Chapter 7
The Sack of JerusalemWhen Decius came to dine at the house of Aulus, Julia had her dark hair crimped and curled and piled up on the top of her head and overhanging her forehead in an imitation of a recent elegant Roman visitor to the town. Her gown was of the best and finest Egyptian white cotton, her girdle of gold thread and river pearls, her necklace and earrings, again of gold and pearl, imported from Rome, and, on her finger, the large lapis lazuli ring Vespasian was reputed to have given her mother. She was nervous. She had changed through every gown and jewel she possessed, each time asking Aulus and Lucius if it would do, and immediately rejecting the outfit as soon as they said that it would. At last, irritated, they refused to comment, and she had ended up in the simpl
