Meanwhile a scene of a very different nature was proceeding without, at
Numerian's garden-gate. Here were no singing-boys, no freedmen, no
profusion of rich treasures--here appeared only the solitary and
deformed figure of Ulpius, half hidden among surrounding trees, while he
waited at his appointed post. As time wore on, and still Vetranio did
not appear, the Pagan's self-possession began to desert him. He moved
restlessly backwards and forwards over the soft dewy grass, sometimes in
low tones calling upon his gods to hasten the tardy footsteps of the
libertine patrician, who was to be made the instrument of restoring to
the temples the worship of other days--sometimes cursing the reckless
delay of the senator, or exulting in the treachery by which he madly
believed his ambition was at last to be fulfilled; but still, whatever
his words or thoughts, wrought up to the same pitch of fierce, fanatic
enthusiasm which had strengthened him for the defence of his idols at
Alexandria, and had nerved him against the torment and misery of years
in his slavery in the copper mines of Spain.
Pages:
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251