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"He who to the perfection of Rome hath added the perfection of the East; who to the arm of conquest, which is Western, hath also the art needful to the enjoyment of dominion, which is Eastern." "Perpol! His best is a Roman, after all," some one shouted; and there was a great laugh, and long clapping of hands an admission that Messala had the advantage.
Ah, I forgot, you are a Sadducee: the Essenes are your sensible people; they believe in the sisters. So do I. How everlastingly the three are in the way of our doing what we please! I sit down scheming. I run paths here and there. Perpol! Just when I am reaching to take the world in hand, I hear behind me the grinding of scissors. I look, and there she is, the accursed Atropos!
"And now, Magnus, you will not hesitate to annihilate the enemies of the Republic?" a look of pained indecision flitted across Pompeius's face. "Perpol, gentlemen," he exclaimed, "I would that I were well out of this. Sometimes I think that you are leading me into breaking with Cæsar for some ends of your own. He was my friend before you had a word of praise for me.
Perpol! I will go further, and show what master diviners ye are! See and read." From the folds of his toga he drew a roll of paper, and passed it to them, saying, "Received while at table last night from Sejanus." The name was already a great one in the Roman world; great, and not so infamous as it afterwards became.
"Tell us more of him perpol! of him who is both Jew and Roman by Phoebus, a combination to make a Centaur lovely! What garments cloth he affect, my Drusus?" "Those of the Jews." "Hearest thou, Caius?" said Messala.
But he was not utterly cast down. He had overheard the street talk of two equites, whom in more happy days he had known as rising politicians. "I hope the consuls are right," the first had said, "that Cæsar's army will desert him." "Perpol," responded the other, "your wish is mine! If the proconsul really does advance, nothing will stand between him and the city!" Gabinius kept his own counsel.
"Up the street; up to the Omphalus, and beyond who shall say how far? Rivers of people; never so many in the city before. They say we will see the whole world at the Circus to-morrow." Messala laughed scornfully. "The idiots! Perpol! They never beheld a Circensian with Caesar for editor. But, my Drusus, what found you?" "Nothing." "O ah! You forget," said Cecilius. "What?" asked Drusus.
Hercle! the oracles would die. What wouldst thou with such a monster?" "Answer to one question, my Flavius; then, perpol! I would cut his throat." "And the question?" "I would have him tell me the hour Hour, said I? nay, the minute Maxentius will arrive to-morrow." "Good play, good play! I have you! And why the minute?"
But when he saw on the binding-cords the seal which, though broken, still showed its impression he gave a start and exclamation. "Perpol! The seal of Sextus Flaccus, the great capitalist." "Certainly, why should it not be from him?"
Most excellent Magnus, you do not have confidence enough in your own cause to join us. Do you doubt our loyalty or soldierly qualities!" "Perpol!" replied Pompeius, with a rather ill-concealed effort to speak gayly, "do you think, good Labienus, that I am as distrustful of you as Cæsar ought to be of his men?" And the Magnus also took the oath.
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