Outside the tent Antonius was waiting with a helmet half full of the delectable viand, which the two friends proceeded to share together as equally as they might in the increasing darkness. "You are over sober to-night," said Antonius, when this scarcely elaborate meal was nearly finished. "_Perpol!_" replied Drusus, "have I been as a rule drunken of late? My throat hardly knows the feeling of good Falernian, it is so long since I have tasted any." "I doubt if there is so much as a draught of _posca_[176] in the army," said Antonius, yawning. "I imagine that among our friends, the Pompeians, there is plenty, and more to spare. _Mehercle_, I feel that we must storm their camp just to get something worth drinking. But I would stake my best villa that you have not been so gloomy for mere lack of victuals, unless you have just joined the Pythagoreans, and have taken a vow not to eat fish or beans." [176] A drink of vinegar and water very common among the soldiers. "I do not know that I am especially gloomy to-night," replied Drusus, a bit testily. "I know little whereon to make merry." "The arrows of Amor," hinted Antonius, "sink deep in the soul, and the god is unfair; he shoots venomed darts; the poison ever makes the pain greater." "I would you could endure your own troubles," retorted the other, "and let me care for mine!" "_Perpol,_ friend," replied Antonius, "don't be vexed! I see it is a case of your wanting little said on a sore point. Well, keep silent, I won't tease you. Doesn't Theognis declare:-- "'Caress me not with words, while far away Thy heart is absent and thy feelings stray'?[177] [177] Elton, translator. And doubtless you would reverse the saying and put 'my heart' for 'thy heart.' Forgive me." But Drusus, now that the ice was broken, was glad to talk. "Now, amice, I won't harbour any ill feeling. I know that you don't look at women the way I do. If you had ever fallen in love with one like Cornelia, it would have been different. As it is, you can only stare at me, and say to yourself, 'How strange a sensible fellow like Drusus should care for a girl from whom he has been parted for nearly two years!' That's why I doubt if your sympathy can be of any great solace to me." "Well," said Antonius, washing down his _puls_ with a draught of water from a second helmet at hand, "I can't say that I would be full of grief two years from the day my beloved Fulvia was taken from me. But there are women of many a sort. Some are vipers to sting your breast, some are playthings, some are--what shall I call them--goddesses? no, one may not kiss Juno; flowers? they fade too early; silver and gold? that is rubbish. I have no name for them. But believe me, Quintus, I have met this Cornelia of yours once or twice, and I believe that she is one of those women for whom my words grow weak." "Then you can sympathize, can feel, for me," said Drusus, as he lay back with his head on the dark green sward.