The Roman Traitor (Vol. 1 of 2)

ye are fort

r Night'

ng indeed only of three individuals, was gathered in the tablinum, or saloon, of an elegant though modest villa, situate in the outskirts of the city, fronting

refined taste and pleasure, for which the Romans, austere and poor no longer, had, since their late acquaintance with Athenian poli

border of gilded scroll-work on a crimson ground, and containing an elaborately finished fresco painting; which, could they have been seen by any critical eye of modern days, would have set at rest for ever the question as to the state of this art among the ancients. The subject was a favorite one with all artists of all ages,-from the world-famous Iliad: the story of the goddess-born Achilles. Here tutored by the wise Centaur, Chiron, in horsemanship and archery, and all that makes a hero; here tearing off the virgin mitre, to don the glittering casque proffered, with sword and buckler, among effeminate wares, by the disguised Ulysses; there wandering in the despond

d with ivory and silver, were several rolls of parchment and papyrus, the books of the day, some of them splendidly emblazoned and illuminated; a lyre of tortoiseshell, and near to it the slender plectrum by which its cords were wakened to melody. Two or three little flasks of agate and of onyx containing some choice perfumes, a Tuscan vase full of fresh-gathered flowers, and several articles yet more decidedly feminine, [pg 39]were scattered on the board; needles, and thread of

s wing, was still, though mixed with many a line of silver, luxuriant and profuse as ever. Simply and closely braided over her broad and intellectual temples, and gathered into a thick knot behind, it displayed admirably the contour of her head, and suited the severe and classic style of her strictly Roman features. The straight-cut eye-brows, the clear and pie

though attenuated something by the near approach of old age, preserving still the soft and fl

at a little way aloof from her younger companions, drawing the slender threads with many a graceful motion from the revolving distaff into the basket by her side, she might have passed for her, whose [

mother and her only child. For even in her flush of beauty, the elder lady, while in the full splendor of Italian womanhood, must ever have been calculated to inspire admiration, not all unmixed with aw

y a gilt zone of the Grecian fashion; the small and shapely foot, which peered out with its jewelled sandal under her gold-fringed draperies; combined to present to the eye a very incarnation of that ideal loveliness, which haunts enamored poets in their dreams, the girl just bursting out of girlhood, the glowing Hebe of the soft and sunny south. But if her form was lovely, how shall the pen of mortal describe the wild romantic beauty of her soul-speaking features. The rich redundancy of her dark auburn hair, black where the shadows rested on it as the sable locks of nigh

he fitful breeze awakes that whispering melody, believed by the poetic ancients to be the chorus of the wood-nymph; to dream of and adore-even as she was adored by him who sat beside her, and watch

tature having been prematurely gained, he lacked much of that degree of power of which his frame gave promise. For though his limbs were well formed they were scarcely set, or furnished, as we should say in speaking of an animal; and the strength

outlines of his massive jaw, which seemed almost to betoken fierceness. There was a quick short flash at times, keen as the falcon's, in the unsteady eye, that told of energy enough within and stirring spirit to prompt daring deeds, the momentary irresolution conquered. There was a frank and cheery smile that oftenti

ting on their waxed surface, together with his handkerchief and purse; but nothing bearing the semblance of a weapon, not so much even as a common knife. His legs and arms were bare,

rom his whole air and manner, as he listened to the soft voice of his beautiful mistress. For as they sat there side by side, perusing from an illuminated scroll the elegies of some long-perished, long-forgotten poet, now reading audibly the smooth and honeyed lines, now commenting with playful criticism on the style, or carrying out with all the fervor and romance of young poetical

mallows sprinkled with snow, ripe figs, eggs and anchovies, dried grapes, and cakes of candied honey; while two boys of rare beauty followed, one carrying a flagon of Chian wine diluted with snow water, the other a platter [p

he tray was speedily deposited, while on a slab of Parian marble near which the

tired with a deep genuflexion, leaving the boys only to administer at that unceremonious banque

erceived how thoroughly engrossed, even to the unconsciousness of any passing sound, they were, who

to the third watch. I would not part ye needlessly, nor over soon, especially when you must so soon perforce be severed; but we must

streets are dangerous of late, haunted by dissolute night-revellers-that villain Clodius and his infamous co-mates. I tremble like

ontus, under our mighty Pompey! There is no danger, Julia, here in the heart of Rome; and my stout freedman Thrasea [pg 44]awaits me with his torch. Nor is

things awful and obscene, thus at the dead of night. Oh! do not, dearest," she continued, "thou knowest not what wild terrible tales are rife, of sounds

are never absent from their votaries, so they be innocent and pure of sp

family indeed derived its origin. "But, although I," she added, "counsel you not to heed our Julia's girlish terrors, I love you not

beyond the Esquiline ere excellent old Davus could rouse those sturdy knaves of yours, or find the armory key; for lo! I will but tarry to taste one cup of your choice of Chian to my Julia's health, and then straight homeward. Have a care, my fair boy, tha

k, and bosom, as she spoke, and leaving her, a second afterward, [pg 45]even paler than her wont, b

essure, "unless, which may the Gods avert! anything unforeseen prevent me. Give m

ft the room, "and tell old Davus to accompany him, bringing the keys of the pe

steward, and the freedman with his staff and torch, the latter so prepared by an art common to th

when no cold etiquette fettered the freedom of the tongue, and when no rank, how stately or how proud soever, induced austerity of bearing o

ood to shield it from the drizzling rain-for, except on a journey, the hardy Romans never wore any hat or headgear-and hastened with a firm and regular step along the marble peristyle. This portico, or rather piazza, enclosed, by a double row

ing a circular table. Through this they passed into a smaller court adorned like the other by a jet d'eau, surrounded by several small boudoirs and bed

ther hand ran a long range of offices, and above them the dormitories of the slaves, wi

to their charge; and he, whose watch it was, started up from a bench on which he had been stretched, and looked forth torch in hand at the sound of approaching footsteps. Seeing,

interspersed with many a shadowy clump of the rich evergreen holm-oak, the tufted stone-pine, the clustering arbutus, and smooth-leaved laurestinus. This lovely spot was separated from the plebeian cemetery only-as has been sa

ighted by his torch-bearer, through the dark mazes of the orchard, with all his thoughts engrossed by the pleasant reminiscences of the past evening. Thoughtless, however, as he was, [pg 47]and bold, he yet recoiled a step, and the blood rushed tumultuously to his hea

ped the torch; while, drawing nearer to his master's side, with teeth that chattered as if in an ague fit, and a face deserted by e

had shaken off his transitory terror, and was now resolute, not only to procee

ut the death-cry, if I err not more widely, of some frail mortal like ourselves. There may be time, however, yet to save him, and I so truly marked the quarter whence it rose, that I doubt

and broken was the surface of the ground, so numerous the low mounds which alone covered the ashes of the humbler dead, that they were long in reaching the vicinity of the spot where that fell deed [pg 48]had been done so recently. When they had come, however, to the foot of the descent, where it swept gently downward to the boundary wall, the young man took the torch from his attendant, and waving it with a slow movement to and fro, surveyed the

he fresh dark gore curdling on the broad steel, and

Thrasea. Foul murder hath been

ger, with his grim gory face turned upward as if reproachfully to the dark quiet skies, the black death-sweat still beaded on his frowning brow, and a sardonic grin distorting his pale lips, lay the dead slave. Flat on his back, with his arms stretched out right and left, his legs extended close together to their full length, he lay even as he had fallen; for not a struggle

the body of a fellow creature from which the immortal soul has been reluctantly and forcefully ex[pg 49]pelled, when a loud cry

ing freedman, "my friend, my more than f

nanimately here before us?" cried the excited youth, "whose slave was he? speak, Th

us by the dark-wooded Danube; the same roof covered us; the same board fed; the same fire warmed us; nay! the same fatal battle-field robbed both of liberty and country. Yet were the great Gods merciful to the poor captives. Thy father did buy me, Arvina, and a few y

s shoulder, "thou shalt have all means to do all honor to his name; all that can now be done by mortals for the revered and

the carcase, while Thrasea raised the feet, bore it away a hundred yards or better, and laying it withi

likely would be made by the murderers, when [pg 50]they should find t

he wiped the dagger carefully in the long g

ed with grief and terror-until they reached the house of Paullus, in a fair quarter

Thrasea to waken him betimes to-morrow, that he might see the consul, he bade him be of good cheer, for that Medon's death should surely be avenged, since the gay dagger would p

g