The Last Days of Pompeii
'HO, Diomed, well met! Do you sup with Glaucus to-night?' said a young man of small stature, who wore his tunic in those loose and effeminate folds which proved him to be a gentleman and a coxcomb.
'Alas, no! dear Clodius; he has not invited me,' replied Diomed, a man of portly frame and of middle age. 'By Pollux, a scurvy trick! for they say his suppers are the best in Pompeii'.
'Pretty well—though there is never enough of wine for me. It is not the old Greek blood that flows in his veins, for he pretends that wine makes him dull the next morning.'
'There may be another reason for that thrift,' said Diomed, raising his brows. 'With all his conceit and extravagance he is not so rich, I fancy, as he affects to be, and perhaps loves to save his amphorae better than his wit.'
'An additional reason for supping with him while the sesterces last. Next year, Diomed, we must find another Glaucus.'
'He is fond of the dice, too, I hear.'
'He is fond of every pleasure; and while he likes the pleasure of giving suppers, we are all fond of him.'
'Ha, ha, Clodius, that is well said! Have you ever seen my wine-cellars, by-the-by?'
'I think not, my good Diomed.'
'Well, you must sup with me some evening; I have tolerable muraenae in my reservoir, and I ask Pansa the aedile to meet you.'
'O, no state with me!—Persicos odi apparatus, I am easily contented. Well, the day wanes; I am for the baths—and you...'
'To the quaestor—business of state—afterwards to the temple of Isis. Vale!'
Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
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THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII
BOOK THE FIRST
Chapter I.
THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF POMPEII.
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
MORE OF THE FLOWER-GIRL. THE PROGRESS OF LOVE.
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
ARBACES COGS HIS DICE WITH PLEASURE AND WINS THE GAME.
BOOK THE SECOND
Chapter I
A FLASH HOUSE IN POMPEII, AND THE GENTLEMEN OF THE CLASSIC RING.
Chapter II
TWO WORTHIES.
Chapter III
GLAUCUS MAKES A PURCHASE THAT AFTERWARDS COSTS HIM DEAR.
Chapter IV
THE RIVAL OF GLAUCUS PRESSES ONWARD IN THE RACE.
Chapter V
THE POOR TORTOISE. NEW CHANGES FOR NYDIA.
Chapter VI
THE HAPPY BEAUTY AND THE BLIND SLAVE.
Chapter VII
IONE ENTRAPPED. THE MOUSE TRIES TO GNAW THE NET.
Chapter VIII
THE SOLITUDE AND SOLILOQUY OF THE EGYPTIAN. HIS CHARACTER ANALYSED.
Chapter IX
BOOK THE THIRD
Chapter I
Chapter II
THE NOONDAY EXCURSION ON THE CAMPANIAN SEAS.
Chapter III
THE CONGREGATION.
Chapter IV
THE STREAM OF LOVE RUNS ON. WHITHER?
Chapter V
Chapter VI
THE PORTER. THE GIRL. AND THE GLADIATOR.
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
JULIA SEEKS ARBACES. THE RESULT OF THAT INTERVIEW.
Chapter IX
STORM IN THE SOUTH. THE WITCH'S CAVERN.
Chapter X
Chapter XI
BOOK THE FOURTH
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
A FASHIONABLE PARTY AND A DINNER A LA MODE IN POMPEII.
Chapter IV
THE STORY HALTS FOR A MOMENT AT AN EPISODE.
Chapter V
THE PHILTRE. ITS EFFECT.
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
A CLASSIC FUNERAL.
Chapter IX
IN WHICH AN ADVENTURE HAPPENS TO IONE.
Chapter X
Chapter XI
NYDIA AFFECTS THE SORCERESS.
Chapter XII
A WASP VENTURES INTO THE SPIDER'S WEB.
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
NYDIA ACCOSTS CALENUS.
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
A CHANCE FOR GLAUCUS.
BOOK THE FIFTH
Chapter I
Chapter II
THE AMPHITHEATRE.
Chapter III
SALLUST AND NYDIA'S LETTER.
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
THE PROGRESS OF THE DESTRUCTION.
Chapter VIII
ARBACES ENCOUNTERS GLAUCUS AND IONE.
Chapter IX
THE DESPAIR OF THE LOVERS. THE CONDITION OF THE MULTITUDE.
Chapter X
THE NEXT MORNING. THE FATE OF NYDIA.
Chapter The Last