The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

And soon this mortal frame of mine Aliist unto dust , its dust resign . Then why would ' so thou , mth useless care , Anoint my tombstone cold and bare ? Rather , while yet with with life I glow , Let oil and wine unbounded flow .

Let roses round nvy head be tied , And call my mistress to my side ; Then all my cares shall melt away And death can take me when he may . "

When the applause had subsided , Balbus said to Murtius : " I hear that the son of Lucius Decius , the young Adrian , returns home soon , full of Greek philosophy and Egyptian lore . Dost thou know him ,

Murtius ? He passed some time in Athens , with his tutor , Antiloclms . " A gloom fell upon the Greek ' s face at this question , and Lais and Phryne looked disconcerted . It was but momentary , for Murtius answered : —

"No , I did not have the pleasure of meeting him in Athens , but those who knew him , spoke of him as a ripe and brilliant scholar . Say , is he not related to Trajan ' s favourite , the gallant soldier and poet , Cams Fabius ? At least I have

heard so .- " "They are cousins , " replied Balbus , "both eminent in their various lines , although rigid shimners of the rosy grape . Hast thou met Cains ?"

" Never , but from what I have heard of him , I should be delighted to see him at my house . " "Is he as handsome as the people say ? " asked Phryne with some appearance of interest , "he looked a gallant gentleman from the glimpse I had of him in the triumph , but it is impossible to judge in such a rush and throng ' . "

" Handsome ; well , that is as you may choose to call him . He has a fine marble white forehead , round which his locks of golden hair reel , and throw out upon the gazer large deep beautiful blue eyes—the poet ' s eyes . A soft

pleasing smile ripples constantly over his face which with a dreamy expression , as of one living in things out of the world , indicates the calm untroubled soul beneath . His voice low and melodiously sweet , steals through the heart like the

richest music ; though at times his eyes can flash lightning from their cerulean vaults , and his voice can . thunder forth tones of fury and command . The soldiers tell how the Dacians fled before him m the fight , exclaiming that the gods and not men were waging war with them / - '

" You pique my curiosity , Balbus , but are you not romancing . You poets are ever away upon the wings of fancy , Say , do you not exaggerate ?" "I , fair lady . lam as literal as an order of the Senate . "

"I must see him . Canyon not bring him to our house , " asked Phryne . Balbus bowed . " Will he not become one of us ? " asked Murtius , touching his beaker of wine . "He ! Oh , no ! his heart is fashioned after the

antique ; and if he knew of this our meeting , a praetorian guard would honour us with their company to the Colosseum . Hard , is it not , that we the good and leal worshippers of Bacchus , should rank with these swine of Christians ? Have you

not heard what he said to the soldiers , who captured from the Dacians a jar of wine , ' My friends let us pour it on the earth to Mars . You will find wholesome water in yonder river / He is notoriously a foe to Bacchus . "

"He appears to stand high in Trajan ' s favour ? " " So he may . In the late war , he risked his life three times to save Trajan's , and the Emperor is not one to forg'et such an act , for with all his

morality , he loves this world too well , to desire a speedy removal to the next . " "Is Cains wealthy ?"

" He must be so , his father left him large estates and much coiueel money . Then his uncle Aulus , the governor of the province , is said to be enormously wealthy , and Caius is his heir . Adrian too is rich , in fact , I should say they are the two

richest young nobles of the time . " Murtius and Lais interchanged looks at this . ' " You will bring them both to see me ?" " Yes , I shall bring Caius one of these days . I have great power over him- —and , although I

should not like it to go abroad , I look over his poems , and advise him regarding them . " " You have not sent me those verses you . promised me , Balbus , " said Phryne , who had eagerly drank in tho Roman's words .

" Patience , fair lady ! Affairs ox state have prevented me sacrificing at the altars of Apollo and the Muses , but you will soon havo them . Murtius , why delay the dance . I have lain on this couch till I feel as sore as if I had been thrashed

with cudgels . " " You pay me a very high compliment , " said Phryne , pretending to pout to conceal a smile ,