into an attitude of commanding dignity, and replied in a voice of which the deep and impassioned melody formed a strange contrast to the humorous and affected tone of his ordinary conversation. "Let them suspect. They suspect because they know what they have deserved. What have they done for Rome?-What for mankind? Ask the citizens-ask the provinces. Have they had any other object than to perpetuate their own exclusive power, and to keep us under the yoke of an oligarchical tyranny, which unites in itself the worst evils of every other system, and combines more than Athenian turbulence with more than Persian despotism?" "Good Gods! Cæsar. It is not safe for you to speak, or for us to listen to, such things, at such a crisis." 66 "Your language, Caius, convinces me that the reports which have been circulated are not without foundation. I will venture to prophesy that within a few months the republic will pass through a whole Odyssey of strange adventures." "I believe so; an Odyssey of which Pompey will be the Polyphemus, and Cicero the Siren. I would have the state imitate Ulysses: show no mercy to the former; but contrive, if it can be done, to listen to the enchanting voice of the other, without being seduced by it to destruction." "But whom can your party produce as rivals to these two famous leaders?" "Time will show. I would hope that there may arise a man, whose genius to conquer, to conciliate, and to govern, may unite in one cause an oppressed and divided people ;-may do all that Sylla should have done, and exhibit the magnificent spectacle of a great nation directed by a great mind." "And where is such a man to be Judge for yourselves what you will hear. I will judge for myself what I will speak. I was not twenty years old when I defied Lucius Sylla, surrounded by the spears of legionaries and the daggers of assassins. Do you sup-found? pose that I stand in awe of his paltry Perhaps where you would least successors, who have inherited a power expect to find him. Perhaps he may which they never could have acquired; be one whose powers have hitherto who would imitate his proscriptions, though they have never equalled his conquests?" 66 Pompey is almost as little to be trifled with as Sylla. I heard a consular senator say that, in consequence of the present alarming state of affairs, he would probably be recalled from the command assigned to him by the Manilian law." "Let him come,—the pupil of Sylla's butcheries, the gleaner of Lucullus's trophies, the thief-taker of the Senate." For heaven's sake, Caius !-if you knew what the Consul said. 66 Something about himself, no doubt. Pity that such talents should be coupled with such cowardice and coxcombry. He is the finest speaker living, — infinitely superior to what Hortensius was, in his best days;-a charming companion, except when he tells over for the twentieth time all the jokes that he made at Verres's trial. But he is the despicable tool of a despicable party." 66 been concealed in domestic or literary "Cæsar is made up of inconsistencies. He has boundless ambition, unquestioned courage, admirable sagacity. Yet I have frequently observed in him a womanish weakness at the sight of pain. I remember that once one of his slaves was taken ill while form of Cæsar, as it grew more and Indignant! The gods confound more indistinct in the moonlight. Had him! He prated about humanity, he any thought of her? Any love and generosity, and moderation. By for her? He, the favourite of the Hercules, I have not heard such a high-born beauties of Rome, the most lecture since I was with Xenochares splendid, the most graceful, the most at Rhodes." eloquent of its nobles? It could not be. His voice had, indeed, been touchingly soft whenever he addressed her. There had been a fascinating tenderness even in the vivacity of his look and conversation. But such were always the manners of Cæsar towards women. He had wreathed a sprig of myrtle in her hair as she was singing. She took it from her dark ringlets, and kissed it, and wept over it, and thought of the sweet legends of her own dear Greece, of youths and girls, who, pining away in hopeless love, had been transformed into flowers by the compassion of the Gods; and she wished to become a flower, which Cæsar might sometimes touch, though he should touch it only to weave a crown for some prouder and happier mistress. She was roused from her musings by the loud step and voice of Cethegus, who was pacing furiously up and down the supper-room. 66 'May all the Gods confound me, if Cæsar be not the deepest traitor, or the most miserable idiot, that ever intermeddled with a plot!" Zoe shuddered. She drew nearer to the window. She stood concealed from observation by the curtain of fine network which hung over the aperture, to exclude the annoying insects of the climate. "And you, too!" continued Cethegus, turning fiercely on his accomplice; "you to take his part against me!-you, who proposed the scheme yourself!" carrying his litter. He alighted, put the fellow in his place, and walked home in a fall of snow. I wonder that you could be so ill-advised as to talk to him of massacre, and pillage, and conflagration. You might have foreseen that such propositions would disgust a man of his temper." "I do not know. I have not your self-command, Lucius. I hate such conspirators. What is the use of them? We must have blood-blood, --hacking and tearing work bloody work! "Do not grind your teeth, my dear Caius; and lay down the carving-knife. By Hercules, you have cut up all the stuffing of the couch." "No matter; we shall have couches enough soon,- and down to stuff them with, and purple to cover them,—and pretty women to loll on them, - unless this fool, and such as he, spoil our plans. I had something else to say. The essenced fop wishes to seduce Zoe from me." "Impossible! You misconstrue the ordinary gallantries which he is in the habit of paying to every handsome face.' "Curse on his ordinary gallantries, and his verses, and his compliments, and his sprigs of myrtle! If Cæsar should dare-by Hercules, I will tear him to pieces in the middle of the Forum." We "My dear Caius Cethegus, you will not understand me. I proposed the scheme; and I will join in executing it. But policy is as necessary to our plans as boldness. I did not wish to startle Cæsar to lose his co-operation-per"Trust his destruction to me. haps to send him off with an informa- must use his talents and influencetion against us to Cicero and Catulus. thrust him upon every danger--make He was so indignant at your sugges-him our instrument while we are contion that all my dissimulation was tending our peace-offering to the scarcely sufficient to prevent a total Senate if we fail-our first victim if rupture." we succeed." "Hark! what noise was that?" 'Somebody in the terrace!-lend me your dagger." Zoe If she were not evidently a Greek," said Coelius, "I should take her for a vestal virgin." "And if she were a vestal virgin," cried Clodius fiercely, "it should not deter me. This way;-no strugglingno screaming." "Struggling! screaming!" exclaimed a gay and commanding voice; "You are making very ungentle love, Clodius." The whole party started. Cæsar had mingled with them unperceived. Catiline rushed to the window. was standing in the shade. He stepped out. She darted into the roompassed like a flash of lightning by the startled Cethegus flew down the stairs-through the court-through the vestibule through the street. Steps, voices, lights, came fast and confusedly behind her; but with the speed of love and terror she gained upon her pursuers. She fled through the wilderness of unknown and dusky streets, till she found herself, breathless and exhausted, in the midst of a a convulsive effort she burst from the crowd of gallants, who, with chaplets on their heads and torches in their hands, were reeling from the portico of a stately mansion. The sound of his voice thrilled through the very heart of Zoe. With Zoe." Then, with folded arms, and a smile of placid defiance, he placed himself between her and Clodius. grasp of her insolent admirer, flung herself at the feet of Cæsar, and clasped his knees. The moon shone full on her agitated and imploring The foremost of the throng was a face: her lips moved; but she uttered youth whose slender figure and beautiful no sound. He gazed at her for an countenance seemed hardly consistent instant-raised her-clasped her to with his sex. But the feminine delicacy his bosom. "Fear nothing, my sweet of his features rendered more frightful the mingled sensuality and ferocity of their expression. The libertine audacity of his stare, and the grotesque foppery of his apparel, seemed to indicate at least a partial insanity. Flinging one arm round Zoe, and tearing away her veil with the other, he disclosed to the gaze of his thronging companions the regular features and large dark eyes which characterise Athenian beauty. Clodius staggered forward, flushed with wine and rage, and uttering alternately a curse and a hiccup. "By Pollux, this passes a jest. Cæsar, how dare you insult me thus?" "A jest! I am as serious as a Jew on the Sabbath. Insult you; For such a pair of eyes I would insult the whole consular bench, or I should be as insensible as King Psammis's mummy." "Good Gods, Cæsar!" said Marcus Coelius, interposing; "you cannot think it worth while to get into a brawl for a little Greek girl!" 66 'Why not? The Greek girls have used me as well as those of Rome. Besides, the whole reputation of my gallantry is at stake. Give up such a lovely woman to that drunken boy! My character would be gone for ever. No more perfumed tablets, full of vows and raptures. No more toying with fingers at the Circus. No more evening walks along the Tiber. No more hiding in chests or jumping from windows. I, the favoured suitor of half the white stoles in Rome, could never again aspire above a freed-woman. You a man of gallantry, and think of such a thing! For shame, my dear Coelius! Do not let Clodia hear of it." While Cæsar spoke he had been engaged in keeping Clodius at arm's length. The rage of the frantic libertine increased as the struggle continued. "Stand back, as you value your life," he cried; "I will pass." I "Not this way, sweet Clodius. have too much regard for you to suffer you to make love at such disadvantage. You smell too much of Falernian at present. Would you stifle your mistress? By Hercules, you are fit to kiss nobody now, except old Piso, when he is tumbling home in the morning from the vintners." * Clodius plunged his hand into his bosom and drew a little dagger, the faithful companion of many desperate adventures. "Oh, Gods! he will be murdered!" cried Zoe. The whole throng of revellers was in agitation. The street fluctuated with torches and lifted hands. It was but for a moment. Cæsar watched with a steady eye the descending hand of Clodius, arrested the blow, seized his antagonist by the throat, and flung him against one of the pillars of the portico with such violence that he rolled, stunned and senseless, on the ground. "He is killed," cried several voices. "Fair self-defence, by Hercules!" said Marcus Cœlius. "Bear witness, you all saw him draw his dagger." "He is not dead-he breathes," said Ligarius. "Carry him into the house; he is dreadfully bruised." The rest of the party retired with Clodius. Cœlius turned to Cæsar. "By all the Gods, Caius! you have won your lady fairly. A splendid victory! You deserve a triumph." "What a madman Clodius has become!" "Intolerable. But come and sup with me on the Nones. You have no objection to meet the Consul?" Cicero? None at all. We need not talk politics. Our old dispute about Plato and Epicurus will furnish us with *Cic. in Pis. plenty of conversation. So reckon upon me, my dear Marcus, and farewell." Cæsar and Zoe turned away. As soon as they were beyond hearing, she began in great agitation: "Cæsar, you are in danger. I know all. I overheard Catiline and Cethegus. You are engaged in a project which must lead to certain destruction." "My beautiful Zoe, I live only for glory and pleasure. For these I have never hesitated to hazard an existence which they alone render valuable to me. In the present case, I can assure you that our scheme presents the fairest hopes of success." "So much the worse. You do not know-you do not understand me. I speak not of open peril, but of secret treachery. Catiline hates you; Cethegus hates you; - your destruction is resolved. If you survive the contest, you perish in the first hour of victory. They detest you for your moderation;-they are eager for blood and plunder. I have risked my life to bring you this warning; but that is of little moment. Farewell!-Be happy." Cæsar stopped her. "Do you fly from my thanks, dear Zoe?" "I wish not for your thanks, but for your safety;-I desire not to defraud Valeria or Servilia of one caress, extorted from gratitude or pity. Be my feelings what they may, I have learnt in a fearful school to endure and to suppress them. I have been taught to abase a proud spirit to the claps and hisses of the vulgar;-to smile on suitors who united the insults of a despicable pride to the endearments of a loathsome fondness;-to affect sprightliness with an aching head, and eyes from which tears were ready to gush ;-to feign love with curses on my lips, and madness in my brain. Who feels for me any esteem,-any tenderness? Who will shed a tear over the nameless grave which will soon shelter from cruelty and scorn the broken heart of the poor Athenian girl? But you, who alone have addressed her in her degradation with a voice of kindness and respect, farewell. Sometimes think of me,-not with sorrow;-no; I could bear your in gratitude, but not your distress. Yet, "Oh! Cæsar," interrupted the blushing Zoe, "think only on your own security at present. If you feel as you speak,-but you are only mocking me, -or perhaps your compassion 'By Heaven!-by every oath that is binding "Alas! alas! Cæsar, were not all at if it will not pain you too much, in distant days, when your lofty hopes and destinies are accomplished,- -on the evening of some mighty victory,— in the chariot of some magnificent triumph,-think on one who loved you with that exceeding love which only the miserable can feel. Think that, the same oaths sworn yesterday to wherever her exhausted frame may Valeria? But I will trust you, have sunk beneath the sensibilities of least so far as to partake your present a tortured spirit,-in whatever hovel dangers. Flight may be necessary: or whatever vault she may have closed form your plans. Be they what they her eyes,-whatever strange scenes of may, there is one who, in exile, in horror and pollution may have sur- poverty, in peril, asks only to wander, rounded her dying bed, your shape was to beg, to die with you." the last that swam before her sight- "My Zoe, I do not anticipate any your voice the last sound that was such necessity. To renounce the conringing in her ears. Yet turn your spiracy without renouncing the prinface to me, Cæsar. Let me carry away ciples on which it was originally underone last look of those features, and taken,-to elude the vengeance of the then He turned round. He Senate without losing the confidence of looked at her. He hid his face on her the people,-is, indeed, an arduous, but bosom, and burst into tears. With not an impossible, task. I owe it to sobs long and loud, and convulsive as myself and to my country to make the those of a terrified child, he poured attempt. There is still ample time for forth on her bosom the tribute of im- consideration. At present I am too petuous and uncontrollable emotion. happy in love to think of ambition or He raised his head; but he in vain danger." struggled to restore composure to the brow which had confronted the frown of Sylla, and the lips which had rivalled the eloquence of Cicero. He several times attempted to speak, but in vain; and his voice still faltered with tenderness, when, after a pause of several minutes, he thus addressed her: They had reached the door of a stately palace. Cæsar struck it. It was instantly opened by a slave. Zoe found herself in a magnificent hall, surrounded by pillars of green marble, between which were ranged the statues of the long line of Julian nobles. "Call Endymion," said Cæsar. The confidential freed man made his appearance, not without a slight smile, which his patron's good nature emboldened him to hazard, at perceiving the beautiful Athenian. "My own dear Zoe, your love has been bestowed on one who, if he cannot merit, can at least appreciate and adore you. Beings of similar loveliness, and similar devotedness of affection, mingled, in all my boyish dreams of "Arm my slaves, Endymion; there greatness, with visions of curule chairs are reasons for precaution. Let them and ivory cars, marshalled legions and relieve each other on guard during the laurelled fasces. Such I have en- night. Zoe, my love, my preserver, deavoured to find in the world; and, why are your cheeks so pale? Let me in their stead, I have met with selfish- kiss some bloom into them. How you ness, with vanity, with frivolity, with tremble! Endymion, a flask of Samian falsehood. The life which you have and some fruit. Bring them to my preserved is a boon less valuable than apartments. This way, my sweet Zoe." the affection * * * * * |