United States or Kuwait ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
It has made short work of stronger men than that vicious stripling." Berenike gave the soldier her hand, thanked him hurriedly, and begged him, as he could pass unharmed through the city, to hasten to her husband's counting-house by the water-side, to warn him and carry him her last greetings. With tears in his eyes Martialis did as she desired.
But I know a hand that understands its work and would be ready to guide the steel. Call it out at the right moment and be its guide!" "And that hand?" Apollinaris asked in anxious expectation. "It is there," replied Berenike, pointing to Martialis, who entered the room at that moment. Again the brothers interchanged looks of doubt, but the lady cried: "Consider for a moment!
They had not yet formed in rank and file, but were grouped round the centurion Martialis, who had come to tell them, sadly, of his removal to Edessa, and to take leave of his comrades. He gave his hand to each one of them in turn, and received a kindly pressure in return; for the stubborn fellow, though not of the cleverest, had proved himself a good soldier, and to many of them a trusty friend.
If only for an hour they could be his subjects, he would make them rue the sufferings by which they spoiled his existence. "He is called Martialis. I will remember that name," he thought, as he cast a last envious look at the centurion. How long Philostratus was gone! Solitude weighed on him, and he looked about him wildly, as though seeking some support.
As soon as the prefect had disappeared within the building, the praetorian ranks fell out again. It was lucky that among them were several Alexandrians, besides the centurion Martialis, who had not long been absent from their native town; for without them much would have remained incomprehensible.
It would therefore be to their own advantage to keep their eyes open in the houses, and to be cautious. Whoever should take the daughter of the gem-cutter and he described Melissa once more would render a special service to Caesar and might reckon on promotion. The centurion Julius Martialis stayed to hear the end of this discourse, and then hurriedly departed.
The soldier, ever accustomed to obey, and only too anxious that his warning should not come too late, disclosed in hurried words what he had learned from the prefect. The brothers interrupted him from time to time with some exclamation of horror or disgust, but Berenike remained silent till Martialis stopped with a deep breath.
The centurion had thrown in a deprecatory word or two, but Berenike continued as if she had not heard him, till at last Martialis cried: "You ask too much of me, lady. Caesar is hateful to me, but I am no longer one of the praetorians, and am banished the country. How is it possible that I should approach him? How dare I, a common man "
But, after all, which of you all would not gladly see his sister or his niece Caesar's light of love?" "Not I!" cried Martialis. "But the man who speaks ill of that girl only does so because he likes blue eyes best. The maiden who comes in the lady Euryale's chariot is spotless, you may swear." "Nay, nay," said the younger Alexandrian soothingly.
It would therefore be to their own advantage to keep their eyes open in the houses, and to be cautious. Whoever should take the daughter of the gem-cutter and he described Melissa once more would render a special service to Caesar and might reckon on promotion. The centurion Julius Martialis stayed to hear the end of this discourse, and then hurriedly departed.
Word Of The Day