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Updated: May 3, 2025
"We took it so strictly that I had one of the soldiers in my legion, who abducted a maiden, bound by the feet to two trees which had been bent down and tore him asunder when they sprang back again." "Well, you won't tear me asunder on that account," laughed old Mesembrius, delighted with the noble indignation displayed by his guest.
The stone in the ring was a wonderfully carved cameo the white bust of a beautiful woman, with Greek features, upon a purplish-yellow ground. Mesembrius frowned gloomily as he examined the cameo; he averted his head, again gazed fixedly at the ring, and at last with a gesture of loathing, thrust it from him and bowed his gray head despairingly on his breast.
When the name "Glyceria" reached him, he struck his heels into his horse's flanks, and as though he felt the scourge of the Furies upon him, dashed wildly into the courtyard of the Villa Mesembrius. The old man, without noticing the expression of rage, terror, and despair that darkened the knight's face, met him with a smile.
Here they were joined by the fugitive Mesembrius who, when he left Rome, fled directly to Numerian. No one had been able to see this noble Cæsar for several weeks. He suffered severe pain in his eyes, and did not leave his tent. Mesembrius made his complaint to the leaders next in command.
"I thank you, Sinister. So you love me and my daughter. I thank you again and again; we will be grateful. In return, I will give my age, she her youth. We have always held you dear, always regarded you as one of our family. If you wish to guard us from peril keep this ring go with it where you are led seek her who sent it and kill her." "Mesembrius! She is your daughter."
She has gone to one now, and has not yet returned." Manlius, trembling, raised both clenched hands heavenward, and shrieked: "Cursed be the heaven which permitted this to happen!" Mesembrius drew back in astonishment, asking in a tone of bewilderment: "What is the matter?" Manlius despairingly grasped the old man's hand. "You have been robbed of your daughter."
The old man's last words were lost in a convulsive sob. "Who is this woman?" cried Manlius, springing from his chair. "This woman is my daughter," gasped Mesembrius. "Glyceria?" "Abraxas!" The old man fairly shouted the word used to ward off evil, and shuddered with loathing as he heard the name. Manlius drew the ring from his finger and went to the window, beneath which flowed the Tiber.
Mesembrius guessed his intention. "Don't throw it into the water! A fish might swallow it, the fishermen catch it, and it would again see the light of day. It will poison the Tiber, and whoever drinks from it will go mad. Keep it. I have an idea, on account of which you must wear this ring. You said you had done so until now for my sake." "I kept it to save you, if need be."
Mesembrius saw that the soul of his guest was beginning to open and, propping his cheek upon his hand, he commenced the examination. "Well, Manlius, how do you like the Falernian? Am I not right in saying that Italy is the bosom of the earth, for here are the breasts namely, the mountains which produce this wine?" "Yet I have quaffed a more inspiring drink in my life-time."
"May you be accursed!" shouted Mesembrius, with savage fury, and without heeding the Cæsar, his dead daughter, or the danger threatening him, he rushed out of the hall like a madman. This very thing saved him. "Follow him, Galga!" shouted Carinus. "Seize him. This man's head must be laid at my feet." Meanwhile Mesembrius rushed through the palace.
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