"Take this," he said, handing it to the Roman, "I have here set forth all that I have told you, fully and truly with my own hand in the form of a petition.

Such matters, as I very well know, are never regularly conducted to an issue at court unless they are set forth in writing.

If the queen seems disposed to grant you a wish give her this roll, and entreat her for a letter of pardon.

If you can effect this, all is won." Publius took the roll, and once more gave his hand to the anchorite, who, forgetting himself for a moment, shouted out in his loud voice: "May the gods bless thee, and by thy means work the release of the noblest of men from his sufferings! I had quite ceased to hope, but if you come to our aid all is not yet wholly lost.".