Mesembrius drew back in astonishment, asking in a tone of bewilderment: "What is the matter?"
Manlius despairingly grasped the old man's hand.
"You have been robbed of your daughter."
Mesembrius' face blanched, and sinking back into his chair he faltered with fixed eyes, "Glyceria!"
"Yes, you are right; she has robbed you of her. And I, blind fool, met them, and these eyes did not recognize her in the darkness; this pitiable heart did not feel that, five steps off, she was being borne away from me. If it could happen that the sister dragged the sister to death before the lover's eyes, what means your sovereignty, Jupiter, Ormuzd, Zeus, Zebaoth, and the rest of ye chosen kings of destiny? Fiends rule the earth, and fate is an evil omen! But I, too, will be no better. Old man, gather all your curses, begin to pour them forth at dawn, and do not cease till nightfall. Meanwhile I will act. May Dira aid me."
The old man, as though stricken by palsy, repeated: "My daughter; oh, my daughter—"
Manlius compressed his lips; a bloody mist flickered before his eyes.
"Your daughter? I will avenge one and kill the other! May Ate be with us both.[2]"
[2] The goddess who avenged evil deeds.
As he spoke he swung himself upon his horse, and looking neither to the right nor to the left, galloped back at frantic speed to Rome.