“Greater suffering--yes, but to greater ends. A Regulus, a Scaevola have suffered for their country; but you--a wretched slave, a grain of sand among millions--you, whose sufferings are of no more account than the death of a trapped jackal--where do you find this indomitable courage? What god has endowed you with such superhuman strength?” A beatific smile stole over the man’s drawn features. “The one true God,” he replied with fervent emphasis, “who has pity on the feeble; the all-merciful God, who loves the poor and abject.” A step was heard approaching. “Leave me here alone!” the slave implored them. “It is the overseer.” Quintus and Aurelius withdrew silently, but from the top of the copse they could see a hump-backed figure that came muttering and grumbling up to where the slave was bound, released him presently from the stake and led him away into the gardens. For a minute or two longer the young men lingered under the pavilion and then, lost in thought, returned to the house. Their conversation could not be revived. FOOTNOTES: [48] LAVA BLOCKS. The usual material for pavements in central and southern Italy. [49] SICAMBRI. A powerful German tribe, occupying in the time of Caesar the eastern bank of the Rhine, and extending from the Sieg to the Lippe. [50] RED LIVERY. The usual costume of the litter-bearers in the time of the emperors. [51] WOOLLY-HEADED ETHIOPIANS. The name Ethiopian Αἰθίοπες in its more restricted sense, applies to the inhabitants of Upper Egypt; in a more general meaning to the whole population of North-eastern Africa, and South-western Asia. According to Herodotus (VII, 70) the Ethiopians dwelling in the East had smooth, those in the West woolly hair. [52] BATHS (_thermae_, θέρμαι, that is “warm baths”) were public bathing-establishments on the grandest scale, modelled after the Greek wrestling-schools. See Becker, _Gallus_ III, p. 68 and following. [53] CUMAE (Κύμη) now Cuma, the oldest of the Greek colonies in Italy, beyond the mountain range that bounds the bay of Baja on the west; it is only a few thousand paces from Baja. [54] IN FRONT WALKED EIGHT OR TEN SLAVES. Such a vanguard was customary among people of distinction, even when they went on foot. [55] LUSITANIANS. A people living in the region now known as Portugal, between the Tagus (_Tajo_, _Tejo_) and Durius, (_Duero_, _Douro_.) [56] CAECUBUM. A district on the shores of the bay of Gaeta, famous for its wine. See (Horace _Od._ I, 20, 9 and I, 37, 5) where it is said, that it would be positively sinful to bring Caecubian wine from the cellar with other kinds on ordinary occasions (_antehac nefas depromere Caecubum cellis avitis_, _etc._). [57] ERYMANTHIAN BOAR. So called from Mt. Erymanthus in Arcadia, where the animal lived until slain by Hercules.