The Emperor — Volume 06 by Georg Ebers
page 49 of 56 (87%)
page 49 of 56 (87%)
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"Alone?" asked the Emperor more gently. "Alone."
"And for what purpose?" "I was gazing at the stars." "You!" "And may I not, for once, tread in your footsteps?" "Why not indeed? The lights of heaven shine for the foolish as well as for the wise. Even asses must be born under a good or an evil star. One donkey serves a hungry grammarian and feeds on used-up papyrus, while another enters the service of Caesar and is fattened up, and finds time to go star-gazing at night. What a state you are in." "The boat upset and I fell into the water." Hadrian was startled, and observing his favorite's tangled hair in which the night wind had dried the salt water, and his torn chiton, he anxiously exclaimed: "Go this instant and let Mastor dry you and anoint you. He too came back with a bruised hand and red eyes. Everything is upside clown this accursed evening. You look like a slave that has been hunted by clogs. Drink a few cups of wine and then lie down." "I obey your orders, great Caesar." "So formal? The donkey simile vexed you." "You used always to have a kind word for me." |
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