Slowly, both the bitterness and the understanding of its loss turn the world to virtue.

A new and lofty sentiment was appearing.

Woman, weary of her part in the human comedy, had begun to inspire a love sublime as the miracle in which she is born to act.
Happily, there were good people in Rome, even noble families, with whom sacrifice had still a sacred power, and who practised the four virtues of honor, bravery, wisdom, and temperance.

In rural Latium, rich and poor clung to the old faith, and everywhere a plebeian feared alike the assessor and the gods, and sacrificed to both.
It is no wonder the gods were falling when even Jupiter had been outdone by a modest man who dwelt on the Palatine.

One might have seen him there any day--a rather delicate figure with shiny blue eyes and hair now turning gray.