Chapter 23: XXI

XXI The Squire-Bishop In a small and ill-furnished upper room of a fortified country house, sat Synesius, the Bishop of Cyrene. A goblet of wine stood beside him, on the table, but it was untasted. Slowly and sadly, by the light of a tiny lamp, he went on writing a verse or two, and then burying his face in his hand, while hot tears dropped between his fingers on the paper; till a servant entering, announced Raphael Aben-Ezra. Synesius rose, with a gesture of surprise, and hurried t…