Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero Read online

  Chapter V

  AULUS had judged rightly that he would not be admitted to Nero'spresence. They told him that Caesar was occupied in singing with thelute-player, Terpnos, and that in general he did not receive those whomhe himself had not summoned. In other words, that Aulus must not attemptin future to see him.

  Seneca, though ill with a fever, received the old general with duehonor; but when he had heard what the question was, he laughed bitterly,and said,--"I can render thee only one service, noble Plautius, not toshow Caesar at any time that my heart feels thy pain, or that I shouldlike to aid thee; for should Caesar have the least suspicion on thishead, know that he would not give thee back Lygia, though for no otherreason than to spite me."

  He did not advise him, either, to go to Tigellinus or Vatinius orVitelius. It might be possible to do something with them through money;perhaps, also, they would like to do evil to Petronius, whose influencethey were trying to undermine, but most likely they would disclosebefore Nero how dear Lygia was to Plautius, and then Nero would all themore resolve not to yield her to him. Here the old sage began to speakwith a biting irony, which he turned against himself: "Thou hast beensilent, Plautius, thou hast been silent for whole years, and Caesar doesnot like those who are silent. How couldst thou help being carriedaway by his beauty, his virtue, his singing, his declamation, hischariot-driving, and his verses? Why didst thou not glorify the deathof Britannicus, and repeat panegyrics in honor of the mother-slayer,and not offer congratulations after the stifling of Octavia? Thou artlacking in foresight, Aulus, which we who live happily at the courtpossess in proper measure."

  Thus speaking, he raised a goblet which he carried at his belt, tookwater from a fountain at the impluvium, freshened his burning lips, andcontinued,--"Ah, Nero has a grateful heart. He loves thee because thouhast served Rome and glorified its name at the ends of the earth; heloves me because I was his master in youth. Therefore, seest thou, Iknow that this water is not poisoned, and I drink it in peace. Wine inmy own house would be less reliable. If thou art thirsty, drink boldlyof this water. The aqueducts bring it from beyond the Alban hills, andany one wishing to poison it would have to poison every fountain inRome. As thou seest, it is possible yet to be safe in this world and tohave a quiet old age. I am sick, it is true, but rather in soul than inbody."

  This was true. Seneca lacked the strength of soul which Cornutuspossessed, for example, or Thrasea; hence his life was a series ofconcessions to crime. He felt this himself; he understood that anadherent of the principles of Zeno, of Citium, should go by anotherroad, and he suffered more from that cause than from the fear of deathitself.

  But the general interrupted these reflections full of grief.

  "Noble Annaeus," said he, "I know how Caesar rewarded thee for the carewith which thou didst surround his years of youth. But the author ofthe removal of Lygia is Petronius. Indicate to me a method against him,indicate the influences to which he yields, and use besides with him allthe eloquence with which friendship for me of long standing can inspirethee."

  "Petronius and I," answered Seneca, "are men of two opposite camps; Iknow of no method against him, he yields to no man's influence. Perhapswith all his corruption he is worthier than those scoundrels with whomNero surrounds himself at present. But to show him that he has done anevil deed is to lose time simply. Petronius has lost long since thatfaculty which distinguishes good from evil. Show him that his act isugly, he will be ashamed of it. When I see him, I will say, 'Thy act isworthy of a freedman.' If that will not help thee, nothing can."

  "Thanks for that, even," answered the general.

  Then he gave command to carry him to the house of Vinicius, whom hefound at sword practice with his domestic trainer. Aulus was borne awayby terrible anger at sight of the young man occupied calmly with fencingduring the attack on Lygia; and barely had the curtain droppedbehind the trainer when this anger burst forth in a torrent of bitterreproaches and injuries. But Vinicius, when he learned that Lygia hadbeen carried away, grew so terribly pale that Aulus could not for evenan instant suspect him of sharing in the deed. The young man's foreheadwas covered with sweat; the blood, which had rushed to his heart for amoment, returned to his face in a burning wave; his eyes began to shootsparks, his mouth to hurl disconnected questions. Jealousy and ragetossed him in turn, like a tempest. It seemed to him that Lygia,once she had crossed the threshold of Caesar's house, was lost to himabsolutely. When Aulus pronounced the name of Petronius, suspicion flewlike a lightning flash through the young soldier's mind, that Petroniushad made sport of him, and either wanted to win new favor from Nero bythe gift of Lygia, or keep her for himself. That any one who had seenLygia would not desire her at once, did not find a place in his head.Impetuousness, inherited in his family, carried him away like a wildhorse, and took from him presence of mind.

  "General," said he, with a broken voice, "return home and wait for me.Know that if Petronius were my own father, I would avenge on him thewrong done to Lygia. Return home and wait for me. Neither Petronius norCaesar will have her."

  Then he went with clinched fists to the waxed masks standing clothed inthe atrium, and burst out,--"By those mortal masks! I would rather killher and myself." When he had said this, he sent another "Wait for me"after Aulus, then ran forth like a madman from the atrium, and flew toPetronius's house, thrusting pedestrians aside on the way.

  Aulus returned home with a certain encouragement. He judged that ifPetronius had persuaded Caesar to take Lygia to give her to Vinicius,Vinicius would bring her to their house. Finally, the thought was nolittle consolation to him, that should Lygia not be rescued she would beavenged and protected by death from disgrace. He believed that Viniciuswould do everything that he had promised. He had seen his rage, and heknew the excitability innate in the whole family. He himself, though heloved Lygia as her own father, would rather kill her than give herto Caesar; and had he not regarded his son, the last descendant of hisstock, he would doubtless have done so. Aulus was a soldier; he hadhardly heard of the Stoics, but in character he was not far from theirideas,--death was more acceptable to his pride than disgrace.

  When he returned home, he pacified Pomponia, gave her the consolationthat he had, and both began to await news from Vinicius. At moments whenthe steps of some of the slaves were heard in the atrium, they thoughtthat perhaps Vinicius was bringing their beloved child to them, andthey were ready in the depth of their souls to bless both. Time passed,however, and no news came. Only in the evening was the hammer heard onthe gate.

  After a while a slave entered and handed Aulus a letter. The oldgeneral, though he liked to show command over himself, took it with asomewhat trembling hand, and began to read as hastily as if it were aquestion of his whole house.

  All at once his face darkened, as if a shadow from a passing cloud hadfallen on it.

  "Read," said he, turning to Pomponia.

  Pomponia took the letter and read as follows:--

  "Marcus Vinicius to Aulus Plautius greeting. What has happened, hashappened by the will of Caesar, before which incline your heads, as I andPetronius incline ours."

  A long silence followed.