Chapter 16 - Page 2

the door of the king, Vergilius had seen her.

"See the taper of arm and leg," said he, addressing his companion, "She
is wonderful!"

A lithe and beautiful creature, she swayed and bent, with arms
extended, her feet, now slow as the pinions of a sailing hawk, now
swift as the wings of a tilting sparrow. She stopped suddenly, her
form proudly erect, looking at her lover. Now she had the dignity of a
wild deer in the barrens. With one hand she felt her jewelled hair,
with the other she beckoned to him. The young men approached her.

"Children of Aeneas, I give you welcome," said she. Then turning to
Vergilius: "Did Manius tell you that I bade him bring you here?"

"I knew not I was so honored."

"He is jealous. He will not permit me to embrace my little page. I
have wished to meet you, noble tribune, ever since I saw you in my
father's palace."

Her eyes were playful, as if they would try the heart of her lover.

"And when I saw you," said Vergilius, "I--I knew you were the betrothed
of the assessor."

"And why?" she besought, with a smile.

"Because I heard him say in Rome that, of all the daughters of Judea,
you were most beautiful."

Her eyes looked full upon his and he saw in them a glint of that fire
which had begun to burn within her. He said to himself, as he came
away, "Here is another Cleopatra--a woman made to pull down the mighty."

Next day from the daughter of Herod came a letter to the young tribune:

"NOBLE SON OF VARRO,--I have much to say concerning your welfare, and I
doubt not you will desire to hear it. If I judge you rightly, come to
the palace of my mother the second evening before the nones. An hour
after sunset I will meet you at the gate of bronze. Say naught to
Manius of your coming or of this letter."

"Temptress!" said he, crushing the sheet of scented vellum. "But she
is beautiful," he added, wistfully. "She is like the Venus of
Alcamenes. I would love well to look upon her again."

He smoothed out the crumpled vellum.

"'Say naught to Manius,'" he read again. "I like it not. I shall
write to her that I have other business."

And so did he, although in phrases of regret, as became one addressing
a daughter of the great king.

Sorely vexed, she thought ever of the noble beauty of the Roman youth,
and became more eager to gain her purpose. It may be the girl bore for
him a better feeling than she had ever known. She wished, if possible,
to win him, knowing that her father would not be slow to help him
forward. The handsome youth had pleased