“That is beyond your power,” I replied impetuously; “your whole household would not replace him. I am indebted to his brother for my sister’s life and honor. I am bound to this man’s flesh and blood as if they were my own. I cannot, I will not desert him in his extremity.”
There were loud exclamations of surprise, contempt and disapproval. Many, however, were silent, touched perhaps by a latent magnanimity.
“What will you do?” exclaimed a haughty old Roman in a most provoking tone.
“Do?” said I rashly, striking my hand upon the hilt of my dagger, “do?—I will defend him: I will die with him.”
This caused a great uproar in the assembly. Loud cries of
“Away with him! out with him!”
“Insult a Roman senator!”
“Abettor of slaves and assassins!”
“Insurrectionist! Madman! Idiot!”
“Down with the base Judean!”