“Ay, my child. Why should I be shackled?” she said, as she ground her teeth. “What do they fear that I will do? They wish to humble me. Ay, they treat me worse than a barbarian!”
“I wish I could but help thee, O my lady.”
“Oh! But this heat is stifling. Feel how it comes through the cover. Ah, I must have water, I must have water, I must have water!” she feverishly stammered.
Psyche noticed a gradual increase of heaviness upon her shoulder. She looked at Agrippina and found that she had fainted. “Stop the carriage!” she cried. “Help! help!”
The order “Halt!” was given, and the party came to a standstill. Through the dust the officer approached the carriage. He heard a call for water.
“My lady has fainted!” cried Psyche. “Quick! Help me! Give me some water!”
The officer poured some wine from a small flagon into a wooden cup. He pushed the cup between the curtains. After a few drops of wine were poured between the lips of Agrippina, she gradually became conscious. The dust having slightly settled, the curtains were drawn aside.
“Cannot this cruel ride be stopped?” asked Agrippina, weakly.
“We cannot stop until we arrive at Terracina,” answered the officer.
“But why such haste? Wouldst thou kill us both?”