Page:The Song of the Sirens.djvu/228

 the night victory on the Lycos; the forcing of the Phasis, the storm of Artaxata, the taking of the castles in the Caucasus, and the entry into Jerusalem. So they went over them all, she bubbling delight, he pleased, enjoying her enjoyment, adding to it with brief sketches of battles or anecdotes of sieges and marches, but mostly watching her and talking tolerantly.

This was the eagle of the legion. No, eagles were not always of silver, in fact, they had always been of bronze until Aemilius Paullus had silver eagles made from the Macedonian booty; Scipio plated his silver eagles with gold after he defeated Antiochus of Syria; Pompey was the first commander to have his eagles of solid gold; actually this was the first eagle of cast gold ever made.

"And now," said Antony. "You shall see the fasces."

"The fasces!" Mucia exclaimed. "Has Pompey two sets of fasces?"

"No," Antony answered, "only this one set."

"But how can they be here?" Mucia queried staring at the fasces the centurions were lifting out of their cases, "Are they not being carried before him?"

"Did you see any s when you saw him?" Antony suggested.

"I shouldn't have seen or noticed lictors,"