United States or Isle of Man ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
In Acte's head these things could not find place. At times she felt that Lygia's action was right, that there must be some immense mysterious happiness in it; but she could not give a clear account to herself of the matter, especially since an adventure was before Lygia which might have an evil ending, an adventure in which she might lose her life simply.
Lygia's frightened thoughts could not keep pace with Acte's words; and when that wonderful world attracted her eyes with increasing force, her heart contracted within her from fear, and in her soul she struggled with an immense, inexpressible yearning for the beloved Pomponia Græcina, and the calm house of Aulus, in which love, and not crime, was the ruling power.
In one moment Lygia recognized Atacinus, a freedman of Vinicius, who had visited the house of Aulus. Acte screamed; but Atacinus bent low and said, "A greeting, divine Lygia, from Marcus Vinicius, who awaits thee with a feast in his house which is decked in green." The lips of the maiden grew pale. "I go," said she. Then she threw her arms around Acte's neck in farewell.
But though he had promised himself to inquire of her calmly, he pressed his head with his hands again, and said, with a face distorted by pain and anger, "She is gone. She was taken from me on the way!" After a while, however, he recovered, and thrusting his face up to Acte's, said through his set teeth, "Acte!
"At Acte's I met Pomponia, who said to me: 'May God forgive thee the evil which thou hast done to us and to Lygia." "Evidently their God is some curator who is very mild. Ha! let him forgive thee, and in sign of forgiveness return thee the maiden." "I would offer him a hecatomb to-morrow! I have no wish for food, or the bath, or sleep. I will take a dark lantern and wander through the city.
Word Of The Day