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Updated: May 11, 2025
Will you help me when Ligurius halts?" "The cross itself will not daunt me," he said simply. "Whatever you shall do, lady, I will be faithful to the death." "For me, perhaps, to the death, Caipor," she answered; "but for you, if the gods favour me, to life and to freedom."
"There is no time for resting and refreshment, Ligurius. We must not lose the chance of entering the city before nightfall;" and to the man who rode at the wheel: "Come, Caipor. A little weariness will not hurt us."
Nearer and nearer they drew. The horses threw their heads in the air, and, presaging rest and provender, quickened their pace, without urging. Suddenly an exclamation burst from the lips of Ligurius. "Look!" he cried. "It is true. They are indeed here." Marcia and Caipor strove to follow his hand. "My northern eyes, old though they be, are better than yours of the south.
Caipor turned in his seat and raised the thong used to urge on his animal; but Marcia, hearing the clamour, thrust the curtain aside again and, motioning the slave to restrain himself, threw several denarii to her would-be host. At the same moment, the horses suddenly quickened their gait, and the pursuer, keeping his hold, was jerked flat upon his face. "Be cautious!" shouted Caipor.
Ligurius had thrown his horse upon his haunches and then backed him so as to take post at that side of the vehicle unprotected by Caipor; but, a moment later, the rush of a dozen tall figures thrust them both away, the curtains were torn aside, and Marcia looked out into savage faces and great, staring, blue eyes.
Caipor had been knocked senseless at the beginning, and the driver was in the hands of several soldiers. Ligurius looked inquiringly at his mistress. "He asks who we are," he said. "What shall I say?" "Ah! you plot to deceive me," cried the Gaul, losing control of his temper, and, before Marcia could answer, he struck the freedman down with his staff.
Do you not see them one, two, three! Gods! They are thick on the walls." "What? in the name of Jove!" exclaimed Marcia, impatiently, and then Caipor started. "I see! I see now," he cried. "Ah! mistress, they are the standards of Carthage; the horses' heads, yellow, with red manes. Gods, how they glitter! Gold and blood gold and blood!"
Still, he had been faithful to Rome, and there was something within that told her his madness and ruin were not entirely disconnected with her own personality. Word, too, had just been brought her that both Ligurius and Caipor had died of their injuries.
"That is the philosophy of these times. I am convinced that there were days, and women but pah! now it is only glory that is worthy to be a man's bride. Come, I will lead you to the house of Calavius." Ligurius had recovered sufficiently to remount his horse, while Mago's attendants had laid the still senseless Caipor in the rheda to which their master now assisted Marcia.
There was a short silence punctuated by the cracking of the whip, the clatter of hoofs, and the crunching of wheels along the pavement; then the curtains once more parted slightly, and Caipor, watchful to serve, saw Marcia's beckoning hand and drew closer to the rheda. "Bend down," she said, and, as he obeyed, she whispered: "You were my brother's servant, Caipor, and you bear his name.
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