Aurelia : or, the Jews of Capena-gate

Front matter

* UNITED STATES OP AMERICA

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Preface

The praise received by Mr. Quinton’s Aurelia from the French critics, and, especially, the commendation with which it was honored by such a high authority as the illustrious Bishop of Orleans, •encourage the hope that a translation of this remarkable work will be favorably received by the American public.

The author’s object has been to remove the veil which conceals those early times of the Christian Church, when Peter and Paul preached the Gospel in the capital of the pagan world destined to become the capital and eternal seat of the Church of the true God. Mr. Quinton, in seeking for the immediate consequences of that public profession of faith and the results that followed the death of the two apostles, did not consult the ecclesiastical writers who came long after those events had taken place, but sought his facts in the old heathen authors who were the contempories of the historical characters he had selected as the heroes of his drama. The facts connected with the extraordinary spread of Christianity in all classes of the Roman empire, the principal events of this narrative, and the life-like description of the customs of ancient Rome, are drawn from the writing of Tacitus, Suetonius, Dion Cassius, Seneca, Juvenal, Martial, and others.

Whilst pursuing the study of the contrast presented by the harsh Roman civilization and the softening influence of dawning Christianity, the learned French lawyer made the discovery of facts hitherto overlooked., which after being connected formed an unbroken chain of evidence. Uncertainty no longer exists, and after showing us the moral effect of Christianity upon Roman intitutions and Roman society, he proves important facts of peculiar interest. Thus we see the first Christian hospital founded by Fla via Domitilla, the niece of the Emperor Domitian, in her own house and not far vi.

PREFACE.

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from the imperial palace; the same holy woman, having been exiled by her uncle, receives the veil from the hands of St. Clemens, the fourth successor of St. Peter, and proceeds to the island of Pontia, where she founds the first St. Clemens consecrates, in

what has since been styled the catacombs, the first Christian burying ground, on the occasion of the death of the octogenarian Petronilla, the daughter of Peter, Prince of the Apostles!

Apart from the “historical treasures” discovered by the author, and for which he was warmly congratulated by Mgr. Dupanloup, Aurelia has all the merit of a highly dramatic narrative. Whilst, therefore, this work commends itself to the scholar, it is hoped that lovers of wholesome light literature will find it as entertaining as most of the works of fiction of the day.

Baltimore, October, 1869.

Although no note references are given in the book, the notes to Aurelia are of such historic interest and value, that the publishers have concluded to add them as an appendix to the work, for the benefit of those readers who seek something more than mere entertainment. The number of the prige and a proper heading to recall the subject to mind have been given with each note.

PART FIRST — The Informer

CHAPTEH. PiQ*

1. Rome in the Year of Grace 91 1

II. An Informer at Work 3

III. Ward and Guardian...., 14

IV. A Slave-market 21

V. First Lights 28

VI. Paul and Seneca 31

YII. Light Penetrating Chaos 37

PART SECOND— The Slave

I. Hymeneal Disappointments of a Vespillo 46

II. The Crypt of Libitina’s Woods 58

III. Christian Espousals 68

IV. Parmenon’s Register 73

V. A Legal Consultation 80

VI. How in Rome a Father could sell his Daughter 89

VII. The Slave-dealer as a Lawyer 96

VIII. A Chapter on Roman Law. 105

IX. Before the Pretor.... 109

X. The Tribunal of the Recuperators 115

XI. Tortures and Constancy 124

XII. The Omen-tree 132

XIII. The Daughter of the Csesars and the Daughter of the

I* People 144

{vii)

Viii. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER. PAGE..

XIV. The Christian Priest and the Pagan Virgin 151

XV. Phfedria 158

PART THIRD— The Vestal

I. Before the Storm 169

5 II. Domitian 175

1 III. The Luminous Gallery 181

! IV. Minerva's Statue 198

V. The Sons of David 201

VI. The Mysteries of the Temple of Isis 212

VII. The Archigallus Apollo 217

VIII. Illusions of a Conspirator 223

IX. The Funeral of a Christian Virgin 231

X. Wealthy, Beautiful, Great— and Unhappy 241

XI. Aurelia Comments on St. Paul 249

XII. The Atrium-regiiim 254

XIII. Cornelia’s Anxieties 259

XIV. History of a Vestal 265

XV. Clemens Fulfills the Engagements of Gurges 27T

XVI. The Storm Gathering 283

XVII. The Saturnalia 288

XVIII. The Den of Woes 299

XIX. Clemens Calls on Gurges 30&

XX. The Execution 31(j

XXL The Deliverance 322

XXII. Gurges Treats of the Empire 331

XXIII. The Clouds Gathering 34.0

XXIV. The Death of a Tyrant — Epilogue 344

AURELIA^

OR,

THE JEWS OF CAPEJNTA GATE.

Chapter I. Rome In The Year Of Grace Ninety-one

IN the year 842 of its foundation, a period which corresponds with the year 91 of the Christian era — Rome already groaned under the implacable and sanguinary tyranny of the Emperor Domitian.

Doubtless, the Roman people,, formerly so happy and so free, must have repented bitterly that it had given unto itself masters in the person of its Cmsars ; for, to the peaceful and mild reign of Augustus, had succeeded, without interruption, those of the stern and taciturn Tiberius, of Caligula, the madman, of the imbecile Claudius, and of the infamous and cruel Nero ; then those of Galba, Othonus and Vitellius. In other words, during fifty-five years, every possible humiliation and servitude had been inflicted upon the pride of the conquerors of the world; they had been made to suffer all sorts of misfortunes, of sanguinary excesses, of unparalleled disorders and fearful seditions ; until terror and anguish had become the habitual, daily conditions of their life.

It is true that the accession to the Imperial throne, of

•2

Vespasian and his eldest son, Titus, had been a truce to these public desolations; but this blissful interregnum of twelve years had flown with the rapidity of happy dreams ; and clouds as threatening and gloomy as those which had overshadowed the worst days of suffering, were gathering on the horizon since Domitian succeeding his brother, so justly surnamed the delight of manJcind, had ascended to the throne.

At the time our story commences, many public and private catastrophes, many sentences of banishment against the most illustrious individuals, many murders perpetrated openly or secretly, had marked the ten years already elapsed of Domitian’s reign, and filled Rome with a terror which prostrated the most manly courage.

Nevertheless, in this year 842, Rome enjoyed, apparently at least, a moment of quiet and some little respite from its sufferings.

Not that the Emperor Domitian had modified his usual instinctive cruelty, or that he had endeavored to conciliate some sympathy by putting a stop to his series of crimes ; but, since several months he had left Rome, to direct personally the war which his generals had waged without success against Decebalus, King of the Dacians. He intended also seizing this opportunity to take revenge on the Quadi and Marcomani, tribes of Germany, and neighbors of the Daci, who, during this long war, commenced in the year 837 (A. D. 86), had not shown themselves the faithful allies of the Emperor, nor observed the conditions of their old treaties with the Roman people.

However, if temporarily, the weight of Domitian’s iron hand was not felt upon the immense city, the situation was neither better nor more encouraging. The danger was less actual and seemed less pressing ; but it remained suspended over the heads of the people ; and many, alarmed at what they saw around them, believed it still more fearful because not immediate.

The Emperor had left Rome filled with the ministers of his tyranny, and the habitual agents of his fury. A crowd of informers vied in skillfulness and audacity, to feed the equally insatiable hate and cupidity of the master of the world.

TEE JEWS OF CAP ENA GATE.

These shameful agents of imperial tyranny, full of that zeal which servile obsequiousness for the master awakens in vile natures, had divided the city between them, and prowled incessantly in the streets, hunting up the slightest indications, upon which they might build their sinister accusations, scrutinizing the most natural acts with the activity and intelligence of those indefatigable hounds which are set upon the traces of forest beasts.

No detail, however minute, could escape their anxious investigations; no suspicion, however faint and fleeting, was treated with indifference by them; the dwellings the most completely veiled in obscurity, became transparent and could conceal no secret from them. One might have thought that they penetrated into consciences and hearts, so well did their sagacity read the most hidden thoughts ; but it was to suppress the least aspiration to liberty, and, in the forcible language of Tacitus, *‘ to keep a record of every tear and every sigh. ”

Chapter II. An Informer At Work

ON the eve of the Ides of the month of Julius, (14th of July) in this same year, 842, (A. D. 91), the sun-dials in the Forum indicated the sixth hour of the day, (noon), when a man, coming out of the basilica Julia, tarried a while under its peristyle already filled with a compact and tumultuous crowd.

The tribunal of the Recuperators was assembled by extraordinary, in this place where the Centum viri usually held their sittings, and what caused this great affluence of people, was that a very important suit, bearing on a State-question, had just been decided, after several sessions, during which the two most celebrated lawyers of the time had participated in the passionate debates.

The citizen, whose appearance under the peristyle, we_have mentioned, was a man of about fifty years. His radiant features, the triumphant looks he cast upon the crowd, which however seemed to avoid him with mingled terror and contempt, and from which threatening voices had saluted him with curses, would have sufficiently indicated that he was interested in the contestation, even though his dress had not revealed the active part he had taken in it.

He was clad in the toga of mourning usually worn by orators desirous of feigning distress and of inspiring compas- »ion ; and, by an extraordinary singularity, had completed this carefully studied, theatrical exhibition of desolation, by covering half of his face with a wide bandage.

Every minor detail had been made to harmonize, and the enormous bundle of papyrus leaves — probably documents connected with the suit just decided — ^which this gloomy personage held under his arm, were tied with strings as black as his toga.

He took off the bandage which, out of the court, had no longer any meaning, and concealed it in the folds of his wide garment. The hostile demonstrations of the people began to cause him some uneasiness, and he was already attempting to wend his way through the dense crowd, when deep groans, mingled with fearful imprecations, resounded near him.

These groans proceeded from the lips of an old man, whose appearance and demeanor denoted the wildest despair. This unfortunate being, like the man with the bandage and black toga, was leaving the interior of the basilica ; but he came out rending his wretched garments, tearing his ash-covered white locks, and striking his breast. It was evident that the decision of the tribunal had struck at his dearest interests.

He was accompanied by his defender, a younger man, whose noble and grave features wore an expression of sadness. The lawyer sustained the tottering steps of his unhappy client, and endeavored to soothe him with the most affectionate solicitude ; but his efforts were unavailing to soften this wild grief; the old man anon broke out in noisy lamentations, calling upon the bystanders to bear witness to the injustice of men and the rigor of the gods.

The theatrical orator, first mentioned, would have been glad to make his way out, and avoid meeting this old man

TEE JEWS OF CAP ENA GATE.

whose sight seemed to disturb him considerably ; but the crowd was too compact. BaiSled in his attempt, he made up his mind, resolutely, to approach those he wished so much to flee, and this he did, composing his features, with remarkable facility, so as to give them the cheerful and kindly expression suitable to the occasion.

“ My dear Pliny,” he exclaimed, grasping the hand of the old man’s protector; “allow me to congratulate you, notwithstanding your defeat ! Your pleading, yesterday, was the finest I have ever heard ! By Apollo ! you have surpassed Cicero, your model ! But it is not surprising that you have lost your case ; I had consulted the auspices, and had advised you that they were favorable to my cause.”

Then, as Pliny-the-Younger — for it was he who had defended and lost the case — withdrew promptly his hand and turned away, vouchsafing him no other answer than a look of contempt, the brazen-faced individual turned to the old man :

“Unfortunate Cecilius,” said he, affecting the liveliest compassion, “why did you not accept the compromise I proposed? You would . . . .”

He could not finish the sentence.

An iron grip was upon his throat and clutched it with a vigor one would have little suspected in an arm weakened by age and a body crushed by sorrow.

It was the hand of the old man, who, straightening up at the first words spoken by his adversary, had sprung at him like a tiger, and was shaking him with convulsive violence.

In an instant, he of the dark toga, breathless, almost choked to death, lost his balance and rolled down the marble steps, until his career was checked by the pedestal of one of the statues of the twelve great-gods that decorated the peristyle of the basilica Julia.

The admiring spectators clapped their hands, and gave expression to their delight by hooting, and overwhelming the discomfited orator with their gibes and mockeries.

Pliny-the-Younger, who had not had time to prevent this act of vengeance, seized Cecilius by the arm and hurried him away. They were soon out of sight.

Meanwhile, the citizen who had been made to descend so unceremoniously the broad steps of the basilica Julia, had lumped to his feet with a nimbleness that showed his limbs to be unbroken. But if his body was unhurt, his features were distorted by indignation and anger.

“By all the gods of hades and by all the furies, I shall take my revenge, cursed old man !” he cried as soon as he was on his feet; and after a few minutes’ reflection, he was seen to hurry towards a building contiguous to the temple of Saturn, which, like the basilica Julia, was situated within the limits of the Forum.

This structure was known as the Tahulariuni of the people. It was the place of deposit for public acts and records.

Having reached the office, the unknown called for the certificate of birth of a young girl named Cecilia; and, addressing the agent who had hastened to show him the document :

“You will state at the bottom of J:he act,” said he, “that by a judgment of the tribunal of Recuperators, rendered this day, Cecilia, born of the lawful wedlock of Cecilius Bassa, a Roman citizen, and Tarsilla Pacuvia, deceased, is declared to be the property of Parmenon, a duly authorized slave-trader, she having been mancipated to the said Parmenon, by her father Cecilius. Here is a copy of the judgment.”

And he placed in the hands of the agent a certified document with which he had taken care to provide himself before leaving the Court room.

The certificate having been duly entered and verified by this strange individual, he remembered probably that he had something else to do in the temple of Saturn, for, instead of retracing his steps, he entered a secret passage which led him to another and much larger office, where a prodigious activity reigned.

He was in the vast counting-room of the State and Imperial treasury.

We will not remain to examine the countenances of the citizens hurrying to pay their taxes, but will follow our unknown who, notwithstanding the avaricious glance cast on the piles of gold which the Uhripendes weighed and counted incessantly, tarried not, but singling out a citizen in the busy crowd, called him aside to ask him this question ;

“Well! my dear Palfurius, what is the amount of the legacies made to our gracious master, the Emperor Domitian, since his departure from Rome? Have you prepared this

THE JEWS OF CAP ENA GATE.

calculation which I must send to the prince by the next courier

“ Certainly, and the total is important enough. In the last six months the wills in favor of the Emperor have produced fifteen millions of sestertii.’’

‘ ‘ What ! are you not ashamed, Palfurius, to speak of such a paltry sum! Well may the divine Domitian congratulate you on your zeal 1”

“But,” exclaimed Palfurius, “there has been little mortality in Rome, of late, and consequently but a small number of wills have been read. Armilatus, with whom I was conversing recently on this subject, thinks that the mildness of the weather is the principal cause of this healthy condition ; but the hot spell is commencing ; it will bring diseases which will enable us to show our devotion to the prince.”

“You and Armilatus are a pair of fools,” cried the unknown, who seemed to care little how Palfurius, evidently a man of rank, would like the epithet; “I repeat that this amount is insignificant, and it is singular that you should find an excuse in the condition of the weather and the scarcity of disease. Reflect that the friends of the Emperor Augustus bequeathed to him a milliard of sestertii ; that the sestertius was then worth much more than it is now, and that, consequently, you will never attain the fourth part of that sum, if you consider fifteen paltry millions of sestertii an important result for six months! Are you, perchance, one of those who think that Domitian should not be as well treated by his friends as was Augustus ?”

This last remark, made in a significant tone, was so embarrassing, that Palfurius looked down, and could not find an answer.

“But,” resumed the pitiless questioner, “ since you have mentioned the name of Armilatus, may I know, at least, whether you have obtained the information which you two were to procure me concerning Plavius Clemens and his wife Flavia Domitilla? Have you ascertained, at last, whether, as reported, they have embraced the new superstition ? Flavius Clemens is immensely wealthy, and if it should be true that he has become a Jew, there might be an easy way of making up, in part at least, the deficit of which we were speaking.”

Thi? question seemed to trouble Palfurius even more than tbe previous one ; he replied, however :

“Flavius Clemens is the Emperor’s cousin and Flavia Domitilla is his niece. Their two sons have received from our august master the names of Vespasianus and Domitianus, because he destines them for the empire. How do you want us to pry into the affairs of persons so near connected with the prince and to whom he has shown such favor. Look you, this is a dangerous matter, and you have not reflected sufficiently.”

“ So,” said the unknown, giving a peculiar emphasis to each sentence, “you and Armilatus refuse to undertake it ? It does not suit you — consular men as you arc, able to penetrate into the intimacy of another consular, and chosen for that reason — it does not suit you to investigate a matter which gives uneasiness to the Emperor, and of which he wishes to be informed? Very well! We shall find other means. But really, dear Palfurius, you are the mere shadow of your former self!”

With this ironical and threatening remark, the unknown suddenly left Palfurius Sura, to the latter’s great relief.

Crossing hurriedly the crowded halls of the temple of Saturn, he entered the Forum. It was deserted, for the heat had become unbearable, and the citizens had returned to their homes to enjoy the customary siesta.

But our man minded not the burning rays of the sun. He was absorbed in his thoughts of hate and revenge. Crossing the immense Forum in all its length, he followed the way to the Forum of Mars as far as the Batumena gate ; then, turning to the left, he entered a broad street, which led him to the Flaminius circus.

To the right is one of the oldest edifices in Rome, the Villa puhlica, where the Romans lodged the Ambassadors of countries with whom they had no alliance. They were not permitted to enter the city proper, (^urhs.') The representatives of allied nations were introduced into the holy city and magnificently entertained in the Groecostasis, a splendid house situated in the centre of the Forum.

Near the Villa pvhlica, the slave-traders occupied shops or taverns built between the massive pillars of the porticos. The unknown knocked repeatedly at the closed doors of one

THE JEWS OF CATENA GATE.

of these taverns. It was at length opened hy an individual of high stature, clad in a many-colored toga.

This man, whose brutish and insolent countenance bespoke a ruffian of the first order, was strangely disfigured. The horrible scars with which his face was covered, were evidently produced by the application of powerful acids or of the juice of venomous plants, so skillfully prepared by the witches of that time.

As he opened the door, this repulsive being rubbed his eyes, and yawned so as to distend immoderately his jaws. He had been disturbed from his siesta, and seemed in very bad humor thereat. But his anger vanished as if by magic when he recognized his untimely visitor.

“ Parmenon, Cecilia is ours!” said the latter; but, on his lips, this word, ours, seemed to mean, mine ; one could have easily seen that a master was speaking, and that Parmenon was a subaltern. “Yes, thanks to my eloquence, the mancipation in thy favor has been declared valid by the Recuperators, and thou canst put the ticket of sale on Cecilia ; but thou must explain that she is of free condition, else a guarantee will be required.”

“Master, I shall put the ticket.”

“ Very well! But it is necessary, absolutely necessary, that Cecilia should be sold to-morrow. Besides, thou wilt stipulate formally that she can never be afifranchized or emancipated. I have important reasons to make this a rigorous clause. Ah ! I was forgetting . . . the price must be one hundred thousand sestertii, not a slips less. Remember our agreement; I must have two-thirds. If ever thou shouldst think of invoking the absurd Cincia law, thou knowest, wretch, that I can . . . .”

“Master, fear nothing; what has been agreed shall be faithfully fulfilled;” hastened to answer Parmenon,in whom the last words of the unknown had awakened unpleasant reminiscences.

Satisfied with this promise, and having no further recommendation to make to Parmenon concerning Cecilia, our individual, who had not completed his self-imposed task, hastened to leave the Villa pvhlica, and returned in the direction of the Ratumena gate.

Following his steps, we again cross the Forum; we then 1* leave it on our right to enter the Clivus of Victory, and we are in the Palatine, in its south-east angle, and in front of a celebrated house. Built by M. Livius Drusus, the people’s Tribune, it had passed into the hands of P. Crassus, and afterwards into those of Cicero, who borrowed three millions sestertii to pay Crassus the purchase motiey.

This M. Livius Drusus made to his architect, who proposed to construct the house so as to protect the owner from prying eyes, this answer, which has been preserved by history : I wish my house could be made of glass, in order that everybody should see what is going on within.”

The mysterious individual we have followed so far, looked carefully around to make sure that he was not observed ; and, having ascertained that the street was silent and deserted, crossed rapidly the small circular place in front of the house, knocked softly at the door, and addressing the slave-porter who answered his knock :

“ Greeting,” said he, “ to Palaestrion, the future freedman of the divine Aurelia !”

“ Alas, my lord,” replied the slave, bowing with deference, “may Jupiter hear you! Many times, already, you have given me such words of hope, but I do not perceive that my chain is loosened or its links broken I”

And the poor fellow pointed to his legs, which were tightly imprisoned in a double circle of iron connected with a long chain, the end of which was firmly secured to the wall.

“ You do wrong, Palaestrion,” resumed the unknown, “to doubt my words; every time you have seen me, I have broken one of those links, for I have given you gold, that is, the means of purchasing your freedom. And to-day again, I have taken care not to forget the interest I feel in the unhappy Palaestrion. Here are two aurei for you.”

And he banded to the slave two gold pieces, which the latter hid away with marvellous dexterity, in the folds of his garment.

“But, my lord,” remarked the slave, “you must have a motive to show such deep interest to a poor wretch like me ! I confess that l am very uneasy, for, since the last time you were here, something has happened in this house which has given me much to reflect upon 1”

THE JEWS OF CAP ENA GATE.

“ Ah ! what is it, Paljestrion ? What has happened ?’’

“I must tell you, my lord, that our mistress, the divine Aurelia^ is not cruel towards her slaves. She seldom causes them to he whipped. She was very fond

of a girl named Doris Did you know her,

my lord !” asked Palaestrion, interrupting his narrative, for he had seen the unknown start at the mention of that name.

‘ ‘ Why should you suppose I have known her T replied the latter, whose features assumed an expression of indifference. “Continue.”

“Well, my lord, this Doris who was the habitual ornatrix (hair-dresser) of the divine Aurelia, by order of our mistress, she was stripped of all her clothes, suspended by her hair in the centre of the atrium^ and there, in presence of the whole family,^ was so cruelly whipped by the public executioner, that she expired under our eyes in the most horrible convulsions.”

“And why this unusual severity?” asked the unknown with well-feigned impassibility.

‘ ‘ Oh ! the divine Aurelia is quite grieved at the death of her hair-dresser ; she says she cannot replace her easily. It is even stated that she weeps frequently ; but we have been told again this morning, that she would consign to the same fate any member of the family who, like Doris, should betray the secrets of her house to Marcus Kegulus .... Why ! my lord, what is the matter with you ?”

It required a mighty effort on the part of the unknown to conceal the emotion caused by this name. Pie succeeded, however, and replied with composure :

“Nothing, Palaestrion; the fate of this young Doris fills my heart with compassion, and I could not suppress a groan. But this Marcus Kegulus must be very dangerous that such an order should be given ?”

“They say, my lord, that he is the vilest wretch there is in Kome, and I have thought, . . . that Doris’ fate awaits me, . . . if . . . unfortunately ... he who questions me . . . and whom I do not know . . . should be . . .”

“Thanks, Palaestrion, for the comparison and your good

•»Xame by which the slaves in a household were designated.

opinion of me ! But, thanks to the gods, my questions cannot compromise you and make you fear this fate ...”

“It is true, my lord . . . and you will pardon a poor slave who trembles, but who meant no offence, . . . for you are not Marcus Begulus . . . Besides, I shall see whether I can reply to your questions.

‘ ‘ They will be very simple ones, and dictated by my devotion to the noble house of your august mistress. Is our G-rand-Yestal, the illustrious Cornelia, any better? Will she soon be able to resume her high and holy duties ?”

“No, my lord, the health of the Grrand-Y estal is not good. The divine Aurelia’s tender care cannot succeed in making her forget the punishment inflicted by the Pontiff Helvetius Agrippa ; and it is the deeply felt and ever recurring shame of that punishment, which, it is said, prevents her recovery.”

‘ ‘ And your mistress, the divine Aurelia, is she occasionally visited by Metellus Celer ?”

Palaestrion seemed to think this question dangerous or indiscreet, for he made no reply to it. His face even showed a shadow of suspicion, which vanished, however, when the unknown resumed unconcernedly —

“After all, what interest have I in Metellus Celer’s doings more than in any one else’s ! But, tell me one thing that I do care about : do not Flavius Clemens and the two Flavia Domitillas come here any more ? I heard that your mistress had ceased seeing them. As for me, I do not believe a word of it ; they are so closely related !”

“Oh 1 there are reasons.”