"I am not so selfish, Mesembrius. Our ancient friendship brought me to your house." "I know, I know. We are aware of the kind of friendship which exists between an old man and a young one, especially when the old man has a beautiful daughter. For my daughter is very beautiful, Manlius, very beautiful! If you could see her! Don't say that you saw her four years ago--what was that? You were then a child, and so was she; what did you know about it? But now! O Manlius! it would be a great mistake of yours if you did not fall in love with her." "What use would it be, old friend? You have refused so many suitors who were better, richer, and more powerful than I that I do not even venture to hope." "Why, Manlius? Cannot you, too, gain power and wealth? Is not your uncle, worthy Quaterquartus, the most famous augur in Rome, whose prophecies always prove true, who holds in his hands the future of the Caesar and the state?" "That is all true." "Then you see you may yet become a great man. You need only seek the favour of Carinus a little, and win your uncle's good will. Surely it is easy?" "At least it is not difficult." "See! See! Who knows how far you may go? What will it cost Carinus to have a rich old Senator drowned, and give you his palaces and treasures? Then you, too, will own mansions and slaves, will bathe in rose-water and eat peacock's tongues. What bars your way? You can gain all these things, by cringing. Cringing, I say." Manlius let the old man talk on. "But stay with me as long as you feel inclined, and be of good cheer." In the evening a magnificent banquet was served in honour of Manlius; everything that could please the palate, eye, and heart appeared. The young man's face glowed with the fire of old Falernian wine, and he often struck the table with his clenched fist, entirely forgetting the respect due to his host. Mesembrius saw that the soul of his guest was beginning to open and, propping his cheek upon his hand, he commenced the examination. "Well, Manlius, how do you like the Falernian? Am I not right in saying that Italy is the bosom of the earth, for here are the breasts--namely, the mountains which produce this wine?" "Yet I have quaffed a more inspiring drink in my life-time." "A more inspiring drink, Manlius? At whose table?" "From the Euphrates." "What do you mean?" "It was after the battle of Ctesiphon. We had fought all day long, my arms were dripping with blood and my brow with sweat. In the evening the Persian army was scattered, and on that one day the Euphrates overflowed its banks." "And you drank from it?" "Yes. That water has an intoxicating effect." "Fame intoxicated you, Manlius. It was in that water." "I don't know what was in it; for when I raised my helmet, which I had filled with it, to my lips, I did not set it down until the last drop was drained."