forcibly that a union with the emperor would render Melissa most unhappy,
if it did not lead to death, that he had been reduced to silence. Only,
when they spoke of the necessity of flight, he burst out again, declaring
that the time had not yet come for such extreme measures.

When Melissa now rejoined them, he spoke of the emperor's behavior toward
her as being worthy of a man of honor, and endeavored to touch her heart
by representing what an old man must feel who should be forced to leave
the house where his father and grandfather had lived before him, and even
the town whose earth held all that was dearest to him.

Here the tears which so easily rose to his eyes began to flow, and,
seeing that Melissa's tender heart was moved by his sorrow, he gained
confidence, and reproached his daughter for having kindled Caracalla's
love, by her radiant eyes--so like her mother's! Honestly believing that
his affection was returned, Caesar was offering her the highest honor in
his power; if she fled from him, he would have every right to complain of
having been basely deceived, and to call her a heartless wanton.

Alexander now came to his sister's aid, and reminded him how Melissa had
hazarded life and liberty to save him and her brothers. She had been
forced to look so kindly into the tyrant's face if only to sue for their
pardon, and it became him ill to make this a reproach to his daughter.

Melissa nodded gratefully to her brother, but Heron remained firm in his
assertion that to think of flight would be foolish, or at least
premature.

At this, Alexander repeated to him that Melissa had whispered in his ear
that she would rather die at once than live in splendor, but in perpetual