already. And surely! But if that should come, it is because the youth
are without faith, and without faith there can be no virtue. People
have abandoned also the strict habits of former days, and it never
occurs to them that Epicureans will not stand against barbarians. As
for him, he--As for him, he was sorry that he had lived to such times,
and that he must seek in pleasures a refuge against griefs which, if not
met, would soon kill him.

When he had said this, he drew toward him a Syrian dancer, and kissed
her neck and shoulders with his toothless mouth. Seeing this, the
consul Memmius Regulus laughed, and, raising his bald head with wreath
awry, exclaimed,--"Who says that Rome is perishing? What folly! I, a
consul, know better. Videant consules! Thirty legions are guarding our
pax romana!"

Here he put his fists to his temples and shouted, in a voice heard
throughout the triclinium,--"Thirty legions! thirty legions! from
Britain to the Parthian boundaries!" But he stopped on a sudden, and,
putting a finger to his forehead, said,--"As I live, I think there are
thirty-two." He rolled under the table, and began soon to send forth
flamingo tongues, roast and chilled mushrooms, locusts in honey, fish,
meat, and everything which he had eaten or drunk.

But the number of the legions guarding Roman peace did not pacify
Domitius.

No, no! Rome must perish; for faith in the gods was lost, and so were
strict habits! Rome must perish; and it was a pity, for still life was
pleasant there. Cæsar was gracious, wine was good! Oh, what a pity!