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now, noble Marcus, I have that to write unto you which will make those patrician eyes of thine grow big with admiration. Marcus, this day I have seen a man. Write it on thy tablets, "Sergius hath seen a man." And to thyself admit that though thou hast campaigned in Gaul and in Britain and hast chased the Scyths over the unnamed reaches beyond the northern sea, and hast thyself been chased by that fiety group of Bactrians that were once near to taking your life and mine on our most luckless campaign beyond the Assyrian River—admit it—thou hast never yet seen a man; for I swear by every god in the calendar there never was but one, and an hour ago I saw him die.

And such a place to look for a man! True, these Jews can breed a warrior, as those who fought the Maccabees would swear, but no soldier this man. A teacher, Marcus. Think of it! A preacher and wonder-worker who used not to play at arms, but at words—the guest of