Stories from the Roman Forum by Isabel Lovell

Author:Isabel Lovell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ozymandias Press

THE STORY OF THE TEMPLE OF VESTA

~

“Look once more, I pray thee! Doth no one come?”

“None.”

“How late is it?”

“The red lights of the sky fade over the farthest hills.”

“Hearest aught of fighting?”

“Fighting? Thou foolish woman 1 The Romans fight no longer. They know not how, since Romulus has gone from earth. Now, men but bend the knee, and whisper prayers, and go about like very women. Fighting? no such glad sound. The air is peaceful save for the talk in the market-place. The people are still there, for the king is met with his council on the Comitium and has been there since the sun passed the mid-heaven.”

“Ah! that it is then that keeps Orius!” exclaimed the first speaker, coming to the doorway of a hut built at the edge of a deep, dark forest, on the side of a gently sloping hill. Near her, upon a low, flat stone, sat an aged man, leaning forward upon his staff, and gazing down into the valley before him.

Yet I would he came quickly!” sighed the woman. The fagots are laid, the meat hangs ready, the cakes are formed, and I am greatly hungered.”

Doubtless the king has bethought him of something new,—would build yet more houses, or perchance, would tell us to worship yet another god,” grumbled the old man who had fought under Romulus, and to whom the ways of King Numa seemed both weak and unworthy. Thy husband, Macolnia, is too busy with the foolish plans of Numa to bring thee the fire to cook thy evening meal. Thou and I must starve at his will.”

Macolnia’s lips parted in quick reply, then she closed them firmly, and a silence fell between the two. She would fain have defended Orius, who was a senator of Rome, had not the words been spoken by Abarus, her father, and a brave warrior of great renown.

So they kept speechless watch amid the deepening dusk, until, upon the path that led up from the valley, there suddenly appeared a tiny, dancing light; and soon the form of a strong man came into sight. He was running, and in one hand waved aloft a blazing brand just taken from the public fire of the market-place.

“Greeting, Macolnia! Hail, Abarus!” cried out the newcomer; “I sorrow that I come late, but much business bath delayed me.” And without further word of explanation, Orius hastily entered the hut, approached the hearth, and set fire to the carefully piled up fagots. Then he passed out to the spring near by, and while he refreshed himself with its cooling waters, Macolnia prepared their simple meal. And, wise woman that she was, she did not speak again until the men’s hunger had been satisfied.

“And thy business, Orius,” asked she, gently. “Is it aught concerning which we may know? or was it but affairs of state?”

“Nay, gladly will I tell thee,” replied Orius, “although ‘tis naught that will please the ear of Abarus! The good Numa bath opened our eyes to a new wonder, and hath shown us yet again how beloved of the gods are the Roman people.

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