“Yes, Baucis has told us the story. But after all--who cares what goes on in Germania!--our legions are constantly engaged in fighting on the frontier, now against the Dacians and now against the Parthians[307]--I do not trouble myself about the where and the why. Moral struggles, the battles we must fight at home, interest me far more....” “Particularly the law pleadings in the Senate, and before the court of the Centumvirate!” said Claudia smiling. “Certainly! out there, brute force decides the matter, but in the Forum it is superior intellect that wins the day.” “And one of the boldest champions is Cneius Afranius.” “It is quite true; his whole individuality, his undaunted honesty, his unfailing energy....” “Hey day! what eloquence. Before long we shall see you in the Basilica among the candidates for applause.” “Laugh away, by all means! I assert my right and liberty to admire all that is noble. If I were better looking, I should very likely exert myself to achieve a conquest, for I frankly confess that I regard the future wife of Afranius as a woman to be envied.” “You are frank indeed.” “I always am. And I find it all the easier, since I do not allow my consciousness of my defects to destroy my peace of mind. The Gods are unjust? For aught I care! You have a mouth like a rose-bud, I have a muzzle like a Cantabrian bear![308] Fate we call that, or Ananke![309]--Well, it is a lovely day for us both alike! Just see what a crowd and bustle there are out here; I think we had better walk. There is the portico with its hundred columns.” Claudia stopped the bearers, and the two girls walked on to the magnificent hall of Agrippa, followed at a short distance by the Numidian slaves. Arm in arm they walked along the arcades, by the famous mural paintings,[310] representing in the highest style of art, scenes from the stories of the Greek divinities--the rape of Europa, Cheiron the Centaur, and the voyage of the Argonauts. To the right they saw the marble enclosures--Septa[311] they were called--in the midst of which the Roman people assembled when the centuria[312] were called upon to vote. Lucilia hoped she might one day be present at some stormy debate here. Claudia found it more interesting, to linger over the gay booths[313] and bazaar for luxurious trifles at the northern end of the portico, where the precious produce of the remotest provinces of the empire was displayed.