CHAPTER VIII.
The sleepless wretch on whom some trouble has fallen, so long as nightsurrounds him, sees his future life as a boundless sea in which he issailing round and round like a shipwrecked man, but when the darknessyields, the new and helpful day shows him a boat for escape close athand, and friendly shores in the distance.
The unfortunate Pollux also awoke towards morning with sighs many anddeep; for it seemed to him that last evening he had ruined his wholefuture prospects. The workshop of his former master was henceforthclosed to him, and he no longer possessed even all the tools requisitefor the exercise of his art.
Only yesterday he had hoped with happy confidence to establish himselfon a footing of his own, to-day this seemed impossible, for themost indispensable means were lacking to him. As he felt his littlemoney-bag, which he was wont to place under his pillow, he could notforbear smiling in spite of all his troubles, for his fingers sank intothe flaccid leather, and found only two coins, one of which he knewalas! was of copper, and the dried merry-thought bone of a fowl, whichhe had saved to give to his little nieces.
Where was he to find the money he was accustomed to give his sister onthe first day of every month? Papias was on friendly terms with all thesculptors of the city, and it was only to be expected that he would warnthem against him, and do his best to make it difficult to him to finda new place as assistant. His old master had also been witness ofHadrian's anger against him, and was quite the man to take everyadvantage of what he had overheard. It is never a recommendation for anyone that he is an object of dislike to the powerful, and least of alldoes it help him with those who look for the favor and gifts of thegreat men of the world. When Hadrian should think proper to throwoff his disguise, it might easily occur to him to let Pollux feel theeffects of his power. Would it not be wise in him to quit Alexandria andseek work or daily bread in some other Greek city?
But for Arsinoe's sake he could not turn his back on his native place.He loved her with all the passion of his artist's soul, and his youthfulcourage would certainly not have been so quickly and utterly crushedif he could have deluded himself as to the fact that his hopes ofpossessing her had been driven into the remote background by theevents of the preceding evening. How could he dare to drag her into hisuncertain and compromised position? And what reception could he hope forfrom her father if he should now attempt to demand her for his wife. Asthese thoughts overpowered his mind he suddenly felt as if his eyeswere smarting with sand that had blown into them, and he could not helpspringing out of bed; he paced his little room with long steps, and heheld his forehead pressed against the wall.
The dawn of a new day appeared as a welcome comfort, and by the time hehad eaten the morning porridge which his mother set before him--andher eyes were red with weeping--the idea struck him that he would go toPontius, the architect. That was the lifeboat he espied.
Doris shared her son's breakfast but, contrary to her usual custom, shespoke very little, only she frequently passed her hand over her son'scurly hair. Euphorion strode up and down the room, rummaging his brainfor ideas for an ode in which he might address the Emperor and imploreforgiveness for his son. Soon after breakfast Pollux went up to therotunda where the Queens' busts stood, hoping to see Arsinoe again,and a loud snatch of song soon brought her out on to the balcony. Theyexchanged greetings, and Pollux signed to her to come down to him. Shewould have obeyed him more than gladly, but her father had also heardthe sculptor's voice and drove her back into the room. Still the meresight of his beloved fair one had done the artist good. Hardly had hegot back to his father's little house when Antinous came saunteringin--he represented in the artist's mind the hospitable shores on whichhe might gaze. Hope revived his soul, and Hope is the sun before whichdespair flies as the shades of night flee at the rising of the day-star.
His artistic faculties were once more roused into play, and found afield for their freest exercise when Antinous told him that he was athis disposal till mid-day, since his master--or rather Caesar as he wasnow permitted to name him--was engaged in business. The prefect Titianushad come to him with a whole heap of papers, to work with him and hisprivate secretary. Pollux at once led the favorite into a side room ofthe little house, with a northern aspect; here on a table lay the waxand the smaller implements which belonged to himself and which he hadbrought home last evening. His heart ached, and his nerves were in apainful state of tension as he began his work. All sorts of anxiousthoughts disturbed his spirit, and yet he knew that if he put his wholesoul into it he could do something good. Now, if ever, he must put forthhis best powers, and he dreaded failure as an utter catastrophe, for onthe face of the whole earth there was no second model to compare withthis that stood before him.
But he did not take long to collect himself for the Bithynian's beautyfilled him with profound feeling and it was with a sort of piousexaltation that he grasped the plastic material and moulded it into aform resembling his sitter. For a whole hour not a word passed betweenthem, but Pollux often sighed deeply and now then a groan of painfulanxiety escaped him.
Antinous broke the silence to ask Pollux about Selene. His heart wasfull of her, and there was no other man who knew her, and whom he couldventure to entrust with his secret. Indeed it was only to speak toher that he had come to the artist so early. While Pollux modelled andscraped Antinous told him of all that had happened the previous night.He lamented having lost the silver quiver when he was upset into thewater and regretted that the rose-colored chiton should afterwardshave suffered a reduction in length at the hands of his pursuer. Anexclamation of surprise, a word of sympathy, a short pause in themovement of his hand and tool, were all the demonstration on theartist's part, to which the story of Selene's adventure and the loss ofhis master's costly property gave rise; his whole attention was absorbedin his occupation. The farther his work progressed the higher rose hisadmiration for his model. He felt as if intoxicated with noble wineas he worked to reproduce this incarnation of the ideal of umblemishedyouthful and manly beauty. The passion of artistic procreation firedhis blood, and threw every thing else--even the history of Selene's fallinto the sea, and her subsequent rescue--into the region of commonplace.Still he had not been inattentive, and what he heard must have had someeffect in his mind; for long after Antinous had ended his narrative, hesaid in a low voice and as if speaking to the bust, which was alreadyassuming definite form:
"It is a wonderful thing!" and again a little later; "There was alwayssomething grand in that unhappy creature."
He had worked without interruption for nearly four hours, when standingback from the table, he looked anxiously, first at his work and then atAntinous, and then asked him:
"How will that do?"
The Bithynian gave eager expression to his approbation, and Pollux had,in fact, done wonders in the short time. The wax began to display in amuch reduced scale the whole figure of the beautiful youth and in thevery same attitude which the young Dionysus carried off by the pirates,had assumed the day before. The incomparable modelling of the favorite'slimbs and form was soft but not effeminate; and, as Pollux had said tohimself the day before, no artist in his happiest mood, could conceivethe Nysaean god as different from this.
While the sculptor in order to assure himself of the accuracy of hiswork was measuring his model's limbs with wooden compasses and lengthsof tape, the sound of chariot-wheels was heard at the gate of thepalace, and soon after the yelping of the Graces. Doris called to thedogs to be quiet and another high-pitched woman's voice mingled withhers. Antinous listened and what he heard seemed to be somewhat out ofthe common for he suddenly quitted the position in which the sculptorhad placed him only a few minutes before, ran to the window and calledto Pollux in a subdued voice:
"It is true! I am not mistaken! There is Hadrian's wife Sabina talkingout there to your mother."
He had heard rightly; the Empress had come to Lochias to seek out herhusband. She had got out of the chariot at the gate of the old palacefor the paving of the court
-yard would not be completed before thatevening.
Dogs, of which her husband was so fond, she detested; the shrewd beastsreturned her aversion, so dame Doris found it more difficult than usualto succeed in reducing her disobedient pets to silence when they flewviciously at the stranger. Sabina terrified, vehemently desired the oldwoman to release her from their persecution, while the chamberlainwho had come with her and on whom she was leaning kicked out at theirrepressible little wretches and so increased their spite. At last theGraces withdrew into the house. Dame Doris drew a deep breath and turnedto the Empress.
She did not suspect who the stranger was for she had never seen Sabinaand had formed quite a different idea of her.
"Pardon me good lady," she said in her frank confiding manner. "Thelittle rascals mean no harm and never bite even a beggar, but they nevercould endure old women. Whom do you seek here mother?"
"That you shall soon know," replied Sabina sharply, "what a state ofthings, Lentulus, your architect Pontius' work has brought about. Andwhat must the inside be like if this but is left standing to disgracethe entrance of the palace! It must go with its inhabitants. Desire thatwoman to conduct us to the Roman lord who dwells here."
The chamberlain obeyed and Doris began to suspect who was standingbefore her, and she said as she smoothed down her dress and bowed low:
"What great honor befalls us illustrious lady; perhaps you are even theEmperor's wife? If that be the case--"
Sabina made an impatient sign to the chamberlain who interrupted the oldwoman exclaiming:
"Be silent and show us the way."
Doris was not feeling particularly strong that day, and her eyes alreadyred with weeping about her son again filled with tears. No one had everspoken so to her before, and yet, for her son's sake she would not repaysharp words in the same coin, though she had plenty at her command.
She tottered on in front of Sabina, and conducted her to the hall of theMuses. There Pontius relieved her of the duty, and the respect he paidto the stranger made her sure that in fact she was none other than theEmpress in person.
"An odious woman!" said Sabina, as she went on pointing to Doris, whomher words could not escape. This was too much for the old woman; pastall self-control she flung herself on to a seat that was standing by,covered her face with her hands and began crying bitterly. She felt asif the very ground were snatched from under her feet.
Her son was in disgrace with Caesar, and she and her house werethreatened by the most powerful woman in the world. She pictured herselfas already turned into the streets with Euphorion and her dogs, andasked herself what was to become of them all when they had lost theirplace and the roof that covered them. Her husband's memory grew dailyweaker, soon his voice even might fail; and how greatly had her ownstrength failed during the last few years, how small were the savingsthat were hidden in their chest. The bright, genial old woman feltquite broken down. What hurt her was, not merely the pressing need thatthreatened her, but the disgrace too which would fall upon her, thedislike she had incurred--she who had been liked by every one from heryouth up--and the painful feeling of having been treated with scorn andcontempt in the presence of others by the powerful lady whose favor shehad hoped to win.
At Sabina's advent all good spirits had fled from Lochias, so at leastDoris felt, but she was not one of those who succumb helplessly to ahostile force. For a few minutes she abandoned herself to her sorrowsand sobbed like a child. Now she dried her eyes, and her eased heartfelt the beneficial relief of tears; by degrees she could composeherself and think calmly.
"After all," said she to herself, "none but Caesar can command here, andit is said that he gets on but badly with his spiteful wife, and caresvery little what she wishes. Hadrian let Pollux feel his power, but hehas always been friendly to me. My dogs and birds amused him, and did henot even do me the honor to relish a dish out of my kitchen? No, no, ifonly I can succeed in speaking with him alone all may yet be well," andthus thinking she rose from her seat.
As she was about to quit the anteroom the art dealer, Gabinius, ofNicaea, came in, to whom Keraunus had refused to sell the mosaic in thepalace, and whose daughter had been deprived by Arsinoe of the part ofRoxana. Pontius had desired him to come to the palace and he had madehis appearance at once, for, since the evening before, a rumor had beenafloat that the Emperor was staying in Alexandria, and was inhabitingthe palace at Loehias. Whence it was derived, or on what facts it wassupported no one could say; but there it was, passing from mouth tomouth in every circle and acquiring certainty every hour. Of all thatgrows on earth nothing grows so quickly as Rumor, and yet it is amiserable foundling that never knows its own parents.
The dealer pushed on into the palace with a glance of astonishment atthe old woman, while Doris debated whether see should seek Hadrian thenand there, or return to her little gate-House, and wait till he shouldat some time be going out of the palace and passing by her dwelling.Before she could come to any decision Pontius appeared on the scene; hehad always been very kind to her, and she therefore ventured to addresshim and tell him what had occurred between her son and the Emperor. Thiswas no novelty to the architect; he advised her to have patience tillHadrian should have cooled, and he promised her that later he would doevery thing in his power for Pollux, whom he loved and esteemed. On thisvery day he was obliged by Caesar's command to start on a journey andfor a long absence; his destination was Pelusium, where he was to erecta monument to the great Pompey on the spot where he had been murdered.Hadrian, as he passed the old ruined monument on his way from MountKasius to Egypt, had determined to replace it by a new one, and hadentrusted the work to Pontius whose labors at Lochias were now nearlyended. All that might yet be lacking to the fitting of the restoredpalace Hadrian himself wished to select and procure and in thisoccupation so agreeable to his tastes, Gabinius, the curiosity-dealer,was to lend him a helping hand.
While Doris was still speaking with Pontius, Hadrian and his wife cametowards the anteroom. Hardly had the architect recognized the tones ofSabina's voice, than he hastily said in a low voice:
"Till by-and-bye this must do, dame. Stand aside; Caesar and the Empressare coming."
And he hastened away. Doris slipped into the doorway of a side room,which was closed only by a heavy curtain, for at that moment she wouldas soon have met a raging wild beast as the haughty lady from whom shehad nothing to expect but insult and unkindness. Hadrian's interviewwith his wife had lasted barely a quarter of an hour, and it must havebeen anything rather than amiable, for his face was scarlet, whileSabina's lips were perfectly white, and her painted cheeks twitched witha restless movement. Doris was too much excited and terrified to listento the royal couple, still she overheard these words uttered by theEmperor in a tone of the utmost decision.
"In small matters and where it is fitting I let you have your way;more important things I shall this time, as always, decide by my ownjudgment--my own exclusively."
These words were fraught with the fate of the gatehouse and itsinhabitants, for the removal of the "hideous hut" at the entrance of thepalace was one of the "small matters" of which Hadrian spoke. Sabinahad required this concession, since it could not be pleasant to any onevisiting Lochias to be received on the threshold by an old Megaera ofevil omen, and to be fallen upon by infuriated dogs. But Doris so littledivined the import of Hadrian's words that she rejoiced at them,for they told her how little he was disposed to yield to his wife inimportant things, and how could she suspect that her fate and that ofher house should not be included among important matters, nay the mostimportant?
Sabina had quitted the anteroom leaning on her chamberlain and Hadrianwas standing there alone with his slave Mastor. The old woman would notbe likely to have another such favorable opportunity of supplicatingthe all-powerful man who stood before her, without the hindrance ofwitnesses, to exercise his magnaminity and clemency towards her son. Hisback turned to her; if she could have seen the threatening scowl withwhich he stood gazing on the ground she would sure
ly have remembered thearchitect's warning and have postponed her address till a future day.
How often do we spoil our best chances by following an urgent instinctto arrive at certainty as early as possible, and by not being strongenough to postpone opening our business till a favorable moment offers.Uncertainty in the present often seems less endurable than adverse fatein the future.
Doris stepped out of the side door. Mastor, who knew his master well,and whose friendly impulse was to spare the old woman any humiliation,made eager signs to warn her to withdraw and not to disturb Hadrian atthat moment; but she was so wholly possessed by her anxiety and wishesthat she did not observe them. As the Emperor turned to leave the roomshe gathered courage, stood in the doorway through which he must pass,and tried to fall on her knees before him. This was a difficult effortto her old joints and Doris was forced to clutch at the door-post inorder not to lose her balance.
Hadrian at once recognized the suppliant, but to-day he found no kindword for her, and the glance he cast down at her was anything ratherthan gracious. How had he ever been able to find amusement even in thiswoeful old body? Alas! poor Doris was quite a different creature in herlittle house, among her flowers, dogs and birds to what she seemed herein the spacious hall of a magnificent palace. This wide and gorgeousframe but ill-suited so modest a figure. Thousands of good people who inthe midst of their everyday surroundings command our esteem and attractour regard give rise to very different feelings when they are taken outof the circle to which they belong.
Doris had never worn so unpleasing an aspect to Hadrian as at thisinstant, in this decisive moment of her life. She had followed theEmpress straight from the kitchen-hearth just as she was after passing asleepless night and full of her many anxieties, she had scarcely set hergrey hair in order, and her kind bright eyes, usually the best featureof her face, were red with many tears. The neat brisk little motherlooked to-day anything rather than smart and bright; in the Emperor'seyes she was in no way distinguished from any other old woman, and heregarded all old women as of evil omen, if he met them as he went out ofany place he was in.
"Oh, Caesar, Great Caesar!" cried Doris throwing up her hands whichstill bore many traces of her labors over the hearth. "My son, myunfortunate Pollux!"
"Out of my way!" said Hadrian sternly.
"He is an artist, a good artist, who already excels many a master, andif the gods--"
"Out of the way, I told you. I do not want to hear anything about theinsolent fellow," said Hadrian angrily.
"But Great Caesar, he is my son, and a mother, as you know--"
"Mastor," interrupted the monarch, "carry away this old woman and makeway for me."
"Oh! my lord, my lord!" wailed the agonized woman while the slave pulledher up, not without difficulty. "Oh! my lord, how can you find it inyour heart to be so cruel? And am I no longer old Doris whom you haveeven joked with, and whose food you have eaten?"
These words recalled to the Emperor's fancy the moment of his arrival atLochias; he felt that he was somewhat in the old woman's debt, and beingwont to pay with royal liberality he broke in with:
"You shall be paid for your excellent dish a sum with which you canpurchase a new house, for the future your maintenance too shall beprovided for, but in three hours you must have quitted Lochias."
The Emperor spoke rapidly as though desirous of bringing a disagreeablebusiness to a prompt termination, and he stalked past Doris who was nowstanding on her feet and leaning as if stunned against the doorpost.Indeed if Hadrian had not left her there and had he been in the mood tohear her farther, she was not now in a fit state to answer him anotherword.
The Emperor received the honors due to Zeus and his fiat had ruined thehappiness of a contented home as completely as the thunderbolt wieldedby the Father of the gods could have done.
But this time Doris had no tears. The frightful shock that had fallenin her soul was perceptible also to her body; her knees shook, and beingquite incapable just then of going home at once, she sunk upon a seatand stared hopelessly before her while she reflected what next, and whatmore would come upon her.
Meanwhile the Emperor was standing in a room just behind the antechamberthat had only been finished a few hours since. He began to regret hishardness upon the old woman--for had she not, without knowing who hewas, been most friendly to him and to his favorite. "Where is Antinous?"he asked Mastor.
"He went out to the gate-house."
"What is he doing there?"
"I believe he meant--there, perhaps he--"
"The truth, fellow!"
"He is with Pollux the sculptor."
"Has he been there long?"
"I do not exactly know."
"How long, I ask you?"
"He went after you had shut yourself in with Titianus."
"Three hours--three whole hours has he been with that braggart, whomI ordered off the premises!" Hadrian's eye sparkled wrathfully as hespoke. His annoyance at the absence of his favorite, whose societyhe permitted no one to enjoy but himself, and least of all Pollux,smothered every kind feeling in his mind, and in a tone of angerbordering on fury he commanded Mastor to go and fetch Antinous, and thento have the gate-house utterly cleared out.
"Take a dozen slaves to help you," he cried. "For aught I care thepeople may carry all their rubbish into a new house, but I will neverset eyes again on that howling old woman, nor her imbecile husband. Asfor the sculptor I will make him feel that Caesar has a heavy foot andcan unexpectedly crush a snake that creeps across his path."
Mastor went sadly away and Hadrian returned to his work-room, and therecalled out to his secretary Phlegon:
"Write that a new gate-keeper is to be found for this palace. Euphorion,the old one, is to have his pay continued to him, and half a talent isto be paid to him at the prefect's office. Good--Let the man have atonce whatever is necessary; in an hour neither he nor his are to befound in Lochias. Henceforth no one is to mention them to me again, norto bring me any petition from them. Their whole race may join the restof the dead."
Phlegon bowed and said:
"Gabinius, the curiosity-dealer, waits outside."
"He comes at an appropriate moment," cried the Emperor. "After all thesevexations it will do me good to hear about beautiful things."