Quintus Claudius: A Romance of Imperial Rome. Volume 1

  CHAPTER VI.

  The house of Titus Claudius Mucianus, the high-priest of Jupiter,stood at no great distance from the precipitous Capitoline Hill,[125]looking over the Forum Romanum[126] and the Sacred Way.[127] Simple andyet magnificent, it showed in every detail the stamp of that quiet,self-sufficing and confident wealth, that ease of distinction, which isso unattainable to the _parvenu_.

  It was now October. The sun was just appearing above the horizon.There was a motley turmoil in the house of the Flamen; the vast atriumpositively swarmed with men. Most of these were professional morningvisitors--waiters in the ante-chamber--known also from the gala dressin which they were expected to appear, as "Toga-wearers;" the poorrelations of the house, clients and proteges.[128] Still, there wereamong them not a few persons of distinction, members of the senateand upper-class, court officials and magistrates. It was a scene ofindescribable variety and bustle. The world of Rome in miniature.Petitioners from every point of the compass eagerly watched the slaves,on whom their admission depended. Rich farmers, who desired to bringa private offering to Jupiter Capitolinus, sat open-mouthed on thecushioned marble seats, gaping at the handsomely-dressed servantsor the splendid wall-paintings and statues. Young knights from theprovinces, whose ambition it was to be Tribune of a legion,[129] orto obtain some other honorable appointment, and who hoped for thehigh-priest's protection, gazed with deep admiration at the endlessseries of ancestral images[130] in wax, which adorned the hall inshrines of ebony.

  And in fact these portraits were well worthy of study, for they werean epitome of a portion of the history of the world. Those stern,inexorable features were those of Appius Claudius Sabinus, who,as consul, wreaked such fearful justice on his troops. Beside himstood his brother, the haughty patrician, Caius Claudius, knittinghis thick brows--an embodiment of the protest of the nobles againstthe rights contended for by the popular party. There was the keen,eagle face of the infamous Decemvir, the persecutor of Virginia--avillain, but a daring and imperious villain.--Claudius Crassus, thecruel, resolute foe of the plebeians--Appius Claudius Caecus, who madethe Appian Way--Claudius Pulcher, the witty sceptic, who flung thesacred fowls into the sea because they warned him of evil--ClaudiusCento, the conqueror of Chalcis--Claudius Caesar, and a hundred otherworld-renowned names of old and modern times.... What an endlesschain! And just as they now looked down, head beyond head from theirframes, they had been, all without exception, stiff-necked contemnersof the people, and staunch defenders of their senatorial privileges.A splendid, defiant and famous race! Even the tattooed native ofBritain,[131] who came to offer fine amber chains[132] and brokenrings of gold,[133] was sensible of an atmosphere of historic greatness.

  One after another--the humbler folks in parties together--the visitorswere led from the atrium into the carpeted reception-room, wherethe master of the house stood to welcome them in robes of dazzlingwhiteness[134] and wearing his priestly head-gear.[135] He had alreadydismissed a considerable number of important personages, when atall officer, stout almost to clumsiness, was announced and at onceadmitted, interrupting as he did the strict order of succession. Thiswas no less a person than Clodianus, the adjutant of Caesar himself.He came in noisily, embraced and kissed the priest and then, glancinground at the slaves, asked if he might be allowed a few words withTitus Claudius in private. The priest gave a sign; the slaves withdrewinto a side room.

  "There is no end to it all!" cried Clodianus, throwing himself into alarge arm-chair. "Every day brings some fresh annoyance!"

  "What am I to hear now?" sighed the high-priest.

  "Oh! this time it has nothing to do with the outbreak among theNazarenes and all the troubles of these last weeks. We can detect hereand there extraordinary symptoms, and fabulous rumors ... for instance... but, your word of honor that you will be silent...!"

  "Can you doubt it?"

  "Well, for instance, it sounds incredible ... but Parthenius[136]brought it all from Lycoris the fair Gaul.... It is said that thisNazarene craze has seized the very highest personages.... They evenname...."

  He stopped and looked round the room, as if he feared to be overheard.

  "Well?" said the high-priest.

  "They name Titus Flavius Clemens,[137] the Consul...."

  "Folly! a relation of Caesar's. The man who spreads such a reportshould be found out and brought to condign punishment...."

  "Folly! that is what I said too! Infernal nonsense. Still the story ischaracteristic, and proves what the people conceive of as possible...."

  "Patience, patience, noble Clodianus! Things will alter as winterapproaches. The wildest torrent may be dammed up. But we aredigressing--what new annoyance?"

  "Ah! to be sure," interrupted Clodianus. "Then nothing of it hasreached your ears?"

  "No one has mentioned anything to me."

  "They dare not."

  "And why?"

  "Because your views are well known. They know that you hate thepopulace--and the populace yesterday achieved a triumph."

  "And in what way?" asked Claudius frowning.

  "In the circus.[138] I can tell you, my respected friend, it was afrightful scandal, a real storm in miniature! Caesar turned pale--nayhe trembled."

  "Trembled!" cried Claudius indignantly.

  "With rage of course," said Clodianus in palliation. "The thingoccurred thus. One of the charioteers[139] of the new party--thosethat wear purple--drove so magnificently, that Caesar was almostbeside himself with delight. By Epona, the tutelary goddess ofhorses![140] but the fellow drove four horses that cannot be matchedin the whole world. Incitatus,[141] old Caligula's charger, was an assin comparison, and the names of those splendid steeds are in everyone's mouth to-day like a proverb: Andraemon, Adsertor, Vastator andPasserinus[142]--you hear them in every market and alley; our poetsmight almost be envious. And the charioteer too, a free Greek in theservice of Parthenius the head chamberlain, is a splendid fellow. Hestood in his quadriga[143] like Ares rushing into battle. In short itwas a stupendous sight, and then he was so far ahead of the rest--Itell you, no one has won by so great a length since Rome was a city.Scorpus[144] is the rascal's name. Every one was fairly carriedaway. Caesar, the senators, the knights--all clapped till theirhands were sore. Even strangers, the watery-eyed Sarmatians[145] andHyperboreans[146] shouted with delight."

  "Well?" asked Titus Claudius, as the narrator paused.

  "To be sure--the chief point. Well, it was known that Caesar wouldhimself grant the winner some personal favor, and every one gazed atthe imperial tribune in the greatest excitement. Caesar ordered theherald to command silence. 'Scorpus,' said he, when the uproar waslulled, 'you have covered yourself with glory. Ask a favor of me,' andScorpus bowed his head and demanded in a firm voice, that Domitianshould be reconciled to his wife."

  "Audacious!" cried Titus Claudius wrathfully.

  "There is better still to come. Hardly had the charioteer spoken, whena thousand voices shouted from every bench: 'Dost thou hear, oh Caesar?Leave thy intrigue with Julia![147] We want Domitia!' There was quite atumult,[148] a scandalous scene that defies description."

  "But what do the people mean? What has so suddenly brought them to makethis demand?"

  "Oh!" said Clodianus, "I see through the farce. The whole thing ismerely a trick on the part of Stephanus, Domitia's steward. That slyfox wants to regain for his mistress her lost influence. Of coursehe bribed Scorpus, and the gods alone know how many hundred thousandsesterces the game must have cost him. The spectators' seats werefilled on all sides with bribed wretches, and even among the betterclasses I saw some who looked to me suspicious."

  "This is bad news," interrupted the high-priest. "And what answer didDomitian give the people?"

  "I am almost afraid to tell you of his decision."

  "His decision could not be doubtful, I should suppose. By givingScorpus leave to ask what he would, he pledged himself to grant hisprayer. But how did he punish the howling mob that stormed around him?I too reg
ret our sovereign's connection with his niece, but what givesthe populace the right to interfere in such matters?"

  "You know," replied the other, "how tenderly these theatre and circusdemonstrations have always been dealt with. Domitian, too, thought itprudent to smother his just anger and to show clemency. When the heraldhad once more restored order, Caesar said in a loud voice: 'Granted,'and left his seat. But he was deeply vexed, noble Claudius."

  "Well and then?" asked the Flamen in anxious suspense.

  "Well, the matter is so far carried out, that in the secretary's[149]room to-day an imperial decree was drawn up, calling upon Domitia[150]to return to her rooms on the Palatine, and granting her pardon for allpast offences."

  "And Julia?"

  "By Hercules!" laughed Clodianus. "With regard to Julia, Caesar made nopromises."[151]

  "Then I greatly fear, that this reconciliation will only prove the germof farther complications."

  "Very possibly. It has been the source of annoyance enough to mepersonally. Caesar is in the worst of humors. Do what you can to soothehim, noble Claudius. We all suffer under it...."

  "I will do all I can," said the priest with a sigh. Clodianus noisilypushed back his chair. "Domitian is waiting for me," he said as hejumped up. "Farewell, my illustrious friend. What times we live innow! How different things were only three or four years ago!"

  Claudius escorted him to the door with cool formality. The slaves andfreedmen now came back again into the room, and ranged themselvessilently in the background, and the "_nomenclator_," the "namer," whoseduty it was to introduce unknown visitors, came at once to Claudius andsaid hesitatingly:

  "My lord, your son Quintus is waiting in the atrium and craves to beadmitted."

  A shade of vexation clouded the high-priest's brow.

  "My son must wait," he said decisively; "Quintus knows full well, thatthese morning hours belong neither to myself nor to my family."

  And Quintus, the proud, spoilt and wilful Quintus, was forced to havepatience. The Flamen went on calmly receiving his numerous friends,clients and petitioners, who retired from his presence cheerful orhanging their heads, according as they had met with a favorable oran unfavorable reception. Not till the last had vanished was his sonadmitted to see him.

  Quintus had meanwhile conquered his annoyance at the delay he hadbeen compelled to brook, and offered his father his hand with anaffectionate gesture; but Titus Claudius took no notice of his son'sadvances.

  "You are unusually early," he observed in icy tones, "or perhaps youare but just returning from some cheerful entertainment--so-called."

  "That is the case," replied Quintus coolly. "I have been at the houseof Lucius Norbanus, the prefect of the body-guard. The noble Aureliuswas also there," he added with an ironical smile. "Our excellent friendAurelius."

  "Do you think to excuse yourself by casting reflections on another?If Aurelius shares your dissipation once or twice a month, I have noobjections to raise--I have no wish to deny the right of youth to itspleasures. But you, my son, have made a rule of what ought to be theexception. Since your return from Baiae, you have led a life which is adisgrace alike to yourself and to me."

  Quintus looked at the floor. His respect and his defiant temper wereevidently fighting a hard battle.

  "You paint it too black, father," he said at last, in a tremblingvoice. "I enjoy my life--perhaps too wildly; but I do nothing that candisgrace you or myself. Your words are too hard, father."

  "Well then, I will allow that much; but you, on your part, must allowthat the son of the high-priest is to be measured by another standardthan the other youths of your own rank."

  "It might be so, if I lived under the same roof with you. But since Iam independent and master of my own fortune...."

  "Aye, and that is your misfortune," the priest interrupted. "Enough,you know my opinion. However, that which caused me to require yourpresence here to-day, was not your course of life in general. Aparticular instance of incredible folly has come to my ears; you areplaying a wicked and dangerous game, and I sent for you to warn you."

  "Indeed, father, you excite my curiosity."

  "Your curiosity shall at once be satisfied. Is it true that you havebeen so rash, so audacious, as to address love-songs to Polyhymnia, theVestal maiden?"[152]

  Quintus bit his lip.

  "Yes," he said, "and no. Yes, if you consider the superscription of theverses. No, if you imagine that the poem ever reached her hands."

  The priest paced the room with wide strides.

  "Quintus," he said suddenly: "Do you know what punishment is inflictedon the wretch, who tempts a Vestal virgin to break her vows?"

  "I do."

  "You know it!" said the priest with a groan.

  "But father," said Quintus eagerly: "You are branding a jest as acrime. In a merry mood, inspired by wine, I composed a poem in thestyle of Catullus, and to complete the audacity of it, instead of thename of Lycoris, I placed at the beginning that of our highly-reveredPolyhymnia. And now report says--Pah! it is ridiculous! I grant you itwas impudent, unbecoming, in the very worst taste if you will, but notcalumny itself can say worse of it than that."

  "Well, it certainly sounds less scandalous from that point of view.Quintus, I warn you. Now, if at any time, be on your guard againstany deed, any expression, which may be construed as an insult to thereligion of the state! Do not trust too much to the influence of myposition or of my individuality. The law is mightier than the willof any one man. When what we are now planning takes form and life,severity, inexorable as iron, will decide in all such questions.That reckless jest sprang from a mind, which no longer holds dearthe eternal truths of religion. Beware, Quintus, and conceal thisindifference; do not come forward as a contemner of the gods. Once moreI warn you."

  "Father...."

  "Go now, my son, and ponder on what I have said."

  Quintus bowed and kissed the stern man's hand. Then he left the roomwith a quick, firm step, and a look of devoted love, of passionatepaternal pride followed him as he crossed the room, so tall, lovely andhandsome.

  FOOTNOTES:

  [125] THE CAPITOLINE HILL. _Mons Capitolinus_, north of the Palatine and southwest of the Quirinal. Tarquinius Priscus erected on its summit the Capitolium, that is the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, Juno and Minerva.

  [126] FORUM ROMANUM. The Roman forum par excellence, at the foot of the Capitoline and Palatine Hills, was the centre of public life even in the days of the republic.

  [127] THE SACRED WAY (_Sacra Via_) divided the real _Sacra Via_, which led from the Capitol to the Arch of Titus, and the _Summa Sacra Via_ (the upper sacred street) that extended from the Arch of Titus to the Flavian Amphitheatre. Hor. _Sat._ I, 9 (_Ibam forte Via Sacra, sicut meus est mos._) It was the most frequented street in Rome. The ancient pavement exists at the present day. "Via" was the name of the large principal streets, as it still is at the present time in Italy.

  [128] CLIENTS AND PROTEGES. These were the clients mentioned in note 99. Juvenal (_Sat._ 5) and especially Martial, in various passages, speak of their pitiable situation, the contempt in which they were held and the ill-treatment they had to endure even from their patrons' slaves. (See Friedlander I, 247 to 252.) The usual visiting-hour was just after sunrise.

  [129] TRIBUNE OF A LEGION. Augustus appointed the so-called _legati_ or _praefecti legionum_ commanders of the legions. The _legatus_ thus corresponded with our colonel. The next in rank to the _legati_ were the tribunes (corresponding to our majors) who, however, with special qualifications, might undertake the command of a legion. Usually the tribunes did not have the reputation of possessing remarkable military ability, as the sons of the knights and senators began their military career with this dignity. According to their age and experience, the tribunes were second lieutenants. The men next in rank to the tribunes were th
e centurions, the really experienced officers, who were held in high esteem on account of their superior knowledge. At the time of our story the pressure of the young men for tribuneships was so extraordinary, that the places actually at disposal were not nearly sufficient to supply the demand. The Emperor Claudius had therefore created supernumerary tribuneships (_supra numerum, imaginariae militiae genus._ Suet. _Claud._ 25) a brevet-rank, which without claiming the performance of any duty, flattered the vanity.

  [130] ANCESTRAL IMAGES. Statues of ancestors, modelled in wax (_imagines majorum_) formed one of the principal ornaments of the atrium in the houses of aristocratic Romans. The ancestors here mentioned of our (imaginary) Titus Claudius Mucianus are all historical characters.

  [131] TATTOOED NATIVE OF BRITAIN. The original Celtic inhabitants of England. For the impression made by Roman magnificence on the British chieftain Caractacus, see Dio Cass. LX, 33.

  [132] AMBER CHAINS. Amber (_Electrum_) was greatly admired by the Romans for necklaces, rings and bracelets, until its value decreased by over-importation. It was chiefly brought from the shores of the Baltic.

  [133] BROKEN RINGS OF GOLD. The priest of Jupiter was only permitted to wear broken rings of gold, as closed ones were the symbols of captivity.

  [134] ROBES OF DAZZLING WHITENESS. The white toga was the invariable gala dress worn at all ceremonious receptions, even by the emperors. Great indignation was felt against Nero, because once, when the senate paid him a visit, he wore only a flowered toga.

  [135] PRIESTLY HEAD-GEAR. The Flamines were forbidden to go bare-headed. They always wore a hat (_apex_) or a sort of fillet.

  [136] PARTHENIUS. This historical personage was a man of conspicuous importance at the court of Domitian, and mentioned by many authors, particularly in Martial's epigrams. He was _cubiculo praepositus_, ([Greek: prokentos] in Dio Cass.) groom of the bed-chamber or high chamberlain, and a particular favorite with Caesar. His companion in office Sigerus or Sigerius, his inferior in rank, power and influence, will not be again mentioned in this story.

  [137] TITUS FLAVIUS CLEMENS. A cousin of the emperor, was consul A.D. 95 with Domitian, (who conferred this dignity upon him seventeen times). Concerning his conversion to Christianity see Dio Cass. LXVII, 14, as well as Suet. _Dom._ 15.

  [138] IN THE CIRCUS. The Circus Maximus, between the Aventine and Palatine Hills, was the principal place for the horse and chariot races, and in Domitian's time accommodated about a quarter of a million spectators.

  [139] CHARIOTEERS. As the givers of entertainments could rarely furnish men and horses enough of their own for the games in the circus, companies of capitalists and owners of larger families of slaves and studs, undertook to supply them. As there were usually four chariots in each race, there were four such companies, each of which furnished a chariot for each race, and as the chariots and drivers had colors to distinguish them, each adopted one of these colors, hence they were called factions or parties. (Friedlander, II, 192.) The colors of these four parties were white, red, green and blue. Domitian added two new ones, gold and purple. Like so many of Domitian's institutions, this circus innovation passed without leaving any trace, but the original parties, especially the green and the blue, lasted for centuries. The whole population of Rome, and afterwards that of Constantinople, divided into different parties, each of which sided with one of these circus factions. The eager, even passionate interest with which this was done, finds a feeble analogy at the present day in some phases of English and American popular life.

  [140] BY EPONA, THE TUTELARY GODDESS OF HORSES! Epona (from _epus-equus_, the horse) was the protecting deity of the horse, mule and donkey. (Juv. _Sat._ VIII, 157.) Stables, etc., were adorned with her statue. Roman sportsmen swore by the goddess of horses. (See Juv. _Sat._ VIII, 156: _jurat solam Eponam_.)

  [141] INCITATUS, the swift--_equo incitato_--in a stretching gallop--a famous favorite horse of the emperor Caligula. (Suet. _Cal._ 55.) The emperor built this animal a palace, gave orders that it should feed from an ivory manger, and be attended by slaves clad in rich garments. When it was to appear in the circus, all noise in its neighborhood was prohibited during the whole of the preceding day, that the noble creature's rest should not be disturbed. Caligula is said to have intended to make his Incitatus consul.

  [142] ANDRAEMON, ADSERTOR, VASTATOR AND PASSERINUS. Names of horses frequently mentioned during the reign of the Roman emperors. Andraemon often won the race in Domitian's time. Monuments with the portrait of this racer have come down to us.

  [143] QUADRIGA. A carriage in front of which four horses were fastened abreast. The racing quadrigae were exactly like the old Homeric chariot--being provided with a breast-work in front while open in the rear.

  [144] SCORPUS. A famous chariot-driver in Domitian's time, see the epitaph Martial composed for him. (Martial _Ep._ X, 53.)

  "I am that Scorpus, glory of the race Rome's admired joy, but joy for a short space, Among the dead Fates early me enroll'd, Numb'ring my conquests, they did think me old." ANON, 1695.

  That the name of Scorpus was on every lip appears from another passage in Martial _Ep._ XI, 1, which runs as follows:

  "Nor will your follies by those few Be told; but when their stories flag Of some new bet or running nag." HAY.

  where the Incitatus to whom reference is made is not Caligula's horse, already mentioned, but a racer named for it.

  [145] SARMATIANS. A people in what is now Poland and Tartary. (See Mart. _Spect._ 3.)

  [146] HYPERBOREANS. People who lived above Boreas, fabulous folk dwelling in the extreme north; also Northmen in general. For instance Martial includes among the Hyperboreans, the Chatti (Hessen) and Dacians, inhabitants of eastern Hungary.

  [147] JULIA. The daughter of the Emperor Titus, with whom Domitian for a long time had unlawful relations. Dio Cass. LXVII, 3. Suet _Dom._ 22.

  [148] A TUMULT. Many things are related about such tumults. They were partly impromptu, partly carefully prepared. A striking instance of the latter style is told by Dio Cassius (LXXII, 13) where a cunningly-planned circus-riot causes the fall of the hated lord high-chamberlain Cleander. This omnipotent favorite of the Emperor Commodus had enraged the people by a series of the boldest frauds, during a period of great scarcity. Just as the horses were starting for the seventh race a throng of boys, led by a tall, formidable looking woman, rushed into the arena. The children loaded Cleander with the fiercest curses, the people joined them, all rose and rushed furiously towards the emperor's Quintilian villa. Commodus, a very cowardly man, was so terrified, that after a short struggle he commanded Cleander and his little son to be slain. The mob dragged the corpse of the chamberlain about in triumph, mutilated it, and stuck the head on a pole as a sign of victory.

  [149] SECRETARY. The modern equivalent for the office of "_ab epistulis_," held under Domitian by the freedman Abascantus. (Stat. Silv. V, 1.) At a later period--under Hadrian and afterwards--such offices were held only by men of knightly rank.

  [150] CALLING UPON DOMITIA. We here follow a passage (somewhat doubtful, it is true) of Dio Cassius (LXVII, 3) which states that the emperor "_at the entreaties of the people_," became reconciled to his wife. Suetonius (_Dom._ 3) says, he only _alleged_ such a desire on the part of the peo
ple, but really received the empress again "because the separation from her became unendurable." For special reasons our story fixes the time of this reconciliation in the year 95, while it actually occurred some time earlier.

  [151] WITH REGARD TO JULIA, CAESAR MADE NO PROMISES. See Dio Cass. LXVII 3. He became reconciled, "but without giving up Julia."

  [152] VESTAL MAIDEN. Priestess of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth. At first they were four, afterwards six. They were chosen between the ages of six and ten, and were obliged to remain in the service of the goddess thirty years, ten as novices, ten as acting priestesses, and ten to instruct novices. Their principal task was to keep the sacred fire alive. They were vowed to chastity, and if they broke their vows were buried alive in the _campus sceleratus_, while the seducer was publicly flogged to death.