CHAPTER XIII.
At the hour when Cornelia was setting out on her expedition to thetemple of Isis, Lucilia and Claudia, escorted by their brother, reachedhome. The Flamen was still at work in his study; his grave and anxiousface could be seen through the half-open door, bowed over his table.Even the sound of steps, which rang through the silence of the atrium,did not interrupt his busy labors.
Quintus hesitated; he would gladly have gone in to embrace his father,but after brief reflection he decided not to interrupt his latestudies. He bid his sisters good-night, waved his hand affectionatelytowards the motionless figure that leaned over the desk, and left thehouse. His slaves and freedmen were waiting for him outside.
"All go home!" he said shortly.
His people were accustomed to his moods, and no one was surprised. ButBlepyrus reminded him, with a shudder, of the attack in the Cypriusstreet.
"Fear nothing," replied Quintus; "I am armed. Besides, who couldexpect to meet me to-night in the streets."
So his followers went on their way through the _Forum Romanum_, whichwas still crowded with people, while Quintus turned northwards acrossthe _Circus Flaminius_[261] and the Field of Mars. He soon foundhimself in the heart of that city of marble, which Caesar Augustus hadcreated here as if by magic. A sombre blue overarched the labyrinth ofpillars and domes, of friezes and statues, of groves and glades, whereby day such motley crowds were busy. No light but the pale glimmer ofthe stars--whose mist-veiled brightness gave warning of the autumnrains--fell on the chaos of ill-defined forms; the moon had not yetrisen. Utter solitude, utter silence prevailed. The listener couldalmost fancy he heard the rush of the river Tiber past the piers of theAelian Bridge[262]--or was it only the plash of water in one of themany aqueducts[263] which, at that time, were so splendid a feature ofthe city?--A mysterious dreamy whisper!
Possessed by the sense of this stilly solitude, Quintus Claudius wenton till nearly on the shore of the river. Under the avenues of trees itwas blackly dark, and the air came up chill and damp from the stream;Quintus shivered slightly. Then he turned off in the direction ofthe _Via Lata_--the Broad Way, now the Corso. He did not know whatmysterious influence had driven him out into the darkness and silence.He had felt as though he must fly from the vast mass of Rome, from itsnumberless market-places, its proud temples and basilicas--and nowhe was seized with homesickness for the familiar, beloved and hatedhive of two million human souls. He shook himself. All that was mostdissatisfied and contradictory in his nature rose clearly before hisconscience. It was exactly in this way, that he had worked through allthe systems of philosophy in turn--now flying from what at first hehad eagerly run after, and now craving for what he had but just castfrom him; one day an enthusiastic disciple of Epicurus, and the nexta follower of the Stoics. But in neither of these views of the worldcould he find rest and refreshment for his truth-seeking soul. Zeno'scontempt for all the joys of life seemed artificial to his ardent andpoetic fancy, while the method and practice of Epicurus, ingeniouslywreathing the mouth of the pit with roses to cover the depths below,stirred in him an irresistible impulse to sound those depths. Thatold Sphinx we call Life offered him a fresh riddle at every step,while forever denying all possibility of answering them. Thus, bydegrees, he had wandered into that moral _Via Lata_--that broad wayalong which almost every educated Roman of that day walked, for betteror for worse; that path of sceptical indifference, which made shortwork of every metaphysical belief, and lived so literally from day today. Only a few men, like Titus Claudius the Flamen, clung to the oldLatin religion and fulfilled its precepts in their highest sense, andso had effected a compromise with the needs of the times; most menlooked down with contempt on the myths of popular belief without,however, being able to replace them by anything better. Nay, even thewomen of the educated class found no satisfaction in the worship theyhad inherited; they turned in crowds to the mystical rites of the oldEgyptian goddess Isis, to whom a number of magnificent temples had beenerected so early as at the time of the first Caesars. Quintus himselfhad drank of that shallow stream, but had found no comfort in it.
The shortest way to the house of Thrax Barbatus would have been acrossthe Alta Semita[264] and past the temple on the Quirinal. But Quintusmade a detour; after his late experiences he was anxious to avoid theless deserted streets; and not merely because fate had made him theaccomplice in a deed, which by the laws of Rome was punished with theutmost severity; he could now no longer doubt that Eurymachus, ThraxBarbatus and Euterpe were attached to the sect of Nazarenes, and justat this very time the most stringent measures were in contemplationto suppress the disciples of the Nazarene. Indeed, if his father'sviews met with approbation in the Senate, nothing short of a regularpersecution must ensue. In that case his share in the escape and rescueof a Christian slave might very likely be construed as treason againstthe safety of the state; and though Quintus felt no fears as to whatmight be the issue for himself, the thought of his father's grieffilled him with anxiety.
He wrapped himself more closely in his ample cloak, and lookedcautiously about him as he hastened along the northwestern declivityof the Quirinal hill. A company of the city-guard marched past himwith an echoing tread, the smoke of their torches[265] blew hot in hisface, but no one noticed or recognized him. The streets grew narrowerand more tortuous, the houses more squalid, the whole neighborhoodwas visibly plebeian. At last he reached the old wall,[266] built--sotradition said--by Servius Tullius; this quarter, in the time ofthe emperors, was of the worst repute in all Rome. Quintus stolecautiously along under the wall, for a few drinking-shops were stillopen and busy. Wretched girls from Syria and Gades here plied theirshameful trade by the light of flickering clay lamps, while wrinkledand watery-eyed old hags poured the muddy wine of Veii[267] out ofred jugs. Drunken men lay snoring under the tables, and coarse songswere roared out from hoarse throats, half-drowned, however, by theuproarious shouts of two fellows who were playing the favorite game ofodd and even[268] with copper coins.
Suddenly the noise became three times louder than ever; there was awild uproar, and piercing shrieks. The gamblers had fallen out overtheir petty stakes. After a short squabble one had drawn his knife onthe other and stabbed him in the side. The wounded man fell, howling,on the ground and the assassin took to his heels. But the dancinggirls, heedless of the catastrophe, began at once to rattle theircastanets once more, and sway and whirl in their disgraceful pantomime.
Quintus hurried on, filled with loathing. Never had the heartlessturmoil of the great capital seemed so hideous as at this moment,in this obscure lair of humanity. Was not this squalid tragedy areflection of all Rome--of the vast and mighty metropolis, with allits crimes, its contempt for the suffering of others, its mad lust ofpleasure? It was but a short while since he had witnessed the verysame scene, with more splendid surroundings and distinguished actors.For, had the events in Lycoris's garden been at all less horrible? Hadnot a man lain there too, bleeding and dying, while a prostitute--aye!for the brilliant and elegant Gaul was nothing else--had bewitched aheartless crowd by her fascinations? There, no doubt, were all thesplendor and luxury of wealth--here the foul brutality of misery; but,at the bottom, they were the self-same thing, at the bottom each was asign, easy to read, of degeneracy, decrepitude and decay.
And suddenly Quintus felt transported, as it were, from the lifewhich surrounded him, into a new and unfamiliar atmosphere and light;and, strangest thing of all, that light seemed to shine forth from apale face that he had seen but twice in his life; from the face ofthe humble and despised slave, who had so loftily smiled down on hispersecutors and executioners. Could it be that such a thing existed assome supernatural magic? Or was it only admiration for the fortitude ofa heroic nature?
It was about midnight, when Quintus reached the house the flute-playerhad described to him. It was one of those tall, ill-constructedhouses,[269] built by speculators to let in floors, and which aboundedin the poorer parts of the city to the great risk of t
he public. Fairlysubstantial as to the ground floor, story towered over story till thetopmost floor consisted of a single room, hardly better than a boothbuilt of boards at a fair. The walls were cracked and sprung in manyplaces, and here and there, where the wretched structure threatened tofall, the inhabitants had tried to prop them with beams, thus adding totheir unsafe appearance.
The musician met the young man at the entrance; ninety steps--which,but for Euterpe's little lamp, he could never have mounted withoutmishap--led him to her habitation.
"Stop here!" said Euterpe, as Quintus was about to go up to the topmostfloor. "Thrax Barbatus does not live quite under the tiles;"[270] andas she spoke she knocked at a door. Thrax Barbatus opened it, lookingcalm, almost cheerful.
Quintus entered a room, of which the neat and comfortable aspectquite delighted him. A three-branched lamp hung from the low ceiling;the walls were neatly colored of a reddish brown; small, butbeautifully-executed paintings of flowers and fruit, showed brightlyand prettily against this background. The floor was covered by acarpet, somewhat worn, but so handsome as to tell of better days in thepast. A table, a chair, a few low seats and a small chest of dark oakcomposed the furniture--humble, no doubt, in the eyes of a Roman ofrank, but still much better than Quintus had expected after climbing tosuch a height.
"You are welcome to your servant's house," said the old man, to whomQuintus gave his hand. "We have looked for you with longing. I wasalmost afraid you might have repented...."
"You had my word that I should come," said Quintus.
He sat down on a wooden bench, and Thrax Barbatus went to a door at theother end of the room, which he opened and called out: "Glauce."
In a few minutes a young girl came into the room. Her face was sweetand pleasing, but bore traces of weeping; her brown hair fell looselyover her shoulders, and her tunic was ungirdled. Worn out with theanxiety and grief of the last few days, she had sunk on her bed andfallen asleep, and now, standing in the door-way, dazzled by the lightand confused by the presence of the noble stranger, she was a prettypicture of maidenly bashfulness and timidity.
"Come, my sweet child, and welcome the protector of Eurymachus," Thraxbegan in caressing tones; "this noble youth is Quintus Claudius, thefriend of the helpless. He will save the persecuted victim, and obtainhis freedom from Stephanus, and procure him Caesar's pardon."
Glauce stood motionless for a moment; a faint flush tinged her cheeks.Then, weeping loudly, she flung herself into her father's arms and hidher face on his shoulder. Euterpe, meanwhile, had set a wine-jar and adish of fruit on the table.
"It is but little, but heartily offered," she said smiling, "and afteryour late walk you will not refuse such slight refreshment."
Then, taking a pine-log from the hearth-place, she struck the floorthree times at short intervals.
She listened--all was still.
"He is asleep," she said to Thrax, who had soothed his daughter's sobs,and now took a seat by the brightly-lighted table.
"He has earned it!" said Glauce.
Euterpe repeated the knocking, and this time with better success. Someone could be heard moving below. In two minutes the stairs creaked, anda weather-tanned figure of middle height cautiously entered the room.Euterpe met him and respectfully introduced him to Quintus. "This,my lord, is my husband," she said modestly. "He too had a share inthe bold attempt in the park, for he has the greatest reverence forEurymachus."
"To be sure--I recognize you! It was you, who offered the fugitive yourarm to help him up the narrow path to the top of the ridge."
Diphilus gazed astonished into the young man's face.
"It is true, my lord," he said hesitatingly. "But how should you knowthat?"
"Oh! I was nigh at hand. If I had come forward, I could easily havestopped the way."
Diphilus sank on to the seat by the side of Thrax with an expressionof unconcealed astonishment, fixing his eyes on the young man's face,as if to stamp the features of this mysterious ally indelibly on hismemory.
Thrax Barbatus now solemnly extended his bony hand over the table, likea speaker beginning his discourse. Then he said in a low voice:
"Above all, my friends, remember that in Rome every stone has eyesand ears,[271] and the thin walls of a lodging-house are as good as aspider's web to the spy."
The flute-player drew closer to her husband's side.
"It is only too true," she said with a sigh, "I could almost havesworn...."
"What?" asked Diphilus.
"That our pursuers are on our traces already."[272]
"How?"
"Nay, it is only my feeling about it. I am always in a state of mortalterror."
Thrax Barbatus shook his head doubtfully. "Your fears are unfounded,"he said emphatically. "Not a man in Rome knows of our intimaterelations with Eurymachus. My poor son, who left his home when he washardly more than a boy and did not return for twenty years, when hisown rather scarcely recognized him--no, Euterpe, the still face of thedead will betray nothing." He passed his hand over his eyes.
"I know," replied the flute-player. "And yet...."
"What is it?" asked the old man glancing hurriedly round.
"Alas!" said Euterpe, "I am afraid I was rash. Scold me, but I couldnot help it; when I heard that Philippus had been buried in the groundset apart for criminals and outcasts,[273] my heart was fairly broken,and I vowed that his grave should not be left bare of some piousoffering. So this evening, at the end of the first vigil, I stole outto the Esquiline hill, carrying a consecrated palm-branch hidden inmy dress to lay on his grave. I found it after a short search, laidthe palm upon it, said a short prayer, and came away. Suddenly I heardsteps and voices; I hurried on, but they followed me, and as chancewould have it I met a litter with torch-bearers. The light fell fullon my face, though I turned away. At the same moment I heard one ofthe men, who followed me, begin to run. Then I was seized with mortalterror; by the temple of Isis in the _Via Moneta_[274] I turned off tothe left, and ran so fast into the next street, that I could hardlyget out of the way of two women, who were at that instant coming out.The darkness protected me; I escaped and got home by a roundabout way.If the men who followed me were the city-watch, it does not matter.But supposing they were some of Stephanus' people; they all knew meat Baiae, where I often played before their master. Oh! tell me, mostillustrious patron, what shall we do if my fears are realized?"
These words were addressed to Quintus, for she saw that Thrax Barbatuswas deeply touched by her loving attention to the dead, and she wishedto escape being thanked.
Quintus Claudius, notwithstanding his strong sympathy with Thrax andEurymachus, could not feel quite at his ease in his new and strangeposition. The idea that he--the member of a senatorial family, the sonof one of the noblest houses in the empire--should make common causewith artizans, freedmen and slaves, was so preposterous in the stateof society then existing, that even a lofty and magnanimous naturerequired time to enable it to subdue the sense of strangeness and evenof repulsion. After some hesitation he addressed himself to Thrax,asking him--as though half conscious of a wish to justify himself inhis own eyes:
"And will you answer for the perfect innocence of Eurymachus, on yoursolemn oath and pledge?"
"My lord," said Barbatus, "he is as innocent and pure as the sun in thesky. I will swear it by the soul of my dead son! Ah, you do not knowhis persecutor, the ruthless Stephanus--if you did, you would have nodoubts in the matter. The crimes that man has committed during the lastten years, cry to God for vengeance like the blood of the massacredlamb of Bethlehem! I, as you see me, have been the victim of thatwretch!"
"You too? How did that happen?"
"In the way which might be called 'the way of Stephanus.'[275] I hadinherited a little fortune from my father, and had laid it out atinterest; I intended to save it and add a little to it for Glauce, forI could earn my living as a smith. You know, my lord, how badly freelabor is paid in Rome; however, no pressure of want had ever made metouch that little dowr
y. I only spent the interest even during fiveor six years, to make a comfortable home for Glauce and give her someeducation. Well, one day Stephanus produced a forged will, by which themoney was left to him under some trivial pretext. He was a beginnerin those days and tried his hand on small game, but since then he hasgrown greedy and gorges the fortunes of men of higher rank. However,everything turned out as was to be feared--false witnesses, cunninglawyers and bribed judges--I lost everything I possessed."
"Atrocious!" exclaimed the young noble. "And did no one come forward tostand up for you? Did no young advocate defend the truth for truth'ssake?"
"No one. Oh! Stephanus went to work more craftily than you fancy. Hebribed those, who might have opposed him, with imaginary legacies fromthe testator--some he frightened with mysterious threats--but in short,he has grown rich, a perfect Croesus, and all by forged wills. Hundredsof his victims have perished in despair and misery. He shuns neitherviolence nor treachery; and he sins unpunished, for he has powerfulsupporters. It is said that Parthenius, the chamberlain...."
"Enough!" interrupted Quintus. "His hour too will come; it would bewell for your safety, no doubt, that it should strike soon."
"We are not idle," said Glauce. "My father has now found what he longhoped for in vain; a just and learned patron, whose liberality shrinksfrom no sacrifice. You must have heard of Cneius Afranius?"
"Cneius Afranius? I know him very well, and have met him repeatedly inthe house of Cornelius Cinna. He is making himself talked about...."
"He has spoken in the Forum five or six times," interrupted Thraxwith eager warmth. "His success was splendid.--Ah! and what a feelingsoul! What a heart overflowing with noble unselfishness. Merely forthe sake of right and enthusiasm for the truth, he is indefatigablein his attacks on Stephanus, often as that cunning fox has succeededin parrying the stroke. Twice, when Afranius was on the very point ofopening his case in due form, some inscrutable power has intervened tostop him.--However, if it is true, that dropping water wears away astone, even Stephanus must some day come to grief."
Quintus sat silent for some time; he seemed to wish to reflect atleisure on all he had heard, and no one disturbed him.
"My friend," he said at last: "I too am ready to help you in my way, ashonestly as Cneius Afranius--but first tell me one thing. Is Eurymachusstill in Rome?"
"In the neighborhood."
"And you will not send him farther off as speedily as possible?"
"It is impossible, my lord," said the old man sadly. "Stephanus has setevery means to work. Hundreds of watchmen and slave-catchers are on thealert; notices on the walls offer large sums for the apprehension ofthe fugitive; even appeals have been made to the Vestal virgins[276]to pronounce their ban, so that he may be spellbound within Rome. Inshort, discovery would be certain...."
"It is so indeed, my lord," added Diphilus. "And do you know whyStephanus is making this mighty stir? Eurymachus knows some secretof his life, some hideous crime, worse than all the rest he has evercommitted. And it was for that reason, that even on the scene of hisexecution Eurymachus was gagged."
"And moreover," added the old man, "in his flight that night he woundedhis foot badly. He could not leave his hiding-place at present, even ifhe wished it."
"And what can I possibly do for you in these circumstances?"
"Procure his pardon, my lord!" cried Glauce, lifting her handsimploringly.
"Or a mild punishment," added Diphilus.
"Perhaps," Thrax went on, "you might even be able to help Afranius, byremoving some of the obstacles which hinder the course of justice. Yourillustrious father--cannot he do anything he chooses in such matters?And will not his generosity pardon Eurymachus for escaping, if youare his advocate? I know, of course, that Titus Claudius is the foe ofthe common herd; often, indeed, he has exercised the sternest severitytowards guilty slaves; still, he is wise and far-seeing--at fittingtimes he can be merciful too...."
"I will see what can be done."
"God's blessing rest on your head!"
Quintus looked keenly at the speaker.
"Listen," he said after a short pause; "am I mistaken, or do youbelong--as appearances would indicate--to the sect of Nazarenes?"
"My lord," said Barbatus, "in speaking to the generous preserver of ourEurymachus, I may surely forget that prudence compels us to keep ourreligion a secret. Yes--I will freely confess it, I am one of thosehighly-favored ones, whom the people designate as Nazarenes. We areChristians--I and mine--for so we call ourselves after the founder ofour sacred religion, who suffered death under Pontius Pilate. Diphilusand Euterpe too have received baptism, the act of dedication whichseals our reception under the covenant of faith. We are Christians,my lord, and no power on earth will ever lead us back to the altarsof your idolatrous worship. Caesar may revive the times of Nero, hemay stigmatize as criminals humble and innocent beings, whose onlyambition is righteousness; he can never stay the spread of the Kingdomof Heaven. Nay, indeed, most noble youth, but I tell you that everydrop of blood that is spilt, raises up new witnesses to the eternal anddivine truth of our belief."
The old man ceased. His withered cheek was flushed.
"Well," said Quintus, looking down. "But tell me one thing; does notyour creed contain the dangerous doctrine of equality? Does it notremove the ancient landmarks between the high-born and the lowly,between the freeman and the slave? Does it not aim at the subversion ofsociety and the destruction of the existing state of things?"
"Yes, my lord; we do aim at the destruction of all that must inevitablyfall, if the Kingdom of the Lord is to come. We teach the equality,freedom and brotherhood of all men born of woman. But what is this buta return to primitive truth, to undisguised nature? Nothing can opposeus, but the power of custom or of self-interest; God himself, and allthat is best in man, is for us. Where and when did a higher power evergive you chosen ones a right to cast your brethren into fetters? Whereis it written: 'You are the master, and this other man, who feelsjoy and pain as you yourself do, is your slave and shall bow down toyou?' It sounds bold, I know, O Quintus; but I ask you: What essentialdifference is there between the son of the Claudia family and thehapless Eurymachus? That which sets you above him is purely fortuitous;that which constitutes your equality, is the divine will and actof God. Or do you really believe, that a slave can never be wiser,cleverer, more virtuous, courageous, and generous than the offspring ofa senatorial house? Supposing you had been changed in the cradle, doyou imagine that all the world would have read the slave's humble birthstamped on his brow? Nay, noble youth! The distance between you, thatlooks like a gulf, is merely an artificial division, an illusory effectof fancy, which must vanish before the light of the new revelation.We, even we, the sons of the people--even those who are bondsmen andslaves, who toil and suffer in your factories and prisons[277]--all,all are alike called to be the sons of God. 'Come unto me, all ye thatlabor and are heavy laden,' saith the Saviour, 'and I will give yourest.' Yea, and his call shall not be in vain. Thousands and thousandsanswer to it[278]--In remotest Asia, in Egypt, in Greece, nay, even inHispania and Lusitania, whole armies of martyrs are suffering for thecross--our symbol and token, to you Romans an ignominious instrument ofdeath, but to us the emblem of hope and promise!
"And you too--the rich, the noble, the sovereigns of the world--doyou need no comfort, no healing, no saving light? Are you indeed sohappy in your splendor? Have you no secret craving for something, thatshall be eternal? The time will come, when you too shall bow the headbefore the tree of disgrace and martyrdom, when you too shall know howgloriously the carpenter's son of Nazareth has solved, for us, the darkriddle of human existence. You will soar above the dim confusion of thefleeting present, to the realms of hope and faith and divine grace."
It was with a strange feeling of spellbound astonishment, that Quintusgazed into the speaker's face, which was radiant with solemn buttriumphant peace. Glauce had gently leaned her head on her father'sshoulder, as though it was in him that she sought and found
hermainstay in the struggle with life; and in spite of the mournfulfeeling which still left its traces round her lips, silent contentmentlay on the pure young brow. She sat with downcast eyes, her handsfolded in gentle exhaustion. Euterpe and Diphilus hung in raptreverence on the lips of the old man, who, to them, seemed to stand inthe light of a radiance from heaven.
Quintus was unutterably impressed by the individuality of this strong,resolute and triumphantly happy believer. His aversion to this newdoctrine of the universe began to melt like snow on Soracte in aspring breeze. Vigorously as self-love rebelled, conviction provedthe stronger. In his hours of solitude the same reflections had oftenoccurred to him, and commended themselves to his feelings, but thedenunciation of the existing state of things had never before beenso boldly presented to him. It must be a stout heart and a powerfulmind, that could deny the intrinsic justification of a social order socomplete as that of the Roman empire, and cry to a nation of nobles andslaves: "All men are brothers!" It would be worth while to see and hearmore of this Nazarene Gracchus,[279] and to sound the depths of themysterious power, which gave such staunch vitality to the new doctrine,even after the fearful persecutions of Nero.
All these reflections rushed in a tumultuous torrent through the youngpatrician's soul. He could no longer bear the confinement of thelow, hot room. He rose, trying to conceal under a smile of carelesspoliteness how deeply he had been interested and absorbed; he paced upand down the little room once or twice, and then said with a certaincondescension:
"I should be grateful to you if, at an early opportunity, you wouldtell me more concerning your doctrine; I am always glad to gaininformation at the fountainhead. For the present I bid you farewell.Early to-morrow morning I shall do my utmost for Eurymachus; pray toyour God, that He may crown our efforts with success."
Euterpe conducted the visitor down stairs again, and then flew back tothe little room where Glauce and Diphilus had already moved the tableand arranged a little altar for an offering for the dead, on behalf ofthe luckless Philippus.
While these good souls were kneeling in silent sorrow before the cross,Quintus walked homewards through the darkness with a throbbing heart;his head ached and a mighty struggle, such as he had never beforeexperienced, seemed to rend his heart. At the top of the Esquiline hecame to a stand-still, and as he leaned against the basin of a fountaingraced with spouting tritons, he gazed westwards over the night-wrappedcity, which lay spread abroad at his feet, like a colossus prone inrest. He could scarcely distinguish the huge buildings--the FlavianAmphitheatre, the palaces and the capitol. Mons Janiculus[280] stoodout like a darker storm-cloud against the blue-black sky, and a dullmoan and murmur rose upon the air like the breathing of the sleepinggiant. A sense of infinite desertedness, of unspeakable longing andinexplicable dread fell upon him.
"Yes, ye noble souls!" he groaned, covering his face with his hands."I will return--I will soon rejoin your peaceful and blissful circle!By all the anguish I ever suffered, by all the torment that gnaws at myheart, I swear I will return!"
And with a sigh of relief like that of a man, who finds himself wellagain after long sickness, he went down into the valley.
FOOTNOTES:
[261] THE CIRCUS FLAMINIUS. Located in the ninth district, of the same name, built 221 B.C.
[262] AELIAN BRIDGE. (_Pons Aelius_,) now the Angel Bridge.
[263] AQUEDUCTS. The magnificent water-works formed one of the principal ornaments of ancient Rome. "The mountain springs, conveyed for miles in subterranean pipes or over huge arches to the city, poured plashing from artificial grottos, spread out into vast, richly adorned reservoirs, or mounted in the jets of superb fountains, whose cool breath refreshed and purified the summer air." (Friedlaender, I, 14.)
[264] ALTA SEMITA corresponds with tolerable accuracy to the modern _Via di Porta Pia_.
[265] TORCHES. Street lamps were unknown in ancient times, as well as throughout nearly the whole of the middle ages.
[266] THE OLD WALL. (_Agger Servii Tullii_) extended from the Porta Collina to the Porta Esquilina. The neighboring region was considered the most corrupt in all Rome. The "wenches of the city wall" were often mentioned. (See for instance, Mart. _Ep._ III, 82, 2.)
[267] THE MUDDY WINE OF VEII. The wine made in the neighborhood of the little city of Veii, (northwest of Rome) was little prized. (See Mart. I, 103, 9, where the red Veian is called thick and full of lees.)
[268] GAME OF ODD AND EVEN. This game of chance, which is still very common, was extremely popular under the name _ludere par impar_. The opponent had to guess whether an odd or even number of gold pieces or other objects was held in the closed hand.
[269] ILL-CONSTRUCTED HOUSES. Every well-to-do citizen of ancient Rome had his own house. The great mass of poor people lived in rented dwellings, built by unprincipled speculators with unprecedented carelessness, on the principle "cheap and bad," yet nevertheless leased at high prices. The fall of such houses was therefore no rare occurrence, as is proved by the constant association of the words "fire and fall" (_incendia acruinae_)--catastrophes which Strabo (V, 3, 7) characterizes as constant. (See also Senec. _Ep._ XC, 43, Cat. XXIII, 9; Juv. _Sat._ III, 7.)
[270] UNDER THE TILES, (_sub tegulis_,) was a common phrase for the upper story. (See Suet. _Gramm._ 9, where it is said of the poor schoolmaster Orbilius, that in his old age he lived "under the tiles.")
[271] REMEMBER THAT IN ROME EVERY STONE HAS EYES AND EARS. See Tacit. _Ann._, XI, 27, where Rome is called a "city that hears everything, and keeps silence about nothing." Seneca too (_De tranq. an._ XII) is scandalized at the eaves-dropping which is common in Rome. Juvenal says an aristocratic Roman can have no secrets at all, for: "_Servi ut taceant, jumenta loquentur, et canis et postes et marmora._" "Even if the slaves are discreet, the horses talk, and the house-dog, and the posts and marble walls. Close the windows and cover every chink with hangings, yet the next day the people in every tavern will be discussing the master's doings." (Juv. _Sat._ IX, 102-109.)
[272] OUR PURSUERS ARE ON OUR TRACES ALREADY. There were persons in Rome, who made a business of catching runaway slaves.
[273] GROUND SET APART FOR CRIMINALS AND OUTCASTS. The usual mode of conducting a funeral under the emperors was to burn the corpse on a pyre (_rogus_); the original custom of interment had become more rare. Slaves and criminals were buried on the Esquiline Hill.
[274] THE VIA MONETA led from the Flavian amphitheatre to the Porta Querquetulana.
[275] THE WAY OF STEPHANUS. See (Suet _Dom._ 17,) where it is related of Stephanus, that he was accused of embezzling money. That such incredible forgeries of wills really occurred, is frequently explicitly stated by the ancient authors. Pliny (_Ep._ II, 11,) gives an amazing example of the insolence with which influential persons conducted their bribery.
[276] THE VESTAL VIRGINS. It was believed, that the vestal virgins possessed the power of detaining runaway slaves, by certain spells, within the city limits.
[277] FACTORIES AND PRISONS. Ergastulum was the name given to a kind of prison where slaves, who had been guilty of any fault were kept at specially hard labor. The arrangement, of these ergastula in many respects resembled our modern prisons.
[278] THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS ANSWER TO IT. See the passages in the letter of Pliny, who as the Christians' foe, reports to the emperor: "This superstition has not only spread over the city, but through the villages and surrounding country." (Pliny, _Ep._ X, 98.)
[279] NAZARENE GRACCHUS. Quintus here perceives, like Thrax Barbatus, in the carpenter's son of Nazareth a real representative of the people's rights, and therefore a companion of Tiberius and Caius Se
mpronius Gracchus, the two tribunes of the people (about the middle of the second century B.C.)
[280] MONS JANICULUS. Now Monte Gianicolo, on the right bank of the Tiber.
Quintus Claudius: A Romance of Imperial Rome. Volume 1 Page 14
