Part 43 (1/2)
Caesar started laughing again ”Hush Or Fulvia will beat you, and I will cancel the appoint with all those other new appointments you have made?” Antony turned toward me, as to a confidant ”Caesar has increased the number of senators froht barbarians, some of them, imported from Gaul Sure to cause comment No one will notice me; I'm much too ordinary”
”These were the men who helped me to victory If it had been pirates and cutthroats, they too would have their reward,” said Caesar ”At least they were my friends, and loyal to me”
”But they wear trousers!” laas!” Trousers in the Senate house! The end of the world has come!”
”That's absurd,” said Caesar ”Here they will put on togas, regardless of what they wear at horoaning, and I could see the figure sliding slightly on its platform But they were almost to the top
”Co put on its pedestal? Let's go have soave a mock moan ”No plays No chariot races”
”I know,” said Antony ”Let's go to the athletic field and have a race As we used to Do you remember?” He leaned over and put his arm around Caesar's shoulder
”Yes, I remember,” said Caesar ”I wonder if I can still beat you”
”Come and see,” said Antony ”Co, they descended the steps together, Caesar walking lightly
I will always remember that day on the steps; it consoles me when I think the world is a sorrowful place Joy sticks in theout across the years It is a thing pure in itself, joy, and the rarest of traits aain, that holiday celebrating license I understood it a little better now; it see to do with Saturn, but why that meant everyone should wear the cap of liberty, and slaves and a be forbidden, I did not know People were pers that would normally be out of order, so those seven days
Houses were opened to friends, and they streaifts Those gifts were curious, often one thing disguised as another--candles that looked like food, food that looked like jewelry, plants painted to look like, stone carvings Soer households appointed a master of ceremonies, a Saturnalicius princeps, Saturnalicius princeps, who ordered people to perfor, dance, recite poetry Caesar held open house, allowing people to circulate freely in and out of his doors, and up on the Palatine, Cicero did likewise, as did Antony in Pompey's former palace nearby, and nearly every other Roman with a hand in politics It was an opportunity to show those Roenerosity-- and a way to please the people that was less bloody than the ga, dance, recite poetry Caesar held open house, allowing people to circulate freely in and out of his doors, and up on the Palatine, Cicero did likewise, as did Antony in Pompey's former palace nearby, and nearly every other Roman with a hand in politics It was an opportunity to show those Roenerosity-- and a way to please the people that was less bloody than the gao--he wanted to dress hireed to visit a few hoo house to house It is not what queens and kings do”
”But on't be queens and kings I'm Mardian!”
”Hoill anyone knoho you are supposed to be? No one here knows Mardian, except Caesar And how can you dress like a eunuch? They dress like anyone else” I hated to deflate hih voice,” he said
”But your voice is is high,” I reminded him ”I think the eunuch idea istoo far-fetched Why don't you be soladiator? Or a chariot racer? There are lots of slave and freedh,” I reminded him ”I think the eunuch idea istoo far-fetched Why don't you be soladiator? Or a chariot racer? There are lots of slave and freedh? As high as a eunuch's?” He sounded distressed
”It hasn't changed yet,” I said ”Perhaps by this ti to worry about it There was enough to worry about in his persistent cough ”Nohat can I be? Not a queen
I won't be a serving girl, it's too expectedI suppose I could be a gladiator myselfthat is, unless you want to be”
”Oh, no, you you be the gladiator,” he said quickly ”But are woladiator,” he said quickly ”But are woladiators?”
”I think I have heard of soination
”What sort of sill you carry? Do you want a net and trident?” he asked
”I don't know,” I said ”I think that Deciladiators I'm sure he'll provide me a costume But I think a net and trident would be aard in the crowds, don't you?”
”It would be fun to accidentally poke some people--like Cicero! Or that Fulvia!”
”Cicero would likely cry, and then compose an essay about it,” I said ”And Fulvia--she probably carries a trident herself at all tiive her the excuse of using it”
The short winter's day was already growing dim by the ti rooarden were packed with people,freed slaves, perched on their heads The din was overwhel
I clutched Ptolemy's hand in one of mine, and Charmian's in the other On this holiday the slaves, servants, and ether, and the ladiator's costume was of the type called Samnite, and I had ladiators wore only a sort of loincloth and shi+n protectors, as well as a ht it well to cover my upper body with a breastplate, and my upper limbs with leather lappets But I did love the helmet--it had a heavy curved rim and ornamentation all over the crown, as well as a decorated visor
When Deciht the costume in person, I had taken the helmet in both hands and lowered it slowly onto my head As soon as it was in place, I felt different I knew then, for the first time, what it would feel like to be a warrior, to step out onto the field I also knew then that I wanted to do so--I wanted to lead troops, or coainstThis weighty hel ht this forthe helmet
”It is ood fit I took it frohters, a man from Malta For all their small size, the Maltese are fierce”
I liked this entle manner as for the fact that I knew Caesar was fond of him Decimus had served him well in two sea battles and in Gaul, and Caesar had disclosed to overnor of Gaul for the coladiatrix,” he said ”But you need an opponent That is why I brought two costumes--Charmian can be your adversary” He handed her the old-fashi+oned costuhter ”We don't have ood disguise”
At the tiht, What a sweet, considerate ladiatrices, and Ptolereen colors of a champion that appealed to hih the crowd in Caesar's atriuht
At first I saw no one and wondered why all crowds looked alike Then, with relief, I gli on a stick of pastry He was not wearing any costunized hihter!” He saluted me, and I removed my helladiator was ”Great Queen!” he said ”What battles do you fight?”
I saw hiht it best to remind him of Caesar ”Only those who seem to be Caesar's foes”
He swept his hand over the roo with them But Caesar has declared an aht pardon, and they have co back to Roht be here tonight!”
A group of slaves pushed past us, shouting about gain!” they yelled
”This is the one tiamble,” said Lepidus ”Openly, that is” He stepped out of their way
Then a party of h the roo,
Caesar led the Gauls in triumph Led them uphill, led them down To the Senate house he took thelory of our town
”Pull those breeches off,” he shouted ”Change into a purple gown!”
At the word ”breeches,” they all pulled them down Everyone shrieked Caesar, at the far end of the atriuown
”Cover yourselves!” he shouted
”So he isn't e He's so unpredictable Cato bothers him, and this does not” He looked around ”And I'm surprised there aren't verses about the libertini libertini as well” When I did not respond, he explained, ”Liberated slaves Caesar has let their sons into the Senate It's as if he were appealing to the people, right over the heads of the aristocracy” as well” When I did not respond, he explained, ”Liberated slaves Caesar has let their sons into the Senate It's as if he were appealing to the people, right over the heads of the aristocracy”
The coth He had harnessed the latter, and now a oppressive, the noise level unpleasant I should seek out Caesar and greet hi resolutely by his side deterred h the holes of my visor How did he speak to her? Did she take his hand, or did he take hers first? Why were they still married?