If he had only fought these latter as he fought the beasts he might have had a better place in history.
Antipater had conceived a great liking for the sister of Appius.

Her beauty had roused in him the great cats of passion now stalking their prey.

He had sworn to his intimates that no other man should marry her.

His gallantry was unwelcome, he knew that, and Appius had assured him that a marriage was impossible; but the wild heart of the Idumean held to its purpose.

And now its hidden eyes were gazing, catlike, on Vergilius, the cause of its difficulty.