The Roman Traitor (Vol. 1 of 2)

ie, up

ge in her eye, h

eaks, her wanton

nt and motiv

and Cr

wered with sprigs of purple, in the inmost chamber of the woman's apartments, in his own heavily mortgaged mansion. His wife, Aurelia Orestilla, sat beside him on a low stool, a woman of the most superb and queen

injunctions of his lord-for Catiline was an unscrupulous and severe ma

ckly to the lady, whose lovely face wore some

to lose; the young man will be here soon, and if they

s," said the woman, rising, but maki

ch I desire you to tell the girl to do, that you have not done twenty times yourself,

lia, in a tone of deep tenderness; "a daught

You wished to enter an 14empty house on the day of your marriage feast. I do not think you found him

d hands, and a slight shudder shook her whole frame. When she looked

Oh! be mercif

ternly, "and that now. Our fortun

she give a

he shall wed her, when our plan

you sw

all the Furies, if you will, by

something reassured, "and

but it will not, I fancy, prove a hard one; Paullus is young and handsome; an

oach me with

pare our Lucia." Then, as she left the room, the dark scowl set

half so young as she was; and her beauty wanes as fast

Curius, and the noble Fulvia; and as he received the tidings the frown passed away from the brow of the

in her fair bosom all too much displayed for a matron's modesty; on her round dazzling arms; about her swan-like neck; wreathed in the profuse tresses of her golden hair-for she was that unusual and much admired being, an Italian blonde-and, spanning the circumference of her slight waist. She was, indeed, a creature exquisitely bright and lovely, with such an air of mild and angelic candor pervading her whole face, that you would have sworn her the most innocent, the purest of her sex. Alas! that she was indeed almost the vilest! that

d dim besides the richer azure of your eyes; and the dull gold in which they are enchased sets off the sparkling splendor of your tresses. What, Fulvia, know you not young Arvina-one of the great C?cilii? By Hercules! my Curius, he won the best of the quinquertium from such competitors

ft perfumed atmosphere, the splendidly voluptuous furniture of the saloon, and the delicious music, which was floating all the while upon his ears from the blended instr

se our pleasure: Cethegus was to have dined with us to-day, and Decius Brutus, with his inimitable wife Sempronia. But they ha

addicted to the pleasures of the table, almost as much as the ch

inquired Fulvia, not very much disple

appears, suddenly to Tarent

hegus, alone in her own house

ied Catiline, with

hegus," sa

ome?" asked Fulvia, favoring him w

ied, "with but one exception, I

is the exception?" aske

l round mirror of highly polished steel, set in a frame of tortoiseshell and gold. Paullus had

ok into that, and bl

wit is as fleet as thy foot is

ly much delighted; and then, in a lower

y I neve

e, and Orestilla entered from the gallery of th

in; until the wavy outlines of the loose robe of plain white linen which she wore, undulating at every movement of her form, displayed the exquisite fulness of her swelling bust, and the voluptuous roundness of all her

-although all the features were fine and classically regular-and was almost unnaturally pale and hueless. The mouth only, had any thing of war

lky lashes only visible in relief against the marble paleness of her cheek, as if she were ashamed to raise them fro

the whole thing was carefully preconcerted. "Wherefore is Lucia thus strangely clad? Is i

ated smile; "you know how over-timid she is and bashful; she had determined not to appe

to-day, for the first time? For Curius and our lovely Fulvia, I care not so much, seeing they know your whims; but I am vex

e girl by this conversation; and who, having thought her at first unattractive rather than otherwise, had now discovered the rare

tly; while a bright crimson flush shot like a stream of lava over her pallid face, and neck, and arms; yes, her arms blushed, and her hands to the finger en

lectrical influence, through every nerve and

moved away a little, and left them standing together; and when he did so, his voice faltered, and h

manner. Many bad thoughts were there, many unmaidenly imaginings, many ungoverned and most evil passions; but there was also much that was partly good; much that might have been all good, and high and noble, had it been properly dir

y others, she was a creature of impulse

run counter to the views of Catiline; because, so long as his schemes were agreeable to her inclinations, and favorable to

the greater part of voluptuaries, regarding women as mere animals, vastly inferior in mind and intellect to men, he had entirely overlo

se men often are, and

g 96]ed not with her indomitable will, to the sacrifice of all principle, and with the most total disregard of right or wrong, as Lucia Orestilla; but certainly there was

tone of her remarks, which were free, and even bold, as contrasted with the bashful air and timid glances which accompanied them, the cu

that pleasure, intending that you should escort Sempronia, and Decius my own Orestilla; but, as it is

said Curius, taking Fulvia by the hand, an

looked to catch her eye, as he took her soft hand in his own, bu

the fauces, or passage leading t

desired the slaves to spread couches only; the ladies

f the rosy mouth. But he returned the pressure, and that so significantly, that she at least could not be mistaken; nor was she, for her eye again met his, with that deep amorous languid glance; was bashfully withdraw

und work. A circular table, covered with a white cloth, bordered with a deep edge of purple and deeper fringe of gold, stood in the cen

richest tapestries, and piled with cushions glowing with splendid needlework. And over all, upheld by r

pile of cushions; each couch being made to contain in general three persons, the head of the second coming immediately below the right arm of the f

master of the feast, for the most, occupying the central position on the third or left hand sofa. The slaves stood round the outer circuit of the who

levated, near the centre of the couch; and then took his station behind her, so that, if she leaned back, her head would rest on his bosom, wh

ied the highest places; Paullus and [pg 98]Lucia reclined on the right hand c

half the bosom bare, dancing and singing, and carrying garlands in their hands of roses and myrtle, woven with strips of the philyra, or inner bark of the linden tree, which was believed to be a specific against intoxication. Circling around the board, in time to the soft music, they crowned each of the guests, and sprinkled with rich perfumes the garments and

ve bore round a mighty flask of Chian wine, diluted with snow water, and replenished the goblets of stained glass

and rockets, olives of Venafrum, anchovies and sardines, and the choicest luxury of the day-hot sausages served upon gridirons of s

s sentiments to Lucia in words [pg 99]of double meaning; keenly marked, it is true, but seemingly unobserved by the wily plotter opposite; and more than once in handing her the goblet, or loading her plate with dainties, he took an opportunity again an

a sort of pleasurable dizziness; his eyes were dim and suffused; and he scarce knew that he was talking, though he was indeed the l

sauce of anchovies, the dregs of Coan wine, white pepper, vinegar, and olives. The carver brandished his knife in graceful and fantastic gestures, proud of his honorable task; and as he

elighted with the expressive pantomine of th

that they are fed on reeds only and marsh grass; most noble Curius; and never put I knife into such an one as this. There are two inche

strinum. You have set Curius' mouth watering, so that he will be sped with longing, be[pg 100]fore you have helped Fulvia and your mistress.

ous. Besides, the Falernian is too dry to drink before the meat. Afterward, if, a

ese other epicures?" cried Fulvia, who, despite the depreciating t

r in his reedy fen, or his wild thicket on the Umbrian hills, with his eye glaring red in r

for my part rather meet ten on the di

with my friend Arvina at my side, and a good boarspear in my hand, I woul

ctedly, "ever in search of danger; ever on the alert to kill; to sh

d strife, for its own sake, maddening bliss! Heavens! to see the gladiators wheel and charge; to see their swords flash in the sun; and the red blood gush out unheeded; and the grim faces flushed and furious; and the eyes greedily devouring the wounds of the foeman, but a

sionate clear light; there was a fiery flush on her cheek, not brief and evanescent; her ripe red mouth was half open, shewing the snow

ucia!" exclaimed Catiline. "I knew not

e girl, unblushingly; "for it is whispered that you are my fathe

are blunt and brave to-night. Is

hall be a hero; a man that would rather lie in wait until dawn to receive the fierce boar rus

er love me, Lucia,

a man whom I will love; and there is no

disconcerted. "Now Cato has nothing of the man about him but the v

y body loving Cato,"

is too high and noble, to be dishonored by the love of such as I am; but all the good, and great, and

102]to Orestilla; "what ails her to talk thus? first t

"she was a strange girl ever; and I cannot say, i

ach lady to her lover in secrecy and silence!" cried the master of th

hough she saw that Catiline was annoyed at the character the conversation h

the statue of Accius N?vius, with his long beard, on the steps of t

icious even; and, if I am not virtuous myself, at leas

, my Lucia," interposed her mother; "aff

s. "Your mother, my Lucia, and myself, return thank

hen, for that must needs make them laugh! But good or bad, I respect the g

clash of knives and flagons, and the pealing of a fresh strain of music, which ushered

ied, meeting his eye with

times, in the hope only of clasping Lucia, once, in my emb

then pressed her unsandalled foot against his. A moment or two afterward, he perceived the embroidered table cover had been drawn up, with the

anner, he profited by the chance to steal his arm about her waist; and to his surprise, almost as mu

e of the charmer had been heard, charming him but too wisely. And for the moment, fool that he was, he fan

hing at work in the girl's bosom which he did not comprehend, she had at least obeyed his commands in captivating Paullus;

iery goblet as fast as possible, till every brain was heated more or less, and e

of the world. Livers of geese, forced to an unnatural size by cramming the unhappy bird with figs; and turbot fricasseed in cream, and peacocks stuffed with truffles, were on the board of Catiline that day, as on the boards of many another noble [pg 104]Roman; and the wines by which these rare dainties were diluted, differed but little, as wisest critics say, from

lew like a dream, like a delirious trance, from which, could

ughts and words of passion. At length the lamps were lighted, and the women arose to quit the hall, leaving the ruder sex to prolong the rev

hin him; for dearly as he wished it, he believed

are old veterans of the camp, old revellers, and love the wine cup better than the bright eyes of beauty, or the minstrel's lute. Thou, I will swear it, wouldst rather now be listening to Lucia's lyre, and may be fingering it thyself, than drinking with us roisterers! Come, never blus

his inability to drink any [pg 105]more, Paullus arose, delighted to effect his es

s, and exclaimed, "He is in; by Pan, the hunter's God! he is

d Curius; "he is a stout fellow, and I dare say a brave one; and will make

wered Catiline; "no more a fool than I am

gone mad, I think, for love of him. I never did believe in

in love with him than thou art; it was all acting-right good acting: for it did once well nig

ll ha

! at

the like orders touching

rmly mine, as need be; and secondly, because Fulvia would have her heart's blood

thing; but she does so right willingly. She loves the boy, I tell you, as madly as

e loves the musty statue of my

y. Meanwhile, look t

icated; and, opening the door, had entered, expecting to find the three women assemble

or his entrance at any moment; yet, when he ca

and was beginning to be worn very much by women of licentious character; this dress-if that indeed could be called a dress, which displayed all the outlines of the shape, all the hues of the glowing skin every minute blue vein that meandered over the lovely bosom-w

red; but she dropped both the hair and comb, and started to her feet with a simulated scream,

saw, moreover, that she was not offended; and, if

o his bosom almost smothered her with kisses. But shame on he

Lucia, do you

my country-more than the Gods

hen be mine-all

I not yours already? but no, no, no!" she exclaimed, tearing herself from his

ia? your father? Wh

You have discovere

discovered nothing; nor if I knew him to be the sla

ou swea

ar w

im; but faithfully and stedfastly to follow him through virtue and through vice, in life and unto death; to live

and Pluto the Avenger, I swear, Lucia! May I and all my house,

ever!" and sank into his arms, half fainting

g