按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
for a vestal virgin。〃
〃And if she were a vestal virgin；〃 cried Clodius fiercely； 〃it should not
deter me。 This way；no strugglingno screaming。〃
〃Struggling！ screaming！〃 exclaimed a gay and commanding voice；
〃You are making very ungentle love； Clodius。〃
The whole party started。 Caesar had mingled with them unperceived。
The sound of his voice thrilled through the very heart of Zoe。 With a
convulsive effort she burst from the grasp of her insolent admirer； flung
herself at the feet of Caesar； and clasped his knees。 The moon shone full
on her agitated and imploring face： her lips moved； but she uttered no
sound。 He gazed at her for an instantraised herclasped her to his
bosom。 〃Fear nothing； my sweet Zoe。〃 Then； with folded arms； and a
smile of placid defiance； he placed himself between her and Clodius。
Clodius staggered forward； flushed with wine and rage； and uttering
alternately a curse and a hiccup。
17
… Page 18…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
〃By Pollux； this passes a jest。 Caesar； how dare you insult me thus？〃
〃A jest！ I am as serious as a Jew on the Sabbath。 Insult you； for
such a pair of eyes I would insult the whole consular bench； or I should be
as insensible as King Psammis's mummy。〃
〃Good Gods； Caesar！〃 said Marcus Coelius； interposing； 〃you cannot
think it worth while to get into a brawl for a little Greek girl！〃
〃Why not？ The Greek girls have used me as well as those of Rome。
Besides； the whole reputation of my gallantry is at stake。 Give up such a
lovely woman to that drunken boy！ My character would be gone for ever。
No more perfumed tablets； full of vows and raptures。 No more toying
with fingers at the circus。 No more evening walks along the Tiber。 No
more hiding in chests or jumping from windows。 I； the favoured suitor
of half the white stoles in Rome； could never again aspire above a freed…
woman。 You a man of gallantry； and think of such a thing！ For shame；
my dear Coelius！ Do not let Clodia hear of it。〃
While Caesar spoke he had been engaged in keeping Clodius at arm's…
length。 The rage of the frantic libertine increased as the struggle
continued。 〃Stand back； as you value your life；〃 he cried； 〃I will pass。〃
〃Not this way； sweet Clodius。 I have too much regard for you to
suffer you to make love at such disadvantage。 You smell too much of
Falernian at present。 Would you stifle your mistress？ By Hercules； you
are fit to kiss nobody now； except old Piso； when he is tumbling home in
the morning from the vintners。〃
Clodius plunged his hand into his bosom and drew a little dagger； the
faithful companion of many desperate adventures。
〃Oh； Gods！ he will be murdered！〃 cried Zoe。
The whole throng of revellers was in agitation。 The street fluctuated
with torches and lifted hands。 It was but for a moment。 Caesar watched
with a steady eye the descending hand of Clodius； arrested the blow；
seized his antagonist by the throat； and flung him against one of the pillars
of the portico with such violence； that he rolled； stunned and senseless； on
the ground。
〃He is killed；〃 cried several voices。
〃Fair self…defence； by Hercules！〃 said Marcus Coelius。 〃Bear witness；
18
… Page 19…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
you all saw him draw his dagger。〃
He is not deadhe breathes；〃 said Ligarius。 〃 Carry him into the
house； he is dreadfully bruised。〃
The rest of the party retired with Clodius。 Coelius turned to Caesar。
〃By all the Gods； Caius！ you have won your lady fairly。 A splendid
victory！ You deserve a triumph。〃
〃What a madman Clodius has become！〃
〃Intolerable。 But come and sup with me on the Nones。 You have no
objection to meet the Consul？〃
Cicero？ None at all。 We need not talk politics。 Our old dispute
about Plato and Epicurus will furnish us with plenty of conversation。 So
reckon upon me； my dear Marcus； and farewell。〃
Caesar and Zoe turned away。 As soon as they were beyond hearing；
she began in great agitation：
〃Caesar； you are in danger。 I know all。 I overheard Catiline and
Cethegus。 You are engaged in a project which must lead to certain
destruction。〃
〃My beautiful Zoe； I live only for glory and pleasure。 For these I
have never hesitated to hazard an existence which they alone render
valuable to me。 In the present case； I can assure you that our scheme
presents the fairest hopes of success。〃
〃So much the worse。 You do not knowyou do not understand me。 I
speak not of open peril； but of secret treachery。 Catiline hates you；
Cethegus hates you；your destruction is resolved。 If you survive the
contest； you perish in the first hour of victory。 They detest you for your
moderation； they are eager for blood and plunder。 I have risked my life
to bring you this warning； but that is of little moment。 Farewell！Be
happy。〃
Caesar stopped her。 〃Do you fly from my thanks； dear Zoe？〃
〃I wish not for your thanks； but for your safety；I desire not to defraud
Valeria or Servilia of one caress； extorted from gratitude or pity。 Be my
feelings what they may； I have learnt in a fearful school to endure and to
suppress them。 I have been taught to abase a proud spirit to the claps and
hisses of the vulgar；to smile on suitors who united the insults of a
19
… Page 20…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
despicable pride to the endearments of a loathsome fondness； to affect
sprightliness with an aching head； and eyes from which tears were ready
to gush；to feign love with curses on my lips； and madness in my brain。
Who feels for me any esteem；any tenderness？ Who will shed a tear
over the nameless grave which will soon shelter from cruelty and scorn the
broken heart of the poor Athenian girl？ But