Besides, who would dare?
Would that gigantic blue-eyed Lygian, who had the courage to enter the triclinium and carry her from the feast on his arm?
But where could he hide with her; whither could he take her?
No! a slave would not have ventured that far.

Hence no one had done the deed except Caesar.
At this thought it grew dark in his eyes, and drops of sweat covered his forehead.

In that case Lygia was lost to him forever.

It was possible to wrest her from the hands of any one else, but not from the hands of Caesar.

Now, with greater truth than ever, could he exclaim, "Vae misero mihi!" His imagination represented Lygia in Nero's arms, and, for the first time in life, he understood that there are thoughts which are simply beyond man's endurance.