Part 43 (2/2)
Lepidus bent over and whispered in my ear, ”There's to be a motion put before the Senate to allow Caesar to marry more than one wife”
”What?” There was no society that peral concubines, yes; but more than one true, equal wife, no
”I have heard it from reliable sources,” Lepidus said ”It would enable Caesar to beget legal heirs, since Calpurnia is barren There are several hereditary honors granted to Caesar that he cannot pass on--the title of I to his lack of an heir”
”Then let hi everyone else in Roe to the nubile Publilia had ended in divorce--hardly a surprise
”It seems”--Lepidus hesitated--”he does not wish to”
Yes Evidently that was the case Or else he would have But I would never consent to beco his second hile he retained the first I would be the first, the only, the real wife--or not at all ”Whose idea was this?” If Caesar thought that I would ever consent to such a thing--then he did not know un to think himself exeine that it would have originated anywhere else but--with Caesar himself,” said Lepidus ”No one would dare propose it without his knowledge”
What an insult! Suddenly I hated hi on his arnanimously pardoned, whether they would have it or not
”Come, Charmian!” I said ”Ptolemy! I find that I would prefer the hospitality of Cicero Yes, even the hospitality of Cicero!” I grabbed their hands
”But we just got here!” cried Ptolerander Let us go there”
We pushed our way out and into the Foruhted torches, were refreshi+ng after the heat and confusion inside There were groups of people trah, but they were in clumps and much of the pavement was empty
We turned east and passed by the house of the Vestals, then turned at the site of the Temple of Jupiter Stator and found the road, the Clivus Palatinus, that led in a stately ascent to the Palatine Hill Torches were planted along the way, and the tall uht what a soothing place this h above the vexations of Rome The air was delicately perfu in from the countryside
It was not difficult to find Cicero's mansion, which was famous as much for its size and site as for the fact that Cicero's political enerander than ever in revenge Lights shone froes around it sees The house reflected the man--but then, does it not always?
Show me a mans wife, a mans house, and a mans servants, letabout him me a mans wife, a mans house, and a mans servants, letabout hiht
We entered the spacious atriue impluvium impluvium pool of collected rainwater in the center Immediately I could see how tasteful theoff scenes of flower garlands and orchards of fruit trees, so ljifelike I felt I could pluck one of the apples pool of collected rainwater in the center Immediately I could see how tasteful theoff scenes of flower garlands and orchards of fruit trees, so ljifelike I felt I could pluck one of the apples
Instead of the close-pressedI caught sight of Cicero hiuests I approached hi to remove my helmet
”Welcome, Your Majesty,” he said ”Excuse me just a moment” He proferred a basket of fruit to so forever to select a fig
”It is Tiro, reatly enjoys this turnabout” He offered me the basket as well I declined
”What? You will not have an apple, or even a pear? These come fromprowess!”
I reached in and took one ”Why is it that you Romans must see yourselves as farmers, even when you are statesmen?” I asked ”It is unique to your country”
”Yes, I know,” he said ”No one ever pictures Alexander raising pears, or Pericles tending his rows of beans I depart forthe hours”
”If I were to have a country estate in Egypt--nay, I cannot iine it!”
”You are a creature of the city,” said Cicero ”Of course, what a city! Alexandria, dazzling in whitethe scrolls What treasures therein the niches!”
”We are proud to have the finest library in the world,” I said ”But Caesar plans to build a similar one here in Rome”
He smiled diffidently ”Yes, but I am already an old e of it”
Just then I saw a knot oftogether as if they were roped Brutus had a woman with him I had never seen before It must be his neife, Porcia Beside her was Servilia
I felt a flare of jealousy in looking at Servilia I suppose Caesar would ht After all, he should take a nue would be worth little!
Cicero had been talking, and I had ht consider it”
”I beg your pardon,” I said ”Would you repeat that?”
”I was asking if it ht be possible for me to borrow the manuscript you have of the Iliad, Iliad, and I was interested in sos found nowhere save in your archives” and I was interested in sos found nowhere save in your archives”
His keen eyes, surrounded by wrinkles, were eager I wished I could oblige him
”I am sorry,” I said, ”but it is strictly forbidden to reed instantly ”Surely you could give the order”
”No Even I am not permitted to remove any But I could have copies made”
”So you don't trust me!” he said ”Copies!-”
”I told you, it is our rule--”
”Are you not an absolute ruler? Could you not coht,” I said ”I cannot order it just on a personal whih to remove them if Caesar asked!” he said coldly
”A copy should suffice,” I said ”That way you could keep it for your own library With all the shi+pwrecks, surely you can appreciate that we cannot trust our enial manner had drained away ”I see”
”Is this a test of some sort? For it makes no sense otherwise,” I said ”I have told you I would be pleased to make copies of whatever you request”
”Never mind,” he said ”Don't trouble yourself!”