Quintus Claudius, Volume 1 of 2

le. His eye dreamily watched the soft swaying of the trees in melancholy relief against the blue-green sky; light fleecy clouds floated in the transparent air, and here and there ab

t of the tortured slave.... That pale and pain-stricken face had sunk deep into his soul; strangely enough! for his eye had long been accustomed to such sights of anguish and horror. The bloody contests of gladiators had never roused him to any other interest than that in a public entertainment. But this particular picture forced itself on his memory, though-from the point of view of any Roman of distinction-it had no interesting features whatever, for of what account in the Roman Empire was a slave? And especially in the sight of Quintus, rich, handsome and brilliant? It was in short most strange-but that white, bearded face, with its lofty, unflinching expression never faded from his memory, an

s he rubbed his hand across his eyes, a woman's figure was in fact before him, not

a! Up s

eep, for she came to bed very late. But you, my respected friend-what has brou

nk the strong liquor we dra

ood wine rob you of a night's rest? Sooner coul

d make you

t else are you her betrothed? To be sure

w s

see Lycoris just as mu

ah

creature, who seems to turn all the men's heads, a fit companion for a man who is betrothed?

ay society, to see a few leaps and turns of Gades dancers and to eat stewe

white. But I abide by my words; it is most unbecoming, and

ver was a pretty girl for whom

as constantly in her house as a c

ison is not

uent her house so constantly, i

[100] utters his most pregnant jests, and Statius reads his finest verses. Everyone who lays any claim to talent or wit, whether statesmen or courtiers, knights or senators, uses the atrium of

ste words on the matter. But as it is, the Gaulish Circe will end by falling in love with you, a

or I know you regard me as far from dang

hing you in any way. If you had only hal

like hi

he could remain here a little longer-I mean for six

id Quintus s

are you t

nothing

lves-Claudia turns over a book, and you, you old lazy-bones, lie on a couch like an invalid-I find it desperately du

ireme had wheels and c

will be able to see part of the Appian way.[102] It is a thousand times more interesting than a

ike," sai

shold of the passage, which led

rs have arrived from Rome-

ng them o

he two young people. Lucilia's was from the high-priest of Jupiter

urbances of all kinds have occurred. Caesar has sent for me six times to Albanum,[105] and I assure you it has been incessant travelling to and fro. The matter is an open secret; all Rome is discussing the decrees from the Palatine[106] against the Nazarenes.[107] You may remember that superstitious sect of whom Baucis spoke to you-a revolutionary faction, who, a score or so of years since, stirred up the whole city and gave occasion for the stern enactments of the divine Nero? Now again they are stirring up revolt as if they were mad; they are shaking the very foundations of society, and threaten to overturn all that we have till now held most sacred. I mu

from me. This letter will, I hope, find you all

September, in the year 848 a

m Cornelia, Quintus' betr

and pay us a visit of eight mortal days. I shall never forget that week as long as I live! You know that when those two old men sit together, the house is as silent as a tomb; every one goes about on tiptoe. This Cocceius Nerva has the worst effect on my uncle. Only fancy what happened on the day when he left. My uncle had accompanied him to his chariot, and when he came back into the house he happened to pass my room, where Chloe was just putting some fresh roses into my hair. When he saw this, he fell into an indescribable fit of rage. 'You old fool!' he exclaimed pushing my good Chloe aside: 'Have you women nothing to think of but finery? Do you deck yourselves out like beasts for

n the shores of the Tiber. Greet your circle from me, and particularly li

ntus, was from Lucius Norbanus,[109] th

, and for the last few weeks leading a perfect dog's life! Almost a third of the legion are new recruits, for again every hole and corner seems haunted. Today, I breathe again for the first time, but alas! my best friends are still absent. Above all Clodianus,[111] who lately has never been allowed to leave Caesar's side.

er's letter to the sleeping-rooms, where Claudia and Octavia must by this time be up. Quintus