'Fronto, 'tis partly true--truer than I wish it were. When in Syria my eye first beheld her, I loved her--as I never loved before, and never shall again. But not for the Emperor of the world would she part from young Piso. I sued, as man never sued before, but all in vain. Her image still haunts the chambers of my brain; yet, with truth do I say it, but as some pure vision sent from the gods. I confess, Fronto, it is she who stands between me and the will of Heaven. I know not what force, but that of all the gods, could make me harm her. To no other ear has this ever been revealed. She is to me god and goddess.' 'Now, Aurelian, that thou has spoken in the fullness of thy heart, do I hold thee redeemed from the invisible tyrant. In our own hearts we sin and err, as we dare not when the covering is off, and others can look in and see how weak we are. Thou canst not, great Caesar, for this fondness forget and put far from thee the vision of thy mother, whom, in dreams or in substantial shape, the gods sent down to revive thy fainting zeal! Let it not be that that call shall have been in vain.' 'Fronto, urge now no more. Hast thou seen Varus?' 'I have.' 'Are the edicts ready?' 'They are.' 'Again then at the hour of noon let them glare forth upon the enemies of Rome from the columns of the capitol. Let Varus be so instructed. Now I would be alone.' Whereupon the priest withdrew, and I also rose from where I had sat, to take my leave, when the Emperor said, 'This seems harsh to thee, Nicomachus?' 'I cannot but pray the gods,' I said, 'to change the mind of Aurelian!' 'They have made his mind what it is, Nicomachus.' 'Not they,' I said, 'but Fronto.' 'But,' he quickly added, 'the gods made Fronto, and have put their mind in him, or it has never been known on earth. You know not the worth, Greek, of this man. Had Rome possessed such a one two hundred years ago, this work had not now to be done.' Saying which, he withdrew into his inner apartment, and I sought again the presence of Livia. LETTER XI. FROM PISO TO FAUSTA. A day has passed, Fausta, since the hearing of Probus, and I hasten to inform you of its events. But, first of all, before I enter upon the dark chapter of our calamities, let me cheer you and myself by dwelling a moment upon one bright and sunny spot. Early in the day we were informed that Isaac was desirous to see us. He was at once admitted. As he entered, it was easy to see that some great good fortune had befallen him. His face shone through the effect of some inward joy, and his eyes sparkled in their deep sockets like burning tapers. When our customary salutations and inquiries were over, Julia said to him, 'I think, Isaac, you must have sold a jewel this morning to no less a person than Aurelian, if the face may be held as an index of good or evil fortune.'