ne, all poisoned by bitter anguish of mind and body? The world
thought only of the sufferings he had inflicted on others; no one
dreamed of the pangs he had to endure--no one but herself, to whom
Galenus had spoken of them. And had not his features and his look
betrayed to her that pain was gnawing at his vitals like the vulture
at those of Prometheus? Hapless, pitiable youth, born to the highest
fortune, and now a decrepit old man in the flower of his age! To pray
and sacrifice for him must be a pious deed, pleasing to the gods.
Melissa besought the marble images over the altar from the very bottom
of her heart, never even asking herself why she was bestowing on this
stranger, this cruel tryant, in whose name her own brother was in danger
of the law, an emotion which nothing but her care for those dearest to
her had ever stirred. But she did not feel that he was a stranger, and
never thought how far apart they were. Her prayers came easily, too, in
this spot; the bonds that linked her to these beautiful marble beings
were familiar and dear to her. While she gazed up into the face of
Asklepios, imploring him to be gracious to the imperial youth, and
release him from the pain but for which he might have been humane and
beneficent, the stony features seemed to live before her eyes, and the
majesty and dignity that beamed on the brow assured her that the god's
power and wisdom were great enough to heal every disease. The tender
smile which played on his features filled her soul with the certainty
that he would vouchsafe to be gracious; nay, she could believe that he
moved those marble lips and promised to grant her prayer. And when she
turned to the statue of Hygeia she fancied the beautiful, kind face
nodded to her with a pledge of fulfillment.

She raised her beseeching arms higher still, and addressed her
sculptured friends aloud, as though they could hear her:

"I know that nothing is hidden from you, eternal gods," she began, "and
when it was your will that my mother should be taken from me my foolish
heart rebelled. But I was then a child without understanding, and my
soul lay as it were asleep. Now it is different. You know that I have
learned to love a man; and many things, and, the certainty that the gods
are good, have come to me with that love. Forgive the maid the sins of
the child, and make my lover whole, as he lies under the protection and
in the sanctuary of the great Serapis, still needing your aid too. He