Talbot Mundy

Name: The Falling Star — Chapter 2
Author: Talbot Mundy

The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

Summary

“The Falling Star — Chapter 2”, published in 1926, is a work by Talbot Mundy. It explores elements such as Pertinax, Sextus and Cornificia.

Quotes from The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (Talbot Mundy)

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ Pertinax answered, and went and sat on Galen’s couch. “You find me not man enough for the senate to make a god of me—is that it, Galen?”
“Too much of a man to be an emperor,” said Galen, smiling amid wrinkles. “By observing a man’s virtues one may infer what his faults are. You would try to rule the empire honestly, which is impossible. A more dishonest man would let it rule itself and claim the credit, whereas you would give the praise to others, who would shoulder off the work and all the blame on to you. An empire is like a human body, which heals itself if the head will let it. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ It was Galen who spoke next:
“Pertinax, if you might choose an emperor, whom would you nominate? Remember: He must be a soldier, used to the stench of marching legions. None could govern Rome whose nose goes up in the air at the smell of sweat and garlic.”
There was a murmur of approval. Cornificia stroked the long, strong fingers of the man she idolized. Sextus gave rein to his impulse then, brushing aside Norbanus’ hand that warned him to bide his time:
“Many more than I,” he said, “are ready to throw in our lot with you, Pertinax—aye, unto death! You would restore Rome’s honor. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ I have changed my opinion; only the maniacs never do that. Pertinax would make a splendid minister for Lucius Severus; and the two of them could bring back the Augustan days. Persuade him to it. He must forget he hates him.”
“Let him come!” said the voice of Pertinax. He was still leaning out, with one hand on a marble pillar, much more interested in the moonlit view of revelry than in the altercation between slaves. He strolled back and stood smiling at Cornificia, his handsome face expressing satisfaction but a rather humorous amusement at his inability to understand her altogether. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ Too many heads—a conference of doctors—and the patient dies! One doctor, doing nothing with an air of confidence, and the patient gets well! There, I have told you more than all the senate knows!”
Came Scylax, out of breath, less menial than most men’s slaves, his head and shoulders upright and the hand that held a letter thrust well forward as if what he had to do were more important than the way he did it.
“This came,” he said, standing beside Sextus’ couch. “Cadmus brought it, running all the way from Antioch.” ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ Who can get past the prætorian guard?”
“Any one!” said Pertinax. “The point is not, who shall kill Commodus? But who shall be raised in his place? There are thirty thousand ways to kill a man. Ask Galen!”
Old Galen laughed at that.
“As many ways as there are stars in heaven; but the stars have their say in the matter! None can kill a man until his destiny says yes to it. Not even a doctor,” he added, chuckling. “Otherwise the doctors would have killed me long ago with jealousy! A man dies when his inner man grows sick and weary of him. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ The only man whose face would freeze all rivals is Severus the Carthaginian!”
“We are none of us blind,” said Cornificia.
“You mean me? I am too old,” answered Pertinax. “I don’t like tyranny, and people know it. It is something they should not know. An old man may be all very well when he has reigned for twenty years and men are used to him, and he used to the task, as was Augustus; but an old man new to the throne lacks energy. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ Sometimes, when I have dined unwisely, and there is no Galen near to freshen up my belly-juices, I have nightmares, in which men and women cry to me for water that I took from them to pour into the cities. I have learned this, Galen: Do one thing wisely and you will commit ten follies. You are lucky if you have but ten failures to detract from one success—as lucky as a man who has but ten mistresses to interfere with his enjoyment of his wife! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ An argument seemed to be going on between the slaves whom Pertinax had set to keep the roisterers away and some one who demanded admission. Near at hand was a woman’s voice, shrilling and scolding. Then another voice—Scylax, the slave who had ridden the red mare. Pertinax strode to the window again and leaned out. Cornificia whispered to Galen:
“If the truth were known, he is afraid of Flavia Titiana. As a wife she is bad enough, but as an empress—”
Galen nodded.
“If you love your Pertinax,” he answered, “keep him off the throne! He has too many scruples.” ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ Galen retorted. “If he should turn virtuous, then perhaps, yes. But in that case we should wish him to live, although his soul would prefer the contrary and leave him to die by the first form of death that should appear—in spite of all the doctors and the guards and tasters of the royal food.”
“Some one should convert him then!” said Sextus. “Cornificia, can’t Marcia make a Christian of him? Christians pretend to oppose all of the infamies he practises. It would be a merry joke to have a Christian emperor, who died because his soul was sick of him! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ The sun shone no the bronze roof of the temple of Apollo, making such a contrast to, and harmony with, marble and the green of giant cypresses as only music can suggest. The dying breeze stirred hardly a ripple on the winding ponds, so marble columns, trees and statuary were reflected amid shadows of the swans in water tinted by the colors of the sinking sun. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ I have made my way in life by looking at facts and refusing to deceive myself; with the exception of that, I have no especial wisdom, nor any unusual ability.”
“If wisdom were all that is needed,” said Sextus, “we should put good Galen on the throne!”
“He is too old and wise to let you try to do it!” Galen answered. “But you spoke about the head of a Medusa, Pertinax, and mentioned Lucius Septimius Severus. He commands three legions at Caruntum in Pannonia. [2] If there is one man living who can freeze men’s blood by scowling at them, it is he! And he is not as old as you are.” ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ Norbanus finished the sentence for him.
“Aye, some of us would hardly feel like noble Romans!” Pertinax said grimly. “Possibly I can protect you, Sextus. Let us think of some great favor you can do the emperor, providing an excuse for me to interfere. I might even take you to Rome with me and—”
Galen laughed, and Cornificia drew in her breath, biting her lip.
“Why do you laugh, Galen?” Pertinax strode over to him and stood staring.
“Because,” said Galen, “I know so little after all. I can not tell a beast’s blood from a man’s. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ Cornificia went on, ignoring him. “They can be tricked into declaring for the man whom Marcia’s friends nominate. Having once declared for him they will be too proud of having made an emperor, and too unwilling to seem vacillating, to reverse themselves in any man’s favor, even though he should command six legions. The senate will gladly accept one who has governed Rome as frugally as Pertinax has done. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ Pertinax laughed explosively—an honest, chesty laugh, unqualified by any subtleties, suggesting a trace of the peasantry from which he sprang. It made Cornificia wince.
“Can you imagine me a god?” he asked.
“I can imagine you an emperor,” said Sextus. “It is true, you have no following among the legions just at present. But I make one, and there are plenty of energetic men who think as I do. My friend Norbanus here will follow me. My father—” ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ He is one of three men who would fight for the throne if somebody slew Commodus, although he would not run the risk of slaying him himself, and he would betray us if we should take him into confidence. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ We commend this letter to you as a sure proof that we ourselves are to be trusted, since, if it should fall into the hands of an informer by the way, our lives undoubtedly would pay the forfeit. We have not much money, but enough for the expenses of a journey to a foreign land. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (1926)

“ It is a certainty that orders will go forth to seize yourself, since the estates in Antioch are known to be of great value. Therefore, we your true friends and devoted servants, urge you to make all speed in escaping. Stay not to make provision for yourself, but travel without encumbrances. ”

Talbot Mundy

Summary

Quotes from The Falling Star — Chapter 2 (Talbot Mundy)

Common terms

Similar works

Get perspective with Kwize: daily news enlightened by great literature