Valerius. A Roman Story
Page 26
_CHAPTER IV._
On reaching home, I was told that Licinius was still absent; and found atthe same time a billet upon the table, which informed me that Sabinus hadcarried Sextus with him to his quarters, and that both expected I wouldjoin them there immediately upon my return. I knew not how to refusecompliance, and yet I could not bear the thought of being so far from theCapitol, in case of any message being sent to me from the prison. Since Icould do no better, however, I charged Boto to remain in my apartment tillsunset, and bring me, without delay, any letter or messenger that mightarrive in my absence. Should none such appear within that space, I gavehim a note, which I desired him to deliver into the hands of Silo; andhaving, as I thought, furnished him with sufficient directions how todischarge this commission, I myself took the path to the Praetorian Camp,where I thought it very probable that I might gather some new intelligenceas to Cotilius.
The Praetorian who had accompanied Sabinus at my release from the rustictower, recognized me at the gate, and conducted me immediately to theCenturion, who, to my surprise and displeasure, had directed that I shouldbe ushered without delay to, not his own apartment, but the general table.Here I was received most courteously, however, and hoping the feast wasnearly over, took my place near my friend.
Several of those high-fed warriors who had more than once disposed of theempire, were reclining upon rich couches around the board; and theireffeminate exterior would, perhaps, have made them less formidable in myeyes, had I not remembered the youth of the great Caesar, the Parthianretreat of Antony, and the recent death of Otho.(3) There were present,besides, a few casual visiters like ourselves; among others, a sleekFlamen, who reclined on the right hand of the presiding Tribune, and alittle bald Greek, who seemed to think it incumbent upon himself to fillup every pause in the conversation, by malicious anecdotes or sarcasms, ofwhich last it was easy to see that the Flamen opposite was a favouritesubject. Neither wit nor impiety, however, could make speedy impressionupon the smooth-faced Flamen, who seemed to think, if one might judge fromhis behaviour, that the most acceptable service he could render to thedeities, was to do full and devout justice to the gifts of theirbenevolence.
A very animated discussion concerning the review of the newly-arrivedcohorts, (which, I have told you, had taken place that morning by theriver side,) relieved for some time the patient Flamen from the attacks ofthis irreverent person, and engaged the zealous participation of those whohad hitherto been the most silent of the company. Sabinus, among the rest,was ready with a world of remarks upon the equipments, the manoeuvres, themerits, and the demerits of the troops in question; but something he saidwas quite at variance with the sentiments of one of his brotherCenturions, who disputed with him rather warmly than successfully for afew moments, and at last ended with saying,--"But why should I take so muchtrouble to discuss the point with you, who, we all know, were thinking ofother matters, and saw not much more of the review than if you had been ahundred miles off from it?"
The Centurion coloured a little, and laughed, as it seemed to me, withrather less heartiness than usual; but the disputant pursuing hisadvantage, said, "Yes, you may laugh if you will; but do you think we areall blind, or do you suppose we are not acquainted with certainparticulars? Well, some people dislike the Suburra, but for my part Iagree with Sabinus; I think it is one of the genteelest places in Rome,and that there are some of the snuggest houses in it too--and if old menwill die, for me, I protest, I don't see why young men should not succeedthem." The Centurion laughed again, and natural ruddiness of complexionwas, I thought, scarcely quite sufficient to account for the flush on hiscountenance, as he listened to these innuendos. But the master of thefeast cut the matter short, by saying that he had a health to propose, andthat he expected all present should receive it with honour.--"Here," saidhe, "is to the fair lady Rubellia, who is never absent when the Praetoriansturn out, and may all things fair and fortunate attend her now andhereafter." I whispered to Sabinus,--"My friend, I think you have reallysome reason for blushing. If you had no pity on Xerophrastes, you might atleast have had some for the pretty widow."
He made no answer to this, and looked, if possible, more confused thanever; but, just at that moment, a soldier came in, and delivered a billetto the presiding Tribune, who handed it to Sabinus immediately after hehad read it, and said, loud enough to be heard by all those who sate nearhim, "I wish the Prince would give some of this work to these new comers.But, indeed, I wonder what Lictors are good for now-a-days; but everything that these Christians are any way concerned in seems to be a matterof importance."
Sabinus, having read the billet, handed it back again to the Tribune, andsaid aloud, "_Exit_ Cotilius!--Who would not be of the chorus at thefalling of that curtain?"
The Tribune shrugged his shoulders, whispered something into the ear ofthe messenger, and then, dashing more wine into his cup, said, "Rome willnever be a quiet place, nor the Praetorian helmet a comfortable head-piece,till these barbarians be extirpated."
The Flamen tossed off a full goblet, and, smiting with his hand upon thetable, said, "There spake a true Roman, and a worshipper of the Gods. Irejoice to find that there is still some religion in the world; for, whatwith skulking Jews on the one hand, and bold blasphemous Cyrenaeans on theother, so help me Jupiter, the general prospect is dark enough!"
"In my opinion," quoth the bald Greek, putting on an air of some gravity,"the Jews will have the better of the Cyrenaeans. Indeed, I should not bemuch surprised to see this Christian superstition supplant every other."The Flamen half started from his couch. "You observe, gentlemen,"proceeded the Greek,--"what great advantage any new superstition has overany thing of the same sort that is old. We all know, for example, thatIsis and Cybele have for many years past left comparatively fewworshippers to Mars, Apollo,--even to Jupiter. It is lamentable; but it istrue. I have heard that unless on some very great day, a gift is now quitea rarity upon the altar of any of the true ancient deities of Rome. Egyptand Mount Ida have done this; and why should not Palestine succeed as wellas either? In the meantime, the enlightened contemplate every differentmanifestation of the superstitious principle with equal indifference; and,I confess to you, I have been a little surprised to perceive how farTrajan is from imitating their example. But that Chaeronaean master of his,that Plutarch, was always an old woman; and I fear the Prince has not beenable to shake off the impression of his ridiculous stories."
"Hush!" quoth the master of the day, "if it please you, nothing can besaid here against either Trajan or his friends; and, as for Plutarch, hewas one of the pleasantest fellows that I ever met with."
Sabinus, desirous of restoring the harmony of the assembly, calledforthwith on a musical senior, to join him in a song. The gentlemanrequired solicitation, but at last announced his consent to attempt thefemale part in the duet of Horace and Lydia. Sabinus, always ready, beganto roar out the tender words of regret and expostulation which the mostelegant of poets has ascribed to himself; and the delicate squeakingresponse of our wrinkled Lydia formed an agreeable contrast.
All, in short, were once more in perfect good humour, when another soldierappeared behind the couch of the president, and handed to him what seemedto be another billet of the same complexion. He tossed the paper as beforeto my friend, who looked very serious as he read it.--"Caius," hewhispered, "an additional guard is ordered to the Palatine--and the reasonis said to be that the rest of the Christian prisoners are to be examined,within an hour, by the Emperor himself."
I had scarcely had a moment to compose myself, when one of the slaves inattendance signified that a person wished to speak with me in theanti-chamber. It was Dromo.--"Sir," said he, "I have no time forexplanation. Silo wishes to see you--I left Boto with him at theMammertine."
As we walked from the camp, Sabinus, with his guard, passed withoutnoticing me; and I received some explanations which I must give to youvery briefly. Boto, mistrusting his recollection of my instructions, hadrequested Dromo to a
ssist him in finding his way to the Mammertine; andthe Cretan had come to be witness of a scene, which, in spite of hissarcastic disposition, he could not narrate without tokens of sympathy. Imentioned to you that my faithful slave, in coming with me to Rome, hadindulged the hope of meeting once more with a brother, who many yearsbefore had been carried off from Britain. I smiled when the poor manexpressed confidence that he should find out this ere he had been manydays in the metropolis of the world. But now, in truth, a fortunateaccident had recompensed much ill-regulated search. He had found hisbrother, and he had found him in the Mammertine. That very brother wasSilo, to whose kindness I, and one dearer than myself, had been so deeplyindebted. The Cretan, himself a slave and an exile, had partaken in thefeelings of the long-lost brothers, and hastened to bring me from thecamp, that Boto might be spared the pain of immediately parting from Silo.