Alexandrians. But why so pale? Your cheeks will regain their color
in the Circus. I know I am right--you will leave it delighted
and enthralled. You have only to learn for the first time how the
acclamations of tens of thousands take hold upon the heart and
intoxicate the senses. Courage, courage, Macedonian maiden! Everything
grand and unexpected, even unforeseen happiness, is alarming and
bewildering. But we become accustomed even to the impossible. A strong
spirit like yours soon gets over anything of the kind. But the time is
running on. One word more: You must be in the Circus by sunset. In any
case, you must be in your place before I come. Adventus will see that
you have a chariot or a litter, whichever you please. Theocritus will be
waiting at the entrance to lead you to your seats."

Melissa could restrain herself no longer, and, carried away by the wild
conflict of passions in her breast, she threw control and prudence to
the winds, and cried:

"I will not!" Then throwing back her head as if to call the heavens to
witness, she raised her great, wide-open eyes and gazed above.

But not for long. Her bold defiance had roused Caesar's utmost fury, and
he broke out with a growl of rage:

"You will not, you say? And you think, unreasoning fool, that this
settles the matter?"

He uttered a wild laugh, pressed his hand firmly on his left eyelid,
which began to twitch convulsively, and went on in a lower but defiantly
contemptuous tone:

"I know better! You shall! And you will not only go to the Circus, but
you will do it willingly, or at least with smiling lips. You will start
at sunset! At the time appointed I shall find you in your place. If
not!--Must I begin so soon to teach you that I can be serious? Have a
care, girl! You are dear to me; yet--by the head of my father!--if you
defy me, my Numidian lion-keepers shall drag you to the place you belong
to!"

Thus far Melissa had listened to the emperor's raging with panting bosom
and quivering nostrils, as at a performance, which must sooner or later
come to an end; and now she broke in regardless of the consequences:

"Send for them," she cried, "and order them to throw me to the wild
beasts! It will doubtless be a welcome surprise to the lookers-on. Which
of them can say they have ever seen the daughter of a free Roman citizen
who never yet came before the law, torn to pieces in the sand of
the arena? They delight in anything new! Yes, murder me, as you di