Part 96 (2/2)
”What about using slaves?”
He laughed ”If you want to bankrupt Egypt in one season Slaves are much too expensive Every time a shi+p sinks, think of the cost! No, it's far cheaper to pay oarsmen Besides, slaves must be supported for life, whereas you need only hire the oars, and for short periods”
”You are a hard-hearted wretch,” I said
”A finance minister has to be,” he countered ”Let the chief of the physicians enjoy the luxury of a tender heart But your generals and your finance ine a general who flinched from battle?”
”Yes,” I said ”Octavian”
”He can't be as cowardly as you make out Are you sure of that?”
”Antony says at the battle of Naulochus, he lay belowdecks in a stupor of fear and had to be roused,” I insisted
”Are you sure he wasn't just seasick? Many nor up for him?”
”I am not,” he said ”I only want to point out that Antony was not there at Naulochus, let alone belowdecks on Octavian's shi+p, any more than Octavian is present in Alexandria at your banquets Wee have not seen for ourselves”
”Ah! You always act asto hear the viewpoint of someone who lived outside the palace
As we strolled through the dockyard, under the shadows of the great shi+ps, Epaphroditus pointed to the two just ahead of us ”It is possible that a war can be won by other means, and these powerful shi+ps may be sunk ords Gossip, lies, innuendo may do more harm than actual weapons, if they un is not to fall victiossip” He paused ”For example, you must, by all means, put it about that Octavian is utterly contehter But never believe it He would not be where he is, were he that negligible Nor would you need these shi+ps”
Epaphroditus was right, of course The war of words and reputations, which swayedAlready in Ros” were held to ”discuss” Antony and the ”African problem”
It was Mardian as first alerted to these, and he ca in to tell ents to appear spontaneous,” he said, his wide brow furrowed ”That way he can clai to the wishes of the people”
”Well, what particularly are they saying?”
”Let theyouth in by the elbow The slender reed of a man had to follow in Mardian's wake ”He is just off a shi+p fro vegetables He claimerchants”
The youth jerked his arm away froainst the laalk the docks of Alexandria and try to arrange for a food shi+pment? Well, pardon me'” He brushed himself off ”Get this fat fellow off me!”
”Tell us what you know, and you shall have a free cargo of all the leeks and figs you want We'll even throw in sos in Rome? Have you attended any?”
”Oh, they're announced in the Foruet invited invited to all of them But I've only been to one” to all of them But I've only been to one”
”Who announces them? Who invites you?”
He looked puzzled ”I don't know Just--men Respectably dressed men”
”Senators?”
”How do I know? They aren't famous, if that's what you s?”
”I told you, I've only gone to one In that one, people were talking about Antony and how he had deserted RoI reain”
”Carthage?” This was absurd
”You know, Hannibal and all thatAfricans attacking Ro
”It isn't funny,” Mardian cautioned ”Don't forget the Dido and Aeneas story--the noble Ron queen It's a favorite in Rome”
”Yes, because he rejects Dido and leaves her to die of a broken heart I suppose that's what they'd like Antony to do to me!”
”Undoubtedly,” said Mardian
”So what else do they say?” I asked
”That you areuhnot virtuous”
”You mean they call her a harlot?” Mardian's usually silky voice was hard
”Well, yes” He looked down at his feet ”They also say she's bewitched Antony, using eastern drugs Made him her slave As Hercules was un vessels with the O the Hercules' clothes, and carrying his club, while the effeoalks beside her chariot under the shade of a parasol, carrying a spindle He has been ruined, enslaved by the Queen, who plays the part of avessels are finely made--from Arretium”
Arretiu dearly for it
”What else?”
”Nothing I don't know I didn't pay all that ?” Mardian asked
”Soets repetitious after a while”
”Well, return to Rome and keep your ears open We will see to it that soossip is soon bandied about”
Antony still had a large following in Ro stories about Octavian Mardian and I colad Antony was not here; he would have objected Noe could say ished without censure
We put it out that Octavian was both cowardly and incorippa (at Naulochus) to do his fighting for hier He had broken every pledge He was addicted to ga, and so rapacious that he had condeet his hands on their fine furniture and Corinthian vessels, for which he had a special fondness