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Then came the effeminate Gracus, in head-dress and neckerchief, frilled robe and lady's sandals. He was of great sires who had borne the Roman eagles into Gaul. "Good lady," said he, "I would give my life." "And had I more provocation," said Arria, raising a jewelled bodkin, "I would take it." Now the splendid Antipater, son of Herod the Great, was up and speaking.
"If one were to find him now, and he were to go," said the philosopher, "by the gods above us! I fear he would return a sad rake indeed." "'Tis not a pleasant theme," said the Lady Lucia, by way of introducing another. "The dear old girl!" said young Gracus, in a low tone, as he turned to the senator. "Her hair is a lie, her complexion is a lie, her lips are a lie."
But he said nothing. "The streets are full of poets," said Gracus. "Those old men with long beards and stilted rubbish!" said Augustus, "with tragedies that slay the hero and the hearer! Bring me a poet, and, remember, I shall honor him above all men. Once I invited Horace to dine with me, and got no answer. He was a proud man" this with a merry smile.
My dear friends, tell me, in the baths or the forum or the theatre, or wherever the people congregate, do you hear of no youth that has the divine gift of song?" He paused for a little, but there was no reply. "Then Rome is in evil days," said the great father, sadly. "Why?" It was the question of Gracus. "Why, young man?
"But they are not yet married," the other answered, malevolently. "Vergilius! Bah! He is the son of a praetor and I am the son of a king. Curse the old fox! He never spoke to me after greetings, and once when I glanced up at him I thought his keen eyes were looking through me. "Those eyes! Jupiter!" said Gracus, "they drop a plummet into one."
A few minutes later, in a robe of white silk and a yellow girdle, he came into his banquet-hall with politeness, dovelike, worshipful, and caressing. "Noble son of Varro!" said he, smiling graciously, "it is a joy to see you. And you, brave Gracus; and you, Aulus, child of Destiny; and you, my learned Manius; and you, Carus, favored of the Muses: I do thank you all for this honor."
As they were rising, the young Gracus remarked: "By Apollo! I have not taken my emetic." "To forget that is to know sorrow," said another. Slaves brought their outer robes and they followed the young prince. He led them, between vines and fruit trees and beds of martagon and mirasolus, to the lion-house in his garden. Vergilius now understood the test of courage to be put upon him.
"Give me half an hour, you love-sick maiden," said Augustus. "He shall be at your palace in good time." "Come at the middle hour," said the Lady Lucia, her hand upon the arm of Vergilius. "The gods give you sleep," said the great father, as he bade them good-night. Beneath the laurels on their way to the gate, Gracus, who rode with Antipater, said: "And what of your oath, son of Herod?"
"The girl against a hundred denarii that you cannot live an hour in the arena with him," said Antipater, hotly. "I accept the wager," Vergilius calmly answered, laying off his robe and seizing a lance. He entered the arena and closed its gate behind him. "Drive the beast in upon me, son of Herod; and you, Gracus, be ready to hand me another lance."
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