Quintus Claudius, Volume 1 of 2

onnade-the handsomest portion perhaps, of an old Roman house-was here very pleasingly decorated with flowers and plants of ornamental foliage. The arcades, which surrounded the ope

hold lamps, and a fountain tossed its sp

them in a tender mode; she stood in the entrance, dressed in the Greek fashion, with her abundant hair gathered into a knot and her slender fingers gliding up and down the stops of the instrument. Her features were sweet and pleasing, her manner soft and harmonious; only from time to time a strange exp

us to Quintus, "what is the name

, after the muse who p

dded Lucilia, "but Euter

thy Herodianus. "Heavenly c

slave of Marcus Cocceius Nerva, who freed

l as the annals of Tac

it all fr

entionally raising his voice. "If she could n

ruel! Besides, I must instruct the daughters of the house; it is for that that I eat the bitter crust of dependence in my old age. Oh! Baucis knows her duties; have I not taught Claudia to sing and play the cithara? Have I no

Aurelius, turning to Claudia. "Oh, let

l coloring slightly. "With yo

lways only too glad to hear you sing. If our nob

s. "Your daughter's voice is music when she

ots than Helicon and the seven hills of Rome; they have taken Trajectum too under their protection. Had I but been

he young Batavian. "I am afraid that the old Falernia

e. Since Apollo first laid me in my cradle, tem

, put the ribbon of the lute round her neck and sat upright on her easy-chair. She turned the pegs here and there to put the instrumen

s, and the gna

ing and pla

ughs with it

th in the tw

ircles of ma

rays of the

shadowy vi

Eros doth

t tokens and

hes like wi

ms with their

e's resi

in his fur

art with hi

n almost resembled, in coy tenderness, those northern love-songs which he had been wont to hear from the lips of Gothic and Ampsivaric maidens. In those, to be sure, a vein of rebellion and melancholy ran through the melody and pierced th

eed-the Hispanian wine-out there, what do you call the place-you know, my lord-what is the name of it-that was delicious too-and seen against the light.... What was I saying? I had an aunt, she sang too to the cithar

is Gothic slave, who was standing aside under the arcade. Magus q

n fact, what does music prove after all? I play the water-organ,[88] and-hold me up, Magus. This floo

the Goth as he led him slowly away, "

r, but only a-a-a-a man. But, by Pluto! you need not break my arm. I-

guided him in a tolerably straight course. When they disappeared in the corridor leadi

said, "and Baiae is famous

ded Lucilia; "he is so exceedingly funny, a

us at so delicious a moment. Indeed madam, your voice is enchantmen

the words to music, and I am delighted that you

-" murmur

y Lucilia. "It was too soft

man who is here complaining of the torments of love, while what Claudia sings does no

love, just as air is air! whether yo

f it is needed to fill my lungs than yours. H

hing to do but to listen to it. I have no doubt, that at the drinking-bouts

e Cato? Why, how often have you confessed to me, that you would gi

aughing stock of me in this heartless way. 'If only I

d!" repli

the words were by the much-admired poet Statius,[90] who at that time was, with Martial,[91] the re

es rang through the evening silence like the rush of a mountain torrent. His hearers saw in fancy the swaying struggle-the captain of the legion is in the th

shrank closer

peared high above them in the moonlight, l

g!-If only I knew where Magus has hidden my sword! Ho

burst ou

houted his master. "You ar

he should positively die of laughing if this extraordinary sleep-walker went through any farther adventures. The moon was already high in the sky, when the party separated. Quintus led his visitor to the strangers' rooms, wished him goodnight,

f midnight," replied Ble

Open the window; the air here is suff

yrian

ion-when do I ev

yrus, taking the dagger ou

iae and the neighborhood. I am going to take a walk for an hour or so," and

laves

lord!" they sai

he postern-gate, which led from the peristyle into the park; he pushed back the bolt and was out on the terrace. Complete silence reigned around; only the very tops of the trees bent to the soft night-breeze. Quintus looked down upon Baiae. Here and there a

lice had assumed such a disguise! But no! Such a scheme would be too clumsy; what warranty would the traitor have, that I sh

ly-cut intaglio. The handwriting betrayed practice, and the whole thing looked as if it had come from the hands of a cultivated and distinguished fine lady. The contents answered to t

ce of a goddess. And with all her domineering confidence, what sweet coaxing-what inviting tenderness! It would be treason to the divine influences of Venus to hesitate. Nay, f

d the distant cry of a night-bird sounded as if in a dream. Before long he had reached the spot where the path turned off to the pavilion. The little temple stood out in the moonlight as sharply as by day against the dark-blue sky, like an erection of gleaming silver and snow;

one, I gr

us!" answered a voice that

Claudius, have obeyed. Now, will you not r

ng man gently by the hand an

"Can you not guess it? Quintus, divin

om such phrases were familiar. His unknown companion threw her arm

, the noblest of men, my idol, whom I have thought of so long, watched with

mistrust which he tried in vain to repress. This despotic "mine-mine"

o atone for the hasty impulse by which he had stood up. "But now grant my bold desire, and

Fate denies us all open and unchecked happiness; it is in secret only that your lips may ever meet mine. But you know that

drew bac

insisted, "tell

, that shone like Parian marble in the

[94] cried Qui

to you Domitia, hapless, devoted Domit

stood im

o listener is near to desecrate the

lve on I carry out to the end, though the end be death! Besides, I know full well, that you

a turn

mean by that?" sh

you are served by spies; your palace is a laby

t. "But still, I saw you start. What dismayed you

hose who are ranked as Caesar's friends.[95] A friend-though merel

laughe

executioner who cuts your head off! Fidelity to a bloodthirsty ruffian! No,

is breast proudl

re to spare you. You must know then, that Quintus Claudius thinks

what are yo

you were Cypris[96] in person I should disdain you no less, in spite of every ch

paralyzed by the fury of this a

you know, are envious. They often grant us joys in our dreams and deny the reality. But now, before you go, kneel to the Emp

being stabbed by the fair hand of Domitia is a tempta

ng. Forgive me-forgive me!" Quintus made no reply, and casting a glance of furious hatred at him she hurried

ood lookin

matter? Either to be made an end of by the knife of an assas

wards, singing a Greek d