_CHAPTER IX._
The Roman streets were totally silent and deserted. It was the first timethat I had been in the presence of a human being, foreseeing distinctly,and quietly waiting, the termination of his mortal existence, and I couldnot help asking of myself, how, under similar circumstances of terror, Ishould have been able to sustain my spirits?--to what resources I should,in such a moment, look for the support which seemed to have beenvouchsafed so abundantly to this old man; by what charm, in fine,--by whattenet of philosophy, or by what hope of religion,--I should, in the midstof life, be able to reconcile myself to a voluntary embrace of death! Toavoid disgrace, indeed, and dishonour, said I, I think I could be Romanenough to dare the worst; but this poor man is willing to die, rather thanacknowledge, by one offering on the altar, the deities in whose worshipall his Greek ancestors have been trained; yet who, except perhaps a fewobscure individuals that have adopted the same new superstition, wouldthink this man dishonoured by returning to the religion of his fathers?Deep, indeed, must be his conviction of the truth of that which heprofesses to believe--serious indeed must be his faith, and high his trust.What if, after all, his faith should be true, and his trust wise? And thegentle Athanasia!--She too a Christian! Might not this mystery be hereafterexplained to me by her lips?
Musing and meditating thus, it was no wonder that I, who knew so little ofRome, should have soon wandered from the straight way to the home of mykinsman. But that I at last caught, at the turning of a street, a glimpseof the Flavian Amphitheatre, which I had before passed on my way from thefeast of Rubellia, I might, perhaps, have wandered long. I had some notionhow that grand edifice was situated with respect to the house of Licinius,and therefore moved towards it immediately, intending to pass straightdown from thence into the Sacred Way. But when I came close to theAmphitheatre, I found that, surrounded on all sides by a city of sleep andsilence, that region was already filled with all manner of noise andtumult, in consequence of the preparations which had begun to be made forthe spectacles. The east hardly yet indicated dawn; but the torches andlanterns of workmen and artificers were in motion every where. On oneside, the whole way was blocked up with a throng of waggons; theconductors, almost all Ethiopians and Numidians, lashing each other'shorses, and exchanging, in their barbarous tongues, outcries of wrath andexecration. The bellowings that resounded from any of the waggons, whichhappened to be set in motion amidst the throng, intimated that savagebeasts were confined within them; and when I had discovered this, and thenregarded the prodigious multitude of the vehicles, I cannot say whathorror came over me at thinking what cruel sights, and how lavish incruelty, were become the favourite pastimes of the most refined ofnations. I recognized the well-known short deep snort of the wild boar,and the long hollow bark of the wolf; but a thousand fierce sounds,mingled with these, were new to my ears. One voice, however, was so grandin its notes of sullen rage, that I could not help asking a soldier, whosate on horseback near me, from what monster it proceeded. The mananswered, that it was a lion; but then what laughter arose among some ofthe rabble, that had overheard my interrogation; and what contemptuouslooks were thrown upon me by the naked negroes, who sate grinning in thetorch-light, on the tops of their carriages! Then one or two of thesoldiers would be compelled to ride into the midst of the confusion, toseparate some of these wretches, fighting with their whips aboutprecedence in the approach; and it seemed to me that the horses could notaway with the strong sickly smell of the wild beasts; for they wouldprance, and caper, and rear on end, and snort as if panic-struck, and dartthemselves towards the other side; while some of the riders were thrownoff in the midst of the tumult, and others, with fierce and strong bits,compelled the frightened or infuriated animals to endure the thing theyabhorred--in their wrath and pride forcing them even nearer than wasnecessary. In another quarter, this close-mingled pile of carts and horseswas surmounted by the enormous heads of elephants, thrust up into the air,some of them with their huge lithe trunks lashing and beating (for they,too, as you have heard, would rather die than snuff in the breath of thesemonsters of the woods,) while the tiara'd heads of their riders would beseen tossed to and fro by their contortions. What a cry of cursing, whatcracking of whips and cords, what blowing of horns, and whistling andscreaming; and all this mixed with what roaring and howling from thesavage creatures caged in darkness!
I went, however, for a moment, into the Amphitheatre, by a littleside-way, where admission was cheaply obtained. Here, as yet, all thingswere in order, for the hour had not yet come for giving the wild beastsentrance to the huge dens prepared for them. A few carpenters only wereseen in one corner, erecting a sort of low stage, and singing merrily, ofwhom, when I made inquiry concerning the purpose of that erection, one ofthese fellows also began to jeer; "Whence come you, good sir, that you donot know a common scaffold when you see it? It is surely not the firsttime that a Christian has had his head chopped off in the Flavian?"--"ByPluto, I am not so sure about that matter," quoth another. "I don't knowwhether any of the dogs were ever beheaded here or not; if they have been,I can only say it was better than they deserved."--"There spoke a trueman," cries a third. "No, no; keep beheading for Romans--let citizens havetheir own. Things are come to a pretty pass, when they shew us nothing buttigers against tigers. By Jove, I would rather see one of thosemisbelieving Atheists set right before the mouth of a true Getulian lion'scage, and hear his bones cracked ere all be over,--I say, I would rathersee that, than fifty of your mere beast fights."--"After all," rejoined thefirst, "it must be allowed that our Caesar had a fine eye for theAmphitheatre."--"Who doubts it?" says the other. "Rome has never seen anything that deserved to be called a show, since he was killed by sneakingtraitors. They say, Nero was still better at that sort of work; but 'letthe skinless Jew believe,' as the saying is. I desire to see no bettersport than Domitian gave us the very week before his death. We shall neverlive to see his like again!"--"Come, boys," rejoins one of the rest; "nodespairing! I had begun to think that these good princes, as they callthem, would never shew us a bit of real sport again. Here, now, is atleast something. Who can tell what may follow? and, besides, if the worstcome to the worst, we shall still have lions against lions, tigers againsttigers, Dacians against Dacians, and now and then a Jew or a Christian, orwhatever you please to call him, exhibited _solus_ on such a stage asthis. Come, come, don't make matters worse than they are."
The ruffians shewed that they knew well enough I was displeased, and Ihalf regretted, as I strode away from them, the want of that Praetorianhelmet, which would have preserved me from the insolence of their mirth.However, I was well pleased to gain a distance at which I could no longerbe troubled with them, and walked with rapid steps along the wide streets,over which morning was now beginning to shine; while the air, agitatedwith a quick breeze, refreshed my cheeks and temples--of which I had need,being heated with the glare and noise, and, perhaps, faint, too, after themanner of the young, from want of sleep.
I was admitted into the house by Dromo, who seemed to have been lookingout for me; for he opened the door almost before I had time to knock atit. He regarded me as I entered with a very cunning face; insomuch, that Icomprehended without difficulty, he believed me to have spent the night insome scene of debauch; but he, nevertheless, attended me, without saying aword, into my chamber. He then assumed a countenance of great reflection,and advised me, with much appearance of friendly concern, to go to bed,even although I could not stay long there; "because," said he, "you willfeel much fresher when you get up; and let me tell you, you must be upearly, for I have already been with Licinius, who intends to send Sextuswith a present to Rubellia immediately after breakfast; and you may besure he will insist on your company, for he can do nothing without you.Ah! had it not been for a certain pretty creature, the young gentlemanwould not, I am confident, have permitted you to be going the rounds inthis way by yourself. But I take it something amiss, and shall tell himso, that he did not depute me (who am not particularly
enamoured just atpresent) to go with you, and take care of your safety. I only wonder howyou have got home so well as it is."--"Indeed," said I, "good Dromo, Icannot help wondering a little at that myself--for I have been all throughthe city, and lost my way half-a-dozen times over, and yet here you see Iam."--"The more reason," quoth the slave, "that you should send some littleoffering to Mercury's Temple over the way, in the morning--a few sesterceswill be sufficient--and if you have no objections, I shall willingly takecare of them for you. Mercury is the guardian of all that travel about inthe dark; and besides, he is the special patron of love expeditions. Butto say the truth, you are not the only person that owes a gift to thatshrine; for the worthy sage--Xerophrastes--he, too, has been anight-wanderer--and he has not yet come in. I have my doubts whether, whenhe does so, he will be as sober as you are; but I must take care to be atmy post, and admit him in silence, for the time is not yet come to uncloakhis doings. Trust me, this is not the only vagary I have set down to hisaccount--all in good time. But what says my master Valerius, touching theoffering to the great God Hermes?"
I saw, by the knave's face, that it was necessary the sesterces should beforthcoming. "Here they are," said I, "good Dromo; and remember, thatalthough Mercury, among other things, is the god of thieves also, he willnot be well pleased if you curtail his offering." "Never mind," answeredthe varlet, as he was shuffling out of the room, "Mercury and I understandeach other of old. Go to bed, and try to get a little of your own oldBritish red into your cheeks again; for Licinius has a hawk's eye, andwill be sure to have his suspicions, if he sees you come down with such ahaggard look. Remember you have not a beard to cover half your face, andall your iniquities."
So saying, he left me to my couch, indeed, but not to slumber; for busythoughts kept me broad awake, till, after the lapse of perhaps an hour,young Sextus entered my apartment, already arrayed with more than usualelegance, to execute, however unwillingly, the message of his father. Hehad in his hand a small casket of open ivory-work, which he flung down onmy bed, saying, "Get up, dear Valerius, and save me at least from the painof going alone with these gewgaws. Would to Heaven my father would marryher himself, and then I should have no objection to carry as many casketsas he pleases. But do you get up and assist me; and as we go along, youshall tell me what you have seen and heard in company with your jovialPraetorian."
I was soon ready, and ascended, along with my young friend, the chariotwhich Licinius had commanded to be ready. I told him, as we glided throughthe streets, as much as I judged expedient; and, in particular, when Iperceived that our charioteer was making a circuit, in order to avoid theneighbourhood of the Amphitheatre, I could not help expressing to him theeffect which had been produced in my mind, by my casual inspection of thepreparations. "I am afraid, then," said he, "that you will scarcely bewilling to witness the exhibition itself; and yet I would fain have you toovercome your aversion, both because, whatever you may think of suchthings, it is not fitting that you should go from Rome without once, atleast, seeing how they are conducted; and more particularly, because Imuch suspect Rubellia intends to be present at the festival--in which caseI should be sorry to be compelled to attend upon her without you; and asto leaving her at the gate of the Amphitheatre, that, you know, would bequite impossible, unless I wished openly to contradict the wishes of myfather."
I assured him he should not want any comfort my presence could afford him;although not without, at the same time, expressing my astonishment that heshould consider it at all probable that his dainty Rubellia would chooseto sit among the spectators of an exhibition so abounding in circumstancesof cruelty, and, as I had understood, forbidden to her sex. "Nay,"answered he, "laws and edicts are made to be broken in such cases; and asfor the cruelty of the scene, there is scarcely a lady in Rome that wouldbe more scrupulous on that head than my widow. To tell you the truth, oneof the things that makes me most unwilling to go, is the fear thatSempronia also may be there; and, perhaps, when she sees me with Rubellia,give credence to some of the reports which have been circulated (notwithout my father's assent, I think, if all were known,) about this odiousmarriage, which I swear to you shall never take place, although Liciniuswere to drive me from his door, and adopt a stranger."--"Sextus," I madeanswer, "if Sempronia thinks there is any thing serious between the widowand you, she must think you a pretty rascal, for the violent love you madeto herself at the Villa. But I am sure she will easily perceive, by yourcountenance, that you do not regard Rubellia, handsome as she is, with anyextraordinary admiration; whereas--if you were not conscious of it, I amsure she must have been so--there was never a face of more passionate lovethan yours, all the time you were in _her_ company. And, even now, thevery mention of her name calls a glow into your cheeks,--yes, and even intoyour eyes,--that I think would flatter Rubellia, could she excite suchanother, more than all the jewels of all the caskets your father will eversend."--"Distract me not, O Valerius!" said the youth,--"distract me notwith speaking of that too lovely, and, I fear, too scornful girl. Do younot perceive that we have at last struck into the Suburra, and are quitenear to Rubellia's house?"--"It is so," said I, looking out of thecarriage, "and I suspect you are right in thinking she means to be presentat the Amphitheatre, for there is a crowd of urchins about her gate, and Iperceive a brilliant group of equipages has attracted them. She purposesto go in all her splendour."--"Good Heavens!" replied he, "I believe allthe world is to be there. I never passed so many chariots; and as for therabble, see what a stream of heads continues pouring down out of everyalley. My only hope is, that Rubellia may arrive too late for the bestsituations, and perhaps disdain to witness the spectacle from any inferiorpart of the Amphitheatre; and yet she must have interest, no doubt, tohave secured good accommodation beforehand."
We were just in time to meet Rubellia stepping from her portico with a gaycluster of attendants. On seeing us, however, she beckoned with herfinger, and said, "Oh, are you come at last? Well, I must take Valeriuswith myself, for I insist upon it that I shall be best able to point outwhat is worthy of his notice; and you, Sextus Licinius, come you also intomy chariot; we will not separate you from your Orestes." She said so withan air of sprightly ease and indifference, and sprung into the carriage.An elderly lady, with a broad merry face, went into it also, but there wasstill room for Sextus and myself; and the rest of the party followed inother vehicles that were waiting.
The crowd by this time had so accumulated, that our horses could notadvance but at leisurely pace; but the noise of the multitude as theyrushed along, and the tumult of expectation visible on every countenance,prevented us from thinking of any thing but the festival. The variety,however, and great splendour of the equipages, could not but attract myattention. Now it was an open chariot, drawn by milk-white Thessalianhorses, in which reclined some gorgeous female, blazing with jewellery,with a cluster of beautiful boys or girls administering odours to hernostril; and perhaps some haughty Knight or Senator now and then offeringthe refreshment of his flattery. Then, perhaps, would come rumbling along,a close clumsy waggon, of the old-fashioned matronly sort, stuck full withsome substantial plebeian family--the fat, comfortable-looking citizen, andhis demure spouse, sitting well back on their cushions, and having theirknees loaded with an exulting progeny of lads and lasses, whose faceswould, every now and then, be thrust half out of the window, in spite ofthe mother's tugging at their skirts. And then, again, a cry of "Place,place," and a group of lictors, shoving every body aside with their rods,before the litter of some dignified magistrate, who, from pride or gout,preferred that species of motion to the jolting of a chariot. Such aportly person as this would soon be hurried past us, but not before we hadtime to observe the richness of the silken cushions on which he layextended, or the air of majesty with which he submitted himself to the fanof the favoured freedman, whose business it was to keep thoseauthoritative cheeks free from the contamination of common dust and flies.Anon, a jolly band of young gallants, pushing their steeds along, to not afew of whom the fair Rubelli
a would vouchsafe her salutation. But whereverthe carriage was stopped for an instant, it was wonderful to see thenumber of old emaciated men, and withered hags, that would make their wayclose up to the windows, imploring wherewithal to obtain a morsel. Thewidow herself leaned back on these occasions, as if to avoid the sight;but she pointed to a bag of small coin that hung in a corner of thechariot, and from it Sextus distributed to the one side, and I to theother; and yet it was impossible to give to every one; we were surroundedall the way with a mingled clamour of benedictions from those that hadreceived, and execrations from those that had got nothing, and noisyever-renewed solicitations from that ever-swelling army of mendicants. Atlast, however, we arrived in safety at the western gate--the same aroundwhich I had, the night before, witnessed such tumultuous preparation. Oneof the officers in waiting there, no sooner descried the equipage, than hecaused a space to be laid open for its approach, and himself advanced tohand Rubellia into the interior, but she whispered to Sextus and me, by nomeans to separate from her in the crowd.
Valerius. A Roman Story Page 9
