Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 17, 2025
Brinnaria knew that she had won, that Aurelius had put her to the test before all Rome, that she had stood the test, that all Rome was witness. Her fingers clutched the handle of her fan. She could hardly feel it in her grasp. The big man took his foot from Almo's chest. The audience broke into howls of applause, gust after gust of cheers, roaring like a storm wind in a forest.
Accordingly it was settled that Brinnaria was to face her ordeal at midday on August fifteenth of the nine hundred and thirty-seventh year after the founding of Rome, 184 of our era. That night Numisia, conferring with Brinnaria, concluded by saying: "Truttidius enjoined me to remind you to be very careful not to touch the web of the sieve with your fingers.
The populace groaned. Manlia prayed. Brinnaria, under scrutiny of two hundred thousand eyes, sat erect, fanned herself steadily, and gazed straight before her. To all appearance she was as indifferent to Almo as if he did not exist. After that Alma moved like a sleep-walker or a man in a dream, dully and dazedly. The big man feinted and lunged cleverly.
She was the Vestal, the others were only her assistants and in training to succeed her. But as Causidiena became less and less able to see, all matters which could be attended to by others devolved more and more upon Numisia. Among her colleagues Numisia had greatest confidence in Brinnaria, so that Brinnaria's duties occupied her insistently.
Brinnaria declared that her appetite was as good as on the day when she had returned home from her exile to Aunt Septima's villa. After two public advertisements of the Emperor's favor and esteem she was entirely free from any sort of worry. Her enemies were few, merely Calvaster and his parasites, and they were thoroughly cowed and curbed their tongues.
I shall certainly find means to relieve your mind as far as he is concerned." "There is worse yet to tell," Brinnaria went on. "You'd think that, if he must stay in Rome he'd at least have the decency to keep away from me and from places where he is likely to encounter me. He does just the reverse. He haunts me, he waylays me.
"I am," Brinnaria confessed. Lutorius nodded. "Now, do not take umbrage," he said, "at what I am about to ask. If you must say no, say no without being offended. May I tell the Emperor what you have said to me?" "Certainly," Brinnaria authorized him. "Aurelius is so good a friend to me that sometimes I think he is the best friend I have on earth."
By the time he had disposed of him the entire audience, fully a hundred thousand souls, were as well aware of what was going on as was Brinnaria herself. She was pale, but entirely collected. To Manlia she whispered venomously: "Castor be thanked, he is certain to be killed, Aurelius has attended to that."
*In fact, wheeled vehicles except for those of the Emperor and the Vestals were forbidden in the city during the daytime. After that formality had been complied with Brinnaria was permitted to drive where she pleased, with what guest she chose, or accompanied only by her official companion or by her maid.
Otherwise Brinnaria was very happy. Through Flexinna she had frequent news of Almo. Ancient Rome had no institution, public or private, in any way corresponding to our post office. But routes of trade and travel by land and sea were well defined and traffic along them fairly regular, on the most used routes almost continual.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking