your
hands to make me bless the day on which I spoke on your behalf. Could you
but succeed in rising to real greatness of soul, girl--through you, I
swear it, the subjects of this mighty kingdom would be saved from great
tribulations!"

"But, my lord," Melissa broke in, "who would ask such lofty things of a
lowly maiden? My mother taught me to be kind and helpful to others in the
house, to my friends, and fellow-citizens; my own heart tells me to be
faithful to my betrothed. But I care not greatly for the Romans, and what
to me are Gauls, Dacians, or whatever else these barbarians may be
called?"

"And yet," said Philostratus, "you offered a sacrifice for the foreign
tyrant."

"Because his pain excited my compassion," rejoined Melissa, blushing.

"And would you have done the same for any masterless black slave, covered
with pitiably deep wounds?" asked the philosopher.

"No," she answered, quickly; "him I would have helped with my own hand.
When I can do without their aid, I do not appeal to the gods. And then--I
said before, his trouble seemed doubly great because it contrasted so
sharply with all the splendor and joy that surrounded him."

"Aye," said the philosopher, earnestly, "and a small thing that affects
the ruler recoils tenfold--a thousand-fold-on his subjects. Look at one
tree through a cut glass with many facets, and it be comes a forest. Thus
the merest trifle, when it affects the emperor, becomes important for the
millions over whom he rules. Caracalla's vexation entails evil on
thousands--his anger is death and ruin. I fear me, girl, your flight will
bring down heavy misfortune on those who surround Caesar, and first of
all upon the Alexandrians, to whom you belong, and against whom he
already bears a grudge. You once said your native city was dear to you."

"So it is," returned Melissa, who, at his last words had grown first red
and then pale; "but Caesar can not surely be so narrow-minded as to
punish a whole great city for what the poor daughter of a gem-cutter has
done."

"You are thinking of my Achilles," answered the philosopher. "But I only
transferred what I saw of good in Caracalla to the figure of my hero.
Besides, you know that Caesar is not himself when he is in wrath. Has not
experience taught me that no reasons are strong enough to convince a
loving woman's heart? Once more I entreat you, stay here! Reject not the
splendid gift which the gods offer you, that trouble may not come up