Andivius Hedulio: Adventures of a Roman Nobleman in the Days of the Empire
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ANDIVIUS HEDULIOAdventures of a Roman Nobleman in the Days of the Empire
BYEDWARD LUCAS WHITE
Mirum atque inscitum somniavi somnium. --PLAUTUS
THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN THE SECOND CENTURY A.D.To Show The Wanderings Of ANDIVIUS HEDULIO]
THE CITY OF ROME UNDER THE EMPIRE]
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSONWHO, IN READING FICTION, LOVED "THE OPEN ROAD AND THE BRIGHT EYES OFDANGER"
CONTENTS
BOOK I. DISASTER
HEDULIO'S PREFACE
CHAPTER
I. AN UNEXPECTED GUEST
II. A COUNTRY DINNER
III. TENANTRY AND SLAVERY
IV. HOROSCOPES AND MARVELS
V. ENCOUNTERS
VI. A RATHER BAD DAY
VII. A RATHER GOOD DAY
VIII. THE WATER GARDEN
IX. THE SQUALL OF THE LEOPARD
BOOK II. DISAPPEARANCE
X. ESCAPE
XI. HIDING
XII. SUCCOUR
XIII. THE LONELY HUT
XIV. WINTER IN THE MOUNTAINS
XV. THE HUNT
XVI. THE CAVE
XVII. THE FESTIVAL
XVIII. GALLOPING
XIX. MARSEILLES AND TIBER WHARF
XX. CHARIOTEERING
XXI. MISADVENTURES
BOOK III. DIVERSITIES
XXII. THE MUTINEERS
XXIII. THE EMPEROR
XXIV. THE MASSACRE
XXV. THE OPEN COUNTRY
XXVI. THE OUTLAWS
XXVII. THE POINT OF VIEW
XXVIII. MOONLIGHT
BOOK IV. DISSIMULATIONS
XXIX. FELIX
XXX. FESTUS
XXXI. RECOGNITION
XXXII. PHORBAS
XXXIII. IMPOSTURE
XXXIV. PALUS THE INCOMPARABLE
XXXV. MURMEX
XXXVI. ANXIETY
XXXVII. ACCUSATION
XXXVIII. TORTURE
XXXIX. THE TULLIANUM
XL. SEVERUS
EPILOGUE
NOTES
ANDIVIUS HEDULIO
HEDULIO'S PREFACE
(PRAEFATIO HEDULIONIS)
By no means absurd, it seems to me, but altogether reasonable, is theimpulse which urges me to write out a detailed narrative of my years ofadversity and of the vicissitudes which befell me during that wretchedperiod of my life. My adventures, in themselves, were worthy of record andmy memories of them and of the men and women encountered in them are clearand vivid. It is natural that I should wish to set them down for theedification of my posterity and of any who may chance to read them.
For my experience has been, I believe, unique. Since the establishment ofthe Principate in our Republic many men, even an uncountable horde of men,have incurred Imperial displeasure. Of these not a few, after banishmentfrom Italy or relegation to guarded islands or to some distant frontieroutpost, have survived the Prince who exiled them and have, by the favorof his successors, been permitted to return to Rome and to the enjoymentof their property. But I believe that no Roman nobleman implicated, justlyor unjustly, in any conspiracy against the life of his Sovereign, everescaped the extreme penalty of death. Some, by their own hands,forestalled the arrival of the Imperial emissaries, others perished by theweapons or implements of those designated to abolish the enemies of thePrince. Except myself not one ever survived to regain Imperial favor in alater reign; except myself not one ever recovered his patrimony andenjoyed, to a green old age, the income, position and privileges to whichhe had been born. If such a thing ever occurred, certainly there is norecord of any other nobleman domiciled in Italy, except myself, havinggrasped at the slender chance of escape afforded by the device ofarranging that he be supposed dead, of disguising himself, of vanishingamong the populace, of passing himself off for a man of the people. I notonly was led, by my clever slave, to attempt this histrionic feat, but Isucceeded in the face of unimaginable difficulties. An experience sonotably without a parallel seems peculiarly deserving of such a record asfollows.
BOOK I
DISASTER