The Last Act of a Mother

Although a brief mention is made in Section 13 about the sack of Rome by Alaric and Marcella's subsequent death, I particularly enjoyed the way Jerome described the scene.  At the arrival of the Goths to her home, Marcella pleads for the life of Principia, although not truly her daughter but in the true form of a mother pleading for the life of her daughter.  It seems to have worked because they arrive at the basilica of St. Paul, Marcella badly beaten but no mention is made of any harm to Principia (naturally with the help of God).  The tender scene of Marcella's death is, although sad, quite beautiful and serene, essentially passing on her duty to Principia. What I enjoy most about this scene is that I feel as though I get the first (although at the end) glimpse of Jerome's true sadness at the death of Marcella and how he grieves for Principia.  Up until now, I have felt curiosity and amusement at the descriptions Jerome has provided, making the situation seem almost as an episode of the "Real Housewives of Rome" who were sugar mommas for a bunch of poor little men.  Here I feel his sadness and I feel the type of woman Marcella was, willing to offer her own life to save that of another.  It changed my thoughts at that moment and I am in fact happy about that.