Transcriber’s Note
Errors and inconsistencies in punctuation have been attributed toprinter’s errors, and corrected.
The Greek circumflex, which appears in the text as an inverted breve(^), is rendered here using a tilde (~).
Please note the publisher’s decision to place footnotes at the bottomof each page, as well as the author’s note on this topic in thePreface. In keeping with his intent, footnotes have been moved to theend of this file.
The cover image has been modified to include the volume number, and is placedin the public domain.
Please consult the notes at the bottom of this text for more detailson the handling of textual issues.
WORKS
BY
ERNST ECKSTEIN.
CYPARISSUS. From the German by Mary J. Safford. One vol., paper, 50 cts.; cloth, 75 cts.
HERTHA. From the German by Mrs. Edward Hamilton Bell. One vol., paper, 50 cts.; cloth, 75 cts.
QUINTUS CLAUDIUS. From the German by Clara Bell. Two vols., paper, $1.00; cloth, $1.75 per set.
PRUSIAS. From the German by Clara Bell. Two vols., paper, $1.00; cloth, $1.75 per set.
NERO. From the German by Clara Bell and Mary J. Safford. Two vols., paper, 80 cts.; cloth, $1.50 per set.
THE WILL. From the German by Clara Bell. Two vols., paper, $1.00; cloth, $1.75 per set.
APHRODITE. From the German by Mary J. Safford. One vol., paper, 50 cts.; cloth, 90 cts.
THE CHALDEAN MAGICIAN. From the German by Mary J. Safford. One vol., paper, 25 cts.; cloth, 50 cts.
ECKSTEIN’S ROMANCES,
12 volumes, cloth binding, in box, $9.50
Quintus Claudius
A ROMANCE OF IMPERIAL ROME
BY
ERNST ECKSTEIN
From the German by Clara Bell
IN TWO VOLUMES—VOL. I.
REVISED AND CORRECTED IN THE UNITED STATES
NEW YORK
GEO. GOTTSBERGER PECK, Publisher
117 CHAMBERS STREET
Copyright, 1882, by William S. Gottsberger
THIS TRANSLATION WAS MADE EXPRESSLY FOR THE PUBLISHER
PREFACE
TO THE FIRST GERMAN EDITION.
It was in Rome itself, in the sublime solemnity of the Colosseum,among the ruins of the palaces of the Caesars and crumbling pillars ofthe temples of the gods, that the first dreamy outlines rose beforemy fancy of the figures here offered to the reader’s contemplation.Each visit added strength to the mysterious impulse, to conjure upfrom their tombs these shadows of a mighty past, and afterwards, athome, where the throng of impressions sorted and grouped themselves atleisure, my impulse ripened to fulfilment.
I will not pause here to dwell on the fact, that the period of Imperialrule in