"Our misfortunes are beyond words. Particularly am I most unfortunate. Because of my friendliness to the alabarch, and subsequent turning upon Flaccus in thine own extremity, I am reduced to the utmost poverty, having neither food nor raiment beyond that which a faithful freedman supplies me out of his own little store.
"Since mine own people are imprisoned within a fourth of their territory, nor one permitted to come forth upon pain of dreadful death, I can not hope for help from them, much less from the Gentiles, who take particular delight in my humiliation.
"In thee I have hope. I pray thee number me among thy helpless ones and give me of thy bounty something to do to clothe and feed me, and sufficiently gentle that I may not be proscribed among my kind—"
Agrippa broke off and laughed aloud.
"Why read more? Is it not enough?"
"Enough," Marsyas said slowly. "But by thy leave, lord, we would know what thou wilt say to him."
"A just demand; for thou and not I didst suffer at his hands. I shall tell him that I laid the matter before thee and that thou—-"
"Nay, then, lord," Marsyas broke in earnestly, "if thou carest in all earnestness for my suggestion, pray let me make it!"
"But I believe that I anticipated it and commanded the answer so to be written."
There was a little regretful silence, and Agrippa leaned toward Marsyas.