aminer of court spikenard was bestowed upon another; as also his
house and his garden, his gold and his silver, his wives and his
concubines, his camels and his asses, which were numerous.

While the solitary adventurer wended his way eastward, a gorgeous embassy
travelled westward in the direction of Rome.

Arrived in the presence of Aurelian, and at the conclusion of his
complimentary harangue, the chief envoy produced a cedar casket, from which
he drew a purple robe of such surpassing refulgence, that, in the words of
the historian who has recorded the transaction, the purple of the emperor
and of the matrons appeared ashy grey in comparison. It was accompanied by
a letter thus conceived:

"Bahram to Aurelian: health! Receive such purple as we have in Persia."

"Persia, forsooth!" exclaimed Sorianus, a young philosopher versed in
natural science, "this purple never was in Persia, except as a rarity. Oh,
the mendacity and vanity of these Orientals!"

The ambassador was beginning an angry reply, when Aurelian quelled the
dispute with a look, and with some awkwardness delivered himself of a brief
oration in acknowledgment of the gift. He took no more notice of the
matter until nightfall, when he sent for Sorianus, and inquired where the
purple actually was produced.

"In the uttermost parts of India," returned the philosopher.

"Well," rejoined Aurelian, summing up the matter with his accustomed
rapidity and clearness of head, "either thou or the Persian king has lied
to me, it is plain, and, by the favour of the Gods, it is immaterial which,
seeing that my ground for going to war with him is equally good in either
case. If he has sought to deceive me, I am right in punishing him; if he
possesses what I lack, I am justified in taking it away. It would, however,
be convenient to know which of these grounds to inscribe in my manifesto;
moreover, I am not ready for hostilities at present; having first to
extirpate the Blemmyes, Carpi, and other barbarian vermin. I will therefore
despatch thee to India to ascertain by personal examination the truth about
the purple. Do not return without it, or I shall cut off thy head. My
treasury will charge itself with the administration of thy property during
thy absence. The robe shall meanwhile be deposited in the temple of Jupiter
Capitolinus. May he have it and thee in his holy keeping!"

Thus, in that age of darkness, were two most eminent philosophers reduced
to beggary, a