A throne, or a glorious grave--both are good; who can say which is the better?
Seek them with me, Miriam." "Caleb, I cannot." "Why ?" "Because it is laid upon me as a birthright, or a birth-duty, that I should wed no man who is not a Christian.

You know the story." "Then if there were no such duty would you wed me, Miriam ?" "No," she answered faintly.
"Why not ?" "Because I love another man whom also I am forbid to wed, and until death I am pledged to him." "The Roman, Marcus ?" "Aye, the Roman Marcus.

See, I wear his ring," and she lifted her hand, "and his gift is about my throat," and she touched the necklet of pearls.

"Till death I am his and his alone.

This I say, because it is best for all of us that you should know the truth." Caleb ground his teeth in bitter jealousy.
"Then may death soon find him!" he said.
"It would not help you, Caleb.