The Sisters. Complete

“A strange conjuncture!” cried Euergetes. “You deprive me alike of my revenge and my love, and yet I see myself compelled to wish you a pleasant journey. I must offer a sacrifice to Poseidon, to the Cyprian goddess, and to the Dioscurides that they may vouchsafe your ship a favorable voyage, although it will carry the man who in the future, can do us more injury at Rome by his bitter hostility, than any other.”

“I shall always take the part of which ever of you has justice on his side.”

Publius quitted the room with a proud wave of his hand, and Euergetes, as soon as the door had closed behind the Roman, sprang from his couch, shook his clenched fist in angry threat, and cried:

You, you obstinate fellow and your haughty patrician clan may do me mischief enough by the Tiber; and yet perhaps I may win the game in spite of you!

“You cross my path in the name of the Roman Senate. If Philometor waits in the antechambers of consuls and senators we certainly may chance to meet there, but I shall also try my luck with the people and the tribunes.

“It is very strange! This head of mine hits upon more good ideas in an hour than a cool fellow like that has in a year, and yet I am beaten by him—and if I am honest I can not but confess that it was not his luck alone, but his shrewdness that gained the victory. He may be off as soon as he likes with his proud Hera—I can find a dozen Aphrodites in Alexandria in her place!

“I resemble Hellas and he Rome, such as they are at present. We flutter in the sunshine, and seize on all that satisfies our intellect or gratifies our senses: they gaze at the earth, but walk on with a firm step to seek power and profit. And thus they get ahead of us, and yet—I would not change with them.”

ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS:

A subdued tone generally provokes an equally subdued answer

A mere nothing in one man’s life, to another may be great

A debtor, says the proverb, is half a prisoner

Air of a professional guide

And what is great—and what is small

Before you serve me up so bitter a meal (the truth)

Behold, the puny Child of Man

Blind tenderness which knows no reason

By nature she is not and by circumstances is compelled to be

Deceit is deceit

Desire to seek and find a power outside us

Evolution and annihilation

Flattery is a key to the heart

Hold pleasure to be the highest good

If you want to catch mice you must waste bacon

Inquisitive eyes are intrusive company

Man is the measure of all things

Man works with all his might for no one but himself

Many a one would rather be feared than remain unheeded

Museum of Alexandria and the Library

Not yet fairly come to the end of yesterday

Nothing permanent but change

Nothing so certain as that nothing is certain

Old women grow like men, and old men grow like women

One hand washes the other

Prefer deeds to words

Priests that they should instruct the people to be obedient

The altar where truth is mocked at

They get ahead of us, and yet—I would not change with them

Virtues are punished in this world

What are we all but puny children?

Who can be freer than he who needs nothing

Who only puts on his armor when he is threatened