I
will announce the fulness of time and quit the council before its
proclamation is made. Then the old lion may spring his trap, and who,
save Ben Joreb, will know that I ever sat with traitors. And as for
the priest, I shall warn him. I know that he is weary of Antipater and
will take a share in the new enterprise."
CHAPTER 18
It was the day before the nones of November in Rome. The emperor had
returned to his palace after opening the Ludi Plebeii. The people had
hailed him as father, forgiver, peace-maker. A softened spirit,
sweeping over the world, was come upon them. That day they had put in
his hands a petition for new laws to limit the power of men over
slaves. But in that matter he was bound to ancient custom by fetters
of his own making. Once--he was then emperor of Rome but not of his
own spirit--he had punished a slave by crucifixion for killing a pet
quail. For that act, one cannot help thinking, he must have been
harassed with regret. The sting of it tempered his elation that
November day. He was, however, pleased with the spirit of the people
and his heart was full of sympathy and good-will.
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