in
your
sweet
society
,
”
answered
the
Vestal
and
taking
Domitia’s
hand
led
her
up
the
steps
to
the
platform
.
No
sooner
was
Domitia
there
,
than
she
ran
to
the
altar
of
the
Goddess
on
which
burned
the
perpetual
fire
,
within
a
domed
Temple
,
and
clasped
it
.
Cornelia
had
followed
her
,
and
looked
at
her
with
surprise
.
“
I
claim
the
protection
of
the
Goddess
,
”
said
Domitia
.
“
I
will
not
return
to
the
palace
!
I
will
be
free
from
him
.
”
Cornelia
became
grave
.
“
If
your
Goddess
has
any
might
,
any
grace
,
she
will
protect
me
.
Do
you
fear
?
Have
you
lost
your
rights
?
I
claim
them
.
”
“
Be
it
so
,
”
said
the
Abbess
.
“
None
have
appealed
to
the
Goddess
in
vain
,
none
taken
sanctuary
with
her
,
who
have
been
rejected
.
She
will
maintain
your
cause
.
”
CHAPTER
V.
ATRIUM
VESTÆ
.
When
the
Romans
were
a
pastoral
people
at
Alba
,
then
it
was
the
duty
of
the
young
girls
to
attend
to
the
common
hearth
and
keep
the
fire
ever
burning
.
To
obtain
fresh
fire
was
not
always
possible
,
and
at
the
best
of
times
not
easy
.
Fire
was
esteemed
sacred
,
being
so
mysterious
,
and
so
indispensable
,
and
reverence
was
made
to
the
domestic
hearth
(
hestia
)
as
the
altar
of
the
Fire
goddess
.
When
the
Roman
settlement
was
made
on
the
banks
of
the
Tiber
,
one
hut
of
a
circular
form
was
constituted
the
central
hearth
,
and
provision
was
made
that
thence
every
household
should
obtain
its
fire
.
This
hut
became
the
Temple
of
Hestia
or
Vesta
,
and
certain
girls
were
set
apart
to
watch
the
fire
that
it
should
never
become
extinguished
.
This
was
the
origin
of
the
institution
of
the
Vestal
Virgins
,
an
institution
which
lasted
from
the
founding
of
Rome
in
B
.
C
.
753
,
to
the
disestablishment
of
Paganism
,
and
the
expulsion
of
the
last
Vestal
,
in
A
.
D
.
394
,
nearly
eleven
hundred
and
fifty
years
.
No
girl
under
six
or
above
ten
years
of
age
was
admissible
as
priestess
of
the
sacred
fire
,
and
but
six
damsels
were
allowed
,
—
their
term
of
service
was
thirty
years
,
after
which
the
Vestal
was
free
to
return
home
and
to
marry
.
The
eldest
of
the
Vestals
was
termed
Maxima
,
and
she
acted
as
superior
or
abbess
over
the
community
.
They
enjoyed
great
possessions
and
privileges
and
were
shown
the
most
extraordinary
respect
.
Seats
of
honor
were
accorded
to
the
Vestals
in
the
theatres
,
the
amphitheatre
and
the
circus
.
The
Vestals
had
other
duties
to
perform
beside
that
of
maintaining
the
perpetual
fire
.
They
preserved
the
palladia
of
Rome
,
those
mysterious
articles
on
which
the
prosperity
,
nay
,
the
very
existence
of
the
city
was
thought
to
depend
.
What
these
were
was
never
known
.
The
last
Vestal
carried
them
away
and
concealed
them
.
With
her
death
the
secret
was
lost
.
Moreover
,
they
took
charge
of
the
wills
of
great
men
,
emperors
and
nobles
,
and
in
times
of
civil
war
they
mediated
between
the
conflicting
parties
.
Cornelia
gently
detached
the
hands
of
Domitia
from
the
altar
of
Vesta
,
and
led
her
within
the
college
of
the
Vestals
,
the
only
door
to
which
opened
on
the
platform
on
which
stood
the
Temple
.
On
entering
,
she
found
herself
in
an
oblong
court
surrounded
on
all
four
sides
by
a
cloister
,
the
prototype
of
those
to
be
in
later
days
erected
in
the
several
convents
and
abbeys
,
and
collegiate
buildings
of
Christendom
.
In
the
open
space
in
the
midst
was
the
circular
treasury
of
the
palladia
,
at
one
end
was
the
well
whence
the
virgins
drew
their
water
.
The
cloister
was
composed
of
marble
columns
,
and
sustained
an
upper
gallery
,
also
open
to
the
court
but
roofed
over
and
the
roof
supported
on
columns
of
red
marble
.
Between
the
columns
below
and
above
stood
statues
of
the
Superiors
,
who
had
merited
commemoration
.
There
was
no
garden
,
the
place
for
walking
was
the
cloister
.
Cornelia
conducted
Domitia
into
the
reception-chamber
,
and
kissing
her
said
:
—
“
Under
the
protection
of
the
Goddess
you
are
safe
.
”
“
I
trust
I
in
no
way
endanger
your
safety
.
”
“
Mine
!
”
Cornelia
laughed
.
“
There
is
none
above
me
save
the
supreme
pontiff
,
and
so
long
as
I
do
no
wrong
,
no
one
can
molest
me
.
But
tell
me
—
what
wilt
thou
do
?
”
“
In
the
first
place
send
out
and
bid
my
servants
return
home
;
and
if
they
ask
when
to
come
for
me
,
answer
,
when
I
send
for
them
.
”
“
That
is
easily
done
,
”
said
the
Abbess
.
She
clapped
her
hands
and
a
slave
girl
answered
and
received
this
commission
.
“
Now
,
”
said
she
,
“
now
we
come
to
the
real
difficulty
.
Here
you
are
,
but
here
you
cannot
tarry
for
long
.
For
six
days
we
may
accord
sanctuary
,
but
for
no
more
.
After
that
we
must
deliver
over
the
person
who
has
taken
refuge
with
us
if
required
.
”
“
I
have
for
some
time
considered
what
might
be
done
.
I
have
been
so
miserable
,
so
degraded
,
so
impatient
,
that
I
have
racked
my
brain
how
to
escape
,
and
I
see
but
one
course
.
When
we
were
at
Cenchræa
,
my
mother
and
I
,
we
were
in
the
house
of
a
Greek
client
of
our
family
,
who
was
very
kind
to
us
,
and
his
wife
loved
me
well
.
If
I
could
escape
thither
in
disguise
,
then
I
think
he
would
be
able
to
secrete
me
,
there
are
none
so
astute
as
are
the
Greeks
,
and
who
so
love
to
outwit
their
masters
.
”
“
But
how
is
this
possible
?
”
“
That
I
know
not
—
only
let
me
get
away
from
Rome
,
then
trust
my
craft
to
enable
me
to
evade
pursuit
.
Let
it
be
given
out
that
I
am
here
in
fulfilment
of
a
vow
,
then
no
suspicion
will
be
roused
,
and
I
can
take
my
measures
.
”
“
It
is
not
possible
,
”
said
Cornelia
in
some
alarm
.
“
Have
you
considered
what
your
mother
said
?
the
Augustus
is
all-seeing
and
all-powerful
,
and
has
his
hand
everywhere
.
”
“
Get
me
out
of
Italy
,
and
I
shall
be
safe
.
I
will
not
return
to
the
Palatine
.
If
my
life
was
hateful
to
me
before
,
what
will
it
be
made
now
?
Then
he
had
some
fear
of
his
father
and
of
his
brother
,
now
he
has
none
to
fear
.
”
The
Vestal
said
,
“
Let
me
have
time
to
think
this
over
—
and
yet
,
it
doth
not
seem
to
me
feasible
.
”
“
Get
me
but
a
beggar’s
suit
,
and
walnut
juice
,
that
I
may
stain
my
face
and
hands
and
arms
.
I
will
wash
all
this
gold-dust
from
my
hair
—
and
I
warrant
you
none
will
know
me
,
with
a
staff
and
a
wallet
,
I
will
go
forth
,
right
willingly
.
I
will
not
return
to
him
.
”
“
That
is
impossible
.
You
—
with
your
beauty
—
your
nobility
—
—
”
“
My
nobility
is
of
no
account
with
me
now
.
”
“
You
think
so
,
and
so
it
may
be
whilst
untouched
,
but
I
am
certain
the
least
ruffle
would
make
your
pride
flash
out
.
”
Domitia
remembered
her
resentment
at
the
physician’s
apparent
familiarity
.
“
Well
—
my
beauty
will
be
disguised
.
”
“
That
nothing
can
conceal
.
”
“
Oh
!
do
not
speak
thus
,
or
I
shall
mistrust
you
,
as
I
mistrust
every
one
else
—
except
my
slave
Euphro
syne
,
and
Eboracus
,
and
Glyceria
the
actor’s
wife
.
These
seem
to
me
the
only
true
persons
in
the
world
.
I
would
cast
myself
on
them
,
but
two
are
slaves
and
the
other
is
paralyzed
.
Consider
now
,
Cornelia
,
do
you
not
understand
how
that
one
may
reach
a
condition
of
mind
or
soul
,
call
it
which
you
will
,
when
we
become
desperate
.
One
must
make
an
effort
to
break
away
into
a
new
and
free
and
better
life
,
or
succumb
and
become
bad
,
and
dead
to
all
that
is
noble
and
true
and
good
,
hard
of
heart
,
callous
to
right
and
wrong
.
I
am
at
that
point
.
I
know
,
if
I
were
to
return
to
him
,
and
to
be
Empress
of
the
Roman
world
,
that
I
should
have
but
one
thing
to
live
for
—
the
pride
of
my
place
and
the
blazoning
of
my
position
;
and
to
all
that
which
lies
deep
within
me
,
bleeding
,
crying
out
,
hungering
,
and
with
dry
lips
—
dead
.
”
“
My
dear
lady
,
you
were
never
made
for
what
you
are
forced
to
become
.
”
“
Then
,
why
do
the
Gods
thrust
me
on
to
a
throne
that
I
hate
,
tie
me
to
a
man
that
I
loathe
,
surround
me
with
a
splendor
that
I
despise
.
Tell
me
why
?
O
Vesta
!
immaculate
Goddess
!
how
I
would
that
I
had
been
as
one
of
thy
consecrated
virgins
,
to
spend
my
days
in
this
sweet
house
,
and
pure
,
peaceful
cloister
!
Do
you
see
?
I
must
away
.
I
am
lost
to
all
good
—
if
I
remain
.
I
must
away
!
it
is
my
soul
that
speaks
,
that
spreads
its
hands
to
thee
,
Cornelia
!
save
me
!
”
She
threw
herself
on
her
knees
and
extended
her
arms
to
the
Vestal
Abbess
,
caught
her
dress
and
kissed
it
.
Cornelia
was
deeply
moved
,
“
I
beseech
you
,
rise
,
”
she
said
,
lifting
the
kneeling
suppliant
,
clasping
her
in
her
arms
,
and
caressing
her
as
a
child
.
“
Hearken
to
me
,
Domitia
,
I
can
think
but
of
one
person
that
can
assist
us
;
that
is
my
cousin
Celer
.
He
is
a
good
man
,
and
whatever
I
desire
,
he
will
strive
to
execute
as
a
sacred
duty
.
Yet
the
risk
is
great
.
”
“
I
pray
you
!
—
I
pray
you
get
him
to
assist
me
to
escape
.
”
“
He
must
furnish
you
with
attendants
.
It
will
not
be
secure
for
you
to
be
accompanied
by
any
of
your
own
servants
.
They
might
be
traced
.
Celer
has
got
a
villa
.
Stay
,
I
will
go
forth
at
once
and
see
him
.
He
can
give
counsel
.
Do
nothing
till
my
return
.
”
The
Vestal
Great-Mother
left
,
and
Domitia
was
glad
to
be
alone
.
The
habitation
of
the
Vestals
was
wonderfully
peaceful
,
in
the
midst
of
busy
,
seething
Rome
,
and
in
the
centre
of
its
greatest
movement
.
As
already
said
,
it
had
no
windows
,
and
but
one
door
that
opened
on
the
outer
world
.
It
drew
all
its
air
,
all
its
light
,
from
the
patch
of
sky
over
the
central
court
.
Figures
of
Vestals
glided
about
like
spirits
,
and
the
white
statues
stood
ghostlike
on
their
pedestals
.
But
to
be
without
flowers
,
without
a
peristyle
commanding
a
landscape
of
garden
and
lake
and
trees
and
mountains
!
That
was
terrible
.
It
would
have
been
an
unendurable
life
,
but
that
the
Vestal
college
was
possessed
of
country
seats
,
to
which
some
of
the
elder
of
the
sisterhood
were
allowed
occasionally
to
go
and
take
with
them
some
one
or
two
of
the
novices
.
Although
there
were
no
flowers
in
the
quadrangle
,
there
was
abundance
of
birds
.
In
and
out
among
the
variegated
marbles
,
perching
on
balustrades
,
fluttering
among
the
statues
,
were
numerous
pigeons
,
as
marbled
in
tint
as
the
sculptured
stonework
,
and
looking
like
animated
pieces
of
the
same
;
and
a
tame
flamingo
in
gorgeous
plumage
basked
himself
,
then
strutted
,
and
on
seeing
a
Vestal
approach
hopped
towards
her
.
When
,
moreover
,
the
same
maiden
drew
water
from
the
well
,
the
pigeons
came
down
like
a
fall
of
snow
about
her
,
clustering
round
the
bucket
to
obtain
a
dip
and
a
drink
.
Several
hours
passed
.
At
length
the
Abbess
returned
.
She
at
once
sought
Domitia
,
who
rose
on
her
entry
.
Cornelia
took
both
her
hands
within
her
own
and
said
:
—
“
We
women
are
fools
,
that
is
what
Celer
said
,
when
I
told
him
your
plan
.
As
he
at
once
pointed
out
,
it
is
impossible
for
you
to
lie
hid
anywhere
in
Italy
—
and
impossible
to
escape
from
it
,
unknown
to
the
Augustus
.
Any
one
endeavoring
to
assist
you
to
escape
would
lose
his
life
,
most
assuredly
.
“
I
cannot
sell
smoke
to
a
clown
,
”
said
he
bluntly
—
he
is
a
plain
man
—
“
I
will
not
put
out
a
finger
to
assist
in
such
an
attempt
,
which
would
bring
ruin
on
us
all
.
But
,
”
he
said
,
“
this
may
be
done
;
let
the
Lady
Domitia
retire
to
one
of
her
own
villas
,
in
the
country
,
and
commit
the
matter
to
the
Vestals
.
Your
entreaty
is
powerful
,
and
if
attended
by
two
of
the
sisters
—
or
perhaps
better
alone
,
for
this
is
not
a
matter
to
be
made
public
—
go
to
the
prince
,
and
plead
in
the
lady’s
name
,
that
thou
feelest
unequal
to
the
weight
of
duties
that
will
now
fall
on
the
Augusta
,
and
that
thy
health
is
feeble
and
thou
needest
repose
and
country
air
—
then
he
may
yield
his
consent
,
at
least
to
a
temporary
retreat
.
”
But
my
kinsman
Celer
advised
nothing
beyond
this
.
In
very
truth
,
nothing
else
can
be
done
.
Most
men’s
noses
are
crooked
,
—
he
said
—
and
he
is
a
blunt
man
—
and
those
who
have
straight
ones
do
not
like
to
follow
them
.
But
in
your
case
,
Lady
Domitia
,
there
is
practically
no
other
way
.
”
“
Then
I
will
to
Gabii
,
”
said
Domitia
with
a
sigh
.
“
If
he
will
force
me
back
—
there
is
the
lake
.
”
Then
,
said
Cornelia
,
“
Dost
thou
know
that
blind-man
Messalinus
?
”
“
Full
well
—
he
hangs
on
to
the
Cæsar
Domitian
,
like
a
leech
.
”
“
Since
thou
didst
enter
the
house
of
us
Vestals
,
he
hath
been
up
and
down
the
Via
Nova
and
the
Sacred
Way
,
never
letting
this
place
out
of
his
eye
—
blind
though
he
be
.
Some
say
he
scents
as
doth
a
dog
,
and
that
is
why
he
works
his
head
about
from
side
to
side
snuffing
the
wind
.
When
I
went
forth
he
detached
two
of
his
slaves
to
follow
—
and
they
went
as
far
as
myself
and
stood
watching
outside
the
door
of
the
knight
Celer
,
and
when
I
came
forth
they
were
still
there
,
and
when
I
returned
to
the
Atrium
of
Vesta
,
I
found
Messalinus
peering
with
his
sightless
eyes
round
the
corner
.
But
,
I
trow
,
he
sees
through
his
servants’
eyes
.
”
“
He
is
a
bird
of
ill
omen
,
”
said
Domitia
,
“
a
vulture
scenting
his
prey
.
”
CHAPTER
VI
.
FOR
THE
PEOPLE
.
Domitia
was
at
Gabii
.
Cornelia
,
the
Vestal
Great
Mother
had
sent
her
thither
in
her
own
litter
,
and
attended
by
her
own
servants
,
but
with
the
assistance
of
the
knight
Celer
,
who
had
gone
before
to
Gabii
to
make
preparations
.
Gabii
had
none
of
the
natural
beauties
of
Albanum
,
but
Domitia
cared
little
for
that
.
It
was
a
seat
that
had
belonged
to
her
father
and
here
his
ashes
reposed
.
The
villa
was
by
no
means
splendid
;
but
then
—
nor
had
been
that
of
Albanum
when
she
was
first
carried
thither
.
Domitian
had
bought
it
immediately
after
the
proclamation
of
his
father
,
and
it
had
then
been
a
modest
,
but
very
charming
country
residence
.
Since
then
,
he
had
lavished
vast
sums
upon
it
,
and
had
converted
it
into
a
palace
,
without
having
really
improved
it
thereby
.
To
Albanum
he
had
become
greatly
attached
;
to
it
he
retired
in
his
moody
fits
,
when
resentful
of
his
treatment
by
his
father
,
envious
of
his
brother
,
and
suspicious
of
his
first
cousin
Sabinus
.
There
he
had
vented
his
spleen
in
harassing
his
masons
,
bullying
his
slaves
,
and
in
sticking
pins
through
flies
.
But
if
Gabii
was
less
beautiful
and
less
sumptuous
,
it
had
the
immeasurable
advantage
of
not
being
occupied
by
Domitian
.
There
,
for
a
while
,
Domitia
was
free
from
his
hateful
society
,
his
endearments
and
his
insults
,
alike
odious
to
her
.
And
she
enjoyed
the
rest
;
she
found
real
soothing
to
her
sore
heart
in
wandering
about
the
garden
,
and
by
the
lake
,
and
visiting
familiar
nooks
.
Only
into
the
temple
of
Isis
she
did
not
penetrate
,
the
recollection
of
the
vision
there
seen
was
too
painful
to
be
revived
.
On
the
third
day
after
she
had
been
in
the
Gabian
villa
,
Celer
came
out
from
Rome
.
He
was
a
plain
middle-aged
man
with
a
bald
head
,
and
a
short
brusque
manner
,
but
such
a
man
as
Domitia
felt
she
could
trust
.
He
informed
her
that
Cornelia
had
been
before
the
Augustus
and
had
entreated
him
to
allow
his
wife
to
absent
herself
from
the
palace
,
and
from
his
company
.
She
had
made
the
plea
that
Domitia
Longina
was
out
of
health
,
overstrained
by
the
hurry
of
exciting
events
,
and
that
she
needed
complete
rest
.
“
But
I
demand
more
than
that
,
”
said
she
.
“
Madam
,
more
than
that
,
my
cousin
,
the
Great
Mother
,
dared
not
ask
.
The
prince
was
in
a
rough
mood
,
he
was
highly
incensed
at
your
having
withdrawn
without
his
leave
,
and
he
saw
behind
Cornelia’s
words
the
real
signification
.
He
behaved
to
her
with
great
ill-humor
,
and
would
give
no
answer
one
way
or
the
other
—
and
that
means
that
here
you
are
to
remain
,
till
it
is
his
pleasure
to
recall
you
.
”
“
And
may
that
never
be
,
”
sighed
Domitia
.
“
The
Augustus
is
moreover
much
engaged
at
present
.
”
“
What
has
he
been
doing
?
But
stay
—
tell
me
now
—
is
there
news
concerning
Sabinus
?
”
“
Ah
lady
!
he
has
been
.
”
“
I
knew
it
would
be
so
.
On
what
charge
?
”
“
The
Augustus
was
incensed
against
him
,
because
under
the
god
Vespasian
he
had
put
his
servant
in
the
white
livery
,
when
Flavius
Sabinus
was
elected
to
serve
as
consul
for
the
ensuing
year
.
Unhappily
,
the
herald
in
announcing
his
election
gave
him
the
title
of
Emperor
in
place
of
consul
,
through
a
mere
slip
of
the
tongue
.
But
it
was
made
an
occasion
of
delation
.
Messalinus
snapped
at
the
opportunity
,
and
at
once
the
noble
Sabinus
was
found
guilty
of
High
Treason
,
and
sentenced
to
death
.
”
“
And
what
has
become
of
Julia
,
daughter
of
the
god
Titus
,
the
wife
of
Sabinus
?
”
“
She
has
been
brought
by
the
Augustus
to
the
Palatine
.
”
Next
day
,
the
slave
Euphrosyne
arrived
.
She
had
been
sent
for
by
Domitia
,
and
was
allowed
to
go
to
her
mistress
.
She
also
brought
news
.
The
town
was
in
agitation
.
It
was
rumored
that
the
Emperor
was
about
to
divorce
Domitia
,
and
to
marry
his
niece
.
“
It
would
be
welcome
to
me
were
this
to
take
place
,
”
said
Domitia
.
“
Come
,
now
,
Euphrosyne
,
bring
me
spindle
and
distaff
,
I
will
be
as
a
spinster
of
old
.
”
So
days
passed
,
occasionally
tidings
came
from
Rome
,
but
these
were
uncertain
rumors
.
Domitia
was
enjoying
absolute
peace
and
freedom
from
annoyance
in
the
country
.
And
she
had
in
Euphrosyne
one
with
whom
she
talked
with
pleasure
,
for
the
girl
had
much
to
say
that
showed
novelty
,
springing
out
of
a
mind
very
different
in
texture
from
that
usual
among
slaves
.
“
It
is
a
delight
to
me
to
be
still
.
Child
!
—
I
can
well
think
it
,
after
a
toilsome
and
discouraging
life
,
it
is
pleasant
to
fold
the
hands
,
lay
the
head
on
the
sod
,
and
go
to
sleep
,
without
a
wish
to
further
keep
awake
.
”
“
Yes
,
when
there
is
a
prospect
of
waking
again
.
”
“
But
even
without
that
,
is
life
so
pleasant
that
one
would
incline
to
renew
it
?
Not
I
for
one
.
”
Domitia
looked
up
at
the
fresco
of
the
Quest
of
Pleasure
,
and
said
—
“
Once
I
wondered
at
that
picture
yonder
,
and
that
all
pleasure
attained
should
resolve
itself
into
a
sense
of
disappointment
.
It
is
quite
true
that
we
pursue
the
butterfly
,
after
we
have
ceased
to
value
it
,
but
that
is
because
we
must
pursue
something
,
not
that
we
value
that
which
is
attained
or
to
be
attained
.
”
“
Ah
,
lady
,
we
must
pursue
something
.
That
is
in
our
nature
—
it
is
a
necessity
.
”
“
It
is
so
;
and
what
else
is
there
to
follow
after
except
pleasure
?
”
“
There
is
knowledge
.
”
“
Knowledge
!
the
froth-whipping
of
philosophers
,
the
smoke
clouds
raised
by
the
magicians
,
the
dreams
and
fancies
of
astronomers
—
pshaw
!
I
have
no
stomach
for
such
knowledge
.
No
!
I
want
nothing
but
to
be
left
alone
,
to
dream
away
my
remainder
of
life
.
”
“
No
,
lady
,
that
would
not
content
you
.
You
must
seek
.
We
are
made
to
be
seekers
,
as
the
bird
is
made
to
fly
,
and
the
fish
to
swim
.
”
“
If
we
do
not
seek
one
thing
,
we
seek
another
,
and
in
every
one
,
find
—
what
the
pinched
butterfly
is
—
dust
.
”
“
No
,
mistress
,
not
