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！’