dea of a possible new selection of
a son was excluded, and he might unhesitatingly venture to appoint
Sabina's darling his successor, for the most famous of the Roman
physicians had written to Hadrian, by his desire, saying that the
praetor's undermined strength could not be restored, and that, at the
best, he could only have a limited number of years to live. Well, then,
Verus might die slowly and contentedly in the midst of the most splendid
anticipations, and when he should have closed his eyes it would be time
enough to set the dreamer--by that time matured to vigorous manhood--in
the vacant place.

On the return journey from Thebes to Alexandria Hadrian met his wife at
Abydos, and revealed to her his intention of proclaiming the son of her
choice as his successor. Sabina thanked him with an exclamation of
"At last!" which expressed partly her satisfaction, but partly too her
annoyance at her husband's long delay. Hadrian gave her his permission
to return to Rome from Alexandria, and on the very same day messages
were despatched with letters both to the Senate and to the prefects of
Egypt.

The despatch intended for Titianus charged him to proclaim publicly
the adoption of the praetor, to arrange at the same time for a grand
festival, and on that occasion to grant to the people, in Caesar's
name, all the boons and favors which by the traditional law of Egypt the
Sovereign was expected to bestow at the birth of an heir to the throne.
The whole suite of the Imperial pair celebrated Hadrian's decision by
splendid banquets, but the Emperor did not himself take part in them,
but crossed to the other bank of the Nile and went to Antaeopolis in the
desert, meaning to penetrate from thence into the gorges of the Arabian
desert and to chase wild beasts. No one was to accompany him but
Antinous, Mastor, and a few huntsmen and some dogs.

He meant to rejoin the ships at Besa. He had postponed his visit to
this place till the return journey, because he had travelled up by the
western shore of the Nile, and the passage across the river would have
taken up too much time.

The travellers' tents were pitched one sultry evening in November,
between the Nile and the limestone range, in which was arrayed a long
row of tombs of the period of the Pharaohs. Hadrian had gone to visit
these, for the remarkable pictures on the walls delighted him, but
Antinous remained behind, for he had already looked at similar works
oftener than he