itled him to have
intercourse with the heavenly ones and the entire spirit-world as with
his equals, and to subdue them to his will.

"He exerted his power, and we saw with our bodily eyes that the spirits
came to his call. But we discovered that it was not done by words alone.
What a noble-looking man he is! And the mortifications that he
practices--these, too, are heroic deeds! The cavilers in the Museum might
take example from him. Serapion performed an action and a difficult one.
They waste their time over words, miserable words! They will prove to you
by convincing argument that yonder lion is a rabbit. The Magian waved his
hands and the king of beasts cringed before him. Like the worthies of the
Museum, every one in this city is merely a mouth on two legs. Where but
here would the Christians--I know their doctrines--have invented that
term for their sublime teacher--The Word become flesh? I have heard
nothing here," he turned to the deputation, "but words and again
words--from you, who humbly assure me of your love and reverence; from
those who think that their insignificant persons may slip through my
fingers and escape me, paltry, would-be witty words, dipped in poison and
gall. In the Circus, even, they aimed words at me. The Magian alone dared
to offer me deeds, and he succeeded wonderfully; he is a marvelous man!"

"What he showed you," said the high-priest, "was no more than what the
sorcerers achieved, as the old writings tell us, under the builders of
the Pyramids. Our astrologers, who traced out for you the path of the
stars--"

"They, too," interrupted Caesar, bowing slightly to the astrologers,
"have something better to show than words. As I owe to the Magian an
agreeable hour, so I thank you, my friends, for a happy one."

This remark had reference to the information which had been brought to
Caesar, during a pause in the incantations, that the stars predicted
great happiness for him in his union with Melissa, and that this
prediction was well-founded, was proved by the constellations which the
chief astrologer showed and explained to him.

While Caracalla was receiving the thanks of the astrologers, he caught
sight of Alexander, and at once graciously inquired how Melissa had got
back to her fathers house. He then asked, laughingly, if the wits of
Alexandria were going to treat him to another offering like the one on
his arrival. The youth, who had determined in the Circus to risk his
life, if ne