Again Messala read:
“AT ANTIOCH, Tammuz 16th day.
“The bearer, Sanballat of Rome, hath now to his order with me fifty talents, coin of Cæsar.
SIMONIDES.”
“Fifty talents, fifty talents!” echoed the throng, in amazement.
Then Drusus came to the rescue.
“By Hercules!” he shouted, “the paper lies, and the Jew is a liar. Who but Cæsar hath fifty talents at order? Down with the insolent white!”
The cry was angry, and it was angrily repeated; yet Sanballat kept his seat, and his smile grew more exasperating the longer he waited. At length Messala spoke.
“Hush! One to one, my countrymen—one to one, for love of our ancient Roman name.”
The timely action recovered him his ascendancy.