The Roman Traitor (Vol. 1 of 2) - The UK Mirror Service

THE MEASURES 29
with me, how matters stand. The stake for which we play, is
fair before your eyes:—learn how our throw for it is certain.
The consular elections, as you all well know, will be held, as
proclaimed already, on the fifteenth day before the calends of
November. My rivals are Sulpicius, Muræna, and Silanus. Antonius
and Cicero will preside—the first, my friend! a bold and
noble Roman! He waits but an occasion to declare for us. Now,
mark me. Caius Manlius—you all do know the man, an old and
practised soldier, a scar-seamed veteran of Sylla,—will on that
very day display yon eagle to twenty thousand men, well armed,
and brave, and desperate as ourselves, at Fiesolè. Septimius of
Camerinum writes from the Picene district, that thirty thousand
slaves will rise there at his bidding; while Caius Julius, sent to
that end into Apulia, has given out arms and nominated leaders
to twice five thousand there. Ere this, they have received my
mandate to collect their forces, and to march on that same day
toward Rome. Three several armies, to meet which there is not
one legion on this side of Cisalpine Gaul! What, then, even if all
were peace in Rome, what then could stand against us? But there
shall be that done here, here in the very seat and heart, as I may
say, of Empire, that shall dismay and paralyse all who would
else oppose us. Cethegus, when the centuries are all assembled
in the field of Mars, with fifteen hundred gladiators well armed
and exercised even now, sets on the guard in the Janiculum, and
beats their standard down. Then, while all is confusion, Statilius
and Gabinius with their households,—whom, his work done,
Cethegus will join straightway—will fire the city in twelve several
places, break open the prison doors, and crying "Liberty to
slaves!" and "Abolition of all debts!"—rush diverse throughout
the streets, still gathering numbers as they go. Meanwhile, with
Lentulus and Cassius, the clients of your houses being armed
beneath their togas with swords and breast-plates, and casques [35]
ready to be donned, I will make sure of Cicero and the rest.
Havoc, and slaughter, and flames every where will make the city