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"Are you content?" he inquired. Gray veil and robe fell away, revealing the beautiful sister of Appius. Vergilius went quickly to her side. "I declare them for each other!" said the emperor, as all rose and gathered around the two. He took the boy's hand. "Come to me at ten to-morrow," he added. "But, O father of Rome!" said Arria, looking up at the great man, "how long shall you detain him?"
Vergilius jumped as if he had felt the prick of steel. He turned, looking at the man who held his arm. A squad with torches came swiftly, forming about them. The powerful hands let go; a cloak and hood fell upon the floor. "The king!" said Vergilius, bowing low. "And you," said Herod, breathing heavily and leaning on the shoulder of the young man, "you are the only friend of the king.
Vergilius is a good Italic nomen found in all parts of the peninsula, but Latin names came as a matter of course with the gift of citizenship or of the Latin status, and Mantua with the rest of Cisalpine Gaul had received the Latin status nineteen years before Vergil's birth.
The banquet-table had been removed. Now they were taking their feast of old tales and new gossip. They rose and came to meet the young men. Tunics of jewelled gauze covered without concealing forms lovely as the sculptures of immortal Greece and redolent of all rare perfumes. "And you would see a maidens' frolic?" said one to Vergilius. Then said he: "Maidens are ever a delight to me."
Suddenly they were startled by a mighty voice that seemed to travel far into dark and lonely caverns of the sky. Like a trumpet-call it resounded over the gloomy hills -that cry of the camel-rider: "Where is he that is born king of the Jews?" Vergilius whispered, his awe returning: "They are coming those men who rode the camels."
"God curse him!" said Vergilius, quickly, his heart filling with passion dark as the night around. He heard no more the great song, but only the smite of steel in deadly combat. He seemed to see his enemy fall bleeding at his feet. "I will take what Herod offers," he thought. "I will make war on the cats and the serpents." He had forgotten everything now save his bitterness. "See!
That group of people under the light, seeing symbols of Roman authority and hearing its familiar voice, fell aside with fear in their faces. A woman standing in the entrance of the cave addressed Vergilius, her voice trembling with emotion. "Good sir," said she, "if you mean harm to those within I pray you go hence." "I know not who is within," he answered, as both he and David passed her.
Vergilius, returning, removed the skin of the ass and loosed the fetters a little, and forbade the soldiers any further revenge. "The skin of a leopard would become you better," said Vergilius to Antipater, as he unlashed the coat of shame. The wrathful Jew, still cursing, tried to bite the friendly hand of his keeper. "My noble prince," said Vergilius, "you flatter me; I am not good to eat."
Swiftly, from beside the cohort a fair daughter of Judea, in a white robe, ran across the field of battle. She knelt beside Vergilius and touched his pale face with her hands. Then she called to him: "Rise, O my beloved! Rise quickly! He will slay you!" "Cyran!" he whispered. Antipater had gained his feet and now ran to glut his anger.
"I can bear it no longer," says one, rushing to the gate of the arena, only to find that he could not open it. The slave-girl utters a cry and steps forward and is caught and held by the carnifex. Vergilius urges the leopard. He steps quickly, feinting with his lance; the cat darts along the farther side of the arena, roaring. Its eyes glow fiery in the dusk.
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