Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  Chapter L

  ON leaving Caesar, Petronius had himself borne to his house on theCarinae, which, being surrounded on three sides by a garden, and havingin front the small Cecilian Forum, escaped the fire luckily. For thiscause other Augustians, who had lost their houses and in them vastwealth and many works of art, called Petronius fortunate. For years ithad been repeated that he was the first-born of Fortune, and Caesar'sgrowing friendship in recent times seemed to confirm the correctness ofthis statement.

  But that first-born of Fortune might meditate now on the fickleness ofhis mother, or rather on her likeness to Chronos, who devoured his ownchildren.

  "Were my house burnt," said he to himself, "and with it my gems,Etruscan vases, Alexandrian glass, and Corinthian bronze, Nero mightindeed have forgotten the offence. By Pollux! And to think that itdepended on me alone to be pretorian prefect at this moment. I shouldproclaim Tigellinus the incendiary, which he is really; I should arrayhim in the 'painful tunic,' and deliver him to the populace, protectthe Christians, rebuild Rome. Who knows even if a better epoch would notbegin thus for honest people? I ought to have taken the office, simplyout of regard for Vinicius. In case of overwork I could have surrenderedcommand to him, and Nero would not have even tried to resist. Then letVinicius baptize all the pretorians, nay, Caesar himself; what harm couldthat be to me? Nero pious, Nero virtuous and merciful,--this would beeven an amusing spectacle."

  And his carelessness was so great that he began to laugh. But after atime his thoughts turned in another direction. It seemed to him thathe was in Antium; that Paul of Tarsus was saying to him, "Ye call usenemies of life, but answer me, Petronius: If Caesar were a Christian,and acted according to our religion, would not life be safer and morecertain?"

  And remembering these words, he continued: "By Castor! No matter howmany Christians they murder here, Paul will find as many new ones; forhe is right, unless the world can rest on scoundrelism. But who knowsthat this will not be the case soon? I myself, who have learned not alittle, did not learn how to be a great enough scoundrel; hence I shallhave to open my veins. But in every case it must have ended thus, and ifnot thus, in some other way. I am sorry for Eunice and my Myrrhene vase;but Eunice is free, and the vase will go with me. Ahenobarbus will notget it, in any event! I am sorry also for Vinicius. But, though I wasbored less of late than before, I am ready. In the world things arebeautiful; but people are so vile for the greater part that life is notworth a regret. He who knew how to live should know how to die. ThoughI belong to the Augustians, I was freer than they supposed." Here heshrugged his shoulders. "They may think that my knees are tremblingat this moment, and that terror has raised the hair on my head; buton reaching home, I will take a bath in violet water, my golden-hairedherself will anoint me; then after refreshment we will have sung to usthat hymn to Apollo composed by Anthemios. I said once to myself thatit was not worth while to think of death, for death thinks of us withoutour assistance. It would be a wonder if there are really Elysian fields,and in them shades of people. Eunice would come in time to me, andwe should wander together over asphodel meadows. I should find, too,society better than this. What buffoons, tricksters, a vile herd withouttaste or polish! Tens of Arbiters Elegantiarum could not transform thoseTrimalchilons into decent people. By Persephone! I have had enough!"

  And he noted with astonishment that something separated him from thosepeople already. He had known them well earlier, and had known what tothink of them; still they seemed to him now as farther away and moredeserving of contempt than usual. Indeed, he had had enough of them!

  But afterward he began to think over his position. Thanks to hisacuteness, he knew that destruction was not threatening him directly.Nero had seized an appropriate occasion to utter a few select, loftyphrases about friendship and forgiveness, thus binding himself for themoment. "He will have to seek pretexts, and before he finds themmuch time may pass. First of all, he will celebrate the games withChristians," said Petronius to himself; "only then will he think of me,and if that be true, it is not worth while to take trouble or change mycourse of life. Nearer danger threatens Vinicius!"

  And thenceforth he thought only of Vinicius, whom he resolved to rescue.Four sturdy Bithynians bore his litter quickly through ruins, ash-heaps,and stones with which the Carinae was filled yet; but he commandedthem to run swiftly so as to be home at the earliest. Vinicius,whose "insula" had been burned, was living with him, and was at home,fortunately.

  "Hast seen Lygia to-day?" were the first words of Petronius.

  "I have just come from her."

  "Hear what I tell thee, and lose no time in questions. It has beendecided this morning at Caesar's to lay the blame of burning Rome on theChristians. Persecutions and tortures threaten them. Pursuit may beginany instant. Take Lygia and flee at once beyond the Alps even, or toAfrica. And hasten, for the Palatine is nearer the Trans-Tiber than isthis place."

  Vinicius was, indeed, too much of a soldier to lose time in uselessqueries. He listened with frowning brows, and a face intent andterrible, but fearless. Evidently the first feeling of his nature inpresence of peril was a wish to defend and give battle.

  "I go," said he.

  "One word more. Take a purse of gold, take weapons, and a handful of thyChristians. In case of need, rescue her!"

  Vinicius was in the door of the atrium already.

  "Send me news by a slave!" cried Petronius.

  When left alone, he began to walk by the columns which adorned theatrium, thinking of what had happened. He knew that Lygia and Linus hadreturned after the fire to the former house, which, like the greaterpart of the Trans-Tiber, had been saved; and that was an unfavorablecircumstance, for otherwise it would have been difficult to find themamong throngs of people. Petronius hoped, however, that as things were,no one in the Palatine knew where they lived, and therefore in everycase Vinicius would anticipate the pretorians. It occurred to him alsothat Tigellinus, wishing to seize at one attempt as many Christians aspossible, would extend his net over all Rome. "If they send no more thanten people after her," thought he, "that giant Lygian will break theirbones and what will it be if Vinicius comes with assistance?" Thinkingof this he was consoled. True, armed resistance to the pretorians wasalmost the same as war with Caesar. Petronius knew also that if Viniciushid from the vengeance of Nero, that vengeance might fall on himself;but he cared little. On the contrary, he rejoiced at the thought ofcrossing Nero's plans and those of Tigellinus, and determined to sparein the matter neither men nor money. Since in Antium Paul of Tarsushad converted most of his slaves, he, while defending Christians, mightcount on their zeal and devotion.

  The entrance of Eunice interrupted his thoughts. At sight of her allhis cares and troubles vanished without a trace. He forgot Caesar,the disfavor into which he had fallen, the degraded Augustians, thepersecution threatening the Christians, Vinicius, Lygia, and looked onlyat her with the eyes of an anthetic man enamoured of marvellous forms,and of a lover for whom love breathes from those forms. She, ina transparent violet robe called "Coa vestis," through which hermaiden-like form appeared, was really as beautiful as a goddess. Feelingherself admired meanwhile, and loving him with all her soul, evereager for his fondling, she blushed with delight as if she had been aninnocent maiden.

  "What wilt thou say to me, Charis?" asked Petronius, stretching hishands to her.

  She, inclining her golden head to him, answered,--"Anthemios has comewith his choristers, and asks if 'tis thy wish to hear him."

  "Let him stay; he will sing to us during dinner the hymn to Apollo. Bythe groves of Paphos! when I see thee in that Coan gauze, I think thatAphrodite has veiled herself with a piece of the sky, and is standingbefore me."

  "O lord!"

  "Come hither, Eunice, embrace me with thy arms, and give thy lips to me.Dost thou love me?"

  "I should not have loved Zeus more."

  Then she pressed her lips to his, while quivering in his arms fromhappiness. After a while Petronius asked,--

&nbs
p; "But if we should have to separate?"

  Eunice looked at him with fear in her eyes.

  "How is that, lord?"

  "Fear not; I ask, for who knows but I may have to set out on a longjourney?"

  "Take me with thee-"

  Petronius changed the conversation quickly, and said,--

  "Tell me, are there asphodels on the grass plot in the garden?"

  "The cypresses and the grass plots are yellow from the fire, the leaveshave fallen from the myrtles, and the whole garden seems dead."

  "All Rome seems dead, and soon it will be a real graveyard. Dostthou know that an edict against the Christians is to be issued, and apersecution will begin during which thousands will perish?"

  "Why punish the Christians, lord? They are good and peaceful."

  "For that very reason."

  "Let us go to the sea. Thy beautiful eyes do not like to see blood."

  "Well, but meanwhile I must bathe. Come to the elaeothesium to anointmy arms. By the girdle of Kypris! never hast thou seemed to me sobeautiful. I will give command to make a bath for thee in the form of ashell; thou wilt be like a costly pearl in it. Come, Golden-haired!"

  He went out, and an hour later both, in garlands of roses and with mistyeyes, were resting before a table covered with a service of gold. Theywere served by boys dressed as Cupids, they drank wine from ivy-wreathedgoblets, and heard the hymn to Apollo sung to the sound of harps, underdirection of Anthemios. What cared they if around the villa chimneyspointed up from the ruins of houses, and gusts of wind swept the ashesof burnt Rome in every direction? They were happy thinking only of love,which had made their lives like a divine dream. But before the hymn wasfinished a slave, the chief of the atrium, entered the hall.

  "Lord," said he, in a voice quivering with alarm, "a centurion with adetachment of pretorians is standing before the gate, and, at command ofCaesar, wishes to see thee."

  The song and the sound of lutes ceased. Alarm was roused in all present;for Caesar, in communications with friends, did not employ pretoriansusually, and their arrival at such times foreboded no good. Petroniusalone showed not the slightest emotion, but said, like a man annoyed bycontinual visits,--

  "They might let me dine in peace." Then turning to the chief of theatrium, he said, "Let him enter."

  The slave disappeared behind the curtain; a moment later heavy stepswere heard, and an acquaintance of Petronius appeared, the centurionAper, armed, and with an iron helmet on his head.

  "Noble lord," said he, "here is a letter from Caesar."

  Petronius extended his white hand lazily, took the tablet, and, castinghis eye over it, gave it, in all calmness to Eunice.

  "He will read a new book of the Troyad this evening, and invites me tocome.'

  "I have only the order to deliver the letter," said the centurion.

  "Yes, there will be no answer. But, centurion, thou mightst rest a whilewith us and empty a goblet of wine?"

  "Thanks to thee, noble lord. A goblet of wine I will drink to thy healthwillingly; but rest I may not, for I am on duty."

  "Why was the letter given to thee, and not sent by a slave?"

  "I know not, lord. Perhaps because I was sent in this direction on otherduty."

  "I know, against the Christians?"

  "Yes, lord."

  "Is it long since the pursuit was begun?"

  "Some divisions were sent to the Trans-Tiber before midday." When he hadsaid this, the centurion shook a little wine from the goblet in honor ofMars; then he emptied it, and said,--

  "May the gods grant thee, lord, what thou desirest."

  "Take the goblet too," said Petronius.

  Then he gave a sign to Anthemios to finish the hymn to Apollo.

  "Bronzebeard is beginning to play with me and Vinicius," thought he,when the harps sounded anew. "I divine his plan! He wanted to terrifyme by sending the invitation through a centurion. They will ask thecenturion in the evening how I received him. No, no! thou wilt not amusethyself overmuch, cruel and wicked prophet. I know that thou wilt notforget the offence, I know that my destruction will not fail; but ifthou think that I shall look into thy eyes imploringly, that thou wiltsee fear and humility on my face, thou art mistaken."

  "Caesar writes, lord," said Eunice, "'Come if thou hast the wish'; wiltthou go?"

  "I am in excellent health, and can listen even to his verses," answeredPetronius; "hence I shall go, all the more since Vinicius cannot go."

  In fact, after the dinner was finished and after the usual walk, he gavehimself into the hands of hairdressers and of slaves who arranged hisrobes, and an hour later, beautiful as a god, he gave command to takehim to the Palatine.

  It was late, the evening was warm and calm; the moon shone so brightlythat the lampadarii going before the litter put out their torches. Onthe streets and among the ruins crowds of people were pushing along,drunk with wine, in garlands of ivy and honeysuckle, bearing intheir hands branches of myrtle and laurel taken from Caesar's gardens.Abundance of grain and hopes of great games filled the hearts of allwith gladness. Here and there songs were sung magnifying the "divinenight" and love; here and there they were dancing by the light of themoon, and the slaves were forced repeatedly to demand space for thelitter "of the noble Petronius," and then the crowd pushed apart,shouting in honor of their favorite.

  He was thinking of Vinicius, and wondering why he had no news from him.He was an Epicurean and an egotist, but passing time, now with Paulof Tarsus, now with Vinicius, hearing daily of the Christians, he hadchanged somewhat without his own knowledge. A certain breeze from themhad blown on him; this cast new seeds into his soul. Besides his ownperson others began to occupy him; moreover, he had been always attachedto Vinicius, for in childhood he had loved greatly his sister, themother of Vinicius; at present, therefore, when he had taken part in hisaffairs, he looked on them with that interest with which he would havelooked on some tragedy.

  Petronius did not lose hope that Vinicius had anticipated the pretoriansand fled with Lygia, or, in the worse case, had rescued her. But hewould have preferred to be certain, since he foresaw that he might haveto answer various questions for which he would better be prepared.

  Stopping before the house of Tiberius, he alighted from the litter,and after a while entered the atrium, filled already with Augustians.Yesterday's friends, though astonished that he was invited, still pushedback; but he moved on among them, beautiful, free, unconcerned, asself-confident as if he himself had the power to distribute favors.Some, seeing him thus, were alarmed in spirit lest they had shown himindifference too early.

  Caesar, however, feigned not to see him, and did not return hisobeisance, pretending to be occupied in conversation. But Tigellinusapproached and said,

  "Good evening, Arbiter Elegantiarum. Dost thou assert still that it wasnot the Christians who burnt Rome?"

  Petronius shrugged his shoulders, and, clapping Tigellinus on the backas he would a freedman, answered,--

  "Thou knowest as well as I what to think of that."

  "I do not dare to rival thee in wisdom."

  "And thou art right, for when Caesar reads to us a new book from theTroyad, thou, instead of crying out like a jackdaw, wouldst have to givean opinion that was not pointless."

  Tigellinus bit his lips. He was not over-rejoiced that Caesar had decidedto read a new book, for that opened a field in which he could not rivalPetronius. In fact, during the reading, Nero, from habit, turned hiseyes involuntarily toward Petronius, looking carefully to see what hecould read in his face. The latter listened, raised his brows, agreed attimes, in places increased his attention as if to be sure that he heardcorrectly. Then he praised or criticised, demanded corrections or thesmoothing of certain verses. Nero himself felt that for others intheir exaggerated praises it was simply a question of themselves, thatPetronius alone was occupied with poetry for its own sake; that he aloneunderstood it, and that if he praised one could be sure that the versesdeserved praise. Gradually therefore he began to disc
uss with him, todispute; and when at last Petronius brought the fitness of a certainexpression into doubt, he said,--

  "Thou wilt see in the last book why I used it."

  "Ah," thought Petronius, "then we shall wait for the last book."

  More than one hearing this said in spirit: "Woe to me! Petronius withtime before him may return to favor and overturn even Tigellinus." Andthey began again to approach him. But the end of the evening was lessfortunate; for Caesar, at the moment when Petronius was taking leave,inquired suddenly, with blinking eyes and a face at once glad andmalicious,--

  "But why did not Vinicius come?"

  Had Petronius been sure that Vinicius and Lygia were beyond the gatesof the city, he would have answered, "With thy permission he has marriedand gone." But seeing Nero's strange smile, he answered,--

  "Thy invitation, divinity, did not find him at home."

  "Say to Vinicius that I shall be glad to see him," answered Nero, "andtell him from me not to neglect the games in which Christians willappear."

  These words alarmed Petronius. It seemed to him that they related toLygia directly. Sitting in his litter, he gave command to bear him homestill more quickly than in the morning. That, however, was not easy.Before the house of Tiberius stood a crowd dense and noisy, drunk asbefore, though not singing and dancing, but, as it were, excited. Fromafar came certain shouts which Petronius could not understand at once,but which rose and grew till at last they were one savage roar,--

  "To the lions with Christians!"

  Rich litters of courtiers pushed through the howling rabble. From thedepth of burnt streets new crowds rushed forth continually; these,hearing the cry, repeated it. News passed from mouth to mouth thatthe pursuit had continued from the forenoon, that a multitude ofincendiaries were seized; and immediately along the newly cleared andthe old streets, through alleys lying among ruins around the Palatine,over all the hills and gardens were heard through the length and breadthof Rome shouts of swelling rage,--

  "To the lions with Christians!"

  "Herd!" repeated Petronius, with contempt; "a people worthy of Caesar!"And he began to think that a society resting on superior force, oncruelty of which even barbarians had no conception, on crimes and madprofligacy, could not endure. Rome ruled the world, but was also itsulcer. The odor of a corpse was rising from it. Over its decayinglife the shadow of death was descending. More than once this had beenmentioned even among the Augustians, but never before had Petronius hada clearer view of this truth that the laurelled chariot on which Romestood in the form of a triumphator, and which dragged behind achained herd of nations, was going to the precipice. The life of thatworld-ruling city seemed to him a kind of mad dance, an orgy, which mustend. He saw then that the Christians alone had a new basis of life; buthe judged that soon there would not remain a trace of the Christians.And what then?

  The mad dance would continue under Nero; and if Nero disappeared,another would be found of the same kind or worse, for with such a peopleand such patricians there was no reason to find a better leader. Therewould be a new orgy, and moreover a fouler and a viler one.

  But the orgy could not last forever, and there would be need of sleepwhen it was over, even because of simple exhaustion.

  While thinking of this, Petronius felt immensely wearied. Was it worthwhile to live, and live in uncertainty, with no purpose but to lookat such a society? The genius of death was not less beautiful than thegenius of sleep, and he also had wings at his shoulders.

  The litter stopped before the arbiter's door, which was opened thatinstant by the watchful keeper.

  "Has the noble Vinicius returned?" inquired Petronius.

  "Yes, lord, a moment ago," replied the slave.

  "He has not rescued her," thought Petronius. And casting aside his toga,he ran into the atrium. Vinicius was sitting on a stool; his head bentalmost to his knees with his hands on his head; but at the sound ofsteps he raised his stony face, in which the eyes alone had a feverishbrightness.

  "Thou wert late?" asked Petronius.

  "Yes; they seized her before midday."

  A moment of silence followed.

  "Hast thou seen her?"

  "Yes."

  "Where is she?"

  "In the Mamertine prison."

  Petronius trembled and looked at Vinicius with an inquiring glance. Thelatter understood.

  "No," said he. "She was not thrust down to the Tullianum [The lowestpart of the prison, lying entirely underground, with a single openingin the ceiling. Jugurtha died there of hunger.] nor even to the middleprison. I paid the guard to give her his own room. Ursus took his placeat the threshold and is guarding her."

  "Why did Ursus not defend her?"

  "They sent fifty pretorians, and Linus forbade him."

  "But Linus?"

  "Linus is dying; therefore they did not seize him."

  "What is thy intention?"

  "To save her or die with her. I too believe in Christ."

  Vinicius spoke with apparent calmness; but there was such despair in hisvoice that the heart of Petronius quivered from pure pity.

  "I understand thee," said he; "but how dost thou think to save her?"

  "I paid the guards highly, first to shield her from indignity, andsecond not to hinder her flight."

  "When can that happen?"

  "They answered that they could not give her to me at once, as theyfeared responsibility. When the prison will be filled with a multitudeof people, and when the tally of prisoners is confused, they willdeliver her. But that is a desperate thing! Do thou save her, and mefirst! Thou art a friend of Caesar. He himself gave her to me. Go to himand save me!"

  Petronius, instead of answering, called a slave, and, commanding him tobring two dark mantles and two swords, turned to Vinicius,

  "On the way I will tell thee," said he. "Meanwhile take the mantle andweapon, and we will go to the prison. There give the guards a hundredthousand sestertia; give them twice and five times more, if they willfree Lygia at once. Otherwise it will be too late."

  "Let us go," said Vinicius.

  After a while both were on the street.

  "Now listen to me," said Petronius. "I did not wish to lose time. I amin disfavor, beginning with to-day. My own life is hanging on a hair;hence I can do nothing with Caesar. Worse than that, I am sure that hewould act in opposition to my request. If that were not the case, wouldI advise thee to flee with Lygia or to rescue her? Besides, if thouescape, Caesar's wrath will turn on me. To-day he would rather dosomething at thy request than at mine. Do not count on that, however.Get her out of the prison, and flee! Nothing else is left. If that doesnot succeed, there will be time for other methods. Meanwhile know thatLygia is in prison, not alone for belief in Christ; Poppaea's anger ispursuing her and thee. Thou hast offended the Augusta by rejecting her,dost remember? She knows that she was rejected for Lygia, whom she hatedfrom the first cast of the eye. Nay, she tried to destroy Lygia beforeby ascribing the death of her own infant to her witchcraft. The handof Poppaea is in this. How explain that Lygia was the first to beimprisoned? Who could point out the house of Linus? But I tell thee thatshe has been followed this long time. I know that I wring thy soul, andtake the remnant of thy hope from thee, but I tell thee this purposely,for the reason that if thou free her not before they come at the ideathat thou wilt try, ye are both lost."

  "Yes; I understand!" muttered Vinicius.

  The streets were empty because of the late hour. Their furtherconversation was interrupted, however, by a drunken gladiator who cametoward them. He reeled against Petronius, put one hand on his shoulder,covering his face with a breath filled with wine, and shouted in ahoarse voice,--

  "To the lions with Christians!"

  "Mirmillon," answered Petronius, quietly, "listen to good counsel; gothy way."

  With his other hand the drunken man seized him by the arm,--

  "Shout with me, or I'll break thy neck: Christians to the lions!" Butthe arbiter's nerves had had enough of those shouts
. From the time thathe had left the Palatine they had been stifling him like a nightmare,and rending his ears. So when he saw the fist of the giant above him,the measure of his patience was exceeded.

  "Friend," said he, "thou hint the smell of wine, and art stopping myway."

  Thus speaking, he drove into the man's breast to the hilt the shortsword which he had brought from home; then, taking the arm of Vinicius,he continued as if nothing had happened,--

  "Caesar said to-day, 'Tell Vinicius from me to be at the games in whichChristians will appear.' Dost understand what that means? They wish tomake a spectacle of thy pain. That is a settled affair. Perhaps that iswhy thou and I are not imprisoned yet. If thou art not able to get herat once--I do not know--Acte might take thy part; but can she effectanything? Thy Sicilian lands, too, might tempt Tigellinus. Make thetrial."

  "I will give him all that I have," answered Vinicius.

  From the Carinae to the Forum was not very far; hence they arrivedsoon. The night had begun to pale, and the walls of the castle came outdefinitely from the shadow.

  Suddenly, as they turned toward the Mamertine prison, Petronius stopped,and said,

  "Pretorians! Too late!"

  In fact the prison was surrounded by a double rank of soldiers. Themorning dawn was silvering their helmets and the points of theirjavelins.

  Vinicius grew as pale as marble. "Let us go on," said he.

  After a while they halted before the line. Gifted with an uncommonmemory, Petronius knew not only the officers, but nearly all thepretorian soldiers. Soon he saw an acquaintance, a leader of a cohort,and nodded to him.

  "But what is this, Niger?" asked he; "are ye commanded to watch theprison?"

  "Yes, noble Petronius. The prefect feared lest they might try to rescuethe incendiaries."

  "Have ye the order to admit no one?" inquired Vinicius.

  "We have not; acquaintances will visit the prisoners, and in that way weshall seize more Christians."

  "Then let me in," said Vinicius; and pressing Petronius's hand, he said,"See Acte, I will come to learn her answer."

  "Come," responded Petronius.

  At that moment under the ground and beyond the thick walls was heardsinging. The hymn, at first low and muffled, rose more and more. Thevoices of men, women, and children were mingled in one harmoniouschorus. The whole prison began to sound, in the calmness of dawn, likea harp. But those were not voices of sorrow or despair; on the contrary,gladness and triumph were heard in them.

  The soldiers looked at one another with amazement. The first golden androsy gleams of the morning appeared in the sky.