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118 DARKNESS AND DAWN
pliment. Don't class me among the poets who recite in the
dog-days, for my little poem written while Paris was dancing
"Achilles" is only four lines long. Spare my blushes
and let Lucan as he is a poet read it.'
'
Don't let him read it,' whispered Tigellmus ;
'
he will read
it
badly on purpose.'
But Petronius handed his little waxen tablets to Lucan,
who, with a glance of disdain at Tigellmus, read with perfect
expression the four celebrated lines :
'
He fights, plays, revels, loves and whirls, and stands,
Speaks with mute eloquence and rhythmic hands.
Silence is voiceful through each varying part,
'
In each fair feature t is the crown of Art. ' *
A loud exclamation of ' Euge, ! '
and ' 5*o