"I never listen to any opinions upon | the young gallants of Rome were envysuch subjects, bold or timid." ing the taste of his dress, and the ease "Look to it. Your name has been of his fashionable stagger. mentioned." "Good Heaven!" said Ligarius, "Mine! good Gods! I call heaven" Caius Cæsar is as unlikely to be in a to witness that I never so much as plot as I am." mentioned Senate, Consul, or Comitia, in Catiline's house." 66 "Not at all." "He does nothing but game, feast, 'Nobody suspects you of any parti-intrigue, read Greek, and write verses.' cipation in the inmost counsels of the "You know nothing of Cæsar. party. But our great men surmise that Though he rarely addresses the Senate, you are among those whom he has he is considered as the finest speaker bribed so high with beauty, or en- there, after the Consul. His influence tangled so deeply in distress, that they with the multitude is immense. He are no longer their own masters. I will serve his rivals in public life as he shall never set foot within his threshold served me last night at Catiline's. We again. I have been solemnly warned were playing at the twelve lines.*-Imby men who understand public affairs; mense stakes. He laughed all the and I advise you to be cautious." time, chatted with Valeria over his shoulder, kissed her hand between every two moves, and scarcely looked at the board. I thought that I had him. All at once I found my counters driven into the corner. Not a piece to move, by Hercules. It cost me two millions of Sesterces. All the Gods and Goddesses confound him for it!" The friends had now turned into the forum, which was thronged with the gay and elegant youth of Rome. "I can tell you more," continued Flaminius; "somebody was remarking to the Consul yesterday how loosely a certain acquaintance of ours tied his girdle. 'Let him look to himself,' said Čicero, For the state may find a tighter girdle. for his neck."" "Good Gods! who is it? You cannot surely mean "There he is." Flaminius pointed to a man who was pacing up and down the forum at a little distance from them. He was in the prime of manhood. His personal advantages were extremely striking, and were displayed with an extravagant but not ungraceful foppery. His gown waved in loose folds; his long dark curls were dressed with exquisite art, and shone and steamed with odours; his step and gesture exhibited an elegant and commanding figure in every posture of polite languor. But his countenance formed a singular contrast to the general appearance of his person. The high and imperial brow, the keen aquiline features, the compressed mouth, the penetrating eye, indicated the highest degree of ability and decision. He seemed absorbed in intense meditation. With eyes fixed on the ground, and lips working in thought, he sauntered round the area, apparently unconscious how many of "He laughed, quoted Anacreon, trussed his gown round his left arm, closed with Quintus, flung him down, twisted his sword out of his hand, burst through the attendants, ran a freed-man through the shoulder, and was in the street in an instant." "Well done! Here he comes. Good day, Caius." Cæsar lifted his head at the saluta*Duodecim scripta, a game of mixed chance and skill, which seems to have been very The famous lawyer Mucius was renowned for fashionable in the higher circles of Rome. his skill in it.-(Cic. Orat. i. 50.) tion. His air of deep abstraction vanished; and he extended a hand to each of the friends. "How are you after your last night's exploit ?" "As well as possible," said Cæsar, laughing. "In truth we should rather ask how Quintus Lutatius is." " 'He, I understand, is as well as can be expected of a man with a faithless spouse and a broken head. His freedman is most seriously hurt. Poor fellow! he shall have half of whatever I win to-night. Flaminius, you shall have your revenge at Catiline's." You are very kind. I do not intend to be at Catiline's till I wish to part with my town-house. My villa is gone already." "Not at Catiline's, base spirit! You are not of his mind, my gallant Ligarius. Dice, Chian, and the loveliest Greek singing-girl that was ever seen. Think of that, Ligarius. By Venus, she almost made me adore her, by telling me that I talked Greek with the most Attic accent that she had heard in Italy." "I doubt she will not say the same of me," replied Ligarius. "I am just as able to decipher an obelisk as to read a line of Homer." "You barbarous Scythian, who had the care of your education?" "An old fool,—a Greek pedant,—a Stoic. He told me that pain was no evil, and flogged me as if he thought so. At last one day, in the middle of a lecture, I set fire to his enormous filthy beard, singed his face, and sent him roaring out of the house. There ended my studies. From that time to this I have had as little to do with Greece as the wine that your poor old friend Lutatius calls his delicious Samian." "True. She is a lovely woman." "They say that you have told her so, Caius." "So I have." "And that she was not angry." "What woman is?" 66 66 Aye-but they say-" No matter what they say. Common fame lies like a Greek rhetorician. You might know so much, Ligarius, without reading the philosophers. But come, I will introduce you to little dark-eyed Zoe." "I tell you I can speak no Greek." "More shame for you. It is high time that you should begin. You will never have such a charming instructress. Of what was your father thinking when he sent for an old Stoic with a long beard to teach you? There is no language-mistress like a handsome woman. When I was at Athens, I learnt more Greek from a pretty flowergirl in the Peiræus than from all the Portico and the Academy. She was no Stoic, Heaven knows. But come along to Zoe. I will be your interpreter. Woo her in honest Latin, and I will turn it into elegant Greek between the throws of dice. I can make love and mind my game at once, as Flaminius can tell you." "Well, then, to be plain, Cæsar, Flaminius has been talking to me about plots, and suspicions, and politicians. I never plagued myself with such things since Sylla's and Marius's days; and then I never could see much difference between the parties. All that I am sure of is, that those who meddle with such affairs are generally stabbed or strangled. And, though I like Greek wine and handsome women, I do not wish to risk my neck for them. Now, tell me as a friend, Caius; -is there no danger?" "Well done, Ligarius. I hate a Stoic. I wish Marcus Cato had a beard that you might singe it for him. The fool talked his two hours in the Senate yesterday, without changing a muscle of his face. He looked as savage and as motionless as the mask in which Roscius acted Alecto. I detest every-tertain strong suspicions." thing connected with him." "Except his sister, Servilia." Danger!" repeated Cæsar, with a short, fierce, disdainful laugh: "what danger do you apprehend?" "That you should best know," said Flaminius; "you are far more intimate with Catiline than I. But I advise you to be cautious. The leading men en Cæsar drew up his figure from its ordinary state of graceful relaxation 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." "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 suppose that I stand in awe of his paltry successors, who have inherited a power which they never could have acquired; who would imitate his proscriptions, though they have never equalled his conquests?" 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." "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 found?" "Perhaps where you would least expect to find him. Perhaps he may be one whose powers have hitherto been concealed in domestic or literary retirement. Perhaps he may be one, who, while waiting for some adequate excitement, for some worthy opportunity, squanders on trifles a genius before which may yet be humbled the sword of Pompey and the gown of Cicero. Perhaps he may now be disputing with a sophist; perhaps prattling with a mistress; perhaps and, as he spoke, he turned away, and resumed his lounge, "strolling in the Forum." It was almost midnight. The party had separated. Catiline and Cethegus were still conferring in the supperroom, which was, as usual, the highest apartment of the house. It formed a cupola, from which windows opened on the flat roof that surrounded it. To this terrace Zoe had retired. With eyes dimmed with fond and melancholy tears, she leaned over the balustrade, to catch the last glimpse of the departing 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!" "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 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." 66 "Hark! what noise was that?" Somebody in the terrace!-lend me your dagger." Zoe 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 crowd of gallants, who, with chaplets on their heads and torches in their hands, were reeling from the portico of a stately mansion. "By Heaven, she is weeping," said Clodius. "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. The sound of his voice thrilled through the very heart of Zoe. With a convulsive effort she burst from the 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 Zoe." Then, with folded arms, and a the mingled sensuality and ferocity of smile of placid defiance, he placed their expression. The libertine auda- himself between her and Clodius. city 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 has all the luck to-night," cried Ligarius. "Not so, by Hercules," said Marcus Coelius; "the girl is fairly our common prize: we will fling dice for her. The Venus* throw, as it ought to do, shall decide." "Let me go-let me go, for Heaven's sake," cried Zoe, struggling with Clodius. "What a charming Greek accent she has! Come into the house, my little Athenian nightingale." "Oh! what will become of me? you have mothers - if you have sisters If "Clodius has a sister," muttered Ligarius, "or he is much belied." *Venus was the Roman term for the highest throw on the dice. 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!' "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, |