The Roman Traitor (Vol. 1 of 2)

the knowledge

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t with sheets of vapory cloud, not very dense, indeed, or solid, but still sufficient to intercept the feeble twinkling of the sta

he small chambers, hard beside the doorway, appropriated to the use of the Atriensis, or slave whose charge it was to guard the entrance of the court. But, for the most part, not a single ray cheered the dull murky streets, ex

ions of the plebeian Marius had drowned the mighty city oceans-deep in patrician gore; after t

rmany, or launched his galleys on the untried waters of the great Western sea. A dissipated, spendthrift, and luxurious youth, devoted solely as it would seem to the pleasures of the table, or to intrigues with the most fair and noble of Rome's ladies, he had yet, amid those unworthy occupations

is great rival, was reaping that rich crop of glory, the seeds of which had been

rdered on the Mediterranean, wealth, avarice, and luxury, like some contagious pestilence, had crept into the inmost vitals of the commonwea

support them, oppressive and despotical to their inferiors, smooth-tongued and hypocritical toward [pg 11]each other, destitute equally of justice and compassion toward men, and of respect and piety toward the Gods! Wealth had become the idol, the

while-name whilome so majestical and mighty!-the people, the great Roman people, was but a mob! a vile colluvion of the offscourings of all climes and regions-Greeks, Syr

ter by which she had won her way to empire almost universal, had judged her to destruction-had given her up to perish, not by

e eloquence, the splendid and unequalled parts of the former; the stern self-denying virtue, the unchanged constancy, the resolute and hard

fearful plots, which were even now in progress against the lives of Rome's best citizens, against the sanctity of her most solemn temples, the safety of her

ing to destroy. Nor had they overlooked the opportunity. But a few days remained before that on which the Consular elections, fixed for the eighteenth of October, were to take place in the Campus Martius-whereat, it was

chway, decorated with half-obliterated sculptures of the old Etruscan school, in one of the narrow and win

a pair of keen restless eyes glared out with an expression fearful to behold-a jealous, and unquiet, ever-wandering glance-so sinister, and ominous, and above all so indicative of a perturbed and anguished spirit, that it could not be looked upon without suggesting those wild tales, which speak of fiends dwelling in the revivified and untombed carcasses of those who die in unrepented sin. His nose was

little way below the knees, not fitted to the shape, but looped by woollen frogs all down the front, with broad flaps to protect the arms, and a square cape or

gaged in long and toilsome journeys, or in cold wintry weather, was composed of a thick loose-napp

he skull, with a long fall behind, not very unlike in form to the south-wester of a modern seaman. This article of dress was, like the penula, although peculiar to the inferior classes, oftentimes worn by men of superior rank, when journeying abroad. From these, therefore, lit

tanding would under any circumstances have adopted. Yet if these would have implied that the wearer was of low plebeian origin, this surmise was contradicted by sever

obility of birth implied by these magnificent adornments, rather

w he would stride off ten or twelve steps with strange velocity, then pause, and stand quite motionless for perhaps a minute's space, and then again resume

and smote them heavily together, and uttered in a harsh hissing whisper the most appalling imprecations-on his own head-on hi

t aught of bold design or manly daring could rouse up the dull, adipose, luxurious loiterer from his wines-his concubines-his slumbers!-And now-the dire one

ddenly a quick step became audible at a distance. The sound fell on his ear sharpened by the stimulus o

e had stooped, and laid his ear close to the ground, "no! 'tis too quick and light for the gross Cass

over his anxious lineaments; then pressing his body flat against the dusky wall, to which the color of his garments was in some sort [pg

f his cassock, and drew out a long broad two-edged dagger, or stiletto; and as

stinctly audible-one a slow, listless tread, as of one loitering along, as if irr

sius it is; and with him comes Cethegus, tho

k into his girdle, where it was perfect

en whose steps he had heard, entered th

nd regular features, nobly chiselled and in all respects such-had it not been for the bitter and

ome to the last degree effeminate, indeed almost infamous-while his trim whiskers and close curly beard reeked with the

lly to pervade Rome's young nobility. His under dress or tunic, was not of that succinct and narrow cut, which had so well become the sturdy fathers of the new republic! but-beside being wrought [p

by a broad crimson trimming. His feet were ornamented, rather than protected, by delicate buskins of black leather, decked with the silver sigma, in its old crescent shape, the proud initial of the high term senator. A golden bracelet, fashioned like a large serpent, exquisitely carved with horrent scales and forked tail, was twined about the wrist of

ors, slaves, and such as were too poor to wear the full and characteristic attire of the Roman citizen-was of dark brownish woollen, threadbare, and soiled with spots of grease, and patched in many

s! a well assorted pair. Cassius more filthy than the vilest and most base tatterdemalion of the stews, and with him rare Cethegus, a senator in all his bravery! Wise judgment! excellent disguises! I know not whe[pg 17]t

re fiery wrath his most ungovernable temper. "Methinks, O pleasant Sergius, the moisture of this delectable night should have quenched somewhat the quick flam

, exclaiming in a deep harsh whisper, the one word "Boy!" strode forth as if to strike him. "And tho

and by whom?-doth the s

answered Cassius, "for he

twice, before I thought much of it. Once as we crossed the sacred way after descending from the Palatine-and once again beside the shrine of Venus in the C

a chance night-walker, and frightened ye! Ha! ha! by Hercules!

he individual, you, my good sir, should learn what it is to taunt a man with fear, who fears not anything-least of all thee! But it was [pg 18]not all. For as we turned from a side lane into the Wicked

speak?-what said he?"

I caught Cassius by the arm, and was in the act of pointing, when from

thus! didst thou not, excellent Cethegus?" Cataline exclaimed fiercely in a h

these things," a

not? why not?" cried Cata

t about most warily, and at length started him up again from the jaws of an obscene and broken catacomb. I gained on him at every step; heard the quick panting of his breath; stretched out my left to grasp him, while my right held unsheathed and ready the good stiletto that ne'er faile

ncerted chase, was valiant Cassius?" enqui

was over, and I did return, I found him [pg 19]leaning on the

e!-come, let us onward,-I trow we have been waited for-and as we go, tell me, I

hing or other-oh! now I do bethink me, he

y Erebus! but I am sick-sick of the fools, with whom I am thus wretchedly assorted! Well! well! upon your own heads be it!" and instantly recovering

n single file, and keeping as nearly as possible in the middle of the causeway. The lane, which was composed of dwellings of the lowest order, tenanted by the most abject profligates, was dark as midnight; for the tall dingy buildings absolutely intercepted every ray of light that proceeded from the murky sky

of Cataline, for ever roving in search of aught suspicious, caught

s; seest thou not-seest thou not there? If it be he, he 'scapes us not again!-out with thy weapon, man, and strike at once, if that thou have a chance; but if not, do thou go on with C

t concealed beneath his cassock, he strode on boldly, affectin

med by fire, projected far into the street-seeing no sign whatever of the man who, he was well assured, was not far distant, he paused a little so as to suffer his companions to draw near. Then as they came up with him, skilled in all deep and desperate wiles, he instantly commenced a whispered conversation, a tissue of mere nonsense, with here and there a word of seeming import cle

, he dashed upon his victim! But at the first slight movement of his sinewy form, the dimly seen shape vanished; impetuously he rushed on amo

ments had choked three parts of the depth of that subterranean vault; [pg 21]so that it was but

is body even in the act of falling so that he lighted on his feet; and, ere a second had elapsed after his fall, was extricating himself from the broken masses of ce

to the body and within arm's length of the fierce Cethegus, whose attention was for the moment distracted from his watch by the catastrophe which had befallen his companion. Dodging by a quic

t to front; when, notwithstanding his unwieldy frame and inactivity of habit, spurred into something nea

nderrated the agility and strength of the stranger-a tall, thin, wiry man, well nigh six feet i

ith swift and noiseless steps into the deepest gloom. Perceiving on the instant the necessity of apprehending this now undoubted spy, the fiery Cethegus paused not one instant to look after his discom

nner; and well aware how great a stake was on his speed he now strained every muscle to escape, while

ertaken his staunch friend, which he did in a space wonderfully brief, he seemed to have shaken off every ailment, and to be in the completest and most firm possession of all his wo

hurt, I warrant me. Comfort him as thou best mayest, and hurry whither we were now going. 'Tis late even now-too late, I fear me much, and doubtless we ar

of his brother conspirator's powers to his own, Cethegus readily enough yielded to his positive and reiterated orders, and turning hastily

; and still, although he toiled, till the sweat dripped from every pore like gouts of summer rain, al[pg 23]though he plied each limb, till every over-wrought sinew seemed to crack, the hapless fugitive could gain no ground on his inveterate pursuer; who, cool, collected and unweari

anced by a brightly decorated shrine girt by so many brilliant lamps as shewed its tenant idol

between his hard-set teeth,

l of the Plebeian burying ground arose before them, shaded by mighty cypresses and overgrown with tangled ivy. At one wild bound the hunted slave leaped over it, into the trackless gloom. At one wild bound the fierce pursuer followed him. Scarcely a yard asunder they alighted on the rank grass of tha

almost the speed and force of the electric fluid. A deep, dull, heavy sound was heard, as it was plunged into the yielding flesh, and the hot gushing blood spirted forth in a quick jet into the very face and mouth of t

t; hurled it far-far as his remaining strength permitted-into the rayless night; burst forth into a wild and yelling cry, half laughter and half imprecation; fell he

-my good stiletto lies near to him in the swart darkness, to testify against me; nor by great Hecate! is there one chance to ten of finding it. Well! be it s

one retrospective thought toward his murdered victim, not one repentant sigh upon his a

g