Vespasian: Tribune of Rome

by Robert Fabbri

  ‘He’s Sejanus’ freedman. His name is Hasdro.’

  She kissed him once more and ran out of the room. Vespasian put a hand to his face, closed his eyes and, savouring her aroma on his fingers, contemplated four years without seeing, touching, smelling or tasting her.

  Eventually he climbed out of bed and washed his face in a bowl of cold water that had been placed on the chest the night before. There was a knock at the door and in walked Caligula, smiling as he always seemed to do.

  ‘What a night, eh? Such fun; and I believe you rounded it off with a very grateful girl.’

  ‘What? How did you know that?’ Vespasian demanded, shocked.

  ‘I like it when they’re grateful, don’t you?’ Caligula carried on, ignoring the question. ‘That’s why I often have an ugly one. They are so grateful that they do anything you want, with anything you want, very enthusiastically.’

  ‘I asked you a question,’ Vespasian insisted.

  ‘Oh, yes. I was on my way back from asking Pallas to fetch me this very buxom kitchen slave that I’ve been meaning to try for some time – she was very grateful too by the way – when I saw the delightful Caenis knock on your door and go in.’

  Vespasian reddened and tried to hide it by drying his face with a cloth.

  ‘Oh, come now.’ Caligula grinned at him. ‘There’s no need to be embarrassed; as I said, we all have our needs and I believe that it would be a crime against the gods to ignore them; they gave them to us after all. Just imagine how dull life would be if we spent all our time suppressing our desires. You’re a lucky chap, you know, my grandmother has banned me from even thinking about having Caenis and she’s threatened all sorts of nasty reprisals if I try. Did you know that she’s even given Caenis permission to hit me – me! Can you imagine it?’

  ‘I’m glad to hear it.’ Vespasian was relieved to learn that Antonia had taken steps to protect her favoured slave from the seemingly insatiable sexual appetite of his new young friend.

  ‘Shall we go and find some breakfast? I’m ravenous, as you must be too.’

  ‘Yes, gratitude does help you work up an appetite,’ Vespasian observed, tying on his loincloth. He pulled his tunic over his head, fastened his belt and, slipping into his slippers, followed Caligula out of the room.

  They found Sabinus already eating in the triclinium. They joined him for a leisurely breakfast of freshly baked bread, cheese and olives washed down with sweet watered wine, whilst discussing the previous night’s events – which included Caligula filling Sabinus in on who he saw entering his brother’s room.

  ‘Well, well, little brother, so you’ve finally given up mules and moved on to slaves; well done. One day soon you may even get your cock into something that has a choice in the matter.’

  Vespasian knew that it was pointless rising to his brother so contented himself by throwing a hunk of bread at him.

  Antonia joined them halfway through the second hour of the day. ‘Good morning, gentlemen, I hope that you all slept well.’

  Vespasian couldn’t help feeling that there was a hint of irony aimed at him in the remark. Antonia sat and a waiting slave poured her a cup of watered wine. She looked at the two brothers. ‘It’s as I feared: Sejanus has posted a group of Praetorians a little way up the hill watching the front of the house and another group down the side alley watching the stable-yard gate. So we shall have to be careful.’ She gestured to the slave without looking at him. ‘Fetch Pallas.’

  The slave bowed and left the room.

  ‘Is there any news from Asinius, domina?’ Vespasian asked.

  ‘I sent him a message this morning and he’s promised to come here as soon as he has dealt with his clients for the day; let us hope that he brings some good news with him.’

  Pallas entered the room.

  ‘Pallas, I want you to have two covered litters prepared in the stable yard. Do not have them sent around the front until Sabinus and Vespasian have been hidden in them.’

  ‘Yes mistress.’ The steward bowed and hurried off to give the necessary orders.

  Antonia turned back to Sabinus and Vespasian. ‘Once you are each in a litter they’ll come out of the stable yard and round to the front of the house where Gaius and I will get in quickly, then we’ll head down the hill before our watching friends have time to react.’

  ‘That’s very neat, Grandmother,’ Caligula said, warming to the idea of another escapade. ‘But how do we get them out of the litters? We can’t just take them home; we’re bound to be followed.’

  ‘We’ll go to the Forum. It’s a market day; lots of people will have come into the city so it will be very crowded by midmorning; they should be able to slip out there undetected.’

  ‘Thank you, domina,’ Sabinus said.

  ‘It is I who should thank you,’ Antonia replied. ‘What you all did last night not only saved Caenis’ life but also bought us more time to construct a case against Sejanus strong enough to convince the Emperor.’

  Pallas walked back in. ‘Titus Flavius Sabinus and his wife Vespasia Polla are here requesting an interview with you, mistress; they want to know the whereabouts of their sons.’

  ‘Bugger it!’ Sabinus exclaimed. ‘Why couldn’t they just wait patiently at home?’

  ‘I don’t think that we can blame our father for this,’ Vespasian said, looking worried. ‘But I’m afraid that they’ve unknowingly made a big mistake coming here; the Praetorians would have seen them and if they follow them home then Sejanus will be one step closer to us.’

  ‘I’m afraid that you may be right,’ Antonia said, getting up. ‘But they are here and I should see them. Come with me, all of you.’

  She led them out into the atrium where an anxious Vespasia and a very embarrassed Titus were waiting.

  ‘Domina!’ Vespasia exclaimed, coming forward with her hands outstretched in supplication. ‘Thank you for consenting to receive us. Where are our . . .? Oh!’ Vespasia caught sight of Sabinus and Vespasian.

  ‘Mother, you shouldn’t have come,’ Sabinus said firmly. ‘Why didn’t you stop her, Father?’

  ‘She was threatening to come on her own, unchaperoned. I could not let myself be disgraced like that, so it was the lesser of two evils.’

  Antonia looked sternly at Vespasia. ‘You have done a very foolish thing in coming here. In future you should follow the example of Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi, and wait at home and spin wool whilst your sons serve Rome.’

  ‘I – I am sorry, domina,’ Vespasia said. She bowed her head in acknowledgement of Antonia’s vastly superior social standing. ‘We shall return immediately.’

  ‘I’m afraid it’s too late for that, you must both stay here for the time being; Pallas, show them to the formal reception room, we’ll join them there presently.’

  ‘With pleasure. Mistress, master, please follow me.’

  Titus and Vespasia were led away. Antonia turned to Caligula. ‘Get ready to go out. We shall leave as soon as we have spoken with Asinius.’

  ‘Yes, Grandmother.’

  ‘Sabinus, go and keep your parents company; Vespasian, you might want to check that you’ve left nothing in your room.’

  ‘But I didn’t bring anything . . . Oh, I see. Thank you, domina.’

  ‘Don’t be too long.’

  ‘No, domina.’

  Vespasian hurried to his room with a knot in his stomach; his excitement at being able to see Caenis to say goodbye was tempered by the knowledge that it would, in all probability, be a very long separation.

  He opened the door; Caenis sprang up from the bed and embraced him. He held her tightly, relishing the sweet smell of her skin and hair.

  ‘I can’t stay long,’ he said as they broke the embrace.

  ‘I know. I’ve brought you this.’ Caenis held up small silver figure on a leather thong.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘My mother left it to me; it is an image of Caeneus, a warrior from Thessaly, the guardian of our tribe. He was born as a woman c
alled Caenis. One day Caenis wandered far from her home, to the north into the wild lands before Asia, where Poseidon saw her by the sea. Struck by her beauty and unable to control himself he raped her. After he had finished she fell to her knees and begged him to turn her into a man so that she could never be raped again. So ashamed was he of what he’d done that, to atone for his crime, he did as she had asked. But not only did he turn her into a man, he also made him invulnerable to weaponry.’

  ‘He must have lived to a great age.’

  ‘Sadly no, there is always a catch. He fell in a battle against the Centaurs. They crushed him with logs and rocks. As he died he turned back into a woman and was buried as Caenis.

  ‘Take it and wear it, my love, and I will pray to Poseidon that he will grant you the same invulnerability to weapons. But it’s up to you to avoid Centaurs armed with logs.’

  He smiled. ‘I think that I can manage that.’

  She reached up and slipped the thong around his neck and kissed him. ‘Take good care.’

  ‘Thank you. I shall wear it always, knowing that you are thinking of me.’ He pulled her gently to his chest and he felt her sob. He held there for a moment and then she pulled back with tears in her eyes.

  ‘Go,’ she said and turned away.

  Vespasian took a last look at her and quickly left the room, feeling his heart tear as he did so.

  He entered the formal reception room to find Sabinus sitting in close conversation with their parents. His father looked up as he came in.

  ‘Vespasian, my boy, your brother has told us enough of what is going on to make me feel heartily ashamed of myself. I can only apologise for our rash behaviour in coming here. Would that there was something that I could do to make amends.’

  ‘It’s all right, Father, I understand that Mother must have been very worried when we didn’t return last night; we should have got Magnus to send a message to you, but things just happened too fast.’

  ‘Worried!’ Vespasia cried. ‘I was up all night, not knowing where you both were or what was going on. Gaius would say nothing and—’

  ‘Enough, woman!’ Titus shouted, standing up. He had reached breaking point with his wife’s wilful behaviour. ‘Sometimes it is not your place to know, sometimes it is your place just to wait, and you would do well to remember that, as the Lady Antonia said. Now hold your tongue.’

  He sat back down again and briskly adjusted his toga.

  Neither Vespasian nor Sabinus had ever heard their father speak to their mother like that before and braced themselves for an explosion, which didn’t come. Instead Vespasia folded her hands on her lap and lowered her gaze to the floor looking every inch the image of a demure and respectful Roman matron.

  They heard Antonia’s voice in the corridor and the men stood as she came into the room with Asinius in tow.

  ‘Our esteemed ex-Consul has some very good news for us,’ she announced smiling.

  ‘Indeed I have,’ the diminutive ex-Consul said brusquely, motioning them to sit back down. ‘Sabinus, I have secured your position at the mint. You will oversee the striking of all bronze and silver coinage. It’s a position open to much temptation so don’t succumb – and if you do, don’t get caught. I want you monitoring the treasury, not languishing on some island because you’ve been banished from Rome for petty theft.’

  ‘Yes, Consul, thank you.’

  ‘I’m not a consul any more so call me by my name.’

  ‘My apologies, Asinius.’

  Vespasian smiled inwardly at his brother’s faux pas, enjoying his discomfort.

  ‘Vespasian, Pomponius Labeo has agreed to take you into the Fourth Scythica as a tribunus angusticlavius. A “thin stripe” military tribune with no command is the lowest of the low, but you will serve on his staff, which is perfect for our purposes. When you get to Thracia you will first report to Gaius Poppaeus Sabinus, who is in overall command.’

  ‘Thank you, Asinius.’

  ‘Yes, well, do what I have asked and you will find me thanking you. Now, there is a column of new recruits for the legion assembling up north at Genua; you need to be there by the beginning of next month. That gives you fourteen days, which should be plenty.’ He handed Vespasian two scrolls. ‘This is your letter of introduction and a military pass, don’t lose them.’

  ‘I won’t,’ Vespasian said, unrolling the scrolls and reading them.

  Asinius paused and looked over to Titus and Vespasia. ‘Antonia informs me that you are the parents of these men. I am pleased to meet you.’ He held out his arm to Titus, who took it gratefully.

  ‘It is an honour, Asinius.’

  ‘Indeed. I believe that there is a problem in that you were seen coming here?’

  ‘I can only apologise, we were foolish to meddle in matters that we didn’t understand.’

  ‘Well, it’s too late now, it is done. But you can’t return to Senator Pollo’s house; if you were seen there it would link him with us and put him and your sons in great danger.’

  ‘Can we not just go immediately home to Aquae Cutillae?’ Vespasia asked.

  ‘I’m afraid not. You will have to stay with me for a while until I can smuggle you out of the city.’

  Titus cast a sour look at his wife.

  ‘I should go.’ Asinius turned to Vespasian. ‘Good luck and remember, trust no one and do not write anything down.’

  ‘Yes, Asinius, thank you.’

  ‘Good. I shall leave you all to say your goodbyes. Antonia, I’d like a private word with you, if I may?’

  When they had gone Titus looked at his sons. ‘I don’t know which of you I shall be more worried for, Vespasian in the army or Sabinus under Sejanus’ nose here in Rome.’ He took Vespasian’s arm. ‘Take the Via Aurelia to Genua, not the inland route, then you can stay a few days with your grandmother. She’s old and you’re going to be away a long time. Give her my greetings.’

  ‘I will, Father,’ Vespasian replied, cheered by the thought.

  Titus embraced each of his sons in turn. ‘Farewell, my boys. I’m proud that you are serving Rome.’

  Vespasia kissed both of them. ‘Being unable to help you make decisions recently hasn’t been easy for me. Forgive me. And take care of yourselves, my sons. May the gods go with you.’

  Vespasian and Sabinus took leave of their parents and joined Pallas, who had been waiting for them in the corridor. He took them through the house and out to the stable yard. There they found the two covered litters ready with the teams of Nubian bearers waiting patiently in the shade. Six burly bodyguards, armed with cudgels and staves, talked quietly in a group.

  ‘One of you in each if you please, masters,’ Pallas said, bowing slightly and gesturing to the waiting litters, managing to be polite and formal even whilst organising an escape. ‘Make sure the curtains are fully closed once you are in, and sit exactly in the middle so that your weight is evenly distributed between the front and rear teams. We want the litters to look empty when they go round to the front of the house.’

  Vespasian climbed into his litter, the same one as he had seen Caenis in only a few days earlier, and sank into the sumptuous cushions and soft fabrics of the interior. With the curtains fully drawn it began to get stuffy inside fairly quickly and he was relieved when, not long later, he heard a shout and felt the litter being lifted by the bearers. Another shout and they moved off. He felt the litter turn left and heard the gates start to close behind him. The litter remained very stable so, being unable to see where he was going, Vespasian had hardly any sense of movement or speed. He was aware of another left turn, then after a short while a slight bump as the litter was grounded, Antonia got in almost immediately and sat in front of him; he felt the litter rise again.

  ‘Our watching friends will just follow at a distance,’ she said, plumping up a cushion and settling down for the ride. ‘However, they wouldn’t dare to try and waylay me in public.’

  Vespasian hoped that she was right.

  The litter felt to be at
slight angle and Vespasian guessed that they were now going down the hill. Antonia pulled the curtain back a fraction and peeped out the side looking both forward and back. She pulled away quickly.

  ‘Another six Praetorians have appeared in front of us; they must have been waiting down the hill. We’re surrounded, it will be nigh on impossible to get you out undetected.’

  ‘Are Sabinus and Caligula behind us or in front, domina?’ Vespasian asked.

  ‘Behind. Why?’

  ‘In that case make the litter-bearers go faster,’ Vespasian replied. ‘The guards in front will either have to speed up or fall behind us.’

  Antonia stuck her head out of the front curtain. ‘Speed up,’ she shouted. There was a slight lurch as the bearers switched into a trot.

  ‘Have a look to see if the Praetorians and the other litter are both keeping pace.’

  She had another peek. ‘Yes, they are.’

  ‘Good, let’s go faster still.’

  Antonia gave the order and the bearers broke into a run. The litter started to sway slightly and Vespasian was finally able to feel that he was moving. He decided to risk a quick look. He pulled the curtains apart and stuck an eye to the gap. In front he could see the escorting Praetorians running, their leader occasionally looking over his shoulder. Behind, Sabinus and Caligula’s litter was keeping up, followed by six more Praetorians. On either side ran Antonia’s bodyguards, brandishing staves and cudgels, ready to stop anyone from getting too close to the litters.

  ‘Where does this street go?’ he asked.

  ‘Down to the Via Sacra about quarter of a mile away, then we’ll turn left towards the Forum.’

  ‘Is there another street parallel to this one?’

  ‘Yes, over to our left.’

  ‘Good, make them go faster, domina.’

  She gave another shout and the litter accelerated away. It was now becoming a bumpy ride.

  ‘That’s it, we’re at full speed,’ Antonia said, holding on as the litter swayed and lurched, its bearers having difficulty keeping in step at the speed that they were going.

  ‘On my order get them to turn left, domina,’ Vespasian said, looking out of the left side. He could see the Praetorians in front racing to stay ahead, determined to keep them surrounded. Passersby jumped out of the way on to the crowded pavements at the sight of the small phalanx of armed guards thundering down the hill with two litters born by huge Negroes in their wake.