Their hilarity was loud, but not unforced. Here, too, philosophising and prophecy were in evidence.
“There is not going to be any Last Judgment to-day,” said a young man, who looked as though he were a descendant of the Emperor Nero.
“Anyhow, if it comes, death cannot introduce us to anything worse than we have had in life.”
“It has always seemed to me that we are in hell. Headaches every morning, debts and disgrace, varied by occasional imprisonments.”
“The Emperor sits naked in a grotto at the foot of Soracte.”
“Vides ut alta stet nive candidum, Soracte.”
“As we are speaking, life the envious flits away. Enjoy the present day, nor trust the morrow!”
“And the Pope is going to hold a midnight mass—he who has no faith in it himself.”
“But he must put a good face on it, and go through with it.”
“I know one woman who will not go to mass to-day.”