Chapter XXXI

PRETORIANS surrounded the groves on the banks of the pond of Agrippa,
lest over-numerous throngs of spectators might annoy Cæsar and his
guests; though it was said that everything in Rome distinguished for
wealth, beauty, or intellect was present at that feast, which had no
equal in the history of the city. Tigellinus wished to recompense Cæsar
for the deferred journey to Achæa, to surpass all who had ever feasted
Nero, and prove that no man could entertain as he could. With this
object in view, while with Cæsar in Naples, and later in Beneventum, he
had made preparations and sent orders to bring from the remotest regions
of the earth beasts, birds, rare fish, and plants, not omitting vessels
and cloths, which were to enhance the splendor of the feast. The
revenues of whole provinces went to satisfy mad projects; but the
powerful favorite had no need to hesitate. His influence grew daily.
Tigellinus was not dearer than others to Nero yet, perhaps, but he was
becoming more and more indispensable. Petronius surpassed him
infinitely in polish, intellect, wit; in conversation he knew better how
to amuse Cæsar: but to his misfortune he surpassed in conversation Cæsar
himself, hence he roused his jealousy; moreover he could not be an
obedient instrument in everything, and Cæsar feared his opinion when
there were questions in matters of taste. But before Tigellinus, Nero
never felt any restraint. The very title, Arbiter Elegantiarum, which
had been given to Petronius, annoyed Nero's vanity, for who had the
right to bear that title but himself? Tigellinus had sense enough to
know his own deficiencies; and seeing that he could not compete with
Petronius, Lucan, or others distinguished by birth, talents, or
learning, he resolved to extinguish them by the suppleness of his
services, and above all by such a magnificence that the imagination of
Nero himself would be struck by it. He had arranged to give the feast
on a gigantic raft, framed of gilded timbers. The borders of this raft
were decked with splendid shells found in the Red Sea and the Indian
Ocean, shells brilliant with the colors of pearls and the rainbow. The
banks of the pond were covered with groups of palm, with groves of
lotus, and blooming roses. In the midst of these were hidden fountains
of perfumed water, statues of gods and goddesses, and gold or silver
cages filled with birds of various colors. In the centre of the raft
rose an immense tent, or rather, not to hide the feasters, only the roof
of a tent, made of Syrian purple, resting on silver columns; under it
were gleaming, like suns, tables prepared for the guests, loaded with
Alexandrian glass, crystal, and vessels simply beyond price,--the
plunder of Italy, Greece, and Asia Minor. The raft, which because of
plants accumulated on it had the appearance of an island and a garden,
was joined by cords of gold and purple to boats shaped like fish, swans,
mews, and flamingoes, in which sat at painted oars naked rowers of both
sexes, with forms and features of marvellous beauty, their hair dressed
in Oriental fashion, or gathered in golden nets. When Nero arrived at
the main raft with Poppæa and the Augustians, and sat beneath the purple
tent-roof, the oars struck the water, the boats moved, the golden cords
stretched, and the raft with the feast and the guests began to move and
describe circles on the pond. Other boats surrounded it, and other
smaller rafts, filled with women playing on citharæ and harps, women
whose rosy bodies on the blue background of the sky and the water and in
the reflections from golden instruments seemed to absorb that blue and
those reflections, and to change and bloom like flowers.

From the groves at the banks, from fantastic buildings reared for that
day and hidden among thickets, were heard music and song. The
neighborhood resounded, the groves resounded; echoes bore around the
voices of horns and trumpets. Cæsar himself, with Poppæa on one side of
him, and Pythagoras on the other, was amazed; and more especially when
among the boats young slave maidens appeared as sirens, and were covered
with green network in imitation of scales, he did not spare praises on
Tigellinus. But he looked at Petronius from habit, wishing to learn the
opinion of the "arbiter," who seemed indifferent for a long time, and
only when questioned outright, answered,--"I judge, lord, that ten
thousand naked maidens make less impression than one."

But the "floating feast" pleased Cæsar, for it was something new.
Besides, such exquisite dishes were served that the imagination of
Apicius would have failed at sight of them, and wines of so many kinds
that Otho, who used to serve eighty, would have hidden under water with
shame, could he have witnessed the luxury of that feast. Besides women,
the Augustians sat down at the table, among whom Vinicius excelled all
with his beauty. Formerly his figure and face indicated too clearly the
soldier by profession; now mental suffering and the physical pain
through which he had passed had chiselled his features, as if the
delicate hand of a master had passed over them. His complexion had lost
its former swarthiness, but the yellowish gleam of Numidian marble
remained on it. His eyes had grown larger and more pensive. His body
had retained its former powerful outlines, as if created for armor; but
above the body of a legionary was seen the head of a Grecian god, or at
least of a refined patrician, at once subtle and splendid. Petronius,
in saying that none of the ladies of Cæsar's court would be able or
willing to resist Vinicius, spoke like a man of experience. All gazed
at him now, not excepting Poppæa, or the vestal virgin Rubria, whom
Cæsar wished to see at the feast.

Wines, cooled in mountain snow, soon warmed the hearts and heads of the
guests. Boats shaped as grasshoppers or butterflies shot forth from the
bushes at the shore every moment. The blue surface of the pond seemed
occupied by butterflies. Above the boats here and there flew doves, and
other birds from India and Africa, fastened with silver and blue threads
or strings. The sun had passed the greater part of the sky, but the day
was warm and even hot, though in the beginning of May. The pond heaved
from the strokes of oars, which beat the water in time with music; but
in the air there was not the least breath of wind; the groves were
motionless, as if lost in listening and in gazing at that which was
happening on the water. The raft circled continually on the pond,
bearing guests who were increasingly drunk and boisterous.

The feast had not run half its course yet, when the order in which all
sat at the table was observed no longer. Cæsar gave the example, for,
rising himself, he commanded Vinicius, who sat next to Rubria the
vestal, to move. Nero occupied the place, and began to whisper
something in Rubria's ear. Vinicius found himself next to Poppæa, who
extended her arm and begged him to fasten her loosened bracelet. When
he did so, with hands trembling somewhat, she cast at him from beneath
her long lashes a glance as it were of modesty, and shook her golden
head as if in resistance.

Meanwhile the sun, growing larger, ruddier, sank slowly behind the tops
of the grove; the guests were for the greater part thoroughly
intoxicated. The raft circled now nearer the shore, on which, among
bunches of trees and flowers, were seen groups of people, disguised as
fauns or satyrs, playing on flutes, bagpipes, and drums, with groups of
maidens representing nymphs, dryads, and hamadryads. Darkness fell at
last amid drunken shouts from the tent, shouts raised in honor of Luna.
Meanwhile the groves were lighted with a thousand lamps. From the
lupanaria on the shores shone swarms of lights; on the terraces appeared
new naked groups, formed of the wives and daughters of the first Roman
houses. These with voice and unrestrained manner began to lure
partners. The raft touched the shore at last. Cæsar and the Augustians
vanished in the groves, scattered in lupanaria, in tents hidden in
thickets, in grottos artificially arranged among fountains and springs.
Madness seized all; no one knew whither Cæsar had gone; no one knew who
was a senator, who a knight, who a dancer, who a musician. Satyrs and
fauns fell to chasing nymphs with shouting. They struck lamps with
thyrses to quench them. Darkness covered certain parts of the grove.
Everywhere, however, laughter and shouts were heard, and whispers, and
panting breaths. In fact Rome had not seen anything like that before.

Vinicius was not drunk, as he had been at the feast in Nero's palace,
when Lygia was present; but he was roused and intoxicated by the sight
of everything done round about, and at last the fever of pleasure seized
him. Rushing into the forest, he ran, with others, examining who of the
dryads seemed most beautiful. New flocks of these raced around him
every moment with shouts and with songs; these flocks were pursued by
fauns, satyrs, senators, knights, and by sounds of music. Seeing at
last a band of maidens led by one arrayed as Diana, he sprang to it,
intending to examine the goddess more closely. All at once the heart
sank in his bosom, for he thought that in that goddess, with the moon on
her forehead, he recognized Lygia.

They encircled him with a mad whirl, and, wishing evidently to incline
him to follow, rushed away the next moment like a herd of deer. But he
stood on the spot with beating heart, breathless; for though he saw that
the Diana was not Lygia, and that at close sight she was not even like
her, the too powerful impression deprived him of strength. Straightway
he was seized by such yearning as he had never felt before, and love for
Lygia rushed to his breast in a new, immense wave. Never had she seemed
so dear, pure, and beloved as in that forest of madness and frenzied
excess. A moment before, he himself wished to drink of that cup, and
share in that shameless letting loose of the senses; now disgust and
repugnance possessed him. He felt that infamy was stifling him; that
his breast needed air and the stars which were hidden by the thickets of
that dreadful grove. He determined to flee; but barely had he moved
when before him stood some veiled figure, which placed its hands on his
shoulders and whispered, flooding his face with burning breath, "I
love thee! Come! no one will see us, hasten!"

Vinicius was roused, as if from a dream.

"Who art thou?"

But she leaned her breast on him and insisted,--"Hurry! See how lonely
it is here, and I love thee! Come!"

"Who art thou?" repeated Vinicius.

"Guess!"

As she said this, she pressed her lips to his through the veil, drawing
toward her his head at the same time, till at last breath failed the
woman and she tore her face from him.

"Night of love! night of madness!" said she, catching the air quickly.
"Today is free! Thou hast me!"

But that kiss burned Vinicius; it filled him with disquiet. His soul
and heart were elsewhere; in the whole world nothing existed for him
except Lygia. So, pushing back the veiled figure, he said,--

"Whoever thou be, I love another, I do not wish thee."

"Remove the veil," said she, lowering her head toward him.

At that moment the leaves of the nearest myrtle began to rustle; the
veiled woman vanished like a dream vision, but from a distance her laugh
was heard, strange in some way, and ominous.

Petronius stood before Vinicius.

"I have heard and seen," said he.

"Let us go from this place," replied Vinicius.

And they went. They passed the lupanaria gleaming with light, the
grove, the line of mounted pretorians, and found the litters.

"I will go with thee," said Petronius.

They sat down together. On the road both were silent, and only in the
atrium of Vinicius's house did Petronius ask,--"Dost thou know who that
was?"

"Was it Rubria?" asked Vinicius, repulsed at the very thought that
Rubria was a vestal.

"No."

"Who then?"

Petronius lowered his voice. "The fire of Vesta was defiled, for Rubria
was with Cæsar. But with thee was speaking"--and he finished in a still
lower voice, "the divine Augusta."

A moment of silence followed.

"Cæsar," said Petronius, "was unable to hide from Poppæa his desire for
Rubria; therefore she wished, perhaps, to avenge herself. But I hindered
you both. Hadst thou recognized the Augusta and refused her, thou
wouldst have been ruined beyond rescue,--thou, Lygia, and I, perhaps."

"I have enough of Rome, Cæsar, feasts, the Augusta, Tigellinus, and all
of you!" burst out Vinicius. "I am stifling. I cannot live thus; I
cannot. Dost understand me?"

"Vinicius, thou art losing sense, judgment, moderation."

"I love only her in this world."

"What of that?"

"This, that I wish no other love. I have no wish for your life, your
feasts, your shamelessness, your crimes!"

"What is taking place in thee? Art thou a Christian?"

The young man seized his head with both hands, and repeated, as if in
despair,--"Not yet! not yet!"