himself. Ican tell you that the imagining is always much better than the actual experience.Much safer, too.”
“No doubt.” Delaney agreed. “For my part. I do not thinkthat Marcus would have made much of a soldier. He has too soft a disposition.But who is to say? Men who fear a battle have often proved themselves thebravest soldiers. while those who swagger and boast of fearlessness often turncoward in the thick of the fighting.”
“Yes, that’s very true.” said Casca.”I see you speak fromsome experience. Quintullus.”
“I have had my share.” said Delaney, “but Marcus has alwaysknown only the quiet life. And Lucius has always had a gift for writing. Weoften thought he should have been a poet. He described his experiences in Gaulso vividly that Marcus came to idolize Caesar from afar. To speak againstCaesar in his presence is like a personal affront. I can understand the way hefeels, but in certain ways. Marcus can be blind to what is happening aroundhim. In Cumae.
he is removed from the politics of Rome. They affect himonly slightly. Whereas I. who plan to settle down and live in Rome. haveconcerns that are considerably stronger.”
“We had started discussing some of your concerns last night,”said Cassius. “I would be curious to hear more of your thoughts on the matter.”
Delaney shrugged. “Like you. I have certain opinions when itcomes to Caesar.” He glanced around, as if with some discomfort. “But perhapsthey are opinions best kept to myself. I had a little too much wine last nightand spoke a bit too freely. In such troubled times, one should be careful whatone says in public.”
“Come now, Quintullus,” Casca said. “You are among friendshere. And from what you said last night. it would seem that your thoughts andyour concerns echo our own.”
“Indeed?” Delaney said warily.
“Casca speaks for us all,” said Cassius. “Men ofintelligence can see that there is danger in one man having absolute power torule in Rome. Especially a man like Caesar. In some ways, he is like anotherSulla. Only Sulla was never made dictator for life.”
“And he never took the title of
“What is the difference between emperor and king?” askedCasca angrily. “They are but different names for the same thing.”
“It would seem so,” said Delaney.
“Rome was done with kings ages ago,” said Cassius. “Underthe republic, we enjoyed freedom and democracy, a life such as no nation in theworld had ever known. Through the Senate. the citizens of Rome all had a voicein how they were governed. Yet what have we now? A Senate that is little morethan Caesar’s tool. Look at the new men whom he has elevated. Are there anyCiceros among them? No. They are all merely acolytes to Caesar. bowing to hisevery whim. Hardly anyone in the Senate dares to dispute with him. His word islaw. His every action is unquestioned. And now he plans to leave on yet anothercampaign, to play at being Alexander, while we suffer his surrogates. meresecretaries, not even members of the House, to dictate to us in his absence! Isthis not a mark of the contempt in which he holds the Senate?”
“I cannot disagree.” Delaney said, nodding. “Since he becameEmperor. Caesar has become more and more the autocrat. It is not in thetradition of Rome’s institutions. Only what can anyone do’? He has the supportof the people.”
“Perhaps he has the support of the plebeians,” Brutus said, “whoknow only not to bite the hand that feeds them, but there are many men in Rome.men such as ourselves. who perceive the growing danger of his rule. Caesar hasalways catered to the masses, with his corn dole and his public feasts andentertainments, but in his ascent to power, he had made more than his share ofenemies.”
“Such as yourself. Brutus?” asked Delaney. “I have heardthat there are intimate bonds between yourself and Caesar.”
Brutus flashed him an angry look. “I am not his bastard. ifthat is what you imply!”
“I imply nothing.” said Delaney. “I only repeat what I haveheard. Did he not pardon you after you took Pompey’s side during the civil war?”
“He pardoned Cassius, too,” said Brutus. “And Casca and manyothers. It was all his way of showing himself to be magnanimous, the greatgeneral who was gracious in his victory. It was but another way to curry favorwith the mob. It was no different from when he ordered Pompey’s statues putback up after the mobs had torn them down. You think that he had any love forPompey? If so. then why did he pursue him into Egypt? Why did he destroy hissons? Did he make a great show of remorse for having done so, as if he had hadno other choice? No. He returned to Rome to celebrate a triumph. A triumphcelebrating the destruction of one of the greatest families of Rome! There wasyour
“That was nothing but a show: said Casca derisively. “Anotherentertainment. It was as if to say. ‘Let us have the statues put back up. tocelebrate the greatness of the man I have defeated. thereby proving I amgreater still.’ His ambition seems to know no bounds. For the good of Rome.that ambition must somehow be curtailed.”
“Strong words,” Delaney said. “but then what good are wordswithout acts to back them up?”
“We do not merely speak words. Quintullus,” said Casca intently.“We plan to act as well!”
“Indeed?” Delaney said, raising his eyebrows. “What is itthat you plan to do?”
“Peace. Casca.” Cassius said, laying a hand on his arm. “Perhapsnow is not the time.”
Delaney smiled. “Yes, I have heard such talk before.” hesaid wryly. “It is the wine-fueled courage of the dinner table, the whisperedconspiracy of the baths. Men talk boldly, but when it comes time to act, theyhesitate and say. ‘Now is not the time.’ And somehow, the right time nevercomes.”
“What if it were to come?” asked Cassius. “Where would youstand. Quintullus?”
“Where I have always stood, with the strength and purpose ofmy convictions.” said Delaney. “If there was something to be done and if therewas a way to do it. and if Rome stood to benefit from the act that I was contemplating.then I would stand for Rome, of course.” He shrugged. “But then, we speak onlyimpassioned words. Impassioned acts are what is needed. Yet, as you say. Cassius.there are no more Ciceros. Even Cicero himself has retired from public life. Noone opposes Caesar openly. There is nothing to be done.”
“Perhaps there is,” said Casca. “If, as you say. you areindeed a man who stands for the strength and purpose of his convictions. A manwho stands for Rome.”
Delaney gave him a steady stare. “So far. all I have heardis talk,” he said. “To oppose Caesar in the baths is one thing. To take a standagainst him publicly is quite another. As you say. Caesar controls the Senate.What can a few men do?”
“Perhaps we are not quite so few as you suspect,” saidBrutus. “There are many others who share our feelings and concerns.”
“I do not doubt that.” said Delaney, “but I repeat. Caesarcontrols the Senate. When the House belongs to Caesar. what can anyone do?”
“We could remove Caesar from the House.” said Casca.
There was a moment of tense silence.
“There is only one way to do that. You speak of murder. Casca,”said Delaney softly.
“Not murder,” Casca replied. “Tyrannicide! That is the onlyway to stop a man like Caesar! Or does the thought disturb you, Quintullus?”
“It is a disturbing thought,” Delaney said.
“What happened to the man who spoke of the strength of hisconvictions?” Casca asked snidely. “A moment ago. you spoke of the need foraction. Yet now, it is you who hesitates.”
They were all watching him carefully.
“To hesitate is not the same as to weigh a course of actioncarefully.” said Delaney. “It is one thing to huddle together in the baths andwhisper boldly. It is another to plan a course of action. Such things should beentered into with great care. There have been others in the past who actedrashly. They did not live long to regret their choice.”
“No one speaks of acting rashly,” Cassius said.
“Then you have a plan?”
“We have considered it,” said Brutus. “But we must becertain that those to whom we speak of it stand with us. You seem to be of a likemind with us. Quintullus. We spoke of that last night. The question is, haveyou the courage to stand with us?”
