Chapter 8 CHAPTER VII How Death Ahead of Demofer and Metrobius

All riders who came out of Rome's Gabin Gate followed the Via Appius through Alizia, Suteria, Suesa.Capua can be reached by Pomeziye, Terrachina and Gatai.The Via Appius divides into two forks at Capua, one to the right to Benavente and the other to the left to Cooma.Whoever walks towards Kumar sees a picture of great beauty unfolding before him. The traveler can see nearby hills, olive groves, orange groves, vineyards, orchards, fertile fields of golden grain, and lush and fragrant green meadows that are especially loved by herds of sheep and cows pastures, they fill the nearby space with bleating calls and melancholy moos.Such a marvelous sunny coast stretches from Rittern to Pompeii.

On these prosperous and prosperous coasts, as if by some magic, many cities have sprung up not far from each other: Ritteln, Mizuna, Cooma, Baie, Putioles, Naples, Hebrew. Julonam and Pompeii.Around these cities are majestic temples, splendid villas and public baths, delightful and sunny gardens, countless trees, beautiful lakes (Achlutz, Avern, Rikel, Bart). Lake Ria and many others), houses, and farms.Everything on this coast is like an indivisible huge city.From there, one can see the calm pale blue sea, which seems to be surrounded by the shores of the harbor that lovingly protect it.Beyond that, there is a ring of islands: Ischia, Prohit, Nesit and Capri.Those islands had public baths, palaces and lush vegetation.All the richness and beauty of nature are concentrated in this little corner of the world.It was as if gods and men had agreed together: they had purposely put all the most beautiful and alluring things in the world into this prosperous little corner, flooded with bright sunshine and lovingly blown by gentle winds It's like coming here.

The scenery in this area is indeed as beautiful as the artistic conception in a myth!No wonder there was such a legend at that time: the souls of the good people are standing here, waiting for the ferryman Caron to use his boat to transfer them from the world to the Elysian Paradise. When travelers arrive at Cooma, they can see a magnificent, rich and densely populated city.Part of the city is located on steep and precipitous hills, and the other part is located on hillsides and coastal plains.As soon as the bathing season came, the nobles of Rome came here one after another.Some nobles who do not have villas in the suburbs of Cooma also spend spring and autumn here.

All the luxurious and comfortable buildings and equipment that the rich and nobles could enjoy in Rome at that time, such as: arcades, trade halls, conference halls, arenas, and the grand arena (its remains have been preserved until now) Kumar has it all.On Mount Acropol stands the magnificent Temple of Apollo, one of the most magnificent temples in Italy at that time. Kumar built the city very early.Everyone knows that Cooma was already very prosperous and powerful fifty years before the founding of Rome. People who immigrated from this city established the city of Chankel in Sicily, which was later called Messana.Later, they established another colonial city, Paleopolis, which is now Naples.

At the time of the Second Punic War Cooma was an independent city, not a vassal city paying tribute to Rome but a friendly ally.Cumar remained loyal to Rome, although at that time many cities in Compania had surrendered to the Carthaginians.So Hannibal concentrated his powerful forces to attack it.But the Roman consul Sempronius.Graccus led an army to rescue, defeated Hannibal, and wiped out a large number of Carthaginians. Henceforth the nobles of Rome looked upon Kumar differently, though during the period we are describing the nobility had begun to migrate to Baie, and for this reason Kumar began to decline.

Not far from Cooma, on a beautiful hill overlooking the coast and the marvelous view of the harbour, stands Lucius.Cornelius.A palatial villa in Sula.All the gorgeous and luxurious buildings and various facilities for enjoyment that Sulla, who was vain, fanatical and full of genius imagination, were all reflected in this villa.His garden stretches all the way to the sea.The dictator ordered several special small lakes to be created in the garden in order to keep the fish which he ordered to be carefully tended to. The various equipment in the villa of Sulla are no worse than the noble mansions in Rome.There were baths, all of marble, with more than fifty steam, tepid, and cold baths.Sulla spared no expense in building the bathhouse.Next to the villa is a greenhouse full of exotic flowers, a huge bird house and a large hunting sanctuary.Deer, foxes and a variety of game birds roam the woods and fields of the game reserve.

The dictator with supreme power has lived alone in this charming corner for two full months.The air here is particularly fresh, which is very beneficial to a person's health. Sulla once ordered his large group of slaves to build a road.The road started not far from the corner of the Appius Avenue towards Kumar, and went all the way to the front of the villa. Here Sulla conceived and wrote his Memoirs.He is going to dedicate this book to the world-famous rich man Lucius.Ricinius.Luculus, later, was indeed dedicated to him.Luculus was fighting victorious wars at the time, and was elected consul three years later.He defeated King Mithridates in Alminia and Mesopotamia.At last he became a famous man in Rome, and his fame has been handed down to posterity, but he is famous not only for his bravery, fortitude and victory in battle, but also for his extravagant life and innumerable wealth.

In the villa in the suburbs of Kumar, Sura indulged in noisy and obscene banquets almost every night, and the sun saw him sleep drunk in the dining room more than once.Around him at that time lay still more drunken mummers, clowns, and entertainers, who were frequent attendees at his feasts. He often went to the town of Cooma, and sometimes even to Baie and Putiol, though he went there very seldom.Everywhere he went, citizens of every class paid him respect, not only because of his great exploits, but chiefly because they were terrified by his fame. Three days before the event of which we speak at the end of the last chapter, Sulla returned to his villa from Pitiole in a chariot, where he settled the quarrel between the nobles and commoners of Pitiole; , he had been there ten days before, but on that day he got both parties to sign the settlement as a peacemaker.

It was dusk when he returned, and he immediately ordered a banquet to be arranged in the grandest and most splendid of the three dining rooms in the Marble Palace.The name of the restaurant was Apollo at Delphi. In the light of the many bright torches scattered in every corner of the restaurant, in the fragrance of the huge piles of flowers stacked like pyramids around the walls, in the luscious smiles of half-naked dancing girls, in the music of flutes, harps and eight-stringed Intoxicated by the merriment of the harp, the feast soon turned into an unbridled orgy. In the spacious hall, nine dining tables surrounded three tables.Sura and his twenty-five guests were reclining on the dining couch.One of the seats was vacant, that of Sulla's beloved concubine Metrobius.

The retired dictator, wearing a snow-white dining gown and a crown of roses, reclined on the second dining couch behind the central table.By his side was his beloved friend Kundus.Roscius, the well-known actor, was the chief guest at the banquet. Judging by Sulla's loud laughter and frequent toasts, the retired dictator seemed very happy, as if he had no tormenting pain and anxiety in his heart. But a careful observer can easily see that he has aged a lot in these four months, lost a lot of weight, and has become even uglier and more terrifying.His face looked very thin, and there were more bloody pustules all over his face than before. His hair, which was gray a year ago, was completely white now.His whole visage was marked with weariness, weakness, and pain, the result of the insomnia with which his dreadful disease tormented him every night.

But in his piercing grey-blue eyes burned even more brilliantly than ever with life, strength, energy, and a will to conquer all.Often, by force of will, he restrained himself from the manifestation of unbearable pain, and succeeded in doing so; especially at feasts, when he himself often forgot about his illness. Well, go ahead, go ahead, Ponzien, Sulla said, turning to a Kumar nobleman lying on a couch at the next table, I want to know what Granius said. I did not catch what he said, and Ponzis turned pale, and he was so disturbed that he didn't know how to answer for a moment. You know, Ponzis, I have good hearing, said Sulla calmly, but at the same time furrowing his brows terribly.I have heard what you just said to Arius.What Rubilga said. The embarrassing nobleman denied it without saying anything.Believe me happy, almighty dictator That's what you said just now: When Sulla forced Kumar's current city magistrate, Granius, to pay a fine to the treasury, Granius didn't pay it. I glanced and realized that I was listening to your story, and you suddenly fell silent.I want you to repeat exactly what Granius said. O Sulla, the greatest leader of the Romans, have mercy I don't need your compliments, cried Sulla in a voice hoarse with rage, his eyes blazing.He got up from the dining table, punched the table and cried.You vile flatterer!All the praises to me are won by myself with great achievements and achievements. They are all recorded in the annual ruling list. I don't want you to repeat it again, you chattering magpie!It is Granius I want to hear, I want to know what he said, and you must repeat them to me.Otherwise, I swear by the harp of my holy patron, Apollo, yes, Apollo, Lucius.Sulla swore to you that you magpie will not get out of here alive, and your dead body will be used as fertilizer in my vegetable garden! When the dictator called the name of the patron saint he had chosen so many years ago, he touched with his right hand the little golden statue of Apollo, which was always hung around his neck by a finely carved gold chain. Or he snatched it from the Temple of Delphi. As soon as all the guests heard his words and oaths, and saw his actions, their faces immediately turned pale, and they looked at each other in horror and fell silent.The music died away and the dancing stopped.The joyous tumult was replaced by a grave-like silence. The unfortunate Ponzien was too stunned to speak, but finally said: Granius said: I will not pay now: Sulla will soon die, and then I will not pay at all. ah!cried Sulla, his flushed face suddenly pale with rage.ah!Is Granius waiting impatiently for my death?Well, Granius, it turns out that he has made up his mind.Sura was so angry that she trembled all over, trying to suppress the crazy anger that burst out in his eyes.He has already figured everything out!What a visionary!It turned out that he could foresee everything! Sulla was silent for a while, then flicked her fingers loudly, and cried: Hurley is down!Then he said horribly.Let's see!May he not miscalculate his account! Sulla's henchman, the freed slave Heli Luogen, approached the former dictator.At this time, Sura had gradually regained his rationality, and calmly gave him orders.Hurley listened to his master with his head down, and then walked towards the door. Sulla called after him: tomorrow! Then, turning to the guests, Sulla raised her glass of Farelon high and exclaimed cheerfully: Hey, how did you become like this?What happen to you guys?How have you all become dumb and idiots!I swear to the gods of Olympus, cowardly sheep, you seem to be thinking, are you now participating in a banquet in memory of me? May God never let you have such strange thoughts again! May Jupiter bless you and Apollo bless you! Long live the great Sulla!cried many guests in unison, and raised their glasses full of frothy Fareron. Let us drink together to the health and honor of happy Sura!Kundus.Roscius raised his glass and cried in his clear and resonant voice. All the people raised their glasses to congratulate and finished the wine in one breath.So Sulla, who seemed to be very happy again on the surface, embraced Roscius and kissed him, thanked the famous actor, and then called out to the luthiers and charlatans: Hey, what are you idiots doing?Damn slobs, do you only drink my Farelon and eat my free food?May you all fall down at once and dream the sweet dreams that will never wake up! No sooner had Sulla's vulgar curses, which he is known for his rude remarks and vulgar banter, stopped than the musicians resumed their music.Together with clowns and dancing girls, they began to dance the funny and obscene dance of Sadur, the forest god.At the end of the dance, on the table before Sulla and Roscius, there appeared a wonderful hot dish: it was an eagle with all its feathers, as if it were alive.It holds in its mouth a laurel wreath made of laurel branches, and a purple ribbon is tied on the laurel wreath, on which is written Sullae Felici, Epafrodito in golden Latin letters, which means: Dedicated to the happy Sulla, Vener His lover.This epithet of Venus' lover particularly pleased Sulla. To the applause of the guests Roscius took the laurel wreath from the eagle's beak and gave it to Attilia.Zhu Wenjinna.Beautiful Attilia, one of Sulla's freed slaves, is now sitting beside Sulla.She was invited by Sulla from Cooma to a banquet with several other ladies.They reclined side by side with the gentlemen on the dining table, and they were one of the main lures that attracted the guests to the feast. Attilia.Zhu Wenjinno placed the crown of laurel on the crown of roses on Sura's head.Say in a loving voice: Beloved of God, Invincible Generalissimo, I present to you this laurel crown that gathers the joy of all the world! Sura kissed Attilia several times, the guests present applauded, and then Kundus.Roscius rose from his couch, and read aloud with the wonderful voice and gestures full of emotion of a great actor: He was seen standing by the Tiber, Carrying his old wand like an emperor, How deep did he thrust his rod into the ground; Look, how tender the new shoots are from the tops of the branches, The tender buds turned into lush shade in a blink of an eye, It covered the whole ground, covering all the descendants of the god Charin. The hints neatly carried in this extemporaneous poem show that Roscius was not only a superb actor but also a quick-witted poet.As a result, there was another burst of applause in the three-court restaurant, which was more enthusiastic than before. At that time, Su La picked up a table knife, aimed at the stuffed eagle, and scratched at the seam, and immediately many eggs fell into the basin.It turns out that inside each egg is wrapped the meat of a snipe cooked with delicious condiments.While tasting the exquisite food, everyone praised Sulla's generosity and hospitality and his cook's cooking skills.At the same time, twelve beautiful Greek slave girls in very short pale blue dresses ran around the table, pouring rich Faleuron into the glasses of the guests. After a while, another novel dish was served.That's one big honey pie.Above the skin of the pie, the circular colonnade of a temple is fashioned out of dough in astonishingly realistic shapes.And when the cake was cut open, a flock of sparrows flew out of it, the number of which was the same as the number of guests.Around the neck of each sparrow, there is a small gift assigned to a certain guest tied with a ribbon, because each person's name is written on it. With fresh applause and admiration, everyone greeted the astonishing masterpiece of Sulla's skilful cook.Then they all started chasing the little birds that tried in vain to fly out of the closed hall, and they hunted them for a long time, until at last Sulla stopped the hunt.He broke free from Zhu Wenjina's wild kiss and shouted: Oh, I'm in a good mood tonight, so I'd like to invite you to a rare show in a banquet Listen to me, my dear friends, would you like to watch the gladiators fight in this hall? we want!we want!About fifty voices came from all directions, because not only Sulla's guests liked this performance very much, but even the musicians and dancers who played the harp, forgetting that Sulla's words were not addressed to them, all answered happily: we want!we want! Yes, yes, a gladiator's fight!Gladiator's fight!Long live Sulla, long live generous Sulla! They immediately sent several slaves to the gladiatorial school near the villa, and ordered Spartacus to bring five pairs of gladiators to the three-bed restaurant.At the same time, many slaves began to clear a space in the hall for the gladiatorial fight, and they led the musicians and dancers to the other side near the table. Hurley Logan led into the hall ten gladiators, five in Thracian garb and five in Shamnitean garb. Where is Spartacus?Su La asked Heli to get down to the roots. He's not at school, probably at his sister's. At that time, Spartacus, out of breath, entered the three-bed dining room.He pressed his hand to his lips, and greeted Sulla and the guests. Spartacus, Sulla said to the unleashed gladiator.I want to appreciate your skill in teaching swordsmanship.We can immediately see what your gladiators have learned and what they can perform. They have only learned swordsmanship for two months in total, and they have learned very little from me. Let's take a look, let's take a look.said Sura, and turned to the guests.Arranging gladiatorial fights at banquets is not an innovation in our customs.I have only revived the old habits of the inhabitants of Compania two centuries ago, ha, descendants of Kuma, this is the old habit of your noble ancestors, the first generation of residents of this province. Spartacus lined up the gladiators.Then, his pale face was very excited, and he was talking, obviously, he didn't know what to say. This utter barbarity, this pre-planned cruel massacre, this loathsome and absurd act of cruelty, which was revealed so openly and with such bestial calm, made Spartacus A violent rage rose in Adam's heart.It was all the more unbearable to him when he thought that it was not the evil will of the crowd, nor the bestial instincts of a mad mob, but the absurd decision of a drunk and thirty sycophantic parasites; They were going to kill ten unfortunate gladiators, these ten pure, noble, healthy, strong, uncomplaining lads fighting each other, and die young and ignominiously before the time nature gave them. Apart from these reasons, there is one more thing that makes Spartacus even more angry, that is: his good friend Artorix will be threatened with death in front of his eyes.Artorix was a Gaul of twenty-four.He has a noble appearance, a sensitive body, a fair face, and curly and shiny hair.Spartacus loves him very much and thinks he is the best gladiator in the Akzenian gladiator school.Artorix also loves Spartacus very much.Therefore, as soon as Spartacus received the suggestion to go to Sulla's gladiatorial school as a coach, he asked Sulla to buy Artorix, saying that he needed this Gaul to manage the gladiators. school assistant. While arranging the gladiators face to face, Spartacus asked the young Gaul in a very excited whisper: why are you here Not long ago, Artorix replied.We rolled the dice to decide who would stay and meet death last.I happened to be the one who lost the dice: Fate wanted me to join the ten first gladiators that Sulla wanted to kill each other. Spartacus answered nothing, but after a minute, when everything was ready, he approached Sulla and said: Sulla, magnanimous, please allow me to send someone to the gladiator school to call for another gladiator to replace this one. He pointed to Artorix, who Why can't he take part in the gladiatorial fight?the retired dictator asked. He is stronger than the rest, so that the Thracian team with which he fights will be much stronger than the Shamnitean team. Do you want us to wait any longer for that?No, let him join the gladiatorial fight, we will not wait any longer, and let the Shamnites be more unlucky! Seeing the obvious impatient expressions in the eyes of the guests, Sura personally signaled the start of the gladiatorial fight. The gladiatorial fight, as you can imagine, was not very long: after only a few minutes, a Thracian and two Shamnites were killed.Two other unfortunate Shamnites, badly wounded, lay on the floor and begged Sulla for his life, which Sulla granted them. The last Shamnit held off the four Thracians desperately.But soon, wounded all over, he slipped on a pool of blood on the parquet floor; his friend Artorix, with tears in his eyes, could not bear to inflict more pain on the dying man , and stabbed him to death with a sword. The three-court restaurant, which was crowded with people, burst into a burst of neat applause. But Sulla interrupted them, calling to Spartacus in a hoarse, drunken voice: Well, Spartacus, you are the greatest gladiator, now take a shield from the dead, and this Thracian's short sword, and show your courage and strength: It's up to you to deal with the four who survive alone. Sulla's suggestion won warm approval, and the poor freed gladiator suddenly became dumbfounded, as if someone had hit him on the head.He felt that he had lost his reason, and he could only hear the rumbling in his ears.He was stunned, staring at Sura with a pair of eyes, his lips were constantly moving, but he couldn't say a word.His face was pale, and he stood there motionless, only feeling cold sweat streaming down his spine. Artorix, seeing the terrible state of Spartacus, whispered to him: Be brave! Spartacus trembled when he heard these words, he looked around a few times, stared blankly at Sulla's eyes, and finally, restraining himself as much as possible, said: But glorious and happy dictator, I boldly draw your attention to the fact that I am no longer a gladiator, I am a freed gladiator, a free man, and I am here with you only to train your gladiators. oh oh!Lucius.Cornelius.Sura exclaimed with a drunken sarcasm.Who said this?Oh it's you.Brave Spartacus?Are you afraid of death too?Such is the vile nature of a gladiator!No, wait a minute!I swear to the bludgeon of the invincible Hercules, you must fight!Surely Sura said in a commanding tone, he was silent for a while, then punched his fist on the table and shouted.Who gave you life and liberty?Isn't it Sura?It is Sura who orders you to fight now!Do you hear me, you cowardly savage?I command you that you must fight!I swear to the gods of Olympus, you must fight! In this split second.Spartacus's thoughts and feelings were all seized by panic and fear, which was extremely terrible, just like thousands of lightning flashes in the sky during a thunderstorm. Ordinary; the storm in his heart was reflected in his face.His eyes gleamed, and his face became white wax, dark black, red again.The raised muscles under his face twitched constantly. The thought of Spartacus had flashed more than once in his mind: to use the dagger of a dead gladiator, so fast as lightning, and so violently as a tiger, to leap at Sulla, and chop him up before the guests got up. into pieces.But a strange force made him restrain himself.The various new insults that Sulla shouted aroused the wrath of Spartacus, but he had to use the force of will to stop the almost irresistible attack that chopped the dictator into a meat paste. Desire suppressed. At last Spartacus was exhausted by long and unbearable mental anguish, but he came out of his insensitivity again; then, with a deep groan, which was like the roar of a beast, he mechanically, Barely knowing what he was doing, he picked up a shield from the floor, seized a short sword, and cried out in a loud voice trembling with rage: I'm not a coward, nor a savage!Ah, Lucius.Sura, to satisfy your desire, I may fight, but I swear to all your gods, if I have the misfortune to stab Artorix Suddenly, a piercing female scream interrupted Spartacus's frantic speech unexpectedly and at the right time.Everyone turned their heads to the place where they made their voices. On the innermost back wall of the hall, behind Sulla and some of the guests, there is a door with a green curtain hanging on the door of the other rooms in the dining room. The door hangings are the same.But now, pale Valeria was standing motionless on the threshold of that door, like a statue. When the slave went to Spartacus on the order of Sura, Spartacus happened to be at Valeria's place.He was surprised and bewildered that Sulla came to him at such a time, which also made Valeria panic.She knew that Spartacus was about to encounter a greater danger than he had encountered before.Van Laeria, impelled by her love for the Thracian, decided to forsake all decency and act in spite of all prudence.She ordered the female slave to put on her a snow-white linen robe studded with roses, and walked along the corridor from her bedroom to the door of the three-bed dining room where the evening banquet was being held. Naturally, Van Laeria deliberately wanted to go in as if she was looking for happiness at a banquet, but she couldn't help herself: she was afraid that if she put her pale face in, it would be seen Her panic, anxiety and fear. She hid behind the door curtain and watched the gladiators fighting with disgust and anger.Naturally, she watched the drama between Spartacus and Sulla with special attention.Their every word and every movement can make her tremble and tremble.She felt that she was going to lose it, but she stayed there, hoping that it might turn out well.But when she saw Sulla forcing Spartacus to fight Artorix, she knew that Artorix was very dear to Spartacus, and when she saw the freed gladiator go mad with rage and despair Prepared for a gladiatorial fight, when she heard Spartacus' excited words, especially those words that would end with curses and threats to Sulla, she understood that if she did not intervene immediately, Spartacus Si is sure to die! After uttering that scream that burst from the bottom of her heart, she pushed back the curtain and appeared on the threshold, and immediately attracted the attention of Su La and all the guests to herself. Van Lelia!Sura uttered a cry of surprise, trying to get up from the dining table, but he felt as if he was firmly stuck to the dining table by a large amount of delicious food and Farelon wine.Van Lelia!why are you heresuch a time? Everyone stood up. To be more precise, it should be everyone trying to stand up, because not everyone can maintain balance and stand up.In the end, everyone finally showed more or less respect and silently welcomed Mrs. Sulla. The face of the freed slave Zhu Wenjina was at first as red as the purple fringe that bordered her gown, and then turned terribly pale; Make a ball, the smaller the better.Then she slipped stealthily under the table and hid in the folds of the tablecloth. "Hello to all of you," said Van Laeria after a while, casting a quick glance across the vast hall, trying to appear calm.May the gods bless the invincible Sulla and his friends! At the same time, she and Spartacus exchanged a knowing glance.The freed gladiator had not yet begun to fight, and he stared blankly at Valeria as if by magic: he thought it a miracle that she appeared at such an urgent time. Su La and Zhuwen Jinna lying together and his girlfriend's sudden disappearance, did not escape his wife's eyes.Fan Laeria could not help but flushed with anger when she saw this, but she deliberately pretended not to see anything, and slowly approached the table.At that time, Sulla finally got up, but his body was dangling, and he finally stood on the ground; obviously, it was impossible for him to keep his body vertical for a long time. Sura was still very surprised that Valeria came to the dining room at such an hour, so although his eyes were blurred, he looked at his wife several times with an inquiring expression.But Van Lelia smiled and said: Sura, you have invited me several times to join your banquet in the dining room. I couldn't sleep tonight and I could hear the noise of your presence in the distance, so I decided to put on my dinner robe and come here to have a drink with everyone. Serve a glass of friendly wine, and then advise you to go back to your dorm for your health's sake.However, when I came here, I only saw the sword shining and corpses everywhere. What is going on?Madame Sulla exclaimed with boundless anger.The number of people who sacrificed for you in the Colosseum and the National Theater is beyond count!For your fancy enjoyment, you have revived this barbaric custom long forbidden and long forgotten by all.You enjoy the dying agony of gladiators at feasts, and with your lips, benumbed by too much drink, repeat the trembling of the lips of the dying, imitating their distorted faces of despair and agony Mutually All the people were silent, they all bowed their heads.Only Sulla tried to say something, but after a few inarticulate mutterings, he fell silent, as if the accused sinner stood face to face with his accuser. Only the gladiators, especially Spartacus and Artorix, looked at the lady with eyes full of respect and gratitude. Madam Sulla was silent for a while and ordered the slaves to say: Get rid of these corpses quickly, and bury them well.Scrub and perfume the floors here, then pour Farelon into Sura's glowstone cups and pass it on to the guests.Please have a toast for friendship. The gladiators left the dining room while the slaves went off to carry out the orders of their mistress.In utter silence, the Cup of Friendship toured all the guests, but only a few guests plucked a few petals from the rose wreath to throw into the wine glass.After finishing the drink, everyone stood up at the table and stumbled out of the San-Ta restaurant.Some of the guests were led to sleep in the guest rooms scattered in this magnificent villa, and the other part began to return to the city of Kumar, which is not far from here, to return to their own homes. Su La lay silently on the dining table, as if he was thinking silently there; but in fact, he was completely drunk and dizzy, just like those who are often very drunk.Fan Laeria kept shaking his shoulders and said: Hello, how are you doing!The night is almost over, and the sky is almost dawn.Are you not ready to go back to your bedroom and sleep? 蘇拉聽到了這幾句話，這才揉著眼睛，慢慢地莊嚴地抬起頭來，望著他的妻子，困難地轉動著舌頭說： 你把一切都顛倒過來了在三榻餐廳裡你剝奪了我我的享受我對不許兵士後退的朱庇特起誓，這行為是不可容忍的！你蓄意要貶抑我的威望貶抑幸運的蘇拉維納斯的情人獨裁者我對眾位大神起誓！我統治了整個羅馬和整個世界，我絕不願意任何人來對我發號施令絕不願意！ 他那像玻璃一般透明的瞳孔放大了：可以看得出他正在努力控制自己的話、自己的感情和自己那已經醉得失去了作用的智力。但是，他的頭又沉重地垂到了胸前。 范萊麗雅默默地望著他，她的感情中夾雜著憐憫和蔑視。 蘇拉忽然又抬起頭來，說： 梅特羅比烏斯呀！你在哪兒？我親愛的梅特羅比烏斯呀！快來，快來幫我我要把這個就是這個女人趕出去跟她離婚讓她帶著她肚子裡的孽種滾出去我不承認這是我自己的孩子 范萊麗雅的黑眼睛裡頓時迸發出憤怒的火花，她顯出可怕的臉色向餐榻走近一步。接著，她懷著說不出的憎惡心情叫道： 赫俐落根，叫幾個奴隸來，把你的主人扶到臥室裡去。他醉得跟一個下賤的掘墓人一模一樣了！ 當赫俐落根在兩個奴隸的協助之下，扶著還不如說拖著更確切些這位一面粗魯地咒罵、一面荒謬地嘮叨著的主人到臥室裡去的時候，范萊麗雅已經完全恢復了自制力。她凝視著朱雯金娜到現在還躲在裡面的那張桌布，接著，做了一個輕蔑的鬼臉，轉過身子，走出大廳，回到自己的房裡去了。 蘇拉被奴隸們放到床上以後，就一直睡到第二天上午，但是范萊麗雅呢，那是很容易想像得到的，卻一夜沒有合過眼睛。 將近中午的時候。蘇拉起了床。最近幾天來他那渾身奇癢難熬的病使他感到特別痛苦。他穿著襯衫披上了一件很大的寬袍，在專門服侍他的一群奴隸簇擁下，扶著他的心腹赫俐落根的肩膀向浴堂走去。浴堂和正屋相通，只要經過寬敞的用宏麗的多利安式圓柱裝飾穿堂就行了。 蘇拉進了浴堂，穿過侍浴廳，向更衣廳走去。更衣廳是一間精美的大廳，四面的牆壁都是大理石，地板是名貴的木頭嵌鑲的。那兒有三道門，通向淋浴室、溫水浴室和蒸汽浴室。 , 蘇拉在鋪著紫毯和放滿了鬆軟墊子的大理石躺椅上坐了下來。他在奴隸們的幫助之下脫光了衣服，然後進了蒸汽浴室。 蒸汽浴室完全是用大理石砌成的。在房間底下燒著一個鍋爐，它使蒸汽經過地板下面的好幾根管子從開在地板中間的孔裡噴發到房間裡來。房門的右面是一個半圓形的大理石壁龕，壁龕的對面是一個不大的貯滿了熱水的浴池。 蘇拉一進蒸汽浴室，就立刻走進了壁龕，從許多大小不同的鐵啞鈴中選出兩隻最小的，開始向上推舉。鐵啞鈴的用處就在於讓沐浴的人用來做體操使自己出汗。接著蘇拉逐漸換上更大更重的鐵啞鈴來做體操，不久他覺得自己已經渾身大汗，就跳進了那個貯滿了熱水的浴池。 他坐在浴池的大理石階上，感到非常舒適熱水減輕了他的痛苦，這一點可以根據他滿臉的幸福表情看出來。 啊，多好啊！我等了好幾個鐘頭才享受到這樣的清福吶快些，快些，狄奧多爾！他對一個一向替他按摩的奴隸說。快把蓖子拿來，在我發癢的地方篦一陣子。我實在癢得不能忍受了！ 狄奧多爾拿起了青銅的篦子，那篦子通常是在獨裁者洗浴以後用香油摩擦身子之前用的。狄奧多爾就用它在蘇拉身上痛癢難熬的地方小心翼翼地篦起來。 那時候，蘇拉回過頭來對赫俐落根說： 我前天口述完畢交給你的第二十二卷《回憶錄》，你有沒有替我用紫色的羊皮裝訂好？ 裝訂好了，主人，不僅你的那份樣本，就是奴隸書手們抄寫的那十份抄本也統統裝訂好了。 好漢子，赫俐落根！這麼說，你對我很關心，為我另外添了十份抄本？蘇拉顯然感到非常滿意地問。 Yes, of course.而且不僅是這最後一卷有了抄本，連以前各卷也統統有了十份抄本。我想把一份留在你這兒的圖書館裡。一份存放到羅馬家裡的書房裡去，另一份放到我的圖書室裡去。除此之外，盧古魯斯大人和荷爾頓西烏斯大人得各送一份。就這樣，我想把您的《回憶錄》分散到各個地方，讓它們保存得好好的，萬一遇上火災或者任何別的災禍也不用害怕，直到您決定印行它或者直到您老人家百年之後但願神保佑你長命百歲！按照您遺囑上的記載，把這一印行的權利託付給盧古魯斯大人。 是的，在我的遺囑裡在我的遺囑裡，我對你們也都是很關心的我對所有在困難和危急的時期中永遠是我的忠心朋友的人 啊，不要這樣說，我求求您！惶惑的考爾涅里烏斯．赫俐落根叫道。等一下，我聽見更衣廳裡有什麼人的聲音 於是這個釋放奴隸出去了。 蘇拉的臉很可能是由於一夜來的狂宴變得又老又蒼白，他抱怨痛苦的疾病，在浴室裡耽了一會以後他覺得情形更加惡化了。他覺得胸中有一種非常難受的東西壓抑著。因此，狄奧多爾在按摩結束之後，就立刻出去叫羅多斯人西爾米昂去了。西爾米昂是蘇拉的釋放奴隸，也是他的永遠不能離開的醫生。 那時候，蘇拉打起瞌睡來了。他的頭伏在浴池的邊緣上。似乎睡著了。在浴室裡侍候他的奴隸們就不聲不響地退到壁龕旁的角落裡，恐懼地觀察著這個只要眉毛一動就會使他們嚇得發抖的人。 過了一會兒赫俐落根回來了。蘇拉哆嗦了一下，向他那面回過頭去。 what's wrong with you釋放奴隸驚恐地跑近了浴池間。 沒有什麼覺得有些昏昏沉沉！你知道，我剛才做了一個夢 夢見了什麼？ 我夢見了去年過世的我那心愛的妻子采齊麗雅．梅台拉；她叫我上她那兒去。 不要理睬這種夢。這是迷信。 迷信？你怎麼用這種態度來對待夢，赫俐落報！我一向相信夢，而且老是按照神在夢中指示我的去做。可是我從來沒有抱怨過。 那是因為你的智慧和勇氣永遠幫助你獲得成功，並不是由於什麼夢中的啟示。 可是赫俐落根，命運之神對我的幫助比智慧和勇氣更大。她永遠寵愛著我，我也永遠只仰賴著她。相信我，我那最光輝的事業並沒有經過深思熟慮，都是在無意間完成的。 雖然蘇拉在他的一主之中做過很多壞事，他究竟也立下了不少真正崇高而且光榮的戰績，這位退職的獨裁者一想到這些功績，他的靈魂就恢復了平靜，他的臉上也許漸漸顯出了得意的光彩。那時候，赫俐落根認為可以向蘇拉報告事情了：原來蘇拉在前一天晚上舉行宴會時下令去叫來的葛拉尼烏斯已經從庫瑪來到，他正聽候著蘇拉的發落。 蘇拉的臉頓時由於狂怒漲得通紅而且扭歪了。他的眼睛閃閃發光，好像一頭狂野的猛獸的眼睛，他用沙啞的聲音惡狠狠地叫道： 叫他進來到這兒趕快到我這兒這厚顏無恥的畜生！他是唯一敢蔑視我命的人！他渴望我死！ 於是蘇拉用瘦骨稜稜的雙手，痙攣地抓住了浴池的邊緣。 您不能等出了浴池再叫他嗎？ 不，不立刻到這兒！我要他馬上在我的面前 赫俐落根趕忙跑了山去，又立刻帶著市政官葛拉尼烏斯一齊進了浴室。 葛拉尼烏斯是一個四十歲光景、軀體結實的中年人，在他那平庸粗俗的臉上不時流露出狡猾、奸詐的神情。但是他一進蘇拉的浴室，臉色就頓時變得慘白，怎麼也掩飾不住自己的恐懼了。他深深地鞠了一躬，用手舉到嘴唇上，然後用激動得發抖的聲音說： 神保佑你，幸福而又慷慨的蘇拉！ 可是三天前你說的是什麼話，下賤的混蛋！你竟敢嘲弄我那公正的、叫你付罰款給國庫的判決！你曾經高聲地宣揚說是不付罰款；你認為今天或是明天我就會死去，你就可以永遠不付這筆罰金了！ 不，不，絕沒有這回事！不要相信那種毀謗的話！葛拉尼烏斯恐怖地叫道。 coward!現在你發抖了嗎？但你在當時，在侮辱所有人中間最有威望最幸福的人時，就應該發抖了！賤胚！ 蘇拉瞪著充血的兩眼，氣得渾身索索發抖。他向葛拉尼烏斯打了一拳。這位不幸的市政官就一下子伏在浴池旁的地板上，一面哭一面哀求饒命。 饒恕我吧！開恩吧！我求求你，饒了我的命吧！he cried. 饒恕？已經完全失去了自制力的蘇拉尖叫道。饒恕一個侮辱我的流氓在我受盡了最可怕的病症折磨的時候饒恕你？不，你一定得死，你這賤胚，就死在這兒，死在我的眼前！我渴望著欣賞你最後的痙攣，傾聽你臨死時嘶啞的喘息 蘇拉一面像一個中魔的瘋子一般痙攣著，一面用兩手在自己痛癢難忍的身體上亂抓，並且用由於狂怒而嘶啞的聲音叫奴隸們道： 喂，你們這些懶漢！為什麼盡看著他不動？抓住他，揍他！就在這兒當著我的面揍死他！扼死他揍死他！ 顯然因為奴隸們還是猶豫不決，蘇拉就鼓起最後的一點力量，用可怕的聲音喊道： 扼死他，要不然的話，我對地獄中復仇女神的火炬和毒蛇起誓，我要下令把你們統統活活釘死在十字架上！ 奴隸們馬上向不幸的市政官撲了上去，把他按倒在地板上面，用拳頭揍他，用腳踏他。蘇拉就像一頭嗅到血的猛獸那樣，在浴池裡竄來竄去，發瘋一般地怒叫道： Yep!揍啊，踏啊！勁兒更大些！掐死這個流氓！掐死他，掐啊！為了地獄裡的神，掐死他！ 四個比葛拉尼烏斯更強壯結實的奴隸，被保全自己的動物的本能所驅使，執行著蘇拉的命令。他們用力毆打這位市政官。葛拉尼烏斯努力保衛著自己，揮舞著有力的拳頭向他們打去。奴隸們起先打他的時候，並不怎麼用勁，他們只是害怕拗違主人的命令，但漸漸地被還擊的拳頭引起的疼痛所激怒，再加上受到蘇拉瘋狂的責罵和叫喊的逼迫，施出了可怕的力量，壓倒了葛拉尼烏斯，使他直挺挺地躺在地上動也不能動一下。接著，一個奴隸用兩手掐住他的喉嚨，施出全身力量用膝蓋抵住他的胸脯，不到幾秒鐘就掐死了這位市政官。 蘇拉懷著殘忍的獸性的渴血欲望，欣賞著這幕毆打的話劇。他的眼珠子幾乎要從眼窩裡跳出來，嘴唇邊噴著白沫，他用衰微到極點的聲音叫道： 對對更用勁些！掐死他！掐啊！ 正當葛拉尼烏斯死去的時候，被狂呼、高叫和暴怒累得精疲力竭的蘇拉突然把頭向後一仰，用極其低微、幾乎聽不出來的聲音叫道： 救命！I'm dying!help! 赫俐落根連忙跑了過去，其餘的奴隸也緊跟著圍了上去。他們拉起了蘇拉，把他放到地上，讓他的肩膀靠著浴池的邊緣。但這位退職的獨裁者的臉已經毫無生氣：他的眼瞼已經合上了，咬緊了的牙齒露了出來，嘴唇也扭歪了，他的整個身體在索索發抖。 赫俐落根和奴隸們圍著他七手八腳地忙碌著，竭力想使他恢復知覺；但突然，一陣痙攣掠過蘇拉的身子，他開始發出一陣最劇烈的咳嗽。接著，他的嘴裡噴射出一股鮮血，發出幾聲低微的呻吟，就閉上眼睛死了。 就這樣，這個相當偉大同時又非常殘忍的人，在他六十歲的時候，結束了自己的生命。他那卓越的智慧和精神力量，都是在他的暴行和淫欲之下消耗完了的。他立下了偉大的功績，但也給他的祖國帶來不少的災難。因此，雖然他是一個傑出的統帥，留在歷史上的記憶卻是一個最壞的公民。綜觀他一生所完成的事業，叫人很難斷定，他的身上究竟是哪一種特性占優勢英勇的精神和充沛的精力，還是狡猾和偽善。但馬略的擁護者，執政官葛涅烏斯．巴比利烏斯．卡爾波，在英勇地長期跟蘇拉作戰以後曾經說，當他與盤踞在蘇拉靈魂中的獅子和狐狸進行搏鬥的時候，他覺得最大的困難還是跟狐狸搏鬥。 蘇拉死了，他已經享盡了一個人所能達到的一切榮華富貴，也滿意地獲得了一個人所能想望的一切：他不愧為一個幸福的人，如果幸福的意義只在於你要什麼就有什麼的話。 蘇拉剛斷氣，奴隸狄奧多爾就領著醫生西爾米昂進了浴室，狄奧多爾還在門旁就喊： 羅馬來了一位急使，帶來了非常重要的信，從 但是他的聲音突然在喉嚨裡哽住了：他看到了周圍的人由於蘇拉的死所引起的慌亂情形。 西爾米昂連忙跑進了浴室，他命令奴隸們把蘇拉的屍體從浴池旁扛起來，放到準備在一旁的放滿了墊子的長榻上。他開始檢查蘇拉的屍體，給他診脈，察聽他的心臟，終於悲哀地搖搖頭，說： 全完了他死了！ 愛芙姬琵達派來送信的奴隸狄摩菲爾，跟著次奧多爾進了浴室，他被這突發的事情驚呆了。他在房角上站了好久，觀察著一切。然後，狄摩菲爾認定赫俐落根是屋子裡最重要的人物，就走近了他，把信交給他說： 我的美麗的女主人愛芙姬琵達命令我把這封信交到蘇拉本人手裡，但是神懲罰我，他們只許我在這兒碰到這個已經死去的最偉大的人。現在這封指定交給他本人的書信，我只能交給你了，因為從你眼睛裡的淚水看來，你一定是一位他最親信的人。 悲痛非常的赫俐落根機械地接過那封信，他看也不看就把它塞到襯衫和外衣之間的懷裡去了。他開始重新為他的主人兼恩公奔走忙碌，那時候奴隸們已經在用香油摩擦蘇拉的屍體了。 蘇拉的噩耗已經很快地傳播開去。整個別墅裡的人都驚動了。奴隸們從四面八方跑來聚集到浴室裡去。悲哀的呻吟和大聲的號哭從那兒傳了出來。那時候，從羅馬來的老戲子梅特羅比烏斯也趕到了，他由於不停的疾馳還在喘息著；他身上的衣服是亂七八糟的，他那慘白的臉上流著淚水。 不，不，這不可能！不，不，這絕不是真的！he cried. 他一見蘇拉僵硬的屍體就放聲大哭，接著，他撲倒在那具斷了氣的屍體旁邊的地板上，一面在死人的臉上亂吻，一面叫道： 你竟不等我趕到就死了，我的舉世無雙的親愛的朋友啊！我竟不能聽到你臨終的話接受你最後的親吻啊，蘇拉，我的親愛的知心的蘇拉啊！