Caesar i-3

by Allan Massie

  Now, I wonder: will men still read and debate Plato when Caesar and Decimus Brutus are no more than tinkling names, or perhaps even forgotten?

  The conversation turned towards the subject of death.

  Someone asked Caesar what manner of death he would choose for himself.

  "A sudden one."

  Then he signed a number of official letters which a slave brought to the table.

  I walked home with Trebonius and Metellus Cimber. They were excited by Caesar's reply to that last question. "It is as if he had some foreboding."

  "Well," Cimber said, "there have been a number of strange happenings. Did you hear that some have seen men of fire struggling against each other in the heavens? I'm also told that a soothsayer — some say Spurinna, others Artemidorus — has warned Caesar to beware the Ides of March."

  "Yes," I said, "and the same man — it was Spurinna by the way — warned him with equal zeal to beware the last Kalends of December."

  A flash of lightning dazzled us. The ensuing thunder seemed to shake the roof of the Capitol. We took refuge from the sudden teeming rain in a doorway. The storm was brief. Later, of course, many reported that they had seen strange and wonderful things that night: a lioness was said to have whelped in the streets, ghosts to have walked, the rain turned to blood. It was all nonsense, provoked by excitement and the brief experience of an intense but ordinary thunderstorm. Nothing perverts reason like superstition and the credulity it engenders.

  The storm abated, as abruptly as it had broken forth. We resumed our journey, till our ways diverged, when we embraced, bidding each other good sleep and a brave heart for the morn.

  But I was reluctant to retire. I feared that sleep would elude me. I ached for Longina. I recalled as I splashed over the cobbles that night before we crossed the Rubicon. There had been exhilaration then.

  I found myself in the vicinity of Markie's house. A servant answered my knock, led me to Porcia. "Is all well?" "Save the night."

  "Marcus is studying and has asked not to be disturbed. He is working on his translation of the Pbaedo. It composes his mind. He is resolute."

  "Good. Tell him I called. Tell him all is well, all prepared. Caesar is free of suspicion."

  Later in my wanderings I encountered Casca. He had been dining with Antony, and had left him drunk.

  "Don't feel like sleep, old boy. Let's go to a tavern."

  I let him lead the way to a mean hovel under the rock of the Quirinal. There were some old soldiers there, on leave, playing dice. They laughed about the chances of the Parthian campaign.

  "All I want," one said, "is a farm of my own, with a young wife and bairns. It's been promised me often enough. Now, they say, after Parthia. My father went against Parthia with fat old Crassus. He never came back."

  "They say there are still Romans held in captivity there."

  "Well, they're as far from a retirement farm as if they were fucking dead."

  Then they recognised us and the veteran apologised for his words.

  "We all get a bit down sometimes," he said, "thinking of the future. I've been in thirty-seven battles. It seems enough, that's all."

  "But you don't need to apologise," Casca said. "Every man's entitled to his say. That's one of the glories of living in a Free State."

  They joined in his laughter, and he ordered more wine for them.

  The boy serving it caught his attention. Casca clasped the back of the boy's thigh, running his hand up below the tunic. "Well, you're a pretty piece," he said.

  The boy dipped his curly head and giggled. Casca made a sign to the landlord, and retired with the boy behind a curtain.

  "Well, the General's in good form," the veteran said, leaning across to me.

  "Casca is always Casca," I said.

  "Aye, that's a comfort."

  I went out into the streets. A whore accosted me. I had her up against a wall, paid her more than she demanded, and felt no relief.

  I was still awake when the dawn brought light to my chamber.

  I rose, bathed, had myself shaved, and dressed in a new toga. My dagger was concealed within its folds, in a sheath attached to a belt.

  Chapter 22

  It was a grey morning. A wind shook the branches of the trees and unleashed bursts of rain as I made my way, with firm step, to the Theatre of Pompey where the Senate was to meet. There were more rumours, I heard, that Caesar would be offered, or would claim, the crown. So much the better; they lent authority to our enterprise. Business was already under way; those of my colleagues who held the office of praetor hearing cases and giving judgment. I admired the resolution of their manner. Even my cousin Markie proved himself worthy. When a certain person appealed from his judgment to that of Caesar, Markie said: "Caesar neither does, nor shall, hinder me from acting and judging in accordance with the law." His voice sounded a little petulant, but his sentiments won a cheer, and he smiled. (There were those, by the way, who habitually described his smile as "sweet", one of his admirers even going so far as to compare it to sunshine after rain. I always thought it smug myself. Nevertheless I was glad to see Markie smile that morning, because I had feared that his nerve might fail, as I had so often known it do.)

  Cassius embraced me. His elder son had that morning put on the toga virilis for the first time.

  "It could not have happened on a more propitious day," Cassius said. "It is, after all, for our children and their children that we act this morning."

  He moved around our band of friends, smiling and offering encouragement. Casca clapped me on the back.

  "And what happened to you last night, old boy?"

  "Much the same as happe ned to you, but with a being of a different gender, and more briefly, and probably with less pleasure."

  "You couldn't have had more. I must say, I feel unaccountably well. Perhaps I am still a little drunk. Look at Antony — he is still reeling. He can't take wine as he used to, you know, for I matched him cup for cup."

  Antony certainly seemed crapulous. Indeed he retired behind a pillar and vomited, then summoned one slave to clean up the mess, and another to fetch him a jug of wine. He caught my eye and winked.

  Cassius said to me: "I have told Trebonius to attach himself to Antony when Caesar arrives, and to hold him in conversation." "Trebonius?"

  "Yes, he has sufficient resolution for that part, if no other."

  "I've just had a nasty moment," Casca said. "Do you see that old fool over there, can't remember his name, he's a connection of the Dolabellas. Well, he came up to me and said, 'Allow me to congratulate you. You've kept your secret well, but Marcus Brutus has let it slip.' Well, I was just wondering, old fruit, whether it mightn't be prudent to let the blabbermouth — both of them perhaps — have one in the guts, when he went on, 'All the same I'd like to know how you became so rich all of a sudden as to be able to stand for election as aedile. It'll involve you in enormous expense, you know.'"

  "What did you reply?"

  "Oh, I said, 'Ask my creditors, old boy.'"

  That was not the only alarm, for Popilius Laena, a notorious gossip, accosted Cassius and myself and wished us luck.

  "I am with you in heart and spirit," he said, "only be quick, for I fear your secret is out."

  Cassius turned away, uncertain what to reply. So it fell upon me to soothe the old man, and to assure him that all was in train and that we were grateful for his expression of sympathy.

  And still there was no sign of Caesar.

  One of Marcus Brutus' servants approached, looking agitated. "Where is my master?" "There: dispensing justice." "There has been a calamity." "Tell me."

  "No, I must tell my master first," and he ran over to Markie, plucked at his sleeve and whispered in his ear. Markie concluded the business he was engaged in as rapidly as possible, and announced that the sitting was suspended.

  "I must leave," he said. "This man has brought me terrible news. Porcia has collapsed. She may be dead."

  "I fear she is," the serva
nt, a freedman, said.

  "If she is dead," I said, "your presence will be to no purpose. Your place is here."

  "No, no, I must go."

  I wondered (of course) whether this might not be some ruse prearranged by Markie to provide him with an excuse to quit the field. It would have been in character. On the other hand, Porcia would have flayed him with her tongue if he abandoned the enterprise, and I doubt if she would have thought it proper for him to do so even for her sake: so deeply did that woman hate Caesar, her hatred could overcome even her egotism. I was, of course, the last man to be able to persuade Markie; so I turned the matter over to Cassius. I did so even though I had thought we would manage the affair better without my cousin. I had good reason. We had neglected, as a result of his insistence, to take the precautions which I thought necessary. I was not confident of success, but I was determined that, if we should fail, Markie should not escape the consequences of the decisions he had urged on us.

  Cassius began to argue with him, but made little headway. If only Caesar would arrive… but he didn't. Someone whispered that he was not coming to the Senate that day.

  "But that's nonsense," I said. "I happen to know that his old uncle, Julius Cotta, is going to make public his discovery of the prophecy in the Sibylline Books that the Romans will only conquer Parthia under the leadership of a king. You can't tell me that Caesar will miss seeing his enemies' faces when that particular piece of news is imparted."

  "Calpurnia, it seems, has had a dream; and therefore Caesar will not come."

  "Pish and tush," I said. "I never knew the day when Caesar's actions were controlled by a woman's fears."

  Nevertheless I was doubtful, for I knew only too well these moods of lassitude which could suddenly overtake him.

  Markie pulled away from Cassius.

  "I must go," he cried. "Nothing is more important to me than my wife."

  Fortunately, the action provoked by this sentiment — so unworthy of a Roman nobleman — was abruptly checked, for, as he broke away, he bumped into a second freedman sent, puffing and panting, from his house in search of him.

  This man babbled that Porcia had recovered. She had only fainted. She insisted that her husband should not turn away from the work in hand.

  Was it dismay that made Markie look so sullen?

  It was confirmed: Caesar would not come.

  "So the matter must be put off to another day," Markie said.

  "We cannot afford delay," I said.

  "Not for an hour." Cassius was brisk. "Mouse, you must at once to Caesar, persuade him to come. You alone can do it. If Caesar does not attend today, then I'm afraid we are all lost. A secret which is known to Popilius Laena is no secret. It's a miracle that Caesar himself has not yet learned of it."

  "Perhaps he has," I said. "Perhaps that is why he isn't here. Well, I'll make the attempt. If Caesar knows our plans, I have nothing more to lose."

  There was relief in action. I was glad to be free of the highly charged atmosphere of the Senate. Nothing in the streets suggested anything of that febrile excitement which can run through a crowd when it feels that events of great moment are about to unfold. The stallholders yelled their wares as usual. The taverns were filling up as usual. The people went about their business as usual. I passed a gang of gladiators being escorted to the practice arena; they looked surly, as usual. I hurried round the base of the Capitol and entered the Forum. Perhaps there was less activity than was normal, but then that was often so on days when the Senate met. I passed along the Via Sacra towards the Regia, the house opposite the temple of the Vestal Virgins where Caesar had recently taken up his residence, as he was entitled to do in his office as Pontifex Maximus.

  "Here's Decimus Brutus," Calpurnia's voice was harsh and almost hysterical. There were tear-marks on her cheeks.

  "Caesar, Calpurnia," I said. "I am giving myself the honour of escorting Caesar to the Senate."

  "Thank you, Mouse, but I'm afraid it's an honour which you must do without today. I cannot come. No, that is untrue, and it would be still less true to say 'I dare not come.' So simply take the message that I shall not."

  "Say he is sick," Calpurnia said.

  "No, I am not sick, and I would not burden you with a lie, Mouse. Say only: I shall not come."

  "Can you give me some reason? The Senate will be offended if I return with such a blunt message. They will say that Caesar… well, never mind what they will say. You know it as well as I do."

  "I do not choose to come. That is sufficient reason for the Senate, who have no right to question my actions. Still, Mouse, I owe it to you to be more explicit. Calpurnia has had a dream which disturbs her; therefore, for her sake, I choose to stay at home."

  "You never knew such a dream," Calpurnia said, her voice rising to a shout. "I saw his statue," she hurried on, "and it was running with blood. And then the people, stinking plebs, came and bathed their hands in it, and some of them smeared their faces with his blood; and so I am afraid, and have begged Caesar to remain at home. For that's not all. There were ghosts seen in the streets last night, shrieking and lamenting, and others saw bloodstained men fight in the skies. And then there was that business of the sacrifice. You heard about that, Mouse. When they killed the ox it was found to have no heart. These are all dreadful portents, which it would be impious to ignore."

  I sat down, and acted the part of a man thinking deeply.

  "I was in the streets last night and saw no ghosts. I have just come from the Senate. The mood there is certainly excited. Your old uncle, Julius Cotta, is going about saying that he is about to reveal something of great moment which he has discovered in his researches in the Sibylline Books, and when anyone asks him what it is, he lays his finger along his nose and says, 'Wait till Caesar comes and all shall be revealed.' More important still, there is a proposal to be put to vote you a crown and the title of King, to be worn beyond Italy, in all parts of the Empire save at home. Even the staunchest Republicans are not averse to this, or so it seems, and there is a rumour that Cicero intends to come to the Senate, entering as you might imagine with the utmost drama when he has been assured that you are there, in order to support the motion. Now you know Cicero better than any of us, and you know what a blow it would be to his vanity if I brought the message that Caesar does not choose to attend the Senate today. I'm afraid that the proposal would be shelved and would probably not be resuscitated. As you have often said yourself, the great art of war and politics is to seize the moment. The moment has arrived, but if Caesar does not choose to come, why, then the moment will pass.

  "And then," I said, seeing that my words were having some effect, "Calpurnia's dream… perhaps I, not having dreamed it and not having experienced the fear it caused her, can offer a better interpretation. This business of the statue spouting blood and the Romans smearing their faces with it. It seems to me probable that they were indeed drinking Caesar's blood, but that this signifies that Rome has sucked, as we know it has, reviving blood from you. It is a dream signifying regeneration, nothing dreadful.

  "Finally," I said, "you know you can trust me to be silent as to the reason why you do not choose to come. But you know also how men speculate and you know how fleet of foot is rumour. So I've no doubt the reason will emerge or will be guessed, or even that some cynic will happen on it by chance, and cry out, 'Well, let's adjourn this meeting till, by chance, we hit on a day when Caesar's wife is not troubled by bad dreams, or has had a good night's sleep.' And then a fellow of similar fancy will cry out that Caesar has little chance of beating the Parthians if he is kept at home by his wife's terrors.

  "I'm sorry," I said, "if my frank language gives offence, but you know, Caesar, that I have always spoken my mind in council, and you know that I am a simple plain blunt soldier, and you will forgive me my lack of tact and of nice rhetorical skills, because you know my anxiety proceeds from the… love… I bear you."

  And so I convinced him, and, leaving Calpurnia to her terrors (more just
ified than she could have guessed, poor bitch), we proceeded from his house.

  As we came into the Forum, a lean, mad-looking Greek with long dirty grey hair approached him yelling something which I did not understand. It was Greek certainly, but in his excitement, the words escaped me. Caesar smiled to see him:

  "So, Spurinna, you see the Ides of March have come, and I am well."

  "Aye, Caesar, but the day has far to go." This time I could understand him; he spoke in Latin, made curious by a lisp.

  He thrust a rolled-up parchment at Caesar. "Read this, I beg you."

  I said: "I have something for you to cast your eye over also: a suit from Trebonius."

  "Read mine first," the old man said, "it concerns you closely."

  "Then I fear it must take second place," Caesar said, and handed it to me.

  "You did right to persuade me," Caesar said as we approached the Theatre of Pompey. "But Calpurnia was pressing. She has been in a strange mood, almost unbalanced in its intensity. Now that Caesar is away from her, Caesar is himself again."

  I slipped from his side as we entered the theatre. Cassius smiled at me. Now that the moment had arrived he was calm as the sky on a windless night. He held Markie to his side. One glance at Markie's face told me this precaution was unnecessary. He had screwed up his courage to a point where he could find release only in action. Then his hand tightened on Cassius' arm. I followed his gaze, and saw that Popilius Laena had approached Caesar and was deep in conversation with him. Impatient murmurs ran round the Senate. Caesar's uncle, Julius Cotta, fussed with the rim of his toga. They had been kept waiting a long time, many of them. I looked about me. Cicero was not present.

  Trebonius had seized Antony's attention. After a few minutes' talk, they left the theatre.

  Caesar smiled. Popilius Laena gave a little titter and backed away.

  Metellus Cimber approached Caesar and knelt before him. He spoke at some length, quietly, so that his words did not carry to me.

  Caesar frowned, made a dismissive gesture. Cimber seized the hem of his robe and Caesar twitched it free.