X.
MELKARTH.
Two moons had waxed and waned; Pacuvius Calavius had dined in hiswinter triclinium for the first time this year, and Marcia wasrejoicing at the omen. She watched her host, as he lay back upon hiscouch, and noted with pity the change that had come over him. When hehad greeted her coming, he had seemed not very much past middle age--abrisk man, well preserved in mind and body. Now he was old--veryold--and the pallor and wrinkles were prominent through the flush ofthe wine and the paint with which he strove to hide them. Even hisambition was dead; he hardly sought the Senate House, but, stoppingwithin doors, maundered querulously and unceasingly to Marcia, to hisservants, to any one who would listen to him, of the blunders that werebeing made, and of how war and negotiations should be conducted,speaking always as a man for whom such things had no personal interest.The diadem of Italy that had once blinded his eyes to good faith andoaths of alliance, had melted away in the flames of the pyre thatconsumed his son. As for Marcia, she had come to regard him withsomething of that indulgent consideration which we feel for the agedand infirm. His former attitude toward herself, which had filled herwith contempt and disgust, had vanished utterly, and, in its place, wasa fatherly kindness that had now no nearer object upon which to lavishitself. As for the household, what little discipline had oncepertained, was gone. The slaves were no longer punished, and,slavelike, they presumed upon their master's gentleness orindifference. They pilfered right and left; they neglected duties andorders; until, at last, a large measure of the care of her host and hishouse devolved upon Marcia alone; and Marcia, also, had softened andgrown kindlier, and was as slow to ask for punishments as was Calaviusto decree them. They seemed like two who were awaiting death, andwould not add to the measure of human misery, knowing, from their own,how great this was.
"Let them enjoy a false freedom for a few days longer," said Calavius."Soon we shall be gone, and then--who knows? I have no heirs, and thestate may not deal so kindly with them." Strangely enough, he seemedalways to assume Marcia's coming death along with his own; and when shegazed into her mirror, its story moulded well with that reflected inthe mirror of her thoughts.
She had grown thin--very thin--and pale, and her eyes burned, large andluminous, as with the fires of fever. Her lips, too, were redder eventhan when the blood had tinted them with hues of more perfect vigour.
Hannibal had continued to preserve the attitude of respectfulconsideration which had marked his demeanour on that day of which theynever spoke. He still greeted Calavius as, "father," when he came toask about his health, and on the days when he did not come, he sentsome Carthaginian of rank, generally Iddilcar, to make courteousinquiries in his stead.
Calavius, on the other hand, complained continuously of theschalischim's delay, and Hannibal listened with downcast face, frowningto himself, and made no answer except that he was the servant of thegods. Marcia's presence he entirely ignored. Still, he spent littleof his time in Capua, and of this Calavius was now speaking.
"Truly did you note the news we have received to-day, my daughter? Twoof the new engines destroyed before Casilinum!--Casilinum, forsooth!--apaltry village, against which the Capuan children would hardly deign tomarch! It is Rome--Rome--Rome that calls--and this great general, thisconqueror, sits down before Nuceria, Acerrae, Nola, Casilinum. Soon,mark me," and his eyes gleamed prophetic, "Rome will sit down beforeCapua: and then, receive thou me, O Death, who art my friend andwell-wisher!"
Marcia wondered at this vehemence, so different from his manner throughall these weeks.
"But the omens, my father," she said, after a moment's pause. "I haveheard that the gods of Carthage forbid the march north. Perhaps theyfear to contend with the gods of Rome at the foot of their own hills."
"Tush! girl," exclaimed Calavius, impatiently. "Who does not know thatthe gods say such words as their thievish priests filch from them.Mark now this fellow that comes from the captain-general. Do you notsee how the fingers of his left hand clutch and unclutch? WereHannibal to crucify him and a few like, his gods might utter morefavouring responses. Meanwhile, our engines that should thunder atyour Capenian Gate are consumed before mud heaps; and who knows but allthe time some tree grows stouter that it may bear the weight of thisHannibal, the slave of gods that should be taught their place and theirduties."
Marcia, despite her complicity, listened, shuddering, to thesesacrilegious words; and, mingled with her shrinking from a philosophythat dared to talk of the immortals as mere means to be used or castaside as human ends might dictate, was a terror lest similar reasoningshould at last find place in Hannibal's mind and thus bring to naughther aims and her sacrifices. It was easy to see how the general chafedat the unwonted delay, and with what willingness he listened whenanother spoke the words which he himself dared not utter.
Calavius had but just finished his tirade when they both turned at aslight noise and saw Iddilcar standing in the entrance of the room.How long he had been there--what he had heard, neither knew, but hisface wore the subtle smile which, though well-nigh native to its lines,yet seemed always to bear some hidden import.
"The favour of Melkarth and of the Baalim be with you!" he said softly."Your servants, my Pacuvius, are not over-well trained. There was nooffer to bear word of my coming--no offer of attendance. The porterhardly deigned to swing the door for me."
Marcia, knowing Iddilcar as she did, was prompt to take this speech inthe light of an explanation of his eavesdropping; but the once sharpintelligence of Calavius had been too much deadened to search forsecondary meanings.
"I am an old man, priest," he said querulously. "Why should I leavestripes and crying behind me?"
Iddilcar shrugged his shoulders. "That may be," he replied, "but if wehad such servants as yours in Carthage we should send their shadesahead of us."
He had indeed deftly parried any attack or inquiry. Then, suddenly,and of his own accord, he turned back to strike.
"And so you have been condemning the piety of the schalischim? theintegrity of the college of priests? the truth of the gods themselves,for aught I know? Have a care!"--he was lashing himself into afury--"I have listened to your words. If I reported them, how longbefore you would both be sent to Carthage to keep comradeship with thatterrible fellow, Decius Magius? Have care! have care lest the godsstrike through me, their servant. Nevertheless the gods are mercifulto those who bring offerings--peace-offerings of gold and jewels andraiment and spices. Come, what will you give me that I smother theirwrath--I, Iddilcar, your friend, whom you speak ill of behind hisback--whom you hate---yes, both of you;" and his eyes flashed at Marciawith a strange recklessness that she had never seen in them.
Wondering and terrified, she listened to his outburst of rage, butCalavius heard it calmly, and answered, without troubling himself toprobe its import.
"You shall have a talent of silver and such jewels as you choose," hesaid, rising. "I will go and give the orders."
"Orders!" sneered the other; but to Marcia it seemed that the word andlook covered suspicion at the ready acquiescence of the Capuan.
"Then I will go with you and see that these orders are obeyed. Come;ah!--" and he turned to Marcia; "and will you be here when I return? Iwish to speak with you."
She inclined her head, still wondering, and when they had left the roomher wonder deepened. Surely a change had taken place. A Carthaginianwas always said to love money, but for Iddilcar to seek to obtain it bysuch crude and violent means, from a man whom his general professed tohonour and protect, seemed to augur something of which she knew not.Either Hannibal's protection was to be, for some reason, withdrawn, orelse?--but what else could embolden the priest to such license? Thelook, too, with which he had regarded herself! She had restrained himwith some difficulty during the past months, but now she feltinstinctively that her control had vanished. Even violence seemednear; for that Iddilcar could be fool enough to dream that his mererepetition of the words he had listened to, would enr
age Hannibal, shedid not for a moment believe. The general had heard the same fromCalavius, face to face, and had only frowned and bit his lips behindhis beard, as if feeling their justice. What, then, could havehappened?
"Ah! you are still here."
She looked up quickly, and saw that the priest had returned alone. Hewent on, speaking quickly and nervously, but in low tones:--
"The time has come. And so you were thinking, thinking of what? Wasit rejoicing that Tanis was to give you to me so soon?" and he showedhis teeth, like a dog. "Listen: they suspect me. I have done all asyou wished, but there was a council to-day in the camp beforeCasilinum, and Maharbal fell on his knees, as he did after Cannae, andbegged to march north,--not with the cavalry alone, as then; he knew itwas too late for that: and the schalischim knit his brows and frowned.Then Hasdrubal and Karthalo added their prayers and pleadings,gathering around him, and then he turned his sombre face to me, andasked if it was permitted; but, before I could answer, for my mind wasdisturbed, that animal whom they call, 'The Fighter' had drawn hissword and held it over my head, crying out: 'Yes, friends, it ispermitted--see! It is permitted;' and then I felt myself grow pale,and I heard the great beast laugh. A moment later and Hannibal hadordered him to put up his sword, and I saw Maharbal whispering quickwords in the general's ear, among which it seemed to me that his lipsformed your name. Again, Hannibal asked: 'Is it permitted, Iddilcar?or what sacrifice will your lord have from us? Have we not served himfaithfully? Is there aught he wishes?' and I felt all their eyes onme; but, above all, were yours that were soon to smile. Therefore Itook courage, which the lord Melkarth granted, and spoke boldly,explaining that I had as yet been able to win no favour, though I hadprayed long and fasted and lashed myself with thongs, whereuponHannibal-the-Fighter made as if to tear off my mantle, laughing in hisbeard; and when I saw they did not believe me, my terror came back.Then it was that Melkarth shed wisdom upon his servant, and, after amoment's thought, I spoke up, thus:--
"'Listen, lords,' I said; 'I am a native Carthaginian, like you all,and I reverence the gods. Howbeit it may chance that here, beyond thesea, it is not so easy to win their favour, so that they shall gobefore us. New and strange sacrifices and pleadings wherein I amuntaught may be needed to pierce the denser ether of this land. Truly,lords, as ye have not failed in piety, neither have I erred indivination, for Melkarth has spoken many times, telling me of theunnumbered woes that would overwhelm the army if it marched upon Romeunbidden, and he hath spoken truth, and I have saved you to revile mefor it--only I would learn if there be yet speech better fitted to hisear.' I paused, and they were silent, wondering. Then I spoke on:'Grant me, lords, three days, that I may journey to Cumae; for I haveheard that a woman dwells there, wise in the ways of the gods, and, ifI bear her rich presents, it may happen that she will teach me thewords that shall pierce this dull air, even to where Baal-Melkarth sitsenthroned in Mappalia, that he may grant all your wishes.' So Icrossed my arms upon my breast, and, bowing my head, listened. 'AtCumae?' growled Jubellius Taurea, who sat near me, 'say, rather, at thehouse of Pacuvius Calavius,' and I felt myself trembling, for then Iknew surely that I had heard Maharbal aright, and that I was suspected.Still, I stood fast, and at last Hannibal spoke: 'Go to Cumae for threedays,' he said sternly. 'Take what you wish--one talent, two, three;only bring back the words that shall win favour;' and Hasdrubal added:'And harken! lord; if you win not favour, we shall yet march, andperadventure you shall come with us--if they drive not the nails toodeep;' but there was an outcry at this, for they trembled lest Melkarthshould smite them, and Hasdrubal spoke again, grumbling: 'Ah, masters,you have not seen soldiers as I have seen them, becoming bloated withwine and food, and soft in the arms of courtesans;' but Hannibalinterrupted him, crying out to me again: 'Go!--go! There is littletime for the march, and it may be we are already too late. Go and doall things so that the lord, Baal-Melkarth, shall favour us.' So Iwent out, and, having taken their talents, I am here. This old sheephas disgorged another talent together with gems. Therefore come nowand we shall escape hence."
Marcia saw a dimness before her, amid which his jewels and braceletsand earrings seemed to mingle strange glancings with the fires thatburned in his eyes. At last she faltered:--
"But your work?--it is not finished. How shall I know?--if I go withyou?--"
The rings on his hand were sinking deep into her wrist; his lips wereclose to her ear.
"Ah! you will not go? You will play with me--deceive me? Listen now.To-morrow I shall be here with horses and money--in the morning--veryearly--before light; and you will go like a little bird that is tamed.These days will give us time to gain more, if more be needed. Look! Ihave hazarded all. Shall I lose my reward now because my work beunfinished by ever so little? It may be that, having gone, I shall notreturn. Do you think I will leave you here to laugh at me? You willgo, or, to-morrow, Baal-Melkarth shall speak the word, and, beforemidday, Hannibal shall give orders to march to Rome. Why do you thinkI have gathered this wealth? Look! I have risked all for it, and youshall not escape."
Exhausted by his rapid vehemence, he stood back, breathing hard andtrying to smile.
"Ah! moon of Tanis, you will come," he murmured, holding out his arms."We shall escape to Sicily--to Greece--to Egypt--to the far East. Weshall be rich with the spoils of fools--"
A slight scraping noise came to their ears, and both started. Iddilcarsprang swiftly to the entrance of the room, but the lamp in the hallhad gone out, and his eyes saw nothing in the darkness. Uncertain whatto do, he looked back to where Marcia stood, pale and rigid. His voiceand hands trembled as he repeated in a loud whisper:--
"You will come? You will be ready?"
"Yes," she said, "I will come;" but she did not look at him, as shespoke, only she caught the triumphant gleam of his eyes; a thousandweird lights seemed to whirl around her, and she felt herself sinking.It seemed, for a moment, as if a slave in a gray tunic was supportingher, and then all consciousness fled.