Page:Henryk Sienkiewicz - Quo Vadis (1897 Curtin translation).djvu/85

stubbornness of intoxication, repeated for the tenth time the answer of Mopsus to the sealed letter of the proconsul. Tullius, who reviled the gods, said, with a drawling voice broken by hiccoughs, 44 If the spheros of Xenophanes is round, then consider, such a god might be pushed along before one with the foot, like a barrel." But Domitius Afer, a hardened criminal and informer, was indignant at the discourse, and from indignation he poured Falernian over his whole tunic. He had always believed in the gods. People say that Rome will perish, and there are some even who contend that it is perishing already. And surely! But if that should come, it is be- cause the youth are without faith, and without faith there can be no virtue. People have abandoned also the strict habits of former days, and it never occurs to them that Epicureans will not stand against barbarians. As for him, he As for him, he was sorry that he had lived to such times, and that he must seek in pleasures a refuge against griefs which, if not met, would soon kill him. When he had said this, he drew toward him a Syrian dancer, and kissed her neck and shoulders with his toothless mouth. Seeing this, the consul Memmius Regulus laughed, and, raising his bald head with wreath awry, exclaimed, 44 Who says that Rome is perishing ? What folly ! I, a consul, know better. Videant consules ! Thirty legions are guarding our pax romana ! " Here he put his fists to his temples and shouted, in a voice heard throughout the triclinium, "Thirty legions! thirty legions! from Britain to the Parthian boundaries ! " But he stopped on a sudden, and, putting a finger to his forehead, said. 44 As I live, I think there are thirty-two." He rolled under the table, and began soon to send forth flamingo tongues, roast and chilled mushrooms, locusts in honey, fish, meat, and everything which he had eaten or drunk. But the number of the legions guarding Roman peace did not pacify Domitius. No, no! Rome must perish; for faith in the gods was lost, and so were strict habits ! Rome must perish ; and it was a pity, for still life was pleasant there. Caesar was gracious, wine was good ! Oh, what a pity !