will not fall on the hapless Chilo? He, the poor sage, has attached
himself to the noble Vinicius as Aristotle to Alexander of Macedon. If
the noble lord should give him at least that purse which he had thrust
into his girdle before leaving home, there would be something with which
to invoke aid in case of need, or to influence the Christians. Oh, why
not listen to the counsels of an old man, counsels dictated by
experience and prudence?

Vinicius, hearing this, took the purse from his belt, and threw it to
the fingers of Chilo.

"Thou hast it; be silent!"

The Greek felt that it was unusually heavy, and gained confidence.

"My whole hope is in this," said he, "that Hercules or Theseus performed
deeds still more arduous; what is my personal, nearest friend, Croton,
if not Hercules? Thee, worthy lord, I will not call a demigod, for thou
art a full god, and in future thou wilt not forget a poor, faithful
servant, whose needs it will be necessary to provide for from time to
time, for once he is sunk in books, he thinks of nothing else; some few
stadia of garden land and a little house, even with the smallest
portico, for coolness in summer, would befit such a donor. Meanwhile I
shall admire thy heroic deeds from afar, and invoke Jove to befriend
thee, and if need be I will make such an outcry that half Rome will be
roused to thy assistance. What a wretched, rough road! The olive oil
is burned out in the lantern; and if Croton, who is as noble as he is
strong, would bear me to the gate in his arms, he would learn, to begin
with, whether he will carry the maiden easily; second, he would act like
Æneas, and win all the good gods to such a degree that touching the