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Updated: May 3, 2025
O Mesembrius, is it true that above us dwells an invisible Being, who is the Lord of heaven and earth, and that the lifeless stone images which we worship are not even able to defend themselves?" Mesembrius pressed the youth's hand. He had heard enough. "We will say no more about it, Manlius. You shrank from the power that barred your way. It was God! How did the army behave later?"
Old Mesembrius knew that his favourite daughter was secretly a proselyte of the new faith, and he did not oppose it; nay, he did not even let his daughter perceive that he had any idea of it. Young sons of patrician families often came from Rome, lured by the fame of the maiden's beauty, and all cherishing the hope of obtaining her hand and with it her millions.
The wine stood untouched a long time before the two who, during the conversation, had become perfectly sober. But their hearts, which the wine had opened, remained unveiled. "Let me look at the ring more closely," said Mesembrius in a low tone. Manlius held out his hand.
"My bride?" asked Manlius, in a tone of astonishment. "Your mind is wandering, old Mesembrius." "Have the Furies robbed you of your reason that you no longer remember that, but three days ago, you asked for my daughter's hand and I gave it to you?" "Your daughter's hand, certainly," replied Manlius, with unshaken calmness. "Not this daughter's here, however, but Glyceria's."
He could already see the colossal outlines of the Mesembrius villa, when he perceived in the road a magnificent lectica, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and hung with silk curtains, such as in those days only the most aristocratic women used in traveling. Two splendidly caparisoned sumpter mules were harnessed to the four poles, beside which marched two slaves.
Mesembrius' face blanched, and sinking back into his chair he faltered with fixed eyes, "Glyceria!" "Yes, you are right; she has robbed you of her. And I, blind fool, met them, and these eyes did not recognize her in the darkness; this pitiable heart did not feel that, five steps off, she was being borne away from me.
"The Senate would not accept the abdication, and compelled the immortal Carinus to continue to wear the purple." Mesembrius was obliged to lean on his crutches again. "Oh, my poor feet! Oh, this terrible gout in my knees! Foolish old man that I am; what have I been saying? I swing myself on a horse? If I could at least sit comfortably in my wheel-chair! Such a foolish old fellow!
There stood Manlius, with a cold, unsympathising face, talking to Carinus. Not a feature betrayed the slightest sorrow. Mesembrius indignantly grasped the youth's arm. "And have your eyes no tears, when your bride lies murdered before you?" Seized with suspicion Carinus suddenly looked at Manlius; the courtiers, with malicious pleasure, turned toward him.
Thus, for several years, Mesembrius Vio, the oldest Senator who since the death of Probus had not set foot in Rome nor given the Senate a glimpse of him had resided on his estate at the mouth of the Tiber.
Oh, Manlius, it is terrible when the hair is grey to be unable to look men in the face, to hear everywhere and be forced to read in the eyes of all: 'This is Mesembrius who corrupts Rome! This man gave life to the monster who daily consumes the bread and drinks the blood of a hundred thousand starving people.
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