Quintus Claudius: A Romance of Imperial Rome. Volume 2

  CHAPTER XV.

  It was late in the afternoon, when Cornelia woke from her swoon-likesleep. She felt crushed and racked in every limb, and her head achedmadly. She rose and went into the next room. The slave-girls were gone,and in the inner room she heard a clatter as of laying the table. Sheopened the door, and saw the two girls busy, with two Nubians dressedin yellow, in arranging a supper with costly Murrhina vessels, cups,wine-jugs, and flower-vases. The five-branched lamp that hung from theceiling was lighted, and she could see that the walls were coloredbright-red, while beautiful figures of the gods, each a masterpiece,stood out from this strong background. All the furniture was of puresilver, richly and tastefully wrought; particularly the couches, whichwere of fine incised work, and covered with sky-blue cushions.

  As she stood there a trap-door opened in the marble floor--the head andshoulders of a slave came up through it, and a fresh load of flowers,just gathered, were taken from him by the two slave-girls.

  "What does all this mean?" asked Cornelia.

  "It means, my pretty one," said a voice in Greek, close at her elbow,"that it is nearly supper-time, and that Caesar will do you the greathonor of permitting you to eat at the same table with himself."

  She turned round, and before her, in full dress, stood Parthenius.

  "Such a favor is quite unmerited," said Cornelia, summoning up all hercourage. "I am wearied, worn out, almost too ill...."

  "Oh! the presence of the sovereign works wonders. Be fresh and gay,Cornelia. True wisdom is at home everywhere. Only children and old menpout to get their own way."

  "But do you consider of what crime I am accused? Caesar derogates fromhis majesty, by sitting at table with a criminal."

  "Oh! but clemency is the prerogative of the crown. One word from thesovereign wipes out any crime."

  He nodded significantly, and went back into the outer room. Corneliastood at if rooted to the spot; but presently, recovering her presenceof mind, she rushed after Parthenius. She threw herself on the groundbefore him, and clasped his knees.

  "Let me go, take me away again--back to prison--straight toexecution--wherever you will; only away from that hated presence, thathideous fate! Have pity, have mercy, Parthenius."

  The courtier shrugged his shoulders.

  "You take the matter too hardly," he said, raising her politely."Be brave, and divest yourself of all prejudice. The situation is asimple one. Your lover has fallen under the law; what then can youlose, by raising the veil of maidenly coyness a little? Moreover, athoughtless speech has placed you in a position to fear unpleasantconsequences. These of course will be spared, if you show yourselfamenable to--reason. Nay, if for old attachment's sake, you feel anystrong desire to save that perverse Quintus Claudius from the lastextremity, even in this--I am well assured--Caesar's clemency may beeasily obtained if--of course.... You understand."

  At every word, that Parthenius spoke, Cornelia turned colder and paler.The choice, then, that lay before her was between the last disgrace,that could befall a woman and a Roman--and the death of the man sheloved, ah! so passionately. Both were alike unbearable--and now, asthis was borne in upon her consciousness, she felt clearly that a thirdalternative must at any risk be attempted--even if it were the maddestever dreamed of by mortal creature. And for that she must gain time;she must detain Caesar, put him off, seem to fall into his horribletrap, deceive him, entangle him.--Some good genius would suggest toher how, where, and when the chance for safety offered. Despair is soingenious, and makes us so cool, so steady, so keen-sighted.

  Parthenius supposed that Cornelia's calm reflections were the result ofhis worldly-wise harangue.

  "Yes, my child," he went on, "that is how matters stand, and you willdo well to reckon with the factors as they are given you. Do youthink you know Rome, my good Cornelia? Nay--you only know the narrow,cross-grained, little world, that your uncle chose you should see.If you had eyes for all that goes on round you, you would make nodifficulties. Did not Julia enjoy the most splendid position, althoughher connection with Caesar was a breach of morals, as it is called? Isthere anywhere in good society a single married woman, who has not adozen of lovers? And do the clients and slaves bow less low before her?Men must live their lives."

  Cornelia's heart sickened in loathing of the man, but she looked himsteadily in the face.

  "What?" she asked with affected innocence; "would it, do you think, beno sin before the gods...?"

  "The gods! What are the gods? Are you afraid of the image you stitchinto linen with colored yarn? And what you call the gods are just suchimages, in the web of human culture. Children are frightened at them,when you show them the bogie for the first time...."

  These were the very thoughts, that had passed through Cornelia's minda score of times during the last few days. How was it then, that thisconfirmation from the chamberlain's lips sounded so revolting? How wasit, that the courtier's utterance of them almost roused her to denial,and that her heart refused to ratify the conclusions, which her reasonhad so lately approved?

  But she had no time for these reflections. She must play a part--thepart of a yielding, over-persuaded victim. She shuddered with hatredand disgust as she thought of it, but there was no choice.

  "Ah!" she sighed. "Caesar's commands would not have terrified me halfso much, if it had not been for the recollection--I do not know whetheryou heard--Barbillus, that mean trickster...."

  Of course she knew that Parthenius had long since been fully informedof all that had taken place in the sanctuary of Isis; otherwise howshould Caesar have employed him to prepare the way for his own coming?But she affected innocence so skilfully, that the courtier was deceived.

  "Yes, yes," he said; "I know all about it."

  "Then you can understand, that I must have been frightened. If Caesarhad not been so violent, if Barbillus had not so cruelly betrayed myconfidence. I am sure--things might have been different."

  Parthenius smirked affably. "Well, well; all is well that ends well.This may be set right yet. I am truly delighted to find, that theaccount Caesar gave me of your obstinacy was exaggerated."

  "I, obstinate?" sighed Cornelia with the expression of a baby of ten."Far from it. I love nothing so much as peace and quietness. But, yousee--I am afraid of Caesar."

  As she said it, it sounded too helplessly foolish; but Parthenius,enchanted at his success, did not notice that she overacted the part.

  "You little simpleton," he said kindly. "Do not be uneasy. I will givehim a hint. It is plain to any man, that a lily must be plucked withgreater care than a cabbage. Though he likes cabbage now and then, doesour gracious sovereign," he added with a laugh.

  Parthenius carried on this strange conversation some little timelonger. Then, hearing steps outside, he signed to Cornelia to withdrawinto the middle room, while he himself went to the entrance. He threwthe door wide open, for it was the Emperor, followed by his favoriteslave, little Phaeton who, by reason of his tender years, was reckonedas nobody in such circumstances. Domitian wore a long and amplelacerna, and had drawn the hood over his face. When the door was closedbehind him, he threw off the wrap, and stood in a short-sleeved tunicof colored flowered stuff, with a gold fillet round his thin hairs,smiling mysteriously at the chamberlain.

  "Well?" he said, glancing round the room.

  "All promises for the best, my lord! The fair one is by no means themonster you imagine. It was only the sudden fright, that turned herbrain that evening. I have found her quite reasonable, most reasonable;and if the sight of your majesty does not prove too much for her again,I venture to predict...." A smile ended the sentence.

  "You are a finished master in all affairs of gallantry," said Caesar."Ovid himself might take a lesson from you. But where is she, thelovely, aggravating Fury, who handled the lord of the universe withsuch rough defiance? Tell me now, Parthenius: Am I not infinitely kind?Is not my condescension far beyond everything you ever heard of? Imight have snatched the fruit of the Hesperide
s by force, and I resignmyself to wait till it drops into my lap, beguiled by all the arts oflove. It is a stroke of genius, a refinement...! If it comes to theworst--of course--but you say you are sure."

  "I am sure you have only to be yourself, to be certain of victory."

  Cornelia overheard this dialogue, and she involuntarily made a gestureas if to throttle the hateful man, and she only resumed her indifferentair just in time, for at this moment the chamberlain raised thecurtain, and in the next instant Domitian and Cornelia stood face toface.

  For some minutes the Emperor found no words. The presence of the noblegirl, whom he now had so completely in his power, seemed to havedeprived him of his presence of mind. He was deeply conscious, thatthis queenly Cornelia was no every-day quarry, and that few women inall Rome could compare with her for beauty.

  "To-day you will be my guest, fair Cornelia," he said at last, takinga step towards her. "Your crime is wiped out--for our clemency isboundless. In return I ask but one thing: a happy smile and a fewkindly glances from those divine eyes. Will you grant me these,Cornelia? It is your sovereign, who sues to you?"

  "My lord," said Cornelia, "I will try."

  "You are as gracious as Amathusia![104] Well, to-day Parthenius willshare our meal--but to-morrow--to-morrow, say, beloved one--you willreceive me alone?"

  "I will try," repeated Cornelia, looking down.

  Parthenius threw a triumphant glance at Domitian, a glance that seemedto expect some acknowledgment of the superior skill, which had soquickly converted the coy maiden into a docile child. And Caesarvouchsafed him a hasty nod. Then he took Cornelia by the hand, and,with an air of repulsive gallantry, led her into the little triclinium,where the slaves had by this time made everything ready. Caesar tookhis place on the middle couch, with Parthenius on his left hand, andCornelia on his right. As each couch was intended to accommodatethree persons, this arrangement placed them at some distance apart; arespectful distance, which Domitian intended as a sort of atonement forhis vehemence on the former occasion. They had no one to serve them butthe two slave-girls, helped by Phaeton.

  Cornelia had eaten nothing the whole day, and the dishes beforeher were the choicest productions of that great artist, Euphemus.Nevertheless she could hardly force herself to swallow a mouthful. Herthroat seemed to close; her terrors increased every instant, and togive herself some courage, she emptied the gold cup of strong Falerniantwice or three times.

  Perhaps it was from a kindred feeling, that Caesar carried the gobletto his lips oftener than usual.--Gentle and humble as the beautifulgirl seemed, who reclined there on the pillows, now and again he saw,in fancy, the haughty and indignant heroine.--It was not till he haddrunk deeply, and the Falernian began to warm his blood, that he foundsome of the flattering phrases of a wooer. By degrees his eloquencegrew freer and readier. He enlarged on the all-conquering might ofbeauty, before which even the gods themselves must bow; he dilatedin rhetorical flights on the charms of a country life--asked for nogreater happiness than to marry the vine with the elm,[105] to wieldthe harrow, the plough, and the pruning hook, and to live on fresh figswith honey and goat's milk. A few cups more, and his ecstatic mood hadsunk to amorous melancholy. He spoke of the solitude of a throne, theaching void of a heart that beats unsatisfied even when nearing thegrave; of "black care," which incessantly hovers round a crowned head.

  All this mawkish sentimentality, so ill-becoming the furrowed facestamped with the traces of the lowest vices, put the finishing touchto Cornelia's utter loathing. She almost repented not having franklybetrayed her aversion, in spite of every danger, and boldly faced deathrather than submit to the approaches of this revolting reprobate. Butthe thought of Quintus kept her resolution up.

  A newer and heavier wine now sparkled in the cups. Caesar drank itunmixed with water, and the color took a deeper dye in his bald andpolished forehead--the golden circlet had slipped backwards, his eyeswere half shut, and he spoke thickly. He raised himself slowly andunsteadily from his couch.

  "Your health, sweet Cor ... Cornelia," he stammered, supporting himselfwith his left hand against the table, while his right hand held thegoblet. "I am happy to think that Aphrodite has touched your heart tokindness."

  He went towards her, and laid his hand on her round, white arm. Sheshuddered, but she kept still. Her mind was made up to endure to thevery last limits of endurance, and then to cast off the mask ofsubmission, and defend herself with all the strength of desperation.She hastily glanced at the side-table, where the slaves had set downthe dishes; she hoped to see a carving-knife, but in vain. All themeat had come up ready carved[106] through the trap-door. There was noweapon available but the gold cup with its heavy foot--or, in the lastextremity, Bryonia's terrible little vial.

  "Cornelia," he continued, still grasping her arm, "we anger the gods,if we scorn their gifts--and to-day--now--I feel so bright, so well, sohappy--the present smiles on me.--Cornelia, speak...."

  Cornelia made a hasty movement, and freed her arm from his clutch; hetottered.

  "It is suffocatingly hot!" he said, looking up at the lamp. "Air--giveme air! Only for an instant. Parthenius, give me your arm as far as thebalcony![107] the wine has bewildered me--or happiness--joy.... Come,Parthenius. Only for five minutes, and then, sweet Cornelia, one lastcup to consecrate our meeting."

  The chamberlain led him slowly away. Cornelia gazed after them like onedazed. Her face was bloodless. All the misery that this man had heapedupon her head, seemed to rise before her mind in that fearful moment:the relentless law to which Quintus was a victim, the exile of hervenerated uncle, and the crushing, maddening disgrace which threatenedher even now.

  She looked round her; the two slaves were standing with their backs tothe table, and Phaeton had quitted the room.

  The next instant something bright sparkled in her trembling fingers;it was the phial she had received from the old woman. Just in frontof her, full almost to the brim, stood the Emperor's goblet. She bentforward and poured the contents of the phial, all but a few drops, intothe purple wine. But at the same instant she started back with a loudscream; before her, in the door-way, she saw Phaeton's pale face: hehad seen all.

  The lad did not utter a word. He stared at the wine-cup as if paralyzedat the sight. A minute or two later Domitian and Parthenius returned.The Emperor went to his couch, without observing that Cornelia waslying half-senseless on hers. He was on the point of taking up thecup once more, and still the terrified boy found no utterance--butsuddenly a shrill cry of anguish broke from him, and he threw himselfat Caesar's feet.

  "Do not drink, my lord!" he cried, wringing his hands. "The wine ispoisoned. She, there--look! She still has the phial in her hand!"

  Domitian had turned ashy-pale; it was only too evident that the boyspoke the truth.

  "The guard! call the guard!" he shrieked in the voice of an old hag;his teeth chattered, and his jaw dropped.

  "Is it true," Parthenius said, as Cornelia slowly pulled herself up,"what this boy says...?"

  "Yes," she said with quivering lips. "I did what every woman, whodeserves to be a Roman, would have done in my place. My honor is athousand times more precious than that wretch's life!"

  Phaeton had flown into the corridor to fetch the guard. That instantof respite gave Cornelia time to lift the poisoned goblet to her lips.But before she had tasted it, Parthenius sprang upon her, and, with anadroit twist, spilt the contents of the cup.

  "Serpent!" snarled Caesar, "you will not get off so cheaply, do notfancy it."

  "Oh! she will soon find out, that Caesar's wrath postpones death tilllife has paid its utmost penalty!" said Parthenius. "From Caesar's armsto the rack and scaffold--that is your fate, audacious murderess."

  "Here come the praetorians! Away with her! Throw her into chains. Thegovernor of the prisons shall answer for it with his head, if she layshand upon herself."

  Cornelia was more dead than alive. The soldiers bound her hands behindher back, and carried her half-fainting, out of the r
oom.

  "You did well, Phaeton," said the Emperor, who was completely soberedby the shock. "Here, take this cup, which was so near being my death--Iwill give it to you in perpetual memory of the event. Henceforth youshall never quit my side, for eyes like yours do good service in thesetreasonable times."

  The lad humbly kissed his hand.

  "You put me to shame, my lord," he said steadfastly. "I only did myduty, and deserve no praises."

  "Only your duty!" echoed Domitian. "Then you are superior to all themillions, who own my sway. The world is rotten, rotten at the core--itmust crumble into dust.--Come now, you two who are faithful. Take meaway from this scene of murder.--Abandoned, mad wretch!"

  "Do not let it weigh too heavily on your mind," said Parthenius. "Womenoften have such crazes. If once a girl has taken it into her head,that she must guard her honor.... The greatest triumph you could nowachieve, and the best punishment for the crime she dared to attempt,would be cold-blooded mockery and compulsion...."

  "The gods forbid!" cried Domitian in horror. "The woman is a demon. Shewould be quite capable of strangling me in her arms, or setting herteeth in my throat under pretence of a kiss. No, Parthenius, I renounceall pretensions to such flowers as these. Henceforth I acknowledgeno claim but that of justice. Punishment, the extremest punishment,torment for body and soul, and a cruel death--these must be theretribution for such a crime. And that Quintus Claudius--it was for hissake she aimed the blow at my sacred head--he too shall feel what it isto have the sovereign of the world for his enemy."

  FOOTNOTES:

  [104] AMATHUSIA. A surname of Aphrodite, from the city of Amathus on the southern coast of Cyprus, where there was a famous temple of the goddess.

  [105] MARRY THE VINE WITH THE ELM. A favorite phrase, to characterize the idyllic activity of rural life. See Hor. _Epod._ II, 9; _Od._ IV, 5, 30.

  [106] ALL THE MEAT HAD COME UP READY CARVED. The various dishes were usually carved in the triclinium, by a slave (_scissor_) specially appointed for the purpose, after which the taster (_praegustator_) tried them, to secure the company from poison.

  [107] PARTHENIUS, GIVE ME YOUR ARM AS FAR AS THE BALCONY. Out-buildings (galleries, balconies, bow-windows) were not unknown to the ancients. See, among other instances, the famous bow-windowed house in Pompeii.