No possible chance, not even the most terrible, was
forgotten, and when he saw her sinking in the ship, stretching her
beautiful arms imploringly towards him, to whom she had so long turned
in every perilous position, when he beheld her a captive in the presence
of the hostile, cold-hearted Octavianus, the blood seemed to freeze
in his veins. At last he dropped his felt mantle and, groaning aloud,
struck his brow with his clenched hand. He had fancied her walking
with gold chains on her slender wrists before the victor's four-horse
chariot, and heard the exulting shouts of the Roman populace.

That would have been the most terrible of all. To pursue this train of
thought was beyond the endurance of the faithful friend, and Dion turned
in surprise as he heard him sob and saw the tears which bedewed his
face.

His own heart was heavy enough, but he knew his companion's warm
devotion to the Queen; so, passing his arm around his shoulder, he
entreated him to maintain that peace of soul and mind which he had so
often admired. In the most critical situations he had seen him stand
high above them, as yonder man who fed the flames on the summit of the
Pharos stood above the wild surges of the sea. If he would reflect over
what had happened as dispassionately as usual, he could not fail to
see that Antony must be free and in a position to guide his own future,
since he directed the palace in the Choma to be put in order. He did
not understand about the wall, but perhaps he was bringing home some
distinguished captive whom he wished to debar from all communication
with the city. It might prove that everything was far better than they
feared, and they would yet smile at these grievous anxieties. His heart,
too, was heavy, for he wished the Queen the best fortune, not only for
her own sake, but because with her and her successful resistance to the
greed of Rome was connected the liberty of Alexandria.

"My love and anxiety, like yours," he concluded, "have ever been given
to her, the sovereign of this country. The world will be desolate, life
will no longer be worth living, if the iron foot of Rome crushes our
independence and freedom." The words had sounded cordial and sincere,
and Archibius followed Dion's counsel. Calm thought convinced him that
nothing had yet happened which compelled belief in the worst result;
and, as one who needs consolation often finds relief in comforting
another, Archibius cheered his own heart by rep