Transcriber’s Note This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects. Italics are delimited with the ‘_’ character as _italic_. A bold font is delimited with the ‘=’ character as =bold=. Text printed in mixed case small capitals is printed in all upper case. Errors and inconsistencies in punctuation have been attributed to printer’s errors, and corrected without further comment. Please note the publisher’s decision to place footnotes at the bottom of each page, as well as the author’s note on this topic in the Preface. In keeping with his intent, notes here have been moved to the end of each chapter. Please consult the endnotes at the bottom of this text for more details on the handling of textual issues. WORKS BY ERNST ECKSTEIN. =CYPARISSUS.= From the German by Mary J. Safford. One vol., paper, 50 cts.; cloth, 75 cts. =HERTHA.= From the German by Mrs. Edward Hamilton Bell. One vol., paper, 50 cts.; cloth, 75 cts. =QUINTUS CLAUDIUS.= From the German by Clara Bell. Two vols., paper, $1.00; cloth, $1.75 per set. =PRUSIAS.= From the German by Clara Bell. Two vols., paper, $1.00; cloth, $1.75 per set. =NERO.= From the German by Clara Bell and Mary J. Safford. Two vols., paper, 80 cts.; cloth, $1.50 per set. =THE WILL.= From the German by Clara Bell. Two vols., paper, $1.00; cloth, $1.75 per set. =APHRODITE.= From the German by Mary J. Safford. One vol., paper, 50 cts.; cloth, 90 cts. =THE CHALDEAN MAGICIAN.= From the German by Mary J. Safford. One vol., paper, 25 cts.; cloth, 50 cts. ECKSTEIN’S ROMANCES, 12 volumes, cloth binding, in box, $9.50 QUINTUS CLAUDIUS A ROMANCE OF IMPERIAL ROME BY ERNST ECKSTEIN FROM THE GERMAN BY CLARA BELL IN TWO VOLUMES--VOL. I. REVISED AND CORRECTED IN THE UNITED STATES NEW YORK GEO. GOTTSBERGER PECK, PUBLISHER 117 CHAMBERS STREET Copyright, 1882, by WILLIAM S. GOTTSBERGER THIS TRANSLATION WAS MADE EXPRESSLY FOR THE PUBLISHER PREFACE TO THE FIRST GERMAN EDITION.