CHAPTER I.
AN APPEAL.
"What can I do for thee, Domitia?" asked Titus, who was pacing the room;he halted before the young wife of his brother, who was kneeling on themosaic floor.
She had taken advantage of her introduction into the Imperial palace tomake an appeal to Titus, now Emperor. She had not been allowed to appearthere during the reign of Vespasian.
Titus was a tall, solidly built man, with the neck of a bull; he had thesame vulgarity of aspect that characterized both his father and brother,and which was also conspicuous in his daughter Julia. The whole Flavianfamily looked, what it was, of ignoble origin,--there was none of thesplendid beauty that belonged to Augustus, and to the Claudian family thatsucceeded. Their features were fleshy and coarse, their movements withoutgrace, their address without dignity.
If they attempted to be gracious, they spoiled the graciousness byclumsiness in the act; if they did a generous thing, it carried its shadowof meanness trailing behind it.
Titus had not borne a good character before his elevation to the purple.He had indulged in coarse vices, had shown himself callous toward humansuffering. Yet there was in his muddy nature a spark of good feeling, adesire to do what was right, a rough sense of justice and much familyaffection.
It was a disappointment to him that he had but one child, a daughter, agaunt, stupid girl, big-boned, amiable and ugly.
He knew that Domitian, his younger brother, would in all probabilitysucceed him, but he also was childless. Next to him, the nearest of malekin, were the sons of that Flavius Sabinus, who had been butchered by theVitellians, and their names were Sabinus and Clemens.
The former was much liked by the people, he was an upright grave man. Thesecond was regarded with distrust, as a Christian. It was not the fact ofhis following a strange religion that gave offence. To that Romans weresupremely indifferent, but that which they could not understand and allowwas a man withdrawing himself from the public service, the noblestavocation of a man, because he scrupled to worship the image of theEmperor, and to swear by his genius. They regarded this as a mere excuseto cover inertness of character, and ignobility of mind.
For the like reason, Christians could not attend public banquets or go toprivate entertainments as the homage done to the gods, and the idolatrousofferings associated with them, stood in their way. The profession ofChristianity, accordingly, not only debarred from the public service, butinterfered with social amenities. Such withdrawal from public social lifethe Romans could not understand, and they attributed this conduct to amorbid hatred entertained by the Christians for their fellow-men.
The public shows were either brutal or licentious. The Christians equallyrefused to be present at the gladiatorial combats and at the coarsetheatrical representations of broad comedy and low buffoonery. This alsowas considered as indicative of a gloomy and unamiable spirit.
There were indeed heathen men who loathed the frightful butchery in thearena, such was the Emperor Tiberius,--and Pliny in his letters shows usthat to some men of his time they were disgusting, but nevertheless theyattended these exhibitions, as a public duty, and contented themselveswith expressing objection to them privately. The objection was founded ontaste, not principle, and therefore called for no public expression ofreprobation.
Clemens was quite out of the question as a successor. If he was too fullof scruple to take a praetorship, he was certainly unfit to be an emperor.Not so Flavius Sabinus his elder brother. Him accordingly, Domitian lookedupon with jealousy.
"What can I do for thee?" again asked Titus, and his heavy face assumed akindly expression; "my child, I know that thou hast had trouble and artmated to a fellow with a gloomy, uncertain humor; but what has been donecannot be undone----"
"Pardon me," interrupted Domitia, "it is that I desire; let me beseparated from him. I never, never desired to leave my true husband,Lamia, I was snatched away by violence--let me go back."
"What! to Lamia! That will hardly do. Would he have thee?"
"Tainted by union with Domitian, perhaps not!" exclaimed Domitia fiercely."Right indeed--he would not."
"Nay, nay," said Titus, his brow clouding, "such a word as that isimpious, and in another would be treason. Domitia, you have a bittertongue. I have heard my brother say as much. But I cannot think that Lamiawould dare to receive thee again after having been the wife of a Flavianprince."
Domitia's lip curled, but she said nothing. These upstart Flavians made abrag of their consequence.
"Then," said she, "let me go to my old home at Gabii. I have lived inseclusion enough at Albanum to find Gabii in the current of life--and mymother and her many friends will come there anon. Let me go. Let there bea divorce--and I will go home and paddle on the lake and pick flowers andseek to be heard of no more."
"It would not do for you and Lamia to be married again. It would be apolitical error; it might be dangerous to us Flavians."
"I should have supposed, in your brand-new divinity that a poor mouse likemyself could not have scratched away any of the newly-laid-on gold leaf."
"Domitia," said Titus, who had resumed his walk, "be careful how you letthat tongue act--it is a file, it has already removed some of the gilding."
A smile broke out on his face at first inclined to darken.
"There! There!" said he, laughing; "I am not a fool. I know well enoughwhat we were, as I feel what we have become. Caligula threw mud, the mudof Rome, into the lap of my grandfather, because he had not seen to theefficient scouring of the streets. It was ominous--the soil of Rome hasbeen taken away from the divine race of Julius--and has been cast into thelap of us money-lenders, pettyfogging attorneys of Reate. Well! the Godswilled it, Domitia--it is necessary for us to make a display."
"Push, as my mother would say."
"Well--push--as you will it. But, understand, Domitia, though I am notignorant of all this, I don't like to have it thrown in my teeth; and mybrother is more sensitive to this than myself. Domitia, I will do this foryou. I will send for him, and see if I can induce him to part from you. Imistrust me,"--Titus smiled, looked at Domitia, with one finger stroked hercheek, and said,--"By the Gods! I do not wonder at it. I would be torn bywild horses myself rather than abandon you, had I been so fortunate----"
"Sire, so wicked----"
"Well, well! you must excuse Domitian. Love, they say, rules even theGods, and is stronger than wine to turn men's heads."
He clapped his hands. A slave appeared. "Send hither the Caesar," heordered. The slave bowed and withdrew.
Domitian entered next moment. He must have been waiting in an adjoiningapartment.
"Come hither, brother," said Titus. "I have a suppliant at my feet, andwhat suppose you has been her petition?"
Domitian looked down. He had a pouting disdainful lip, a dogged brow, andeyes in which never did a sparkle flash; but his face flushed readily, notwith modesty, but shyness or anger.
"Brother," said Domitian, "I know well enough at what she drives. From themoment, the first moment I knew her, she has treated me to quip and jibeand has sought to keep me at a distance. I know not whether she use alove-philtre so as to hold me? I know not if it be her very treatment ofme which makes me love her the more. Love her! It is but the turning of ahair whether I love or hate her most. I know what is her petition withoutbeing told, and I say--I refuse consent."
"Listen to what I have to propose," said Titus, "and do not blurt out yourfamily quarrels before I speak about them. It is not I only, but all Rome,that knows that your life together is not that of Venus's doves. It isunpleasant to me, it detracts from the dignity of the Flavian family"--heglanced aside at his sister-in-law, and his lips quivered, "that thiscat-and-dog existence should become the gossip of every noble house, and amatter of tittle-tattle in every wine-shop. Make an end to it andrepudiate her."
Domitian kept his eyes on the floor. Domitia looked at him for his answerwith eagerness. He turned on her with a vu
lgar laugh and said:--
"Vixen! I see thee--naught would give thee greater joy than for me toassent. I should see thee skip for gladness of heart, as I have never seenthee move thy little feet since thou hast been with me! I should hear theelaugh--and I have heard no sound save flout from thee as yet. I should seea sun dance in thine eyes, that perpetually lower or are veiled in tears.Is it not so?"--He paused and looked at her with truculence in hisface--"and therefore, for that alone, I will not consent."
"Listen further to me, Domitian," said Titus; "I have a proposition tomake. Separate from Domitia, send her back----"
"What, into the arms of Lamia?"
"No, to Gabii. She shall be guarded there, she shall not remarry Lamia."
"I shall take good heed to that."
"Hear me out, Domitian. I have but one child, Julia. The voice of thepeople has proclaimed itself well pleased with our house. We have given toRome peace and prosperity at home, and victory abroad. I believe thatthere are few who regard me unfavorably. But it is not so with thee. Thyfolly, thy disorders, thy violence, before our father came to Rome, havenot been forgotten or forgiven, and Senate and people look on thee withmistrust. I will give thee Julia to wife. It is true she is thy niece--butsince Claudius took Agrippina----"
"Thanks, Titus, I have no appetite for mushrooms."(8)
"Tut! you know Julia, a good-hearted jade."
"I will not consent," said Domitian surlily.
"Hear me out, brother, before making thy decision. If thou wilt not takeJulia, then I shall give her to another----"
"To whom?" asked Domitian looking up. He at once perceived that a dangerto himself lurked behind this proposal. The husband of Julia might contesthis claims to the throne, should the popularity of Titus grow with years,and his own decline.
"I shall give her to our cousin, Flavius Sabinus."
Domitian was silent, and moved his hands and feet uneasily.
Looking furtively out of the corners of his eyes, he saw a flash of hopein those of Domitia.
He held up his head, and looking with leaden eyes at his brother, said:--
"Still I refuse."
"The consequences--have you considered them?"
Domitian turned about, and made a tiger-like leap at Domitia and catchingher by her shoulders said:--
"I hate her. I will risk all, rather than let her go free."
"I HATE HER!" _Page 221._]