Quintus Claudius, Volume 1 of 2

ivity. With him came Clodianus and the poet Martial; the former accompanied, like himself, by a number of dependents and satellites, the latt

will make my excuses to my patron, the chamberlain Parthenius, if I should fail to offer my morning greeting. Getting up early is my

nus la

ning air. "However-I shall hardly see him before noon. I a

on the contrary, before cock-crow, I must be out of bed, fling my toga over my shoulders, and be bowing to noblem

xcuse you, for his head is so full of business, and Caesar makes such incessant

dded Quintus. "Some great stroke seems to

gerous to the state, treason to religion an

acts-the d

"that in affairs of state, silence is

ll bid you farewell. Our roads are no longer the same. I must climb up here to the temple on the Quirinal, while you go down into the valley.

nce; more than once has my rash tongue run away with me. I come of an easy-tempered race,

e same time busy life was already stirring on all sides; itinerant bakers[197] were wandering from door to door crying their fresh bread. Pedagogues,[198] with their writing implements and clay lamps, were leading files of boys to school. Here and there, f

stopped in front of the entrance to the "Cyprius

must make haste if we mean

at the Baths

-If I get

the wine-cup of Lycoris may

these words Quintus went on his way, w

intus Claudius walked up the street, this vast pile seemed to have a fresh spell for him. The contrast between the ponderous mass, and the tender flush of Autumn dawn behind him, filled him w

"Now, if I believed in augury from the flight of birds, I sho

y by the early morning dew-so that the dagger missed its aim, and instead of piercing the young man's throat, passed across his left shoulder and through the folds of his toga, which it cut through as sharply as a razor. And before Quintus quite understood what had happened, the a

for the future I will be more cautious. But one thing I must say to you; my good people, each and all, be silent as to this attack. You too, my excellent friends and clien

the slaves and freedmen, and the c

"I always knew him to be an example of audacity and ruthlessne

ost impossible idea flashed across his mind.-"

d at first seemed so plain, intelligible and obvious,

ss beauty over the widely-spread city of the Seven Hills. The great temple of Isis lay flooded with

ired to death. It was a folly, B

ave. "If I still am honored with your

ou attain a proportionate result! But if exercise were everything, I should be the lightest-hearted man

he door, as if the master of the house were impatiently expected. Quintus wa

e! All hail to you-so

ever since I came, I have been incessantly trying to find you. Do you sti

his bargain ... besides.... But who is the grey-headed

father is dead.-This is Thr

ho is

hills by Baiae? I must have forgotten in the midst of all

fferer, that Steph

ord! And you promise

me in the course o

be too late. Eurymachus is

t, a

ntus! Give us only five minutes

in,

ough the atrium in

rsuade him to all sorts of disgraceful conduct. Stephanus flogged him first, and then obtained permission to crucify him at the next festi

present your frie

he is lying

fixed for yesterday, but at the last mome

ime. "Did I hear you rightly, snatched from his fetter

, looking up at Quin

tell

in Ostia? And Philippus, my son, who has hardly been in Rome a week-why should he want to accompany Diphi

f a miserable father!" he exclaimed vehemently. "Do not

not one of the spies of the city-guard. Your friend

hands with kisses. "But tell me, pray, how it all happened; how i

uch astonishment in me, as in you. All the bystanders seemed to have been paralyzed. It was like an eagle in the Hyrcanian

e sparkled in his eyes, and an expression-a radiance, as it were, of be

eat. There is not a man in all the legion that is his match in skill and strength; not one that can beat him in running or in lance-throwing. But speak, my lord; you look so gr

to conceal the truth from you? Your son is dead. Scorning to fl

backwards to the ground; Euterpe flung herself upon h

ct yourself! Show yourself strong in this terrible trouble! Conside

t, stood leaning against a pillar, while Euterpe wept silently, her face buried in her arm. A terrible storm seemed to be raging in the old man's soul; his breast rose and fell like a wind-tossed sea, and a wild fire glowed in his eye

ricken down by the vastness of my grief. He fel

e must see what can be done. Accident has enlisted me on your side, and I will play the part out to the end. For the present leave me; I am tired

, oh! blessings on the head of this noble and generous youth! Farewell, my lo

Quintus went at once to his curtained cubiculum,[206] undress