A LOST ART, OR THE POTTER OF POMPEIA. 43? 



a thankless word-breaker, until Junia be made my plighted spouse, to 

 claim when it likes me.' Upon this, he joined our hands, as she, like 

 unto one in a trance, said after him, ' I betroth myself to the preserver 

 of my parent, and will rather die than forfeit my faith. Witness it, ye 

 gods I' 



" I said nothing ; for after I had bound her to me, what need of bind- 

 ing myself to her, secure of inheriting the house and custom, they having 

 no other kindred ? So I sojourned with them some days, for my bosom 

 yearned towards the old man ; moreover, his wine was good. But it 

 came to pass that, one eve, as I fared forth alone, I beheld a lad quitting 

 a me an stall, and making for the high road ; and I bethought me that 

 this was one who moulded earthen vessels for our publicans. He was 

 swarth, lean, wan, and brief of stature ; but with starry eyes, and curls 

 black as ebony ; a patient, cheerful aspect ; also a pleasant voice, though 

 used shyly, or, as one would have said, with pride, had it been in reason 

 to suppose that any right to pride ever entered even the dreams of such 

 a fellow. The father of Junia had told me that this Caius, having no 

 home wherein to lay his head, our city had offered him a piece of ground 

 that no man would buy, or indeed take as a gift, by reason that it was 

 accursed ; so the credit of donation rested with them, and the shame of 

 unthankfulness with those who refused ; which they made sure that he 

 likewise would do, being but a weak and lonely creature ; yet, with 

 small thanks, he built up his habitation there, and our magistrates hoped 

 that, if he dwelt unmolested, some rich man might take heart to pur- 

 chase the ground, when they could easily turn him out, such being the 

 best use for so abject a thing. 



" The idle legend of the place was this. Upon it had stood the 

 house of one who was banished for slaying a Roman of high rank, 

 because he had seized on a girl beloved of this murderer j who, a year 

 after, finding himself dying, stole back to his confiscated and still vacant 

 house ; but the friends of him he slew hearing this, beset the door at 

 night, to take the criminal, that he might die the death ; when, sud- 

 denly, there appeared a youth, who cried unto them that whosoever 

 entered the sick chamber, must do so over his body. Therefore, the 

 leader cut him down, and, as the death- cry reached the ear of him they 

 sought, he sighed forth, ' Oh ! woman, faithful to the end !' and died 

 too. It was even so : his mistress had disguised herself to defend him. 

 Then the chief who smote her went into the garden, and standing over 

 against the well, said, f Here bury I my hard heart. Gods, if ye accept 

 the expiation, here punish ambition, covetousness, and revenge ; here 

 reward long-suffering, charity, and love ; but let none approach this 

 spot until Pompeia be warned to fall, and then let its mightiness cease.' 

 So saying, he cast himself down into the water, and was seen no more. 

 Since then no one had abided among the ruins of that house, save Caius, 

 and even he, though no shades, he said, appeared to him, neither drank 

 of the well, nor used its waters in his calling. On the eve whereof I 

 speak I followed him, and he knew it not, but murmured to himself, 

 ' Beloved birth-place, never will I leave thee. My destiny must find 

 me, I cannot seek it must be made to my hands, for I can do nought 

 but shape cups, and gaze on Junia.' I was half-minded to ask his 

 meaning, but there were other Junias besides mine ; who, having seen 

 me, could never, I deemed, waste a thought upon this beggar ; in 

 sooth, I heeded not ; there were elsewhere women. I was sure of her 



