Part 33 (2/2)
He see the arena as if he expected an aht hiuard down He looked every bit of his fifty-four years; there were harsh lines sculpted between his nose and aunt His eyes ary, not happy, on this day he had so longed for Respectful, pleasant, he nodded to Calpurnia Then he caught sight of us approaching, and he instantly altered his expression Any doubts I had about his feelings for me were swept away: his face truly lit up, and the years lifted froold eold laurel wreath, and its leaves encircled his head like a corona
”Hail, great Triureatest on earth”
”Hail, great Queen of Egypt,” he said ”And King of Egypt” He indicated Ptolemy ”Pray, take your seats of honor”
All the members of his family, small as it ere seated around him Where his son should have been, sat Octavian, as only a great-nephew But Caesar had had a son, and someday that son would sit beside him--Caesarion a son, and someday that son would sit beside him--Caesarion
Ptolen visitors and envoys who had traveled for the occasion The kingdoms of Galatia and Cappadocia, the cities of Lycia, Laodicea, Tarsus, and Xanthus sent ambassadors--the east, that so fascinated and titillated Romans
The stands filled rapidly as spectators rushed in like a wall of water Their spirits were high; a wild excitement filled the air, as palpable as the heaviness just before a thunderstor over attentively I saw that he was seated on a special chair; it was gilded and had a carved back Undoubtedly it signified so did
At last the arena was full Every last place was taken, and the stands were a sea of color The trumpeters, a company of at least fifty men, rose fro out, both glad and stirring The noise of the crowd subsided
A professional caller, avoice I had ever heard, took his place at the railing before Caesar
”Rouests!” he yelled There were more than a hundred thousand spectators--could all of the and echoed all around us ”We are here to honor our Triumphator Triumphator in the ancient way, inherited from our ancestors, with contests of valor and skill Here before you the young knights will race their horses, to the glory of Jupiter and Caesar” in the ancient way, inherited from our ancestors, with contests of valor and skill Here before you the young knights will race their horses, to the glory of Jupiter and Caesar”
A roar went up He held up his hands for silence to continue ”We will begin with the ars desultoria ars desultoria Accept their offerings!” Accept their offerings!”
Caesar then stood up He raised his right arin!”
Iates at the far end of the Circus, two-horse pairs e nervously The horses, the finest I had ever seen, gleato our section andobeisance
There were some twenty pairs of them, and the horses seemed to be matched in size and speed At first they all trotted abreast, once around the track, but then the first pair left the others behind and went into a full gallop, necks straining and feet flying Their riders were stretched low on their necks, gripping the heaving withers Suddenly one of the horse, while the other rider did likewise For an instant they crossed each other in the air, hanging there in sickening immobility, while the horses thundered on Then they slipped onto the horses' backs, and a cheer from the croent up They turned backward and flipped themselves around, like acrobats, and all the while the horses hurtled forward Scarves and handkerchiefs had been placed at intervals on the track, and the riders leaned so far down to scoop the hooves At each victorious feat, the crowd grew more excited Behind the first pair there were now several others, all perfor, skittish horses
In atterab a scarf near the sharp turn at one end of the Circus, one of the riders slipped off and his horse ran over hiroan that had a hungry edge to it A team of men dashed from the sidelines to carry off the victim in a litter, but they were almost run down by the other horses and had to let the man lie there to be tra forward, tre
It surely looked as if he was Before I could answer, another rider fell off; his head exploded in a red spray as his horse's hoof landed right in the inning to be streaked with red I looked around at the Ro me Their eyes were fixed on the arena, and they seemed to have little revulsion for what they saw The noise in the stands was growing steadily, feeding on the violence as a fire feeds on straw
The tealy more difficult feats, until the winners did twoprecariously on the slippery, sweating backs Caesar awarded the fourteen or fifteen pairs of foam-flecked horses were led off the track
A co ready for the next event A late-afternoon breeze had sprung up; normally this was the part of day reserved for relaxation But the tension was
”Why do they want to kill people?” Ptole ”Why does anyone want to be one of those riders?”
”Men are ever drawn to dangerous enterprises,” I said ”No erous a mission, someone will always volunteer for it” That fact had always puzzledin Caesar's section Octavian had stood up and washis way over to us
”The most noble Triumphator Triumphator has asked that I sit with you and explain the proceedings,” he said The ambassador from Tarsus quickly vacated his seat next to s,” he said The ambassador frohtful of the Triumphator Triumphator,” I said I nodded to Caesar
”Did you enjoy the exhibition?” Octavian asked
”For an exhibition, soh price--their lives,” I said ”But their skill was impressive What is the next event?”
Octavian smiled ”It is the favorite sport here in Roious rite Today there will be ten four-horse teaold”
”Oh, that should be exciting!” said Ptole head ”Hardly Soet tangled up and are all destroyed The sharp turns at each end of the Circus invariably cause so”
”Is that why everyone likes the races so much?” asked Ptolemy
”I wouldn't say that,” said Octavian
”Then why don't they make them safer?” Ptolemy persisted
”That would ruin the sport of it”
A shout rose, and I saw that the chariots were eh the narrow arch, horses pulling at the reins, eager to run Behind the on the tiny platforht The horses were as large as possible, while the chariots were sht--which meant they were unstable and easily bounced and overturned The hellistened, some with spikes, some with feathers, some with colored scarves
Octavian had stood up, and was shouting His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were riveted on one particular chariot driven by a swarthylegs
”Those are mine,” he said hoarsely ” ”From the stable of Arrius” I had never suspected he could show such fervor ”You choose one,” he said
There was another tearay uration did not always mean speed or stamina, just as a pleasant demeanor in men did not necessarily denote honesty, but I was still drawn to them ”The team with the small driver,” I said
”From Campania,” he said ”They are reputed to be well fed and trained”
”Which is Caesar's favorite?” Ptolemy asked
”He is partial to the blacks,” said Octavian, ”because that stable bred his own favorite riding horse But they are more powerful than speedy”