 ordered to be armed, I took that opportunity of selling two swords, which
probably I might otherwise never have disposed of, they being extremely old and
rusty; so that, having no weapon left, I did not care to venture abroad.
Besides, though I really thought it an act meriting salvation to murder the
Nazarenes, as the fact was to be committed at midnight, at which time, to avoid
suspicion, we were all to sally from our own houses, I could not persuade myself
to consume so much oil in sitting up to that hour: for these reasons therefore I
remained at home that evening.
    »I was at this time greatly enamoured with one Hypatia, the daughter of a
philosopher; a young lady of the greatest beauty and merit: indeed, she had
every imaginable ornament both of mind and body. She seemed not to dislike my
person; but there were two obstructions to our marriage, viz., my religion and
her poverty: both which might probably have been got over, had not those dogs
the Christians murdered her; and, what is worse, afterwards burned her body:
worse, I say, because I lost by that means a jewel of some value, which I had
presented to her, designing, if our nuptials did not take place, to demand it of
her back again.«
    »Being thus disappointed in my love, I soon after left Alexandria and went
to the imperial city, where I apprehended I should find a good market for jewels
on the approaching marriage of the emperor with Athenais. I disguised myself as
a beggar on this journey, for these reasons: first, as I imagined I should thus
carry my jewels with greater safety; and, secondly, to lessen my expenses; which
latter expedient succeeded so well, that I begged two oboli on my way more than
my travelling cost me, my diet being chiefly roots, and my drink water.«
    »But, perhaps, it had been better for me if I had been more lavish and more
expeditious; for the ceremony was over before I reached Constantinople; so that
I lost that glorious opportunity of disposing of my jewels with which many of
our people were greatly enriched.«
    »The life of a miser is very little worth relating, as it is one constant
scheme of getting or saving money. I shall therefore repeat to you some few only
of my adventures, without regard to any order.«
    »A Roman Jew, who was a great lover of Falernian wine, and who indulged
himself very freely with it, came to dine at my house; when
