And as the faithful husband of my Cornelia I remained, until cruel death closed her dear eyes forever.

One can love once, and honourably, with his whole being, but not truly and honourably love a second time, at least not in a manner like unto the first.

Therefore, my Quintus, blush not to confess that which I know is yours,--a thing which too many of us Romans do not know in these declining days,--something that would almost convince me there were indeed celestial gods, who care for us and guide our darkened destinies.

For when we reason of the gods, our reason tells us they are not.

But when pure passion possesses our hearts, then we see tangible visions, then our dreams become no dreams but realities; we mount up on wings, we fly, we soar to Olympus, to Atlantis, to the Elysian fields; we no longer wish to know, we feel; we no longer wish to prove, we see; and what our reason bids us to reject, a surer monitor bids us to receive: the dangers and perils of this life of shades upon the earth are of no account, for we are transformed into immortals in whose veins courses the divine ichor, and whose food is ambrosial.