CHAPTER XXI.

The high-priest of Serapis presided over the sacrifices to be offered this morning.  Caesar had given beasts in abundance to do honor to the god; still, the priest had gone but ill-disposed to fulfill his part; for the imperial command that the citizens’ houses should be filled with the troops, who were also authorized to make unheard-of demands on their hosts, had roused his ire against the tyrant, who, in the morning, after his bath, had appeared to him unhappy indeed, but at the same time a gifted and conscientious ruler, capable of the highest and grandest enterprise.

Melissa, in obedience to the lady Euryale, had taken an hour’s rest, and then refreshed herself by bathing.  She now was breakfasting with her venerated friend, and Philostratus had joined them.  He was able to tell them that a swift State galley was already on its way to overtake and release her father and brother; and when he saw how glad she was to hear it, how beautiful, fresh, and pure she was, he thought to himself with anxiety that it would be a wonder if the imperial slave to his own passions should not desire to possess this lovely creature.

Euryale also feared this, and Melissa realized what filled them with anxiety; yet she by no means shared the feeling, and the happy confidence with which she tried to comfort her old friends, at the same time pacified and alarmed them.  It seemed to her quite foolish and vain to suppose that the emperor, the mighty ruler of the world, should fall in love with her, the humble, obscure gem-cutter’s child, who aspired to one suitor alone.  It was merely as a patient wishes for the physician, she assured herself, that the emperor wished for her presence—­Philostratus had understood that.  During the night she had certainly been seized with great fears, but, as she now thought, without any cause.  What she really had to dread was that she might be falsely judged by his followers; still, she cared nothing about all these Romans.  However, she would beg Euryale to see Diodoros, and to tell him what forced her to obey the emperor’s summons, if he should send for her.  It was highly probable that the sick man had been informed of her interview with Caracalla, and, as her betrothed, he must be told how she felt toward Caesar; for this was his right, and jealous agitation might injure him.

Her face so expressed the hope and confidence of a pure heart that when, after a little time, she withdrew, Euryale said to the philosopher: 

“We must not alarm her more!  Her trustful innocence perhaps may protect her better than anxious precautions.”

And Philostratus agreed, and assured her that in any case he expected good results for Melissa, for she was one of those who were the elect of the gods and whom they chose to be their instruments.  And then he related what wonderful influence she had over Caesar’s sufferings, and praised her with his usual enthusiastic warmth.