The Roman Traitor (Vol. 1 of 2)

then do t

r to s

o Fal

ave been seen on the horizon, when at the door of Marcus L?ca, in the low grovelling street of the Scythemakers-strange quarter for the residence

and base suburb, tenanted only by poor laborious artizans, was

s, decayed and moss-grown even then, and mouldering-how little would he have imagined

ow streets and squalid tenements supplanted the rich fields and fruitful orchards, which had once rendered it so pleasant an abode. Its haughty lords abandoned it for a more stately palace nigh the fo

om its inheritor. The rui

s it beheld, Rome's parricides were wo

h of the big raindrops from the eaves, another tap responded to it from within, so faint that it appeared an echo of the other. The rebel counted, as fast as possible, fifteen; and then tapped thrice as he had done before, meeting the same reply, a repetition of his own sig

es, which was placed by the impluvium-a large shallow tank of water occupying the centre of the hall in all Roman h

he quick eye of the conspirator perceived, upon the instant, that two strong men with naked

s secure, a deep rich voice, suppressed into a whisper, exclaimed "Sergius?" "Ay!" answered Cataline. "Come on!" and without farther parley they s

re court, surrounded by a peristyle or colonnade, containing a dilapidated fountain. Passing through this, they reached a second dining room, where on the central table they found a small lamp burning, and by the aid of this,

overed with green slimy mould; the atmosphere was close and f?tid, and so heavy that the huge waxen torches, four of which stood in rusty iron candelabra, on a large slab of granite, burned dim and blue, casting a faint and ghastly light on lineaments so grim and truculent, or so unnaturally excited by the dominio

ar there in the full splendor of their distinctive garb as Senators, p

ness of manner to three or four who stood apart a little from the rest with their backs to the door, listening with knitted brows, clenched hands, and lips [pg 28]compressed

but well shaped, with a broad and massive forehead, and an eye keen as the eagle's when soaring in his pride of place. His nose was prominent, but rather aquiline than Roman. His mouth, wid

r, as those of that fallen consular, of that degraded senator, the haughtiest and most ambitious of a race never deficient in those qualities, he who, drunk with despai

y who looked mere boys-had scarcely reached youth's threshold; though their pale withered faces, and brows seared deep

features, and long curled hair, and lips of coral, from which in flippant and affected accents fell words, and breathed desires, th

len. The sullenness of fear brooded on every other [pg 29]face. The torpor of despairing crime, already in its own fancy baffled and detected, had fallen on every other heart. For,

dark eyes, as he beheld, and read at half a glance their consternation. Bitter and blighting was the sneer upon his lip, as he stood motionless, gazing

ill, unbound but unresisting, all armed but unavenged!-And ye-great Gods! I laugh to see your terror-blanched, blank visages. I laugh, but loathe in laughing! The destined dauntless sacrificers, who would imbue your knives in senatorial, consular gore! kindle your altars on the downfallen Capitol! and build your temples on the wreck of Empire! Ha! do you start? and does some touch of shame

xcited now even beyond the bounds of ordi

. "Lo! I am here to lead; the field of Mars will give a place; t

st spoken, as the times warrant, boldly; and upon my head be it, t

d his posture somewhat, and drew a long breath at the close. But the conspirator paused not. He saw immediately the effect which had been made upon the minds of all, by what had passed. He perceived the absolute

shall it be, and who shall strike the blow t

red Cataline. "L?ca, th

vement a silver eagle, its pinions wide extended, and its talons grasping a thunderbolt, placed on a pedestal, under a small but exquisitely sculptured shrine of Parian marble. Before

t worshipped by the charging shout of Marius, and consecrated by the gore of Cimbric myriads; thou, who wert erst enshrined on the Capitoline, what time the proud patricians veiled their haughty crests before the conquering plebeian; thou, who shalt sit again

current was yet flowing, he gave the weapon to Cethegus, and he did likewise, passing it in his turn to the conspirator who stood beside him, and he in like manner to the next, till ea

nch the torch; never to sheath the brand; till all our foes be prostrate, till not one drop shall run in living veins of Rome's patricians; till not one hearth shall warm; one roof shall shelter; till Rome shall be like Carthage, and we, like mighty Marius, lords and spectators of her desolation! We swear! we taste the consecrated cup! and thus

that foul draught. With ashy cheeks indeed, but knitted brows, and their lips reeking red with the abomination, but fearless and unfaltering, they pledged in clear and solemn tones, ea

oaching to compunction or remorse; but in a sort of secret horror, that they were now involved beyond all hope of extrication, beyond all possibility of turning back or halting! And Cataline, endo

r, which alone of his bounteous hospitality our Porcius has vouchsafed to us!" And on the instant, the master-for they dared trust no slaves-bore in two earthen vases, one of strong Chian from the Greek Isle of the Egean, the other of Falernian, the fruitiest and richest of the

"Rare liquor this, my Marcus," he continued; "whence had'st thou this Falernian? 't

t of Caiu

ge, by the Gods! that of the two best things on earth, women and wine, the nature should so

arius, swearing the harlot's oath;

g, did ye not accept the omen!-in whose first

men! oh, may it turn out well!" ex

may we to the valour and the principles of Marius uni

ing now his aim entirely accomplished, Cataline checked t

on companions, let us consult like men; there

errupted Cassius, "Fulv

d the younger and more be

h of which risks the awakening of suspicion, and it may well be of discovery. Let us now compr

desperate companions, the plans which he had laid so deeply, that it seemed scarcely pos

of November. My rivals are Sulpicius, Mur?na, and Silanus. Antonius and Cicero will preside-the first, my friend! a bold and noble Roman! He waits but an occasion to declare for us. Now, mark me. Caius Manlius-you all do know the man, an old and practised soldier, a scar-seamed veteran of Sylla,-will on that very day display yon eagle to twenty thousand men, well armed, and brave, and desperate as ourselves, at Fiesolè. Septimius of Camerinum writes from the Picene district, that thirty thousand slaves will rise there at his bidding; while Caius Julius, sent to that end into Apulia, has given out arms and nominated leaders to twice five thousand there. Ere this, they have received my mandate to collect their forces, and to march on that same day toward Rome. Three several armies, to meet which there is not one legion on this side of Cisalpine Gaul! What, then, even if all were peace in Rome, what then could stand against us? But there shall be that done here, here in the very seat and heart, as I may say, of Empire, that shall dismay and paralyse all who would else oppose us. Cethegus, when the centuries are all assembled in the field of Mars, with fifteen hundred gladiators well armed and exercised even now, sets on the guard in the Janiculum, and beats their standard down. Then, while all is confusion, Statilius and Gabinius with their households,-whom, his work done, Cethegus will join straightway-will fire the city in twelve several p

and well done!" cried at once several

der!" whispered Longinus

cried Cethegus, "Ma

for the first success to declare himself for the cause in arms. Crassus, the rich-C?sar, the people's idol-have heard our counsels, and approve them. The first blow

's address, burst from the lips of all, as those great names dropped from the tongue of Lentulus;

! our own, even now, to portion out among

laimed another. "If we win, all the universe is o

netrating tones. "We cannot, and we will not! and now, for I wax som

gus, with an inquiring accent, i

plied the other, with a hoarse

rst morning twilight-so darkly did the clouds still muster over the mighty city-went on thei

g