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Petronius was the author whom he truly loved and who caused him forever to abandon the sonorous ingenuities of Lucan, for he was a keen observer, a delicate analyst, a marvelous painter. Tranquilly, without prejudice or hate, he described Rome's daily life, recounting the customs of his epoch in the sprightly little chapters of the Satyricon.
Now, whether we take the experience of an individual or the history of a tribe, whether we have recourse to the opinions of religious teachers or irreligious philosophers, we find them nigh unanimous that the emotion which is the prime motor of religious thought is fear. I need not depend upon the well-known line of Petronius Arbiter, Primus in orbe deos fecit timor;
He could not find assistance among slaves, for slaves all stand together, and would not act against thy slaves. Only a co-religionist would help him." "Dost hear, Vinicius?" broke in Petronius. "Have I not said the same, word for word, to thee?" "That is an honor for me," said Chilo.
Tigellinus looked at him jeeringly, "Ei! a little more!" "If thy head is not sufficient, thou hast another on thy cane," said Petronius. Further conversation was interrupted by the coming of Cæsar, who occupied his place in company with Pythagoras. Immediately after began the representation of "Aureolus," to which not much attention was paid, for the minds of the audience were fixed on Chilo.
"What has he predicted?" "That pain and happiness would meet me." "Pain met thee yesterday at the hands of Tiresias; hence happiness also should come." "It has come, lord, already." "What?" "I remain," said she in a whisper. Petronius put his hand on her golden head. "Thou hast arranged the folds well to-day, and I am satisfied with thee, Eunice."
"I believe that there is justice in your complaints, Beric," Petronius said calmly, "and it is to lessen these grievances that Rome has sent me hither. Vengeance has been fully taken for your rebellion, it is time that the sword was laid aside. I have already issued a proclamation granting an amnesty to all who then rose against us.
Celsius, who had succeeded Petronius as propraetor, had received Beric sitting; but upon reading the document rose and greeted him cordially. "I have heard much of you, Beric, since I came here," he said, "and many have been the entreaties of your people to me that I would write to Rome to pray Caesar to restore you to them.
Petronius answered immediately that it was not possible to see even the sun behind a cloud; but she said, as if in jest, that love alone could blind such a piercing glance as mine, and, naming various women of the court, she fell to inquiring and guessing which one I loved. I answered calmly, but at last she mentioned thy name.
This success attends your lordship's thoughts, which would look like chance if it were not perpetual and always of the same tenor. If I grant that there is care in it, it is such a care as would be ineffectual and fruitless in other men; it is the curiosa felicitas which Petronius ascribes to Horace in his odes.
He does but ask again those appendages of your greatness, which have been torn from Rome, and were once members of her body. 'Your emperor is gracious indeed! replied the Queen, smiling; 'if he may hew off my limbs, he will spare the trunk! and what were the trunk without the limbs? 'And is this, said Petronius, his voice significant of inward grief, 'that which I must carry back to Rome?
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