The Roman Traitor (Vol. 1 of 2)

o sed amo

que furens qui

. 6.

from the heavy and half lethargic slumber, which had fallen upon him a

arched with fever, and all his muscular frame was disjoint

his painful couch, scarce conscious of his own identity, a

brought to his mind fairly the attack on Arvina, and the affray which ensued; with something of an

s bed, with his wonted impetuosity, and inquired vehemently of a freedman,

home, Ch?rea? and a

he arms of the sturdy Germans, Geta and Arminius;

but the fifth, when that occurred. What said I, my good Ch?rea? Wh

d feverish sleep, you still muttered in your dreams, 'water!' The Germans answered nothing, though all the household questioned them; and, in good truth, Catiline, it was not very long that they were capable

hither. Hold! What

ady; it must be now n

r rather go yourself, Ch?rea, and pray Cornelius Lentulus the Pr?tor, to visit me before he take his seat on

d conducting the huge German gladiator, whose bewildered air and bloodshot eyes seemed to b

gesture full of pride [pg 148]and dominion; the versatile and polished Greek, beautiful both in form and face, as a marble of Praxiteles, beaming with intellect, and having every feature eloquent of poetry and imagination, and something of contempt for the sterner and harder type of mind, to which he and his countrym

if in assent to some of his own meditations; then muttering to himself, "

and returned ere this time! Yet tarry, since thou art here still.

served from infamy, when accused of dolus malus, in the matter of assault wit

d find out what is Stolo's suit. Assure him of my friendship and support; and, hark you, have him and Rufinus into an inner chamber, and set bread before them and strong wine,

brow, and gazed into his employer's face wit

the Almo; and when we had stayed there awhile, we brought thee back again, seeing th

ute, rather-for brutes augment not their brutishness by gluttony a

at his head. The gladiator stood quite still, and merely bent his neck a little to avoid the heavy vessel, which almo

grunted, "unless you want t

ged anger. "Do you not know, cut-throat, that one word of mine can have your to

he gaol, or with broadswords in the amphitheatre? A man can only die! and it were as well

n, you were better regard me, and attend to what I tell you; so may you escape both gaol an

inished his business easily, he blew a hunting horn, and fifteen or sixteen stout fellows in f

inly," replied the consp

, as was like, gottest thine head broken by a blow of a boar-spear from a great double-handed Thracian. For my part, I wondered he did not put the

k, when by a bold rush we might easily have slain

annonians; and were completely armed, too. We might have kille

became of him wh

for taking odds of four to one upon a single man. That is, I know, what you Romans call fighting; beyond the Rhine we style it cowardly and murder! Then, after that he went off with his men, leaving us scratching our heads, and looking as dastardly and crest-fallen as could be. And then we brought you home hither, afte

got off unscathed, and lives t

her, Catiline," answered the s

the conspirator,

d he would never betray any man, and you least

stupid brute, Arminius; but useful in your way. I have no need of you to-day, so go and tell the butler to give you wine enou

ive it to me a

m to me for orde

n, in truth, despising the Roman in his heart as deeply for what he deemed his over-craftiness and over-c

the Greek returned, smiling, and seemingly w

teadily, and nodding his

prepared

lo, it seems, is again emperilled-another charge o

They must swear that they came hither this morning to claim my aid in bringing them to speech with Lentulus, the Pr?tor, and

for any one can swear steadily to the truth, bu

cribe to them-him who dined with me, you know, the day before yesterday-of subornation to commit murder. The place where he did so, the top of the C?lian hill. The time, sunrise on that same day.

hem to concoct it, and dress it up with [pg 152]little truthful incidents

Ch?rea. For h

s who can prove

will say nothing, unless

so calle

corroborate the tale

shouldst have been a Greek, Catiline,

ther I sent thee to bid him to dinner the next day-he shall confirm the tale-when thou didst hear a cry of murder from the Plebeian graveyard on the Esquiline; and hurrying to the spot, didst see Arvina, with his freedman Thrasea bearing a torch, conceal a fresh bleeding body in a broken grave; and, hidden by the stem of a great tree thyself, didst hear him say, as he l

ds as if well pleased, "so that no one shalt doubt

ruptly, as if unable to keep silence any longer, as soon as the others ha

ainful, as it seemed, and terrible, even to himself, was [pg 153]that communion, for he rose up from his seat and pa

in a manner perfectly characteristic of the man, uttering hideous imprecations if the least thing ran counter

was announced, and entered with his dignified and hau

at hast thou of so grave importance, that thou must intercept me on my

e been these three hours waiting for my awakening, that I might gain your ear for them. They sent me word t

lieve you have sent for me all the way hither this morning, without some object of your own to serv

tly as you choose; but it is true, nevertheless, that I have neither se

me, let us have the knaves in. I suppose they have been robbing s

ho! Ch

covered the door-way was withdrawn, and th

nd Rufinus. The pr?tor is pre

ave selected from the whole population of Rome at th

you that weigh so ponderously on your wise thou

r at least subornation thereof

Well, tell us in a word-for it is clear that nobody

it was not for the lack of pr

anged the matter easily. But come! come! to the point! whom we

er, Caius

ndeed! indeed! that may well be. By whom,

usand sesterces! We met him by appointment upon the C?lian hill, at the

eyes upon the ground, and pondered deeply on wh

Pr?

nything conc

d in an undecided tone, which satisfied the judge that he

eard say that he was murdered in

d this, you told

e," answered Rufinus doggedly, se

Now mark me. Volero was that night murdered, [pg 155]and it appears to me, that you are bringing this accusation aga

and more ready witted of the two. "Rufinus ever was a forgetful

n blame! Now, mark me well! can you prove where yo

boys were present, helping us. And then we went to a cookshop to get some supper in the ox forum, and thence at the sixth hour we passed a

e Pr?tor. "And you, Rufinus; can you a

n the druggist, who lives in the Sacred Way. For she went to get me an emetic at the thir

on Arvina needs something more of confirmation, ere I dare cite a Patrician to plead to such

know not if he will

hough he cared little enough about Arvina, he was yet unwilling to see a Patrici

k? I warrant you I will

was my patr

cried, much astonished.

it was!

lted with him, ere

ble, for he woul

converse with C?cilius Arvina, in the Minervium? But no! it must

, with an air of well feigned reluctance. "I hate law

o adjure you, Catiline, by all the Gods! were you, at sun

, on the C?lian; a

you what

ave and earnest; and they se

ous. You, therefore, I shall detain here as witnesses, and partially suspected. Some of your slaves must guard them, Catiline, an

?rea, springing forward, all vehemence and eagerness t

oking sternly at him, and sh

No! Catiline, you may kill me, if you choose, but I will spe

will," answered h

ak if he have any light to throw on this [pg 157]mysterious business.

himself and Catiline, speaking with so much vehemence, and displaying so much agitation in all his air and gestures, that he e

compassed-Volero's slaughter, who must some how or other have become privy to the deed. I must have these detained, and him arrested! There c

steadily into the face of his fellow-conspirator

, as soon as he had ceased from laughing, "O

e was like to seem valid to the Judices, from i

you sat

a

truth, until Ch?rea swore as he did

this will be sufficient t

a's slaves of the actual death of Volero. That might be done easily enough, but there must be care taken, that you select one who shall not be a

, to live without

"What k

we propose to do, ere long, in the

ining silent for some moments. After which he said, with a tho

s been t

el

ard. He is brave, strong, wary.

declare the whole, ere we ca

dares not. He is bo

er, and in tones of contemptuous ridicule

and believed in Lemures and Lamia. But Paullus Arvina is not Lucius Catiline

gh voice interrupted him, coming, appar

e white, and his frame shook with

age, not terror, that blanched his swarth

es of

der, and, with her dark eyes gleaming a strange fire, and two hard crimson spots gleaming high up on her cheek bones-the hect

ve! my own [pg 159]dishonor! I swear that they shall not! Fool! fool! did you think to outwit me? T

eassured, when he saw who was the interlocutor, gazed on him in unmitigated wonder, he faltered

d aright, if you have heard at all; I

t heard? not heard?" she continued. "Think you the walls in the house of Catiline have no eyes n

" exclaimed Le

lied the girl, firmly, "if

omentary surprise, had regained all his natural haughtiness an

s appetite, and basely pandered to her passions, she would leap hood-winked on the prey you pointed her. Thou fool! that hast not half read thy villain lesson! Thou shouldst have known that the very cat, thou thoughtest me, will turn and rend the huntsman if he dare rob her of her portion! I tell you, Lucius Catiline, you thought me a mere wanton! a [pg 160] mere sensual thing! a soulless animal voluptuary! Fool! I say, double fool! Look into thine own heart; remember what blood runs in these female veins! Man! Father! Vitiator! My spirit is not female! my blood, my passions, my contempt of peril, my will indomitable and immutable,

y possessed, to shew him how much he had miscalculated the range of his dau

ave evoked and unchained a spirit that defies their guidance. But, like that archimage, conscious th

d I been, to think I could hoodwink such an intellect as yours! If I have striven to clear away the mists of prejudice from before your eyes, which, in your senseless anger, you now call corrupting you, it was because I saw in you a kindred spirit to mine own, capable to soar fearless and undazzled into

ed him, bitterly; but he went on,

himpering within an hour at the feet of his cold Julia; who has, I doubt not, boasted of your favors, while he deplored his own infatuation, to her, his promised wife!-For a fond frivolous liking of a moment, you would forego gratification, rank, greatness, power, and vengeance! Is this just toward me, wise toward yourself? Is this like L

ary, the spark had faded from her eye and the flush from her cheek, and her looks were dispirited and downcast. B

ching. As for the future, hope is dead, and ambition. Revenge, I seek not; if I did so, thou art there, on whom to wreak it; for saving thou, and myself only, none have wronged me. More words are needless. See that thou lay aside thy plans, and dare not to harm him, or her. He

girl, this timorous, repentant-I had nearly called thee-maiden! Why, thou

, into fresh anger; "there is not in the gaols of Rome the slave so base as to call Lucia Orestilla wife! And wherefore, wherefore not?-Man! man! if that thou be a man, and not a demon, but for thee, and thy cursed teachings, I might have known all this-pure bliss, and conscious rectitude, and the respect and love of men. I might have been the happy bride of an honorable suitor, the cherished matron of a respected lord, the proud glad mother of children, that s

"I leave ye, but imagine not, that I read not your councils. Me, you cannot deceive. With yourselves only it remains

ith anger. So you may go, and listen if you will," he added, pointing to [pg 163]the secret apertur

n now," she answered, "for

that we have

you will do, Se

ye

shall do, likewise!" and wit

aid Lentulus, in Greek, as she disapp

one of that. She is the cleverest and best girl living, only a little passionate, for which I love her all the more dearly. No! she will do none of that. Because

ted in horror at his words, and his lips were w

said, and I suppose I was alarmed needlessly. Doubtless Arvina will be silent. Come, I will walk with you so far on your way to the Forum. What ho! Ch?rea, see that Rufinus and Stolo lack nothing. I will speak with them, when I ret

iline said in a low voice, "This is unpleasant, and may be dangerous. We must, however, trust to fortu

ick shudder running through his limbs, as he spoke: "And will yo

sentence which he had left unfinished, "Ay! w

tulus inquired, with an assumption of c

t wants but four days of the elections, we

r. "When do we meet again to

ouse of L?ca, at the

all be

aithful; until

rew

ss snow, when compared with his own conscious guilt; and Catiline to glide through dark streets, visiting discontented artizans, debauched mechanics, desperate gamblers, scattering dark an

f the fierce and irresponsible democracy, and rejoicing in having gained many new and fitting converts to his creed, he re

he had gone forth already, b

yet hoping, in his desperation, that he heard not aright, h

stilla," faltered t

turned?" thunde

line,

th rage, as he gave way to his ungovernable fury, and hu

across the prostrate body, retired sullenly and slowly to muse on the disappointment of this his most atroc

g