Chapter 19 - Page 2

queen."

"I cannot give you my heart," said she, frankly. "It is impossible--I
cannot bear to speak of it."

"And you would not share my power and glory with me?" said Antipater,
turning, with a look of surprise.

Appius answered:

"Once before I have told you, my worthy prince, that whom the emperor
chooses she will wed."

"Think not of that--I shall make terms with him," said Antipater. "She
shall never wed a weak-hearted tribune."

"You speak lightly of my friend," said Appius. "I like it not, good
sire."

"Son of Herod," said Arria, drawing rein, "we cannot longer enjoy your
company."

Appius halted the troop.

For a little Antipater was dumb with astonishment. He drew aside, and
when he spoke his voice trembled with ire, it was near bursting into
fury.

"Sweet girl," said he, caressing the neck of his horse, "not even the
power of Rome shall forbid me to love you, and I swear, by the god of
my fathers, no man shall live between us!" He turned quickly, and a
fierce look came into his eyes and he added, in a hoarse half-whisper,
"You shall be my wife, sister of Appius."

The young Roman wheeled his horse between them. Antipater backed away,
threatening with his lance. He shouted to his trumpeter, his troop
being hard by, and quickly a call sounded. Then spur went to flank,
and the followers of the Jew passed in a quick rush and went thundering
off, Antipater at the head of their column. He rode to Athens in ill
humor and was at Piraeus three hours in advance of Arria and Appius.
The sun had set and the sea lay calm in a purple dusk. He went aboard
his trireme at once and called his pilot to him.

"Go find the vessel waiting here for one Appius of Rome," he commanded.

"It is she that lies near us," said the other.

"And you know her pilot?"

"Ay, 'tis Tepas the Idumaean. He knows the broad sea as one may know
his own vineyard."

"Bring him to me."

When Tepas came, Antipater took him aside and spread before him a chart
of the vast, purple sea which beat upon the shores of Hellas. He put
his finger on a little spot some leagues from the coast of Africa.

"Know you the Isle of Doom?" said he.

"Ay, 'tis a lonely heap of rocks."

"A roost of sea-birds," said the prince of Judea. "Know you who am I?"

"You are the son of Herod."

"And I go to be king of the Jews."

Antipater took from a bag many pieces of gold and heaped them on the
chart above