Andivius Hedulio: Adventures of a Roman Nobleman in the Days of the Empire

by Edward Lucas White

  CHAPTER IX

  THE SQUALL OF THE LEOPARD

  When he was gone, when I had seen the postern door shut behind him, I feltsuddenly weak and faint. I was amazed to find how exhausted I was left bythe ebbing of the hot wave of indignation and rage which had surgedthrough me as I revolted from his absurd and contemptible proposals. Ifelt flaccid and limp.

  At this instant Agathemer brought me a tray of food. My impulse was toburst out at him with reproaches for having, without consulting me,presumed to arrange for me an interview with a man not among my intimates.But I was so enraged that I dreaded the effect on me, in my weakenedstate, if I let myself go in respect to rebuking my slave. I kept silentand was mildly surprised to find myself tempted by the food. I ate anddrank all that was on the tray, and Agathemer vanished noiselessly,without a word.

  I sat there, revived by the food and wine, feeling the weakness caused bymy rage gradually passing off and meditating on the sudden change in mycondition. Before Capito accosted me I had felt perfectly well and waslooking forward to resuming my normal life next day, to going to thePalace Levee, to enjoying a bath with my acquaintances at the Thermae ofTitus. Since Capito had left me I had felt so overcome that I was ready tolook forward to some days yet of strict regimen and isolation.

  Thus meditating I was again aware of footsteps on the walk.

  I looked up and was more amazed than when I had caught sight of Capito.Approaching me, but a few paces from me, was one of the most detestablebores in Rome, a man whom I sedulously avoided, Faltonius Bambilio. Hisfather, the Pontifex of Vesta, was an offensively and absurdly unctuousand pompous man. His son, who had already held several minor offices inthe City Government, had been one of the quaestors the year before, and sowas now a senator. But he was, as he always had been, as he remained, abooby. I do not believe that there was any man in Rome I detested soheartily.

  He greeted me as if he had a right to my notice and said:

  "I was told that Egnatius Capito was in this garden."

  "He was," I replied curtly, "but he has left it."

  "I certainly am disappointed," he said, seating himself by me, uninvited."I particularly wanted to speak to Capito at once."

  "You might find him at his house," I suggested.

  But Bambilio was impervious to suggestions.

  "I wanted to talk to him and you together," he said, "but that can bemanaged some other time."

  I was about to reply tartly, but I remembered how my irritation withCapito had affected me and recalled Galen's injunction that I must avoidall causes of excitement and emotion. I held my peace.

  Bambilio, as if he had been an intimate and had been specially invited,lolled comfortably on the bench and gazed approvingly about.

  "Fine garden, Andivius," he said. "Fine trees, fine flowers and I say,what a jewel of a slave-girl, eh! Hedulio!"

  I could have hit him, I was so incensed at his familiarity, I was alreadychoking with internal rage at Agathemer for having let anyone in to talkto me in that garden, still more at his having done so without consultingme and most of all that after doing so he had not made sure that no onebut Capito could pass the postern door. But I almost exploded into volublewrath when I looked where he indicated, saw a pretty, shapely young womanin the scanty attire of a slave-girl picking flag-flowers into a basketshe carried, and recognized Vedia. That Agathemer's presumption shouldhave spoiled the interview with Vedia which she and Nemestronia hadmanifestly arranged for us, that it should have exposed Vedia in herundignified disguise to recognition by the greatest ass and blatherskitein the senate, this infuriated me till I felt internally like Aetna orVesuvius on the verge of eruption.

  Vedia, for it was she, had evidently been approaching me circuitously,hoping to be noticed and hailed from afar. Now when she was near enoughfor not merely a lover but for any acquaintance to recognize her, shelooked up at me over her basket as she laid a flower-stalk in it.

  Instantly her face flamed, she turned away and went on picking flowersdiligently. After she had moved a few steps she sprang into the path andscampered off like a child, her basket swinging, vanishing through a doorin the upper wall on my left.

  "Neat little piece!" Bambilio commented. "Taking, and every part of herpretty. Fine calves, especially."

  I was by this time in a condition which, had I been old and fat, must havebrought on an apoplexy. But my hot rage cooled to an icy haughtiness, and,though it took a weary, tedious long time, I kept my temper and mydemeanor, look, tone and word, managed to convey to him, even through thethick armor of his self-conceit, that he was not welcome. He rose, saidfarewell and waddled off to the postern. As soon as he was outside, morerapidly than I had moved since I was felled in the roadside affray, Iwalked to that door and made sure that it was bolted.

  I was strolling unhurriedly back to the seat I had left and was perhapshalf way to it, when I heard, loud and clear, the long-drawn, blood-curdling hunting-squall of Nemestronia's pet leopard; heard in it more ofmenace, more of adult ferocity, more of the horrible joy of the power tokill than I had ever heard before.

  Instantly I comprehended what had happened. Either Agathemer when he tookoff my tray or Vedia when she escaped had passed through the wild-garden(probably it had been Vedia, who would not know that the leopard wasconfined there), and had left a door imperfectly closed. The leopard,which might have been asleep, under the shrubberies and invisible, hadroused and had passed through the unfastened door up into the terrace-garden. This was the kind of morning on which Nemestronia would have manyvisitors, the kind of weather which would tempt them to have their chairsout on the upper terrace, the hour of the morning at which they would bemost likely to be out there. The leopard, I instantly inferred, wasstalking, not some hare, porker, kid or lamb, but her owner and herowner's guests.

  I disembarrassed myself of my outer garments, threw off my sun-hat, and,clad only in my shoes and tunic, sprinted for the door into the wild-garden, through it, through its upper door, which, as I had forecasted, Ifound open, and out on the lower terrace. From there I could not seeanything on the upper terrace, but, as I cleared the door, I heard again,rising, quavering, sinking, rising, the leopard's hunting cry from theupper terrace. I sprang up the stair to the middle terrace, and half wayup that to the upper; but, when my head was about on a level with thepavement of the walk along the upper terrace, I checked myself and moved ahairs-breadth at a time; for the rescue on which I had come was a delicatetask and any quick movement might precipitate the leopard's killing-spring.

  Through the spaces between the yellow Numidian marble balusters I saw whatI had anticipated. Partly under the big middle awning, but mostly out infront of it on the walk, were set a score of light chairs. On thosefurthest out were seated nine ladies: Nemestronia, Vedia, Urgulania,Entedia, Aemilia Prisca, Magnonia, Claudia Ardeana, Semnia, Papiria andCossonia. They were rigid in their chairs, white with terror and yetafraid to move a muscle. Belly flat on the walk, about twelve paces fromthem, crouched the leopard, moving forward a paw at a time. As I gained aview of her she emitted a third squall.

  I saw that I was in time and felt so relieved that I almost fainted in therevulsion from my agony of anxiety. As I began to move my mind was freeenough to wonder how Vedia had found time to change from her slave-girldisguise into a bewitching fashionable toilet. Among those leaders ofRoman society, the very pick of Rome's noblewomen, she showed her best andoutshone them all.

  I moved evenly and steadily up the steps and along the balustrade till Iwas past the crouching leopard and then on round till I was in her line ofsight and half between her and her victims.

  She recognized me at once, the evil switching of her tail ceased, she halfrose; she began to purr, a purr that sounded to me as loud as the roar ofa water-fall in a gorge; she took a few steps towards me, then, suddenly,she made a peculiar movement hard to describe, something like thecurvetting of a mettlesome colt, but characteristic of a leopard andtherefore like the movement of no other animal save a leopard o
r lion ortiger; she leapt daintily clear of the pavement and struck sideways withher forepaws. The antic perfectly expressed playful delight andfriendliness.

  I recognized her mood and knew that I had not only distracted her from herbloodthirst but had her entire attention. I knew what I must do, but Iraged at the ridiculous exhibition which I must make of myself before themost fastidious and conventional of Rome's noblewomen. Yet, if I was tosave them, I must not hesitate. I threw myself flat on my side on thepavement and made clawing motions with my hands and feet, the leopardresponded to my suggestion, capered again as before and, when close to me,lay down before me on the pavement and began to paw at me, purring loudlyin her throat, now and then snarling softly. She played with me as she hadoften played before, all her claws sheathed and her paws soft asthistledown; mumbling my hands and forearms in her hot mouth, slaveringover them, yet never so much as bruising the skin with her needle-sharpteeth. Yet I seemed to detect a subtle difference in her mood and, frommoment to moment, dreaded that she might claw me to ribbons or sink herfangs in my shoulders or face.

  All the while she was mouthing, pawing and kicking me I was raging atAgathemer for having put me in a position where I had to make soundignified an exhibition of myself before such an assemblage.

  Presently I recognized that alteration in her mood which made it possiblefor me to rise, take her by the scruff of the neck, and lead her off toher cage.

  When I had her inside I realized how hot, sweaty, dusty tousled, rumpledand mussed I was. Her cage was under the vaulted arcade beneath the secondterrace. I was, when I shot its bolts, altogether out of sight of Vedia,Nemestronia and the other noble ladies who had been spectators of mytussle with the leopard. I did not want them to see me again in mydishevelled and dirty condition: I sneaked into the house by the passagefrom the arcade into the cellars and up the scullery stairs, made thefirst slave I saw escort me to the guest-room I usually occupied when atNemestronia's and bade him summon bath-attendants and dressers.Nemestronia had a store-room lined with wardrobes of men's attirecontaining every sort of garment of every style and size. I was soon cleanand clad as a gentleman should be in a fresh tunic and in the garment Ihad left in the water-garden, which a footman had fetched for me.

  Then I went out on the upper terrace.

  There I found the nine ladies, with some maids and waiters. Before theladies, facing Nemestronia, stood Agathemer; behind and about himNemestronia's six big, husky, bull-necked slave-lashers, the two head-lashers with their many-lashed scourges.

  I realized at once what had happened. Nemestronia had needed no one toinform her that it was through Agathemer's negligence or mismanagementthat the leopard had escaped from the wild-garden. She had not waited toask me to investigate the matter and punish my slave. She had, like thegreat noblewoman she was, assumed my acquiescence and approval andsummoned and questioned Agathemer. Before I appeared his answers hadconvicted him. She did not look round at me as I joined the group andseated myself in a vacant chair on her left, between Vedia and ClaudiaArdeana. As I seated myself she gave the order:

  "Strip him and give him a hundred lashes!"

  Now, then and there I found myself in the most cruel and painful situationI had ever been in my life. Agathemer and I had been playmates almost fromour cradles; comrades, cronies, chums all our lives. Neither of us hadever had a brother. Each had been, since infancy, a brother to the other.I could not have loved a real brother any more than I loved Agathemer, norcould he have had more implicit confidence in the goodwill of a bloodbrother. I was, in fact, as solicitous for Agathemer's welfare as for myown, and I rejoiced with his joys and mourned with his griefs. I wouldhave done anything to protect him and save him, as he had faithfully andtirelessly nursed and cared for me in my illness.

  But I knew that no explanations could ever make Nemestronia understand ourmutual relations or accept my views of them; to her a slave was a slave;she felt as unalterable a gulf between free man and slave as betweenmankind and cattle. I could only let her have her way, though I wasinundated with misery at the thought of Agathemer's approaching agonies. Ihad been hotly wrathful with him and had meditated, as I dressed, whatsort of punishment would befit his fault: now that Nemestronia had orderedhim flogged my resentment against him had all oozed out of me and I wasfilled with sympathy for him and scorn of my cowardice in not protectinghim. I glanced at him as the lashers stripped and bound him. He sent backat me a glance which said, as plain as words:

  "I am to blame. I know you are sorry for me. But give no sign, I must gothrough this alone."

  And I had to sit there while the head-lasher flogged him till the pavementon which he lay was all a pool of gore, till his back was in tatters fromneck to hips, till he was carried off, insensible, perhaps dead.

  Also I had to express my approbation of Nemestronia's orders, and had tosit there and chat with the ladies, seven of whom were inclined to befacetious over the figure I had cut sprawling on the mosaic walk, tusslingwith that abominable leopard. They thanked me for saving their lives, orat least, the life of some one of them. But they were sly about my comicalappearance while the leopard mauled and tousled me.

  Two did not speak.

  Vedia was cold and mute and spoke only when she rose, excusing herself toNemestronia and calling for her litter first of them all.

  Nemestronia was so weak from the reaction after her fright and sounwilling to display her weakness that she hardly spoke, limiting herselfto the brief words courtesy demanded.

  When I reached home I forgot everything else in my solicitude forAgathemer. I not only called for my own physician, but sent urgentmessages summoning Galen and Celsianus. Celsianus was affronted at thesuggestion that he stoop to prescribe for a slave and incensed at havingbeen called in haste for such a trifle: but Galen, who came in whileCelsianus was expressing his indignation, diverted his mind at once byrejoicing that I was sufficiently recovered to take that much interest inone of my slaves. He made haste to see, inspect and assist Agathemer: whenhe was somewhat relieved and we had left him abed with Occo to watch himand with injunctions that quiet was the best medicine for him, Galenturned to me.

  "You have had a shock," he said, "and a superabundance of excitement. Tellme all about it."

  When I had told him what had happened, omitting only Vedia's disguise andher presence in the water-garden, he said:

  "I certainly should not have prescribed any such excitements and effortsas medicaments for a case like yours. But it sometimes happens that beingstartled accomplishes more towards a cure than long rest can. Yourperturbation of mind and activity of body has cured you. You are, as faras I can judge, well. I am of the opinion that you may safely eat anddrink what you like in moderation, rest only as you please and may resumeyour normal life."

  I was, naturally, much pleased, but had no impulse to resume my habitsthat day. I kept indoors, denied myself to all visitors, slept long afterGalen had left, ate a moderate dinner and went early to bed.

  Next day I went through the normal routine of a Roman of my rank. Thestory of the leopard had been noised about and the husbands of the ladiesconcerned every one came to salute me at my morning reception and to thankme for my miraculous intervention, as they called it. As six of the eightwere senators my atrium had an aspect seldom seen at the reception of aman of equestrian rank.

  At the Palace I found the tale of the leopard had reached the ears of theEmperor. He congratulated me, saying:

  "You are not only a good fighter, Hedulio, but also incredibly bold andmarvellously favored by the gods."

  Tanno was at the Palace to say farewell for the summer, as he was off forBaiae to enjoy the scenery and sea-breezes.

  "I envy you," said Commodus. "I must remain, here many days yet to get ridof the most pressing matters on my crowded files of official papers."

  After the Palace levee was over I went to Vedia's mansion and tried to seeher, but was rebuffed, the porter declaring that, by her physician'sorders, she was denying herself to all visi
tors.

  At home I found Agathemer still suffering terribly, but without fever,with no sign of proud flesh anywhere on his flayed back and not onlyentirely able to talk to me but eager to do so. We had a long talk on theentire subject of our peculiar relations as a master and slave who weremore like brothers. He assured me that I had done just right to act as Ihad and he begged my pardon for his blunders in arranging to have Capitoadmitted to talk to me, in arranging it without my permission or evenknowledge, in neglecting to guard the outer door of the garden and soadmitting Bambilio, and in causing the escape of the leopard. I heartilyforgave him, told him to forget all that, that I forgot it all and, on myside, begged his forgiveness for his agonies. He said there was nothing toforgive: that my uncle's injunctions had compelled my leaving him a slaveand the rest had been his fault, not mine.

  I told him that I would do anything in my power to make him well,comfortable and happy, except setting him free, from which I wasrestrained by my uncle's behests.

  He asked to be allowed to return to Villa Andivia as soon as thephysicians pronounced him fit to travel.

  I agreed: commanded that my travelling carriage, which Marcus Martius hadreturned to me, should be put in order and prepared for the journey; andconsulted Galen, who came of his own accord to see Agathemer two days insuccession. On his third visit he gave Agathemer permission to travel bycarriage the next day and he accordingly set off for Villa Andivia on theIdes of August.

  Each day I had spent most of my afternoon at the Baths of Titus. Eachafternoon I had seen Vedia at a distance, but she had always taken painsto avoid me, and one cannot pursue or seem to pursue, a lady in theThermae.

  Each day, also, I had called to see her at her house; each day I had beenrebuffed. On the morning of the nineteenth day before the Kalends ofSeptember one of the runners brought me a letter. It read:

  "Vedia gives greetings to Andivius. If you are well I am well also."

  But this formal opening altered at once to familiar writing.

  "You are acting like a silly boy. As things are, both in my cousins' clan and in that of my late husband, I cannot receive you at my house, and you ought to have sense enough to realize that without being told. Be patient and I shall arrange for an interview with you. Please avoid me at the Baths, as I have you.

  "Farewell."

  This letter greatly encouraged me and I felt so elated that I reallyenjoyed life for the next few days, which were filled up with a receptionof my own each morning, a round of receptions to salute magnates, mysalutation to the Emperor, a lunch always with some friends, a long nap athome, a lingering afternoon at the Baths of Titus, and a jolly dinner atsome friend's house, for I was invited out twice each day.

  On the seventh day before the Kalends of September, as I was on my way tothe Palace levee, a runner inconspicuously clad ranged himself alongsidemy litter and handed me a letter.

  It read:

  "She whose handwriting he will recognize gives greeting to Hedulio. Take care! Do not let anyone see this letter; take care to seem negligent and uninterested as you read it.

  "A conspiracy against the life of Caesar has been detected and reported. Its leader is said to be Egnatius Capito. As some informer, sponsored by Talponius Pulto, claims to have seen you in Capito's company, you are implicated. Save yourself. Do not return home. Do not go to the Palace, order yourself carried immediately to the Querquetulan Gate. On the way there purchase a raincloak and an umbrella hat and whatever else may be needful for your journey. Outside the _Porta Querquetulana_, in front of Plosurnia's tavern, you will find one of the fastest horses in Italy, a blood-bay, noticeable for light-blue reins with silver bosses, his saddlecloth light-blue with a silver edge. Descend from your litter in front of the tavern, accost the man holding the horse, say to him:

  "'Is this the leopard-tamer's horse?'

  "He will reply:

  "'It is.'

  "Then say:

  "'I am the leopard-tamer.'

  "He will then allow one of your spare bearers to take the horse.

  "Divest yourself of your toga then, not sooner. Equip yourself for your journey. Mount and order your bearers to take your empty litter home. Follow the Praenestine Highroad till it meets the _Via Labicana_. Then take the first crossroad to the Highroad to Tibur. From Tibur press on to Carseoli. Prom there return to Villa Andivia as you judge best. Provide for yourself thereafter as best you may.

  "Farewell."

  I recognized Vedia's handwriting. I trusted her implicitly. I was far moreelated at her concern for me than I was depressed at my impending ruin.Somehow the fact that she had taken the trouble not only to warn me, butto think out for me all the details of a plan of at least temporaryescape, the inference that she hoped, hoped against hope, that I might besomehow saved, heartened me amazingly; so that I was rather inspirited atthe prospect of adventure than daunted by the shadow of inescapable doom.I gathered myself together, determined to take as much advantage aspossible of Vedia's warning, and of the respite it afforded me. I resolvedto follow her suggestions. I had set out for the Palace unusually early. Ihad plenty of time. I ordered my bearers to carry me through the heart ofthe City down the whole length of the _Vicus Tuscus_ to the meat market.

  I should, I suppose, have been in an agony of vain regrets; I ratherexpected from moment to moment to be drowned in an inundation of suchsensations, I was more than a little surprised at my actual feelings. HereI was, hitherto a wealthy Roman nobleman in excellent standing with myfellows, my superiors and the Prince; from now on a hunted fugitive andnot likely to postpone my last hour more than a few days. I was,presumably, viewing the throbbing heart of glorious Rome for the lasttime. I should have felt chief mourner at my own funeral. Actually Irelished, I hugely enjoyed, every pace of my progress through the fillingstreets, where the passers-by and idlers were still fresh, and livelyafter a night's sleep and where everything was irradiated by cheerfulmorning sunlight. I felt cheerful as the sunlight.

  Beyond the Meat Market I had my bearers stop at the Temple of Fortune,which I entered, there I prayed fervently before the statue of theGoddess.

  When I was again out in the market I bought two live white hens, young andplump, and assigned one of my relief-bearers to carry carefully the basketin which the old market-woman ensconced them, after I had paid her wellfor her basket as well as her hens.

  Then I had my men carry me down the straight empty street along thesouthwest flank of the Circus Maximus. Half way along it I halted thembefore the Temple of Mercury. This I entered and, bidding one of theattendants lead me to the priest in charge at that hour, I requested himto offer for me the two white hens and beseech for me the favor of theGod.

  Outside I reentered my litter and made my bearers trot all the way roundby the big and little Coelian Hills to the Querquetulan Gate. We passed onthis route many cheap shops. From one I bought a pair of horseman's highboots, soft and supple and mud-proof. All the way I enjoyed hugely myouting and the sights and sounds around me. From another shop one of myreliefs brought me an umbrella hat which fitted me and a voluminoushorseman's raincloak which could not but protect anybody; at another I hadbought for me a wallet; at another flint and steel in a good horn case,compact and neat.

  Outside the Querquetulan Gate, which my bearers reached blown andsweating, although the reliefs had changed at short intervals, we had nodifficulty in locating Plosurnia's tavern. The holder of the bay horsewith the blue and silver trappings recognized my pass-words andsurrendered his charge to one of my extra bearers. At the tavern anotherlined my wallet with bread, sausages, olives, dried figs and cheese, whileI was changing into horseman's kit.

  I put into the wallet my money, more than enough cash for my journey home,and Vedia's letter. I then mounted, gave my boys their orders and set offat an easy canter. I knew I must show no signs of haste until I was on theHighroad, so I took my time about worki
ng round to it. Once on the _ViaTiburtina_, where horsemen at a tearing gallop, going in either direction,were too common a sight to cause any remarks, I let out my mettlesomemount and covered the remainder of the twenty-four miles to Tibur not longbefore noon.

  Between the bridge over the Anio and Tibur are a number of hilltops, fromeach of which one has a fine view of Rome, if the weather is clear andbright. The weather was very bright and clear and the views very fine. Ateach hilltop I checked my mount, wheeled him and remained so for sometime,contemplating the magnificence I might never see again, the glory uponwhich my gaze, most likely, would never again feast. I should have felt myeyes fill with tears at each of these prospects, the viewing of which was,each time, in the nature of a last farewell. Yet, somehow, mostirrationally, I felt anything but dejected, rather hopeful and full ofconjectures about my future, instead of being filled with forebodings ofdoom, with sorrow for my hard fate.

  BOOK II

  DISAPPEARANCE