This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
By Georg Ebers
The amphitheatre was soon emptied, amid the flare of lightning and thecrash and roll of thunder. Caracalla, thinking only of the happy omen ofTarautas's wonderful escape, called out to Melissa, with affectionateanxiety, to fly to shelter as quickly as possible; a chariot was inwaiting to convey her to the Serapeum. On this she humbly representedthat she would rather be permitted to return under her brother's escortto her father's house, and Caracalla cheerfully acceded. He had businesson hand this night, which made it seem desirable to him that she shouldnot be too near him. He should expect her brother presently at theSerapeum.
With his own hand he wrapped her in the caracalla and hood which oldAdventus was about to put on his master's shoulders, remarking, as he didso, that he had weathered worse storms in the field.
Melissa thanked him with a blush, and, going close up to her, hewhispered: "To-morrow, if Fate grants us gracious answers to thequestions I shall put to her presently after this storm—tomorrow thehorn of happiness will be filled to overflowing for you and me. Thethrifty goddess promises to be lavish to me through you."
Slaves were standing round with lighted lanterns; for the torches in thetheatre were all extinguished, and the darkened auditorium lay like anextinct crater, in which a crowd of indistinguishable figures were movingto and fro. It reminded him of Hades and a troop of descending spirits;but he would not allow anything but what was pleasant to occupy his mindor eye. By a sudden impulse he took a lantern from one of theattendants, held it up above Melissa's head, and gazed long and earnestlyinto her brightly illuminated face. Then he dropped his hand with a sighand said, as though speaking in a dream: "Yes, this is life! Now I beginto live."
He lifted the dripping laurel crown from his head, tossed it into thearena, and added to Melissa: "Now, get under shelter at once, sweetheart.I have been able to see you this whole evening, even when the lamps wereout; for lightning gives light. Thus even the storm has brought me joy.Sleep well. I shall expect you early, as soon as I have bathed."
Melissa wished him sound slumbers, and he replied, lightly:
"If only all life were a dream, and if to-morrow I might but wake up, nolonger the son of Severus, but Alexander; and you, not Melissa, butRoxana, whom you so strongly resemble! To be sure I might find myselfthe gladiator Tarautas. But, then, who would you be? And your stalwartfather, who stands there defying the rain, certainly does not look like avision, and this storm is not favorable to philosophizing."
He kissed his hand to her, had a dry caracalla thrown over his shoulders,ordered Theocritus to take care of Tarautas and carry him a purse of gold—which he handed to the favorite—and then, pulling the hood over hishead, led the way, followed by his impatient courtiers; but not till hehad answered Heron, who had come forward to ask him what he thought ofthe mechanical arts of the Alexandrians, desiring him to postpone thatmatter till the morrow.
The storm had silenced the music. Only a few stanch trumpeters hadremained in their places; and when they saw by the lan