A Pillar of Iron by Taylor Caldwell

Author:Taylor Caldwell
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781504042987
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2016-12-02T05:00:00+00:00

*From letters to Cicero.

*Concluding speech of Cicero at the trial of Sextus Roscius.

†Letter to Caesar.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

“It is easy enough for you to counsel patience, Julius,” said Lucius Sergius Catilina, “for you have more time. But I am thirty-one years old and I am impatient.”

The two young men sat in the hot and fragrant garden of the house on the Palatine which the money of Aurelia had purchased. Peacocks strutted and spread their fans in the dark-blue shade, which contrasted with the blinding light that lay on red gravel paths and flowerbeds and glittering fountains and on the tops of dusky cypresses and myrtle trees. A flock of birds as scarlet as blood fluttered in and through the fading leaves of an oak tree, chattering with vehemence as they discussed the coming migration. The first scent of evening jasmine rose on the warm air.

Julius and Lucius were sitting on a cool marble bench in the shade of a myrtle, drinking honey-sweet wine the color of pale roses, and eating figs and grapes and citrons.

“Observe that mountebank,” said Julius, chuckling and nodding toward a young peacock who, with an eye to an older one’s ire, was tentatively lifting his brilliant, argus-eyed tail. “He wishes to woo the damsels of the flock. But the old peacock looks sternly and warningly at him. His time has not yet come.”

“I judge that remark to mean that my time has not yet come, either. Nor yours,” said Catilina. “You are still but twenty-five. I am thirty-one. I do not look with equanimity on the fact that my time may arrive when I am a graybeard. We were certain of it under Sulla. But again it has evaded us. Now we have Lepidus. He is like water which runs through the hands before one can drink. Do you know what I have heard? The Senate is weary of him. He restricts their power in behalf of those whom he calls ‘the people.’ So, the Senate will banish him soon to his province Transalpine Gaul. They love the power Sulla gave them. What, then, of us?”

Julius drank reflectively, then paused to smile again on the young peacock. “Lepidus needs some advice. He is positive the people of Rome are with him. If he should be banished, what if he decides to raise up an army against Rome and march against her?”

Lucius studied him with a faint dark smile. “I assume he has been given this advice.”

“Has Lepidus asked my advice? No.”

“But you have friends.”

“I have friends.”

Catilina refilled his crystal goblet, then held it in his hands and looked down into the heart of the glimmering wine. “Well,” said Catilina after a moment. “What after that?”

Julius shrugged. “One must observe and consider. One throws the dice. It is in the hands of the gods which way they will fall.”

Catilina laughed. “But your dice are always loaded, Julius.”

“It is well to assist the gods occasionally.”

“You are ambiguous, Caesar. There are times when I do not trust you.”

“I am the most loyal of men,” said Julius.

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