foul fields and farmyards of earthly practical life, and become a
drudge among political chicanery, and the petty ambitions, and sins,
and falsehoods of the earthly herd .... And the price which he
offers me--me, the stainless--me, the virgin--me, the un-tamed, --
is-his hand! Pallas Athene! dost thou not blush with thy child?'

'But, my child--my child,--an empire--'

'Would the empire of the world restore my lost self-respect-my just
pride? Would it save my cheek from blushes every time I recollected
that I bore the hateful and degrading name of wife?--The property,
the puppet of a man--submitting to his pleasure--bearing his
children--wearing myself out with all the nauseous cares of
wifehood--no longer able to glory in myself, pure and self-
sustained, but forced by day and night to recollect that my very
beauty is no longer the sacrament of Athene's love for me, but the
plaything of a man;--and such a man as that! Luxurious, frivolous,
heartless--courting my society, as he has done for years, only to
pick up and turn to his own base earthly uses the scraps which fall
from the festal table of the gods! I have encouraged him too much--
vain fool that I have been! No, I wrong myself! It was only--I
thought--I thought that by his being seen at our doors, the cause of
the immortal gods would gain honour and strength in the eyes of the
multitude .... I have tried to feed the altars of heaven with
earthly fuel .... And this is my just reward! I will write to him
this moment,--return by the fitting messenger which he has sent,
insult for insult!'

'In the name of Heaven, my daughter!--for your father's sake!--for
my sake! Hypatia!--my pride, my joy, my only hope!--have pity on my