II
ItisnotthatourlateryearsOfcaresarewovenwholly，Butsmileslessswiftlychasethetears，Andwoundsarehealedmoreslowly。
AndMemory’svowTolostonesnow，Makesjoystoobright，unholy。
AndeverfledtheIrisbowThatsmiledwhencloudswereo’erus。
Ifstormsshouldburst，uncheeredwego，Adrearierwastebeforeus——
AndwiththetoysOfchildishjoys，We’vebrokethestaffthatboreus！
WiselyanddelicatelyhadIonechosenthatsong，sadthoughitsburthenseemed；forwhenwearedeeplymournful，discordantaboveallothersisthevoiceofmirth：thefittestspellisthatborrowedfrommelancholyitself，fordarkthoughtscanbesofteneddownwhentheycannotbebrightened；andsotheylosethepreciseandrigidoutlineoftheirtruth，andtheircolorsmeltintotheideal。Astheleechappliesinremedytotheinternalsoresomeoutwardirritation，which，byagentlerwound，drawsawaythevenomofthatwhichismoredeadly，thus，intheranklingfestersofthemind，ourartistodiverttoamildersadnessonthesurfacethepainthatgnawethatthecore。AndsowithApaecides，yieldingtotheinfluenceofthesilvervoicethatremindedhimofthepast，andtoldbutofhalfthesorrowborntothepresent，heforgothismoreimmediateandfierysourcesofanxiousthought。HespenthoursinmakingIonealternatelysingto，andconversewithhim；andwhenherosetoleaveher，itwaswithacalmedandlulledmind。
’Ione，’saidhe，ashepressedherhand，’shouldyouhearmynameblackenedandmaligned，willyoucredittheaspersion？’
’Never，mybrother，never！’
’Dostthounotimagine，accordingtothybelief，thattheevil—doerispunishedhereafter，andthegoodrewarded？’
’Canyoudoubtit？’
’Dostthouthink，then，thathewhoistrulygoodshouldsacrificeeveryselfishinterestinhiszealforvirtue？’
’Hewhodothsoistheequalofthegods。’
’Andthoubelievestthat，accordingtothepurityandcouragewithwhichhethusacts，shallbehisportionofblissbeyondthegrave？’
’Sowearetaughttohope。’
’Kissme，mysister。Onequestionmore。ThouarttobeweddedtoGlaucus：
perchancethatmarriagemayseparateusmorehopelessly——butnotofthisspeakInow——thouarttobemarriedtoGlaucus——dostthoulovehim？Nay，mysister，answermebywords。’
’Yes！’murmuredIone，blushing。
’Dostthoufeelthat，forhissake，thoucouldstrenouncepride，bravedishonour，andincurdeath？Ihaveheardthatwhenwomenreallylove，itistothatexcess。’
’Mybrother，allthiscouldIdoforGlaucus，andfeelthatitwerenotasacrifice。Thereisnosacrificetothosewholove，inwhatisbornefortheonewelove。’
’Enough！shallwomanfeelthusforman，andmanfeellessdevotiontohisGod？’
Hespokenomore。Hiswholecountenanceseemedinstinctandinspiredwithadivinelife：hischestswelledproudly；hiseyesglowed：onhisforeheadwaswritthemajestyofamanwhocandaretobenoble！HeturnedtomeettheeyesofIone——earnest，wistful，fearful——hekissedherfondly，strainedherwarmlytohisbreast，andinamomentmorehehadleftthehouse。
LongdidIoneremaininthesameplace，muteandthoughtful。Themaidensagainandagaincametowarnherofthedeepeningnoon，andherengagementtoDiomed’sbanquet。Atlengthshewokefromherreverie，andprepared，notwiththeprideofbeauty，butlistlessandmelancholy，forthefestival：onethoughtalonereconciledhertothepromisedvisit——sheshouldmeetGlaucus——shecouldconfidetohimheralarmanduneasinessforherbrother。
ChapterIII
AFASHIONABLEPARTYANDADINNERALAMODEINPOMPEII。
MEANWHILESallustandGlaucuswereslowlystrollingtowardsthehouseofDiomed。Despitethehabitsofhislife，Sallustwasnotdevoidofmanyestimablequalities。Hewouldhavebeenanactivefriend，ausefulcitizen——inshort，anexcellentman，ifhehadnottakenitintohisheadtobeaphilosopher。BroughtupintheschoolsinwhichRomanplagiarismworshippedtheechoofGrecianwisdom，hehadimbuedhimselfwiththosedoctrinesbywhichthelaterEpicureanscorruptedthesimplemaximsoftheirgreatmaster。Hegavehimselfaltogetheruptopleasure，andimaginedtherewasnosagelikeabooncompanion。Still，however，hehadaconsiderabledegreeoflearning，wit，andgoodnature；andtheheartyfranknessofhisveryvicesseemedlikevirtueitselfbesidetheuttercorruptionofClodiusandtheprostrateeffeminacyofLepidus；andthereforeGlaucuslikedhimthebestofhiscompanions；andhe，inturn，appreciatingthenoblerqualitiesoftheAthenian，lovedhimalmostasmuchasacoldmuraena，orabowlofthebestFalernian。
’Thisisavulgaroldfellow，thisDiomed，’saidSallust：’buthehassomegoodqualities——inhiscellar！’
’Andsomecharmingones——inhisdaughter。’
’True，Glaucus：butyouarenotmuchmovedbythem，methinks。IfancyClodiusisdesiroustobeyoursuccessor。’
’Heiswelcome。AtthebanquetofJulia’sbeauty，noguest，besure，isconsideredamusca。’
’Youaresevere：butshehas，indeed，somethingoftheCorinthianabouther——theywillbewellmatched，afterall！Whatgood—naturedfellowswearetoassociatewiththatgamblinggood—for—nought。’
’Pleasureunitesstrangevarieties，’answeredGlaucus。’Heamusesme……’
’Andflatters——butthenhepayshimselfwell！Hepowdershispraisewithgold—dust。’
’Youoftenhintthatheplaysunfairly——thinkyousoreally？’
’MydearGlaucus，aRomannoblehashisdignitytokeepup——dignityisveryexpensive——Clodiusmustcheatlikeascoundrel，inordertolivelikeagentleman。’
’Haha！——well，oflateIhaverenouncedthedice。Ah！Sallust，whenIamweddedtoIone，ItrustImayyetredeemayouthoffollies。Wearebothbornforbetterthingsthanthoseinwhichwesympathizenow——borntorenderourworshipinnoblertemplesthanthestyeofEpicurus。’
’Alas！’returnedSallust，inratheramelancholytone，’whatdoweknowmorethanthis——lifeisshort——beyondthegraveallisdark？Thereisnowisdomlikethatwhichsays\"enjoy\"。’
’ByBacchus！Idoubtsometimesifwedoenjoytheutmostofwhichlifeiscapable。’
’Iamamoderateman，’returnedSallust，’anddonotask\"theutmost\"。Wearelikemalefactors，andintoxicateourselveswithwineandmyrrh，aswestandonthebrinkofdeath；but，ifwedidnotdoso，theabysswouldlookverydisagreeable。IownthatIwasinclinedtobegloomyuntilItooksoheartilytodrinking——thatisanewlife，myGlaucus。’
’Yes！butitbringsusnextmorningtoanewdeath。’
’Why，thenextmorningisunpleasant，Iown；but，then，ifitwerenotso，onewouldneverbeinclinedtoread。Istudybetimes——because，bythegods！
Iamgenerallyunfitforanythingelsetillnoon。’
’Fie，Scythian！’
’Pshaw！thefateofPentheustohimwhodeniesBacchus。’
’Well，Sallust，withallyourfaults，youarethebestprofligateIevermet：andverily，ifIwereindangeroflife，youaretheonlymaninallItalywhowouldstretchoutafingertosaveme。’
’PerhapsIshouldnot，ifitwereinthemiddleofsupper。But，intruth，weItaliansarefearfullyselfish。’
’Soareallmenwhoarenotfree，’saidGlaucus，withasigh。’Freedomalonemakesmensacrificetoeachother。’
’Freedom，then，mustbeaveryfatiguingthingtoanEpicurean，’answeredSallust。’Buthereweareatourhost’s。’
AsDiomed’svillaisoneofthemostconsiderableinpointofsizeofanyyetdiscoveredatPompeii，andis，moreover，builtmuchaccordingtothespecificinstructionsforasuburbanvillalaiddownbytheRomanarchitect，itmaynotbeuninterestingbrieflytodescribetheplanoftheapartmentsthroughwhichourvisitorspassed。
Theyentered，then，bythesamesmallvestibuleatwhichwehavebeforebeenpresentedtotheagedMedon，andpassedatonceintoacolonnade，technicallytermedtheperistyle；forthemaindifferencebetweenthesuburbanvillaandthetownmansionconsistedinplacing，inthefirst，thesaidcolonnadeinexactlythesameplaceasthatwhichinthetownmansionwasoccupiedbytheatrium。Inthecentreoftheperistylewasanopencourt，whichcontainedtheimpluvium。
Fromthisperistyledescendedastaircasetotheoffices；anothernarrowpassageontheoppositesidecommunicatedwithagarden；varioussmallapartmentssurroundedthecolonnade，appropriatedprobablytocountryvisitors。Anotherdoortotheleftonenteringcommunicatedwithasmalltriangularportico，whichbelongedtothebaths；andbehindwasthewardrobe，inwhichwerekeptthevestsoftheholidaysuitsoftheslaves，and，perhaps，ofthemaster。Seventeencenturiesafterwardswerefoundthoserelicsofancientfinerycalcinedandcrumbling：keptlonger，alas！
thantheirthriftylordforesaw。
Returnwetotheperistyle，andendeavornowtopresenttothereaderacoupd’oeilofthewholesuiteofapartments，whichimmediatelystretchedbeforethestepsofthevisitors。
Lethimthenfirstimaginethecolumnsoftheportico，hungwithfestoonsofflowers；thecolumnsthemselvesinthelowerpartpaintedred，andthewallsaroundglowingwithvariousfrescoes；then，lookingbeyondacurtain，threepartsdrawnaside，theeyecaughtthetablinumorsaloon（whichwasclosedatwillbyglazeddoors，nowslidbackintothewalls）。Oneithersideofthistablinumweresmallrooms，oneofwhichwasakindofcabinetofgems；
andtheseapartments，aswellasthetablinum，communicatedwithalonggallery，whichopenedateitherenduponterraces；andbetweentheterraces，andcommunicatingwiththecentralpartofthegallery，wasahall，inwhichthebanquetwasthatdayprepared。Alltheseapartments，thoughalmostonalevelwiththestreet，wereonestoryabovethegarden；andtheterracescommunicatingwiththegallerywerecontinuedintocorridors，raisedabovethepillarswhich，totherightandleft，skirtedthegardenbelow。
Beneath，andonalevelwiththegarden，rantheapartmentswehavealreadydescribedaschieflyappropriatedtoJulia。
Inthegallery，then，justmentioned，Diomedreceivedhisguests。
Themerchantaffectedgreatlythemanofletters，and，therefore，healsoaffectedapassionforeverythingGreek；hepaidparticularattentiontoGlaucus。
’Youwillsee，myfriend，’saidhe，withawaveofhishand，’thatIamalittleclassicalhere——alittleCecropian——eh？ThehallinwhichweshallsupisborrowedfromtheGreeks。ItisanOEcusCyzicene。NobleSallust，theyhavenot，Iamtold，thissortofapartmentinRome。’
’Oh！’repliedSallust，withahalfsmile；’youPompeianscombineallthatismosteligibleinGreeceandinRome；mayyou，Diomed，combinetheviandsaswellasthearchitecture！’
’Youshallsee——youshallsee，mySallust，’repliedthemerchant。’WehaveatasteatPompeii，andwehavealsomoney。’
’Theyaretwoexcellentthings，’repliedSallust。’But，behold，theladyJulia！’
Themaindifference，asIhavebeforeremarked，inthemanneroflifeobservedamongtheAtheniansandRomans，was，thatwiththefirst，themodestwomenrarelyornevertookpartinentertainments；withthelatter，theywerethecommonornamentsofthebanquet；butwhentheywerepresentatthefeast，itusuallyterminatedatanearlyhour。
Magnificentlyrobedinwhite，interwovenwithpearlsandthreadsofgold，thehandsomeJuliaenteredtheapartment。
Scarcelyhadshereceivedthesalutationofthetwoguests，erePansaandhiswife，Lepidus，Clodius，andtheRomansenator，enteredalmostsimultaneously；thencamethewidowFulvia；thenthepoetFulvius，liketothewidowinnameifinnothingelse；thewarriorfromHerculaneum，accompaniedbyhisumbra，nextstalkedin；afterwards，thelesseminentoftheguests。Ioneyettarried。
Itwasthemodeamongthecourteousancientstoflatterwheneveritwasintheirpower：accordinglyitwasasignofill—breedingtoseatthemselvesimmediatelyonenteringthehouseoftheirhost。Afterperformingthesalutation，whichwasusuallyaccomplishedbythesamecordialshakeoftherighthandwhichweourselvesretain，andsometimes，bytheyetmorefamiliarembrace，theyspentseveralminutesinsurveyingtheapartment，andadmiringthebronzes，thepictures，orthefurniture，withwhichitwasadorned——amodeveryimpoliteaccordingtoourrefinedEnglishnotions，whichplacegoodbreedinginindifference。Wewouldnotfortheworldexpressmuchadmirationofanotherman’shouse，forfearitshouldbethoughtwehadneverseenanythingsofinebefore！
’AbeautifulstatuethisofBacchus！’saidtheRomansenator。
’Ameretrifle！’repliedDiomed。
’Whatcharmingpaintings！’saidFulvia。
’Meretrifles！’answeredtheowner。
’Exquisitecandelabra！’criedthewarrior。
’Exquisite！’echoedhisumbra。
’Trifles！trifles！’reiteratedthemerchant。
Meanwhile，Glaucusfoundhimselfbyoneofthewindowsofthegallery，whichcommunicatedwiththeterraces，andthefairJuliabyhisside。
’IsitanAthenianvirtue，Glaucus，’saidthemerchant’sdaughter，’toshunthosewhomweoncesought？’
’FairJulia——no！’
’Yetmethinks，itisoneofthequalitiesofGlaucus。’
’Glaucusnevershunsafriend！’repliedtheGreek，withsomeemphasisonthelastword。
’MayJuliarankamongthenumberofhisfriends？’
’Itwouldbeanhonourtotheemperortofindafriendinonesolovely。’
’Youevademyquestion，’returnedtheenamouredJulia。’Buttellme，isittruethatyouadmiretheNeapolitanIone？’
’Doesnotbeautyconstrainouradmiration？’
’Ah！subtleGreek，stilldoyouflythemeaningofmywords。Butsay，shallJuliabeindeedyourfriend？’
’Ifshewillsofavorme，blessedbethegods！ThedayinwhichIamthushonoredshallbeevermarkedinwhite。’
’Yet，evenwhileyouspeak，youreyeisresting——yourcolorcomesandgoes——youmoveawayinvoluntarily——youareimpatienttojoinIone！’
ForatthatmomentIonehadentered，andGlaucushadindeedbetrayedtheemotionnoticedbythejealousbeauty。
’Canadmirationtoonewomanmakemeunworthythefriendshipofanother？
Sanctionnotso，OJuliathelibelsofthepoetsonyoursex！’
’Well，youareright——orIwilllearntothinkso。Glaucus，yetonemoment！
YouaretowedIone；isitnotso？’
’IftheFatespermit，suchismyblessedhope。’
’Accept，then，fromme，intokenofournewfriendship，apresentforyourbride。Nay，itisthecustomoffriends，youknow，alwaystopresenttobrideandbridegroomsomesuchlittlemarksoftheiresteemandfavoringwishes。’
’Julia！Icannotrefuseanytokenoffriendshipfromonelikeyou。IwillacceptthegiftasanomenfromFortuneherself。’
’Then，afterthefeast，whentheguestsretire，youwilldescendwithmetomyapartment，andreceiveitfrommyhands。Remember！’saidJulia，asshejoinedthewifeofPansa，andleftGlaucustoseekIone。
ThewidowFulviaandthespouseoftheaedilewereengagedinhighandgravediscussion。
’OFulvia！IassureyouthatthelastaccountfromRomedeclaresthatthefrizzlingmodeofdressingthehairisgrowingantiquated；theyonlynowwearitbuiltupinatower，likeJulia’s，orarrangedasahelmet——theGalerianfashion，likemine，yousee：ithasafineeffect，Ithink。I
assureyou，Vespius（VespiuswasthenameoftheHerculaneumhero）admiresitgreatly。’
’AndnobodywearsthehairlikeyonNeapolitan，intheGreekway。’
’What，partedinfront，withtheknotbehind？Oh，no；howridiculousitis！
itremindsoneofthestatueofDiana！YetthisIoneishandsome，eh？’
’Sothemensay；butthensheisrich：sheistomarrytheAthenian——Iwishherjoy。Hewillnotbelongfaithful，Isuspect；thoseforeignersareveryfaithless。’
’Oh，Julia！’saidFulvia，asthemerchant’sdaughterjoinedthem；’haveyouseenthetigeryet？’
’No！’
’Why，alltheladieshavebeentoseehim。Heissohandsome！’
’Ihopeweshallfindsomecriminalorotherforhimandthelion，’repliedJulia。’Yourhusband（turningtoPansa’swife）isnotsoactiveasheshouldbeinthismatter。’
’Why，really，thelawsaretoomild，’repliedthedameofthehelmet。
’Therearesofewoffencestowhichthepunishmentofthearenacanbeawarded；andthen，too，thegladiatorsaregrowingeffeminate！Thestoutestbestiariideclaretheyarewillingenoughtofightaboarorabull；butasforalionoratiger，theythinkthegametoomuchinearnest。’
’Theyareworthyofamitre，\"repliedJulia，indisdain。
’Oh！haveyouseenthenewhouseofFulvius，thedearpoet？’saidPansa’swife。
’No：isithandsome？’
’Very！——suchgoodtaste。Buttheysay，mydear，thathehassuchimproperpictures！Hewon’tshowthemtothewomen：howill—bred！’
’Thosepoetsarealwaysodd，’saidthewidow。’Butheisaninterestingman；whatprettyverseshewrites！Weimproveverymuchinpoetry：itisimpossibletoreadtheoldstuffnow。’
’IdeclareIamofyouropinion，returnedtheladyofthehelmet。’Thereissomuchmoreforceandenergyinthemodernschool。’
Thewarriorsauntereduptotheladies。
’Itreconcilesmetopeace，’saidhe，’whenIseesuchfaces。’
’Oh！youheroesareeverflatterers，’returnedFulvia，hasteningtoappropriatethecomplimentspeciallytoherself。
’Bythischain，whichIreceivedfromtheemperor’sownhand，’repliedthewarrior，playingwithashortchainwhichhungroundthenecklikeacollar，insteadofdescendingtothebreast，accordingtothefashionofthepeaceful——’Bythischain，youwrongme！Iamabluntman——asoldiershouldbeso。’
’HowdoyoufindtheladiesofPompeiigenerally？’saidJulia。
’ByVenus，mostbeautiful！Theyfavormealittle，itistrue，andthatinclinesmyeyestodoubletheircharms。’
’Weloveawarrior，’saidthewifeofPansa。
’Iseeit：byHercules！itisevendisagreeabletobetoocelebratedinthesecities。AtHerculaneumtheyclimbtheroofofmyatriumtocatchaglimpseofmethroughthecompluvium；theadmirationofone’scitizensispleasantatfirst，butburthensomeafterwards。’
’True，true，OVespius！’criedthepoet，joiningthegroup：’Ifinditsomyself。’
’You！’saidthestatelywarrior，scanningthesmallformofthepoetwithineffabledisdain。’inwhatlegionhaveyouserved？’
’Youmayseemyspoils，myexuviae，intheforumitself，’returnedthepoet，withasignificantglanceatthewomen。’Ihavebeenamongthetent—companions，thecontubernales，ofthegreatMantuanhimself。’
’IknownogeneralfromMantua，saidthewarrior，gravely。’Whatcampaignhaveyouserved？’
’ThatofHelicon。’
’Ineverheardofit。’
’Nay，Vespius，hedoesbutjoke，’saidJulia，laughing。
’Joke！ByMars，amIamantobejoked！’
’Yes；Marshimselfwasinlovewiththemotherofjokes，’saidthepoet，alittlealarmed。’Know，then，OVespius！thatIamthepoetFulvius。ItisIwhomakewarriorsimmortal！’
’Thegodsforbid！’whisperedSallusttoJulia。’IfVespiusweremadeimmortal，whataspecimenoftiresomebraggadociowouldbetransmittedtoposterity！’
Thesoldierlookedpuzzled；when，totheinfinitereliefofhimselfandhiscompanions，thesignalforthefeastwasgiven。
AswehavealreadywitnessedatthehouseofGlaucustheordinaryroutineofaPompeianentertainment，thereaderissparedanyseconddetailofthecourses，andthemannerinwhichtheywereintroduced。
Diomed，whowasratherceremonious，hadappointedanomenclator，orappointerofplacestoeachguest。
Thereaderunderstandsthatthefestiveboardwascomposedofthreetables；
oneatthecentre，andoneateachwing。Itwasonlyattheoutersideofthesetablesthattheguestsreclined；theinnerspacewasleftuntenanted，forthegreaterconvenienceofthewaitersorministri。TheextremecornerofoneofthewingswasappropriatedtoJuliaastheladyofthefeast；thatnexther，toDiomed。Atonecornerofthecentretablewasplacedtheaedile；attheoppositecorner，theRomansenator——thesewerethepostsofhonour。Theotherguestswerearranged，sothattheyoung（gentlemanorlady）shouldsitnexteachother，andthemoreadvancedinyearsbesimilarlymatched。Anagreeableprovisionenough，butonewhichmustoftenhaveoffendedthosewhowishedtobethoughtstillyoung。
ThechairofIonewasnexttothecouchofGlaucus。Theseatswereveneeredwithtortoiseshell，andcoveredwithquiltsstuffedwithfeathers，andornamentedwithcostlyembroideries。Themodernornamentsofepergneorplateauweresuppliedbyimagesofthegods，wroughtinbronze，ivory，andsilver。Thesacredsalt—cellarandthefamiliarLareswerenotforgotten。
Overthetableandtheseatsarichcanopywassuspendedfromtheceiling。
Ateachcornerofthetablewereloftycandelabra——forthoughitwasearlynoon，theroomwasdarkened——whilefromtripods，placedindifferentpartsoftheroom，distilledtheodorofmyrrhandfrankincense；andupontheabacus，orsideboard，largevasesandvariousornamentsofsilverwereranged，muchwiththesameostentation（butwithmorethanthesametaste）
thatwefinddisplayedatamodernfeast。
Thecustomofgracewasinvariablysuppliedbythatoflibationstothegods；andVesta，asqueenofthehouseholdgods，usuallyreceivedfirstthatgracefulhomage。
Thisceremonybeingperformed，theslavesshoweredflowersuponthecouchesandthefloor，andcrownedeachguestwithrosygarlands，intricatelywovenwithribands，tiedbytherindofthelinden—tree，andeachintermingledwiththeivyandtheamethyst——supposedpreventivesagainsttheeffectofwine；thewreathsofthewomenonlywereexemptedfromtheseleaves，foritwasnotthefashionforthemtodrinkwineinpublic。ItwasthenthatthepresidentDiomedthoughtitadvisabletoinstituteabasileus，ordirectorofthefeast——animportantoffice，sometimeschosenbylot；sometimes，asnow，bythemasteroftheentertainment。
Diomedwasnotalittlepuzzledastohiselection。Theinvalidsenatorwastoograveandtooinfirmfortheproperfulfilmentofhisduty；theaedilePansawasadequateenoughtothetask：butthen，tochoosethenextinofficialranktothesenator，wasanaffronttothesenatorhimself。Whiledeliberatingbetweenthemeritsoftheothers，hecaughtthemirthfulglanceofSallust，and，byasuddeninspiration，namedthejovialepicuretotherankofdirector，orarbiterbibendi。
Sallustreceivedtheappointmentwithbecominghumility。
’Ishallbeamercifulking，’saidhe，’tothosewhodrinkdeep；toarecusant，Minoshimselfshallbelessinexorable。Beware！’
Theslaveshandedroundbasinsofperfumedwater，bywhichlavationthefeastcommenced：andnowthetablegroanedundertheinitiatorycourse。
Theconversation，atfirstdesultoryandscattered，allowedIoneandGlaucustocarryonthosesweetwhispers，whichareworthalltheeloquenceintheworld。Juliawatchedthemwithflashingeyes。
’Howsoonshallherplacebemine！’thoughtshe。
ButClodius，whosatinthecentretable，soastoobservewellthecountenanceofJulia，guessedherpique，andresolvedtoprofitbyit。Headdressedheracrossthetableinsetphrasesofgallantry；andashewasofhighbirthandofashowyperson，thevainJuliawasnotsomuchinloveastobeinsensibletohisattentions。
Theslaves，intheinterim，wereconstantlykeptuponthealertbythevigilantSallust，whochasedonecupbyanotherwithaceleritywhichseemedasifhewereresolveduponexhaustingthosecapaciouscellarswhichthereadermayyetseebeneaththehouseofDiomed。Theworthymerchantbegantorepenthischoice，asamphoraafteramphorawaspiercedandemptied。Theslaves，allundertheageofmanhood（theyoungestbeingabouttenyearsold——itwastheywhofilledthewine——theeldest，somefiveyearsolder，mingleditwithwater），seemedtoshareinthezealofSallust；andthefaceofDiomedbegantoglowashewatchedtheprovokingcomplacencywithwhichtheysecondedtheexertionsofthekingofthefeast。
’Pardonme，Osenator！’saidSallust；’Iseeyouflinch；yourpurplehemcannotsaveyou——drink！’
’Bythegods，’saidthesenator，coughing，’mylungsarealreadyonfire；
youproceedwithsomiraculousaswiftness，thatPhaetonhimselfwasnothingtoyou。Iaminfirm，OpleasantSallust：youmustexonerateme。’
’NotI，byVesta！Iamanimpartialmonarch——drink。’
Thepoorsenator，compelledbythelawsofthetable，wasforcedtocomply。
Alas！everycupwasbringinghimnearerandnearertotheStygianpool。
’Gently！gently！myking，’groanedDiomed；’wealreadybeginto……’
’Treason！’interruptedSallust；’nosternBrutushere！——nointerferencewithroyalty！’