Quintus Claudius, Volume 1 of 2

el-grey surface of the Tyrrhenian sea. To the east, over the gently undulating coast of Campania, the sky was tinged with t

m, between the Posidium[2] promontory and the Island of Capreae.[3] The oars of the crew, who sat in rows on three ranks of benches,

ound head with short hair showed itself in the opening, and a pair of blinking eyes looked curiously round in

asked the stout man, stepping on to the deck and

can succeed in looking round the corner, like the magician of Tyan

a little ivory map[6] from his tuni

palace of the glorified Caesar Tiberius.[8] Do you see that steep cliff, straight down to the se

lius? By the gods![9] but it is beneath me to hold conversation with you, an ignorant seaman-a man who carries no wax-tablets[10] about him, who only knows how to handle

you are not his friend

urned to the growing day, he might have been taken for an ill-natured and vi

from Trajectum[12] to Gades[13] without landing once! And at Gades hardly had we set foot on shore, when we were ordered on board again! And if Aurelius, our noble master, had not had business to settle in Panormus[14] with his deceased fathe

more," replie

oia be most fer

ng about? Who is th

not likely to understand Greek. Euploia, being interpreted, means the goddess who grants us a good voyage. Do not take my observation ill,

ormus and a score of times northwards to the seas of the Goths up by the land of the Rugii[18]-that is the sum total of my annals. But Latin is spoken

"However I have talked till I am thirsty! I wil

or three slaves, appeared on the steps from below. The ship's crew hailed their master with a loud shout, and Caius Aurelius, thanking them

e prow of the galley, which was decorated with a colossal ram's-head[21] in brass, threw up the water in sparks of liquid gold. The palace of Tiberius on the top of the rocky isle seemed caught in

de and laid his finger meditatively on his cheek, when Aurelius signed to him that he wished to be left undisturbed. The freedman, somewhat offended, drew back a step or two while Aurelius, standing by the side of his favorite slave Magus,[22] who preserved a discr

ompeii and Stabiae. Now there rose from its summit only a filmy cloud of smoke, ruddy in the light of the mounting sun. Farther on, the quays of Puteoli were discernible, the stately buildings of Baiae[25] and the islands of Aenaria and Prochyta.[26] On the left hand the distance was unlimited; vessels laden with provis

serve the morning meal at a sign from their young master. The weary night-rowers had half an hour ago been relieved by a fresh crew, and the fine boat flew on with double rapi

the Gothic slave who stood by his side; but Magus did not seem to see his master's look, he was gazing motionl

see?" asked Aurelius, who some

me in your southern seas, as in our northern ones, these good folks would be wise to get their cockleshell to sho

ed, a small boat, hardly visible among the tossing w

ord," said the Goth. "And

r like an arrow, and the prow, now rising and now sinking on t

s-it must be something worse than this that puts the proud 'Ba

sman. "Tell your men to give way with a will; and you,

ruously bright over the stormy main. They were now within a hundred yards of the small boat, which was one of the elegant pleasure-barks used by the gay visitors to Baiae for short excursions in the bay. As the trireme came up with them, the rowers gave up their futile struggle with the raging elements and only tried to avoid

he smaller vessel-the slave hastily tied it fast and cried out "ready," the sailor pulled firmly and steadily, the rope stretched taut, the little boat came on and in a few minutes la

olitely went forward and invited his unexpected visitors to go down into the more sheltered cabin rooms of the trireme. The younger lady rose at once, and with a dignified eagerness expressed their thank

said the young girl kind

her fingers. "Preserve us from sudden death and deliver us in danger! I will offer

our senses? Pray rather to the almighty Jupiter, that he may enlighten your ignorance! B

a sudden lurch and the old woman, who was sitting with her

illus-you false priest-is that all the good your amulet is? Was it for this that I had my forehead sprinkled with water out of the sacred Nile

ints, Magus the Goth had with a strong hand pic

s increasing fast. See, my master is leading your ladies down now." And as Baucis gave no sign of acting on the slave's advice, she suddenl

this, not far from the frontier of the Belgae. My name is Caius Aurelius Menapius, and I am on my way to Rome as being the centre of the inhabited world, in order to improve and e

a-air, the aromatic breath of the woods and the delightful quiet of our country-house, which is somewhat secluded, soon restored my strength, and I take a particular pleasure in morning excursions on the bay. We started to-day in lovely weather to sail as far as Prochyta; then the storm overtoo

umbly in a corner of the room and preparing to serve some refreshment. The eyes of the master and the slave met, and the master colored more deeply, while the slave laughed to himself with a certain satisfaction. Two other servants placed

ting breakfast was spread on the embroidered cloth; fish, milk, honey, eggs, fruit and a dish of boiled cray-fish, of

d her daughter, the fair Claudia, took her seat; Aurelius sat on the other hand and at the side of the table. Herodianus an

fer you, ladies," said the Batavian

ne, that all the inhabitants of the imperial city ar

t Rome is the acknowledged mistress of all the arts of refined en

man lady in the same way is to you the type of all that is atrocious, because a few reckless women have made themselves talked about. You forg

mewhat disconcerted by the lady's airs and manners. "My fr

to her eye, for she was short-sighted: "Your friend understands the

uch-praised honey. Even the vigorous struggle in which Herodianus was engaged with an enormous lobster[42] failed to bring a smile to her lips, and yet her expression had never been brighter or more radiant. Once and again her ey

embered exactly how he had looked-how at the sight of that noble figure, which seemed as though it could rule the storm, a sudden sense of safety had come over her, like a magical spell. Then, when she found herself on board! At first she had felt ready to sob and cry like Baucis; but the sound of his voice, the wonderful look of gentle strength that shone in his face, controlled her to composure. Only once in her life had she ever felt like this before; it was two or three years since, when she was out on an excursion to Tibur[45] with her illustrious father. Their Cappadocian horses[46] ha

t cast by the sun through the glass skylight on to the panelled wall, described

men rarely use litters,[47] still-on the principle that a wise man should be re

y awaiting your commands on

Herodianus! Well, then, when

via, going to the door. "For a

lius would have said; but he thought