the safest. I speak
as a plain practical statesman--but surely your philosophy will not
dissent?'

Hypatia looked down in painful thought. What could she answer? Was it
not too true? and had not Orestes fact and experience on his side?

'Well, if you must--but I cannot have gladiators. Why not a--one of
those battles with wild beasts? They are disgusting enough but still
they are less inhuman than the others; and you might surely take
precautions to prevent the men being hurt.'

'Ah! that would indeed be a scentless rose! If there is neither danger
nor bloodshed, the charm is gone. But really wild beasts are too
expensive just now; and if I kill down my present menagerie, I can
afford no more. Why not have something which costs no money, like
prisoners?'

'What! do you rank human beings below brutes?'

'Heaven forbid! But they are practically less expensive. Remember, that
without money we are powerless; we must husband our resources for the
cause of the gods.'

Hypatia was silent.

'Now, there are fifty or sixty Libyan prisoners just brought in from
the desert. Why not let them fight an equal number of soldiers? They are
rebels to the empire, taken in war.'

'Ah, then,' said Hypatia, catching at any thread of self-justification,
'their lives are forfeit in any case.'

'Of course. So the Christians could not complain of us for that. Did
not the most Christian Emperor Constantine set some three hundred German
prisoners to butcher each other in the amphitheatre of Treves?'

'But they refused, and died like heroes, each falling on his own sword.'

'Ah--those Germans are always unmanageable. My guards, now, are just
as stiff-necked. To tell you the truth, I have asked them already to
exhibit their prowess on these Libyans, and what do you suppose they
answered?'

'They refused, I hope.'

'They told me in the most insolent tone that they were men, and not
stage-players; and hired to fight, and not to butcher. I expected a
Socratic dialogue after such a display of dialectic, and bowed myself
out.'

'They were right.'

'Not a doubt of it, from a philosophic point of view; from a practical
one they were great pedants, and I an ill-used master. However, I can
find unfortunate and misunderstood heroes enough in the prisons, who,
for the chance of their liberty, will acquit themselves valiantly
enough; and I know of a few old gladiators still lingering about the
wine-shops, who will be proud enough to give th