the miscellaneous writings and speeches-1-第5章

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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　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　（Venus　was　the　Roman　term　for　the　highest　throw　of　the　dice。）　throw；　as　it　ought　to　do；　shall　decide。〃

〃Let　me　golet　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？　　If　you　have　mothersif　you　have　sisters〃

〃Clodius　has　a　sister；〃　muttered　Ligarius；　〃or　he　is　much　belied。〃

〃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。　　Caesar　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　Caesar；　and　clasped　his　knees。　　The　moon　shone　full　on　her　agitated　and　imploring　face：　her　lips　moved；　but　she　uttered　no　sound。　　He　gazed　at　her　for　an　instantraised　herclasped　her　to　his　bosom。　　〃Fear　nothing；　my　sweet　Zoe。〃　　Then；　with　folded　arms；　and　a　smile　of　placid　defiance；　he　placed　himself　between　her　and　Clodius。

Clodius　staggered　forward；　flushed　with　wine　and　rage；　and　uttering　alternately　a　curse　and　a　hiccup。

〃By　Pollux；　this　passes　a　jest。　　Caesar；　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；　Caesar！〃　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。　You　a　man　of　gallantry；　and　think　of　such　a　thing！　　For　shame；　my　dear　Coelius！　　Do　not　let　Clodia　hear　of　it。〃

While　Caesar　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。〃

〃Not　this　way；　sweet　Clodius。　　I　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。　　Caesar　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　Coelius。　　〃Bear　witness；　you　all　saw　him　draw　his　dagger。〃

He　is　not　deadhe　breathes；〃　said　Ligarius。　　〃　Carry　him　into　the　house；　he　is　dreadfully　bruised。〃

The　rest　of　the　party　retired　with　Clodius。　　Coelius　turned　to　Caesar。

〃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　plenty　of　conversation。　　So　reckon　upon　me；　my　dear　Marcus；　and　farewell。〃

Caesar　and　Zoe　turned　away。　　As　soon　as　they　were　beyond　hearing；　she　began　in　great　agitation：

〃Caesar；　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　knowyou　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。〃

Caesar　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　ingratitude；　but　not　your　distress。　　Yet；　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；　wherever　her　exhausted　frame　may　have　sunk　beneath　the　sensibilities　of　a　tortured　spirit；in　whatever　hovel　or　whatever　vault　she　may　have　closed　her　eyes；whatever　strange　scenes　of　horror　and　pollution　may　have　surrounded　her　dying　bed；　your　shape　was　the　last　that　swam　before　her　sight　your　voice　the　last　sound　that　was　ringing　in　her　ears。　　Yet　turn　your　face　to　me；　Caesar。　　Let　me　carry　away　one　last　look　of　those　features；　and　then　〃He　turned　round。　　He　looked　at　her。　He　hid　his　face　on　her　bosom；　and　burst　into　tears。　　With　sobs　long　and　loud；　and　convulsive　as　those　of　a　terrified　child；　he　poured　forth　on　her　bosom　the　tribute　of　impetuous　and　uncontrollable　emotion。　　He　raised　his　head；　but　he　in　vain　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：

〃My　own　dear　Zoe；　your　love　has　been　bestowed　on　one　who；　if　he　cannot　merit；　can　at　least　appreciate