SCENE THE ELEVENTH. THE THE CATASTROPHE. HE day commenced very differently, on the present occasion, in the house of Gallus, from what it had done. on the morning of his journey. His disgrace, by some foreseen, but to most both unexpected and looked upon as the harbinger of still more severe misfortunes, formed the principal topic of the day, and was discussed in the forum and the tabernæ with a thousand different comments. The intelligence of his return to Rome soon became diffused throughout the city1; and the loud tidings of his presence Although the ancients had no newspapers to disseminate quickly the news of the day, the want was in some degree remedied by their public style of living. Much more of their time was passed from, than at, home. They visited the forum, the piazzas, and other places of resort; they met each other at the baths, the taberna of the tonsores, the medici, and librarii, and thus the occurrences of the day were easily passed from one to another. It was therefore quite possible that the news of the return of Gallus should have spread over the whole city by the following day. [Another compensation for our modern newspapers were copies of the acta diurna publica, or urbana, which were dispatched to all parts of the Roman empire. These acta or chronicles of Roman diary did not contain merely important events, as in earlier times did the annales maximi, as for example, new laws, appointments, decrees of the senate, edicts of the magistrates, &c. ; but also many other notices of minor importance in the circle of the day's news, as an nouncements of festivals, sacrifices, fires, processions, and also births, marriages, divorces, and deaths. They commenced during Cæsar's first consulate, or at any rate not much earlier. Suet. Cæs. 20. Their compilation was the business of actuarii appointed for the purpose, under the superintendence of the director of the tabule publica and the ærarium. After the writing down was finished, the tables of chronicle were openly exposed, so that any one could read and copy them. Thus many scribes made a business in writing out the acta for certain persons for pay, and even a greater number in making extracts from them, and sending their copies to their subscribers, even in the most distant provinces. So these public chronicles compensated in a certain degree for the modern newspapers, as appears from many passages. Tac. Ann. xvi. 22, Diurna Populi Romani per provincias, per exercitus curatius leguntur, ut noscatur, quid Thrasea non fecerit. Cic. ad Fam. xii. 22, 23, 28, etc. Petronius, 53, gives a curious copy of the acta.] should have collected the troop of clients who, at other times, were accustomed to flock in such great numbers to his house. On this day, however, the vestibulum remained empty; the obsequious crowd no longer thronged it. The selfish, who had promised themselves some advantage from the influence of their patron, became indifferent about a house which could no longer be considered, as it had lately been, the entrance-hall of the palace. The timid were deterred by fear of the cloud which hung threatening over Gallus, lest they themselves should be overtaken by the destroying flash2. The swarm of parasites, prudently weighing their own interest, avoided a table of doubtful duration, in order that they might not forfeit their seats at ten others, where undisturbed enjoyment for the future appeared more secure. And even those few in whom feelings of duty or shame had overcome other considerations, seemed to be not at all dissatisfied when the ostiarius announced to them, that his master would receive no visitors that day. In the house itself all was quiet. The majority of the slaves had not yet returned from the villa, and those who were present, seemed to share the grief of the deeplyaffected dispensator. Uneasiness and anxiety had long since banished sleep from the couch of Gallus. He could not conceal from himself to what a precipice a misuse of his incautious expressions would drive him, and that he could expect no forbearance or secrecy from the suspicious-looking strangers. Animated by the dreams of freedom with which Calpurnius had entertained him; half enlisted in the plans which the enthusiast, sincerely moved at the misfortune of his friend, had proposed to him; highly excited by the strength of the wine and the heat of play; and, stung to fury by the insolence of the strange guests, he had suffered himself to be drawn into an indiscreet avowal, which he was far from seriously meaning. On calmer reflection he perceived the folly of all those bold projects which, in the first moment of excitement, seemed to present the possibility of averting his own fate by the overthrow of the tyrant; and he now found himself, without the hope of escape, in the power of two men, whose whole behaviour was calculated to inspire anything but confidence. His only consolation was that they had been introduced by Pomponius, through whose exertions he hoped possibly to obtain their silence; for Gallus still firmly believed in the sincerity of his friendship, and paid no attention even to a discovery which his slaves professed to have made on the way homeward. It was as follows-His road, in returning from the mansion of Lentulus, passed not far from that of Largus; and the slaves who preceded him with the lantern had seen three men, resembling very much Pomponius and the two Perusians, approach the house. the metal knocker, and ted by the ostiarius. One of them struck the door with they were all immediately admitGallus certainly thought so late a visit strange; but, as it was no uncommon thing for Largus to break far into the night with wine and play, he persuaded himself that it must be some acquaintances who had called upon him on their return from an earlier party. At last the drowsy god had steeped him in a beneficial oblivion of these cares, and although the sun was by this time high in the heavens, yet Chresimus was carefully watching lest any noise in the vicinity of his bed-chamber should abridge the moments of his master's repose. The old man wandered about the house uneasily, and appeared to be impatiently waiting for something. In the atrium he was met by Leonidas, approaching from the door. 'Well, no messenger yet?' he hastily inquired of him. 'None,' replied the vicarius. And no intelligence in the house?' Chresimus again asked. None since his departure,' was the answer. He shook his head and proceeded to the atrium, where a loud knocking at the door was heard. The ostiarius opened it. It was an express with a letter from Lycoris. At last,' cried Chresimus, as he took the letter from the tabellarius. My lady,' said the messenger, 'enjoined me to make all possible haste, and bade me give the letter only to yourself or your lord. Present it to him directly.' 'Your admonition is not wanted,' replied Chresimus; 'I have been long expecting your arrival.' The faithful servant had indeed anxiously expected the letter. Although Gallus had strictly forbidden him from letting the cause of his departure from the villa become known, yet Chresimus believed that he should be rendering him an important service by acquainting Lycoris with the unfortunate occurrence. She had at Baiæ only half broken to him the secret, which confirmed, but too well, his opinion of Pomponius. He had therefore urged her not to lose a moment in making Gallus acquainted, at whatever sacrifice to herself, with the danger that was threatening him, and immediately return herself, in order to render lasting the first impression caused by her avowal. He now hastened towards the apartment in which his master was still sleeping, cautiously fitted the three-toothed key into the opening of the door, and drew back the bolts by which it was fastened. Gallus, awakened by the noise, sprang up from his couch. What do you bring?' cried he to the domestic, who had pushed aside the tapestry and entered. · A letter from Lycoris,' said the old man, just brought by a courier. He urged me to deliver it immediately, and so I was forced to disturb you.' Gallus hastily seized the tablets. They were not of the usual small and neat shape which afforded room for a few tender words only, but by their size evidently inclosed a large letter. 'Doubtless,' said he, as he cut the threads with a knife which Chresimus had presented to him, 'doubtless, the poor girl has been terrified by some unfavourable reports.' He read the contents, and turned pale. With the anxiety of a fond heart, she accused herself as the cause of what had befallen her lover, and disclosed to him the secret, which must enlighten him on the danger that threatened him from Pomponius. Without sparing herself, she alluded to her former connexion with the traitor, narrated the occurrences of that evening, his attempt to deceive her, and his villanous threats. She conjured Gallus to take, with prudence and resolution, such steps as were calculated to render harmless the intrigues of his most dangerous enemy. She would herself arrive, she added, soon after he received the letter, in order to beg pardon with her own mouth for what had taken place. just what he had expected. There stood the undeceived Gallus in deep emotion. 'Read,' said he, handing the letter to the faithful freedman, who shared all his secrets. Chresimus took it, and read I was not deceived,' said he, and thank Lycoris for clearly disclosing to you, although late, the net they would draw around you. Now hasten to Cæsar with such proofs of treachery in your hand, and expose to him the plot which they have formed against you. Haply the gods may grant that the storm which threatens to wreck the ship of your prosperity, may yet subside.' 'I fear it is too late,' replied his master, but I will speak with Pomponius. He must know that I see through him; perchance he will not then venture to divulge what, once published, must be succeeded by inevitable ruin. Dispatch some slaves immediately to his house, to the forum, and to the taberna, where he is generally to be met with at this hour. He must have no idea that I have heard from Lycoris. They need only say that I particularly beg he will call upon me as soon as possible. Chresimus hastened to fulfil the command of his lord. |