Ursus breathed heavily, and balled his giant fists; for, loving his queen with the devotion of a dog, he could not bear the sight of her tears.

In his half-wild Lygian heart was the wish to return to the triclinium, choke Vinicius, and, should the need come, Caesar himself; but he feared to sacrifice thereby his mistress, and was not certain that such an act, which to him seemed very simple, would befit a confessor of the Crucified Lamb.
But Acte, while caressing Lygia, asked again, "Is he so hateful to thee ?" "No," said Lygia; "it is not permitted me to hate, for I am a Christian." "I know, Lygia.

I know also from the letters of Paul of Tarsus, that it is not permitted to defile one's self, nor to fear death more than sin; but tell me if thy teaching permits one person to cause the death of others ?" "No." "Then how canst thou bring Caesar's vengeance on the house of Aulus ?" A moment of silence followed.

A bottomless abyss yawned before Lygia again.
"I ask," continued the young freedwoman, "for I have compassion on thee--and I have compassion on the good Pomponia and Aulus, and on their child.

It is long since I began to live in this house, and I know what Caesar's anger is.