"Do you remember our night at Athens?" continued the Emperor. "Do you remember then how you tempted me, the Galilean monk, as now I am tempting you? The old pride, the old force, are still on your face, Arsinoë, and not humility, O slave of the Galilean! Tell me the truth."
"I wish for power," she said in a low tone.
"Power! Then you still remember our compact—our alliance?" exclaimed Julian joyfully.
She shook her head, with a sad smile—
"Oh no! Power over the people is not worth the labour of obtaining it. You have learned that!"
"And this is why you go forth into the desert?"
"Yes ... and for freedom's sake."
"Arsinoë, as of old, you care only for yourself!"
"I wish to love others as 'He' commands, but I cannot. I detest them, and I detest myself!"
"Then it is better not to live!"