the coast not many miles from the
Imperial Capital of Rome. Then in his 54th year, it was generally
considered that he deserved a well-earned holiday from State duties,
though his character and disposition meant that the probability was that
the holiday be short and the ensuing progress round the Empire, of which
the Emperor was inordinately fond, extended."
"With him at that sumptuous Villa, apart from his personal advisors and
bodyguards, was his beloved Antinous, the sixteen year old boy beauty
whose every whim was the Emperor's command and on whom he doted with a
passion verging on the stupidly irresponsible. Hadrian's wife, Vibia
Sabina - whom he had married to be politically expedient and who was now
wife in name only - had been left behind in sweltering Rome where she
complained how badly she was treated toif he goes in too far the
soldier, Fortunatus, who is forever in attendance not far away and now
paces along the shore, will call him out.
Yet the calm blue waters of the Sea at the Middle of the Earth look
so inviting, so attractive that he is sorely tempted. He stares at the
glassy surface where it returns the light of the dying sun and can see
his own face reflected back, his glorious mop of curling resplendent
hair, the bloom on his boyish features just being refined by approaching
manhood, the lips aching to be kissed - and hidden (just) by his tunic,
the loins craving to be satisfied. Fascinated by his own beauty, he
stares almost hypnotized until the features in the water shimmer and
change.
It is no longer his face. It is a different