"I feared it," said Julius sadly. "But who will deliver us from our deliverers? Who will end the struggle?"
"I!" said Cethegus, with quiet majesty. "And you, my son, shall help me. Yes, Julius, your fatherly friend, whom you think so cold and indifferent, can also be enthusiastic, though not for girls' eyes and Gothic friendships. Leave these boys' pastimes; you are now a man. Give me the last joy of my desolate life, and be the sharer of my battles and the inheritor of my victories! It is for Rome, freedom, power! Boy, can my words not move you? Imagine," he continued, more warmly--"imagine these Goths, these Byzantines--I hate them as heartily as you do--exhausted by each other and overcome. On the ruins of their power Italy--Rome--will rise in all its ancient splendour! Again the ruler of the East and West will sit enthroned upon the Capitoline Hill. A new Roman Emperor, prouder than ever your Cæsar-forefather dreamed of, will extend order, blessing, and awe over all the earth----"
"And the ruler of this Empire will be called--Cethegus Cæsarius!"
"Yes; and after him, Julius Montanus! Up, Julius! you are no man if this goal does not tempt you!"
"I am dizzy," said Julius admiringly. "The goal is high as the stars; but your ways--are crooked. Ah! if they were straight, by God! I would share your steps! Yes; call the Roman youth to arms; cry to both the barbarian forces, 'Out of our holy Latium!' make open war against the barbarians and against the tyrants, and I will stand or fall at your side."
"You know well that this is impossible."
"And, therefore--it is your aim!"
"Fool! do you not see that it is common to form a structure from good material, but that it is divine by one's own strength to create a new world out of nothing?"
"Divine? By cunning and lies? No!"
"Julius!"