"Not yet, orator," answered Piso. "I see that your father, the illustrious Germanicus, has not taken his place in the emperor's pavilion; he is riding about yonder in the arena, and so is Tiberius Cæsar. I dare say they will prefer to remain on horseback; for they can thus see quite as well, while the scene continues to be enacted in this place, and if the Sejan horse should break away through the opening in the amphitheatre opposite to us, they could follow and still assist at the issue, whereas we could not.'
"But I want to see; I must see; I'll get on my pony too! Ah my sight! I could not ride blind! O that accursed horse!"
"Then," said Piso, "do you wish the youth to conquer the horse, or the horse his rider?"
The child yelled, and struck his forehead furiously with his fists.
"Oh! If I could only see! I ought not to have come! It is worse to be here, knowing what is to happen, and having it all close under my eyes, and not to see it, than if I was far away and without the temptations around me. It is the hell of Tantalus; I cannot, cannot bear it."
After a pause of impotent rage, he asked Piso was the crowd of spectators very large?
"It is the largest I ever beheld," answered Piso; "it would be impossible to count it, or to guess the number."
"I wish every one present was stone blind at this very moment," said the dear child.
"Thanks, orator, on the part of all here present," answered Piso.