I continued my wanderings toward the source of the Tiber with the intention of following the river to Rome. Despite the autumn rains I found the narrow stream between the bleak mountain peaks. Stones cut my shoes, my mantle was torn and my only protection against the biting cold was an occasional shepherd’s shelter.
The first snow flurries greeted me as I came out of the forest to the wealthy city of Perusia. There I had to spend the coldest part of the winter and when the warm winds began to melt the snows in the mountain peaks I continued my journey down the Tiber. I wandered through the entire Etruscan heartland in a wide, wavering arc before reaching my starting point. The end of the journey I made as a timber floater on an immense raft that was being transported down the Tiber by a timber merchant.
As we approached the bridge we saw, toppled on the ground, the siege tower built by the Volscians. We also saw signs of destruction, but the bright green grass had mercifully covered the sooty ruins. On both sides of the river new barns and cattle enclosures were being built, oxen were calmly pulling their plows in the fields and birds were warbling everywhere with ruffled throats.
I had left Rome on an early spring day. On an early spring day I returned. But I will not praise the spring in Rome, for when I finally saw Arsinoe a year after our parting I noticed that she was in an advanced stage of pregnancy, nor did she rejoice at my return.
Book Nine
The Lucumo
1.
As I again stepped into the patrician courtyard of Tertius Valerius I could see that the rotted gateposts had been repaired and the gate painted. Once inside, I found I hardly recognized the house, so thoroughly had it been cleaned and so numerous were the expensive new seats and other pieces of furniture that had been obtained. A recently cast bronze statue of one of the Graces danced in the pool, clad in only a thin veil, and Tertius Valerius’ beloved clay oxen with their plow had been placed in the darkest corner. All this I noticed as I paused to gain time after the first crushing realization of Arsinoe’s condition.
As I continued silent Arsinoe fingered the edge of her matron’s robe nervously, looked at the floor and said, “You frightened me with your sudden appearance, Turms, for I did not expect you yet. Of course I have many things to explain to you but in this condition I cannot bear to be agitated. Therefore it may be best that you first meet dear Tertius. Valerius.”
She quickly withdrew to her room, burst into tears and called for her servants. Alarmed by her weeping and shouting, Tertius Valerius rushed forth from his own room with upraised stick. But when he recognized me he lowered it and looked embarrassed.
“You, Turnus,” he said slowly. “I did not expect you to return, for we-received word that you had drowned in a storm at sea. It was Arsinoe: herself who met the sailor when she was every day seeking news of you. She brought the man here and he swore, hand on the hearth, that he; had seen you go down. We have lived through difficult times ourselves. with the Volscians’ siege, and I did not doubt his story.”
I said quietly that I had been unable to send news of myself because: of the siege. Then with some bitterness I added that the news apparently had not been missed and that it would have been better had I not returned.
Tertius Valerius replied hastily, “No, no, do not misunderstand, Turnus. You are always welcome in my house and I rejoice that you are alive and apparently well. Judicially it in no way affects the situation. After all, Arsinoe herself admitted that you have never understood each other and that circumstances compelled her to accompany you for lack of another protector because of her burning desire to return to the city of her birth. Where was I? Ah, yes. No, I bear you no grudge, nor does Arsinoe. After all, you were never legally married, at least not bindingly according to Roman laws. When her goddess made me virile again even at my age I considered it my privilege and even, because of her condition, my duty to marry her legally. Since then I have grown younger by ten, perhaps even by twenty years. Don’t you agree that I am rejuvenated, Turnus?”
The heretofore sensible old man began to prance and arch his neck before me like a cock while the wrinkles hung like a wattle under his thin jaw. He had even shaved his beard and was clutching his purple-bordered toga as foppishly as a vain youth. So pathetic a sight was he that I did not know whether to weep or to laugh.
When I said nothing Tertius Valerius continued, “Of course there were many difficulties, since we first had to prove that she is a Roman citizen and a patrician. She has probably told you through what quirks of fate she found herself a helpless orphan in a strange land. But her bravery during the siege and the reputation she won for herself among the Roman women proved helpful, for the senators were made to understand by their wives that only a true Roman woman could have behaved so unselfishly. This was accepted by the Senate as evidence of her birth and she was accordingly recognized as a citizen and finally as a patrician. Without that recognition we could not have been married, for the law forbids marriage between a patrician and a plebeian.”
He rapped on the floor with his stick and added, “Because of our legal marriage all other previous bonds are dissolved as a matter of course. From now on Roman law will protect the reputation, honor and property of the person concerned.”
Summoned by the rapping, a new housekeeper dressed in splendid clothes appeared with a bow and Tertius Valerius bade him bring bread and wine with which to bid me welcome. Absently I had laid my hand on the hearth and his experienced eye noticed my gesture and he respected the tradition.
When we had drunk wine and broken bread we sat on the comfortable seats facing each other. The unaccustomed wine rose to the old man’s head, and soon his cheeks and temples were deeply flushed.
“I rejoice that you are reacting sensibly to this matter,” he said. “It shows you are an understanding man. Arsinoe had to admit that she sent you away because of her fondness for me and besides, you are sterile and could never give her the joy of motherhood. It was not her fault that that cruel Greek took advantage of her defenseless position and forced her to submit. But she herself is innocent and without a single evil thought. Indeed, I respect her greatly for having kept Misme although the sight of the girl must arouse dismal memories. I can well realize how much your return reminded her of those sad times. Women in her condition are very sensitive.”
He began to titter. “I am a farmer at heart and accustomed to breeding cattle, so that I am not unduly shy in matters pertaining to the sexes. But I have never met more sensitive innocence than Arsinoe’s among the women of Rome. Still, she is a heroine. As the most courageous of the Roman women she was instrumental, with the help of her goddess, in persuading Coriolanus to lift the siege and depart with the Volscians.”
His brow darkened, he gripped the stick tightly and recollected, “As the Volscians left they burned and plundered even the patricians’ houses, so that I suffered great material loss.” Then he brightened again. “But the land remains and we are rid of Coriolanus. The Volscians no longer trust him because he lifted the siege without a battle, although by dint of great effort they had built siege towers and battering rams with which to break down the gates. Now the women of Rome believe in Arsinoe’s goddess and worship her as Venus. I myself have vowed to erect a temple to her in Rome and intend to propose it in the Senate time and again. If it is not accepted I shall erect the temple, at least a small one, with my own money.”
“I know Arsinoe’s goddess,” I said impatiently. “I don’t doubt that the women of Rome will donate their jeweled hairpins and brooches to a collection for the temple.”
“A splendid idea!” cried Tertius Valerius. “You understand me best of all, dear Turnus. Arsinoe has even predicted that the descendants of the goddess Venus will one day rule the world from Rome.”
“Continue your story,” I urged.
Tertius Valerius’ mouth dropped open as he searched his memory. “Ah, yes. I began with the bulls and Arsinoe’s modesty. Although I convinced the Senate I had a harder time persuading my relatives. Not until they saw with their own eyes did they believe that I had regained my manhood. We Romans are not unduly bashful in such matters, but before I could prove it I had to overcome Arsinoe’s shyness, for although she is a mature woman she is as bashful as a young girl who for the first time submits to a man’s embrace.”
“Undoubtedly,” I said with gall in my throat. “Undoubtedly.” Tertius Valerius recollected the event with enthusiasm. “My brothers, my brother’s son and a representative chosen by the Senate saw with their own eyes
