# Publius Lucius Sabinus — The Tour character guide > Publius Lucius Sabinus in The Tour by Louis Couperus. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Lucius, My Lord Lucius, the ever noble Lord Publius Lucius Sabinus **First appearance:** 0001-the-tour ## Snapshot A Roman nobleman of violent passions and ruined fortune, touring the East while mourning the vanished slave-girl Ilia, whom he loved as a goddess. ## Who they are Lucius is the young master whose grief over Ilia's disappearance drives him to frenzy, generosity, and cruelty in turn — he strikes his freedman tutor, then begs forgiveness. His wealth has been confiscated by Tiberius, leaving him penniless with only his ship and companions. His volatile nature and obsession with the lost Ilia shape the tour's emotional weather, making every port and merchant's ware a reminder of what he cannot recover. ## Relationships ### [Caleb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/caleb) _rivalry_ Caleb and Publius Lucius Sabinus are locked in a bitter power struggle, each seeking to undermine the other's influence. ### [Tarrar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/tarrar) _professional_ Publius Lucius Sabinus employs Tarrar as a cunning and loyal agent, using him for covert operations. ### [Thrasyllus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/thrasyllus) _friendship_ Publius Lucius Sabinus and Thrasyllus are old comrades, sharing a bond of mutual respect and shared history. ### [Catullus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/catullus) _rivalry_ Catullus openly despises Publius Lucius Sabinus, viewing him as a corrupt and dangerous adversary. ### [Cora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/cora) _psychological_ Cora is both fascinated and manipulated by Publius Lucius Sabinus, trapped in a web of his psychological games. ### [Vettius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/vettius) _professional_ Vettius serves as Publius Lucius Sabinus's ruthless enforcer, carrying out his dirty work without question. ### [Ilia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/ilia) _family_ Ilia is Publius Lucius Sabinus's estranged sister, bound by blood but divided by betrayal. ### [Osiris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/osiris) _psychological_ Osiris is a mysterious figure who subtly manipulates Publius Lucius Sabinus, pulling strings from the shadows. ### [Aphrodite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/aphrodite) _romantic_ Aphrodite is Publius Lucius Sabinus's former lover, now using her charms to manipulate him for her own ends. ### [Rufus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/rufus) _professional_ Rufus is a loyal but disillusioned soldier in Publius Lucius Sabinus's personal guard. ### [Dryope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/dryope) _family_ Dryope is Publius Lucius Sabinus's elderly mother, who wields quiet influence over him despite his power. ### [Caleb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/caleb) _rivalry_ Caleb and Publius Lucius Sabinus are locked in a bitter power struggle, each seeking to undermine the other's influence. ## In the story ### [The Tour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/the-tour) The Roman nobleman observing the Egyptian wonders with curiosity and a sense of cultural superiority. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/i) The grieving master, lying on the prow of his ship, consumed by sorrow over Ilia's disappearance. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/ii) Lucius is sobbing on his cushions, consumed by grief over Ilia's disappearance, and remains oblivious to Cora's singing and presence. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/iii) The protagonist, a wealthy Roman nobleman, arrives in Alexandria grieving the loss of his slave Ilia. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/iv) Grieves over Ilia, kisses her sandal, and secretly plans to consult oracles. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/v) Desperate and volatile, Lucius seeks the sibyl to find Ilia, reacting with rage when he suspects her of reading his thoughts. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/vi) Lucius is overwhelmed by sorrow and rage, sobbing and destroying property, but later shows compassion toward Tarrar, offering him freedom and forgiveness. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/vii) Emerges from mourning, dresses as an Egyptian god, and leads the household to Canopus to dream of Ilia. ### [The Festival of Serapis at Canopus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/viii) The wealthy Roman master who journeys to Canopus to dream, depicted as a priest-like figure longing for his dream. ### [The Festival of Serapis at Canopus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/ix) Lucius marches in the procession, lies under a gold network awaiting a dream from Serapis to find a lost beloved woman. ### [The Dream at Canopus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/x) Lucius dreams of his lost love Ilia and seeks interpretation from the prophet Amphris, learning that his soul is sick with sorrow and love. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xi) Lucius returns from Canopus in a fit of fury, locks himself in his room, and refuses to see anyone. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xii) Lucius is visited by Tamyris, rejects her advances, but later visits her out of curiosity, only to be disappointed. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xiii) Weary and lovesick, agrees to Thrasyllus's plan and hires Caleb as guide. ### [The Night of Isis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xiv) Lucius is deeply melancholic and unwell, wanders alone during the Feast of Isis, visits the temple, and later asks Cora to stay with him. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xv) Lucius is deeply moved by the mystic awe of Memphis's ancient past, feeling his own grief and life shrink in comparison. He also expresses a burning desire to find the pirate who robbed him of Ilia. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xvi) Absorbed in reading about Joseph and Moses, and deeply contemplative about the past while gazing at the pyramids. ### [The Black Pyramid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xvii) Trembles upon hearing the legend of Rhodopis's sandal, seeks the priest's help to find Ilia, and is consumed by rage and grief. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xviii) Struggles with the truth of Ilia's betrayal by Carus; seeks solace in oracles and the Sphinx; resolves to keep his grief silent. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xix) Wanders alone at dawn, doubting his cure from grief and questioning whether he truly knows the truth about Ilia. Observes rural life with envy and later follows Cora at a distance. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xx) Leads the caravan to the oracle of Ammon, remains cheerful despite hardships, and resolves the water crisis with lemons and money. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxi) Kneels in reverence before the fading god Ammon-Râ and seeks the truth through meditation and prayer. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxii) Pale, tired, and enlightened after five days and nights; calm and dignified, he commands Tarrar to bury the sycamore casket in the desert. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxiii) Reveals his knowledge of Carus's theft of Ilia and his embrace of the maxim 'Be a god unto yourself' to overcome grief. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxiv) Lucius marvels at the architecture of Thebes and hears the sound from the colossus of Memnon; he agrees to Caleb's hunting expedition plans. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxv) Lucius abandons his grief for Ilia, finding new health and manhood in the Ethiopian hunts. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxvi) Lucius initiates a night walk with Cora, asks her to dance, and ultimately accepts her love, offering her a place with him. ### [Cape Dire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxvii) Learns of his financial ruin from Vettius and Rufus; arrives at Cape Dire. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxviii) Lucius is now impoverished after Tiberius confiscated his possessions. He refuses to give up Cora and agrees to Caleb's plan to transfer the quadrireme's ownership to Caleb for sale. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxix) Arranges passage to Babylon, lies to the ship's master about his relationship with Catullus, and settles Cora into the cabin. ### [Postscript](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/postscript) Recipient of the letter; former owner of the quadrireme Aphrodite; addressed as 'ever noble Lord' and 'companion of the chase'. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/publius_lucius_sabinus - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters