URGULANIA WAS LIVIA'S ONLY CONFIDANT AND BOUND TO her by the strongest ties of interest and gratitude1. She had lost her husband, a partisan2 of Young Pompey's, in the Civil Wars and with her infant son had been sheltered by Livia, then still married to my grandfather, from the brutality3 of Augustus's soldiers. Livia, on marrying Augustus, insisted that he should restore to Urgulania her husband's confiscated4 estates, and invite her to live with them as a member of the family. By Livia's influence-for in Augustus's name Livia could force Lepidus, the High Pontiff, to make whatever appointments she pleased-she was set in a position of spiritual authority over all the married noblewomen of Rome. I must explain that. Every year, early in December, these women had to attend an important sacrifice to the Good Goddess presided over by the Vestal Virgins5, on the proper conduct of which would depend the wealth and security of Rome for the ensuing twelve months. No man was allowed to profane6 these mysteries on pain of death. Livia, who had put herself into the good graces of the Vestals by rebuilding their Convent, furnishing it in luxurious7 style, and winning them, through Augustus, many privileges from the Senate, suggested to the Chief Vestal that the chastity of some of the women who attended these sacrifices was not beyond suspicion. She said that the troubles of Rome during the Civil Wars might well have been due to the Good Goddess's anger at the lewdness8 of those who attended her mysteries. She suggested further that if a solemn oath were to be given to any woman who confessed to a lapse9 from moral strictness that her confession10 would not be reported to any ear of man, and thus not involve her in public disgrace, there would be a greater chance of the Goddess being served only by the chaste11, and her anger appeased12.
The Chief Vestal, a religiously-minded woman, approved of the idea but asked Livia's authority for this innovation. Livia told her that she had seen the Goddess in a dream only the night before, and that she had asked that, since the Vestals themselves were not experienced in matters of sex, a widow of good family should be appointed Mother Confessor for this very purpose. The Chief Vestal asked whether the sins confessed should pass unpunished. Livia replied that she could not have expressed an opinion had not the Goddess fortunately made a pronouncement on this point in the same dream: that the Mother Confessor would be empowered to prescribe expiatory13 penances15 and that the penances should be a matter of holy confidence between the criminal and the Mother Confessor. The Chief Vestal, she said, would be informed merely that such-and-such a woman was unfit to take part in the mysteries of this year; or that such-and-such had now performed her penance14. This suited the Chief Vestal well, but she was afraid to suggest a name for fear that Livia would turn it down. Livia then said that the High Pontiff was obviously the man to make the appointment, and that if the Chief Vestal permitted her, she would explain matters to him and ask him to name a suitable person, after performing the necessary ceremonies to ensure a choice favourable17 to the Goddess. So Urgulania was appointed, and of course Livia did not tell Lepidus or Augustus the powers that the appointment carried. She spoke18 of it casually19 as a position of advisory20 assistant to the Chief Vestal in moral matters, "the Chief Vestal, poor woman, being so unworldly".
The sacrifice was customarily held at the house of a Consul21, but now always at Augustus's palace, because he ranked above the Consuls22. This was convenient for Urgulania, who made the women come into her room there (which was arranged in a way to inspire fear and truthfulness), bound them to tell the truth by the most frightful23 oaths, and when they had confessed, dismissed them while she considered the appropriate penance. Livia, who was in the room concealed24 behind a curtain, would then suggest one. The two got a great deal of amusement out of this game and Livia plenty of useful information and assistance in her plans.
As Mother Confessor in the service of the Good Goddess, Urgulania considered herself above the law. Later I shall tell how once, when summoned by a senator to whom she owed a large sum of money to appear before the magistrate26 in the Debtors27' Court, she refused to obey the summons; and how, to avoid the scandal, Livia paid up. On another occasion she was subpoenaed28 as a witness in a Senatorial inquiry29: having no intention of being cross-examined she excused herself from attending and a magistrate was sent to take her deposition30 down in writing instead. She was a dreadful old woman with a cleft31 chin and hair kept black with lamp-soot (the grey showing plainly at the roots), and she lived to a great age. Her son, Silvanus, had recently been Consul and was one of those whom Emilius approached at the time of his plot. Silvanus went straight to Urgulania and told her about Emilius's intentions. She passed the news on to Livia and Livia promised to reward them for this valuable information by marrying Silvanus's daughter Urgulanffla to me and so allying them with the Imperial family. Urgulania was in Livia's confidence and was pretty sure that my uncle Tiberius-not Postumus, though he was Augustus's nearest heir-would be the next Emperor: so this marriage was even more honourable32 than it seemed.
I had never seen Urgulanilla. Nobody had. We knew that she lived with an aunt at Herculaneum, a town on the slopes of Vesuvius, where old Urgulania had property, but she never came to Rome even on a visit. We concluded that she must be delicate. But when Livia wrote me one of her curt25 cruel notes, to the effect that it had just been decided33 at a family council that I should many the daughter of Silvanus Plautius, and that this was a more appropriate match for me, considering my infirmities, than the two previously34 projected, I suspected that there was something much more seriously wrong with this Urgulanilla than mere16 ill-health. A cleft palate, perhaps, or a strawberry mark across half her face? Something at any rate that made her quite unpresentable. Perhaps she was a cripple like myself. I wouldn't mind that. Perhaps she was a very nice girl really, but misunderstood. We might have a lot in common. Of course, it would not be like marrying Camilla, but it might at least be better than marrying .Emilia.
The day was chosen for our betrothal35. I asked Germanicus about Urgulanilla, but he was as much in the dark as I was, and seemed a little ashamed of having consented to the marriage without making careful enquiries beforehand. He was very happy with Agrippina and wanted me to be happy too. Well, the day came, a "lucky" one, and there I was again in my chaplet and clean gown again waiting at the family-altar for the bride to arrive. "The third time's lucky," said Germanicus. "I am sure she's a beauty, really, and kind and sensible and just the sort for you." But was she? Well, in my life I have had many cruel bad jokes played on me, but I think that this was the cruellest and worst. Urgulanilla was-well, in brief, she lived up to her name, which is the Latin form of Herculanilla. A young female Hercules she indeed was. Though only fifteen years old, she was over six foot three inches in height and still growing, and broad and strong in proportion, with the largest feet and hands I have ever seen on any human being in my life with the single exception of the gigantic Parthian hostage who walked in a certain triumphal procession many years later. Her features were regular but heavy and she wore an almost perpetual scowl36. She stooped. She talked as slowly as my uncle Tiberius (whom, by the way, she resembled closely-there was even talk of her being really his daughter). She had no learning, wit, accomplishments37, or any endearing qualities. And it is strange, but the first thoughts that struck roe38 when I saw her were: "This woman is capable of murder by violence" and "I shall be very careful from the first to hide my repugnance39 to her, and give her no just cause to harbour resentment40 against me. For if once she comes to hate me, my life is not safe." I am a pretty good actor, and though the solemnity of the ceremony was broken by smirks41, whispered jokes and repressed titters from the company, Urgulanilla had no cause to blame me for this indecorousness. After it was over the two of us were summoned into the presence of Livia and Urgulania. When the door was shut and we stood there facing them-myself nervous and fidgety, Urgulanilla massive and expressionless and clenching42 and unclenching her great fists-the solemnity of these two evil old grandmothers gave way, and they burst into uncontrolled laughter. I had never heard either of them laugh like that before and the effect was frightening. It was not decent healthy laughter but a hellish sobbing43 and screeching44, like that of two old drunken prostitutes watching a torture or crucifixion. "Oh, you two beauties!" sobbed45 Livia at last, wiping her eyes, "What wouldn't I give to see you in bed together on your wedding night! It would be the funniest scene since Deucalion's Flood!"
"And what happened particularly funny on that famous occasion, my dear?" asked Urgulania.
'"Why, don't you know? God destroyed the whole world with a flood, except Deucalion and his family, and a few animals that took refuge on the mountain tops. Haven't you read Aristophanes's Flood? It's my favourite play of his. The scene is laid on Mount Parnassus. Various animals are assembled, unfortunately only one of each kind, and each thinks himself the sole survivor46 of his species. So in order to replenish47 the earth somehow with animals they have to mate with one another in spite of moral scruples48 and obvious difficulties. The Camel is betrothed49 by Deucalion to the She-Elephant."
"Camel and Elephant! That's a fine one!" cackled Urgulania. "Look at Tiberius Claudius's long neck and skinny body and long silly face. And my Urgulanilla's great feet and great flapping ears, and little pig-eyes! Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha! And what was their offspring? Giraffe? Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!"
"The play doesn't get that far. Iris50 comes on the stage for the messenger speech and reports another refuge of animals on Mount Atlas51. Iris breaks off the nuptials52 just in time."
"Was the Camel disappointed?"
"Oh, most bitterly."
"And the Elephant?"
"The Elephant just scowled53."
"Did they kiss on parting?'*
"Aristophanes does not tell. But I'm sure they did. Come on, Beasts. Kiss!"
I smiled foolishly, Urgulanilla scowled. "Kiss, I say," Livia insisted in a voice that meant that we had to obey.
So we kissed, and started the old women on their hys'? terics again. When we were outside the room again I whispered to Urgulanilla: "I'm sorry. It's not my fault." But she did not answer except to scowl more deeply than before.
There was still a year before we were actually to marry, for the family had decided that I should not come of age until I was fifteen and a half, and much might happen in that time. If only Iris would come!
But she didn'tPostumus had his troubles too: he had already come of age now and it was only a few months before Domitia would be of marriageable age. My poor Postumus, he was still in love with Livilla, though she was married. But before I continue with the story of Postumus I must tell of my meeting with the "Last of the Romans".
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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partisan
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| adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒 | |
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brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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confiscated
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| 没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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virgins
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| 处女，童男( virgin的名词复数 )； 童贞玛利亚（耶稣之母） | |
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profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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lewdness
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| n. 淫荡, 邪恶 | |
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lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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chaste
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| adj.贞洁的；有道德的；善良的；简朴的 | |
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appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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expiatory
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| adj.赎罪的，补偿的 | |
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penance
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| n.（赎罪的）惩罪 | |
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penances
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| n.（赎罪的）苦行，苦修( penance的名词复数 ) | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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advisory
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| adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询 | |
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consul
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| n.领事；执政官 | |
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consuls
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| 领事( consul的名词复数 )； （古罗马共和国时期）执政官 （古罗马共和国及其军队的最高首长，同时共有两位，每年选举一次） | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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debtors
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| n.债务人，借方( debtor的名词复数 ) | |
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subpoenaed
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| v.（用传票）传唤（某人）( subpoena的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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30
deposition
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| n.免职，罢官；作证；沉淀；沉淀物 | |
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cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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roe
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| n.鱼卵；獐鹿 | |
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repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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smirks
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| n.傻笑，得意的笑( smirk的名词复数 )v.傻笑( smirk的第三人称单数 ) | |
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clenching
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的现在分词 ) | |
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sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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44
screeching
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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45
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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survivor
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| n.生存者，残存者，幸存者 | |
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47
replenish
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| vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满 | |
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48
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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49
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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iris
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| n.虹膜，彩虹 | |
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atlas
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| n.地图册，图表集 | |
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nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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53
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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