Ifanned，therefore，yoursacreddesires；Istimulatedyoutothestepyouhavetaken。ButyoublamemethatIdidnotrevealtoyouthelittlesoulsandthejugglingtricksofyourcompanions。HadIdoneso，Apaecides，Ihaddefeatedmyownobject；yournoblenaturewouldhaveatoncerevolted，andIsiswouldhavelostherpriest。’
Apaecidesgroanedaloud。TheEgyptiancontinued，withoutheedingtheinterruption。
’Iplacedyou，therefore，withoutpreparation，inthetemple；Ileftyousuddenlytodiscoverandtobesickenedbyallthosemummerieswhichdazzletheherd。Idesiredthatyoushouldperceivehowthoseenginesaremovedbywhichthefountainthatrefreshestheworldcastsitswatersintheair。Itwasthetrialordainedofoldtoallourpriests。Theywhoaccustomthemselvestotheimposturesofthevulgar，arelefttopractisethem——forthoselikeyou，whosehighernaturesdemandhigherpursuit，religionopensmoregod—likesecrets。IampleasedtofindinyouthecharacterIhadexpected。Youhavetakenthevows；youcannotrecede。Advance——Iwillbeyourguide。’
’Andwhatwiltthouteachme，Osingularandfearfulman？Newcheats——new……’
’No——Ihavethrowntheeintotheabyssofdisbelief；Iwillleadtheenowtotheeminenceoffaith。Thouhastseenthefalsetypes：thoushaltlearnnowtherealitiestheyrepresent。Thereisnoshadow，Apaecides，withoutitssubstance。Cometomethisnight。Yourhand。’
Impressed，excited，bewilderedbythelanguageoftheEgyptian，Apaecidesgavehimhishand，andmasterandpupilparted。
ItwastruethatforApaecidestherewasnoretreat。Hehadtakenthevowsofcelibacy：hehaddevotedhimselftoalifethatatpresentseemedtopossessalltheausteritiesoffanaticism，withoutanyoftheconsolationsofbeliefItwasnaturalthatheshouldyetclingtoayearningdesiretoreconcilehimselftoanirrevocablecareer。ThepowerfulandprofoundmindoftheEgyptianyetclaimedanempireoverhisyoungimagination；excitedhimwithvagueconjecture，andkepthimalternatelyvibratingbetweenhopeandfear。
MeanwhileArbacespursuedhisslowandstatelywaytothehouseofIone。Asheenteredthetablinum，heheardavoicefromtheporticoesoftheperistylebeyond，which，musicalasitwas，soundeddispleasinglyonhisear——itwasthevoiceoftheyoungandbeautifulGlaucus，andforthefirsttimeaninvoluntarythrillofjealousyshotthroughthebreastoftheEgyptian。Onenteringtheperistyle，hefoundGlaucusseatedbythesideofIone。Thefountainintheodorousgardencastupitssilversprayintheair，andkeptadeliciouscoolnessinthemidstofthesultrynoon。Thehandmaids，almostinvariablyattendantonIone，whowithherfreedomoflifepreservedthemostdelicatemodesty，satatalittledistance；bythefeetofGlaucuslaythelyreonwhichhehadbeenplayingtoIoneoneoftheLesbianairs。Thescene——thegroupbeforeArbaces，wasstampedbythatpeculiarandrefinedidealityofpoesywhichweyet，noterroneously，imaginetobethedistinctionoftheancients——themarblecolumns，thevasesofflowers，thestatue，whiteandtranquil，closingeveryvista；and，aboveall，thetwolivingforms，fromwhichasculptormighthavecaughteitherinspirationordespair！
Arbaces，pausingforamoment，gazedonthepairwithabrowfromwhichalltheusualsternserenityhadfled；herecoveredhimselfbyaneffort，andslowlyapproachedthem，butwithastepsosoftandecholess，thateventheattendantsheardhimnot；muchlessIoneandherlover。
’Andyet，’saidGlaucus，’itisonlybeforewelovethatweimaginethatourpoetshavetrulydescribedthepassion；theinstantthesunrises，allthestarsthathadshoneinhisabsencevanishintoair。Thepoetsexistonlyinthenightoftheheart；theyarenothingtouswhenwefeelthefullgloryofthegod。’
’Agentleandmostglowingimage，nobleGlaucus。’
Bothstarted，andrecognizedbehindtheseatofIonethecoldandsarcasticfaceoftheEgyptian。
’Youareasuddenguest，’saidGlaucus，rising，andwithaforcedsmile。
’Sooughtalltobewhoknowtheyarewelcome，’returnedArbaces，seatinghimself，andmotioningtoGlaucustodothesame。
’Iamglad，’saidIone，’toseeyouatlengthtogether；foryouaresuitedtoeachother，andyouareformedtobefriends。’
’Givemebacksomefifteenyearsoflife，’repliedtheEgyptian，’beforeyoucanplacemeonanequalitywithGlaucus。HappyshouldIbetoreceivehisfriendship；butwhatcanIgivehiminreturn？CanImaketohimthesameconfidencesthathewouldreposeinme——ofbanquetsandgarlands——ofParthiansteeds，andthechancesofthedice？thesepleasuressuithisage，hisnature，hiscareer：theyarenotformine。’
Sosaying，theartfulEgyptianlookeddownandsighed；butfromthecornerofhiseyehestoleaglancetowardsIone，toseehowshereceivedtheseinsinuationsofthepursuitsofhervisitor。Hercountenancedidnotsatisfyhim。Glaucus，slightlycoloring，hastenedgailytoreply。Norwashe，perhaps，withoutthewishinhisturntodisconcertandabashtheEgyptian。
’Youareright，wiseArbaces，’saidhe；’wecanesteemeachother，butwecannotbefriends。Mybanquetslackthesecretsaltwhich，accordingtorumor，givessuchzesttoyourown。And，byHercules！whenIhavereachedyourage，ifI，likeyou，maythinkitwisetopursuethepleasuresofmanhood，likeyou，Ishallbedoubtlesssarcasticonthegallantriesofyouth。’
TheEgyptianraisedhiseyestoGlaucuswithasuddenandpiercingglance。
’Idonotunderstandyou，’saidhe，coldly；’butitisthecustomtoconsiderthatwitliesinobscurity。’HeturnedfromGlaucusashespoke，withascarcelyperceptiblesneerofcontempt，andafteramoment’spauseaddressedhimselftoIone。
’Ihavenot，beautifulIone，’saidhe，’beenfortunateenoughtofindyouwithindoorsthelasttwoorthreetimesthatIhavevisitedyourvestibule。’
’Thesmoothnessoftheseahastemptedmemuchfromhome，’repliedIone，withalittleembarrassment。
TheembarrassmentdidnotescapeArbaces；butwithoutseemingtoheedit，herepliedwithasmile：’Youknowtheoldpoetsays，that"Womenshouldkeepwithindoors，andthereconverse。"’
’Thepoetwasacynic，’saidGlaucus，’andhatedwomen。’
’Hespokeaccordingtothecustomsofhiscountry，andthatcountryisyourboastedGreece。’
’Todifferentperiodsdifferentcustoms。HadourforefathersknownIone，theyhadmadeadifferentlaw。’
’DidyoulearntheseprettygallantriesatRome？’saidArbaces，withill—suppressedemotion。
’OnecertainlywouldnotgoforgallantriestoEgypt，’retortedGlaucus，playingcarelesslywithhischain。
’Come，come，’saidIone，hasteningtointerruptaconversationwhichshesaw，tohergreatdistress，wassolittlelikelytocementtheintimacyshehaddesiredtoeffectbetweenGlaucusandherfriend，’Arbacesmustnotbesoharduponhispoorpupil。Anorphan，andwithoutamother’scare，ImaybetoblamefortheindependentandalmostmasculinelibertyoflifethatI
havechosen：yetitisnotgreaterthantheRomanwomenareaccustomedto——itisnotgreaterthantheGrecianoughttobe。Alas！isitonlytobeamongmenthatfreedomandvirtuearetobedeemedunited？Whyshouldtheslaverythatdestroysyoubeconsideredtheonlymethodtopreserveus？Ah！
believeme，ithasbeenthegreaterrorofmen——andonethathasworkedbitterlyontheirdestinies——toimaginethatthenatureofwomenis（Iwillnotsayinferior，thatmaybeso，but）sodifferentfromtheirown，inmakinglawsunfavorabletotheintellectualadvancementofwomen。Havetheynot，insodoing，madelawsagainsttheirchildren，whomwomenaretorear？——againstthehusbands，ofwhomwomenaretobethefriends，nay，sometimestheadvisers？’Ionestoppedshortsuddenly，andherfacewassuffusedwiththemostenchantingblushes。Shefearedlestherenthusiasmhadledhertoofar；yetshefearedtheaustereArbaceslessthanthecourteousGlaucus，forshelovedthelast，anditwasnotthecustomoftheGreekstoallowtheirwomen（atleastsuchoftheirwomenastheymosthonored）thesamelibertyandthesamestationasthoseofItalyenjoyed。
Shefelt，therefore，athrillofdelightasGlaucusearnestlyreplied：
’Evermaystthouthinkthus，Ione——everbeyourpureheartyourunerringguide！HappyithadbeenforGreeceifshehadgiventothechastethesameintellectualcharmsthataresocelebratedamongstthelessworthyofherwomen。Nostatefallsfromfreedom——fromknowledge，whileyoursexsmileonlyonthefree，andbyappreciating，encouragethewise。’
Arbaceswassilent，foritwasneitherhisparttosanctionthesentimentofGlaucus，nortocondemnthatofIone，and，afterashortandembarrassedconversation，GlaucustookhisleaveofIone。
Whenhewasgone，Arbaces，drawinghisseatnearertothefairNeapolitan’s，saidinthoseblandandsubduedtones，inwhichheknewsowellhowtoveilthemingledartandfiercenessofhischaracter：
’Thinknot，mysweetpupil，ifsoImaycallyou，thatIwishtoshacklethatlibertyyouadornwhileyouassume：butwhich，ifnotgreater，asyourightlyobserve，thanthatpossessedbytheRomanwomen，mustatleastbeaccompaniedbygreatcircumspection，whenarrogatedbyoneunmarried。
Continuetodrawcrowdsofthegay，thebrilliant，thewisethemselves，toyourfeet——continuetocharmthemwiththeconversationofanAspasia，themusicofanErinna——butreflect，atleast，onthosecensorioustongueswhichcansoeasilyblightthetenderreputationofamaiden；andwhileyouprovokeadmiration，give，Ibeseechyou，novictorytoenvy。’
’Whatmeanyou，Arbaces？’saidIone，inanalarmedandtremblingvoice：’I
knowyouaremyfriend，thatyoudesireonlymyhonourandmywelfare。Whatisityouwouldsay？’
’Yourfriend——ah，howsincerely！MayIspeakthenasafriend，withoutreserveandwithoutoffence？’
’Ibeseechyoudoso。’
’Thisyoungprofligate，thisGlaucus，howdidstthouknowhim？Hastthouseenhimoften？’AndasArbacesspoke，hefixedhisgazesteadfastlyuponIone，asifhesoughttopenetrateintohersoul。
Recoilingbeforethatgaze，withastrangefearwhichshecouldnotexplain，theNeapolitanansweredwithconfusionandhesitation：’Hewasbroughttomyhouseasacountrymanofmyfather’s，andImaysayofmine。Ihaveknownhimonlywithinthislastweekorso：butwhythesequestions？’
’Forgiveme，’saidArbaces；’Ithoughtyoumighthaveknownhimlonger。
Baseinsinuatorthatheis！’
’How！whatmeanyou？Whythatterm？’
’Itmattersnot：letmenotrouseyourindignationagainstonewhodoesnotdeservesograveanhonour。’
’Iimploreyouspeak。WhathasGlaucusinsinuated？orrather，inwhatdoyousupposehehasoffended？’
SmotheringhisresentmentatthelastpartofIone’squestion，Arbacescontinued：’Youknowhispursuits，hiscompanionshishabits；thecomissatioandthealea（therevelandthedice）makehisoccupation；andamongsttheassociatesofvicehowcanhedreamofvirtue？’
’Stillyouspeakriddles。Bythegods！Ientreatyou，saytheworstatonce。’
’Well，then，itmustbeso。Know，myIone，thatitwasbutyesterdaythatGlaucusboastedopenly——yes，inthepublicbaths——ofyourlovetohim。Hesaiditamusedhimtotakeadvantageofit。Nay，Iwilldohimjustice，hepraisedyourbeauty。Whocoulddenyit？ButhelaughedscornfullywhenhisClodius，orhisLepidus，askedhimifhelovedyouenoughformarriage，andwhenhepurposedtoadornhisdoor—postswithflowers？’
’Impossible！Howheardyouthisbaseslander？’
’Nay，wouldyouhavemerelatetoyouallthecommentsoftheinsolentcoxcombswithwhichthestoryhascircledthroughthetown？BeassuredthatImyselfdisbelievedatfirst，andthatIhavenowpainfullybeenconvincedbyseveralear—witnessesofthetruthofwhatIhavereluctantlytoldthee。’
Ionesankback，andherfacewaswhiterthanthepillaragainstwhichsheleanedforsupport。
’Iownitvexed——itirritatedme，tohearyournamethuslightlypitchedfromliptolip，likesomemeredancing—girl’sfame。Ihastenedthismorningtoseekandtowarnyou。IfoundGlaucushere。Iwasstungfrommyself—possession。Icouldnotconcealmyfeelings；nay，Iwasuncourteousinthypresence。Canstthouforgivethyfriend，Ione？’
Ioneplacedherhandinhis，butrepliednot。
’Thinknomoreofthis，’saidhe；’butletitbeawarningvoice，totelltheehowmuchprudencethylotrequires。Itcannothurtthee，Ione，foramoment；foragaythinglikethiscouldneverhavebeenhonoredbyevenaseriousthoughtfromIone。Theseinsultsonlywoundwhentheycomefromonewelove；fardifferentindeedishewhomtheloftyIoneshallstooptolove。’
’Love！’mutteredIone，withanhystericallaugh。’Ay，indeed。’
Itisnotwithoutinteresttoobserveinthoseremotetimes，andunderasocialsystemsowidelydifferentfromthemodern，thesamesmallcausesthatruffleandinterruptthe’courseoflove’，whichoperatesocommonlyatthisday——thesameinventivejealousy，thesamecunningslander，thesamecraftyandfabricatedretailingsofpettygossip，whichsooftennowsufficetobreakthetiesofthetruestlove，andcounteractthetenorofcircumstancesmostapparentlypropitious。Whenthebarksailsonoverthesmoothestwave，thefabletellsusofthediminutivefishthatcanclingtothekeelandarrestitsprogress：soisiteverwiththegreatpassionsofmankind；andweshouldpaintlifebutillif，evenintimesthemostprodigalofromance，andoftheromanceofwhichwemostlargelyavailourselves，wedidnotalsodescribethemechanismofthosetrivialandhouseholdspringsofmischiefwhichweseeeverydayatworkinourchambersandatourhearths。Itisinthese，thelesserintriguesoflife，thatwemostlyfindourselvesathomewiththepast。
MostcunninglyhadtheEgyptianappealedtoIone’srulingfoible——mostdexterouslyhadheappliedthepoisoneddarttoherpride。Hefanciedhehadarrestedwhathehoped，fromtheshortnessofthetimeshehadknownGlaucus，was，atmost，butanincipientfancy；andhasteningtochangethesubject，henowledhertotalkofherbrother。Theirconversationdidnotlastlong。Helefther，resolvednotagaintotrustsomuchtoabsence，buttovisit——towatchher——everyday。
Nosoonerhadhisshadowglidedfromherpresence，thanwoman’spride——hersex’sdissimulation——desertedhisintendedvictim，andthehaughtyIoneburstintopassionatetears。
ChapterVII
THEGAYLIFEOFTHEPOMPEIANLOUNGER。AMINIATURELIKENESSOFTHEROMAN
BATHS。
WHENGlaucusleftIone，hefeltasifhetroduponair。Intheinterviewwithwhichhehadjustbeenblessed，hehadforthefirsttimegatheredfromherdistinctlythathislovewasnotunwelcometo，andwouldnotbeunrewardedby，her。Thishopefilledhimwitharaptureforwhichearthandheavenseemedtoonarrowtoaffordavent。Unconsciousofthesuddenenemyhehadleftbehind，andforgettingnotonlyhistauntsbuthisveryexistence，Glaucuspassedthroughthegaystreets，repeatingtohimself，inthewantonnessofjoy，themusicofthesoftairtowhichIonehadlistenedwithsuchintentness；andnowheenteredtheStreetofFortune，withitsraisedfootpath——itshousespaintedwithout，andtheopendoorsadmittingtheviewoftheglowingfrescoeswithin。Eachendofthestreetwasadornedwithatriumphalarch：andasGlaucusnowcamebeforetheTempleofFortune，thejuttingporticoofthatbeautifulfane（whichissupposedtohavebeenbuiltbyoneofthefamilyofCicero，perhapsbytheoratorhimself）
impartedadignifiedandvenerablefeaturetoasceneotherwisemorebrilliantthanloftyinitscharacter。ThattemplewasoneofthemostgracefulspecimensofRomanarchitecture。Itwasraisedonasomewhatloftypodium；andbetweentwoflightsofstepsascendingtoaplatformstoodthealtarofthegoddess。Fromthisplatformanotherflightofbroadstairsledtotheportico，fromtheheightofwhoseflutedcolumnshungfestoonsoftherichestflowers。OneithersidetheextremitiesofthetemplewereplacedstatuesofGrecianworkmanship；andatalittledistancefromthetemplerosethetriumphalarchcrownedwithanequestrianstatueofCaligula，whichwasflankedbytrophiesofbronze。Inthespacebeforethetemplealivelythrongwereassembled——someseatedonbenchesanddiscussingthepoliticsoftheempire，someconversingontheapproachingspectacleoftheamphitheatre。Oneknotofyoungmenwerelaudinganewbeauty，anotherdiscussingthemeritsofthelastplay；athirdgroup，morestrickeninage，werespeculatingonthechanceofthetradewithAlexandria，andamidsttheseweremanymerchantsintheEasterncostume，whoselooseandpeculiarrobes，paintedandgemmedslippers，andcomposedandseriouscountenances，formedastrikingcontrasttothetunickedformsandanimatedgesturesoftheItalians。Forthatimpatientandlivelypeoplehad，asnow，alanguagedistinctfromspeech——alanguageofsignsandmotions，inexpressiblysignificantandvivacious：theirdescendantsretainit，andthelearnedJoriohathwrittenamostentertainingworkuponthatspeciesofhieroglyphicalgesticulation。
Saunteringthroughthecrowd，Glaucussoonfoundhimselfamidstagroupofhismerryanddissipatedfriends。
’Ah！’saidSallust，’itisalustrumsinceIsawyou。’
’Andhowhaveyouspentthelustrum？Whatnewdisheshaveyoudiscovered？’
’Ihavebeenscientific，’returnedSallust，’andhavemadesomeexperimentsinthefeedingoflampreys：IconfessIdespairofbringingthemtotheperfectionwhichourRomanancestorsattained。’
’Miserableman！andwhy？’
’Because，’returnedSallust，withasigh，’itisnolongerlawfultogivethemaslavetoeat。Iamveryoftentemptedtomakeawaywithaveryfatcarptor（butler）whomIpossess，andpophimslilyintothereservoir。Hewouldgivethefishamostoleaginousflavor！Butslavesarenotslavesnowadays，andhavenosympathywiththeirmasters’interest——orDavuswoulddestroyhimselftoobligeme！’
’WhatnewsfromRome？’saidLepidus，ashelanguidlyjoinedthegroup。
’Theemperorhasbeengivingasplendidsuppertothesenators，’answeredSallust。
’Heisagoodcreature，’quothLepidus；’theysayheneversendsamanawaywithoutgrantinghisrequest。’
’Perhapshewouldletmekillaslaveformyreservoir？’returnedSallust，eagerly。
’Notunlikely，’saidGlaucus；’forhewhograntsafavortooneRoman，mustalwaysdoitattheexpenseofanother。Besure，thatforeverysmileTitushascaused，ahundredeyeshavewept。’
’LongliveTitus！’criedPansa，overhearingtheemperor’sname，ashesweptpatronizinglythroughthecrowd；’hehaspromisedmybrotheraquaestorship，becausehehadrunthroughhisfortune。’
’Andwishesnowtoenrichhimselfamongthepeople，myPansa，’saidGlaucus。
’Exactlyso，’saidPansa。
’Thatisputtingthepeopletosomeuse，’saidGlaucus。
’Tobesure，returnedPansa。’Well，Imustgoandlookaftertheaerarium——itisalittleoutofrepair’；andfollowedbyalongtrainofclients，distinguishedfromtherestofthethrongbythetogastheywore（fortogas，oncethesignoffreedominacitizen，werenowthebadgeofservilitytoapatron），theaedilefidgetedfussilyaway。
’PoorPansa！’saidLepidus：’heneverhastimeforpleasure。ThankHeavenI
amnotanaedile！’
’Ah，Glaucus！howareyou？gayasever？’saidClodius，joiningthegroup。
’AreyoucometosacrificetoFortune？’saidSallust。
’Isacrificetohereverynight，’returnedthegamester。
’Idonotdoubtit。Nomanhasmademorevictims！’
’ByHercules，abitingspeech！’criedGlaucus，laughing。
’Thedog’sletterisneveroutofyourmouth，Sallust，’saidClodius，angrily：’youarealwayssnarling。’
’Imaywellhavethedog’sletterinmymouth，since，wheneverIplaywithyou，Ihavethedog’sthrowinmyhand，’returnedSallust。
’Hist！’saidGlaucus，takingarosefromaflower—girl，whostoodbeside。
’Theroseisthetokenofsilence，’repliedSallust，’butIloveonlytoseeitatthesupper—table。’
’Talkingofthat，Diomedgivesagrandfeastnextweek，’saidSallust：’areyouinvited，Glaucus？’
’Yes，Ireceivedaninvitationthismorning。’
’AndI，too，’saidSallust，drawingasquarepieceofpapyrusfromhisgirdle：’Iseethatheasksusanhourearlierthanusual：anearnestofsomethingsumptuous。’
’Oh！heisrichasCroesus，’saidClodius；’andhisbilloffareisaslongasanepic。’
’Well，letustothebaths，’saidGlaucus：’thisisthetimewhenalltheworldisthere；andFulvius，whomyouadmiresomuch，isgoingtoreadushislastode。’
Theyoungmenassentedreadilytotheproposal，andtheystrolledtothebaths。
Althoughthepublicthermae，orbaths，wereinstitutedratherforthepoorercitizensthanthewealthy（forthelasthadbathsintheirownhouses），yet，tothecrowdsofallrankswhoresortedtothem，itwasafavoriteplaceforconversation，andforthatindolentloungingsodeartoagayandthoughtlesspeople。ThebathsatPompeiidiffered，ofcourse，inplanandconstructionfromthevastandcomplicatedthermaeofRome；and，indeed，itseemsthatineachcityoftheempiretherewasalwayssomeslightmodificationofarrangementinthegeneralarchitectureofthepublicbaths。
Thismightilypuzzlesthelearned——asifarchitectsandfashionwerenotcapriciousbeforethenineteenthcentury！OurpartyenteredbytheprincipalporchintheStreetofFortune。Atthewingoftheporticosatthekeeperofthebaths，withhistwoboxesbeforehim，oneforthemoneyhereceived，onefortheticketshedispensed。Roundthewallsoftheporticowereseatscrowdedwithpersonsofallranks；whileothers，astheregimenofthephysiciansprescribed，werewalkingbrisklytoandfrotheportico，stoppingeverynowandthentogazeontheinnumerablenoticesofshows，games，sales，exhibitions，whichwerepaintedorinscribeduponthewalls。
Thegeneralsubjectofconversationwas，however，thespectacleannouncedintheamphitheatre；andeachnew—comerwasfasteneduponbyagroupeagertoknowifPompeiihadbeensofortunateastoproducesomemonstrouscriminal，somehappycaseofsacrilegeorofmurder，whichwouldallowtheaedilestoprovideamanforthejawsofthelion：allothermorecommonexhibitionsseemeddullandtame，whencomparedwiththepossibilityofthisfortunateoccurrence。
’Formypart，’saidonejolly—lookingman，whowasagoldsmith，’Ithinktheemperor，ifheisasgoodastheysay，mighthavesentusaJew。’
’WhynottakeoneofthenewsectofNazarenes？’saidaphilosopher。’Iamnotcruel：butanatheist，onewhodeniesJupiterhimself，deservesnomercy。’
’Icarenothowmanygodsamanlikestobelievein，’saidthegoldsmith；
’buttodenyallgodsissomethingmonstrous。’
’YetIfancy，’saidGlaucus，’thatthesepeoplearenotabsolutelyatheists。
IamtoldthattheybelieveinaGod——nay，inafuturestate。’
’Quiteamistake，mydearGlaucus，’saidthephilosopher。’Ihaveconferredwiththem——theylaughedinmyfacewhenItalkedofPlutoandHades。’
’Oyegods！’exclaimedthegoldsmith，inhorror；’arethereanyofthesewretchesinPompeii？’
’Iknowthereareafew：buttheymeetsoprivatelythatitisimpossibletodiscoverwhotheyare。’
AsGlaucusturnedaway，asculptor，whowasagreatenthusiastinhisart，lookedafterhimadmiringly。
’Ah！’saidhe，’ifwecouldgethimonthearena——therewouldbeamodelforyou！Whatlimbs！whatahead！heoughttohavebeenagladiator！A
subject——asubject——worthyofourart！Whydon’ttheygivehimtothelion？’
MeanwhileFulvius，theRomanpoet，whomhiscontemporariesdeclaredimmortal，andwho，butforthishistory，wouldneverhavebeenheardofinourneglectfulage，cameeagerlyuptoGlaucus。’Oh，myAthenian，myGlaucus，youhavecometohearmyode！Thatisindeedanhonour；you，aGreek——towhomtheverylanguageofcommonlifeispoetry。HowIthankyou。
Itisbutatrifle；butifIsecureyourapprobation，perhapsImaygetanintroductiontoTitus。Oh，Glaucus！apoetwithoutapatronisanamphorawithoutalabel；thewinemaybegood，butnobodywilllaudit！AndwhatsaysPythagoras？——"Frankincensetothegods，butpraisetoman。"Apatron，then，isthepoet’spriest：heprocureshimtheincense，andobtainshimhisbelievers。’
’ButallPompeiiisyourpatron，andeveryporticoanaltarinyourpraise。’
’Ah！thepoorPompeiansareverycivil——theylovetohonourmerit。Buttheyareonlytheinhabitantsofapettytown——speromeliora！Shallwewithin？’
’Certainly；welosetimetillwehearyourpoem。’
Atthisinstanttherewasarushofsometwentypersonsfromthebathsintotheportico；andaslavestationedatthedoorofasmallcorridornowadmittedthepoet，Glaucus，Clodius，andatroopofthebard’sotherfriends，intothepassage。
’Apoorplacethis，comparedwiththeRomanthermae！’saidLepidus，disdainfully。‘