save the report on Herod until after Asiaticus, Corbulo and Vespasian have done what I’m going to ask of them.’ Antonia picked up the fourth scroll that Primus had given her and handed it to Sabinus. ‘And then when your uncle has done that, Sabinus, please read out this, I think that it’s safe for you to do so now that Herod is no longer in a position to blackmail you.’ She patted Herod’s copy of the bill of sale and the certificate of ownership of the grain that Eutyches had brought. ‘I was going to save it for future use but I think in view of Poppaea’s visit now would be a good time to make it public. I believe it might also help your cause in the praetor elections.’
Sabinus read it quickly and grinned. ‘I’d be delighted to.’
‘And so therefore, Conscript Fathers,’ the Senior Consul, Asiaticus, concluded to a packed Senate House, ‘I propose a vote of thanks from a grateful Senate to its servant, Gaius Poppaeus Sabinus, for the many years of selfless service he gave to us and our Emperor. I also propose that we vote him a bronze statue, paid for out of public funds, to be erected in the Forum.’
Asiaticus sat down to a chorus of approval from both sides of the House. Vespasian joined in thinking that Antonia would be pleased with the way the Consul had set up the debate exactly as she had asked.
‘Senior Consul,’ Corbulo bellowed over the din, rising to his feet, ‘may I have the floor?’
‘The Senate will hear Senator Corbulo,’ Asiaticus cried, gesturing for silence.
Vespasian smiled to himself as Corbulo took the floor attempting to conceal a look of distaste for the first part of what he was about to say upon Antonia’s orders.
‘Conscript Fathers, I served with Poppaeus for three years in Moesia and Thracia, I would be honoured to second the Consul’s proposal. I was, as were you all, shocked when Poppaeus was found dead in the Forum, but I consider it fitting that a man such as he should die at the very heart of our Empire. However, as we all know, Poppaeus allowed his troops to hail him as “imperator” so I think that a statue in the Forum, so close to those of our illustrious Emperor and his predecessor, would be an unpleasant reminder of that solitary error of judgement — some may call it an act of treason — made by this man whom we praise today.’
Corbulo sat down to mutterings of agreement.
Asiaticus took the floor again. ‘Senator Corbulo has done well to remind the House of that unfortunate incident. We would not want the Emperor to think that his loyal Senate in any way condones Poppaeus’ error, made, I am sure, in the heat of the joy of victory over Rome’s enemies. The fact that the Emperor in his clemency has chosen to overlook this for so long should signal to us that, while a statue would be inappropriate, a vote of thanks would be acceptable for such a man who only made one mistake in his life.’
Vespasian got nervously to his feet for the first time in the Senate. ‘Senior Consul, may I have the floor?’
‘The House will hear the first speech of Senator Titus Flavius Vespasianus,’ Asiaticus declared.
Vespasian felt the eyes of over five hundred senators upon him as he walked out to the middle of the floor. Putting his unease at speaking in public for the first time to the back of his mind, he cleared his throat. ‘Conscript Fathers, many of you will be wondering what I, one of the most junior members of this ancient House, could add to this debate. I too was in Thracia with Poppaeus and out of loyalty to the Senate of Rome and our Emperor I cannot remain silent about what I saw. Senator Corbulo was right to bring to our attention the cries of “imperator” but he has not told the full story. He was not present at the victory celebration after the final battle, having been sent up the mountain with two cohorts to secure the defeated Thracians’ stronghold and to mop up any survivors. He therefore did not see the way that Poppaeus basked in the cries of “imperator”, encouraging them rather than trying to subdue them as any one of us would have done out of loyalty to the Emperor.’
Vespasian paused as the senators vied with each other to be the most vociferous in their loyalty to the Emperor. ‘Shameful though it was to commit this offence against our Emperor, it was not the worst crime that Poppaeus committed that day.’
There was silence as the senators ceased their protestations of loyalty to hear what could be worse than a crime against the Emperor. ‘I was present when your emissary, the proconsul Marcus Asinius Agrippa, brought Poppaeus the news of the honour that this House had voted him, and our Emperor had been pleased to confirm, Triumphal Ornaments. I witnessed Asinius order Poppaeus, in the name of the Senate and the Emperor, to immediately give up his command to Pomponius Labeo and return to Rome. Showing no gratitude for this extraordinary honour, Poppaeus refused, thereby committing a crime not only against the Emperor but also against this House. It was not until Asinius repeated the order in front of the whole army after the battle that Poppaeus felt obliged to lay down his command.’
Shouts of outrage forced Vespasian to pause again. Asiaticus sprang to his feet and bellowed for order.
‘Senator Vespasian,’ he shouted over the din, ‘can you swear to this?’
‘I can, but I can do better than that, Consul, I can get you proof. Senator Corbulo, where did you find Poppaeus on the night of the Thracian attack?’
Corbulo stood. ‘In Asinius’ tent.’
‘Who else was there?’
‘Asinius, you, King Rhoemetalces and Primus Pilus Faustus.’
‘Unfortunately, Consul, Asinius is dead as is Faustus but King Rhoemetalces is not. Write to him and ask him for the details of the conversation that had taken place between Asinius and Poppaeus before Corbulo arrived; he will confirm everything I’ve said.’
Vespasian returned to his folding stool as the first of the many senators eager to express their disgust at such a disregard for senatorial authority jumped to his feet.
After a succession of speeches each railing at Poppaeus’ behaviour and each one more damning and hypocritical than the last, Asiaticus brought the matter to a close.
‘Conscript Fathers, I withdraw the motion that I proposed and recommend instead that we should mark Poppaeus’ death with an acknowledgement that in his service to Rome he was merely up to the task and no more. We should write to the Emperor and ask him, in view of Poppaeus’ behaviour, if he would wish us to strip him posthumously of his Triumphal Ornaments.’ This was greeted with a unanimous shout of approval. ‘I see no reason to divide the House on this issue.’
‘Consul,’ Gaius shouted, ‘if we are to write to the Emperor, I have another matter to be brought to his attention.’
‘Wishing the Emperor dead is a very serious accusation indeed,’ Asiaticus told the Senate after Eutyches’ statement had been read. ‘We should have this freedman sent to the Emperor so that he can question him personally. Do you know where he is, Senator Pollo?’
‘I do, Consul; the Lady Antonia has had him confined since he tried to blackmail her because her grandson merely reprimanded Herod for his views rather than reporting the treason.’
‘Good, I shall ask her to keep him there until the Urban Prefect can arrange for his transfer. We should now discuss how to deal with Herod Agrippa.’
Sabinus got to his feet and waved the scroll that Antonia had given him. ‘Consul, I have some information that relates to both the issues that have been discussed this morning.’
‘You may have the floor.’
‘I am pleased to report that the Lady Antonia has, out of her own purse, purchased a consignment of grain, which she has donated to the public granaries to help relieve the shortage.’ Sabinus paused as the senators expressed their approval and gratitude for this selfless act of altruism. ‘As I was processing the paperwork this came to my notice in amongst the newly arrived grain deliveries.’ He unrolled the scroll with a melodramatic flurry. ‘It is a certificate of ownership for a delivery of grain from Egypt, worth over a quarter of a million denarii; it was part of the consignment of the Egyptian grain fleet that went down in the storm. However, this grain was carried by one of the two transports that did make it to Rome, but I, as the grain aedile for this year, am unable to distribute it because it does not belong to Rome; it remains in a private warehouse in Ostia, all the time gaining in value as grain prices soar. This certificate shows that, once it had been offloaded in Ostia, the ownership of the grain transferred to Gaius Poppaeus Sabinus in payment of a loan he had made to Herod Agrippa.’
Uproar followed this revelation.
Asiaticus bellowed over the crowd in righteous indignation. ‘Are you saying that Herod Agrippa has been using our city’s current difficulties for his own profit so he can pay off debts?’
‘It appears that way, Consul.’
‘Show me that.’
Sabinus walked the length of the House and handed the scroll to Asiaticus.
After a cursory glance the Senior Consul rolled it up and placed it into the fold of his toga. ‘Thank you,
