gan as follows:
"DEAR LOVE,--It has been a day illumined with new honor and the praises
of a king. Now, before sleeping, I send these words to tell you that I
have not forgotten. Every day I think of you, and my love grows. I
see your face full of honor and the will to give all for me. Because
it is in you, I love honor beyond all my hope of it, and--that look in
your eyes--oh, it has made me to think gently and be kind! Now I tell
you of a wonderful thing--this feeling is the very seed of friendship.
The legate, the procurator, the high priest, and Herod himself, are my
friends. I had only the will to serve, and now they insist that I
shall command. After all, it is in no way remarkable--there be so few
here who forget themselves for the good of the service. It all leads
to a new and a great law--think of the good of others and you need have
no thought of yourself. Consider this, my beloved, if every man loved
a good woman as I love you a new peace would fill the world."
Then he told her of his discovery of David, the brother of Cyran, and
their friendship.
CHAPTER 19
When Appius told his mother and his sister what Augustus had said to
him, they were greatly distressed. But Arria would not believe that
Vergilius had been guilty of dishonor. Such were her anxiety and her
fear of injustice falling upon her lover, the girl would have it that
she must go to Jerusalem with Appius. She would neither be turned away
nor bear with dissuasion. Her brother told her not of the bitter
message of Augustus, and, fearing the wiles of the Jewish prince,
determined to take her with him. So, therefore, as the sun rose on the
nones of November in that year of the birth of Jesus, they set out with
a troop of horse on the Appian Way.
They were midland in Thrace on their way to Piraeus, where a ship
waited them, when they were overtaken by the cavalcade of Antipater.
The prince, summoned by Herod, was now returning, under royal banners,
to receive his inheritance of glory and power. A letter had started
him, which, according to the great historian of that time, was warm
with affectionate greeting. Antipater, also, was to take ship for
Judea. He had learned of the departure of Appius and Arria, and had
pushed his horses to the limit of their speed in order to overtake
them. When he first saw the troop of the young Roman, he left his
column and came rushing on to greet them.
The troop of Appius quickly
|