like a princess and I fulfilled her every wish before it was uttered.
She herself has said a hundred times that I was too kind and too
yielding, and that there was nothing left for her to wish. Then the Gaul
came to our house, a man as acrid as sour wine, but with a fluent tongue
and sparkling eyes. How he entangled Glycera I know not, nor do I want
to know; he shall atone for it in hell. For the poor lost woman I pray
day and night. A spell was on her, and she left her heart behind in my
house, for her child was there and she loved Hermas so fondly; indeed she
was deeply devoted to me. Think what the spell must be that can
annihilate a mother's love! Wretch, hapless wretch that I am! Did you
ever love a woman, Paulus?"

"You ought to be asleep," said Paulus in a warning tone. "Who ever lived
nearly half a century without feeling love! Now I will not speak another
word, and you must take this drink that Petrus has sent for you." The
senator's medicine was potent, for the sick man fell asleep and did not
wake till broad day lighted up the cave.

Paulus was still sitting on his bed, and after they had prayed together,
he gave him the jar which Hermas had filled with fresh water before going
down to the oasis.

"I feel quite strong," said the old man. "The medicine is good; I have
slept well and dreamed sweetly; but you look pale and as if you had not
slept."

"I," said Paulus, "I lay down there on the bed. Now let me go out in the
air for a moment." With these words he went out of the cave.

As soon as he was out of sight of Stephanus he drew a deep breath,