438 A LOST ART, OR THE POTTER OF POMPE1A. 



in the end : so, not stooping to question with a potter, I went my way, 

 and came again into Rome, where time tarried not. But, behold ! a 

 year was scarce gone when an epistle was given me, which I paid a 

 scribe to read and answer, for what hath a court soldier to do with arts 

 so mechanical ? In it my cousin besought me to release her, saying 

 that, without my will, she would wed no other, yet could never be mine 

 and live. So the scribe wrote, at my bidding, that she must be mine 

 and die, for I would by no means free her ; at which Lais, the pretty 

 Athenian who was with me, laughed Junia to scorn ! Another moon 

 had well nigh waned, when tidings came that mine uncle was dead ; 

 and I sent word that I would claim my wife in a brief season. But 

 when I came into her house, there was much mourning and &ore dismay. 

 She was gone, none knew whither. Now., though I, being assured of 

 possessing all her goods, might little be expected to sorrow for one who 

 loved me not, yet was it natural that I should nevertheless chastise 

 Caius the potter ; for he, I thought, must have caused all this. Where- 

 fore, with many others, I ran to his shed ; but we found only he ; and 

 the children who stood round about held me, sobbing, c Harm him not, 

 our friend is in despair !' Yet he rose up, haughtily, and said unto 

 me these words : ' Well know I, oh ! Centurion, whom thou seekest : it 

 is in vain; she is lost and found, false and true, dead and immortal. 

 Ha, ha ! how sure thou wert ! This hand is guiltless of her blood ; but 

 it was not for thee to win her as she was, it were not for thee to love her 

 as she is ; therefore depart, or seek farther at thine own peril ; accursed 

 be he who disturbeth her sleep !' So we thought him possessed, and I 

 was devising tortures for him, when he cried again, ' Words and tears, 

 from the poor, do nought with such as ye ; here are jewels, of many 

 colours and great size take them, and leave me to weep my Junia !' 

 It was as he said ; we stared on one another, and wist not what to do 

 with him ; but what to do with his gems I well enough knew ; some of 

 them sent to Nero (would they had proved choak friars to him!) raised 

 me higher than before in his grace. ' How earnest thou by these ? ' 

 quoth I ; and Caius answered, ' When any ask thee that question, tell 

 them thou hadst the toys from one who will give thee more to be rid of 

 thee/ f Nay/ said I, ' hadst thou offered me such reasons at the first, 

 thou mightst have married all the Junias in the universe/ ' What !' he 

 shouted fiercely, * wouldst thou have taken a price for Junia living ? 

 Worlds should not have purchased her of me ! A little wealth may do 

 much then, if we gain it but in time ; it will save life, but can never 

 restore. I had nothing but her glances ; in them, an empire in riches ; 

 without them, the bitterest poverty. Had we, but a few days since, 

 known thee for the sordid, bloodless reptile that thou art, she were now 

 my living bride. Pupil of Nero, this is thy work !' 



" Again I was tempted to kill the slave ; but he hurled a great chrys- 

 tal at my head, to pick up the which was a braver occupation. Then 

 the chief magistrate, who was by, said, ' All this serves not ; it import- 

 eth me, Caius, to learn, the source of thy so sudden wealth/ ' There 

 may be no such matter, thou upright lawgiver !' laughed he ; ' take a 

 handful of these to the cunning Jews of our city ; if they give thee 

 nothing for them, punish me ; if otherwise, enjoy it, nor trouble one who 

 can enjoy no more. Sweetens it not for ye, somewhat, a sight like this, 

 to know that I gain it by the loss of what was most precious to me ? that 

 the blessing I craved turneth to a cause of wailing when possessed ? 



