A Thorny Path — Complete
CHAPTER XXVI
The lady Euryale's silent prayer was interrupted by the return ofAlexander. He brought the clothes which Seleukus's wife had given himfor Melissa. He was already dressed in his best, and crowned like allthose who occupied the first seats in the Circus; but his festal garbaccorded ill with the pained look on his features, from which everytrace had vanished of the overflowing joy in life which had embellishedthem only this morning.
He had seen and heard things which made him feel that it would no longerbe a sacrifice to give his life to save his sister.
Sad thoughts had flitted across his cheerful spirit like dark bats, evenwhile he was talking with Melissa and her protectress, for he knew wellhow infinitely hard his father would find it to have to quit Alexandria;and if he himself fled with Melissa he would be obliged to give up thewinning of fair Agatha. The girl's Christian father had indeed receivedhim kindly, but had given him to understand plainly enough that he wouldnever allow a professed heathen to sue for his daughter's hand. Besidesthis, he had met with other humiliations which placed themselves like awall between him and his beloved, the only child of a rich and respectedman. He had forfeited the right of appearing before Zeus as a suitor;for indeed he was no longer such as he had been only yesterday.
The news that Caracalla proposed to marry Melissa had been echoed byinsolent tongues, with the addition that he, Alexander, had ingratiatedhimself with Caesar by serving him as a spy. No one had expressly saidthis to him; but, while he was hurrying through the city in Caesar'schariot, on the ladies' message, it had been made very plain to hisapprehension. Honest men had avoided him--him to whom hitherto every onefor whose regard he cared had held out a friendly hand; and much elsethat he had experienced in the course of this drive had been unpleasantenough to give rise to a change of his whole inner being.
The feeling that every one was pointing at him the finger of scorn,or of wrath, had never ceased to pursue him. And he had been under noillusion; for when he met the old sculptor Lysander, who only yesterdayhad so kindly told him and Melissa about Caesar's mother, as he noddedfrom the chariot his greeting was not returned; and the honest artisthad waved his hand with a gesture which no Alexandrian could fail tounderstand as meaning, "I no longer know you, and do not wish to berecognized by you."
He had from his childhood loved Diodoros as a brother, and in one of theside streets, down which the chariot had turned to avoid the tumult inthe Kanopic way, Alexander had seen his old friend. He had desired thecharioteer to stop, and had leaped out on the road to speak to Diodorosand give him at once Melissa's message; but the young man had turnedhis back with evident displeasure, and to the painter's pathetic appeal,"But, at any rate, hear me!" he answered, sharply: "The less I hear ofyou and yours the better for me. Go on--go on, in Caesar's chariot!"
With this he had turned away and knocked at the door of an architect whowas known to them both; and Alexander, tortured with painful feelings,had gone on, and for the first time the idea had taken possession of himthat he had indeed descended to the part of spy when he had betrayed toCaesar what Alexandrian wit had to say about him. He could, of course,tell himself that he would rather have faced death or imprisonment thanhave betrayed to Caracalla the name of one of the gibers; still, hehad to admit to himself that, but for the hope of saving his father andbrother from death and imprisonment, he would hardly have done Caesarsuch service. The mercy shown to them was certainly too like payment,and his own part in the matter struck him as hateful and base. Hisfellow-townsmen had a right to bear him a grudge, and his friends tokeep out of his way. A feeling came over him of bitter self-contempt,hitherto strange to him; and he understood for the first time how Philipcould regard life as a burden and call it a malicious Danaus-gift of thegods. When, finally, in the Kanopic way, close in front of Seleukus'shouse, a youth unknown to him cried, scornfully, as the chariot wasslowly making its way through the throng, "The brother-in-law ofTarautas!" he had great difficulty in restraining himself from leapingdown and letting the rascal feel the weight of his fists. He knew, too,that Tarautas was the name of a hateful and bloodthirsty gladiator whichhad been given as a nickname to Caesar in Rome; and when he heardthe insolent fellow's cry taken up by the mob, who shouted after him,"Tarautas's brother-in-law!" wherever he went, he felt as though he werebeing pelted with mire and stones.
It would have been a real comfort to him if the earth would have openedto swallow him with the chariot, to hide him from the sight of men. Hecould have burst out crying like a child that has been beaten. When atlast he was safe inside Seleukus's house, he was easier; for here he wasknown; here he would be understood. Berenike must know what he thoughtof Caesar's suit, and seeing her wholesome and honest hatred, he hadsworn to himself that he would snatch his sister from the hands of thetyrant, if it were to lead him to the most agonizing death.
While she was engaged in selecting a dress for her protegee, he relatedto the lady Euryale what had happened to him in the street and inthe house of Seleukus. He had been conducted past the soldiers in thevestibule and impluvium to the lady's private rooms, and there he hadbeen witness to a violent matrimonial dispute. Seleukus had previouslydelivered to his wife Caesar's command that she should appear in theAmphitheater with the other noble dames of the city. Her answer wasa bitter laugh, and a declaration that she would mingle with thespectators in none but mourning robes. Thereupon her husband, pointingout to her the danger to which such conduct would expose them, hadraised objections, and she at last had seemed to yield. When Alexanderjoined her he had found her in a splendid dress of shining purplebrocade, her black hair crowned with a wreath of roses, and a splendiddiadem; a garland of roses hung across her bosom, and precious stonessparkled round her throat and arms. In short, she was arrayed like ahappy mother for her daughter's wedding-day.
Soon after Alexander's arrival Seleukus had come in, and thisconspicuously handsome dress, so unbecoming to the matron's age, andso unlike her usual attire-chosen, evidently, to put the monstrosity ofCaesar's demand in the strongest light--had roused her husband's wrath.He had expressed his dissatisfaction in strong terms, and again pointedout to her the danger in which such a daring demonstration might involvethem; but this time there was no moving the lady; she would not despoilherself of a single rose. After she had solemnly declared that shewould appear in the Circus either as she thought fit or not at all, herhusband had left her in anger.
"What a fool she is!" Euryale exclaimed.
Then she showed him a white robe of beautiful bombyx, woven in the isleof Kos, which she had decided on for Melissa, and a peplos with a borderof tender sea-green; and Alexander approved of the choice.
Time pressed, and Euryale went at once to Melissa with the new festalraiment. Once more she nodded kindly to the girl, and begged her, asshe herself had something to discuss with Alexander, to allow thewaiting-woman to dress her. She felt as if she were bringing the robeto a condemned creature, in which she was to be led to execution, andMelissa felt the same.
Euryale then returned to the painter, and bade him end his narrative.
The lady Berenike had forthwith desired Johanna to pack together all thedead Korinna's festal dresses. Alexander had then followed her guidance,accompanying her to a court in the slaves' quarters, where a numberof men were awaiting her. These were the captains of Seleukus's ships,which were now in port, and the superintendents of his granaries andoffices, altogether above a hundred freedmen in the merchant's service.Each one seemed to know what he was here for.
The matron responded to their hearty greetings with a word of thanks,and added, bitterly:
"You see before you a mourning mother whom a ruthless tyrant compels togo to a festival thus--thus--only look at me--bedizened like a peacock!"
At this the bearded assembly gave loud expression to theirdissatisfaction, but Berenike went on "Melapompus has taken care tosecure good places; but he has wisely not taken them all together. Youare all free men; I have no orders to give you. But, if you are indeedi
ndignant at the scorn and heart-ache inflicted on your lord's wife,make it known in the Circus to him who has brought them on her. You areall past your first youth, and will carefully avoid any rashness whichmay involve you in ruin. May the avenging gods aid and protect you!"
With this she had turned her back on the multitude; but Johannes, theChristian lawyer, the chief freedman of the household, had hurried intothe court-yard, just in time to entreat her to give up this ill-starreddemonstration, and to extinguish the fire she had tried to kindle.So long as Caesar wore the purple, rebellion against him, to whom theDivinity had intrusted the sovereignty, was a sin. The scheme she wasplotting was meant to punish him who had pained her; but she forgotthat it might cost these brave men, husbands and fathers, their life orliberty. The vengeance she called on them to take might be balm to thewounds of her own heart; but if Caesar in his wrath brought destructiondown on these, her innocent instruments, that balm would turn to burningpoison.
These words, whispered to her with entire conviction, had not beenwithout their effect. For some minutes Berenike had stared gloomily atthe ground; but then she had again approached the assembly, to repeatthe warning given her by the Christian, whom all respected, and by whomsome indeed had been persuaded to be baptized.
"Johannes is right," she ended. "This ill-used heart did wrong when itsent up its cry of anguish before you. Rather will I be trodden underfoot by the enemy, as is the manner of the Christians, than bringsuch misfortune on innocent men, who are so faithful to our house. Becautious, then. Give no overt expression to your feelings. Let each onewho feels too weak to control his wrath, avoid the Circus; and those whogo, keep still if they feel moved to act in my behalf. One thing onlyyou may do. Tell every one, far and wide, what I had purposed. Whatothers may do, they themselves must answer for."
The Christian had strongly disapproved of this last clause; but Berenikehad paid no heed, and had left the court-yard, followed by Alexander.
The shouts of the indignant multitude had rung in their ears, and, inspite of her warning, they had sounded like a terrible threat. Johannes,to be sure, had remained, to move them to moderation by furtherremonstrances.
"What were the mad creatures plotting?" Euryale anxiously broke in;and he hastily went on "They call Caesar by no name but Tarautas; everymouth is full of gibes and rage at the new and monstrous taxes, thebilleting of the troops, and the intolerable insolence of the soldiery,which Caracalla wickedly encourages. His contemptuous indifference hasdeeply offended the heads of the town. And then his suit to my sister!Young and old are wagging their tongues over it."
"It would be more like them to triumph in it," said the matron,interrupting him. "An Alexandrian in the purple, on the throne of theCaesars!"
"I too had hoped that," cried Alexander, "and it seemed so likely. Butwho can understand the populace? Every woman in the place, I should havethought, would hold her head higher, at the thought that an Alexandriangirl was empress; but it was from the women that I heard the mostvindictive and shameless abuse. I heard more than enough; for, as wegot closer to the Serapeum, the more slowly was the chariot obliged toproceed, to make its way through the crowd. And the things I heard! Iclinch my fists now as I only think of them.--And what will it be in theCircus? What will not Melissa have to endure!"
"It is envy," the matron murmured to herself; but she was immediatelysilent, for the young girl came toward them, out of the bedroom. Hertoilet was complete; the beautiful white dress became her well. Thewreath of roses, with diamond dewdrops, lay lightly on her hair, thesnake-shaped bracelet which her imperial suitor had sent her clasped herwhite arm, and her small head, somewhat bent, her pale, sweet face,and large, bashful, inquiring, drooping eyes formed such an engaging,modest, and unspeakably touching picture, that Euryale dared to hopethat even in the Circus none but hardened hearts could harbor a hostilefeeling against this gentle, pure blossom, slightly drooping withsilent sorrow. She could not resist the impulse to kiss Melissa, andthe half-formed purpose ripened within her to venture the utmost for thechild's protection. The pity in her heart had turned to love; and whenshe saw that to this sweet creature, at the mere sight of whom her heartwent forth, the most splendid jewels, in which any other girl would havebeen glad to deck herself, were as a heavy burden to be borne but sadly,she felt it a sacred duty to comfort her and lighten this trial,and shelter Melissa, so far as was in her power, from insult andhumiliation.
It was many years since she had visited the Amphitheater, where thehorrible butchery was an abomination to her; but to-day her heart badeher conquer her old aversion, and accompany the girl to the Circus.
Had not Melissa taken the place in her heart of her lost daughter? Wasnot she, Euryale, the only person who, by showing herself with Melissaand declaring herself her friend, could give the people assurance thatthe girl, who was exposed to misapprehension and odium by the favor shehad met with from the ruthless and hated sovereign, was in truth pureand lovable? Under her guardianship, by her side, the girl, as she knew,would be protected from misapprehension and insult; and she, an oldwoman and a Christian, should she evade the first opportunity of takingup a cross in imitation of the Divine Master, among whose followers shejoyfully counted herself--though secretly, for fear of men? All thisflashed through her mind with the swiftness of lightning, and her call,"Doris!" addressed to her waiting-woman, was so clear and unexpectedthat Melissa's overstrung nerves were startled. She looked up at thelady in amazement, as, without a word of explanation, she said to thewoman who had hurried in:
"The blue robe I wore at the festival of Adonis, my mother's diadem,and a large gem with the head of Serapis for my shoulder. My hair--oh,a veil will cover it! What does it matter for an old woman?--You, child,why do you look at me in such amazement? What mother would allow apretty young daughter to appear alone in the Circus? Besides, I maysurely hope that it will confirm your courage to feel that I am at yourside. Perhaps the populace may be moved a little in your favor if thewife of the high-priest of their greatest god is your companion."
But she could scarcely end her speech, for Melissa had flown into herarms, exclaiming, "And you will do this for me?" while Alexander, deeplytouched by gratitude and joy, kissed her thin arm and the hem of herpeplos.
While Melissa helped the matron to change her dress--in the next roomAlexander paced to and fro in great unrest. He knew the Alexandrians,and there was not the slightest doubt but that the presence of thisuniversally revered lady would make them look with kindlier eyes on hissister. Nothing else could so effectually impress them with the entirepropriety of her appearance in the Circus. The more seriously he hadfeared that Melissa might be deeply insulted and offended by the roughdemonstrations of the mob, the more gratefully did his heart beat; nay,his facile nature saw in this kind act the first smile of returning goodfortune.
He only longed to be hopeful once more, to enjoy the present--as so manyphilosophers and poets advised--and especially the show in the Circus,his last pleasure, perhaps; to forget the imminent future.
The old bright look came back to his face; but it soon vanished, foreven while he pictured himself in the amphitheatre, he remembered thatthere, too, his former acquaintances might refuse to speak to him; thatthe odious names of "Tarautas' brother-in-law" or of "traitor" might beshouted after him on the road. A cold chill came over him, and the imageof pretty Ino rose up before him--Ino, who had trusted in his love;and to whom, of all others, he had given cause to accuse him offalse-heartedness. An unpleasant sense came over him of dissatisfactionwith himself, such as he, who always regarded self-accusation,repentance, and atonement as a foolish waste of life, had never beforeexperienced.
The fine, sunny autumn day had turned to a sultry, dull evening, andAlexander went to the window to let the sea-breeze fan his dewy brow;but he soon heard voices behind him, for Euryale and Melissa hadre-entered the room, followed by the house-steward, who presented tohis mistress a sealed tablet which a slave had just brought fromPhilostratus. The women had been talki
ng of Melissa's vow; and Euryalehad promised her that, if Fate should decide against Caesar, she wouldconvey the girl to a place of safety, where she could certainly not bediscovered, and might look forward in peace to the future. Then she hadimpressed on her that, if things should be otherwise ordered, she mustendure even the unendurable with patience, as an obedient wife, asempress, but still ever conscious of the solemn and beneficent power shemight wield in her new position.
The tablets would now settle the question; and side by side the twowomen hastily read the missive which Philostratus had written on thewax, in his fine, legible hand. It was as follows:
"The condemned have ceased to live. Your efforts had no effect but tohasten their end. Caesar's desire was to rid you of adversaries evenagainst your will. Vindex and his nephew are no more; but I embarkedsoon enough to escape the rage of him who might have attained thehighest favors of fortune if he had but known how to be merciful."
"God be praised!--but alas, poor Vindex!" cried Euryale, as she laiddown the tablets. But Melissa kissed her, and then exclaimed to herbrother:
"Now all doubts are at an end. I may fly. He himself has settled thematter!"
Then she added, more gently, but still urgently "Do you take care of myfather, and Philip, and of yourself. The lady Euryale will protect me.Oh, how thankful am I!"
She looked up to heaven with fervent devotion Euryale whispered to them:"My plan is laid. As soon as the performance is over, Alexander shalltake you home, child, to your father's house; you must go in one ofCaesar's chariots. Afterward come back here with your brother; I willwait for you below. But now we will go together to the Circus, and candiscuss the details on our way. You, my young friend, go now and orderaway the imperial litter; bid my steward to have the horses put to mycovered harmamaxa. There is room in it for us all three."
By the time Alexander returned, the daylight was waning, and the clatterof the chariots began to be audible which conveyed Caesar's court to theCircus.