But! hast thou heard that in Upper Egypt the phoenix has just been hatched out, as 'tis said ?--an event which happens not oftener than once in five centuries." "Petronius! Petronius! Let us talk of the phoenix some other time." "What shall I tell thee, my Marcus?
I know Aulus Plautius, who, though he blames my mode of life, has for me a certain weakness, and even respects me, perhaps, more than others, for he knows that I have never been an informer like Domitius Afer, Tigellinus, and a whole rabble of Ahenobarbus's intimates [Nero's name was originally L.Domitius Ahenobarbus].

Without pretending to be a stoic, I have been offended more than once at acts of Nero, which Seneca and Burrus looked at through their fingers.

If it is thy thought that I might do something for thee with Aulus, I am at thy command." "I judge that thou hast the power.

Thou hast influence over him; and, besides, thy mind possesses inexhaustible resources.

If thou wert to survey the position and speak with Plautius." "Thou hast too great an idea of my influence and wit; but if that is the only question, I will talk with Plautius as soon as they return to the city." "They returned two days since." "In that case let us go to the triclinium, where a meal is now ready, and when we have refreshed ourselves, let us give command to bear us to Plautius." "Thou hast ever been kind to me," answered Vinicius, with vivacity; "but now I shall give command to rear thy statue among my lares,--just such a beauty as this one,--and I will place offerings before it." Then he turned toward the statues which ornamented one entire wall of the perfumed chamber, and pointing to the one which represented Petronius as Hermes with a staff in his hand, he added,--"By the light of Helios! if the 'godlike' Alexander resembled thee, I do not wonder at Helen." And in that exclamation there was as much sincerity as flattery; for Petronius, though older and less athletic, was more beautiful than even Vinicius.