LUCIA

[Somewhat uncertainly] Who wrote it?

HELIOGABALUS

One of your Christian poets—Commodianus. What you call a hymn writer. It sickens me.

LUCIA

[Challengingly] I like it.

HELIOGABALUS

Yes, and you also like the Song of Solomon. I blush for you, little sweetbread. The Song of Solomon is pretty raw stuff. It is astonishing what a few months of marriage will do to an otherwise modest girl.

LUCIA

[Primly] Solomon sang of Paradise.