United States or Sri Lanka ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"No! not a God," replied Aristius Fuscus, "only the greatest work of God, a wise and virtuous man, in an age which has few such to boast. But come, let us ride on and conclude our race; and thou, Arvina, forget what I said; I meant not to wrong thee." "I have forgotten," answered Paullus; and, with the word, they gave their horses head, and cantered onward for the field of Mars.
See how the bay courser stretches himself, and how quickly he gathers! The bay! the bay has it for five hundred sesterces!" "I wager you," said a dissolute-looking long-haired youth; "I wager you five hundred, Catiline. I say the gray horse wins." "Be it so, then," shouted Catiline; "the bay, the bay! spur, spur, Aristius Fuscus, Aurelius gains on you; spur, spur!" "The gray, the gray!
"Come with us, then," replied the other; "Aristius, here, and I, have made a bet upon our coursers’ speed. He fancies his Numidian can outrun my Gallic beauty. Come with us to the Campus; and after we have settled this grave matter, we will try the quinquertium, or a foot race in armor, if you like it better, or a swim in the Tiber, until it shall be time to go to dinner."
There was some coldness in the manner of Aristius Fuscus, as they met again, and even Aurelius seemed surprised and not well pleased; for they had in truth been conversing earnestly about the perturbation of their friend at the remarks of the artizan, and the singularity of his conduct in wearing arms at all; and he heard Victor say just before they joined company—
XLIII. In the meantime, when intelligence was brought that all their soldiers were in Caesar's power, they run in a body to Aristius; they assure him that nothing had been done by public authority; they order an inquiry to be made about the plundered property; they confiscate the property of Litavicus and his brothers; they send ambassadors to Caesar for the purpose of clearing themselves.
Today is the thirtieth Sabbath, he continued, inventing a purely imaginary Hebrew feast, 'and you surely would not risk a Jew's curse for a few moments of conversation, would you? 'I have no religion! exclaimed Horace, eagerly. 'No superstition! Nothing! 'But I have, retorted Aristius, still smiling. 'My health is not good perhaps you did not know?
Thou, Fuscus, for insulting him with needless doubts. Thou, Paullus, for mentioning the thing, or shewing the dagger at all, if you did not choose to explain." "I do choose to explain," replied Cæcilius, "but I cannot; I have explained it all to Marcus Tullius." "To Cicero," exclaimed Aristius. "Why did you not say so before?
He paused here a moment; and grasping his fevered brow with his hand, recalled to mind the strange occurrences, most unexpected and unfortunate, which had befallen him, since he stood there that morning; each singly trivial; each, unconnected as it seemed with the rest, and of little moment; yet all, when united, forming a chain of circumstances by which he was now fettered hand and foot—his casual interview with Catiline on the hill; his subsequent encounter of Victor and Aristius Fuscus; the recognition of his dagger by the stout cutler Volero; the death of Varus in the hippodrome; his own victorious exercises on the plain; the invitation to the feast; the sumptuous banquet; and last, alas! and most fatal, the too voluptuous and seductive Lucia.
Aristius, sauntering along and enjoying the morning air, with a couple of slaves at his heels, saw Horace's trouble in a moment, for he knew the Bore well enough, and realized at once that if he delivered his friend, he himself would be the next victim. He was far too clever for that, and with a cold-blooded smile pretended not to understand Horace's signals of distress.
"It is—as dark as Erebus," said Paullus eagerly, "and as guilty too; but it is not my mystery, so help me the god of good faith and honour!" "That is enough said; surely that is enough for you, Aristius," exclaimed the warmer and more excitable Aurelius. "For you it may be," replied the noble youth, with a melancholy smile.
Word Of The Day