Immortal Fulvius!' 'By the way,' said Sallust, 'have you seen the new ode by Spuraena, in honour of our Egyptian Isis?
It is magnificent--the true religious fervor.' 'Isis seems a favorite divinity at Pompeii,' said Glaucus.
'Yes!' said Pansa, 'she is exceedingly in repute just at this moment; her statue has been uttering the most remarkable oracles.

I am not superstitious, but I must confess that she has more than once assisted me materially in my magistracy with her advice.

Her priests are so pious, too! none of your gay, none of your proud, ministers of Jupiter and Fortune: they walk barefoot, eat no meat, and pass the greater part of the night in solitary devotion!' 'An example to our other priesthoods, indeed!--Jupiter's temple wants reforming sadly,' said Lepidus, who was a great reformer for all but himself.
'They say that Arbaces the Egyptian has imparted some most solemn mysteries to the priests of Isis,' observed Sallust.

'He boasts his descent from the race of Rameses, and declares that in his family the secrets of remotest antiquity are treasured.' 'He certainly possesses the gift of the evil eye,' said Clodius.

'If I ever come upon that Medusa front without the previous charm, I am sure to lose a favorite horse, or throw the canes nine times running.' 'The last would be indeed a miracle!' said Sallust, gravely.
'How mean you, Sallust ?' returned the gamester, with a flushed brow.
'I mean, what you would leave me if I played often with you; and that is--nothing.' Clodius answered only by a smile of disdain.
'If Arbaces were not so rich,' said Pansa, with a stately air, 'I should stretch my authority a little, and inquire into the truth of the report which calls him an astrologer and a sorcerer.