Chapter III

“SHE believes in God who is one, all-powerful, and just,” said

Petronius, when he found himself again in the litter with Vinicius. “If

her God is all-powerful, He controls life and death; and if He is

just, He sends death justly. Why, then, does Pomponia wear mourning for

Julius? In mourning for Julius she blames her God. I must repeat this

reasoning to our Bronzebeard, the monkey, since I consider that in

dialectics I am the equal of Socrates. As to women, I agree that each

has three or four souls, but none of them a reasoning one. Let Pomponia

meditate with Seneca or Cornutus over the question of what their great

Logos is. Let them summon at once the shades of Xenophanes, Parmenides,

Zeno, and Plato, who are as much wearied there in Cimmerian regions as

a finch in a cage. I wished to talk with her and with Plautius about

something else. By the holy stomach of the Egyptian Isis! If I had told

them right out directly why we came, I suppose that their virtue would

have made as much noise as a bronze shield under the blow of a club.

And I did not dare to tell! Wilt thou believe, Vinicius, I did not dare!

Peacocks are beautiful birds, but they have too shrill a cry. I feared

an outburst. But I must praise thy choice. A real ‘rosy-fingered

Aurora.’ And knowest thou what she reminded me of too?--Spring! not our

spring in Italy, where an apple-tree merely puts forth a blossom here

and there, and olive groves grow gray, just as they were gray before,

but the spring which I saw once in Helvetia,--young, fresh, bright

green. By that pale moon, I do not wonder at thee, Marcus; but know that

thou art loving Diana, because Aulus and Pomponia are ready to tear thee

to pieces, as the dogs once tore Actæon.”

Vinicius was silent a time without raising his head; then he began to

speak with a voice broken by passion,--“I desired her before, but now I

desire her still more. When I caught her arm, flame embraced me. I

must have her. Were I Zeus, I would surround her with a cloud, as he

surrounded Io, or I would fall on her in rain, as he fell on Danaë; I

would kiss her lips till it pained! I would hear her scream in my arms.

I would kill Aulus and Pomponia, and bear her home in my arms. I will

not sleep to-night. I will give command to flog one of my slaves, and

listen to his groans--”

“Calm thyself,” said Petronius. “Thou hast the longing of a carpenter

from the Subura.”

“All one to me what thou sayst. I must have her. I have turned to thee

for aid; but if thou wilt not find it, I shall find it myself. Aulus

considers Lygia as a daughter; why should I look on her as a slave? And

since there is no other way, let her ornament the door of my house, let

her anoint it with wolf’s fat, and let her sit at my hearth as wife.”

“Calm thyself, mad descendant of consuls. We do not lead in barbarians

bound behind our cars, to make wives of their daughters. Beware of

extremes. Exhaust simple, honorable methods, and give thyself and me

time for meditation. Chrysothemis seemed to me too a daughter of Jove,

and still I did not marry her, just as Nero did not marry Acte, though

they called her a daughter of King Attalus. Calm thyself! Think that if

she wishes to leave Aulus for thee, he will have no right to detain her.

Know also that thou art not burning alone, for Eros has roused in her

the flame too. I saw that, and it is well to believe me. Have patience.

There is a way to do everything, but to-day I have thought too much

already, and it tires me. But I promise that to-morrow I will think of

thy love, and unless Petronius is not Petronius, he will discover some

method.”

They were both silent again.

“I thank thee,” said Vinicius at last. “May Fortune be bountiful to

thee.”

“Be patient.”

“Whither hast thou given command to bear us?”

“To Chrysothemis.”

“Thou art happy in possessing her whom thou lovest.”

“I? Dost thou know what amuses me yet in Chrysothemis? This, that she is

false to me with my freedman Theokles, and thinks that I do not

notice it. Once I loved her, but now she amuses me with her lying and

stupidity. Come with me to her. Should she begin to flirt with thee, and

write letters on the table with her fingers steeped in wine, know that I

shall not be jealous.”

And he gave command to bear them both to Chrysothemis.

But in the entrance Petronius put his hand on Vinicius’s shoulder, and

said,--“Wait; it seems to me that I have discovered a plan.”

“May all the gods reward thee!”

“I have it! I judge that this plan is infallible. Knowest what, Marcus?”

“I listen to thee, my wisdom.”

“Well, in a few days the divine Lygia will partake of Demeter’s grain in

thy house.”

“Thou art greater than Cæsar!” exclaimed Vinicius with enthusiasm.