A Thorny Path — Volume 07

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The Project Gutenberg EBook A Thorny Path, by Georg Ebers, v7 #97 in our series by Georg EbersCopyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the copyright laws for your country before downloadingor redistributing this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do notchange or edit the header without written permission.Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of thisfile. Included is important information about your specific rights and restrictions in how the file may be used. You can alsofind out about how to make a donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts****EBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971*******These EBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers*****Title: A Thorny Path, Volume 7.Author: Georg EbersRelease Date: April, 2004 [EBook #5536] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first postedon July 19, 2002]Edition: 10Language: English*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A THRONY PATH, BY EBERS, V7 ***This eBook was produced by David Widger [NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of the file for those who may wish to sample the author'sideas before making an entire meal of them. D.W ...

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Publié par	nuchor
Publié le	08 décembre 2010
Nombre de lectures	28
Langue	English

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Title: A Thorny Path, Volume 7.

Author: Georg Ebers

Release Date: April, 2004 [EBook #5536] [Yes, we
are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This
file was first posted on July 19, 2002]

Edition: 10

Language: English

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This eBook was produced by David Widger
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pwiosinht teor ss, aamt tphlee tehned aouft thhoer' sfi lied efoars tbheofsoer ew hmoa kminagy
an entire meal of them. D.W.]

A THORNY PATH

By Georg Ebers

Volume 7.

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
.mih

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.

When Melissa returned, Philostratus had left the
matron. She was again alone with Euryale, who
reminded her of the lesson conveyed in the
Christian words that she had explained to her
yesterday. Every deed, every thought, had some
influence on the way in which the fulfillment of time
would come for each one; and when the hour of
death was over, no regrets, repentance, or efforts
could then alter the past. A single moment, as her
own young experience had taught her, was often
sufficient to brand the name of an estimable man.
Till now, her way through life had led along level
paths, through meadows and gardens, and others
had kept their eyes open for her; now she was
drawing near to the edge of a precipice, and at
every turning, even at the smallest step, she must
never forget the threatening danger. The best will
and the greatest prudence could not save her if
she did not trust to a higher guidance; and then
she asked the girl to whom she raised her heart
when she prayed; and Melissa named Isis and
other gods, and lastly the manes of her dead
mother.

sDuurminmgo tnh itsh ec ognirfle tsos ihoins, soolvd eAredivgenn. tuMse laispspae aprreodm,i tsoed
to follow him immediately; and, when the old man
had gone, the matron said:

"Few here pray to the same gods, and he whose
worship my husband leads is not mine. I, with
several others, know that there is a Father in
heaven who loves us men, his creatures, and
guards us as his children. You do not yet know
him, and therefore you can not hope for anything
from him; but if you will follow the advice of a
friend, who was also once young, think in the
future that your right hand is held firmly by the
invisible, beloved hand of your mother. Persuade
yourself that she is by you, and take care that
every word, yes, every glance, meets with her
approval. Then she will be there, and will protect
you whenever you require her aid."

Melissa sank on the breast of her kind friend,
embracing her as closely and kissing her as
sincerely as if she had been the beloved mother to
whose care Euryale had commended her,

The counsels of this true friend agreed with those
of her own heart, and so they must be right. When
at last they had to part, Euryale wished to send for
one of the gentlemen of the court, whom she
knew, that he might escort her through the troops
of Caesar's attendants and friends who were
waiting, and of the visitors and petitioners; but
Melissa felt so happy and so well protected by
Adventus, that she followed him without further

dheelra, ys.i nInc ef ascht,e thhae do lcdo vmearen dh haids fae ferit esnod lcy afreeefluilnlyg tfhoer
adnady bbye ftohree ;t rsohueb lkende lwo oitk biny thhise tdiomn ee oyfe sh.is voice

Even now she did not believe in the dangers at
which her friends trembled for her, and she walked
calmly across the lofty marble halls, the anteroom,
and the other vast rooms of the imperial dwelling.
The attendants accompanied her respectfully from
door to door, in obedience to the emperor's
commands, and she went on with a firm step,
looking straight in front of her, without noticing the
inquisitive, approving, or scornful glances which
were aimed at her.

In the first rooms she needed an escort, for they
were crowded with Romans and Alexandrians who
were waiting for a sign from Caesar to appeal for
his pardon or his verdict, or perhaps only wishing
to see his countenance. The emperor's "friends"
sat at breakfast, of which Caracalla did not
partake. The generals, and the members of his
court not immediately attached to his person, stood
together in the various rooms, while the principal
people of Alexandria—several senators and rich
and important citizens of the town—as well as the
envoys of the Egyptian provinces, in magnificent
garments and rich gold ornaments, held aloof from
the Romans, and waited in groups for the call of
the usher.

wMoevliesns ah saangwi nngos oonne ,t hneo r wdaildls ,s thhe e ofbriseezrevse dtheec ocroasttelyd

with rare works of art and high reliefs, nor the
mosaic floors over which she passed. She did not
notice the hum and murmur of the numerous
voices which surrounded her; nor could she indeed
have understood a single coherent sentence; for,
excepting the ushers and the emperor's immediate
attendants, at the reception-hour no one was
allowed to raise his voice. Expectancy and servility
seemed here to stifle every lively impulse; and
when, now and then, the loud call of one of the
ushers rang above the murmur, one of those who