'This is a vulgar old fellow, this Diomed,' said Sallust: 'but he has some good qualities—in his cellar!'
'And some charming ones—in his daughter.'
'True, Glaucus: but you are not much moved by them, methinks. I fancy Clodius is desirous to be your successor.'
'He is welcome. At the banquet of Julia's beauty, no guest, be sure, is considered a musca.'
'You are severe: but she has, indeed, something of the Corinthian about her—they will be well matched, after all! What good-natured fellows we are to associate with that gambling16 good-for-nought.'
'Pleasure unites strange varieties,' answered Glaucus. 'He amuses me...'
'And flatters—but then he pays himself well! He powders his praise with gold-dust.'
'You often hint that he plays unfairly—think you so really?'
'My dear Glaucus, a Roman noble has his dignity to keep up—dignity is very expensive—Clodius must cheat like a scoundrel, in order to live like a gentleman.'
'Ha ha!—well, of late I have renounced17 the dice18. Ah! Sallust, when I am wedded19 to Ione, I trust I may yet redeem21 a youth of follies22. We are both born for better things than those in which we sympathize now—born to render our worship in nobler temples than the stye of Epicurus.'
'Alas23!' returned Sallust, in rather a melancholy24 tone, 'what do we know more than this—life is short—beyond the grave all is dark? There is no wisdom like that which says "enjoy".'
'By Bacchus! I doubt sometimes if we do enjoy the utmost of which life is capable.'
'I am a moderate man,' returned Sallust, 'and do not ask "the utmost". We are like malefactors, and intoxicate25 ourselves with wine and myrrh, as we stand on the brink26 of death; but, if we did not do so, the abyss would look very disagreeable. I own that I was inclined to be gloomy until I took so heartily27 to drinking—that is a new life, my Glaucus.'
'Yes! but it brings us next morning to a new death.'
'Why, the next morning is unpleasant, I own; but, then, if it were not so, one would never be inclined to read. I study betimes—because, by the gods! I am generally unfit for anything else till noon.'
'Fie, Scythian!'
'Pshaw! the fate of Pentheus to him who denies Bacchus.'
'Well, Sallust, with all your faults, you are the best profligate28 I ever met: and verily, if I were in danger of life, you are the only man in all Italy who would stretch out a finger to save me.'
'Perhaps I should not, if it were in the middle of supper. But, in truth, we Italians are fearfully selfish.'
'So are all men who are not free,' said Glaucus, with a sigh. 'Freedom alone makes men sacrifice to each other.'
'Freedom, then, must be a very fatiguing29 thing to an Epicurean,' answered Sallust. 'But here we are at our host's.'
As Diomed's villa30 is one of the most considerable in point of size of any yet discovered at Pompeii, and is, moreover, built much according to the specific instructions for a suburban31 villa laid down by the Roman architect, it may not be uninteresting briefly32 to describe the plan of the apartments through which our visitors passed.
They entered, then, by the same small vestibule at which we have before been presented to the aged33 Medon, and passed at once into a colonnade34, technically35 termed the peristyle; for the main difference between the suburban villa and the town mansion36 consisted in placing, in the first, the said colonnade in exactly the same place as that which in the town mansion was occupied by the atrium. In the centre of the peristyle was an open court, which contained the impluvium.
From this peristyle descended37 a staircase to the offices; another narrow passage on the opposite side communicated with a garden; various small apartments surrounded the colonnade, appropriated probably to country visitors. Another door to the left on entering communicated with a small triangular39 portico40, which belonged to the baths; and behind was the wardrobe, in which were kept the vests of the holiday suits of the slaves, and, perhaps, of the master. Seventeen centuries afterwards were found those relics41 of ancient finery calcined and crumbling42: kept longer, alas! than their thrifty43 lord foresaw.
Return we to the peristyle, and endeavor now to present to the reader a coup44 d'oeil of the whole suite45 of apartments, which immediately stretched before the steps of the visitors.
Let him then first imagine the columns of the portico, hung with festoons of flowers; the columns themselves in the lower part painted red, and the walls around glowing with various frescoes47; then, looking beyond a curtain, three parts drawn48 aside, the eye caught the tablinum or saloon (which was closed at will by glazed49 doors, now slid back into the walls). On either side of this tablinum were small rooms, one of which was a kind of cabinet of gems50; and these apartments, as well as the tablinum, communicated with a long gallery, which opened at either end upon terraces; and between the terraces, and communicating with the central part of the gallery, was a hall, in which the banquet was that day prepared. All these apartments, though almost on a level with the street, were one story above the garden; and the terraces communicating with the gallery were continued into corridors, raised above the pillars which, to the right and left, skirted the garden below.
Beneath, and on a level with the garden, ran the apartments we have already described as chiefly appropriated to Julia.
In the gallery, then, just mentioned, Diomed received his guests.
The merchant affected51 greatly the man of letters, and, therefore, he also affected a passion for everything Greek; he paid particular attention to Glaucus.
'You will see, my friend,' said he, with a wave of his hand, 'that I am a little classical here—a little Cecropian—eh? The hall in which we shall sup is borrowed from the Greeks. It is an OEcus Cyzicene. Noble Sallust, they have not, I am told, this sort of apartment in Rome.'
'Oh!' replied Sallust, with a half smile; 'you Pompeians combine all that is most eligible52 in Greece and in Rome; may you, Diomed, combine the viands53 as well as the architecture!'
'You shall see—you shall see, my Sallust,' replied the merchant. 'We have a taste at Pompeii, and we have also money.'
The main difference, as I have before remarked, in the manner of life observed among the Athenians and Romans, was, that with the first, the modest women rarely or never took part in entertainments; with the latter, they were the common ornaments56 of the banquet; but when they were present at the feast, it usually terminated at an early hour.
Magnificently robed in white, interwoven with pearls and threads of gold, the handsome Julia entered the apartment.
Scarcely had she received the salutation of the two guests, ere Pansa and his wife, Lepidus, Clodius, and the Roman senator, entered almost simultaneously57; then came the widow Fulvia; then the poet Fulvius, like to the widow in name if in nothing else; the warrior58 from Herculaneum, accompanied by his umbra, next stalked in; afterwards, the less eminent59 of the guests. Ione yet tarried.
It was the mode among the courteous60 ancients to flatter whenever it was in their power: accordingly it was a sign of ill-breeding to seat themselves immediately on entering the house of their host. After performing the salutation, which was usually accomplished61 by the same cordial shake of the right hand which we ourselves retain, and sometimes, by the yet more familiar embrace, they spent several minutes in surveying the apartment, and admiring the bronzes, the pictures, or the furniture, with which it was adorned—a mode very impolite according to our refined English notions, which place good breeding in indifference62. We would not for the world express much admiration63 of another man's house, for fear it should be thought we had never seen anything so fine before!
'A beautiful statue this of Bacchus!' said the Roman senator.
'What charming paintings!' said Fulvia.
'Mere trifles!' answered the owner.
'Exquisite!' echoed his umbra.
'Trifles! trifles!' reiterated66 the merchant.
Meanwhile, Glaucus found himself by one of the windows of the gallery, which communicated with the terraces, and the fair Julia by his side.
'Is it an Athenian virtue, Glaucus,' said the merchant's daughter, 'to shun67 those whom we once sought?'
'Fair Julia—no!'
'Yet methinks, it is one of the qualities of Glaucus.'
'May Julia rank among the number of his friends?'
'It would be an honour to the emperor to find a friend in one so lovely.'
'You evade69 my question,' returned the enamoured Julia. 'But tell me, is it true that you admire the Neapolitan Ione?'
'Ah! subtle Greek, still do you fly the meaning of my words. But say, shall Julia be indeed your friend?'
'If she will so favor me, blessed be the gods! The day in which I am thus honored shall be ever marked in white.'
'Yet, even while you speak, your eye is resting—your color comes and goes—you move away involuntarily—you are impatient to join Ione!'
For at that moment Ione had entered, and Glaucus had indeed betrayed the emotion noticed by the jealous beauty.
'Can admiration to one woman make me unworthy the friendship of another? Sanction not so, O Julia the libels of the poets on your sex!'
'Well, you are right—or I will learn to think so. Glaucus, yet one moment! You are to wed20 Ione; is it not so?'
'If the Fates permit, such is my blessed hope.'
'Accept, then, from me, in token of our new friendship, a present for your bride. Nay72, it is the custom of friends, you know, always to present to bride and bridegroom some such little marks of their esteem73 and favoring wishes.'
'Julia! I cannot refuse any token of friendship from one like you. I will accept the gift as an omen55 from Fortune herself.'
'Then, after the feast, when the guests retire, you will descend38 with me to my apartment, and receive it from my hands. Remember!' said Julia, as she joined the wife of Pansa, and left Glaucus to seek Ione.
'O Fulvia! I assure you that the last account from Rome declares that the frizzling mode of dressing76 the hair is growing antiquated77; they only now wear it built up in a tower, like Julia's, or arranged as a helmet—the Galerian fashion, like mine, you see: it has a fine effect, I think. I assure you, Vespius (Vespius was the name of the Herculaneum hero) admires it greatly.'
'And nobody wears the hair like yon Neapolitan, in the Greek way.'
'What, parted in front, with the knot behind? Oh, no; how ridiculous it is! it reminds one of the statue of Diana! Yet this Ione is handsome, eh?'
'So the men say; but then she is rich: she is to marry the Athenian—I wish her joy. He will not be long faithful, I suspect; those foreigners are very faithless.'
'Oh, Julia!' said Fulvia, as the merchant's daughter joined them; 'have you seen the tiger yet?'
'No!'
'Why, all the ladies have been to see him. He is so handsome!'
'I hope we shall find some criminal or other for him and the lion,' replied Julia. 'Your husband (turning to Pansa's wife) is not so active as he should be in this matter.'
'Why, really, the laws are too mild,' replied the dame78 of the helmet. 'There are so few offences to which the punishment of the arena79 can be awarded; and then, too, the gladiators are growing effeminate! The stoutest80 bestiarii declare they are willing enough to fight a boar or a bull; but as for a lion or a tiger, they think the game too much in earnest.'
'Oh! have you seen the new house of Fulvius, the dear poet?' said Pansa's wife.
'No: is it handsome?'
'Very!—such good taste. But they say, my dear, that he has such improper82 pictures! He won't show them to the women: how ill-bred!'
'Those poets are always odd,' said the widow. 'But he is an interesting man; what pretty verses he writes! We improve very much in poetry: it is impossible to read the old stuff now.'
'I declare I am of your opinion, returned the lady of the helmet. 'There is so much more force and energy in the modern school.'
The warrior sauntered up to the ladies.
'It reconciles me to peace,' said he, 'when I see such faces.'
'Oh! you heroes are ever flatterers,' returned Fulvia, hastening to appropriate the compliment specially83 to herself.
'By this chain, which I received from the emperor's own hand,' replied the warrior, playing with a short chain which hung round the neck like a collar, instead of descending84 to the breast, according to the fashion of the peaceful—'By this chain, you wrong me! I am a blunt man—a soldier should be so.'
'How do you find the ladies of Pompeii generally?' said Julia.
'By Venus, most beautiful! They favor me a little, it is true, and that inclines my eyes to double their charms.'
'We love a warrior,' said the wife of Pansa.
'I see it: by Hercules! it is even disagreeable to be too celebrated85 in these cities. At Herculaneum they climb the roof of my atrium to catch a glimpse of me through the compluvium; the admiration of one's citizens is pleasant at first, but burthensome afterwards.'
'True, true, O Vespius!' cried the poet, joining the group: 'I find it so myself.'
'You!' said the stately warrior, scanning the small form of the poet with ineffable86 disdain. 'In what legion have you served?'
'You may see my spoils, my exuviae, in the forum87 itself,' returned the poet, with a significant glance at the women. 'I have been among the tent-companions, the contubernales, of the great Mantuan himself.'
'I know no general from Mantua, said the warrior, gravely. 'What campaign have you served?'
'That of Helicon.'
'I never heard of it.'
'Nay, Vespius, he does but joke,' said Julia, laughing.
'Joke! By Mars, am I a man to be joked!'
'Yes; Mars himself was in love with the mother of jokes,' said the poet, a little alarmed. 'Know, then, O Vespius! that I am the poet Fulvius. It is I who make warriors88 immortal89!'
'The gods forbid!' whispered Sallust to Julia. 'If Vespius were made immortal, what a specimen90 of tiresome91 braggadocio92 would be transmitted to posterity93!'
The soldier looked puzzled; when, to the infinite relief of himself and his companions, the signal for the feast was given.
As we have already witnessed at the house of Glaucus the ordinary routine of a Pompeian entertainment, the reader is spared any second detail of the courses, and the manner in which they were introduced.
Diomed, who was rather ceremonious, had appointed a nomenclator, or appointer of places to each guest.
The reader understands that the festive94 board was composed of three tables; one at the centre, and one at each wing. It was only at the outer side of these tables that the guests reclined; the inner space was left untenanted, for the greater convenience of the waiters or ministri. The extreme corner of one of the wings was appropriated to Julia as the lady of the feast; that next her, to Diomed. At one corner of the centre table was placed the aedile; at the opposite corner, the Roman senator—these were the posts of honour. The other guests were arranged, so that the young (gentleman or lady) should sit next each other, and the more advanced in years be similarly matched. An agreeable provision enough, but one which must often have offended those who wished to be thought still young.
The chair of Ione was next to the couch of Glaucus. The seats were veneered with tortoiseshell, and covered with quilts stuffed with feathers, and ornamented95 with costly96 embroideries97. The modern ornaments of epergne or plateau were supplied by images of the gods, wrought98 in bronze, ivory, and silver. The sacred salt-cellar and the familiar Lares were not forgotten. Over the table and the seats a rich canopy99 was suspended from the ceiling. At each corner of the table were lofty candelabra—for though it was early noon, the room was darkened—while from tripods, placed in different parts of the room, distilled100 the odor of myrrh and frankincense; and upon the abacus101, or sideboard, large vases and various ornaments of silver were ranged, much with the same ostentation102 (but with more than the same taste) that we find displayed at a modern feast.
The custom of grace was invariably supplied by that of libations to the gods; and Vesta, as queen of the household gods, usually received first that graceful103 homage104.
This ceremony being performed, the slaves showered flowers upon the couches and the floor, and crowned each guest with rosy105 garlands, intricately woven with ribands, tied by the rind of the linden-tree, and each intermingled with the ivy107 and the amethyst—supposed preventives against the effect of wine; the wreaths of the women only were exempted108 from these leaves, for it was not the fashion for them to drink wine in public. It was then that the president Diomed thought it advisable to institute a basileus, or director of the feast—an important office, sometimes chosen by lot; sometimes, as now, by the master of the entertainment.
Diomed was not a little puzzled as to his election. The invalid109 senator was too grave and too infirm for the proper fulfilment of his duty; the aedile Pansa was adequate enough to the task: but then, to choose the next in official rank to the senator, was an affront110 to the senator himself. While deliberating between the merits of the others, he caught the mirthful glance of Sallust, and, by a sudden inspiration, named the jovial111 epicure5 to the rank of director, or arbiter112 bibendi.
'I shall be a merciful king,' said he, 'to those who drink deep; to a recusant, Minos himself shall be less inexorable. Beware!'
The slaves handed round basins of perfumed water, by which lavation the feast commenced: and now the table groaned114 under the initiatory115 course.
The conversation, at first desultory116 and scattered117, allowed Ione and Glaucus to carry on those sweet whispers, which are worth all the eloquence118 in the world. Julia watched them with flashing eyes.
'How soon shall her place be mine!' thought she.
But Clodius, who sat in the centre table, so as to observe well the countenance119 of Julia, guessed her pique120, and resolved to profit by it. He addressed her across the table in set phrases of gallantry; and as he was of high birth and of a showy person, the vain Julia was not so much in love as to be insensible to his attentions.
The slaves, in the interim122, were constantly kept upon the alert by the vigilant123 Sallust, who chased one cup by another with a celerity which seemed as if he were resolved upon exhausting those capacious cellars which the reader may yet see beneath the house of Diomed. The worthy merchant began to repent124 his choice, as amphora after amphora was pierced and emptied. The slaves, all under the age of manhood (the youngest being about ten years old—it was they who filled the wine—the eldest125, some five years older, mingled106 it with water), seemed to share in the zeal126 of Sallust; and the face of Diomed began to glow as he watched the provoking complacency with which they seconded the exertions127 of the king of the feast.
'Pardon me, O senator!' said Sallust; 'I see you flinch128; your purple hem15 cannot save you—drink!'
'By the gods,' said the senator, coughing, 'my lungs are already on fire; you proceed with so miraculous129 a swiftness, that Phaeton himself was nothing to you. I am infirm, O pleasant Sallust: you must exonerate130 me.'
The poor senator, compelled by the laws of the table, was forced to comply. Alas! every cup was bringing him nearer and nearer to the Stygian pool.
'Gently! gently! my king,' groaned Diomed; 'we already begin to...'
'But our female guests...'
'Love a toper! Did not Ariadne dote upon Bacchus?'
The feast proceeded; the guests grew more talkative and noisy; the dessert or last course was already on the table; and the slaves bore round water with myrrh and hyssop for the finishing lavation. At the same time, a small circular table that had been placed in the space opposite the guests suddenly, and as by magic, seemed to open in the centre, and cast up a fragrant134 shower, sprinkling the table and the guests; while as it ceased the awning135 above them was drawn aside, and the guests perceived that a rope had been stretched across the ceiling, and that one of those nimble dancers for which Pompeii was so celebrated, and whose descendants add so charming a grace to the festivities of Astley's or Vauxhall, was now treading his airy measures right over their heads.
This apparition136, removed but by a cord from one's pericranium, and indulging the most vehement137 leaps, apparently138 with the intention of alighting upon that cerebral139 region, would probably be regarded with some terror by a party in May Fair; but our Pompeian revellers seemed to behold the spectacle with delighted curiosity, and applauded in proportion as the dancer appeared with the most difficulty to miss falling upon the head of whatever guest he particularly selected to dance above. He paid the senator, indeed, the peculiar140 compliment of literally141 falling from the rope, and catching142 it again with his hand, just as the whole party imagined the skull143 of the Roman was as much fractured as ever that of the poet whom the eagle took for a tortoise. At length, to the great relief of at least Ione, who had not much accustomed herself to this entertainment, the dancer suddenly paused as a strain of music was heard from without. He danced again still more wildly; the air changed, the dancer paused again; no, it could not dissolve the charm which was supposed to possess him! He represented one who by a strange disorder144 is compelled to dance, and whom only a certain air of music can cure. At length the musician seemed to hit on the right tune74; the dancer gave one leap, swung himself down from the rope, alighted on the floor, and vanished.
One art now yielded to another; and the musicians who were stationed without on the terrace struck up a soft and mellow145 air, to which were sung the following words, made almost indistinct by the barrier between and the exceeding lowness of the minstrelsy:—
FESTIVE MUSIC SHOULD BE LOW
I
Hark! through these flowers our music sends its greeting
To your loved halls, where Psilas shuns the day;
When the young god his Cretan nymph was meeting
Soft as the dews of wine
Shed in this banquet hour,
The rich libation of Sound's stream divine,
II
But sweet lips murmuring under wreaths o'er-arching,
Find the low whispers like their own most sweet.
Steal, my lull'd music, steal
Like womans's half-heard tone,
So that whoe'er shall hear, shall think to feel
In thee the voice of lips that love his own.
At the end of that song Ione's cheek blushed more deeply than before, and Glaucus had contrived152, under cover of the table, to steal her hand.
'It is a pretty song,' said Fulvius, patronizingly.
'Ah! if you would oblige us!' murmured the wife of Pansa.
'Do you wish Fulvius to sing?' asked the king of the feast, who had just called on the assembly to drink the health of the Roman senator, a cup to each letter of his name.
'Can you ask?' said the matron, with a complimentary153 glance at the poet.
Sallust snapped his fingers, and whispering the slave who came to learn his orders, the latter disappeared, and returned in a few moments with a small harp in one hand, and a branch of myrtle in the other. The slave approached the poet, and with a low reverence154 presented to him the harp.
'Alas! I cannot play,' said the poet.
'Then you must sing to the myrtle. It is a Greek fashion: Diomed loves the Greeks—I love the Greeks—you love the Greeks—we all love the Greeks—and between you and me this is not the only thing we have stolen from them. However, I introduce this custom—I, the king: sing, subject, sing!' The poet, with a bashful smile, took the myrtle in his hands, and after a short prelude155 sang as follows, in a pleasant and well-tuned voice:—
THE CORONATION OF THE LOVES
I
The merry Loves one holiday
But Loves too long can seldom play
Without behaving sadly.
They laugh'd, they toy'd, they romp'd about,
And then for change they all fell out.
Fie, fie! how can they quarrel so?
My Lesbia—ah, for shame, love
Methinks 'tis scarce an hour ago
When we did just the same, love.
II
The Loves, 'tis thought, were free till then,
They had no king or laws, dear;
But gods, like men, should subject be,
Say all the ancient saws, dear.
And so our crew resolved, for quiet,
A kiss: ah! what a grievous thing
For both, methinks, 'twould be, child,
And cease to be so free, child!
III
Among their toys a Casque they found,
It was the helm of Ares;
It frightened all the Lares.
So fine a king was never known—
They placed the helmet on the throne.
But thy sweet flag of smiles unfurled
Would win the world much faster!
IV
The Casque soon found the Loves too wild
A troop for him to school them;
For warriors know how one such child
Has aye contrived to fool them.
They plagued him so, that in despair
He took a wife the plague to share.
Of earth, unshared, severe, girl;
Come, take your partner here, girl.
V
Within that room the Bird of Love
The whole affair had eyed then;
The monarch hail'd the royal dove,
And placed her by his side then:
What mirth amidst the Loves was seen!
'Long live,' they cried, 'our King and Queen.'
Ah! Lesbia, would that thrones were mine,
And crowns to deck that brow, love!
And yet I know that heart of thine
For me is throne enow, love!
VI
As they had teased the hero;
They found her worse than Nero!
Each look a frown, each word a law;
In thee I find the same deceit—
Too late, alas! a learner!
This song, which greatly suited the gay and lively fancy of the Pompeians, was received with considerable applause, and the widow insisted on crowning her namesake with the very branch of myrtle to which he had sung. It was easily twisted into a garland, and the immortal Fulvius was crowned amidst the clapping of hands and shouts of Io triumphe! The song and the harp now circulated round the party, a new myrtle branch being handed about, stopping at each person who could be prevailed upon to sing.
The sun began now to decline, though the revellers, who had worn away several hours, perceived it not in their darkened chamber171; and the senator, who was tired, and the warrior, who had to return to Herculaneum, rising to depart, gave the signal for the general dispersion. 'Tarry yet a moment, my friends,' said Diomed; 'if you will go so soon, you must at least take a share in our concluding game.'
So saying, he motioned to one of the ministri, and whispering him, the slave went out, and presently returned with a small bowl containing various tablets carefully sealed, and, apparently, exactly similar. Each guest was to purchase one of these at the nominal172 price of the lowest piece of silver: and the sport of this lottery173 (which was the favorite diversion of Augustus, who introduced it) consisted in the inequality, and sometimes the incongruity174, of the prizes, the nature and amount of which were specified175 within the tablets. For instance, the poet, with a wry176 face, drew one of his own poems (no physician ever less willingly swallowed his own draught); the warrior drew a case of bodkins, which gave rise to certain novel witticisms177 relative to Hercules and the distaff; the widow Fulvia obtained a large drinking-cup; Julia, a gentleman's buckle178; and Lepidus, a lady's patch-box. The most appropriate lot was drawn by the gambler Clodius, who reddened with anger on being presented to a set of cogged dice. A certain damp was thrown upon the gaiety which these various lots created by an accident that was considered ominous179; Glaucus drew the most valuable of all the prizes, a small marble statue of Fortune, of Grecian workmanship: on handing it to him the slave suffered it to drop, and it broke in pieces.
A shiver went round the assembly, and each voice cried spontaneously on the gods to avert180 the omen.
Glaucus alone, though perhaps as superstitious181 as the rest, affected to be unmoved.
'Sweet Neapolitan,' whispered he tenderly to Ione, who had turned pale as the broken marble itself, 'I accept the omen. It signifies that in obtaining thee, Fortune can give no more—she breaks her image when she blesses me with thine.'
In order to divert the impression which this incident had occasioned in an assembly which, considering the civilization of the guests, would seem miraculously182 superstitious, if at the present day in a country party we did not often see a lady grow hypochondriacal on leaving a room last of thirteen, Sallust now crowning his cup with flowers, gave the health of their host. This was followed by a similar compliment to the emperor; and then, with a parting cup to Mercury to send them pleasant slumbers183, they concluded the entertainment by a last libation, and broke up the party. Carriages and litters were little used in Pompeii, partly owing to the extreme narrowness of the streets, partly to the convenient smallness of the city. Most of the guests replacing their sandals, which they had put off in the banquet-room, and induing their cloaks, left the house on foot attended by their slaves.
Meanwhile, having seen Ione depart, Glaucus turning to the staircase which led down to the rooms of Julia, was conducted by a slave to an apartment in which he found the merchant's daughter already seated.
'Glaucus!' said she, looking down, 'I see that you really love Ione—she is indeed beautiful.'
'Julia is charming enough to be generous,' replied the Greek. 'Yes, I love Ione; amidst all the youth who court you, may you have one worshipper as sincere.'
'I pray the gods to grant it! See, Glaucus, these pearls are the present I destine to your bride: may Juno give her health to wear them!'
So saying, she placed a case in his hand, containing a row of pearls of some size and price. It was so much the custom for persons about to be married to receive these gifts, that Glaucus could have little scruple184 in accepting the necklace, though the gallant121 and proud Athenian inly resolved to requite185 the gift by one of thrice its value. Julia then stopping short his thanks, poured forth186 some wine into a small bowl.
'You have drunk many toasts with my father,' said she smiling—'one now with me. Health and fortune to your bride!'
She touched the cup with her lips and then presented it to Glaucus. The customary etiquette187 required that Glaucus should drain the whole contents; he accordingly did so. Julia, unknowing the deceit which Nydia had practised upon her, watched him with sparkling eyes; although the witch had told her that the effect might not be immediate46, she yet sanguinely188 trusted to an expeditious189 operation in favor of her charms. She was disappointed when she found Glaucus coldly replace the cup, and converse190 with her in the same unmoved but gentle tone as before. And though she detained him as long as she decorously could do, no change took place in his manner. 'But to-morrow,' thought she, exultingly191 recovering her disappointment—'to-morrow, alas for Glaucus!'
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devoid
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plagiarism
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imbued
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doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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5
epicure
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| n.行家，美食家 | |
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6
corrupted
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| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
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maxims
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| n.格言，座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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renounced
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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18
dice
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| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
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wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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21
redeem
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| v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等） | |
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follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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23
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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intoxicate
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| vt.使喝醉，使陶醉，使欣喜若狂 | |
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brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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profligate
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| adj.行为不检的；n.放荡的人，浪子，肆意挥霍者 | |
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29
fatiguing
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| a.使人劳累的 | |
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30
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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31
suburban
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| adj.城郊的，在郊区的 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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34
colonnade
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| n.柱廊 | |
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35
technically
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| adv.专门地，技术上地 | |
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36
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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37
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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38
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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39
triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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40
portico
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| n.柱廊，门廊 | |
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41
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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42
crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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43
thrifty
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| adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的 | |
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44
coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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45
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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46
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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47
frescoes
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| n.壁画( fresco的名词复数 )；温壁画技法，湿壁画 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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glazed
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| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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50
gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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51
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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52
eligible
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| adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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53
viands
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| n.食品，食物 | |
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54
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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55
omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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56
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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57
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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58
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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59
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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60
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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61
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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62
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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63
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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64
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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65
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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66
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
shun
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| vt.避开，回避，避免 | |
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68
shuns
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| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的第三人称单数 ) | |
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69
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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70
constrain
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| vt.限制，约束；克制，抑制 | |
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71
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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72
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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73
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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74
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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75
spouse
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| n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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76
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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77
antiquated
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| adj.陈旧的，过时的 | |
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78
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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79
arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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80
stoutest
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| 粗壮的( stout的最高级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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81
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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82
improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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83
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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84
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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85
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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86
ineffable
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| adj.无法表达的，不可言喻的 | |
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87
forum
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| n.论坛，讨论会 | |
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88
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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89
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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90
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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91
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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92
braggadocio
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| n.吹牛大王 | |
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93
posterity
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| n.后裔，子孙，后代 | |
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94
festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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95
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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96
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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97
embroideries
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| 刺绣( embroidery的名词复数 )； 刺绣品； 刺绣法 | |
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98
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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99
canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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100
distilled
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| adj.由蒸馏得来的v.蒸馏( distil的过去式和过去分词 )；从…提取精华 | |
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101
abacus
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| n.算盘 | |
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102
ostentation
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| n.夸耀，卖弄 | |
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103
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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104
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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105
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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106
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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107
ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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108
exempted
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| 使免除[豁免]( exempt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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109
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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110
affront
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| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
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111
jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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112
arbiter
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| n.仲裁人，公断人 | |
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113
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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114
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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115
initiatory
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| adj.开始的；创始的；入会的；入社的 | |
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116
desultory
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| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
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117
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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118
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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119
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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120
pique
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| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
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121
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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122
interim
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| adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间 | |
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123
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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124
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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125
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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126
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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127
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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128
flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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129
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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130
exonerate
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| v.免除责任，确定无罪 | |
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131
impartial
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| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
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132
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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133
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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134
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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135
awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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136
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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137
vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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138
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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139
cerebral
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| adj.脑的，大脑的；有智力的，理智型的 | |
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140
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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141
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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142
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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143
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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144
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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145
mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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146
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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147
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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148
reverent
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| adj.恭敬的，虔诚的 | |
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149
harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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150
trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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151
sublimer
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| 使高尚者，纯化器 | |
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152
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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153
complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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154
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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155
prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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156
gambols
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| v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的第三人称单数 ) | |
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157
curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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158
prudish
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| adj.装淑女样子的，装规矩的，过分规矩的；adv.过分拘谨地 | |
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159
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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160
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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161
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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163
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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164
halve
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| vt.分成两半，平分；减少到一半 | |
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urchins
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| n.顽童( urchin的名词复数 )；淘气鬼；猬；海胆 | |
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166
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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167
sate
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| v.使充分满足 | |
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168
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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169
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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170
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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171
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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172
nominal
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| adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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173
lottery
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| n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事 | |
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174
incongruity
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| n.不协调，不一致 | |
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175
specified
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| adj.特定的 | |
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176
wry
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| adj.讽刺的；扭曲的 | |
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177
witticisms
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| n.妙语，俏皮话( witticism的名词复数 ) | |
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178
buckle
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| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
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179
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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181
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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182
miraculously
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| ad.奇迹般地 | |
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183
slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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184
scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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185
requite
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| v.报酬，报答 | |
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186
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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187
etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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188
sanguinely
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| 乐观的，充满希望的； 面色红润的； 血红色的 | |
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189
expeditious
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| adj.迅速的，敏捷的 | |
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190
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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191
exultingly
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| 兴高采烈地，得意地 | |
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