He gazed at her for an instant--raised her--clasped her to his bosom.

"Fear nothing, my sweet Zoe." Then, with folded arms, and a smile of placid defiance, he placed himself between her and Clodius.
Clodius staggered forward, flushed with wine and rage, and uttering alternately a curse and a hiccup.
"By Pollux, this passes a jest.

Caesar, how dare you insult me thus ?" "A jest! I am as serious as a Jew on the Sabbath.

Insult you; for such a pair of eyes I would insult the whole consular bench, or I should be as insensible as King Psammis's mummy." "Good Gods, Caesar!" said Marcus Coelius, interposing; "you cannot think it worth while to get into a brawl for a little Greek girl!" "Why not?
The Greek girls have used me as well as those of Rome.
Besides, the whole reputation of my gallantry is at stake.

Give up such a lovely woman to that drunken boy! My character would be gone for ever.
No more perfumed tablets, full of vows and raptures.