ChapterI
THETWOGENTLEMENOFPOMPEII。
’HO，Diomed，wellmet！DoyousupwithGlaucusto—night？’saidayoungmanofsmallstature，whoworehistunicinthoselooseandeffeminatefoldswhichprovedhimtobeagentlemanandacoxcomb。
’Alas，no！dearClodius；hehasnotinvitedme，’repliedDiomed，amanofportlyframeandofmiddleage。’ByPollux，ascurvytrick！fortheysayhissuppersarethebestinPompeii’。
’Prettywell——thoughthereisneverenoughofwineforme。ItisnottheoldGreekbloodthatflowsinhisveins，forhepretendsthatwinemakeshimdullthenextmorning。’
’Theremaybeanotherreasonforthatthrift，’saidDiomed，raisinghisbrows。’Withallhisconceitandextravaganceheisnotsorich，Ifancy，asheaffectstobe，andperhapslovestosavehisamphoraebetterthanhiswit。’
’Anadditionalreasonforsuppingwithhimwhilethesesterceslast。Nextyear，Diomed，wemustfindanotherGlaucus。’
’Heisfondofthedice，too，Ihear。’
’Heisfondofeverypleasure；andwhilehelikesthepleasureofgivingsuppers，weareallfondofhim。’
’Ha，ha，Clodius，thatiswellsaid！Haveyoueverseenmywine—cellars，by—the—by？’
’Ithinknot，mygoodDiomed。’
’Well，youmustsupwithmesomeevening；Ihavetolerablemuraenaeinmyreservoir，andIaskPansatheaediletomeetyou。’
’O，nostatewithme！——Persicosodiapparatus，Iameasilycontented。Well，thedaywanes；Iamforthebaths——andyou……’
’Tothequaestor——businessofstate——afterwardstothetempleofIsis。
Vale！’
’Anostentatious，bustling，ill—bredfellow，’mutteredClodiustohimself，ashesaunteredslowlyaway。’Hethinkswithhisfeastsandhiswine—cellarstomakeusforgetthatheisthesonofafreedman——andsowewill，whenwedohimthehonourofwinninghismoney；theserichplebeiansareaharvestforusspendthriftnobles。’
Thussoliloquising，ClodiusarrivedintheViaDomitiana，whichwascrowdedwithpassengersandchariots，andexhibitedallthatgayandanimatedexuberanceoflifeandmotionwhichwefindatthisdayinthestreetsofNaples。
Thebellsofthecarsastheyrapidlyglidedbyeachotherjingledmerrilyontheear，andClodiuswithsmilesornodsclaimedfamiliaracquaintancewithwhateverequipagewasmostelegantorfantastic：infact，noidlerwasbetterknowninPompeii。
’What，Clodius！andhowhaveyousleptonyourgoodfortune？’cried，inapleasantandmusicalvoice，ayoungman，inachariotofthemostfastidiousandgracefulfashion。Uponitssurfaceofbronzewereelaboratelywrought，inthestillexquisiteworkmanshipofGreece，reliefsoftheOlympiangames；
thetwohorsesthatdrewthecarwereoftherarestbreedofParthia；theirslenderlimbsseemedtodisdainthegroundandcourttheair，andyetattheslightesttouchofthecharioteer，whostoodbehindtheyoungowneroftheequipage，theypausedmotionless，asifsuddenlytransformedintostone——lifeless，butlifelike，asoneofthebreathingwondersofPraxiteles。TheownerhimselfwasofthatslenderandbeautifulsymmetryfromwhichthesculptorsofAthensdrewtheirmodels；hisGrecianoriginbetrayeditselfinhislightbutclusteringlocks，andtheperfectharmonyofhisfeatures。Heworenotoga，whichinthetimeoftheemperorshadindeedceasedtobethegeneraldistinctionoftheRomans，andwasespeciallyridiculedbythepretenderstofashion；buthistunicglowedintherichesthuesoftheTyriandye，andthefibulae，orbuckles，bywhichitwasfastened，sparkledwithemeralds：aroundhisneckwasachainofgold，whichinthemiddleofhisbreasttwisteditselfintotheformofaserpent’shead，fromthemouthofwhichhungpendentalargesignetringofelaborateandmostexquisiteworkmanship；thesleevesofthetunicwereloose，andfringedatthehandwithgold：andacrossthewaistagirdlewroughtinarabesquedesigns，andofthesamematerialasthefringe，servedinlieuofpocketsforthereceptacleofthehandkerchiefandthepurse，thestilusandthetablets。
’MydearGlaucus！’saidClodius，’Irejoicetoseethatyourlosseshavesolittleaffectedyourmien。Why，youseemasifyouhadbeeninspiredbyApollo，andyourfaceshineswithhappinesslikeaglory；anyonemighttakeyouforthewinner，andmefortheloser。’
’Andwhatisthereinthelossorgainofthosedullpiecesofmetalthatshouldchangeourspirit，myClodius？ByVenus，whileyetyoung，wecancoverourfulllockswithchaplets——whileyetthecitharasoundsonunsatedears——whileyetthesmileofLydiaorofChloeflashesoverourveinsinwhichthebloodrunssoswiftly，solongshallwefinddelightinthesunnyair，andmakebaldtimeitselfbutthetreasurerofourjoys。Yousupwithmeto—night，youknow。’
’WhoeverforgetstheinvitationofGlaucus！’
’Butwhichwaygoyounow？’
’Why，Ithoughtofvisitingthebaths：butitwantsyetanhourtotheusualtime。’
’Well，Iwilldismissmychariot，andgowithyou。So，so，myPhylias，’
strokingthehorsenearesttohim，whichbyalowneighandwithbackwardearsplayfullyacknowledgedthecourtesy：’aholidayforyouto—day。Ishenothandsome，Clodius？’
’WorthyofPhoebus，’returnedthenobleparasite——’orofGlaucus。’
ChapterII
THEBLINDFLOWER—GIRL，ANDTHEBEAUTYOFFASHION。THEATHENIAN’S
CONFESSION。THEREADER’SINTRODUCTIONTOARBACESOFEGYPT。
TALKINGlightlyonathousandmatters，thetwoyoungmensaunteredthroughthestreets；theywerenowinthatquarterwhichwasfilledwiththegayestshops，theiropeninteriorsallandeachradiantwiththegaudyyetharmoniouscolorsoffrescoes，inconceivablyvariedinfancyanddesign。
Thesparklingfountains，thatateveryvistathrewupwardstheirgratefulsprayinthesummerair；thecrowdofpassengers，orratherloiterers，mostlycladinrobesoftheTyriandye；thegaygroupscollectedroundeachmoreattractiveshop；theslavespassingtoandfrowithbucketsofbronze，castinthemostgracefulshapes，andborneupontheirheads；thecountrygirlsstationedatfrequentintervalswithbasketsofblushingfruit，andflowersmorealluringtotheancientItaliansthantotheirdescendants（withwhom，indeed，\"latetanguisinherba，\"adiseaseseemslurkingineveryvioletandrose）；thenumeroushauntswhichfulfilledwiththatidlepeopletheofficeofcafesandclubsatthisday；theshops，whereonshelvesofmarblewererangedthevasesofwineandoil，andbeforewhosethresholds，seats，protectedfromthesunbyapurpleawning，invitedthewearytorestandtheindolenttolounge——madeasceneofsuchglowingandvivaciousexcitement，asmightwellgivetheAthenianspiritofGlaucusanexcuseforitssusceptibilitytojoy。
’TalktomenomoreofRome，’saidhetoClodius。’Pleasureistoostatelyandponderousinthosemightywalls：evenintheprecinctsofthecourt——evenintheGoldenHouseofNero，andtheincipientgloriesofthepalaceofTitus，thereisacertaindulnessofmagnificence——theeyeaches——thespiritiswearied；besides，myClodius，wearediscontentedwhenwecomparetheenormousluxuryandwealthofotherswiththemediocrityofourownstate。Butherewesurrenderourselveseasilytopleasure，andwehavethebrilliancyofluxurywithoutthelassitudeofitspomp。’
’ItwasfromthatfeelingthatyouchoseyoursummerretreatatPompeii？’
’Itwas。IpreferittoBaiae：Igrantthecharmsofthelatter，butIlovenotthepedantswhoresortthere，andwhoseemtoweighouttheirpleasuresbythedrachm。’
’Yetyouarefondofthelearned，too；andasforpoetry，why，yourhouseisliterallyeloquentwithAEschylusandHomer，theepicandthedrama。’
’Yes，butthoseRomanswhomimicmyAthenianancestorsdoeverythingsoheavily。EveninthechasetheymaketheirslavescarryPlatowiththem；
andwhenevertheboarislost，outtheytaketheirbooksandtheirpapyrus，inordernottolosetheirtimetoo。Whenthedancing—girlsswimbeforetheminalltheblandishmentofPersianmanners，somedroneofafreedman，withafaceofstone，readsthemasectionofCicero\"DeOfficiis\"。Unskilfulpharmacists！pleasureandstudyarenotelementstobethusmixedtogether，theymustbeenjoyedseparately：theRomanslosebothbythispragmaticalaffectationofrefinement，andprovethattheyhavenosoulsforeither。
Oh，myClodius，howlittleyourcountrymenknowofthetrueversatilityofaPericles，ofthetruewitcheriesofanAspasia！ItwasbuttheotherdaythatIpaidavisittoPliny：hewassittinginhissummer—housewriting，whileanunfortunateslaveplayedonthetibia。Hisnephew（oh！whipmesuchphilosophicalcoxcombs！）wasreadingThucydides’descriptionoftheplague，andnoddinghisconceitedlittleheadintimetothemusic，whilehislipswererepeatingalltheloathsomedetailsofthatterribledelineation。Thepuppysawnothingincongruousinlearningatthesametimeadittyofloveandadescriptionoftheplague。’
’Why，theyaremuchthesamething，’saidClodius。
’SoItoldhim，inexcuseforhiscoxcombry——butmyyouthstaredmerebukinglyintheface，withouttakingthejest，andanswered，thatitwasonlytheinsensateearthatthemusicpleased，whereasthebook（thedescriptionoftheplague，mindyou！）elevatedtheheart。\"Ah！\"quoththefatuncle，wheezing，\"myboyisquiteanAthenian，alwaysmixingtheutilewiththedulce。\"OMinerva，howIlaughedinmysleeve！WhileIwasthere，theycametotelltheboy—sophistthathisfavoritefreedmanwasjustdeadofafever。\"Inexorabledeath！\"criedhe；\"getmemyHorace。Howbeautifullythesweetpoetconsolesusforthesemisfortunes！\"Oh，canthesemenlove，myClodius？Scarcelyevenwiththesenses。HowrarelyaRomanhasaheart！Heisbutthemechanismofgenius——hewantsitsbonesandflesh。’
ThoughClodiuswassecretlyalittlesoreattheseremarksonhiscountrymen，heaffectedtosympathizewithhisfriend，partlybecausehewasbynatureaparasite，andpartlybecauseitwasthefashionamongthedissoluteyoungRomanstoaffectalittlecontemptfortheverybirthwhich，inreality，madethemsoarrogant；itwasthemodetoimitatetheGreeks，andyettolaughattheirownclumsyimitation。
Thusconversing，theirstepswerearrestedbyacrowdgatheredroundanopenspacewherethreestreetsmet；and，justwheretheporticoesofalightandgracefultemplethrewtheirshade，therestoodayounggirl，withaflower—basketonherrightarm，andasmallthree—stringedinstrumentofmusicinthelefthand，towhoselowandsofttonesshewasmodulatingawildandhalf—barbaricair。Ateverypauseinthemusicshegracefullywavedherflower—basketround，invitingtheloitererstobuy；andmanyasestercewasshoweredintothebasket，eitherincomplimenttothemusicorincompassiontothesongstress——forshewasblind。
’ItismypoorThessalian，’saidGlaucus，stopping；’IhavenotseenhersincemyreturntoPompeii。Hush！hervoiceissweet；letuslisten。’
THEBLINDFLOWER—GIRL’SSONG
I。
Buymyflowers——Obuy——Ipray！
Theblindgirlcomesfromafar；
IftheearthbeasfairasIhearthemsay，Theseflowersherchildrenare！
Dotheyherbeautykeep？
Theyarefreshfromherlap，Iknow；
ForIcaughtthemfastasleepInherarmsanhourago。
Withtheairwhichisherbreath——
Hersoftanddelicatebreath——
Overthemmurmuringlow！
Ontheirlipshersweetkisslingersyet，Andtheircheekswithhertendertearsarewet。
Forsheweeps——thatgentlemotherweeps——
（Asmornandnightherwatchshekeeps，Withayearningheartandapassionatecare）
Toseetheyoungthingsgrowsofair；
Sheweeps——forlovesheweeps；
AndthedewsarethetearssheweepsFromthewellofamother’slove！
II。
Yehaveaworldoflight，Whereloveinthelovedrejoices；
Buttheblindgirl’shomeistheHouseofNight，Anditsbeingsareemptyvoices。
Asoneintherealmbelow，Istandbythestreamsofwoe！
Ihearthevainshadowsglide，Ifeeltheirsoftbreathatmyside。
AndIthirstthelovedformstosee，AndIstretchmyfondarmsaround，AndIcatchbutashapelesssound，Forthelivingareghoststome。
Comebuy——comebuy？——
Hark！howthesweetthingssighFortheyhaveavoicelikeours），`ThebreathoftheblindgirlclosesTheleavesofthesaddeningroses——
Wearetender，wesonsoflight，Weshrinkfromthischildofnight；
Fromthegraspoftheblindgirlfreeus——
Weyearnfortheeyesthatseeus——
Wearefornighttoogay，Inyoureyeswebeholdtheday——
Obuy——Obuytheflowers！’
’Imusthaveyonbunchofviolets，sweetNydia，’saidGlaucus，pressingthroughthecrowd，anddroppingahandfulofsmallcoinsintothebasket；
’yourvoiceismorecharmingthanever。’
TheblindgirlstartedforwardassheheardtheAthenian’svoice；thenassuddenlypaused，whilethebloodrushedviolentlyoverneck，cheek，andtemples。
’Soyouarereturned！’saidshe，inalowvoice；andthenrepeatedhalftoherself，’Glaucusisreturned！’
’Yes，child，IhavenotbeenatPompeiiaboveafewdays。Mygardenwantsyourcare，asbefore；youwillvisitit，Itrust，to—morrow。Andmind，nogarlandsatmyhouseshallbewovenbyanyhandsbutthoseoftheprettyNydia。’
Nydiasmiledjoyously，butdidnotanswer；andGlaucus，placinginhisbreastthevioletshehadselected，turnedgailyandcarelesslyfromthecrowd。
’Sosheisasortofclientofyours，thischild？’saidClodius。
’Ay——doesshenotsingprettily？Sheinterestsme，thepoorslave！Besides，sheisfromthelandoftheGods’hill——Olympusfrowneduponhercradle——sheisofThessaly。’
’Thewitches’country。’
’True：butformypartIfindeverywomanawitch；andatPompeii，byVenus！
theveryairseemstohavetakenalove—philtre，sohandsomedoeseveryfacewithoutabeardseeminmyeyes。’
’Andlo！oneofthehandsomestinPompeii，oldDiomed’sdaughter，therichJulia！’saidClodius，asayounglady，herfacecoveredbyherveil，andattendedbytwofemaleslaves，approachedthem，inherwaytothebaths。
’FairJulia，wesalutethee！’saidClodius。
Juliapartlyraisedherveil，soaswithsomecoquetrytodisplayaboldRomanprofile，afulldarkbrighteye，andacheekoverwhosenaturaloliveartshedafairerandsofterrose。
’AndGlaucus，too，isreturned！’saidshe，glancingmeaninglyattheAthenian。’Hasheforgotten，’sheadded，inahalf—whisper，’hisfriendsofthelastyear？’
’BeautifulJulia！evenLetheitself，ifitdisappearinonepartoftheearth，risesagaininanother。Jupiterdoesnotallowusevertoforgetformorethanamoment：butVenus，moreharshstill，vouchsafesnotevenamoment’soblivion。’
’Glaucusisneveratalossforfairwords。’
’Whois，whentheobjectofthemissofair？’
’Weshallseeyoubothatmyfather’svillasoon，’saidJulia，turningtoClodius。
’Wewillmarkthedayinwhichwevisityouwithawhitestone，’answeredthegamester。
Juliadroppedherveil，butslowly，sothatherlastglancerestedontheAthenianwithaffectedtimidityandrealboldness；theglancebespoketendernessandreproach。
Thefriendspassedon。
’Juliaiscertainlyhandsome，’saidGlaucus。
’Andlastyearyouwouldhavemadethatconfessioninawarmertone。’
’True；Iwasdazzledatthefirstsight，andmistookforagemthatwhichwasbutanartfulimitation。’
’Nay，’returnedClodius，’allwomenarethesameatheart。Happyhewhowedsahandsomefaceandalargedower。Whatmorecanhedesire？’
Glaucussighed。
Theywerenowinastreetlesscrowdedthantherest，attheendofwhichtheybeheldthatbroadandmostlovelysea，whichuponthosedeliciouscoastsseemstohaverenounceditsprerogativeofterror——sosoftarethecrispingwindsthathoverarounditsbosom，soglowingandsovariousarethehueswhichittakesfromtherosyclouds，sofragrantaretheperfumeswhichthebreezesfromthelandscatteroveritsdepths。FromsuchaseamightyouwellbelievethatAphroditerosetotaketheempireoftheearth。
’Itisstillearlyforthebath，’saidtheGreek，whowasthecreatureofeverypoeticalimpulse；’letuswanderfromthecrowdedcity，andlookupontheseawhilethenoonyetlaughsalongitsbillows。’
’Withallmyheart，’saidClodius；’andthebay，too，isalwaysthemostanimatedpartofthecity。’
Pompeiiwastheminiatureofthecivilizationofthatage。Withinthenarrowcompassofitswallswascontained，asitwere，aspecimenofeverygiftwhichluxuryofferedtopower。Initsminutebutglitteringshops，itstinypalaces，itsbaths，itsforum，itstheatre，itscircus——intheenergyyetcorruption，intherefinementyetthevice，ofitspeople，youbeheldamodelofthewholeempire。Itwasatoy，aplaything，ashowbox，inwhichthegodsseemedpleasedtokeeptherepresentationofthegreatmonarchyofearth，andwhichtheyafterwardshidfromtime，togivetothewonderofposterity——themoralofthemaxim，thatunderthesunthereisnothingnew。
Crowdedintheglassybaywerethevesselsofcommerceandthegildedgalleysforthepleasuresoftherichcitizens。Theboatsofthefishermenglidedrapidlytoandfro；andafaroffyousawthetallmastsofthefleetunderthecommandofPliny。UpontheshoresataSicilianwho，withvehementgesturesandflexilefeatures，wasnarratingtoagroupoffishermenandpeasantsastrangetaleofshipwreckedmarinersandfriendlydolphins——justasatthisday，inthemodernneighborhood，youmayhearupontheMoleofNaples。
Drawinghiscomradefromthecrowd，theGreekbenthisstepstowardsasolitarypartofthebeach，andthetwofriends，seatedonasmallcragwhichroseamidstthesmoothpebbles，inhaledthevoluptuousandcoolingbreeze，whichdancingoverthewaters，keptmusicwithitsinvisiblefeet。
Therewas，perhaps，somethinginthescenethatinvitedthemtosilenceandreverie。Clodius，shadinghiseyesfromtheburningsky，wascalculatingthegainsofthelastweek；andtheGreek，leaninguponhishand，andshrinkingnotfromthatsun——hisnation’stutelarydeity——withwhosefluentlightofpoesy，andjoy，andlove，hisownveinswerefilled，gazeduponthebroadexpanse，andenvied，perhaps，everywindthatbentitspinionstowardstheshoresofGreece。
’Tellme，Clodius，’saidtheGreekatlast，’hastthoueverbeeninlove？’
’Yes，veryoften。’
’Hewhohaslovedoften，’answeredGlaucus，’haslovednever。ThereisbutoneEros，thoughtherearemanycounterfeitsofhim。’
’Thecounterfeitsarenotbadlittlegods，uponthewhole，’answeredClodius。
’Iagreewithyou，’returnedtheGreek。’IadoreeventheshadowofLove；
butIadorehimselfyetmore。’
’Artthou，then，soberlyandhonestlyinlove？Hastthouthatfeelingwhichthepoetsdescribe——afeelingthatmakesusneglectoursuppers，forswearthetheatre，andwriteelegies？Ishouldneverhavethoughtit。Youdissemblewell。’
’Iamnotfargoneenoughforthat，’returnedGlaucus，smiling，’orratherI
saywithTibullus——
Hewhomloverules，where’erhispathmaybe，Walkssafeandsacred。
Infact，Iamnotinlove；butIcouldbeiftherewerebutoccasiontoseetheobject。Eroswouldlighthistorch，butthepriestshavegivenhimnooil。’
’ShallIguesstheobject？——IsitnotDiomed’sdaughter？Sheadoresyou，anddoesnotaffecttoconcealit；and，byHercules，Isayagainandagain，sheisbothhandsomeandrich。Shewillbindthedoor—postsofherhusbandwithgoldenfillets。’
’No，Idonotdesiretosellmyself。Diomed’sdaughterishandsome，I
grant：andatonetime，hadshenotbeenthegrandchildofafreedman，I
mighthave……Yetno——shecarriesallherbeautyinherface；hermannersarenotmaiden—like，andhermindknowsnoculturesavethatofpleasure。’
’Youareungrateful。Tellme，then，whoisthefortunatevirgin？’
’Youshallhear，myClodius。SeveralmonthsagoIwassojourningatNeapolis，acityutterlytomyownheart，foritstillretainsthemannersandstampofitsGrecianorigin——andityetmeritsthenameofParthenope，fromitsdeliciousairanditsbeautifulshores。OnedayIenteredthetempleofMinerva，toofferupmyprayers，notformyselfmorethanforthecityonwhichPallassmilesnolonger。Thetemplewasemptyanddeserted。
TherecollectionsofAthenscrowdedfastandmeltinglyuponme：imaginingmyselfstillaloneinthetemple，andabsorbedintheearnestnessofmydevotion，myprayergushedfrommyhearttomylips，andIweptasIprayed。
Iwasstartledinthemidstofmydevotions，however，byadeepsigh；I
turnedsuddenlyround，andjustbehindmewasafemale。Shehadraisedherveilalsoinprayer：andwhenoureyesmet，methoughtacelestialrayshotfromthosedarkandsmilingorbsatonceintomysoul。Never，myClodius，haveIseenmortalfacemoreexquisitelymolded：acertainmelancholysoftenedandyetelevateditsexpression：thatunutterablesomething，whichspringsfromthesoul，andwhichoursculptorshaveimpartedtotheaspectofPsyche，gaveherbeautyIknownotwhatofdivineandnoble；tearswererollingdownhereyes。IguessedatoncethatshewasalsoofAthenianlineage；andthatinmyprayerforAthensherhearthadrespondedtomine。
Ispoketoher，thoughwithafalteringvoice——\"Artthounot，too，Athenian？\"saidI，\"Obeautifulvirgin！\"Atthesoundofmyvoicesheblushed，andhalfdrewherveilacrossherface。——\"Myforefathers’ashes，\"
saidshe，\"reposebythewatersofIlissus：mybirthisofNeapolis；butmyheart，asmylineage，isAthenian。\"——\"Letus，then，\"saidI，\"makeourofferingstogether\"：and，asthepriestnowappeared，westoodsidebyside，whilewefollowedthepriestinhisceremonialprayer；togetherwetouchedthekneesofthegoddess——togetherwelaidourolivegarlandsonthealtar。
Ifeltastrangeemotionofalmostsacredtendernessatthiscompanionship。
We，strangersfromafarandfallenland，stoodtogetherandaloneinthattempleofourcountry’sdeity：wasitnotnaturalthatmyheartshouldyearntomycountrywoman，forsoImightsurelycallher？IfeltasifIhadknownherforyears；andthatsimpleriteseemed，asbyamiracle，tooperateonthesympathiesandtiesoftime。Silentlyweleftthetemple，andIwasabouttoaskherwhereshedwelt，andifImightbepermittedtovisither，whenayouth，inwhosefeaturestherewassomekindredresemblancetoherown，andwhostooduponthestepsofthefane，tookherbythehand。Sheturnedroundandbademefarewell。Thecrowdseparatedus：Isawhernomore。OnreachingmyhomeIfoundletters，whichobligedmetosetoutforAthens，formyrelationsthreatenedmewithlitigationconcerningmyinheritance。Whenthatsuitwashappilyover，IrepairedoncemoretoNeapolis；Iinstitutedinquiriesthroughoutthewholecity，Icoulddiscovernoclueofmylostcountrywoman，and，hopingtoloseingaietyallremembranceofthatbeautifulapparition，IhastenedtoplungemyselfamidsttheluxuriesofPompeii。Thisisallmyhistory。Idonotlove；butI
rememberandregret。’
AsClodiuswasabouttoreply，aslowandstatelystepapproachedthem，andatthesounditmadeamongstthepebbles，eachturned，andeachrecognizedthenew—comer。
Itwasamanwhohadscarcelyreachedhisfortiethyear，oftallstature，andofathinbutnervousandsinewyframe。Hisskin，darkandbronzed，betrayedhisEasternorigin；andhisfeatureshadsomethingGreekintheiroutline（especiallyinthechin，thelip，andthebrow），savethatthenosewassomewhatraisedandaquiline；andthebones，hardandvisible，forbadethatfleshyandwavingcontourwhichontheGrecianphysiognomypreservedeveninmanhoodtheroundandbeautifulcurvesofyouth。Hiseyes，largeandblackasthedeepestnight，shonewithnovaryinganduncertainlustre。
Adeep，thoughtful，andhalf—melancholycalmseemedunalterablyfixedintheirmajesticandcommandinggaze。Hisstepandmienwerepeculiarlysedateandlofty，andsomethingforeigninthefashionandthesoberhuesofhissweepinggarmentsaddedtotheimpressiveeffectofhisquietcountenanceandstatelyform。Eachoftheyoungmen，insalutingthenew—comer，mademechanically，andwithcaretoconcealitfromhim，aslightgestureorsignwiththeirfingers；forArbaces，theEgyptian，wassupposedtopossessthefatalgiftoftheevileye。
’Thescenemust，indeed，bebeautiful，’saidArbaces，withacoldthoughcourteoussmile，’whichdrawsthegayClodius，andGlaucusthealladmired，fromthecrowdedthoroughfaresofthecity。’
’IsNatureordinarilysounattractive？’askedtheGreek。
’Tothedissipated——yes。’
’Anausterereply，butscarcelyawiseone。Pleasuredelightsincontrasts；
itisfromdissipationthatwelearntoenjoysolitude，andfromsolitudedissipation。’