the miscellaneous writings and speeches-1-第4节

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It　was　almost　midnight。　　The　party　had　separated。　　Catiline　and　Cethegus　were　still　conferring　in　the　supper…room；　which　was；　as　usual；　the　highest　apartment　of　the　house。　　It　formed　a　cupola；　from　which　windows　opened　on　the　flat　roof　that　surrounded　it。　To　this　terrace　Zoe　had　retired。　　With　eyes　dimmed　with　fond　and　melancholy　tears；　she　leaned　over　the　balustrade；　to　catch　the　last　glimpse　of　the　departing　form　of　Caesar；　as　it　grew　more　and　more　indistinct　in　the　moonlight。　　Had　he　any　thought　of　her？　Any　love　for　her？　　He；　the　favourite　of　the　high…born　beauties　of　Rome；　the　most　splendid；　the　most　graceful；　the　most　eloquent　of　its　nobles？　　It　could　not　be。　　His　voice　had；　indeed；　been　touchingly　soft　whenever　he　addressed　her。　　There　had　been　a　fascinating　tenderness　even　in　the　vivacity　of　his　look　and　conversation。　　But　such　were　always　the　manners　of　Caesar　towards　women。　　He　had　wreathed　a　sprig　of　myrtle　in　her　hair　as　she　was　singing。　　She　took　it　from　her　dark　ringlets；　and　kissed　it；　and　wept　over　it；　and　thought　of　the　sweet　legends　of　her　own　dear　Greece；of　youths　and　girls；　who；　pining　away　in　hopeless　love；　had　been　transformed　into　flowers　by　the　compassion　of　the　Gods；　and　she　wished　to　become　a　flower；　which　Caesar　might　sometimes　touch；　though　he　should　touch　it　only　to　weave　a　crown　for　some　prouder　and　happier　mistress。

She　was　roused　from　her　musings　by　the　loud　step　and　voice　of　Cethegus；　who　was　pacing　furiously　up　and　down　the　supper…room。

〃May　all　the　Gods　confound　me；　if　Caesar　be　not　the　deepest　traitor；　or　the　most　miserable　idiot；　that　ever　intermeddled　with　a　plot！〃

Zoe　shuddered。　　She　drew　nearer　to　the　window。　　She　stood　concealed　from　observation　by　the　curtain　of　fine　network　which　hung　over　the　aperture；　to　exclude　the　annoying　insects　of　the　climate。

〃And　you　too！〃　continued　Cethegus；　turning　fiercely　on　his　accomplice；　〃you　to　take　his　part　against　me！you；　who　proposed　the　scheme　yourself！〃

〃My　dear　Caius　Cethegus；　you　will　not　understand　me。　　I　proposed　the　scheme；　and　I　will　join　in　executing　it。　　But　policy　is　as　necessary　to　our　plans　as　boldness。　　I　did　not　wish　to　startle　Caesarto　lose　his　co…operationperhaps　to　send　him　off　with　an　information　against　us　to　Cicero　and　Catulus。　　He　was　so　indignant　at　your　suggestion　that　all　my　dissimulation　was　scarcely　sufficient　to　prevent　a　total　rupture。〃

〃Indignant！　　The　Gods　confound　him！He　prated　about　humanity；　and　generosity；　and　moderation。　　By　Hercules；　I　have　not　heard　such　a　lecture　since　I　was　with　Xenochares　at　Rhodes。〃

〃Caesar　is　made　up　of　inconsistencies。　　He　has　boundless　ambition；　unquestioned　courage；　admirable　sagacity。　　Yet　I　have　frequently　observed　in　him　a　womanish　weakness　at　the　sight　of　pain。　　I　remember　that　once　one　of　his　slaves　was　taken　ill　while　carrying　his　litter。　　He　alighted；　put　the　fellow　in　his　place　and　walked　home　in　a　fall　of　snow。　　I　wonder　that　you　could　be　so　ill…advised　as　to　talk　to　him　of　massacre；　and　pillage；　and　conflagration。　　You　might　have　foreseen　that　such　propositions　would　disgust　a　man　of　his　temper。〃

〃I　do　not　know。　　I　have　not　your　self…command；　Lucius。　　I　hate　such　conspirators。　　What　is　the　use　of　them？　　We　must　have　blood　blood；　hacking　and　tearing　workbloody　work！〃

〃Do　not　grind　your　teeth；　my　dear　Caius；　and　lay　down　the　carving…knife。　　By　Hercules；　you　have　cut　up　all　the　stuffing　of　the　couch。〃

〃No　matter；　we　shall　have　couches　enough　soon；and　down　to　stuff　them　with；and　purple　to　cover　them；and　pretty　women　to　loll　on　them；unless　this　fool；　and　such　as　he；　spoil　our　plans。　　I　had　something　else　to　say。　　The　essenced　fop　wishes　to　seduce　Zoe　from　me。〃

〃Impossible！　　You　misconstrue　the　ordinary　gallantries　which　he　is　in　the　habit　of　paying　to　every　handsome　face。〃

〃Curse　on　his　ordinary　gallantries；　and　his　verses；　and　his　compliments；　and　his　sprigs　of　myrtle！　　If　Caesar　should　dareby　Hercules；　I　will　tear　him　to　pieces　in　the　middle　of　the　Forum。〃

〃Trust　his　destruction　to　me。　　We　must　use　his　talents　and　influencethrust　him　upon　every　dangermake　him　our　instrument　while　we　are　contendingour　peace…offering　to　the　Senate　if　we　failour　first　victim　if　we　succeed。〃

〃Hark！　what　noise　was　that？〃

〃Somebody　in　the　terrace　lend　me　your　dagger。〃

Catiline　rushed　to　the　window。　　Zoe　was　standing　in　the　shade。　He　stepped　out。　　She　darted　into　the　roompassed　like　a　flash　of　lightning　by　the　startled　Cethegusflew　down　the　stairsthrough　the　courtthrough　the　vestibulethrough　the　street。　　Steps；　voices；　lights；　came　fast　and　confusedly　behind　her；　but　with　the　speed　of　love　and　terror　she　gained　upon　her　pursuers。　　She　fled　through　the　wilderness　of　unknown　and　dusky　streets；　till　she　found　herself；　breathless　and　exhausted；　in　the　midst　of　a　crowd　of　gallants；　who；　with　chaplets　on　their　heads　and　torches　in　their　hands；　were　reeling　from　the　portico　of　a　stately　mansion。

The　foremost　of　the　throng　was　a　youth　whose　slender　figure　and　beautiful　countenance　seemed　hardly　consistent　with　his　sex。　　But　the　feminine　delicacy　of　his　features　rendered　more　frightful　the　mingled　sensuality　and　ferocity　of　their　expression。　　The　libertine　audacity　of　his　stare；　and　the　grotesque　foppery　of　his　apparel；　seemed　to　indicate　at　least　a　partial　insanity。　Flinging　one　arm　round　Zoe；　and　tearing　away　her　veil　with　the　other；　he　disclosed　to　the　gaze　of　his　thronging　companions　the　regular　features　and　large　dark　eyes　which　characterise　Athenian　beauty。

〃Clodius　has　all　the　luck　to…night；〃　cried　Ligarius。

〃Not　so；　by　Hercules；〃　said　Marcus　Coelius；　〃the　girl　is　fairly　our　common　prize：　we　will　fling　dice　for　her。　　The　Venus　（Venus　was　the　Roman　term　for　the　highest　throw　of　the　dice。）　throw；　as　it　ought　to　do；　shall　decide。〃

〃Let　me　golet　me　go；　for　Heaven's　sake；〃　cried　Zoe；　struggling　with　Clodius。

〃What　a　charming　Greek　accent　she　has！　　Come　into　the　house；　my　little　Athenian　nightingale。〃

〃Oh！　what　will　become　of　me？　　If　you　have　mothersif　you　have　sisters〃

〃Clodius　has　a　sister；〃　muttered　Ligarius；　〃or　he　is　much　belied。〃

〃By　Heaven；　she　is　weeping；〃　said　Clodius。

〃If　she　were　not　evidently　a　Greek；〃　said　Coelius；　〃I　should　take　her　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。

〃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；〃　cr