Quintus Claudius: A Romance of Imperial Rome. Volume 1

by Ernst Eckstein

  CHAPTER XVII.

  When Caius Aurelius had finished the fourth canto of the Thebais,Octavia put an end to the reading; breakfast was waiting in the littledining-room. The young man was invited to join them, and they passed apleasant hour over the meal. They were all accustomed to their father'sabsence, for business had lately so completely absorbed him, that hewould hardly give himself time to drink a glass of Falernian, as hesat at work, or to snatch a morsel of food. Octavia lamented it, but,on the other hand, she was proud of it as well; she rejoiced too inthe confident anticipation of a long period of rest and enjoyment tosucceed this last great effort. Lucilia found dinner without him verydull, as she took an opportunity of whispering very pointedly to hersister. This was, in fact, rather strange, for Aurelius, whose tongueseemed to have been loosed by the reading of the heroic poem, displayedthe greatest aptitude for all the accomplishments of social life. Thetriclinium positively sparkled with good humor, even Lucilia beliedherself, for more than once she broke out into a merry laugh, thevery reverse of dull. Herodianus, who had come to escort his masterhome, and who had the honor of being invited to share the meal, wasastonished at the brilliancy of the young man, who was usually sosilent and glanced suspiciously at the crystal cup, as if that might beaccountable for so strange a phenomenon. And Baucis swore by the greatIsis, that never in her life had she known a Roman knight with suchdelightful qualities as Aurelius, who had a kind word even for her, astupid old woman, and who read poetry so divinely.

  The Batavian took his leave about mid-day; he sent his respectfulgreetings through Octavia to the master of the house, fearing todisturb so busy a personage at this hour of the day.

  "And what next?" cried Lucilia, as the door closed upon Aurelius."Shall we lie down to sleep, sweet Claudia, or order the litter to goto the Campus Martius?"[299]

  "Just which you please. The day is fine, and we might walk for an hourunder the colonnade of Agrippa."[300]

  "Will you come with us, dear mother?" asked Lucilia.

  "How can I," said Octavia smiling. "I must be on the spot, when yourfather leaves his work. If you are not content to go alone, Baucismay...."

  "Oh no, no!" interrupted Claudia. "The worthy Baucis may remain athome. When we get into the laurel groves[301] we shall walk, and Baucisis so slow that she would be a hindrance."

  The litter was soon ready. Four Numidians, with waving feathers intheir heads, marched in front, and they proceeded northwards, by thesame way which Quintus had taken two days since, in the moonless night.

  "I am glad that we left Baucis at home," said Claudia in Greek. "We cantalk undisturbed for once. You are so dreadfully sleepy, when we go tobed...."

  "And with good reason," replied Lucilia, also in Greek. "I am tiredout and over-excited. The amusements of the last few days are tellingon my nerves. First, there was the evening at Cornelia's; then arecitation for two hours from the charming Claudia on the merits ofCaius Aurelius...."

  "I beg your pardon, but you are reversing the position. It was mistressLucilia, who went on talking about Caius Afranius."

  "Indeed! and why? Simply and solely as a counterpoise, an antidote toAurelius. Besides, with your kind permission, his name is not Caius,but Cneius Afranius. Of course, you have nothing but Caius running inyour head."

  "That is just like you now," said Claudia with a sigh. "Lately therehas been no speaking a rational word to you."

  "I am over-tired," Lucilia repeated. "Two cantos of Statius yesterdaymorning, two more again this morning; to-morrow, two cantos of Statius,that involves a fourth! It is a mercy, that the Thebais consists onlyof twelve altogether, so it must come to an end at last! Certainly,when we have done Statius, he might read us Virgil[302] and afterwardsthe Battle of the Frogs and Mice."[303]

  "Go, Lucilia--you are quite odious--and I wanted to confess somethingto you."

  "A confession? my darling Claudia, a confession?" cried Lucilia,seizing her sister's hand. "Will you own at last that you love him?That you are a perfect fool about him? Oh! silly child! did you notperceive, that I only wanted to punish you for trying to deceive me?"

  Claudia colored deeply, and involuntarily drew the embroidered curtain,as if she feared that the litter-bearers might read her secret in herface.

  "Not so loud!" she whispered, and then she softly kissed her cheek.

  "You confess?" asked Lucilia. But the only answer was a closer caressand a fervent kiss on her lips.

  "That is enough," said Lucilia. "Your kiss says everything. No girlgives such a kiss as that, who is not desperately in love. It was meantfor Caius Aurelius."

  "Hush!" Claudia entreated, laying her hand on the audacious girl'smouth. "Promise me...."

  "Not to mount the rostra[304] and proclaim in the Forum: Claudia isin love with Aurelius!...? You little fool! Just the reverse; I willkeep it a dead secret, and do all I can to clear the road for you. Forthings will not run so smoothly as you think. A mere provincial knight,and Claudia, the daughter of the first senatorial house in Rome! Youcannot take it ill in your father if he maintains the rights of hisposition, and intends his daughter to marry a consul."[305]

  "But if his daughter objects?"

  "Then Titus Claudius must give way, or the gentle Claudia is notincapable of running away with Caius Aurelius."

  "What are you saying!" exclaimed Claudia horrified. Then she satlooking thoughtfully into her lap.

  "Do you suppose," she said presently, "that his allusion, yesterday, toSextus Furius was meant seriously?"

  "What else could it mean? The worthy man is three times too old foryou, to be sure, but the names of his ancestors have been splendid forcenturies. Only think of Furius Camillus, the glorious conqueror of theVolscians and Aequians. Sextus Furius, to be sure, has conquered noinsurgent nations, but the consulate undoubtedly lies before him, andhis wealth is enormous."

  "Ah!" sighed Claudia. "We Roman girls have a bad time of it. How rarelydo we have a free choice in the tie which lasts one's life-long! Astern father or guardian brings a husband on the scene, before ourhearts have a chance of deciding. Such a betrothal as that of Quintusand Cornelia is as rare as a white raven. How beautiful, how honestby comparison is the custom in the North, where the lover firstwins the affection of a girl, and then seeks the approval of herparents. Aurelius has told me wonderful stories of the fidelity of thetawny-haired Rugian to the wife of his choice, and of how the treasureis often won in fights to the death, after years of constancy. It mustbe glorious to be loved and wooed in that northern fashion! Do you knowthat Aurelius has some Germanic blood in his veins...?"

  "Indeed?" said Lucilia surprised.

  "Yes, really. His grandmother was a Frisian, from the shores of theBaltic, where the Weser falls into the sea. There are large and wealthyfamilies among them, valiant warriors and chiefs, who will bow theirnecks to no Roman consul. If only they were of one mind, Aurelius says,Rome herself might tremble before these tribes. But, strangely enough,though in their family life they are so loving and constant, theirfeuds are perennial, tribe against tribe and prince against prince. Itis only under stress of imminent peril, that they league themselvesunder one banner, and woe then to the foe they turn upon! You have readof Varus[306] and how his legions were cut to pieces in the SaltusTeutoburgiensis, while he fell on his own sword?"

  "Yes, Baucis has told us the story. But after all--who cares whatgoes on in Germania!--our legions are constantly engaged in fightingon the frontier, now against the Dacians and now against theParthians[307]--I do not trouble myself about the where and the why.Moral struggles, the battles we must fight at home, interest me farmore...."

  "Particularly the law pleadings in the Senate, and before the court ofthe Centumvirate!" said Claudia smiling.

  "Certainly! out there, brute force decides the matter, but in the Forumit is superior intellect that wins the day."

  "And one of the boldest champions is Cneius Afranius."

  "It is quite true; his whole individuality, hi
s undaunted honesty, hisunfailing energy...."

  "Hey day! what eloquence. Before long we shall see you in the Basilicaamong the candidates for applause."

  "Laugh away, by all means! I assert my right and liberty to admire allthat is noble. If I were better looking, I should very likely exertmyself to achieve a conquest, for I frankly confess that I regard thefuture wife of Afranius as a woman to be envied."

  "You are frank indeed."

  "I always am. And I find it all the easier, since I do not allow myconsciousness of my defects to destroy my peace of mind. The Godsare unjust? For aught I care! You have a mouth like a rose-bud, Ihave a muzzle like a Cantabrian bear![308] Fate we call that, orAnanke![309]--Well, it is a lovely day for us both alike! Just seewhat a crowd and bustle there are out here; I think we had better walk.There is the portico with its hundred columns."

  Claudia stopped the bearers, and the two girls walked on to themagnificent hall of Agrippa, followed at a short distance by theNumidian slaves. Arm in arm they walked along the arcades, by thefamous mural paintings,[310] representing in the highest style of art,scenes from the stories of the Greek divinities--the rape of Europa,Cheiron the Centaur, and the voyage of the Argonauts. To the right theysaw the marble enclosures--Septa[311] they were called--in the midstof which the Roman people assembled when the centuria[312] were calledupon to vote. Lucilia hoped she might one day be present at some stormydebate here. Claudia found it more interesting, to linger over the gaybooths[313] and bazaar for luxurious trifles at the northern end of theportico, where the precious produce of the remotest provinces of theempire was displayed.

  Thus, chatting and laughing, they reached the shady avenues of planeand laurel, which extended almost to the shores of the river and, withtheir temples, columns, terraces and works of art, were the scene ofenjoyment for a numerous throng of citizens. Here hundreds of handsomechariots--most of them with two wheels--rushed to and fro on a broadcauseway; graceful horsemen dashed along the gravelled way, while themotley crowd of pedestrians slowly loitered along the side alleys.Here a following of young men pressed round the litter of some womanof rank; there a grave and morose-looking pedagogue led his flockto a grass-plot, where boys were exercising themselves in wrestlingor throwing the discus.[314] Pairs of lovers strolled away hand inhand to remoter bowers; slaves--male and female--with their owners'children, crowded round a juggler's booth, applauding the skill withwhich Masthlion[315] balanced a heavy pole on his bare forehead, orthe strength Ninus[316] displayed in supporting half a dozen boysupon his shoulders. Among the mob a legion of fruit and cake sellerswriggled and squeezed themselves; fortune-tellers twitched at the robeof the passer-by, urgently pressing their services on them; shipwreckedsailors sat begging by the wayside, with tablets on their knees[317]relating the history of their woes; flute-players piped their latesttunes from Gades; dark Egyptians exhibited tame snakes, which twinedround the body, neck and arms of the owner to the measure of a dismaltom-tom.

  Lucilia and Claudia followed the shady alley, that ran parallel to themain road, greatly amused at the dazzling, noisy and ever-new scenesthat met them at every turn.

  "Supposing we should meet your Aurelius--" said Lucilia.

  "My Aurelius! My sweet child, pray do not get into the habit of sayingsuch things."

  "Well, then--Caius Aurelius."

  "It is not likely. He rarely comes now to the plain of Mars."

  "Indeed. What has he to attend to of so much importance."

  "He is studying hard; and for the last few days he has been a good dealwith Cornelius Cinna, who generally admits him at this hour. Cinnathinks very highly of him."

  "Well, for my part, I must confess I should prefer a ride here underthe green trees, to all the harangues of that perverse old man."

  "Aurelius finds him most interesting; he considers him quite a genius."

  "What next?--A genius in the art of seeing the whole world black!"

  "Nay, quite seriously. Cinna is initiating Caius into the mysteriesof state-craft, teaching him philosophy and history. Caius said, thatin the few hours he had been permitted to converse with Cinna, he hadlearnt more than in many years of solitary study."

  "Well; then our Caius--you yourself called him simply Caius--will soonbegin to wrinkle his brows and to scent ruin and misery in everything.Do you know, child, this Cinna...."

  She broke off suddenly, for some one called her by name; she lookedround and saw Quintus, who came out from among the trees.

  "Well? Are you often to be met out here? And always close to thehighway! You must take an extraordinary interest in fine horses...."

  "We do indeed!" said Lucilia pertly. "For instance, look at that noblegrey just now turning into the avenue. What a head! what a mane!"

  Claudia squeezed her saucy sister's arm, for the rider, who camegalloping towards them, was none other than Caius Aurelius. Byhis side rode Herodianus, rather roughly exercised on a tall,high-stepping steed; his empurpled face betrayed but little liking forthe performance. Aurelius, by contrast, looked all the more radiant,guiding his noble horse as if it were child's-play among the throng ofvehicles, and enjoying to the utmost the sense of power and security.

  He now caught sight of Claudia, and the blood mounted to his brow. Hewas so much occupied in looking at the two girls, to whom he bowed inagitated confusion, that he did not notice, that one of the very smallhorses, called by the Romans "mannie,"[318] was rushing towards himlike an arrow. Its rider, a boy of about twelve, tried to turn thepony's head, but not soon enough to avoid the grey, which tossed itshead aside. So the pony's mane just tickled the horse's lower jaw, andthe boy only escaped a violent collision by ducking widely on one side.The Batavian's horse, at all times an irritable beast, gave an ominoussnort, and reared straight up, trembling in every muscle, and in thenext instant would inevitably have fallen backwards if Quintus had notmade a bold leap over the brushwood, seized the horse by the bridle,and after a short struggle brought him to a stand-still on all foursagain. Herodianus, meanwhile, who was frightened out of his senses, wasthrown up from his saddle by a sudden spring of his steed, and reseatedin front of it; he threw his arms round the beast's neck, and remaineda comical picture of woe. After Quintus had quieted the Batavian'sexcited grey, he came to the freedman's help.

  "By Jove the avenger!" cried Herodianus, shuffling back into his saddlewith much difficulty, "this wild horse of the Sun[319] was within ahair's breadth of trampling me under his hoofs. Thanks, earnest andwarmest thanks, heroic Quintus Claudius! I will drink a dozen bowls toyour health this evening."

  "I have to thank you too," said Aurelius with feeling. "If it is ever inmy power to render you such a service...."

  "By all the gods!" said Quintus. "It might be supposed...."

  "Nay, but I saw how close my horse's hoofs were to your head."

  "Really? However, do you know who the little dare-devil was who shotby you at such a pace? That was Burrhus, the son of Parthenius;[320] ascatter-brained little rascal. He inherits it from his mother."

  "Burrhus?--the boy that Martial praises so extravagantly?"

  "The very same. He flatters the son, and so touches the father."

  "Well, if he hears that Burrhus nearly rode me down, it may perhapsafford him materials for fresh adulation. I, at any rate, have reasonto be glad that his heroic attempt was not altogether successful; thatI owe to you, my valiant and fearless friend! As I say, if ever you arein a position...."

  "Say no more about such a trifle, I beg of you," said Quintus. "Thoughindeed," he added smiling, "it is not impossible, that I may claim yourkind offices sooner than you expect, though not as a return for myperformances as a horse-tamer."

  "I am happy to hear it. Come when you will, I am entirely at yourdisposal."

  "Very well then," said Quintus with emphasis; "expect me this eveningby the end of the second vigil."

  "Unfortunately I am engaged at that hour."

  "Later then, an hour before midnight?"

  "That will
do; I will expect you," said Aurelius.

  The two girls had stood quite still during this short dialogue. Claudiawas still struggling with the remains of her agitation, even Luciliahad turned pale. Aurelius now stammered out a confused apology, bidthem farewell, and set spurs to his horse, while the freedman draggedwith all his might at the wolf's-tooth bit[321] of his hard-mouthedjade. They vanished in the crowd, Aurelius as straight and freeas a young centaur, and his companion like a clumsy bale of goodsincessantly tossed and jolted.

  "You are a fine fellow!" cried Claudia, clasping her brother's handwith eager emotion. "What strength, what courage, what promptitude! Oh!my heart nearly stood still with terror, when the rearing brute's hoofshung just above your head--I shall never forget it!"

  "I am sure I am very much obliged to you, my dear little sister. It isa long time, since I last heard you speak to me in such an enthusiastickey. Confess, Claudia--the fact that the rider's name happened to beCaius Aurelius, does not diminish your ardent appreciation of the feat?"

  "You may laugh at me, if you will. I respect and admire you, andforgive all your former sins."

  "Are you coming with us?" asked Lucilia.

  "For ten minutes; then I must turn back again. Clodianus expects me atthe Baths."

  "And where do you dine to-day?" asked Claudia.

  "With Cinna."

  "It is a long time since you dined with us."

  "I will to-morrow, if it is convenient. I will see whether he willallow me to bring Cornelia with me...."

  "Hardly," said Lucilia. "Since the day before yesterday he has been ina desperately bad humor. This morning early I had a note from Cornelia,begging me to go and rescue her from the depths of melancholy."

  "What does Cornelia wish for?" said Quintus. "In my presence she isalways cheerfulness itself."

  "That is the magic of love," replied Lucilia. "Its charms conquer allgriefs."

  "You seem highly experienced!"

  "Theory--pure theory."

  They walked on towards the river. There they stood for a few minutes,watching the boats and gondolas, which gently drifted down to theAelian bridge or struggled up stream under the stout strokes of theoarsmen. Beyond the opposite shore the beautiful hills, strewn withgardens and villas, smiled invitingly down on them, and farther offstill rose the five peaks of Soracte.[322]

  "They will soon be crowned with snow," sighed Claudia.

  "Yes, it is wearing into autumn," said Quintus. "But now, my children,you must amuse yourselves without me. Till we meet to-morrow."

  "You fellows," said Claudia, turning to the Numidians, when Quintuswas lost in the crowd. "Do you know what? You ought to be ashamed ofyourselves, down to the very ground. If it had not been for Quintus,Aurelius would have been under the horse's hoofs. Cowards! By the gods,but I am minded to have you punished, that you may remember this hour!"

  The Africans opened their wide thick mouths, and stared at theirmistress as if some marvel had happened. None of her slaves had everheard such words before from Claudia's lips.

  "That comes of her being betrothed to that rich Furius," whispered oneof them. "I always told you, that the gentlest turn haughty when thereis a husband in sight."

  FOOTNOTES:

  [299] CAMPUS MARTIUS. The name given to the public pleasure grounds in the north-western part of Rome. Strabo describes them minutely. (V, 3.)

  [300] COLONNADE OF AGRIPPA. The most renowned object in the Campus Martius was the hundred-columned portico of Vipsanius Agrippa.

  [301] LAUREL GROVES. Within Agrippa's colonnade were laurel and plane-groves. (Mart. _Ep._ I, 108, etc.)

  [302] VIRGIL. The author of the Aeneid had always been one of the most popular writers. He was even studied in the schools, as Schiller is in Germany at the present day.

  [303] BATTLE OF THE FROGS AND MICE. ([Greek: batrachomuomachia]) The Battle of the Frogs, a parody upon the Iliad; falsely attributed to Homer, and probably composed by Pigres of Halicarnassus.

  [304] ROSTRA. The name of the orator's platform, adorned with a ship's beak (rostrum, the ship's beak) in the Forum Romanum.

  [305] INTENDS HIS DAUGHTER TO MARRY A CONSUL. Roman women married at a very early age, therefore in the nature of things, parents made the choice for the inexperienced girls. Thus Junius Mauricus requested the younger Pliny, to propose a husband for the daughter of his brother Junius Rusticus Arulenus. (See Book II, p. 55.) Pliny (_Ep._ I, 14) recommends his friend Minucius Acilianus, and in a quiet, business-like manner enumerates his excellent qualities, among which he does not forget to mention a considerable fortune. To be sure, the daughter's formal consent was necessary. The young girls of our story, by the way, out of respect for our modern ideas, are described as young girls at an age, when Romans were usually married women. For the ordinary marriageable age, see Friedlaender's detailed description in the appendix to the first part of his "_Sittengeschichte_," where he gives a number of inscriptions taken from the tombs, where the age of the girl at the time of her marriage is either directly stated, or may be ascertained by deducting the years of marriage from those of life. Twelve of the wives mentioned, married before they were fourteen, four at fourteen, three at sixteen, one at nineteen, and one at twenty-five. We are, however, expressly told that marriages of girls under twelve were by no means rare.

  [306] VARUS. The famous victory of the Germans over Quintilius Varus occurred in the year 9, A.D.

  [307] PARTHIANS. A people who lived south of the Caspian sea. Their territory afterwards extended to the Euphrates. The Romans had numerous feuds with this nation.

  [308] CANTABRIAN BEAR. Cantabria, the mountainous region in the north of Spain, supplied most of the bears for the Roman wild-beast combats.

  [309] ANANKE ([Greek: Anagke]) personifies, like the Latin Fatum, the idea, that in every event which happens, there is an unalterable necessity, to which not only human beings, but even the gods are subject.

  [310] BY THE FAMOUS MURAL PAINTINGS. See Mart. _Ep._ II, 14. Ill, 20, etc.

  [311] SEPTA. See Mart. _Ep._ II, 14; IX, 59.

  [312] THE CENTURIA. Even under the kings, the Romans were divided into five different classes, since the part taken by each individual in government affairs, especially concerning taxes and military service, depended on the amount of his property. Each of these classes consisted of a certain number of centurias, for instance, the first class contained eighty, the fifth thirty, etc. Centuria was the name originally given to a military division of 100 men, then to a certain number of citizens, from whose midst such a military organization could be formed. These centuries--in a civil sense--voted on public affairs in the _comita centuriata_ (assembly of the centuries) each century having one vote.

  [313] GAY BOOTHS. See Mart, _Ep._ IX, 59, v. I:

  "Mamurra many hours does vagrant tell, I'th' shops, where Rome her richest ware does sell."

  The same epigram describes the goods to be purchased in these booths; slaves, table-covers, ivory for table legs, semicircular dinner-couches (called _Sigma_ from their shape resembling the old Greek C) Corinthian brass (a mixture of gold, silver, and copper, very popular in those days) crystal goblets, _vasa murrhina_, chased silver dishes, gems, jewels, etc., etc.

  [314] WRESTLING OR THROWING THE DISCUS. Physical exercises of all kinds were highly esteemed by the Romans. Racing, wrestling, and throwing the discus (a flat, circular piece of stone or iron) were specially popular. See Hor. _Od._ I. 8 (_saepe disco_, _saepe trans finem jaculo nobilis expedito_) where the exercises in the Campus Martius are mentioned.

  [315] MASTHLION'S SKILL. See Mart _Ep._ V, 12:

  "That the
haughty Masthlion now, Wields such weights on perched brow."

  [316] NINUS'S STRENGTH. See Mart _Ep._ V, 12:

  "Or that Ninus finds his praise, With each hand eight boys to raise."

  Giants, as well as dwarfs, and monstrosities of every kind were extremely popular in Rome. They were even frequently kept in aristocratic families as slaves and jesters. See Mart _Ep._ VII, 38, where a gigantic slave of Severus is mentioned. According to Plutarch, Rome ad a special market for monsters ([Greek: he ton teraton agora]) where persons crippled in all kinds of ways were offered for sale. As the business was lucrative, certain deformities were artificially produced.

  [317] TABLETS ON THEIR KNEES. See Hor. _Epist. ad Pis._, 19, etc.

  [318] MANNIE. Such ponies are mentioned by Lucr., Hor., Prop., and Sen. They were distinguished for speed. The word is of Celtic origin.

  [319] THIS WILD HORSE OF THE SUN. Herodianus alludes to the steeds of Helios and the fate of Phaethon, who obtained his father's permission to guide the chariot of the Sun one day in his stead, but had so little control over the unruly steeds, that to save the earth from burning, Zeus was compelled to slay him with a thunderbolt and hurl him from the chariot into the river Eridanus.

  [320] BURRHUS, THE SON OF PARTHENIUS. See Mart. _Ep._, IV, 45; V, 6.

  [321] WOLF'S-TOOTH BIT (_lupata frena_) a curb furnished with iron points shaped like a wolf's tooth, used for hard-mouthed horses. See Hor. _Od._ I, 8, 6; _Nec lupatis temperat ora frenis_....

  [322] SORACTE. A mountain north of Rome. See Varro R.R. II, 3, 3; Virg. _Aen._ VI, 696, Hor. _Od._ I, 9 (_alta nive candidum._)