“With what?”
“With patience.”
“That is a new kind of weapon.”
“True. But can ye say that they die like common criminals? No! They die as if the criminals were those who condemned them to death,—that is, we and the whole Roman people.”
“What raving!” said Tigellinus.
“Hic Abdera!” answered Petronius.
[A proverbial expression meaning “The dullest of the dull”—Note by the Author.]
But others, struck by the justice of his remark, began to look at one another with astonishment, and repeat,—
“True! there is something peculiar and strange in their death.”
“I tell you that they see their divinity!” cried Vestinius, from one side. Thereupon a number of Augustians turned to Chilo,—