This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
By Georg Ebers
The philosopher announced the visitor to Caesar, and as some little timeelapsed before Melissa came in, Caracalla forgot his theatricalassumption, and sat with a drooping head; for, in consequence, no doubt,of the sunshine which beat on the top of his head, the pain had suddenlybecome almost unendurably violent.
Without vouchsafing a glance at Melissa, he swallowed one of thealleviating pills left him by Galenus, and hid his face in his hands.The girl came forward, fearless of the lion, for Philostratos had assuredher that he was tamed, and most animals were willing to let her touchthem. Nor was she afraid of Caesar himself, for she saw that he was inpain, and the alarm with which she had crossed the threshold gave way topity. Philostratus kept at her side, and anxiously watched Caracalla.
The courage the simple girl showed in the presence of the ferociousbrute, and the not less terrible man, struck him favorably, and his hopesrose as a sunbeam fell on her shining hair, which the lady Berenike hadarranged with her own hand, twining it with strands of white Bombyx. Shemust appear, even to this ruthless profligate, as the very type of pureand innocent grace.
Her long robe and peplos, of the finest white wool, also gave her an airof distinction which suited the circumstances. It was a costly garment,which Berenike had had made for Korinna, and she had chosen it from amongmany instead of the plainer robe in which old Dido had dressed her youngmistress. With admirable taste the matron had aimed at giving Melissa asimple, dignified aspect, unadorned and almost priestess-like in itsseverity. Nothing should suggest the desire to attract, and everythingmust exclude the idea of a petitioner of the poorer and commoner sort.
Philostratus saw that her appearance had been judiciously cared for; butCaesar's long silence, of which he knew the reason, began to cause himsome uneasiness: for, though pain sometimes softened the despot's mood,it more often prompted him to revenge himself, as it were, for his ownsufferings, by brutal attacks on the comfort and happiness of others.And, at last, even Melissa seemed to be losing the presence of mind hehad admired, for he saw her bosom heave faster and higher, her lipsquivered, and her large eyes sparkled through tears.
Caesar's countenance presently cleared a little. He raised his head, andas his eye met Melissa's she pronounced in a low, sweet voice thepleasant Greek greeting, "Rejoice!"
At this moment the philosopher was seized with a panic of anxiety; hefelt for the first time the weight of responsibility he had taken onhimself. Never had he thought her so lovely, so enchantingly bewitchingas now, when she looked up at Caracalla in sweet confusion and timidity,but wholly possessed by her desire to win the favor of the man who, witha word, could make her so happy or so wretched. If this slave of hispassions, whom a mere whim perhaps had moved to insist on the strictestmorality in his court, should take a fancy to this delightful youngcreature, she was doomed to ruin. He turned pale, and his heart throbbedpainfully as he watched the development of the catastrophe for which hehad himself prepared the way.
But, once more, the unexpected upset the philosopher's anticipations.Caracalla gazed at the girl in amazement, utterly discomposed, as thoughsome miracle had happened, or a ghost had started from the ground beforehim. Springing up, while he clutc