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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/5538.txt b/5538.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..11b2f31 --- /dev/null +++ b/5538.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1815 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook A Thorny Path, by Georg Ebers, v9 +#99 in our series by Georg Ebers + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**EBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These EBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers***** + + +Title: A Thorny Path, Volume 9. + +Author: Georg Ebers + +Release Date: April, 2004 [EBook #5538] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on July 19, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + + + + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A THRONY PATH, BY EBERS, V9 *** + + + +This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + +[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of the +file for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making an +entire meal of them. D.W.] + + + + + +A THORNY PATH + +By Georg Ebers + +Volume 9. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +The lady Euryale's silent prayer was interrupted by the return of +Alexander. He brought the clothes which Seleukus's wife had given him +for Melissa. He was already dressed in his best, and crowned like all +those who occupied the first seats in the Circus; but his festal garb +accorded ill with the pained look on his features, from which every trace +had vanished of the overflowing joy in life which had embellished them +only this morning. + +He had seen and heard things which made him feel that it would no longer +be a sacrifice to give his life to save his sister. + +Sad thoughts had flitted across his cheerful spirit like dark bats, even +while he was talking with Melissa and her protectress, for he knew well +how 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 the +winning of fair Agatha. The girl's Christian father had indeed received +him kindly, but had given him to understand plainly enough that he would +never allow a professed heathen to sue for his daughter's hand. Besides +this, he had met with other humiliations which placed themselves like a +wall between him and his beloved, the only child of a rich and respected +man. 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 by +insolent tongues, with the addition that he, Alexander, had ingratiated +himself with Caesar by serving him as a spy. No one had expressly said +this to him; but, while he was hurrying through the city in Caesar's +chariot, on the ladies' message, it had been made very plain to his +apprehension. Honest men had avoided him--him to whom hitherto every one +for whose regard he cared had held out a friendly hand; and much else +that he had experienced in the course of this drive had been unpleasant +enough 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 no +illusion; for when he met the old sculptor Lysander, who only yesterday +had so kindly told him and Melissa about Caesar's mother, as he nodded +from the chariot his greeting was not returned; and the honest artist had +waved his hand with a gesture which no Alexandrian could fail to +understand as meaning, "I no longer know you, and do not wish to be +recognized by you." + +He had from his childhood loved Diodoros as a brother, and in one of the +side streets, down which the chariot had turned to avoid the tumult in +the Kanopic way, Alexander had seen his old friend. He had desired the +charioteer to stop, and had leaped out on the road to speak to Diodoros +and give him at once Melissa's message; but the young man had turned his +back with evident displeasure, and to the painter's pathetic appeal, +"But, at any rate, hear me!" he answered, sharply: "The less I hear of +you 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 who +was known to them both; and Alexander, tortured with painful feelings, +had gone on, and for the first time the idea had taken possession of him +that he had indeed descended to the part of spy when he had betrayed to +Caesar what Alexandrian wit had to say about him. He could, of course, +tell himself that he would rather have faced death or imprisonment than +have betrayed to Caracalla the name of one of the gibers; still, he had +to admit to himself that, but for the hope of saving his father and +brother from death and imprisonment, he would hardly have done Caesar +such service. The mercy shown to them was certainly too like payment, +and his own part in the matter struck him as hateful and base. His +fellow-townsmen had a right to bear him a grudge, and his friends to keep +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 Philip +could regard life as a burden and call it a malicious Danaus-gift of the +gods. When, finally, in the Kanopic way, close in front of Seleukus's +house, a youth unknown to him cried, scornfully, as the chariot was +slowly making its way through the throng, "The brother-in-law of +Tarautas!" he had great difficulty in restraining himself from leaping +down and letting the rascal feel the weight of his fists. He knew, too, +that Tarautas was the name of a hateful and bloodthirsty gladiator which +had been given as a nickname to Caesar in Rome; and when he heard the +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 were +being pelted with mire and stones. + +It would have been a real comfort to him if the earth would have opened +to swallow him with the chariot, to hide him from the sight of men. He +could have burst out crying like a child that has been beaten. When at +last he was safe inside Seleukus's house, he was easier; for here he was +known; here he would be understood. Berenike must know what he thought +of Caesar's suit, and seeing her wholesome and honest hatred, he had +sworn to himself that he would snatch his sister from the hands of the +tyrant, if it were to lead him to the most agonizing death. + +While she was engaged in selecting a dress for her protegee, he related +to the lady Euryale what had happened to him in the street and in the +house of Seleukus. He had been conducted past the soldiers in the +vestibule and impluvium to the lady's private rooms, and there he had +been witness to a violent matrimonial dispute. Seleukus had previously +delivered to his wife Caesar's command that she should appear in the +Amphitheater with the other noble dames of the city. Her answer was a +bitter laugh, and a declaration that she would mingle with the spectators +in none but mourning robes. Thereupon her husband, pointing out to her +the danger to which such conduct would expose them, had raised +objections, and she at last had seemed to yield. When Alexander joined +her he had found her in a splendid dress of shining purple brocade, her +black hair crowned with a wreath of roses, and a splendid diadem; a +garland of roses hung across her bosom, and precious stones sparkled +round her throat and arms. In short, she was arrayed like a happy mother +for her daughter's wedding-day. + +Soon after Alexander's arrival Seleukus had come in, and this +conspicuously handsome dress, so unbecoming to the matron's age, and so +unlike her usual attire-chosen, evidently, to put the monstrosity of +Caesar's demand in the strongest light--had roused her husband's wrath. +He had expressed his dissatisfaction in strong terms, and again pointed +out to her the danger in which such a daring demonstration might involve +them; but this time there was no moving the lady; she would not despoil +herself of a single rose. After she had solemnly declared that she would +appear in the Circus either as she thought fit or not at all, her husband +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 isle +of Kos, which she had decided on for Melissa, and a peplos with a border +of tender sea-green; and Alexander approved of the choice. + +Time pressed, and Euryale went at once to Melissa with the new festal +raiment. Once more she nodded kindly to the girl, and begged her, as she +herself had something to discuss with Alexander, to allow the waiting- +woman to dress her. She felt as if she were bringing the robe to a +condemned creature, in which she was to be led to execution, and Melissa +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 the +dead Korinna's festal dresses. Alexander had then followed her guidance, +accompanying her to a court in the slaves' quarters, where a number of +men were awaiting her. These were the captains of Seleukus's ships, +which were now in port, and the superintendents of his granaries and +offices, 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 to +go to a festival thus--thus--only look at me--bedizened like a peacock!" + +At this the bearded assembly gave loud expression to their +dissatisfaction, but Berenike went on "Melapompus has taken care to +secure good places; but he has wisely not taken them all together. You +are all free men; I have no orders to give you. But, if you are indeed +indignant 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 are all +past your first youth, and will carefully avoid any rashness which may +involve you in ruin. May the avenging gods aid and protect you!" + +With this she had turned her back on the multitude; but Johannes, the +Christian lawyer, the chief freedman of the household, had hurried into +the court-yard, just in time to entreat her to give up this ill-starred +demonstration, and to extinguish the fire she had tried to kindle. +So long as Caesar wore the purple, rebellion against him, to whom the +Divinity had intrusted the sovereignty, was a sin. The scheme she was +plotting was meant to punish him who had pained her; but she forgot that +it might cost these brave men, husbands and fathers, their life or +liberty. The vengeance she called on them to take might be balm to the +wounds of her own heart; but if Caesar in his wrath brought destruction +down on these, her innocent instruments, that balm would turn to burning +poison. + +These words, whispered to her with entire conviction, had not been +without their effect. For some minutes Berenike had stared gloomily at +the ground; but then she had again approached the assembly, to repeat the +warning given her by the Christian, whom all respected, and by whom some +indeed had been persuaded to be baptized. + +"Johannes is right," she ended. "This ill-used heart did wrong when it +sent up its cry of anguish before you. Rather will I be trodden under +foot by the enemy, as is the manner of the Christians, than bring such +misfortune on innocent men, who are so faithful to our house. Be +cautious, then. Give no overt expression to your feelings. Let each one +who feels too weak to control his wrath, avoid the Circus; and those who +go, keep still if they feel moved to act in my behalf. One thing +only you may do. Tell every one, far and wide, what I had purposed. +What others may do, they themselves must answer for." + +The Christian had strongly disapproved of this last clause; but Berenike +had paid no heed, and had left the court-yard, followed by Alexander. + +The shouts of the indignant multitude had rung in their ears, and, in +spite of her warning, they had sounded like a terrible threat. Johannes, +to be sure, had remained, to move them to moderation by further +remonstrances. + +"What were the mad creatures plotting?" Euryale anxiously broke in; and +he hastily went on "They call Caesar by no name but Tarautas; every mouth +is full of gibes and rage at the new and monstrous taxes, the billeting +of the troops, and the intolerable insolence of the soldiery, which +Caracalla wickedly encourages. His contemptuous indifference has deeply +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 the +Caesars!" + +"I too had hoped that," cried Alexander, "and it seemed so likely. But +who can understand the populace? Every woman in the place, I should have +thought, would hold her head higher, at the thought that an Alexandrian +girl was empress; but it was from the women that I heard the most +vindictive and shameless abuse. I heard more than enough; for, as we got +closer to the Serapeum, the more slowly was the chariot obliged to +proceed, to make its way through the crowd. And the things I heard! I +clinch my fists now as I only think of them.--And what will it be in the +Circus? What will not Melissa have to endure!" + +"It is envy," the matron murmured to herself; but she was immediately +silent, for the young girl came toward them, out of the bedroom. Her +toilet was complete; the beautiful white dress became her well. The +wreath of roses, with diamond dewdrops, lay lightly on her hair, the +snake-shaped bracelet which her imperial suitor had sent her clasped her +white 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 hope that even in +the Circus none but hardened hearts could harbor a hostile feeling +against this gentle, pure blossom, slightly drooping with silent sorrow. +She could not resist the impulse to kiss Melissa, and the half-formed +purpose ripened within her to venture the utmost for the child's +protection. The pity in her heart had turned to love; and when she saw +that to this sweet creature, at the mere sight of whom her heart went +forth, the most splendid jewels, in which any other girl would have been +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 and humiliation. + +It was many years since she had visited the Amphitheater, where the +horrible butchery was an abomination to her; but to-day her heart bade +her conquer her old aversion, and accompany the girl to the Circus. + +Had not Melissa taken the place in her heart of her lost daughter? Was +not she, Euryale, the only person who, by showing herself with Melissa +and declaring herself her friend, could give the people assurance that +the girl, who was exposed to misapprehension and odium by the favor she +had met with from the ruthless and hated sovereign, was in truth pure and +lovable? Under her guardianship, by her side, the girl, as she knew, +would be protected from misapprehension and insult; and she, an old woman +and a Christian, should she evade the first opportunity of taking up a +cross in imitation of the Divine Master, among whose followers she +joyfully counted herself--though secretly, for fear of men? All this +flashed through her mind with the swiftness of lightning, and her call, +"Doris!" addressed to her waiting-woman, was so clear and unexpected that +Melissa's overstrung nerves were startled. She looked up at the lady in +amazement, as, without a word of explanation, she said to the woman 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 a +pretty young daughter to appear alone in the Circus? Besides, I may +surely hope that it will confirm your courage to feel that I am at your +side. Perhaps the populace may be moved a little in your favor if the +wife of the high-priest of their greatest god is your companion." + +But she could scarcely end her speech, for Melissa had flown into her +arms, exclaiming, "And you will do this for me?" while Alexander, deeply +touched by gratitude and joy, kissed her thin arm and the hem of her +peplos. + +While Melissa helped the matron to change her dress--in the next room +Alexander paced to and fro in great unrest. He knew the Alexandrians, +and there was not the slightest doubt but that the presence of this +universally revered lady would make them look with kindlier eyes on his +sister. Nothing else could so effectually impress them with the entire +propriety of her appearance in the Circus. The more seriously he had +feared that Melissa might be deeply insulted and offended by the rough +demonstrations of the mob, the more gratefully did his heart beat; nay, +his facile nature saw in this kind act the first smile of returning good +fortune. + +He only longed to be hopeful once more, to enjoy the present--as so many +philosophers 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, for even +while he pictured himself in the amphitheatre, he remembered that there, +too, his former acquaintances might refuse to speak to him; that the +odious names of "Tarautas' brother-in-law" or of "traitor" might be +shouted after him on the road. A cold chill came over him, and the image +of 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 of false- +heartedness. An unpleasant sense came over him of dissatisfaction with +himself, such as he, who always regarded self-accusation, repentance, +and atonement as a foolish waste of life, had never before experienced. + +The fine, sunny autumn day had turned to a sultry, dull evening, and +Alexander went to the window to let the sea-breeze fan his dewy brow; but +he soon heard voices behind him, for Euryale and Melissa had re-entered +the room, followed by the house-steward, who presented to his mistress a +sealed tablet which a slave had just brought from Philostratus. The +women had been talking of Melissa's vow; and Euryale had promised her +that, if Fate should decide against Caesar, she would convey the girl to +a place of safety, where she could certainly not be discovered, and might +look forward in peace to the future. Then she had impressed on her that, +if things should be otherwise ordered, she must endure even the +unendurable with patience, as an obedient wife, as empress, but still +ever conscious of the solemn and beneficent power she might wield in her +new position. + +The tablets would now settle the question; and side by side the two women +hastily read the missive which Philostratus had written on the wax, in +his fine, legible hand. It was as follows: + +"The condemned have ceased to live. Your efforts had no effect but to +hasten their end. Caesar's desire was to rid you of adversaries even +against your will. Vindex and his nephew are no more; but I embarked +soon enough to escape the rage of him who might have attained the highest +favors of fortune if he had but known how to be merciful." + +"God be praised!--but alas, poor Vindex!" cried Euryale, as she laid down +the tablets. But Melissa kissed her, and then exclaimed to her brother: + +"Now all doubts are at an end. I may fly. He himself has settled the +matter!" + +Then she added, more gently, but still urgently "Do you take care of my +father, 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 shall +take you home, child, to your father's house; you must go in one of +Caesar's chariots. Afterward come back here with your brother; I will +wait for you below. But now we will go together to the Circus, and can +discuss the details on our way. You, my young friend, go now and order +away the imperial litter; bid my steward to have the horses put to my +covered harmamaxa. There is room in it for us all three." + +By the time Alexander returned, the daylight was waning, and the clatter +of the chariots began to be audible which conveyed Caesar's court to the +Circus. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIL + +The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid +palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma +and the peninsula of Lochias. Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in +which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable +gymnasia and riding-schools. These buildings, which had been founded +long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and +beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast- +fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a +little town by themselves. + +At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every +cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find +room. The upper places, mere standing-room for the common people, and +the cheaper seats, had been full early in the day. By the afternoon the +better class of citizens had come in, if their places were not reserved; +and now, at sunset, those who were arriving in litters and chariots, just +before the beginning of the show, were for the most part in Caesar's +train, court officials, senators, or the rich magnates of the city. + +The strains of music were by this time mingling with the shouting and +loud talk of the spectators, or of the thousands who were crowding round +the building without hoping to obtain admission. But even for them there +was plenty to be seen. How delightful to watch the well-dressed women, +and the men of rank and wealth, crowned with wreaths, as they dismounted; +to see the learned men and artists arrive--more or less eagerly +applauded, according to the esteem in which they were held by the +populace! The most splendid sight of all was the procession of priests, +with Timotheus, the high-priest of Serapis, at their head, and by his +side the priest of Alexander, both marching with dignity under a canopy. +They were followed by the animals to be slaughtered for sacrifice, and +the images of the gods and the deified Caesars, which were to be placed +in the arena, as the most worshipful of all the spectators. Timotheus +wore the splendid insignia of his office; the priest of Alexander was in +purple, as being the idiologos and head of all the temples of Egypt, and +representative of Caesar. + +The advent of the images of the Caesars gave rise to a sort of judgment +of the dead: for the mob hailed that of Julius Caesar with enthusiasm, +that of Augustus, with murmurs of disapproval; when Caligula appeared, he +was hissed; while the statues of Vespasian, Titus, Hadrian, and Antonine, +met with loud acclamations. That of Septimius Severus, Caracalla's +father, to whom the town owed many benefits, was very well received. The +images of the gods, too, had very various fates. Serapis, and Alexander, +the divine hero of the town, were enthusiastically welcomed, while +scarcely a voice was heard on the approach of Zeus-Jupiter and Ares-Mars. +They were regarded as the gods of the hated Romans. + +The companies of the imperial body-guard, who were placed about the +amphitheatre, found no great difference, so long as it was daylight, +between the crowd round the Circus of Alexandria and that by the Tiber. +What chiefly struck them was the larger number of dusky faces, and the +fanciful garb of the Magians. The almost naked rabble, too, with nothing +on but a loin-cloth, who wriggled in and out of the throng, ready for any +service or errand, formed a feature unknown at Rome. But, as it grew +darker, the Romans began to perceive that it was not for nothing that +they had come hither. + +At Rome, when some great show was promised, of beast-fighting, +gladiators, and the like, there were, no doubt, barbarian princes to be +seen, and envoys from the remotest ends of the earth in strange and +gorgeous array; and there, too, small wares of every kind were for sale. +By the Tiber, again, night shows were given, with grand illuminations, +especially for the feast of Flora; but here, as soon as the sun had set, +and the sports were about to begin, the scene was one never to be +forgotten. Some of the ladies who descended from the litters, wore +garments of indescribable splendor; the men even displayed strange and +handsome costumes as they were helped out of their gilt and plated +chariots by their servants. What untold wealth must these men have at +their command, to be able to dress their slaves in gold and silver +brocade; and the runners, who kept up with the swiftest horses, must have +lungs of iron! The praetorians, who had not for many a day seen anything +to cause them to forget the motto of the greatest philosopher among their +poets--never to be astonished at anything--repeatedly pushed each other +with surprise and admiration; nay, the centurion Julius Martialis, who +had just now had a visit in camp from his wife and children, in defiance +of orders, while Caesar himself was looking on, struck his fist on his +greaves, and, exclaiming loudly, "Look out!" pointed to Seleukus's +chariot, for which four runners, in tunics with long sleeves, made of +sea-green bombyx, richly embroidered with silver, were making a way +through the crowd. + +The barefooted lads, with their nimble, gazellelike legs, were all well +looking, and might have been cast all in one mold. But what struck the +centurion and his comrades as most remarkable in their appearance were +the flash and sparkle from their slender ankles, as the setting sun +suddenly shot a fleeting ray through a rift in the heavy clouds. Each of +these fellows wore on his legs gold bands set with precious stones, and +the rubies which glittered on the harness of Seleukus's horse were of far +greater value. + +He, as master of the festival, had come betimes, and this was the first +of many such displays of wealth which followed each other in quick +succession, as soon as the brief twilight of Egypt had given way to +darkness, and the lighting up of the Circus was begun. + +Here came a beautifully dressed woman in a roomy litter, over which waved +a canopy entirely of white ostrich-plumes, which the evening breeze +swayed like a thicket of fern-leaves. This throne was borne by ten black +and ten white slave-girls, and before it two fair children rode on tame +ostriches. The tall heir of a noble house, who, like Caesar at Rome, +belonged to the "Blues," drove his own team of four splendid white +horses; and he himself was covered with turquoises, while the harness was +set with cut sapphires. + +The centurion shook his head in silent admiration. His face had been +tanned in many wars, both in the East and West, and he had fought even in +distant Caledonia, but the low forehead, loose under lip, and dull eye +spoke of small gifts of intellect. Nevertheless, he was not lacking in +strength of will, and was regarded by his comrades as a good beast of +burden who would submit to a great deal before it became too much for +him. But then he would break out like a mad bull, and he might long ago +have risen to higher rank, had he not once in such a fit of passion +nearly throttled a fellow-soldier. For this crime he had been severely +punished, and condemned to begin again at the bottom of the ladder. He +owed it chiefly to the young tribune Aurelius Apollinaris that he had +very soon regained the centurion's staff, in spite of his humble birth; +he had saved that officer's life in the war with the Armenians--to be +here, in Alexandria, cruelly mutilated by the hand of his sovereign. + +The centurion had a faithful heart. He was as much attached to the two +noble brothers as to his wife and children, for indeed he owed them much; +and if the service had allowed it he would long since have made his way +to the house of Seleukus to learn how the wounded tribune was faring. +But he had not time even to see his own family, for his younger and +richer comrades, who wanted to enjoy the pleasures of the city, had put +upon him no small share of their own duties. Only this morning a young +soldier of high birth, who had begun his career at the same time as +Martialis, had promised him some tickets of admission to the evening's +performance in the Circus if he would take his duty on guard outside the +amphitheatre. And this offer had been very welcome to the centurion, for +he thus found it possible to give those he loved best, his wife and his +mother, the greatest treat which could be offered to any Alexandrian. +And now, when anything noteworthy was to be seen outside, he only +regretted that he had already some time since conducted them to their +seats in one of the upper rows. He would have liked that they, too, +should have seen the horses and the chariots and the "Blue" charioteer's +turquoises and sapphires; although a decurion observed, as he saw them, +that a Roman patrician would scorn to dress out his person with such +barbaric splendor, and an Alexandrian of the praetorian guard declared +that his fellow-citizens of Greek extraction thought more of a graceful +fold than of whole strings of precious stones. + +"But why, then, was this 'Blue' so vehemently hailed by the mob!" asked a +Pannonian in the guard. + +"The mob!" retorted the Alexandrian, scornfully. "Only the Syrians and +other Asiatics. Look at the Greeks. The great merchant Seleukus is the +richest of them all, but splendid as his horses, his chariots, and his +slaves are, he himself wears only the simple Macedonian mantle. Though +it is of costly material, who would suspect it? If you see a man +swaggering in such a blaze of gems you may wager your house--if you have +one--that his birthplace lies not very far from Syria." + +"Now, that one, in a mother-of-pearl shell on two wheels, is the Jew +Poseidonius," the Pannonian put in. "I am quartered on his father. But +he is dressed like a Greek." + +At this the centurion, in his delight at knowing something, opened his +mouth with a broad grin: "I am a native here," said he, "and I can tell +you the Jew would make you answer for it if you took him for anything but +a Greek." + +"And quite right," added another soldier, from Antioch. "The Jews here +are many, but they have little in common with those in Palestine. They +wish to pass for Greeks; they speak Greek, assume Greek names, and even +cease to believe in the great God their father; they study Greek +philosophy, and I know one who worships in the Temple of Serapis." + +"Many do the same in Rome," said a man of Ostia. "I know an epigram +which ridicules them for it." + +At this point they were interrupted, for Martialis pointed to a tall man +who was coming toward them, and whom his sharp eye had recognized as +Macrinus, the prefect of the praetorians. In an instant the soldiers +were erect and rigid, but still many a helmeted head was turned toward +the spot where their chief stood talking in an undertone to the Magian +Serapion. + +Macrinus had persuaded Caesar to send for the exorciser, to test his +arts. Immediately after the performance, however late it might be, the +Magian was to be admitted to his presence. + +Serapion thanked the prefect, and then whispered to him, "I have had a +second revelation." + +"Not here!" exclaimed Macrinus, uneasily, and, leading away his handsome +little son, he turned toward the entrance. + +Dusk, meanwhile, had given way to darkness, and several slaves stood +ready to light the innumerable little lamps which were to illuminate the +outside of the Circus. They edged the high arches which surrounded the +two lower stories, and supported the upper ranks of the enormous circular +structure. Separated only by narrow intervals, the rows of lights formed +a glittering series of frames which outlined the noble building and +rendered it visible from afar. + +The arches on the ground-floor led to the cells from which the men and +beasts were let out into the arena; but some, too, were fitted with +shops, where flowers and wreaths, refreshments, drinks, handkerchiefs, +fans, and other articles in request, were sold. On the footway between +the building and the row of pitch torches which surrounded it, men and +women in thousands were walking to and fro. Smart, inquisitive girls +were pushing their way singly or in groups, and their laughter drowned +the deep, tragical voices of the soothsayers and Magians who announced +their magic powers to the passersby. Some of these even made their way +into the waiting-rooms of the gladiators and wrestlers, who to-day so +greatly needed their support that, in spite of severe and newly enforced +prohibitions, many a one stole out into the crowd to buy some effectual +charm or protecting amulet. + +Where the illuminations were completed, attempts of another kind were +being made to work upon the mood of the people; nimble-tongued fellows-- +some in the service of Macrinus and some in that of the anxious senate-- +were distributing handkerchiefs to wave on Caesar's approach, or flowers +to strew in his path. More than one, who was known for a malcontent, +found a gold coin in his hand, with the image of the monarch he was +expected to hail; and on the way by which Caesar was to come many of +those who awaited him wore the caracalla. These were for the most part +bribed, and their acclamations were to mollify the tyrant's mood. + +As soon as the prefect had disappeared within the building, the +praetorian ranks fell out again. It was lucky that among them were +several Alexandrians, besides the centurion Martialis, who had not long +been absent from their native town; for without them much would have +remained incomprehensible. The strangest thing to foreign eyes was a +stately though undecorated harmamaxa, out of which stepped first a +handsome wreathed youth, then a matron of middle age, and at last an +elegantly dressed girl, whose rare beauty made even Martialis--who rarely +noticed women--exclaim, "Now, she is to my taste the sweetest-thing of +all." + +But there must have been something very remarkable about these three; for +when they appeared the crowd broke out at first in loud shouts and +outcries, which soon turned to acclamations and welcome, though through +it all shrill whistles and hisses were heard. + +"Caesar's new mistress, the daughter of a gemcutter!" the Alexandrian +muttered to his comrades. That handsome boy is her brother, no doubt. +He is said to be a mean sycophant, a spy paid by Caesar." + +"He?" said an older centurion, shaking his scarred head. "Sooner would +I believe that the shouts of the populace were intended for the old woman +and not for the young one." + +"Then a sycophant he is and will remain," said the Alexandrian with a +laugh. "For, as a matter of fact, it is the elder lady they are +greeting, and, by Heracles, she deserves it! She is the wife of the +high-priest of Serapis. There are few poor in this city to whom she has +not done a kindness. She is well able, no doubt, for her husband is the +brother of Seleukus, and her father, too, sat over his ears in gold." + +"Yes, she is able," interrupted Martialis, with a tone of pride, as +though it were some credit to himself. "But how many have even more, +and keep their purse-strings tight! I have known her since she was a +child, and she is the best of all that is good. What does not the town +owe to her! She risked her life to move Caesar's father to mercy toward +the citizens, after they had openly declared against him and in favor of +his rival Pescennius Niger. And she succeeded, too." + +"Why, then, are they whistling?" asked the older centurion. + +"Because her companion is a spy," repeated the Alexandrian. "And the +girl--In Caesar's favor! But, after all, which of you all would not +gladly see his sister or his niece Caesar's light of love?" + +"Not I!" cried Martialis. "But the man who speaks ill of that girl only +does so because he likes blue eyes best. The maiden who comes in the +lady Euryale's chariot is spotless, you may swear." + +"Nay, nay," said the younger Alexandrian soothingly. "That black-haired +fellow and his companions would whistle another tune if they knew any +evil of her, and she would not be in the lady Euryale's company--that is +the chief point--. But, look there! The shameless dogs are stopping +their way! 'Green' to a man.--But here come the lictors." + +"Attention!" shouted Martialis, firmly resolved to uphold the guardians +of the peace, and not to suffer any harm to the matron and her fair +companion; for Euryale's husband was the brother of Seleukus, whom his +father and father-in-law had served years ago, while in the villa at +Kanopus his mother and wife were left in charge to keep it in order. He +felt that he was bound in duty to the merchant, and that all who were of +that household had a right to count on his protection. But no active +measures were needed; a number of "Blues" had driven off the "Greens" who +had tried to bar Alexander's way, and the lictors came to their +assistance. + +A young man in festal array, who had pushed into the front rank of the +bystanders, had looked on with panting breath. He was very pale, and the +thick wreath he wore was scarcely sufficient to hide the bandage under +it. This was Diodoros, Melissa's lover. After resting awhile at his +friend's house he had been carried in a litter to the amphitheatre, for +he could yet hardly walk. His father being one of the senators of the +town, his family had a row of seats in the lowest and best tier; but +this, on this occasion, was entirely given up to Caesar and his court. +Consequently the different members of the senate could have only half +the usual number of seats. Still, the son of Polybius might in any case +claim two in his father's name; and his friend Timon--who had also +provided him with suitable clothing--had gone to procure the tickets from +the curia. They were to meet at the entrance leading to their places, +and it would be some little time yet before Timon could return. + +Diodoros had thought he would behold his imperial rival; however, instead +of Caracalla he had seen the contemptuous reception which awaited +Alexander and Melissa, from some at least of the populace. Still, how +fair and desirable had she seemed in his eyes, whom, only that morning, +he had been blessed in calling his! As he now moved away from the main +entrance, he asked himself why it was such torture to him to witness the +humiliation of a being who had done him such a wrong, and whom he thought +he hated and scorned so utterly. Hardly an hour since he had declared to +Timon that he had rooted his love for Melissa out of his heart. He +himself would feel the better for using the whistle he wore, in derision +of her, and for seeing her faithlessness punished by the crowd. But now? +When the insolent uproar went up from the "Greens," whose color he +himself wore, he had found it difficult to refrain from rushing on the +cowardly crew and knocking some of them down. + +He now made his way with feeble steps to the entrance where he was to +meet his friend. The blood throbbed in his temples, his mouth was +parched, and, as a fruit-seller cried her wares from one of the archways, +he took a few apples from her basket to refresh himself with their juice. +His hand trembled, and the experienced old woman, observing the bandage +under his wreath, supposed him to be one of the excited malcontents who +had perhaps already fallen into the hands of the lictors. So, with a +significant grin, she pointed under the table on which her fruit-baskets +stood, and said "I have plenty of rotten ones. Six in a wrapper, quite +easy to hide under your cloak. For whom you will. Caesar has given the +golden apple of Paris to a goddess of this town. I should best like to +see these flung at her brother, the sycophant." + +"Do you know them?" asked Diodoros, hoarsely. + +"No," replied the old woman. "No need for that. I have plenty of +customers and good ears. The slut broke her word with a handsome youth +of the town for the sake of the Roman, and they who do such things are +repaid by the avenging gods." Diodoros felt his knees failing under him, +and a wrathful answer was on his lips, when the huckster suddenly shouted +like mad: "Caesar, Caesar! He is coming." + +The shouts of the crowd hailing their emperor had already become audible +through the heavy evening air, at first low and distant, and louder by +degrees. They now suddenly rose to a deafening uproar, and while the +sound rolled on like approaching thunder, broken by shrill whistles +suggesting lightning, the sturdy old apple-seller clambered unaided on to +her table, and shouted with all her might: + +"Caesar! Here he is!--Hail, hail, hail to great Caesar!" + +At the imminent risk of tumbling off her platform, she bent low down to +reach under the table for the blue cloth which covered her store of +rotten apples, snatched it off, and waved it with frantic enthusiasm, as +though her elderly heart had suddenly gone forth to the very man for whom +a moment ago she had been ready to sell her disgusting missiles. And +still she shouted in ringing tones, "Hail, hail, Caesar!" again and +again, with all her might, till there was no breath left in her +overbuxom, panting breast, and her round face was purple with the effort. +Nay, her emotion was so vehement that the bright tears streamed down her +fat cheeks. + +And every one near was shrieking like the applewoman, "Hail, Caesar!" and +it was only where the crowd was densest that a sharp whistle now and then +rent the roar of acclamations. + +Diodoros, meanwhile, had turned to look at the main entrance, and, +carried away by the universal desire to see, had perched himself on an +unopened case of dried figs. His tall figure now towered far above the +throng, and he set his teeth as he heard the old woman, almost speechless +with delight, gasp out: + +"Lovely! wonderful! He would never have found the like in Rome. Here, +among us--" + +But the cheers of the multitude now drowned every other sound. Fathers +or mothers who had children with them lifted them up as high as they +could; where a small man stood behind a tall one, way was willingly made, +for it would have been a shame to hinder his view of such a spectacle. +Many had already seen the great monarch in his shining, golden chariot, +drawn by four splendid horses; but such an array of torch-bearers as now +preceded Caracalla was a thing never seen within the memory of the oldest +or most traveled man. Three elephants marched before him and three came +behind, and all six carried in their trunks blazing torches, which they +held now low and now aloft to light his road. To think that beasts could +be trained to such a service! And that here, in Alexandria, such a +display could be made before the haughty and pampered Romans! + +The chariot stood still, and the black Ethiopians who guided the huge +four-footed torch-bearers took the three leaders to join their fellows +behind the chariot. This really was a fine sight; this could not but +fill the heart of every one who loved his native town with pride and +delight. For what should a man ever shout himself hoarse, if not for +such a splendid and unique show? Diodoros himself could not take his +eyes off the elephants. At first he was delighted with them, but +presently the sight annoyed him even more than it had pleased him; for he +reflected that the tyrant, the villain, his deadly enemy, would certainly +take to himself the applause bestowed on the clever beasts. With this, +he grasped the reed pipe in the breast of his tunic. He had been on the +point of using it before now, to retaliate on Melissa for some portion of +the pain she had inflicted on him. At this thought, however, the +paltriness of such revenge struck him with horror, and with a hasty +impulse he snapped the pipe in two, and flung the pieces on the ground in +front of the apple-stall. The old woman observed it and exclaimed: + +"Ay, ay, such a sight makes one forgive a great deal"; but he turned his +back on her in silence, and joined his friend at the appointed spot. + +They made their way without difficulty to the seats reserved for the +senators' families, and when they had taken their places, the young man +replied but briefly to the sympathetic inquiries as to his health which +were addressed to him by his acquaintances. His friend Timon gazed +anxiously into his handsome but pale, sad face, as Diodoros sat crushed +and absorbed in thought. He would have liked to urge him to quit the +scene at once, for the seats just opposite were those destined to Caesar +and his court-among them, no doubt, Melissa. In the dim light which +still prevailed in the vast amphitheatre it was impossible to recognize +faces. But there would soon be a blaze of light, and what misery must +await the hapless victim of her faithlessness, still so far from perfect +health! After the glare of light outside, which was almost blinding, the +twilight within was for the moment a relief to Diodoros. His weary limbs +were resting, a pleasant smell came up from the perfumed fountains in the +arena, and his eyes, which could not here rest on anything to gratify +him, were fixed on vacancy. + +And yet it was a comfort to him to think that he had broken his pipe. +It would have disgraced him to whistle it; and, moreover, the tone would +have reached the ear of the noble lady who had accompanied Melissa, and +whom he himself had, only yesterday, revered as a second mother. + +Loud music now struck up, he heard shouts and cheers, and just above him +--for it could only proceed from the uppermost tiers--there was an +extraordinary tumult. Still he paid no heed, and as he thought of that +matron the question suddenly arose in his mind, whether she would have +consented to be seen with Melissa if she thought that the girl was indeed +capable of ruthless falsehood or any other unworthy act. He, who never +missed a show in the arena, had never seen the lady Euryale here. She +could hardly have come to-day for her own pleasure; she had come, then, +for Melissa's sake; and yet she knew that the girl was betrothed to him. +Unless Caesar had commanded the matron's presence, Melissa must still be +worthy of the esteem and affection of this best of women; and at this +reflection Hope once more raised her head in his tortured soul. + +He now suddenly wished that brighter light might dispel the gloom which +just now he had found so restful; for the lady Euryale's demeanor +would show him whether Melissa were still a virtuous maiden. If the +matron were as friendly with her as ever, her heart was perhaps still +his; it was not the splendor of the purple that had led her astray, but +the coercion of the tyrant. + +His silent reflections were here interrupted by the loud sounding of +trumpets, battle-cries, and, immediately after, the fall of some heavy +body, followed by repeated acclamations, noisy outcries, and the applause +of those about him. Not till then had he been aware that the +performances had begun. Below him, indeed, on the arena from which he +had not once raised his eyes, nothing was to be seen on the yellow sand +but the scented fountain and a shapeless body, by which a second and a +third were soon lying; but overhead something was astir, and, from the +right-hand side, bright rays flashed across the wide space. Above the +vast circle of seats, arranged on seven tiers, suns and huge, strangely +shaped stars were seen, which shed a subdued, many-tinted radiance; and +what the youth saw over his head was not the vault of heaven, which to- +night bent over his native city darkened by clouds, but a velarium of +immense size on which the nocturnal firmament was depicted. This covered +in the whole of the open space. Every constellation which rose over +Alexandria was plainly recognizable. Jupiter and Mars, Caesar's +favorites, outdid the other planets in size and brightness; and in the +center of this picture of the sky, which slowly revolved round it, stars +were set to form the letters of Caracalla's names, Bassianus and +Antoninus. But their light, too, was dim, and veiled as it were with +clouds. Soft music was heard from these artificial heavens, and in the +stratum of air immediately beneath, the blare of war-trumpets and battle- +cries were heard. Thus all eyes were directed upward, and Diodoros's +with the rest. + +He perceived, with amazement, that the givers of the entertainment, in +their anxiety to set something absolutely new before their imperial +guest, had arranged that the first games should take place in the air. A +battle was being fought overhead, on a level with the highest places, in +a way that must surely be a surprise even to the pampered Romans. Black +and gold barks were jostling each other in mid-air, and their crews were +fighting with the energy of despair. The Egyptian myth of the gods of +the great lights who sail the celestial ocean in golden barks, and of the +sun-god who each morning conquers the demons of darkness, had suggested +the subject of this performance. + +The battle between the Spirits of Darkness and of Light was to be fought +out high above the best rows of seats occupied by Caesar and his court; +and the combatants were living men, for the most part such as had been +condemned to death or to the hardest forced labor. The black vessels +were manned by negroes, the golden by fair-haired criminals, and they had +embarked readily enough; for some of them would escape from the fray with +only a few wounds and some quite unhurt, and each one was resolved to use +his weapons so as to bring the frightful combat to a speedy end. + +The woolly-haired blacks did not indeed know that they had been provided +with loosely made swords which would go to pieces at the first shock, +and with shields which could not resist a serious blow; while the fair- +haired representatives of the light were supplied with sharp and strong +weapons of offense and defense. At any cost the spirits of darkness must +not be allowed to triumph over those of light. Of what value was a +negro's life, especially when it was already forfeited? + +While Euryale and Melissa sat with eyes averted from the horrible scene +going on above them, and the matron, holding her young companion's hand, +whispered to her: + +"O child, child! to think that I should be compelled to bring you here!" +loud applause and uproarious clapping surrounded them on every side. + +The gem-cutter Heron, occupying one of the foremost cushioned seats, +radiant with pride and delight in the red-bordered toga of his new +dignity, clapped his big hands with such vehemence that his immediate +neighbors were almost deafened. He, too, had been badly received, on his +arrival, with shrill whistling, but he had been far from troubling +himself about that. But when a troop of "Greens" had met him, just in +front of the imperial dais, shouting brutal abuse in his face, he had +paused, chucked the nearest man under the chin with his powerful fist, +and fired a storm of violent epithets at the rest. Thanks to the +lictors, he had got off without any harm, and as soon as he found himself +among friends and men of rank, on whom he looked in speechless respect, +he had recovered his spirits. He was looking forward with intense +satisfaction to the moment when he might ask Caesar what he now thought +of Alexandria. + +Like his father, Alexander was intent on the bloody struggle--gazing +upward with breathless interest as the combatants tried to fling each +other into the yawning depth below them. But at the same time he never +for an instant forgot the insults he had endured outside. How deeply he +felt them was legible in his clouded face. Only once did a smile pass +over it--when, toward the end of this first fight, the place was made +lighter, he perceived in the row of seats next above him the daughter of +his neighbor Skopas, pretty Ino, whom but a few days since he had vowed +to love. He was conscious of having treated her badly, and given her +the right to call him faithless. Toward her, indeed, he had been guilty +of treachery, and it had really weighed on his soul. Their eyes met, and +she gave him to understand in the plainest way that she had heard him +stigmatized as Caesar's spy, and had believed the calumny. The mere +sight of him seemed to fill her with anger, and she did her utmost to +show him that she had quickly found a substitute for him; and it was to +Alexander, no doubt, that Ktesias, her young kinsman, who had long paid +her his addresses, owed the kindliness with which Ino now gazed into his +eyes. This was some comfort to the luckless, banished lover. On her +account, at any rate, he need reproach himself no longer. Diodoros was +sitting opposite to him, and his attention, too, was frequently +interrupted. + +The flashing swords and torches in the hands of the Spirits of Light, and +the dimly gleaming stars above their heads, had not so far dispelled the +darkness as that the two young people could identify each other. +Diodoros, indeed, even throughout this absorbing fight, had frequently +glanced at the imperial seats, but had failed to distinguish his beloved +from the other women in Caracalla's immediate vicinity. But it now grew +lighter, for, while the battle was as yet undecided, a fresh bark, full +of Spirits of Light, flourishing their torches, was unexpectedly launched +to support their comrades, and Heaven seemed to have sent them forth to +win the fight, which had already lasted longer than the masters of the +ceremonies had thought possible. + +The wild shouts of the combatants and the yells of the wounded had long +since drowned the soft music of the spheres above their heads. The call +of tubas and bugles rang without ceasing through the great building, to +the frequent accompaniment of the most horrible sound of all in this +hideous spectacle--the heavy fall of a dead man dropping from above into +the gulf. + +But this dreadful thud was what gave rise to the loudest applause among +the spectators, falling on their satiated ears as a new sound. This +frenzied fight in the air, such as had never before been seen, gave rise +to the wildest delight, for it led the eye, which was wont in this place +to gaze downward, in a direction in which it had never yet been +attracted. And what a glorious spectacle it was when black and white +wrestled together! How well the contrast of color distinguished the +individual combatants, even when they clung together in close embrace! +And when, toward the end of the struggle, a bark was overturned bodily, +and some of the antagonists would not be parted, even as they fell, +trying to kill each other in their rage and hatred, the very walls of the +great structure shook with the wild clamor and applause of thousands of +every degree. + +Only once did the roar of approval reach a higher pitch, and that was +after the battle was ended, at what succeeded. Hardly had the victorious +Spirits of Light been seen to stand up in their barks, waving their +torches, to receive from fluttering genii wreaths of laurel which they +flung down to where Caesar sat, than a perfumed vapor, emanating from the +place where the painted sky met the wall of the circular building, hid +the whole of the upper part of it from the sight of the spectators. The +music stopped, and from above there came a strange and ominous growling, +hissing, rustling, and crackling. A dull light, dimmer even than before, +filled the place, and anxious suspicions took possession of the ten +thousand spectators. + +What was happening? Was the velarium on fire; had the machinery for +lighting up refused to work; and must they remain in this uncomfortable +twilight? + +Here and there a shout of indignation was heard, or a shrill whistle from +the capricious mob. But the mist had already gradually vanished, and +those who gazed upward could see that the velarium with the sun and stars +had made way for a black surface. No one knew whether this was the real +cloudy sky, or whether another, colorless awning closed them in. But +suddenly the woven roof parted; invisible hands drew away the two halves. +Quick, soft music began as if at a signal from a magician, and at the +same time such a flood of light burst down into the theatre that every +one covered his eyes with his hand to avoid being blinded. The full +glory of sunshine followed on the footsteps of night, like a triumphant +chorus on a dismal mourning chant. + +The machinists of Alexandria had done wonders. The Romans, who, even at +the night performances of the festival of Flora, had never seen the like, +hailed the effect with a storm of applause which showed no signs of +ceasing, for, when they had sufficiently admired the source of the light +which flooded the theatre, reflected from numberless mirrors, and glanced +round the auditorium, they began again to applaud with hands and voices. +At a given signal thousands of lights appeared round the tiers of seats, +and, if the splendor of the entertainment answered at all to that of the +Alexandrian spectators, something fine indeed was to be expected. + +It was now possible to see the beauty of the women and the costliness of +their attire; not till now had the precious stones shown their flashing +and changeful radiance. How many gardens and lotus-pools must have been +plundered, how many laurel-groves stripped to supply the wreaths which +graced every head in the upper rows! And to look round those ranks and +note the handsome raiment in which men and women alike were arrayed, +suggested a belief that all the inhabitants of Alexandria must be rich. +Wherever the eye turned, something beautiful or magnificent was to be +seen; and the numerous delightful pictures which crowded on the sight +were framed with massive garlands of lotos and mallow, lilies and roses, +olive and laurel, tall papyrus and waving palm, branches of pine and +willow-here hanging m thick festoons, there twining round the columns or +wreathing the pilasters and backs of seats. + +Of all the couples in this incomparable amphitheatre one alone neither +saw nor heard all that was going on. Scarcely had the darkness given way +to light, when Melissa's eyes met those of her lover, and recognition was +immediately followed by a swift inquiry and reply which filled the +unhappy pair with revived hopes. Melissa's eyes told Diodoros that she +loved him and him alone, and she read in his that he could never give her +up. Still, his also expressed the doubt and anxiety of his tortured +soul, and sent question after question across to Melissa. + +And she understood the mute appeal as well as though looks were words. +Without heeding the curious crowd about her, or considering the danger of +such audacity, she took up her nosegay and waved it toward him as though +to refresh him with its fragrance, and then pressed a hasty kiss on the +finest of the half-opened buds. His responsive gesture showed that she +had been understood, for her lover's expressive eyes beamed with +unqualified love and gratitude. Never, she thought, had he gazed more +fervently in her face, and again she bent over the bunch of roses. + +But even in the midst of her newly found happiness her cheeks tingled +with maidenly modesty at her own boldness. Too happy to regret what she +had done, but still anxious lest the friend whose opinion was all in all +to her should disapprove, she forgot time and place, and, laying her head +on Euryale's shoulder, looked up at her in inquiry with her large eyes as +though imploring forgiveness. The matron understood, for she had +followed the girl's glance and felt what it was that stirred her heart; +and, little thinking of the joy she was giving to a third person, she +clasped her closely and kissed her on the temple, regardless of the +people about them. + +At this Diodoros felt as though he had won the prize in a race; and his +friend Timon, whose artistic eye was feasting on the magnificent scene, +started at the vehement and ardent pressure which Diodoros bestowed on +his hand. + +What had come over the poor, suffering youth whom he, Timon, had escorted +to the Circus out of sheer compassion? His eyes sparkled, and he held +his head as high as ever. What was the meaning of his declaring that +everything would go well with him now? But it was in vain that he +questioned the youth, for Diodoros could not reveal, even to his best +friend, what it was that made him happy. It was enough for him to know +that Melissa loved him, and that the woman to whom he looked up with +enthusiastic reverence esteemed her as highly as ever. And now, for the +first time, he began to feel ashamed of his doubts of Melissa. How could +he, who had known her from childhood, have believed of her anything so +base and foul? It must be some strong compulsion which bound her to +Caesar, and she could never have looked at him thus unless she had some +scheme--in which, perhaps, the lady Euryale meant to abet her--for +escaping her imperial suitor before it was too late. Yes, it must be so; +and the oftener he gazed at her the more convinced he felt. + +Now he rejoiced in the blaze of light about him, for it showed him his +beloved. The words which Euryale had whispered in her ear must have been +an admonition to prudence, for she only rarely bestowed on him a loving +glance, and he acknowledged that the mute but eager exchange of signals +would have been fraught with danger for both of them. + +The first sudden illumination had revealed too many things to distract +the attention of the spectators, including Caesar's, for their +proceedings to be observed. Now curiosity was to some extent satisfied, +and even Diodoros felt that reserve was imperative. + +Caracalla had not yet shown himself to the people. A golden screen, in +which there were holes for him to look through without being seen, hid +him from public gaze; still Diodoros could recognize those who were +admitted to his presence. First came the givers of the entertainment; +then the Parthian envoys, and some delegates from the municipal +authorities of the town. Finally, Seleukus presented the wives of the +magnates who had shared with him the cost of this display, and among +these, all magnificently dressed, the lady Berenike shone supreme by the +pride of her demeanor and the startling magnificence of her attire. As +her large eyes met those of Caesar with a flash of defiance, he frowned, +and remarked satirically: + +"It seems to be the custom here to mourn in much splendor!" + +But Berenike promptly replied: + +"It has nothing to do with mourning. It is in honor of the sovereign who +commanded the presence of the mourner at the Circus." + +Diodoros could not see the flame of rage in, Caesar's threatening eye, +nor hear his reply to the audacious matron: + +"This is a misapprehension of how to do me honor, but an opportunity will +occur for teaching the Alexandrians better." + +Even across the amphitheatre the youth could see the sudden flush and +pallor of the lady's haughty face; and immediately after, Macrinus, the +praetorian prefect, approached Caracalla with the master of the games, +the superintendent of the school of gladiators. + +At the same time Diodoros heard his next neighbor, a member of the city +senate, say: + +"How quietly it is going off! My proposal that Caesar should come in to +a dim light, so as to keep him and his unpopular favorites out of sight +for a while, has worked capitally. Who could the mob whistle at, so long +as they could not see one from another? Now they are too much delighted +to be uproarious. Caesar's bride, of all others, has reason to thank me. +And she reminds me of the Persian warriors who, before going into battle, +bound cats to their bucklers because they knew that the Egyptian foe +would not shoot at them so long as the sacred beasts were exposed to +being hit by his arrows." + +"What do you mean by that?" asked another, and received the brisk reply: + +"The lady Euryale is the cat who protects the damsel. Out of respect for +her, and for fear of hurting her, too, her companion has hitherto been +spared even by those fellows up there." + +And he pointed to a party of "Greens" who were laying their heads +together in one of the topmost tiers. But his friend replied: + +"Something besides that keeps them within bounds. The three beardless +fellows just behind them belong to the city watch, who are scattered +through the general mass like raisins in doughcakes." + +"That is very judicious," replied the senator. + +"We might otherwise have had to quit the Circus a great deal quicker than +we came in. We shall hardly get home with dry garments as it is. Look +how the lights up there are flaring; you can hear the lashing of the +storm, and such flashes are not produced by machinery. Zeus is preparing +his bolts, and if the storm bursts--" + +Here his discourse was interrupted by the sound of trumpets, mingling +with the roar of distant thunder following a vivid flash. The procession +now began, which was the preliminary to every such performance. + +The statues of the gods had, before Caesar's arrival, been placed on the +pedestals erected for them to prevent any risk of a demonstration at the +appearance of the deified emperors. The priests now first marched +solemnly round these statues, and Timotheus poured a libation on the sand +to Serapis, while the priest of Alexandria did the same to the tutelary +hero of the town. Then the masters of the games, the gladiators, and +beast-fighters came out, who were to make proof of their skill. As the +priests approached Caesar's dais, Caracalla came forward and greeted the +spectators, thus showing himself for the first time. + +While he was still sitting behind the screen, he had sent for Melissa, +who had obeyed the command, under the protection of Euryale, and he had +spoken to her graciously. He now took no further notice of her, of her +father, or her brother, and by his orders their places had been separated +by some little distance from his. By the advice of Timotheus he would +not let her be seen at his side till the stars had once more been +consulted, and he would then conduct Melissa to the Circus as his wife- +the day after to-morrow, perhaps. He thanked the matron for having +escorted Melissa, and added, with a braggart air of virtue, that the +world should see that he, too, could sacrifice the most ardent wish of +his heart to moral propriety. + +The elephant torch-bearers had greatly delighted him, and in the +expectation of seeing Melissa again, and of a public recognition that he +had won the fairest maid there, he had come into the Circus in the best +spirits. He still wore his natural expression; yet now and then his brow +was knit, for he was haunted by the eyes of Seleukus's wife. The haughty +woman--"that bedizened Niobe" he had contemptuously called her in +speaking to Macrinus--had appeared to him as an avenging goddess; +strangely enough, every time he thought of her, he remembered, too, the +consul Vindex and his nephew, whose execution Melissa's intercession had +only hastened, and he was vexed now that he had not lent an ear to her +entreaties. The fact that the name Vindex signified an avenger disturbed +him greatly, and he could no more get it out of his mind than the image +of the "Niobe" with her ominous dark eyes. + +He would see her no more; and in this he was helped by the gladiators, +for they now approached him, and their frantic enthusiasm kept him for +some time from all other thoughts. While they flourished their weapons- +some the sword and buckler, and others the not less terrible net and +harpoon--the time-honored cry rose from their husky throats in eager +acclamation: "Hail, Caesar! those about to die salute thee!" Then, in +rows of ten men each, they crossed the arena at a rapid pace. + +Between the first and second group one man swaggered past alone, as +though he were something apart, and he strutted and rolled as he walked +with pompous self-importance. It was his prescriptive right, and in his +broad, coarse features, with a snub nose, thick lips, and white, flashing +teeth like those of a beast of prey, it was easy to see that the +adversary would fare but ill who should try to humble him. And yet he +was not tall; but on his deep chest, his enormous square shoulders, and +short, bandy legs, the muscles stood out like elastic balls, showing the +connoisseur that in strength he was a giant. A loin-cloth was all he +wore, for he was proud of the many scars which gleamed red and white on +his fair skin. He had pushed back his little bronze helmet, so that the +terrible aspect of the left side of his face might not be lost on the +populace. While he was engaged in fighting three panthers and a lion, +the lion had torn out his eye and with it part of his cheek. His name +was Tarautas, and he was known throughout the empire as the most brutal +of gladiators, for he had also earned the further privilege of never +fighting but for life or death, and never under any circumstances either +granting or asking quarter. Where he was engaged corpses strewed the +plain. + +Caesar knew that he himself had been nicknamed Tarautas after this man, +and he was not ill pleased; for, above all things, he aimed at being +thought strong and terrible, and this the gladiator was without a peer in +his own rank of life. They knew each other: Tarautas had received many a +gift from his imperial patron after hard-won victories in which his blood +had flowed. And now, as the scarred veteran, who, puffed up with +conceit, walked singly and apart in the long train of gladiators, cast a +roving and haughty glance on the ranks of spectators, he was filled out +of due time with the longing to center all eyes on himself, the one aim +of his so frequently risking his life in these games. His chest swelled, +he braced up the tension of his supple sinews, and as he passed the +imperial seats he whirled his short sword round his head, describing a +circle in the air, with such skill and such persistent rapidity, that it +appeared like a disk of flashing steel. At the same time his harsh, +powerful voice bellowed out, "Hail, Caesar!" sounding above the shouts of +his comrades like the roar of a lion; and Caracalla, who had not yet +vouchsafed a friendly word or pleasant look to any Alexandrian, waved his +hand graciously again and again to this audacious monster, whose strength +and skill delighted him. + +This was the instant for which the "Greens" in the third tier were +waiting. No one could prohibit their applauding the man whom Caesar +himself approved, so they forthwith began shouting "Tarautas!" with all +their might. They knew that this would suggest the comparison between +Caesar and the sanguinary wretch whose name had been applied to him, +and all who were eager to give expression to their vexation or +dissatisfaction took the hint and joined in the outcry. Thus in a moment +the whole amphitheatre was ringing with the name of "Tarautas!" + +At first it rose here and there; but soon, no one knew how, the whole +crowd in the upper ranks joined in one huge chorus, giving free vent to +their long-suppressed irritation with childish and increasing uproar, +shouting the word with steady reiteration and a sort of involuntary +rhythm. Before long it sounded as though the multitude must have +practiced the mad chant which swelled to a perfect roar. + +"Tarau-Tarau-Tarautas!" and, as is always the case when a breach has been +made in the dam, one after another joined in, with here the shrill +whistle of a reed pipe and there the clatter of a rattle. Mingling with +these were the angry outcries of those whom the lictors or guardians of +the peace had laid hands on, or their indignant companions; and the +thunder outside rolled a solemn accompaniment to the mutinous tumult +within. + +Caesar's scowling brow showed that a storm threatened in that quarter +also; and no sooner had he discerned the aim of the crowd than, foaming +with rage, he commanded Macrinus to restore order. + +Then, above the chaos of voices, trumpet-calls were sounded. The masters +of the games perceived that, if only they could succeed in riveting the +attention of the mob by some exciting or interesting scene, that would +surely silence the demonstration which was threatening ruin to the whole +community; so the order was at once given to begin the performance with +the most important and effective scene with which it had been intended +that the whole should conclude. + +The spectacle was to represent a camp of the Alemanni, surprised and +seized by Roman warriors. In this there was a covert compliment to +Caesar, who, after a doubtful victory over that valiant people, had +assumed the name of Alemannicus. Part of the gladiators, clothed in +skins, represented the barbarians, and wore long flowing wigs of red or +yellow hair; others played the part of Roman troops, who were to conquer +them. The Alemanni were all condemned criminals, who were allowed no +armor, and only blunt swords wherewith to defend themselves. But life +and freedom were promised to the women if, after the camp was seized, +they wounded themselves with the sharp knives with which each one was +provided, at least deeply enough to draw blood. And any who succeeded in +feigning death really deceptively were to earn a special reward. Among +the Germans there were, too, a few gladiators of exceptional stature, +armed with sharp weapons, so as to defer the decision for a while. + +In a few minutes, and under the eyes of the spectators, carts, cattle, +and horses were placed together in a camp, and surrounded by a wall of +tree trunks, stones, and shields. Meanwhile shouts and whistles were +still heard; nay, when Tarautas came out on the arena in the highly +decorated armor of a Roman legate, at the head of a troop of heavily +armed men, and again greeted the emperor, the commotion began afresh. +But Caracalla's patience was exhausted, and the high-priest saw by his +pale cheeks and twitching eyelids what was passing in his mind; so, +inspired by the fervent hope of averting some incalculable disaster from +his fellow-citizens, he took his place in front of the statue of the god, +and, lifting up his hands, he began: + +"In the name of Serapis, O Macedonians!" His deep, ringing tones sounded +above the voices of the insurgents in the upper rows, and there was +silence. + +Not a sound was to be heard but the long-drawn howling of the wind, and +now and then the flap of a strip of cloth torn from the velarium by the +gale. Mingling with these might be heard the uncanny hooting of owls and +daws which the illumination had brought out of their nests in the +cornice, and which the storm was now driving in again. + +Timotheus, in a clear and audible address, now appealed to his audience +to remain quiet, not to disturb the splendid entertainment here set +before them, and above all to remember that great Caesar, the divine +ruler of the world, was in their midst, an honor to each and all. As the +guest of the most hospitable city on earth, their illustrious sovereign +had a right to expect from every Alexandrian the most ardent endeavors to +make his stay here delightful. It was his part as high-priest to uplift +his warning voice in the name of the greatest of the gods, that the ill- +will of a few malcontents might not give rise to an idea in the mind of +their beloved guest that the natives of Alexandria were blind to the +blessings for which every citizen had to thank his beneficent rule. + +A shrill whistle here interrupted his discourse, and a voice shouted: +"What blessings? We know of none." + +But Timotheus was not to be checked, and went on more vehemently + +"All of you who, by the grace of Caesar, have been made Roman citizens--" + +But again a voice broke in--the speaker was the overseer of the granaries +of Seleukus, sitting in the second tier--"And do you suppose we do not +know what the honor costs us?" + +This query was heartily applauded, and then suddenly, as if by magic, a +perfect chorus arose, chanting a distich which one man in the crowd had +first given out and then two or three had repeated, to which a fourth had +given a sort of tune, till it was shouted by every one present at the +very top of his voice, with marked application to him of whom it spoke. +From the topmost row of places, on every side of the amphitheatre, rang +out the following lines, which but a moment before no one had ever heard: + + "Death to the living, to pay for burying those that are dead; + Since, what the taxes have spared, soldiers have ruthlessly seized." + +And the words certainly came from the heart; of the people, for they +seemed never weary of repeating them; and it was not till a tremendous +clap of thunder shook the very walls that several were silent and looked +up with increasing alarm. The moment's pause was seized on to begin the +fight. Caesar bit his lip in powerless fury, and his hatred of the +towns-people, who had thus so plainly given him to understand their +sentiments, was rising from one minute to the next. He felt it a real +misfortune that he was unable to punish on the spot the insult thus +offered him; swelling with rage, he remembered a speech made by Caligula, +and wished the town had but one head, that he might sever it from the +body. The blood throbbed so fiercely in his temples, and there was such +a singing in his ears, that for some little time he neither saw nor heard +what was going on. This terrible agitation might cost him yet some hours +of great suffering. But he need no longer dread them so much; for there +sat the living remedy which he believed he had secured by the strongest +possible ties. + +How fair she was! And, as he looked round once more at Melissa, he +observed that her eye was turned on him with evident anxiety. At this a +light seemed to dawn in his clouded soul, and he was once more conscious +of the love which had blossomed in his heart. But it would never do to +make her who had wrought the miracle so soon the confidante of his +hatred. He had seen her angry, had seen her weep, and had seen her +smile; and within the next few days, which were to make him a happy man +instead of a tortured victim, he longed only to see her great eyes +sparkle and her lips overflow with words of love, joy, and gratitude. +His score with the Alexandrians must be settled later, and it was in his +power to make them atone with their blood and bitterly rue the deeds of +this night. + +He passed his hand over his furrowed brow, as though to wake himself from +a bad dream; nay, he even found a smile when next his eyes met hers; and +those spectators to whom his aspect seemed more absorbing than the +horrible slaughter in the arena, looked at each other in amazement, for +the indifference or the dissimulation, whichever it might be, with which +Caesar regarded this unequaled scene of bloodshed, seemed to them quite +incredible. + +Never, since his very first visit to a circus, had Caracalla left +unnoticed for so long a time the progress of such a battle as this. +However, nothing very remarkable had so far occurred, for the actual +seizure of the camp had but just begun with the massacre of the Alemanni +and the suicide of the women. + +At this moment the gladiator Tarautas, as nimble as a cat and as +bloodthirsty as a hungry wolf, sprang on to one of the enemy's piled-up +wagons, and a tall swordsman, with a bear-skin over his shoulder, and +long, reddish-gold hair, flew to meet him. + +This was no sham German! Caracalla knew the man. He had been brought to +Rome among the captive chiefs, and, as he had proved to be a splendid +horseman, he had found employment in Caesar's stables. His conduct had +always been blameless till, on the day when Caracalla had entered +Alexandria, he had, in a drunken fit, killed first the man set over him, +a hot-headed Gaul, and then the two lictors who had attempted to +apprehend him. He was condemned to death, and had been placed on the +German side to fight for his life in the arena. + +And how he fought! How he defied the most determined of gladiators, and +parried his strokes with his short sword! This was a combat really worth +watching; indeed, it so captivated Caracalla that he forgot everything +else. The name of the German's antagonist had been applied to him-- +Caesar. Just now the many-voiced yell "Tarautas!" had been meant for +him; and, accustomed as he was to read an omen in every incident, he said +to himself, and called Fate to witness, that the gladiator's doom would +foreshadow his own. If Tarautas fell, then Caesar's days were numbered; +if he triumphed, then a long and happy life would be his. + +He could leave the decision to Tarautas with perfect confidence; he was +the strongest gladiator in the empire, and he was fighting with a sharp +sword against the blunt one in his antagonist's hand, who probably had +forgotten in the stable how to wield the sword as he had done of yore. +But the German was the son of a chief, and had followed arms from his +earliest youth. Here it was defense for dear life, however glorious it +might be to die under the eyes of the man whom he had learned to honor as +the conqueror and tyrant of many nations, among them his own. So the +strong and practiced athlete did his best. + +He, like his opponent, felt that the eyes of ten thousand were on him, +and he also longed to purge himself of the dishonor which, by actual +murder, he had brought on himself and on the race of which he was still +a son. Every muscle of his powerful frame gained more rigid tension at +the thought, and when he was presently hit by the sword of his hitherto +unconquered foe, and felt the warm blood flow over his breast and left +arm, he collected all his strength. With the battle-cry of his tribe, he +flung his huge body on the gladiator. Heedless of the furious sword- +thrust with which Tarautas returned the assault, he threw himself off the +top of the packed wagon on to the stones of the camp inclosure, and the +combatants rolled, locked together like one man, from the wall into the +sand of the arena. + +Caracalla started as though he himself had been the injured victim, and +watched, but in vain, to see the supple Tarautas, who had escaped such +perils before now, free himself from the weight of the German's body. + +But the struggle continued to rage round the pair, and neither stirred a +finger. At this Caesar, greatly disturbed, started to his feet, and +desired Theocritus to make inquiry as to whether Tarautas were wounded or +dead; and while the favorite was gone he could not sit still. Agitated +by distressing fears, he rose to speak first to one and then to another +of his suite, only to drop on his seat again and glance once more at the +butchery below. He was fully persuaded that his own end must be near, +if indeed Tarautas were dead. At last he heard Theocritus's voice, and, +as he turned to ask him the news, he met a look from the lady Berenike, +who had risen to quit the theatre. + +He shuddered!--the image of Vindex and his nephew rose once more before +his mind's eye; at the same moment, however, Theocritus hailed him with +the exclamation: + +"That fellow, Tarautas, is not a man at all! I should call him an eel if +he were not so broad shouldered. The rascal is alive, and the physician +says that in three weeks he will be ready again to fight four bears or +two Alemanni!" + +A light as of sudden sunshine broke on Caesar's face, and he was +perfectly cheerful again, though a fearful clap of thunder rattled +through the building, and one of those deluges of rain which are known +only in the south came pouring down into the open theatre, extinguishing +the fires and lights, and tearing the velarium from its fastenings till +it hung flapping in the wind and lashing the upper tiers of places, so as +to drive the spectators to a hasty retreat. + +Men were flying, women screaming and sobbing, and the heralds loudly +proclaimed that the performance was suspended, and would be resumed on +the next day but one. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +He only longed to be hopeful once more, to enjoy the present +Never to be astonished at anything + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A THRONY PATH, BY EBERS, V9 *** + +******** This file should be named 5538.txt or 5538.zip ******** + +This eBook was produced by David Widger + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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