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'And by Isis, Pisis, and Nisis, or whatever other gods there may be in Egypt, my little Nydia is a very Hesperides a garden of gold to me. 'She sings well, and plays like a muse, returned Calenus; 'those are virtues that he who employs me always pays liberally. 'He is a god, cried Burbo, enthusiastically; 'every rich man who is generous deserves to be worshipped.
Opposite to him sat the sturdy Burbo, carefully counting on a table between them a little pile of coins which the priest had just poured from his purse for purses were as common then as now, with this difference they were usually better furnished! 'You see, said Calenus, that we pay you handsomely, and you ought to thank me for recommending you to so advantageous a market.
'Not know thy Burbo? fie! 'Gods! how the darkness gathers! Ho, ho! by yon terrific mountain, what sudden blazes of lightning! How they dart and quiver! Hades is loosed on earth! 'Tush! thou believest not these things, Calenus! Now is the time to make our fortune! 'Ha! 'Listen!
If I say the word, break up your wine-jars you sell no more. Glaucus, the slave is yours. Burbo scratched his huge head, in evident embarrassment. 'The girl is worth her weight in gold to me. 'Name your price, I am rich, said Glaucus. The ancient Italians were like the modern, there was nothing they would not sell, much less a poor blind girl.
His presence seemed to shed light over that base and obscene haunt young, beautiful, glorious, he was the emblem of all that earth made most happy, comforting one that earth had abandoned! 'Well, who could have thought our blind Nydia had been so honored! said the virago, wiping her heated brow. Glaucus looked up at Burbo.
'Come here, said Stratonice, drawing her husband to her affectionately by the ears, in that caress which Tibullus has so prettily described 'Come here! 'Not so hard, she-wolf! thou art worse than the gladiator, murmured the huge jaws of Burbo. 'Hist! said she, whispering him; 'Calenus has just stole in, disguised, by the back way. I hope he has brought the sesterces. 'Ho! ho!
'I do, my cousin, I do, replied Burbo, affectionately, as he swept the coins into a leathern receptacle, which he then deposited in his girdle, drawing the buckle round his capacious waist more closely than he was wont to do in the lax hours of his domestic avocations.
The orgies of Burbo might only have disgusted, the banquets of the Egyptian might only have terrified, at the moment; but the winds that pass unheeded over the soil leave seeds behind them. As darkness, too, favors the imagination, so, perhaps, her very blindness contributed to feed with wild and delirious visions the love of the unfortunate girl.
This new ally was in herself a match for the gladiator; she was tall, lean, and with arms that could give other than soft embraces. In fact, the gentle helpmate of Burbo the wine-seller had, like himself, fought in the lists nay under the emperor's eye. And Burbo himself Burbo, the unconquered in the field, according to report, now and then yielded the palm to his soft Stratonice.
A miser never was a hero. 'I am not a miser, said Lydon, haughtily, and he withdrew to the other end of the room. 'But I don't see Burbo; where is Burbo? I must talk with Burbo, cried Clodius. 'He is within, said Niger, pointing to the door at the extremity of the room. 'And Stratonice, the brave old lass, where is she? quoth Lepidus.
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