CHAPTER XII.
It was the middle of the second vigil--between ten and eleven o'clockat night by our reckoning of time--and the house of Cornelius Cinna wassunk in silent repose. The lamp in the peristyle was extinguished, andthe last guests--Claudia, Lucilia and Quintus--had left about half anhour since....
There was a sound of steps in the colonnade--soft, cautious, andmysterious. Two women wrapped in large cloaks went to the backdoor,[252] followed by a sturdy slave.
"Oh! my sweet mistress," whispered Chloe, as she opened the littlegate, "you may believe it or not, but my knees shake beneath me. Ifyour uncle were to discover us...! It would be the death of me!"
"Silence!" replied Cornelia. "My uncle is sound asleep. And even if hewere to find out...."
"Oh yes! I know very well, you are not afraid of his anger. And infact what could he do to you? But I--ye merciful gods!--Are you quitecertain that the priest expects us?"
"Perfectly certain. Aspasia brought me a quite distinct message."
"Well then--I wash my hands in innocence. It is fearfully dark outhere--I shall be truly thankful, if nothing dreadful happens to us."
"Silly thing! The Temple of Isis is quite near at hand, and Parmenio iswith us."
Chloe closed the door behind her and sighed deeply; still she madeone more attempt to stop her mistress. "Must it be to-day?" she saidplaintively.
"Yes, this very hour. When the day is done in which the dream was seen,the seer's power is gone. You heard Baucis say so."
"Baucis!" said Chloe contemptuously.
"She only repeated the priest's words. Make haste; minutes areprecious. Go in front, my good Parmenio."
They went down the street and turned to the right along a narrow alley,which zigzagged between high walls and led them to the back of thetemple of Isis. They presently reached the vestibule of Barbillus,where a slave was waiting behind the door with a gilt lantern; he bowedlow and led them, without speaking a word, to an upper room.
Barbillus--a man of marked eastern type, handsome and tall, with wavinglocks, like an oriental Zeus--received his guests with an admirablecombination of affability and dignified reserve. He desired Chloeand the astonished slave to wait in an outer room, while he opened aside door and led the way into another. Cornelia followed him with abeating heart, through a perfect labyrinth of dimly-lighted rooms andcorridors, till at length they came into a hall mysteriously fittedup as a sanctuary, and well calculated to impress the senses with amagical spell. Dark curtains, embroidered with dead silver, hung overthe walls on every side, and in a niche, on a silver pedestal, sat astatue of the goddess closely wrapped in veils, while, to the right andleft of the figure, magnificent censers stood on brazen tripods. A lamphanging from the star-spangled ceiling cast a ghostly blue light on thescene.
"Pray here, my daughter," said Barbillus in a deep voice; "beseech theall-merciful mother of the universe to enlighten our spirits; mine,that I may see and speak, thine, that thou mayest hear and learn. Iwill leave thee to meditate alone, fair Cornelia." And he quitted theroom, slowly closing the tapestried door.
Hardly had he left her, when Cornelia sank on her knees in ferventdevotion. The mystical surroundings, the dim blue light, the perfume ofincense,[253] which loaded the air with stupifying sweetness, and theveiled and silent presence of the divinity--all combined to impress herprofoundly. Her heart was full to bursting.
Suddenly the air was filled with a sound as of the music of thespheres. A delicious harmony seemed to proceed from the walls, thefloor beneath her, and the statue itself, and to cradle her soul inlulling witchery; while, at the same instant, pale tongues of flamebroke out over the two censers and danced fitfully, but, as it seemed,lovingly up to the shrouded goddess.
"Isis! O Isis!" sobbed the girl, raising her snowy arms to thedivinity. "First-born of the ages![254] Highest among the Immortals!Sovereign lady of departed souls! One and perfect revelation of allthe gods and goddesses! Almighty Queen, whose nod the heavens andearth obey! Eternal Power, who art blest under a thousand forms andby a thousand names, by the sages of every land! Hear, O hear me! Ihave all thou canst bestow of earthly joys; I am young, fair and rich,and have the love of the noblest and best heart that beats among theyouth of Rome! And yet, one thing is lacking to me, O Goddess! Onething, which I crave of thy mercy with floods of tears: Peace, inward,all-sufficient peace of heart. Isis! mother of heaven, hear me! Overmy head there lowers a forecast of evil; my spirit wanders gropingin darkness. Thou hast sent me a dream, a warning; but alas! thineignorant child strives in vain to read it.--Teach me thyself to knowthy will; reveal thyself to me! Give me peace and the calm beatitude,the grace of heaven! Save, oh! save me! All that I dare call minemust ere long fade.--The storms of time must sweep it away! Give mesalvation, the true love which is eternal! Isis, all-loving Isis, havepity on me!"
The goddess's veil was lifted a little from her face; half-appalled,half-fascinated, Cornelia gazed up at it. A tender radiance likemoonlight fell upon the pale, marble features, and a benevolent smileparted the lips. But before the tremulous worshipper was fully aware ofwhat was happening, the light vanished, the veil was softly dropped--itwas all gone like a dream, and the music as suddenly ceased. Corneliawas aware of a violent shock as of an earthquake. Hardly mistressof herself, she closed her eyes and pressed her forehead againstthe pedestal of the statue. When she looked up again, Barbillus wasstanding by her side in a white robe[255] made of byssus tissue, and hesmiled as he held out his hand to her.
"The goddess has heard your prayer," he said in an agitated voice."Tell me now what the vision was, and listen to the words of herservant."
As he spoke he drew the curtain aside from a studded door, and ledCornelia up a narrow stair to an attic room, where he carefully closedthe shutters and desired Cornelia to be seated on a couch. No soonerhad she obeyed, than the tapers on a small altar were lighted--as thecensers before had been--without any visible agency.
Barbillus knelt down, bowing his face over a sacred book which layunrolled between the tapers, and he remained in this position, whileCornelia related her dream. Then, after putting up a silent prayer, hesuddenly went up to the girl, bending down over her in such a way thatshe could perceive the small tonsure[256] on the crown of his head inthe middle of his dark curls.
"Daughter!" he said, as he drew himself up again, "your dream betokensno good. A fatality is hovering over you and yours, which can only beaverted by the direct intervention of the goddess. To this end it isneedful that you should, for the next four weeks, bring an offeringdaily at the same hour as to-night. Gold, incense and roses arepleasing in the eyes of the divinity."
"I knew it, oh! I knew it," groaned Cornelia. "Not for nothing has myheart been held in a cold and deathlike grasp! But, tell me, what isthe meaning of the desert place, of the shining city, and of my lover'sappearance?"
"All this I will tell you, when the month is out. Trust me, daughter,and do that which you are enjoined."
"Oh! I will do it!" cried Cornelia ecstatically, and she pressed thepriest's hand to her lips. "My pearls, my jewels--everything willI sacrifice joyfully, if only I may appease Fate. Ah! my lord, youcould never, never guess how sad my soul is! Tell me only one thing, Ientreat you, does the danger threaten me through my beloved Quintus?"
The priest closed his eyes.
"I dare not answer you," he said with an effort. "My part is only toannounce inevitable doom; when I am still permitted to hope that thefavor of the all-gracious mother may yet prevail, silence is the firstduty of my office."
"Well then, I must submit. Meanwhile--as a proof of my infinitegratitude--accept this trifling offering. Pray for me, Barbillus,intercede for me with the almighty goddess."
She gave him a costly brooch set with rubies, emeralds andchrysolites,[257] and as she stood--her eyes cast down in maidenlyshyness--she did not see the flash of greed that sparkled under theAsiatic's long fine lashes, giving place immediately to the lofty anddigni
fied expression, that usually characterized him.
"Thanks, my daughter," he said graciously. "I will offer the giftson the shrine of the goddess. And you too, my child, do not fail toentreat the immortals that all may yet be well."
He gave her his hand, and led her by a circuitous route back again tothe anteroom, where Parmenio stood in a corner, as upright as a soldieron guard, while Chloe had gone to sleep in her comfortable seat."Come," said Cornelia, shaking her by the shoulder.
Chloe started up.
"You have been a long time," she exclaimed. "It cannot be far short ofmidnight."
Just as the three were about to step out into the street again, afemale form flew past them, and close behind, puffing and panting, rana man, while farther away, where the streets crossed, they heard loudlaughter.
"Give it up, the roe is too fleet!" cried a coarse bass voice, and thepursuer turned on his heel, while two other men slowly came to meethim. All three were wrapped in thick cloaks,[258] with the hoods pulleddown in spite of the heat. For a second Cornelia hesitated; then sheboldly went forth and walked past the strange trio. They were talkingtogether in an undertone, and yet not so softly but that Cornelia couldhear a few words.
"By Pluto!" said one. "There goes a beauty! I saw her face, as theboy's lantern lighted it up."
"Aphrodite is gracious," said the second, "to give us a substitute forthe one who has escaped. I am just in the mood for an adventure. Let usfollow the fair one."
Cornelia hastened her step, but before she had reached the main roadshe was surrounded.
"Well, pretty pigeon," a harsh voice croaked in her ear. "Out and aboutso late! And where are you flying, if I am allowed to ask?"
Cornelia was at once aware, that these were not highway plunderers,but idle adventurers, and evidently men of rank and position. This atonce restored her presence of mind, and she walked on faster than ever.But in vain. The man who had addressed her, a stout figure of mediumheight, with an extraordinarily confident and swaggering address, cameclose up to her and laid his left hand on her shoulder to detain her.Furious indignation boiled in her soul; she shook herself free andstood still.
"Parmenio," she said resolutely, "as you love your life, do as I bidyou--I, the niece of the illustrious Cornelius Cinna. The first man whodares to lay a finger on the hem of this robe--strike him dead."
"That can be done in no time!" cried Parmenio, taking the bold intruderby the throat. The other two started back as if struck by lightning.
"Mad fool, you shall die on the cross!" shrieked the man he hadseized, directing a well-aimed blow with his fist. The slave droppedhis arm in terror. There was a ring of such wild and tiger-likeferocity in the harsh tones, that the sturdy nature of the man was forthe moment paralyzed. Cornelia and Chloe meanwhile had reached thehigh-road; Parmenio caught them up in a few strides, and they reachedhome safely under cover of the darkness.
"You helpless idiots!" exclaimed the worsted victim, feeling at histhroat. "What do you mean by staring as if it were a good joke, whena villain throttles me? You, Clodianus, have I loaded you with everyhonor and heaps of gold, that you should leave me in the lurch in thisfashion? Take that for your loutish cowardice!"
And Domitian flew at him with the fury of a panther, and struck him atremendous blow in the face. Clodianus shrank back.
"Forgive me!" he stammered, groaning with pain and rage. "I was soconfounded at the man's daring...."
"Away! traitor.--Never let me set eyes on you again."
"Nay, pardon, my lord!" entreated the other, forgetting all else inhis dread of losing his place. "Pardon and grace, my lord and god, Ibeseech thee. Do not withdraw thy favors from the most faithful of thyservants."
"Yes, my lord and god," added Parthenius, the chamberlain. "Forgive us,for nothing but reverence and consternation could have betrayed us intosuch a crime. Do not let it spoil a jovial night. It is the first timefor long, that we have wandered through the streets in disguise, andshall a spiteful accident...."
"You are right," interrupted the Emperor. "I was in the best ofhumors...."
"Then bid it return. Even his moods must surely obey the sovereign,whose sway extends over the whole world...."
"Curse it all! To think that of all women in the world.... Cinna'sniece?... I did not even know, that the old fool had a niece. Whosehouse had she come out of?"
"That of Barbillus, the priest of Isis."
"Ah ha! One of the praying ninnies, that the juggler knows how tobeguile so well! Capital! The girl pleases me. I should like--if itwere only to spite the old curmudgeon--I hate Cinna like poison. Hewants a lesson--he always carries his head as high as a conqueror ina triumph. As if it were not in my power to see those haughty ironfeatures flung in the dust at my feet--Parthenius, we will talk ofthat, again. But now, away with all gloomy reflections, and long livefolly!"
"Thanks, all thanks!" cried Clodianus, kissing the sovereign's hand.
"Pull the hood over my face, so--now my cloak over my chin--and wewill go back into the streets. I should like to see the man, whocan discover Caesar in such a guise. We must find an adventure yet,Parthenius--[259] some mad and absurd diversion, if it were only thatthe lips, which pronounce the fate of nations, should kiss some swarthynegress."[260]
He led the way, and the others followed. Domitian did not see how hiscompanions clenched their fists under their cloaks, nor hear the bittercurses, hardly uttered by their quivering lips.
FOOTNOTES:
[252] THE BACK DOOR. (_Posticum_) was the name given to the little door, leading from the back of the cavaedium or peristyle to the street.
[253] PERFUME OF INCENSE. Incense (_thus_) was generally used not only in the temple of Isis, but at the ceremonies attending the offering of sacrifices in the Roman national worship. It was the resin from an Arabian tree, and the so-called liquid incense was considered the best.
[254] FIRST-BORN OF THE AGES. The invocation to the goddess Isis is partly borrowed from the metamorphoses of Appuleius (XI, 5) where the goddess calls herself: "first-born of all the centuries, highest of the gods, queen of the Manes, princess of the heavenly powers," etc., repeating the names under which she is revered throughout the world.
[255] WHITE ROBE. The priests of Isis wore light robes, usually of linen (_linum_) from which the goddess is called in Ovid: "Isis in linen garments," (_Isis linigera_). Byssus is a kind of cotton.
[256] SMALL TONSURE. The ancient Oriental custom of shaving the crown of the head was enjoined upon the priests of Isis. Herodotus, II, 37.
[257] RUBIES, EMERALDS AND CHRYSOLITES. In ancient times the chrysolite ranked next to the diamond among precious stones. The finest came from Scythia. Next to the emerald, the beryl and opal were highly esteemed. (Plin. _Hist. Nat._ XXXVII, 85.)
[258] ALL THREE WERE WRAPPED IN THICK CLOAKS. The lacerna, the outer garment worn over the toga, not infrequently had a hood (_cucullus_).
[259] WE MUST FIND AN ADVENTURE YET, PARTHENIUS. Such nocturnal rambles incognito were not at all unusual among aristocratic gentlemen. The incident is not expressly related of Domitian, but is told of Nero, Suet. _Ner._ 26, where the author says: "As soon as night came, he put on a hat or cap, went to the taverns and roamed about the streets, only in jest, it is true, but not without working mischief." Domitian's encounter with the slave Parmenio has its counterpart in an adventure of Nero, who once, assailing a noble lady, was almost beaten to death by her husband. (Suet.)
[260] SWARTHY NEGRESS. See Suet. _Dom._ 22, where it is stated that the emperor now and then associated with the lowest wenches.
Quintus Claudius: A Romance of Imperial Rome. Volume 1 Page 13
