Zenobia | Page 2

of commerce, a splendor and gayety
were thrown by numerous triremes and boats of pleasure, which,
glittering under the light of a summer's morning sun, were just setting
out upon some excursion of pleasure, with streamers floating from the
slender masts, music swelling up from innumerable performers, and

shouts of merry laughter from crowds of the rich and noble youths of
the city, who reclined upon the decks, beneath canopies of the richest
dyes. As these Cleopatra barges floated along with their soft burden,
torrents of vituperative epithet were poured upon them by the rough
children of Neptune, which was received with an easy indifference, or
returned with no lack of ability in that sort of warfare, according to the
temper or breeding of the parties.
When the novelty of this scene was worn out, for though often seen it is
ever new, and we had fallen a few miles below the city, to where the
eye first meets the smiling face of the country, I looked eagerly around,
first upon one, and then upon the other bank of the river, in search of
the villas of our fortunate citizens, waiting impatiently till the
well-known turn of the stream should bring me before yours, where,
with our mutual friends, we have passed so many happy days. It was
not long before I was gratified. Our vessel gracefully doubled the
projecting point, blackened with that thick grove of pine, and your
hospitable dwelling greeted my eyes; now, alas! again, by that loved
and familiar object, made to overflow with tears. I was obliged, by one
manly effort, to leap clear of the power of all-subduing love, for my
sensibilities were drawing upon me the observation of my
fellow-passengers. I therefore withdrew from the side of the vessel
where I had been standing, and moving to that part of it which would
best protect me from what, but now, I had so eagerly sought, sat down
and occupied myself in watching the movements and the figures of the
persons whom chance had thrown into my company, and with whom I
was now, for so many days, to be shut up in the narrow compass of our
merchant-barque. I had sat but a little while, when the master of the
ship, passing by me, stopped, and asked if it was I who was to land at
Utica--for that one, or more than one, he believed, had spoken for a
passage only to that port.
'No, truly,' I replied; and added: 'Do you, then, cross over to
Utica?--that seems to me far from a direct course for those bound to
Syria.'
'Better round-about,' rejoined he, in his rough way, 'than risk Scylla and

Charybdis; and so would you judge, were the bowels of my good ship
stored with your wealth, as they are, it may be, with that of some of
your friends. The Roman merchant likes not that narrow strait, fatal to
so many, but prefers the open sea, though the voyage be longer. But
with this wind--once out of this foul Tiber--and we shall soon see the
white shores of Africa. Truly, what a medley we seem to have on board!
Jews, Romans, Syrians, Greeks, soldiers, adventurers, merchants,
pedlers, and, if I miss not, Christians too; and you, if I miss not again,
the only patrician. I marvel at your taking ship with so spotted a
company, when there are these gay passenger-boats, sacred to the trim
persons of the capital, admitting even not so much as a case of jewels
besides.'
'Doubtless it would have been better on some accounts,' I replied, 'but
my business was urgent, and I could not wait for the sailing of the
packet-boats; and besides, I am not unwilling to adventure where I shall
mix with a greater variety of my own species, and gain a better
knowledge of myself by the study of others. In this object I am not
likely to be disappointed, for you furnish me with diverse samples,
which I can contemplate at my leisure.'
'If one studied so as to know well the properties of fishes or animals,'
rejoined he, in a sneering tone, 'it would be profitable, for fishes can be
eaten, and animals can be used: but man! I know little that he is good
for, but to bury, and so fatten the soil. Emperors, as being highest,
should be best, and yet, what are they? Whether they have been fools or
madmen, the Tiber has still run blood, and the air been poisoned by the
rotting carcasses of their victims. Claudius was a good man, I grant; but
the gods, I believe, envied us our felicity, and so took him.'
'I trust,' said I, 'that the present auspices will not deceive us, and that the
happiness begun under that almost