The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

mine own hands . I couched at night beside ifc , by the day I tried to make ifc perfecter—in vain , my utmost skill was spent , it was most perfect , so far as earthly touch could make perfection . But , ah !

who can the ruddy glow give to the downy cheek , or part , twin rose buds , dewy lip from dewy lip ? Who can within the rounded breasts which rise like pleasant flowery mountains compassing a vale of libied joys , the life impart , or animation give to

the cold marble ? A higher power than earth ' s alone could work this mighty change , the power of her , the Queen of Love . " I threw me down one night in agony beside thy feet , and cried on Zeus for aid , and burst forth

in a wild lament of woe . Then , madly starting up , I cried on Aphrodite , and as madly I clasped thee to my breast to warm thy frame , lo ! in thy former dull and stony eyes , two liquid gems of light gazed up to mine , and sighs rang through thy heart ,

while the tide of life gushed warmly to thy former throbless heart . And then—thou lovedst me—no second love—no bartered heart—but me thou

lovedst—me alone : no cast-off soul , but one that saw me first , and loved me from the first . 0 ! my fond love ; 0 ! my diviner part . Yes , cling to me , and tell me oer and oer again , until the stars do murmur back thy words , thou lovesfc and lovest

me , but me—0 joy—alone . " After reading this , Adrian paused for a little , and then said dreamily" This is true love , the love which could only move my heart to love again ; for I could not bear

to kiss those lips which have been pressed to another ' s , to have my image displace another's in the temple of a woman ' s heart . " " Is not such love to be had ?"

" Doubtless , but we must seek it with Pygmalion . " " Absurd . Come with me to Murtius , and I will show you such a gem . " "To Murtius , " answered Adrian , casting a

sharp penetrating glance upon his cousin , " does he possess then such a gem ? That is marvellous . "

" Marvellous , how ? In Greece , he is noble , in philosophy he is famous , in riches affluent . " " And in virtue , notorious . " " Adrian , Adrian , what has possessed thee with that air of mockery ? What knowest thou evil of

him ?" " Nothing , Coz , of myself , nothing . In Athens they shrugged their shoulders at the mention of his

name , in Rome he bears no very honourable . character . " "I do not believe it , Adrian . All envy . " " Perhaps , my Caius , a mist is before your eyes , which prevents you seeing as clearly as others . " "You know Lucius Decius ?"

" Perfectly . " " He is an honourable man , and one who would not sifc at table with a rogue on familiar terms . ' " I would as soon think of doing it myself . " " Then . he is a constant visitor of the Greek , and the first day I was there , he was present afc the feast . "

" Indeed , " said Adrian , " that is something important , still it does not clear up my doubts . Tell me , what family has this Murtius ?" " Two daughters , the eldest Phryne , the younger a silent timid thing called Myra . "

" Phryne is beautiful , is she not ?" " Beautiful , " cried Caius with his cheeks all aflame . " 'Tis a poor word to describe her by . " "And Myra ?"' . " Oh , she is a pale faced girl , I do not know

much of her . Runs away when I call . " " So , " thought Adrian , " he loves Phryne , unhappy boy , if the tale be true . How am I to act , how to drag him forth of this coil , without losingmyself as well . Myra has cast a spell over me for

which I cannot account . Where all the others are notoriously bad , how can she be good , Caius , " he said aloud , " what kind of person is this sister of the Greek , Lais ?" A shudder shook Cains' frame as he

answered" Would you believe me , Adrian , when I tell you , that in spite of all her kindness , her soft words , her openheartedness , I dislike that woman . She inspires me with a terrible dread , a seeming cloud upon the distance portending a terrible storm , in which my happiness will be shipwrecked . " "Isshe ugly ?"

" Hgly , no , and that makes the feeling all the more unaccountable . Were she old , and hideous , blear eyed and hairy lipped like some of these Dacian hags , I could readily account for the feeling , but a young beautiful and engaging woman ,

renders the emotion perfectly astounding . She minds me of a statue in the Forum , of Circe slaying her babes . " " Circe slaying her babes ! rather , brewing that hellbroth which transforms men into brutes . Look to it , Caius , look to it . Go no more to that Greek ' s den , lest you too become transformed . "