Chapter 17 Chapter 16 The Lion at the Feet of the Girl, the Messenger Who Was Assassinated

Aifenipida is a very special woman.Her intellect often succumbed to her sudden passions, but her passions were always unrestrained; and her irrepressible stormy flight of fancies often wiped out all that she had considered rationally. net.She possessed an extraordinary vigor not commensurate with her frail and delicate frame, which made her more a girl than a woman; Often partakes in shameless feasts and revelry at the Saturnas Ceres festival.In this way, she loses the two most valuable qualities of a woman, that is: the ability to distinguish between good and evil and shame. She can't suppress her desires and often does whatever it takes to get what she desires.To her it was virtue to achieve her desires, and she often moved towards her preordained goal with unshakable tenacity of determination, and, because of her very strong will, was often able to gratify her desires as a result.

So, this extremely wealthy courtesan, who had tasted all kinds of erotic life, and became extremely indulgent under the admiration and favor of the richest nobleman and the most romantic dude in Rome, saw Spartacus.She saw him become a victor in that bloody fight in the arena, and her heart was moved by his outstanding performance during the fight, his handsome and mighty demeanor and his brave and resolute spirit. up.Just at that time, there was nothing in life that could attract her attention, nothing in the world could captivate her, and she had lost confidence in any happiness for herself; just at that time, love Fenipida saw Spartacus and was immediately attracted; she felt that she could satisfy her willful desire without any effort, perhaps, this is love She didn't know and didn't understand this feeling, she just felt that she was involuntarily attracted by that powerful gladiator.Already in her wild fancies she had foreseen the joy of intoxicating this new passion.It would give her great pleasure, she felt, and would change her intolerable monotony.

However, when unforeseen obstacles happened, when she was convinced that Spartacus was unmoved by the charm she had conquered so many men's hearts, when she knew that there was another woman competing with her, and Unsatisfied desire and mad jealousy, having captured the gladiator she loved, set the courtesan's head full of fantasies on fire; her blood boiled, her heart that never trembled , jumped violently.Thus, as we have seen, her lust has turned into an irrepressible passion, and then the passion of this life-corrupted but energetic and resolute woman soon reaches its highest point.

She wanted to forget about the gladiator, so she began to indulge in crazy, unrestrained drinking and feasting.In her Roman residence, the voices of folk songs sung by men and women and obscene cries were often heard.But nothing could keep Spartacus out of her heart.She started traveling.She has been to her native Greece, and her shameless obsequiousness alarmed Corinth and Athens.But the unsatisfied zeal that followed her everywhere made it impossible for her to live; so she decided to try once more to win the heart of the gladiator, who had now become a famous, rebellious, calling A great figure of the oppressed against the tyranny of Rome.

Four years have passed.Evegipeda thought that Spartacus might have forgotten about Valeria, and probably forgot all about it.Therefore, Aifenipida thought that this was the most suitable time for her to dedicate all her love to Spartacus.Then the Greek maiden sold her precious things, gathered her wealth, and set out to the camp of the gladiators.She resolved, like an Oriental slave girl, to serve with infinite devotion to the man who kindled in her soul a passion so ardent and powerful. How happy she would be if Spartacus took her in his arms, and, who knows?She might turn out to be a kind woman.She felt capable of participating in any heroic and just cause.If only she could win the love of Spartacus; in her mind the Thracian was now a radiant demi-hero.

She waited, she hoped, she lied to herself while she waited but he turned her down again!Evegipeda leaves the camp of the gladiator chief, her face contorted and streaming with tears.Her eyes gleamed with anger.Her face, from the humiliation she had suffered, showed two blushes of extreme shame. At first, she just followed the camp of silence, feeling nothing from the overwhelming agitation.She walked as if she were groping in the dark, and now and then she stumbled over the little posts of the tent, or bumped into the posts of the rope fences where the great herd of war-horses were turned.She didn't know why, but she found that she was already standing by the fence of the wall.Her thoughts were in disarray.In her feverish mind she had neither a distinct idea of ​​what she was suffering, nor any definite impression of the outside world.There was always a rumbling in her ears.All she knew was this: her pain was horrific, and she longed for vengeance, relentless bloodthirsty vengeance.

The fresh and cool morning breeze was blowing over Evkipeda's body, cooling her chest and shoulders, thus gradually waking her from her torpor and bringing her back to reality.Evekipeda wrapped her burqa tightly and looked around; it was as if she had just come out of delirium or stupor and was trying to gather her thoughts and figure out where she was.At last she realized that she was standing between the two tents of the Eighth Army, so she tried to take the shortest route to the road that separated the Fifth and Sixth Army camps, and then returned to her tent. to go. Evekipeda suddenly noticed that her hands were covered with blood, and only then remembered that she had bitten them mercilessly.She paused, raised her green eyes that blazed with fury, and stretched out her tiny, bloodied hand into the air.Filled with hatred, she silently swore to all the gods in the sky that she would avenge the shame and humiliation she had suffered; then she made a wish to the Furies and other gods in hell on the blood of her red hands. , she must take the head of Spartacus as a sacrifice to them.

On the next day Spartacus informed Enomay that he would send to him a man from among his heralds; The Rathians had decided to place four heralds in the military headquarters of Granix, Clixus, and Enomay, so that they could quickly transmit messages between each other and between them and the general headquarters. Enomayi is naturally not surprised by this.But when he saw Evkipeda standing in front of him, he couldn't help being amazed.He has admired her beautiful face and slender figure more than once in the past, but he has never spoken to her once because he thinks she is Spartacus' sweetheart.

What!It's you!exclaimed the astonished German.Are you the herald that Spartacus sent me? Yes, it's me!answered the Greek girl; and there was a look of restless worry and deep sorrow upon her pale face.Why are you so surprised? because because i think spartacus takes you very seriously ah!Evkipeda said with a wry smile.Spartacus was a man of high morals who only cared about our victory. But that doesn't prevent him from noticing you, for you are a beautiful girl, the most beautiful of all who could inspire a sculptor, you are the most beautiful of all who grew under the sun of Greece girl!

The beauty of Evkipeda overwhelmed Enomay, which not only made the bear-like rough Germanic man very tame, but also made him a well-mannered gentleman. I hope you won't suddenly want to confess your love to me!I have come here to fight our oppressors; to a noble cause I have left behind riches, love, and luxury and ease.You learn temperance and humility from Spartacus. After Evkipeda finished speaking proudly, she immediately turned her back to Enomayi and walked towards the nearby tent of the herald. I swear to the marvelous beauty of Freya, the mother of all things, that girl's beauty and pride are not inferior to the most beautiful and proudest of Valkyria's goddesses!Enomai called.He was amazed at the beauty of the Greek girl and her proud conduct; and he could not help thinking of her slender figure and charming beauty with a tenderness to which he was not accustomed.

It is not difficult to guess what Evekipeda had in mind: she decided to charm the big German.Naturally, no one can say with certainty what purpose she had taken this step; but it is evident that the Germanic love for Ephgipeda must have had a considerable bearing on the scheme of vengeance which the Greek girl contemplated. In any case, it is not difficult for a beautiful, charming woman like Evekipeda, who is proficient in all the secrets to seduce men, to drag this straightforward Germanic man into her net in a short period of time. Sure enough, It didn't take long for her to have complete control over him. At that time, Spartacus began to tirelessly train the two newly formed legions in military skills in the camp near Venusia.Between him and the Roman consul Marcus.Terenzius.Val.On the twentieth day after the meeting and conversation of Luculus, the two new legions received in their camp ten thousand armors, shields, daggers, javelins, etc., which the Romans had sent in exchange for captives.Then the four thousand captives, completely disarmed, were sent to Rome. The two newly formed legions had just been armed, of which the eleventh, composed of Gauls, was incorporated into the second army and joined with the original four legions, under the command of Clixus; The Legion formed by the Reisians, that is, the Twelfth Army, was organized into the Third Army and placed under the command of Granix.Spartacus left the stronghold of Venacia with a large army, and entered the province of Apulia after a few short marches.He went first to Bari, then along the coast approached the west of Bron, the most valuable and important Roman port on the Adriatic coast.During this nearly two-month march, hardly a single major battle took place between the Romans and the gladiators.Because certain cities, although weakly resisting the Spartacus army, were defeated by them without any effort, which could not be counted as a real battle. By the end of August, Spartacus had left the outskirts of the extremely fortified western city of Bron, without even thinking of attacking that city.He chose a dangerous location near Gnatia and began building his fort.The fortress was built stronger than ever, according to his custom, and surrounded by extremely wide outer moats, because the Thracians decided to spend the winter in this province, which was guaranteed by the rich fields, beautiful pastures, and a large number of livestock. the sustenance of his armies. At the same time, the leaders of the gladiators began to carefully consider the future plan, how to make the war that had already begun obtain a decisive result.After much deliberation, he finally summoned his command staff for a secret military meeting.They discussed at length what steps should be taken, and at that meeting important decisions must have been made, but no one else in the camp of the gladiators could know the secret. The meeting didn't end until dusk.That very night Evkipeda unarmed herself and sat on a stool in her tent, half covered with a burqa, artfully bareing her shoulders and breasts. A small brass lamp hung from the posts that supported the tent shone faintly on her. Evkipeda was pale, and her dark, vicious eyes were fixed on the entrance of the tent.She looked out as if mechanically, and her mind was full of all kinds of chaotic thoughts.Suddenly, she jumped up, gathered all her energy, and began to listen carefully.Her eyes immediately shone with joy, because the sound of heavy footsteps came more and more clearly, which seemed to have confirmed for her that the person she was waiting for and hoped to see had come. After a while, Enomayi's burly body appeared on the threshold of the tent.He had to bow his head in order to enter the Temple of Venus, as he called it in jest for the Tentacle of Evgipeda. As soon as the giant approached the Greek girl, he knelt down in front of her, took her hands, and brought them to his lips. Ah, my wonderful Evkipeda!he cried. Enomayi was kneeling on the ground and was a head taller than Efkipeda sitting on the stool. Only when he was squatting on the ground, his small black eyes could see the beauty's face. This pair of heads presents a strange contrast: the handsome face and white tender skin of Evkipeda strongly set off the rough, swarthy face of the same color as the earth in Enomay, while the disheveled face of the Germanic The hair and shaggy beard also accentuate the lovely red hair of this beautiful courtesan. Will it be open for a long time?asked Evekipeda, looking with friendly and concerned eyes at the burly German kneeling in front of her. Yes, it's been a long time, but unfortunately it's been too long, Enomayi said.I tell you, I'm really tired of these talks.I'm a fighter, and I swear on Thor's Thunderfire, those meetings don't go my way. But Spartacus was also a man of action, and if his courage was combined with prudence, it could only help the victory of our cause. That's a good point and I'm not denying it but I'd rather go straight to Rome. Crazy idea!Only when our army reaches over 200,000 can we make such a bold attack. Both fell silent.Enomayi looked at the Greek girl with an extremely loyal and gentle attitude, but this attitude did not seem to be possible for such a clumsy, thick-handed man like him.Ephnepita tried her best to put on a passionate expression, but in fact she was indifferent.She played her tricks of seductiveness, and looked affectionately at the frank German with falsely affectionate eyes. You guys discussed something big and urgent at today's meeting, right?asked the Greek girl, as though she had inadvertently mentioned it in passing. Yeah big and big they all say that whether it's Spartacus or Clixus or Granix Well, you probably also discussed plans for future military operations? Not exactly but what we're talking about has a lot to do with it.We discussed, yes, exclaimed the German, and suddenly came to his senses.We had made a sacred oath to each other not to reveal to anyone else what we had discussed.But I didn't even feel it myself, and almost said it all. I hope that the person listening to your battle plan report is not an enemy. O my holy Venus, do you think that if I do not tell you our resolution, it is only because I do not trust you! Isn't that enough!exclaimed the furious Greek girl.I swear to Apollo of Delphi isn't that enough!I have dedicated all my property to the cause of liberating the oppressed, I have abandoned a life of luxury and comfort, and I have transformed from a weak girl into a freedom fighter. Is it possible that after I have undergone such a transformation, there are still people who dare to say goodbye to me? Doubt my loyalty? Odin save me!You have to trust me.I adore not only your beauty, but your noble and resolute soul so much I respect you so much that I am willing to tell you all despite my vows No, no, absolutely not!The girl pretended to be even angrier on purpose, and struggled to break away from the German's caress.Why should I interfere with your secrets?i don't want to know You are angry with me again according to your old temper Why are you so angry with me?Ah, my dear girl!Enomayi gently comforted Aifujipida while speaking softly, but choking could be heard in his voice.Listen to me, I beg you, you have to understand, this thing is Shut up, shut up, I don't want to hear, I don't want you to break your vows and put our cause at risk, said Evekipeda sarcastically.If you believe that I respect me as you say you love me, if I am a part of you to you as you are a part of my own body to me, you will understand that your vows bind you, they make you Keep the secrets discussed at the meeting from everyone, but never from me If I am to you, as you say, the soul of your soul, and all your thoughts are focused on me But you are not pure to me There is no love that is faithful, absolute, and willing to make itself the slave of the one you love. All you love is my damned beauty, all you desire is my kisses. But you But there is no real and deep love, I am completely disappointed now that the past love is just my fantasy Trembling, agitation, and choking could be heard in Evegipeda's voice, and at last the Greek girl simply burst into tears and pretended to cry. As a result of Evekipeda's coquettish and coquettish behavior, she just got everything she hoped for. In the past two months, she has tried her charming charm on Enomayi more than once. The Germanic people are just crazy.After muttering a few incoherent words in terror, he threw himself on the ground and kissed the girl's feet.He begged her forgiveness.He swore to God that he would never doubt her again no matter what. He said that he had always loved her, respected her, worshiped her, and regarded her as the most sacred woman in the world, and regarded her as a goddess.But the Greek girl continued to rage, and she declared firmly that she had no desire to know other people's secrets.The German then began to swear to her by the names of all the gods of his religion, and begged with great earnestness to hear him speak.He emphasized again and again that no matter what oath he swears or what restraint he has been subject to from now on, he must always believe in her, because she is the soul of his soul and the life of his life. Then he told the Greek girl in a nutshell everything that the gladiator commanders had discussed at the meeting.He said that after discussion, everyone believed that it was necessary to win some Roman nobles and young people to the rebels, because those nobles were heavily in debt, eager to change the status quo, and had the mood to rebel against the authorities.It was unanimously decided that a trustworthy messenger should be sent to Rome tomorrow to meet Catirina, and ask him to command the gladiator army.Finally, it was decided to send Lutilius to complete the task. Notwithstanding that the Greek girl had been told all the secrets by the Germans, and that all the tricks and cunning of Evekipedia had been accomplished, she continued to frown and feign dissatisfaction.But after a while, she gradually became happy and began to smile at Enomayi who was lying on the ground.The German put the tiny feet of the Greek girl on his head and said: Look at Evkipeda Am I not your slave Trample me with your lovely little feet I lie in the dust My head has been your little stepping-stool. Rise up, my beloved Enomay, said Evkipeda, her voice becoming fearful and timid, but at the same time her face glowed with joy, and her eyes met her feet The giant gleamed sinisterly.Get up, this is not where you should be, get up and come here, come closer to me, close to my heart. As she spoke, she took up the gladiator and drew him gently to her side.Enomayi jumped up and hugged the Greek girl in a burst of enthusiasm.He picked up the petite girl and nearly suffocated her with his wild kisses. At last Evekipeda, when she was able to speak, said: Leaving me now for a while I have to go out and see my horses, I have to check every day, are they fed well, is Cynocrates taking good care of them we'll see you later until all See you later when the camps are quiet Come to me at dawn as always Come to me Remember, let no one know about our love, no one especially Spartacus! The German obediently laid her down on the ground, and kissed her passionately one last time.Enomayi went out of the tent first, and walked to her own tent not far from Aifujipida's tent. After a few minutes the Greek girl also came out, and she walked towards a tent which was pitched near her stable.There lived her two trusty slaves, both of whom were extremely devoted to her.She thought to herself: Yes, yes!It was a good plan, a good plan to encourage Catilina to be the commander of sixty thousand slaves!That is to say, to ennoble this army of slaves, and ennoble the slave rebellion itself, and with Caterina, there will be other of Rome's most famous and brave nobles, that may also catalyze the In this way, the slave uprising, which was bound to be suppressed, could be transformed into a large-scale civil war; the result of this war is likely to completely change the entire state apparatus. The influence of Spartacus has since weakened: Catilina is a very clever man, he must have understood that without Spartacus, he would never be able to deal with this large number of barbaric gladiators, no, No, that's not what I want. I can't let this brave and virtuous Spartacus achieve it! As she considered this, she approached the tent of her faithful servant.She called Sinocrat aside, lowered her voice, and had a long and vigorous conversation with him in Greek. Early the next morning a well-proportioned, strong-looking young man was seen by those who were walking on the Via Consul, which runs from the Sidón of Brunn to Benavente, near Granadia.He wore an ordinary tunic of coarse wool, a large black burqa over his shoulders, and a fur cap on his head.He rode a bay-red Apulian horse along the road from Granadia to Pali.If anyone came across him, and noticed his bright, dark face, and his self-sufficient, calm, unhurried air, and judged by his clothes and appearance, he would surely go to the Bally Market as a businessman. local well-off farmers. Two hours later, the traveler came near the posting station, which was about halfway between Granadia and Pali.He stopped outside the post station to rest the horses and eat something himself. Hello, friend, he said to the postmaster's servant who was coming to pull the horse. The passenger jumped off his horse, and then said to a fat, red-cheeked man standing on the threshold of the posthouse: May God bless you and your family! May Merculis bless you all the way!Would you like to take a break here for a bite to eat after a long journey?Judging by the weariness of your handsome Apulian horse, you must have come from far away. She had been on the road for six full hours, answered the traveler, and added: Do you like my Apulian mare?It's a fine horse, isn't it? I swear to the wings of the god horse Pygas, such a beautiful horse is rare to see! Alas, poor beasts!Who knows what it will look like in January!said the guest with a sigh, and went into the postmaster's room. Why?asked the postmaster, as he followed his guest in.In the middle of the main room of the post-house, there were three little tables along the wall, and he immediately invited the visitor to sit down at one of them. would you like something to eathe proposed.But why do you say it's a poor animal? Do you want to drink old Formier wine?The rich taste of this wine is comparable to Jupiter's nectar. But why is your horse so pitiful after a month?Do you want roast lamb?The fresh and tender lamb meat melts in your mouth like goat milk.I can give you delicious butter and a very fresh cheese with dew, the water in it is as clear as the dew on the young grass here; this cheese is made from the milk of the cows that eat the young grass here Made of that poor horse you just mentioned The visitor could not help raising his head, and looked at the postmaster with astonishment, but perhaps a touch of irony.The postmaster was busily coming and going, and at the same time babbling on and on, without even taking a good look at what his guest was like.After he put away the tableware, he continued to walk around the guests. The postmaster's chatter was interrupted by the arrival of another new visitor on horseback.The guest had dismounted from a strong, spirited horse.But seeing that the horse's nostrils were dilated, the bits were covered with white foam, and its flanks were rising and falling due to rapid and intermittent breathing: probably, the horse had run a lot. The new visitor was a tall, well-built, well-muscled man.His dark, beardless face looked rather alert.Judging by his attire, he may have been a slave, or a freedman who had worked in a wealthy noble family. May God bless you safe voyage!The postmaster said to the new guests who came in.May God give you strength for that strong horse, it looks solid, but if you push it on, it won't last long.Are you from afar?Would you like to sit and eat for a while?Would you please try my roast lamb?Very tender mutton, as tender as the young grass in the pastures grazing the flock. It is so far away, and you are running so fast. It seems that you come from far away. I can let you drink Formier wine, Not even the nectar in Jupiter's banquet can compare with it.After such a long run, maybe a glass of wine is best, you probably flew a lot of miles, right?I can also let you eat the first-class cream and cheese, the smell of the cheese is so good!Please sit down, you must be very tired, right? Fatigue is caused by your babbling nonsense!Verily, I swear to Sadurnas the Ceres, I admit, I am weary of your babbling nonsense!The newcomer, feeling impatient, replied sharply. It would be much better if you didn't fill our bellies with a barrage of stupid questions and compliments on the delicious food that was prepared to entertain us, but immediately brought to our table roast lamb, cream, cheese and wine up!Said the first guest to the postmaster, and then, turning to the newcomer, he asked: Are you right? Hello, the freedman greeted the Apulian, put his hand to his lips respectfully, and said: Naturally. The freedman had said this, and sat down at the table, when the postmaster had made everything ready, and said: Bring it here immediately!In another minute, I'll let you judge for yourselves whether I was bragging about my food just now. After speaking, he went in. Glory to Jupiter the great liberator, who blesses all, said the Apulians.He finally saved us from this rapper's blah blah blah! A very nasty fellow!Freed the slaves said. The conversation between the two travelers stopped here. At that moment the freedman seemed lost in thought, and the Apulian, while fiddling with the knife and fork which lay on the table, surveyed the newcomer with his piercing eyes. The postmaster is back.He brought each guest a small plate of the roast mutton he had promised them just now, and the two guests immediately let go of their stomachs and began to munch.Then the postmaster set down before them two more bottles of the Formier wine which he had just so highly praised.Although it wasn't as good as Jupiter's elixir as expected, it could make up for the rambunctious postmaster's excessive praise. Well, said the Apulian, after he had finished his roast, he was silent for a while, and said, I see that you like my horse, don't you? I swear to Hercules!Ask me if I like it or not?Naturally, I like that it is a real Apulian horse. Strong and strong, with a little bulge in the flanks, but thin and nimble; the neck is so beautifully bent, and it has all the qualities of a good horse.I've been postmaster here for twenty years, and I myself think I've got my hands on horses, I know horses good and bad; besides, I was born in the province of Apulia myself. , I fully understand all the advantages and disadvantages of the horses in our province, please think about it Will you allow me to exchange my horse for one of your twenty horses?asked the Apulian impatiently. It's forty horses, citizen, it's forty horses, 'cause my barn's a first class, not a bad barn like the last, you see Well, then would you give me one of your forty horses, or a hundred horses, or a thousand horses in your stable?said the Apulian angrily.May Iscurapius, the god of medicine, give you a sore tongue! Well, let me tell you this, tell me to exchange the horse I know well for someone else's horse. Although your horse looks very good, it doesn't seem to be old, but I can't figure out its temperament. Ergen, ignoring the curses of the Apulians.I'm not interested in your horse because, to tell you the truth, the exact same thing happened to me five years ago when I don't want to give you this horse at all, and I don't want to trade it for the best horse in your lot: I just want to keep it with you as collateral You just give me one to go as far as possible The horse that went to the post station, when I got there, I will keep your horse and put another horse, and I will keep changing until I run At this point the Apulian stopped short, his eyes showed suspicion, but his gaze was not on the nagging postmaster, but on the silent and respectful Free slaves or slaves.He then went on to say: Till I came where I was going, and when I came back, I traded horses in the same way, Till you got my Ajax here; and the name of my sorrel horse was Ajax. Don't worry about that, you'll find him well fed and strong, and you won't doubt that I know how to take care of a horse.But, do you understand now, as soon as you came, I guessed that you must be in a hurry, and the destination must be far away, perhaps to Benavente? Perhaps so, the Apulian replied with a smile. Maybe even to Capua? Maybe so. Who knows, maybe, you might even have to make it all the way to Rome? Maybe so. Both fell silent. The Apulian, as he began to feast on the butter and cheese brought by the postmaster, kept smiling at the good-natured rapper.But the postmaster was very disappointed and dissatisfied, because all this, perhaps, not only did not satisfy his curiosity at all, but made him feel that he had become a big fool. Hey, why are you silent?said the Apulian.Perhaps, I will go to Caulfini, Asgul, Camering, to Senna, where the Sennes live in Gaul, to Raven, and why can't I also go to Falay Leah, Spoleti, Chios, Kortonna, Aletium, and Florence?And why should I not likewise go to the Gauls of the Bayi, or to the Ligurians?why can't i May the great Jupiter bless you on your journey!Are you kidding me?asked the embarrassed postmaster. I made a little joke, and the Apulian replied with a friendly smile, handing the postmaster a full glass of Formier wine.Have a drink to our friendship, and please don't take offense at my jokes that arouse your curiosity.You're a nice guy in every way but too talkative and curious But there was no malice in that either, said the kind postmaster.我可以對天上和地獄裡的一切神靈發誓，我是一個虔敬而又正直的君子，如果我說謊，就讓我的老婆和孩子統統得瘟疫死掉！ 不要發這麼倒楣的惡誓吧，我相信你。drink it! 我祝你一路平安、順利，驛站長說，接著，只喝上兩三口就喝乾了杯中的福爾米耶葡萄酒，把空杯子交還給阿普里亞人。 但是阿普里亞人沒有接杯子，他說： 現在你拿去請那位客人喝上一杯，可是你得首先為他的健康乾一杯。 於是，阿普里亞人轉過身子對著釋放奴隸說： 你大概是個釋放奴隸吧？ 是的，我是一個釋放奴隸，那個魁梧的大漢恭恭敬敬地回答。我本來是嚴厲的人孟里烏斯．伊姆畢利奧查那一族的人 那是有名的古老大族，驛站長說。你們祖先中的瑪爾庫斯．孟里烏斯．胡爾索在羅馬紀元二百八十年做過執政官，而另一位 我現在到羅馬去報告季杜斯．孟里烏斯．伊姆畢利奧查，在我們那兒出現的那批造反的角鬥士，使他在布隆的西附近的別墅遭到了很大的損失。 啊，角鬥士！驛站長不由自主地顫抖了一下低聲說。看在阻止兵士後退的神王朱庇特的份上，不要提起他們！我還記得兩月前當他們經過這兒，上布隆的西去時，我受到了多少驚嚇啊 但願他們和他們那個卑賤的首領統統死掉！阿普里亞人憤激地叫道，同時掄起拳頭用力敲在桌子上。 然後，他問驛站長： 他們一定使你遭到了很大的損失吧？ 說老實話，並沒有應該說良心話他們對待我和我家裡的人很客氣他們帶走了我馬廄裡的四十匹馬但是付了我好些金子不錯，他們付我的馬價似乎還不夠些但是你得明白，本來可能會糟糕萬倍的 歸根結柢來說，那個釋放奴隸打斷了驛站長的話。他們本來可以拉走你所有的馬，連一個小錢也不付。 自然囉！必須承認這是戰爭，這是可怕的使羅馬人蒙受奇恥大辱的戰爭。驛站長依然恐懼地低聲說。啊，如果你們能看到他們在這兒經過的情形！一支數也數不清的大軍老是望不到頭他們軍團的行軍秩序多好啊！如果不怕褻瀆的話，拿我們的精兵跟這些強盜相比，我可以說，他們的軍團絕不比我們的差 你不要吞吞吐吐地說話，釋放奴隸插嘴說。讓我來說一句雖然會使大家感到恥辱但卻是天公地道的話：斯巴達克斯是一個偉大的統帥，他建立了一支大軍，把六萬個角鬥士和奴隸變成了六萬名作戰勇敢、軍紀嚴密的精兵。 我向羅馬的十二位和平女神起誓！驚詫的阿普里亞人憤憤地對釋放奴隸說。What?你剛才還說卑賤的角鬥士已經把你主人和恩公的別墅搶掠一空，而現在你這壞蛋卻敢公然為這些強盜的頭子辯護，而且還要讚揚他的好處？ 看在偉大的朱庇特份上，不要這麼想！釋放奴隸恭敬而又平心靜氣地抗議道。我並沒有說過這樣的話不但如此，我還應當告訴你，角鬥士的軍隊並沒有搶掠我的主人的別墅 那麼你剛才為什麼說你要到羅馬去報告別墅的主人季杜斯．孟里烏斯．伊姆畢利奧查，說你們那一帶出現了角鬥士軍隊，使他的別墅遭到很大損失呢？ 可是我剛才所說的角鬥士帶來的損失並不是指我主人的別墅，也不是指別墅附近的田地我的意思是指在別墅中服役的六十個奴隸中的五十四個奴隸。角鬥士把別墅中的全部奴隸統統解放了，而且讓他們自己決定：是否願意跟軍隊一起走，在他們的旗幟下作戰。結果，六十名奴隸中只有六個生病的、老年的人和我一起留在別墅裡，其餘五十四個奴隸統統投到斯巴達克斯的營壘裡去了。嘿，你現在怎麼說？難道這是很小的損失嗎？現在還有什麼人替主人工作，還有什麼人去耕田、播種，去修剪葡萄園裡的葡萄藤，到田地上去收割莊稼啊？ 但願斯巴達克斯和他的那批角鬥士統統下地獄！阿普里亞人輕蔑而又驕傲地說。讓我們為他們的覆滅和我們的繁榮而乾杯。 當大家喝過酒以後，驛站長又一次為釋放奴隸的健康乾杯。釋放奴隸也為兩個談話夥伴的幸福而乾杯，接著他又送給阿普里亞人一杯酒。阿普里亞人就同樣地為驛站長和釋放奴隸的幸福乾了杯。 然後，阿普里亞人付清了賬，站了起來，準備到馬廄裡去挑選馬匹。 等一下，可敬的公民，驛站長說。我不願讓別人說閒話，說一位規規矩矩的客人經過問捷里昂納斯的驛站，竟沒有從他那兒拿到一塊客牌。 說完他離開房間，留下了阿普里亞人和釋放奴隸。 看來，他真的是一個君子，釋放奴隸說。 自然囉，阿普里亞人回答；他站到門楣下面，叉開兩腿，背著雙手，接著就唱起沙姆尼省康滂尼亞省和阿普里亞省的牧人和農夫所喜愛的、頌揚牧神潘的民歌來。 驛站長一會兒就回來了，他拿來了一塊小木牌。木牌上面寫著他的名字阿捷里昂納斯。他把它分成兩半，把上面寫著昂納斯的那半塊交給了阿普里亞人。 這半塊木牌可以對你有些幫助，你把它拿給別處的驛站長看，他們就會竭力為你服務，為你挑選最好的馬匹等等。而且不論什麼客人，只要有我這半塊客牌，他們都是一樣看待。我還記得，七年以前，赫赫有名的蘇拉的釋放奴隸考爾涅里烏斯．赫俐落根曾經騎馬經過這兒 我衷心地感激你的盛情，阿普里亞人打斷阿捷里昂納斯說。你可以相信，儘管你有那嘮叨不絕的廢話，我波爾齊烏斯．莫季里烏斯，葛納季亞的公民，絕不會忘記你的好心，而且要永遠保持對你的真正友情。 Polzius.莫季里烏斯！阿捷里昂納斯重複道。很好為了不忘記你的名字，我要把它寫在我的備忘的羊皮紙日記上你得明白，這兒來往的客商多得很這麼多的姓名，這麼多的事情那是很容易忘記的 他走開了，但一會兒又回到房間裡，準備領波爾齊烏斯．莫季里烏斯到馬廄裡去，以便他挑選他所需要的馬匹。 那時候又到了一位客人。就他的裝束看來，大概是人家的僕人，他親自把他的馬拉到馬廄裡去。Polzius.莫季里烏斯已經在那裡了。他正在穿著馬服怎樣替那匹他親自挑選的馬兒裝鞍具。剛來到驛站的那個僕人向波爾齊烏斯和阿捷里昂納斯照例問過好，又親自把他的馬拉到沿牆那排大理石馬樓前面去。他在其中的一隻馬槽前面停下來，卸下了他那匹馬的馬勒子和別的馬具，又在馬兒前面放上一小袋燕麥。 正當那個僕人為著他的馬忙碌時，孟季烏斯．伊姆畢利奧查的釋放奴隸也到馬廄中來了。他是來探看他的馬兒的。他開始親切地撫摩他的馬，同時趁著波爾齊烏斯．莫季里烏斯和阿捷里昂納斯不注意的時候，跟那個剛來的僕人迅速地交換了一個眼色。 那個僕人做完照料馬的工作，轉身向門口走去，當他走到釋放奴隸身邊，故意裝出一副剛剛發覺和知道他的樣子，大聲叫道： 我對卡斯托爾起誓！拉甫萊尼烏斯！ Who?釋放奴隸一面問，一面急遽地轉過身子，克萊勃利克斯嗎？逢到了什麼好運氣啊？你從哪兒來？ 你從哪兒來？我從羅馬上布隆的西去。 我從布隆的西上羅馬去。 釋放奴隸和僕人的相遇引起了波爾齊烏斯．莫季里烏斯的注意，他開始暗暗觀察兩個人的行動。但是他們立刻發覺波爾齊烏斯在偷看他們和傾聽他們的談話。他們就開始低聲地說話，而且很快地分散了。在分散之前，他們相互握手，低聲地說了幾句。但是說話的聲音還不夠低，當波爾齊烏斯假裝準備出去，而且顯出一副毫不注意他們的樣子走近他們身邊時，只聽見其中的一個人說： 井邊！ 僕人先出了馬廄，釋放奴隸繼續親切地撫弄他的馬。波爾齊烏斯一面從馬廄裡面走出來，一面低聲哼著角鬥士的歌： 這隻貓是一位學問淵博的捕鼠大家， 經驗豐富，而且非常狡猾 可是老鼠一下子抓住了牠的尾巴。 釋放奴隸拉甫萊尼烏斯也唱起一支歌來，但卻是用希臘話唱的。Polzius.莫季里烏斯剛走出馬廄，就對阿捷里昂納斯說： 你在這裡等我一會兒我很快就回來。 他繞過了驛站來到後院。果然，院中有一口井，那是用來取水澆菜園用的。那口井朝菜園的那一面有一堵半圓形的石牆，波爾齊烏斯就在牆後面躲了起來。 他躲在那兒還不到三分鐘，立刻就聽見一個人的腳步聲從屋子的右面繞了過來，幾乎就在同時，另一個人也從左面繞過來了。 How about it?拉甫萊尼烏斯問（波爾齊烏斯立刻就知道是他的聲音）。我已經知道，另一個人很快地低聲說（波爾齊烏斯知道是那個僕人在說話）。我的弟弟瑪爾比古斯已經投到我們被壓迫弟兄的營壘中去了；我也從我的主人那兒逃出來，到那邊去。 可是我，拉甫萊尼烏斯低聲說，我藉口上羅馬孟里烏斯．伊姆畢利奧查那兒去報告他的奴隸逃走的情形，事實上，我卻是去找我的心愛的孩子島納齊烏斯；因為我不願意讓他留在壓迫者的手中。然後，我們父子兩個就一起投到我們英勇的領袖的營壘中去。 留心，我們會被人家注意到的，那個阿普里亞人曾經好幾次非常懷疑地偷看我們 是啊，我很怕他會暗暗跟隨我們敬禮，願你幸福！ 堅持！ 勝利！ Polzius.莫季里烏斯聽見釋放奴隸和僕人很快地走遠了。 於是他從藏身的地方出來了，向四面看了一下，彷彿覺得那是一個夢。他自己問自己：這難道是他準備加以揭露的可怕的密謀？那兩個人難道就是他準備用迅雷不及掩耳的手段加以撲滅的敵人嗎？他一想到剛才發生的一切，不禁搖搖頭微笑起來了，然後他重新到馬廄裡跟阿捷里昂納斯告別。驛站長一面不斷地向波爾齊烏斯鞠躬，一面祝福他一路平安，而且向他保證：當他下次回來時，一定為他準備好使朱庇特的仙漿黯然失色的瑪西古斯葡萄酒。於是波爾齊烏斯縱身上馬，刺著馬向巴利的方向飛跑。阿捷里昂納斯跟著他跑了十幾步，一面不斷地高叫： 一路順風！但願神一路伴隨您，保護您！啊，他跑得多有精神！他騎在我的阿爾達克賽爾克斯背上多麼威武啊！多出色的駿馬，我的阿爾達克賽爾克斯啊！再見，再見，波爾齊烏斯．莫季里烏斯！What else to say!我太喜歡他了他走了，那使我多難受啊！ 那時候，他的客人已經在離驛站不遠的大路轉角處消失了。 傷心的阿捷里昂納斯就開始回到家裡來，一面走一面責備自己說： 那算什麼呢我我的心腸可真的太軟了。 於是，他用他的手背去擦順著臉頰滾下來的淚水。 Polzius.莫季里烏斯（讀者自然已經明白，他就是第八軍團的指揮官，自由人出身的角鬥士盧提里烏斯，現在又是波斯巴達克斯派到羅馬卡提林納處去的使者）一面在馬上回想著那奇異的遭遇，一面循著大路飛跑。他在黃昏降臨後一小時來到了巴利附近。但他並不進城，就在通葛納季亞的大道旁的一個小客棧前面停了下來。他命令客棧裡的人把那匹果然是烈性子的、強壯的阿爾達克賽爾克斯拉到馬廄裡去。接著，他為了可以休息到第二天拂曉，挑選了一個床鋪。 第二天早晨，太陽還沒有升起，盧提里烏斯已經循著通葛納季亞的大道向蒲東特飛跑。他在正午時分到達那兒的驛站，把阿爾達克賽爾克斯留下，換上了一匹叫做阿嘉妮芭的黑馬。他略微吃了一點東西又向卡奴西飛跑。 將近黃昏時，盧提里烏斯在蒲東特和卡奴西的中途看到前面有一團灰塵：顯然有一個騎士在那兒奔馳。小心謹慎的盧塔里烏斯用馬刺把阿嘉妮芭踢了幾下，很快就追上了在前面飛奔的那位騎士。原來那位騎士並不是別人，剛巧就是他在巴利附近阿捷里昂納斯的驛站中碰到的釋放奴隸拉甫萊尼烏斯。 Hello!釋放奴隸竟不看一看追上來的是誰，頭也不回地說。 你好，拉甫萊尼烏斯．伊姆畢利奧查！盧提里烏斯回答。 Who?釋放奴隸詫異地問，一面迅速地回過頭來。 他一認出是盧提里烏斯便輕鬆地吐了一口氣，說： 啊，原來是你，可敬的公民！但願神保佑你一路平安！ 品性高貴、心地寬厚的盧提里烏斯早已被這個可憐的釋放奴隸的行為感動了，因為他知道：拉甫萊尼烏斯將要到羅馬去偷偷帶出他的兒子，然後一起投到角鬥士的營壘中來。他不禁默默地注視著他。他很想跟這位釋放角鬥士開一個玩笑，就用嚴厲的聲音對他說： 原來你到羅馬去的目的，竟是把你的兒子從你主人和恩公家裡偷出來，然後一起投奔到卑賤的斯巴達克斯的營壘中去！ I?What are you talking about?拉甫萊尼烏斯驚惶地喃喃說，他的臉頓時變得慘白，但也許這只是盧提里烏斯的錯覺。 昨天晚上我聽到了你們所說的一切，因為我就躲在阿捷里昂納斯驛站中的那口井後面，你這狡猾的忘恩負義的奴僕，我一切都知道了只要我們一到最近的城市裡，我就要叫當局逮捕你，你就要在司法官的拷問之下招認你的全部叛逆行為。 拉甫萊尼烏斯一下子勒住了馬，盧提里烏斯也跟著停住了。 我什麼也不用招認，釋放奴隸陰沉地用帶著威脅的口氣說。因為我不怕死。 難道你竟不怕被活活釘上十字架嗎？ 上十字架我也不怕因為我知道用什麼辦法逃脫死刑。 any solution?盧提里烏斯故意裝出一副詫異的樣子問。 我要打死你這告密的小人！怒沖沖的拉甫萊尼烏斯突然從鞍墊下一面抽出一根沉重的大頭鐵棒高叫道。他刺著他的馬向盧提里烏斯撲了上來，但是盧提里烏斯卻哈哈大笑，叫道： 停，我的好兄弟！堅持和 拉甫萊尼烏斯用左手勒住了馬，右手高高地舉起了大頭鐵棒，發出一聲驚詫的呼叫： ah! 和？盧提里烏斯問，等待拉甫萊尼烏斯接上被壓迫者同盟切口的下半截。 和勝利！釋放奴隸訥訥地接上去說，雖然他好像還沒有從驚愕狀態中清醒過來。 接著，盧提里烏斯向他伸出右手，用食指在釋放奴隸左手的掌心中輕輕地點上三下。這終於使拉甫萊尼烏斯完全放下心來了。現在他已經毫不猶豫地斷定：跟他談話的旅伴是他的同志，而且也是被壓迫者同盟的一個盟員。 it's dark.兩個騎士緊緊地擁抱了一會兒，然後並肩前進，互相傾訴各人不幸的遭遇 你聽了像我這樣的一個自由人怎樣賣身給角鬥士老板做角鬥士的經過，倒是真的會對我感到驚異的。你得明白，我生長在一個富裕的家庭裡，但是當我剛披上了紫邊寬袍，我就墮入了縱酒和揮霍的腐敗生活的泥坑中。但那時候，我的父親已幾乎把全部財產統統賭光了。當他去世的時候，我只有二十二歲，債務吞沒了他留給我的一切，我的母親和我陷入了極其貧困的境地。我倒並不怕貧困，因為我年輕、強壯、勇敢、剛毅，但是我那可憐的母親我大約搜集了一筆一萬兩千到一萬五千塞斯太爾司的錢那是從我們過去財產中遺留下來的一切再加上我賣身給角鬥士老板所得的款子，這樣就湊成了一筆可保證我那可憐的母親直到老死的生活費用我就是為了這一點才出賣我的自由的。在這整整八年之中，我曾經遭受了說不盡的痛苦和危險。但現在我的母親去世了，我才有可能重新獲得自由。 盧提里烏斯用顫抖的聲音結束了他的談話，在他那由於激動而變得蒼白的臉上，滾下了幾顆小小的淚珠。 天更黑了，那時候這對患難弟兄登上了一段峻峭的坡路。路的兩旁盡是樹木，寬闊的路溝把大路和樹林分隔了開來。 兩個騎士在這條路上默默地繼續走了一刻鐘光景，突然，拉甫萊尼烏斯．伊姆畢利奧查的馬受了驚。那也許是由於剛升起的月亮把樹影投在路上的關係，但也許是由於別的不可知的原因。牠提起前蹄，瘋狂地跳了幾下，就滾到這條蒲東特通卡奴西的大道左面的深溝中去了。 盧提里烏斯一聽到拉甫萊尼烏斯求救的聲音，立刻勒住了他的馬，跳下馬背，把阿嘉妮芭的韁繩在矮樹叢上一掛，就向溝中撲去，急急忙忙地去援救他的朋友。 但是，他還沒有來得及想一想發生了什麼事情，就感到背上挨到了一下極其猛烈的打擊。那使他立刻倒在地上，當他正打算搞清楚原因時，肩上又挨到了第二下打擊。 盧提里烏斯明白他已落到一個極其狡猾而且巧妙地預先佈置好的餡阱中了。他趕快拔出藏在外衣下面的匕首，但那時候拉甫萊尼烏斯又默不作聲地在他頭上敲了第三棍。盧提里烏斯死命地掙扎著站了起來。他尖叫一聲撲向他的敵人，舉起匕首向他的胸前刺去。 下賤、卑鄙的叛徒！你可不敢公開攻打我！ 但這時候，盧提里烏斯發覺，在這個殺人凶手的外衣裡面還有一層鎧甲。 在受了重傷幾乎快要死去的盧提里烏斯和沒有受到絲毫損害的強壯的拉甫萊尼烏斯之間，發生了短促的、拚命的決鬥。那個殺人凶手似乎著慌了，他被對方的英勇氣概和道義上的優勢懾服了。傳來了一陣陣的呻吟聲、叱罵聲和低低的詛咒聲。 很快又傳來了僵直的身體倒在地上的聲音以及盧提里烏斯的微弱減叫： 啊，卑鄙的叛徒！ 然後，一切都沉寂了。 拉甫萊尼烏斯向倒地的人彎下身子傾聽了一下，確定他是否還有呼吸。接著，他站了起來，爬上大路，一面低聲咕噥，一面向盧提里烏斯的馬兒走去。 我對海克力斯起誓，殺人的凶手驚叫道，他突然感到自己快要昏暈了。我看我這是怎麼一回事啊？ 他搖晃了起來。 我覺得這兒很痛他用微弱的聲音呻吟道。他舉起右手在脖子上一摸，立刻又抽了回來。右手已染滿了鮮血。 啊，我對一切神靈起誓！他他刺中了我剛巧刺在這兒刺在唯一的沒有鎧甲防禦的地方。 鮮血不斷地從他的頸動脈中噴射出來，他搖晃了一陣，終於倒在血泊中了。 就在這兒，在這荒涼的大路上，在寂靜的深夜之中，那個化名叫做拉甫萊尼烏斯．伊姆畢利奧查實際上卻是愛芙姬琵達手中卑劣的復仇工具的人，正在白費力氣地掙扎著，而且徒然地喊著救命。終於，他在極其可怕的劇烈痛苦中，死在離開路溝只有幾步遠的地方。就在那條溝裡，橫著死於那個殺人凶犯之手、渾身是傷痕的、不幸的盧提里烏斯的屍體。