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NERO
By Pueros Chapter V Games As I continue the narration of my life to a scribe in my 75th year, I am beginning to realise what an immense undertaking I have started. I only hope that the gods spare my life long enough to enable me to complete the saga which, if I am to relate all of the monumental and lesser events I have experienced or witnessed, must, of necessity, also be mighty, at least in length. I therefore hope, dear reader, that you will nevertheless follow my commentary until its conclusion. After all, it is said, by those much wiser than me, that what has happened in the past often provides glimpses into what will occur in the future. This is perhaps best summed up by an inscription I once saw on a gravestone. It read:- Quod sum eris, or I am what you will be! (The villa of Caius Silius, Rome, in July of the 5th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [AD 46]) Fortunately for me, the spears carried for their game by 8 year-old Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, 7 year-old Marcus Annaeus Lucanus and 11 year-old Silius Italicus would have been rather useless for normal hunting. Each of the relatively short and light wooden poles had balls, about the diameter of a mans hand, of stuffed leather at the end. However, all had just been dipped into tubs of different coloured washable paints, the hues representing the boys favourite chariot stables. The spherical ends of the toy weapons carried by Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, Marcus Annaeus Lucanus and Silius Italicus dripped with blue, green and white liquid respectively. The object of the game was to hit my head or naked torso with the spears so that those parts of my nude form were marked with the successful hunters paint, denoting a kill. Striking limbs was deemed to be wounding only and therefore did not count. I was encouraged to avoid being killed by an incentive. Each successful hunter would celebrate his victory by delivering another blow to my nude form, this time across my bare buttocks utilising the well-worn crop used to chastise me a fortnight earlier and now kept for ready use in the hands of 13 year-old Sribonia. Happily for the welfare of my bottom, a time limit of one hour had been afforded to the game. 11 year-old Tullia was given the task of watching over the garden sundial as events unfolded. This solar clock had the rather appropriate inscription Horas numero, nisi serenas, or I count the hours, not only the happy ones. The time limitation placed on the game by the participants was not due to any kind consideration for me but rather for the interests of the stomachs of the playful younger boys and girls, as it would then be time for luncheon. The young quintet would enjoy their sumptuous fare whilst I was being repaired by Apollinus and the nullified and comprehensively whipped youth, still dangling from the punishment frame out of sight elsewhere within Caius Silius vast property, was finally being lowered to receive some much needed treatment of his own. Sribonia, Tullia and their three young male guests would have much to chatter about, from the mornings events, whilst they enjoyed their repast. The game passed quickly for all concerned. The enthusiastic boys thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of the chase, although at first I managed to evade them rather successfully within the confines of the large garden, filled with bushes and trees, which formed the hunting ground. However, Sribonia, who was following them around, providing much verbal encouragement whilst she did so, as she was eager to hand the crop over after each victory, became impatient at her younger guests inability to land the necessary blows. She therefore suggested that they try to entrap me in a less individualistic and more co-operative manner, providing guidance as to how they should go about this. I have often thought since that not only would Sribonia have made a more proficient hunter than the boys would ever be but also probably a much better warrior if her gender had not disqualified her. Certainly the 13 year-old girls tactics worked well here, with her younger guests now following her advice to corner me before closing in on me in a co-ordinated manner. However, it was later clear to me that the subsequent success of Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus in landing the first successful kill was more due to the reluctance of his two friends to precede him to the honour, presumably in fawning regard for his status. As I subsequently acquired greater knowledge about Rome, its people and its ways, as well as about these particular children, I could imagine the fathers of Marcus Annaeus Lucanus and Silius Italicus ordering their sons to make sure that they did not upset Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. The latter was therefore to win as many of the games they played as possible without arising his suspicion that it was down to the obsequiousness of others and not personal aptitude. Unfortunately, such practices only induced certain character traits in the 8 year-old, which were to prove unfortunate for Rome and ultimately for the boy himself. The blue paint dripping down my chest was unquestionable evidence of which hunter had secured the first kill. I was therefore soon bending over in front of Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, raising my bare bottom in readiness to receive the associated forfeit. The green and white paint, with which an arm and a leg had been smeared, were testament to the inaccuracy of the earlier throws of Marcus Annaeus Lucanus and Silius Italicus, despite the fact that my efficient entrapment should have ensured previous success for a least one of the pair. The proud and gleeful Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus accepted the crop from the apparently equally excited Sribonia before rubbing the leather up and down my vulnerable posterior, presented for the confirmation of the victory by the boy 6 years younger than myself. I clenched my bumcheeks in readiness to receive the imminent blow, which was not long in arriving. However, despite the painful savagery of the strike, proficiently delivered for an 8 year-old, presumably with the help of practice on some unfortunate elsewhere, I managed to retain my demeaning pose. It appeared that I was becoming more accustomed to such chastisement, which was just as well as I was to suffer much similar, not just during the remainder of the game but over the years ahead. A bucket of cold water was then produced to wash the signs of my defeat from my naked body before I was given another start in order to flee and the chase began anew. By the time that Tullia later brought proceedings to a halt after the hour had elapsed, my bottom displayed five vivid purple stripes to match those, now disappeared, imposed a fortnight previously by the 11 year-old girl and her sister. Three had been created by Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus and one each by Marcus Annaeus Lucanus and Silius Italicus, whilst the resultant pains caused my normally lovely face to be blemished by a few tear stains. The happy and raucous quintet then departed the scene for lunch whilst I, dripping paint from the last successful kill and some near-misses, took my now colourful body with its very sore bottom to receive Apollinus kind remedial attentions. (Jewish synagogue, Antiocheia, the Roman Imperial Colony of Pisidea in Asia Minor, same time) And now, since I have taught that things cannot Be born from nothing, nor the same, when born, To nothing be recalled, doubt not my words, Because our eyes no primal germs perceive. For mark those bodies which, though known to be In this our world, are yet invisible. - Lucretius (On the Nature of Things) Antiocheia had been founded, in Pisidea on the Anatolian plateau, about 350 years previously by Seleucus, who had been one of the three Macedonian generals who had successfully created their own dynasties by carving up the empire conquered by their deceased leader, Alexander the Great. The city, which is not to be confused with the place of the same name in Syria, became a Roman military garrison approximately 280 years later. By the time of Claudius, Antiocheia was the largest and most Romanised of all of Pisideas cities, having a population of over 100,000. The fact that the Emperor Augustus had favoured the metropolis, not only making it the colonial capital but also giving it 3000 military veterans and their families as settlers, substantially aided these developments. These included the renaming of the seven city districts after those of the Imperial capital to underline a formal twinning arrangement. The document establishing this great honour, entitled the Res Gestae Divi Augusti, is still displayed proudly in one of the municipalitys major public buildings. Antiocheia is at the crossroads of all the main highways in the colony and is the best gateway to the interior regions of Anatolia. Roads running from the pivotal ports of Ephesus, to the west, and Attaleia, to the south, pass through the city. Augustus himself had ordered the building of the Via Sebaste, which connects the metropolis with its hinterland in an effort to ensure firm Roman control over the region from the municipality. The importance of Antiocheia is reinforced by the fact that the city is not only a great administrative and trading centre but also a cultural and artistic focus of repute. Such facts have attracted many people of talent to settle or visit. One of the natives of Antiocheia was Sergii Paulli, a member of one of the municipalitys wealthiest and most prominent clans. He was currently serving as the governor of Paphos in Cyprus and had met three Jews, one of whom was an interesting but rather ill bald-headed man, with meeting eyebrows and a rather prominent nose. Sergii Paulli offered the man the hospitality of his family in his hometown, which enjoyed an excellent climate, renowned for assisting recuperation from sickness, although the shortest, cheapest journey there was difficult. The man accepted and sailed with one of his companions from Cyprus for the shores of Pamphylia. When the two left the city of Perge after a brief stay, the long and arduous journey to Antiocheia awaited them, which initially followed the banks of the River Aksu, which had to be frequently criss-crossed. In fact, I believe that one stretch of the waterway is consequently called forty crossings. The duo subsequently walked along another river into a canyon of the Taurus Mountains, proceeding with difficulty along a perilous damp surface of natural rock and passing ancient eroded and modern stone inscriptions, left in niches by many earlier travellers. These still include the longest, composed by a certain Epictetos, born the son of a slave mother. He initially provides warnings about the route for fellow travellers before embarking on a sentimental discourse on the evils of slavery and the contrasting happy merits of personal freedom, with which I cannot disagree. The second longest inscription, on a rock close to the end of the trail, just before the ancient city of Adada is finally and gratefully reached, reads Phoebus Apollo, ruler of this road, may you always smile upon travellers and their votive offerings. The spirit of inspiration requires that I, Leontianos, should offer up my staff to you. May you as a god with pleasure receive this, the support of my hand, the brace of my knees, the staff of a traveller. With my hands resting upon this, I have passed this narrow track. O Apollo, by your side these troubles are at an end! Another nearby carving declares I, Leontianos, son of Leontianos, have here set up my statue of Apollo, the friend of all travellers. The two Jewish travellers would also have passed at this point a variety of offerings left for Apollo, Zeus, Cybele and, in the opinion of the two men, other pagan gods and goddesses. After leaving Adada to continue northwards, the road to Antiocheia would have skirted two large lakes and passed through two other significant townships before their destination was finally attained, after a weeks walking. According to custom, Jews normally go on arrival in such communities to the congregational meeting place, where they present letters of introduction and seek work in order to secure their livelihood. According to Judaic law, every man with faith in God is required to practice a craft. That of the interesting but rather ill bald-headed man, with meeting eyebrows and a rather prominent nose, was the manufacture of tents, although he also indulged in, what was to him, a more important sideline. Despite the gracious accommodation and hospitality offered by Sergii Paullis family, the interesting but rather ill bald-headed man, with meeting eyebrows and a rather prominent nose, began work at his loom right away in order to pay his way. He also incurred little delay in initiating other activity, although he waited for the first Sabbath after his arrival to do so. The man and his companion then attended Antiocheias synagogue. After the usual reading of the Sacred Law and the writings of the Prophets, the chief rabbi allowed the newcomers to speak. The man rose to his feet and, after speaking expertly of the Prophet Abraham and of David, reached the point on which he really wanted to preach. Without mentioning his subject by name, the man spoke of someone who had been executed by the Romans less than a decade and a half earlier. He described this persons life and the supposed miracles he had performed. On the following Sabbath, which happened to be the day on which I was being hunted in the garden of Cauis Silius, the man spoke at the synagogue before an even larger crowd, attracted by his innovative stories. This time, he revealed his subjects name, referring to him as the saviour of mankind. However, some of the most powerful amongst the listening congregation did not receive such words well and afterwards the newcomer to Antiocheia was barred from further public preaching. I dont know what evil game youre trying to play, the most senior and respected of the Jewish elders had angrily spouted, but you can play it elsewhere! Later, the man preached in Antiocheia only at his loom and in the houses of friends, including those of the Sergii family, at least for now. (Jerusalem, Palestina, 12½ years earlier) The bound and naked bearded man was dragged into the city square, crowded with righteous male citizens ready, with stones in their hands, to rid themselves of a member of one of the latest sacrilegious movements. However, many of those present in the massive throng of Jews, from various denominations of that ancient monotheistic faith, were actually not really there to protect their religion from evil unorthodoxy but to enjoy some sport. After all, the condemned prisoner was fair game, being completely unrepentant, despite being afforded many opportunities to recant and follow instead the true path to righteousness, whichever that was amongst the variety offered within Judaism. Amongst the most vociferous of the many shouting loud verbal abuse at the criminal was a man who had played a very significant role in the prosecution of the heretic. He made canopies for a living but also spent much time propounding the stringent unforgiving creed of his own Jewish Pharisee sect. He was now foremost in hurling the early stones at the kneeling miscreant, with his own initial strike thrown with the full feeling of outraged, deeply ingrained, belief felt within him. The missile squarely hit the victim on the forehead to draw first blood. The sturdy little man, with hair showing signs of premature baldness, meeting eyebrows and a rather prominent nose, smiled at his success. (The villa of Caius Silius, Rome, 12½ years later) Ah, they are wise Who do obeisance, prostrate in the dust, To the implacable, eternal will. - Aeschylus (Prometheus Bound) I was to be the central figure for another game, but of the nocturnal type frequently played by Caius Silius himself within his residences basement slave quarters. I cannot confess not haning anticipated a visit from my master sometime, having earlier been told by a sad Apollinus to expect to act as host to the bisexual man in the tiny cell that I now considered my personal home. However, I had hoped against hope that my friends forecast would not come true. I was shaken into consciousness by Caius, who had brought an oil lamp to find his way. He had placed this in a little cubby-hole, designed to house such illumination, and had already removed his tunic, preferred for informal wear to the cumbersome toga, in readiness for his game. As I slept naked, I was already in the appropriate state of undress. I think you know what Ive come for, Caius announced without formality in a voice slurred by wine, so lie on your front, legs wide apart, whilst I mount you! It was if he was addressing one of his horses, although I probably featured far less in his estimation than one of his prize stallions, particularly as I was actually a gelding. My anal virginity was lost without ceremony but with much pain, especially as my bottom was still very sore after enjoying five stokes of the crop earlier. However, Caius did not seem bothered by the vivid stripes across my buttocks, which must have been clearly visible to him as he introduced his eager cockhead to my pink sphincter, previously unmolested except by enquiring fingers just before my auction at the slave market. The sphincters virginal defences were no match for the weight of Caius Silius as he bestrode my tremulous prone face-down body, rampant cock pointing downwards in the direction of my innards, where the throbbing member soon intruded. I yelped as my tight rectum was rapidly filled by the mans engorged erection, which had penetrated many boys, girls and women on earlier occasions. Apollinus later told me, after the departure of our master for pastures anew, namely a very pretty young female slave, that my initial shriek had been so loud that the noise had not only roused him but also several others from slumber. My friend had considerately left his own bed to come to my tiny quarters to comfort and repair me after my ordeal, having appreciated from the direction of the sound, and the later somewhat quieter encore, from where and why it had emanated. Caius Silius, deprived of marital nuptials because of his 15 year-old wifes pregnancy, did not take too long to conclude his game, undoubtedly assisted by his famous virility and earlier abstinence, although this probably never lasted for more than 24 hours. I have often afterwards assumed that his quick climax was also helped by the knowledge that he was deflowering a virgin. I would never have been bought for Caius Silius service if it had not been evident that I was virginal, at least a far as my rear was concerned. However, confirmation of this for my master must now have been twofold. First, my tearful anguished reaction must have indicated that I had never endured sodomy before, and this impression would have been reinforced by the tightness of my anus, which must also have suggested to his eager thrusting cock that it had never been explored in this manner previously. My acute distress and shame confused my tormented mind and I did not at first realise that Caius had had his way with me and had departed with his tunic and lamp to go in search of his next young paramour. Even the plunging of my tiny cell back into darkness did not induce recognition that the filling of my insides with much manly cum had been concluded and that the large implement that had impregnated me had left the scene for fresh feminine pastures. It was, in fact, Apollinus arrival with his own illumination and his gentle stroking of my silky blonde hair that caused me to open my damp eyes to appraise my current status. My friend then began to wipe my buttocks free of the newly created mixture of our masters extraneous semen and my own blood that was drooling down my bumcrack, before he applied some soothing salve to my ravaged, now red-raw sphincter. The sounds of Caius Silius making love to a young female were to be heard soon afterwards within the basement slave quarters. However, these were quieter and more joyous than those that had previously reverberated, presumably because the feminine orifice being invaded was both designed for and accustomed to large male penetration. After Apollinus eventually withdrew to return to his own well-earned rest, and as I cried myself to sleep, with my anguish emanating more from shame than pain, I reconsidered Cauis Silius reputation as being the handsomest man in Rome. I now truly realised that this description only applied to his physical nature and not to his character.
The next day, as I performed more normal and less humiliating duties for my master and his family, my walk was rather awkward. This caused Sribonia and Tullia much hilarity, although they had undoubtedly made the incorrect conjecture that my discomfort had been caused by the previous days cropping of my posterior by their young male guests. The apparently all-knowing major domo was aware of the true reason for my unfortunate gait. However, this did not later prevent him from laying me across his knee in the slave quarters, lifting my scarlet tunic to expose my bare bottom, although the garment did not need to be moved much for this to happen, and spanking the pleasant revealed curvature. My abashment was acute, as the chastisement for inappropriate deportment in front of the master and mistresses took place in front of some other male and female servants of both the inner and outer households who happened to be there. It was compounded by thinking that such punishment was more suitable for someone much younger than 14, a belief seemingly shared by others, as many titters reverberated around the basement as my bumcheeks, already decorated with purple stripes, were elsewhere turned into a hue that matched my attire. Personal pride tried to prevent my humiliation being completed by a cowardly lachymose reaction to the manual flagellation of my rear but the extremity of the hurt, primarily induced by the blows onto the crop marks already present, defeated such a noble aim. As I was afterwards tearfully lifted back to my feet by the major domo, to rush sadly to the privacy of my tiny cell, I felt like an infant child just admonished by a parent, not a boy of 14 who, in normal circumstances, would be on the brink of manhood. It took a while for Apollinus to come to provide me with more much-needed stiffening of my damaged morale and attention to my damaged bottom, as he was originally on duty elsewhere. He then told me that it was not unusual for the major domo to punish the boy slaves of the household for minor misdemeanours in the manner he had just perpetrated on me. My friend claimed that he himself had been spanked many times previously, and some as old as 16 had similarly suffered. It seemed that the major domo enjoyed the extra degrading dimension spanking induced into the penances earned by young males. However, all the slaves had noted that this was only the case if the sufferers were young and handsome. After the whole of my posterior had been covered by lotion from Apollinus gentle fingers, I decided that it was about time that I rewarded him again for his kindnesses. He had made no direct approaches himself to encourage me to renew intimacy, presumably out of politeness, but I knew from the frequent look in his lovely eyes that such a scenario remained an eager ambition. I therefore again took the lead by introducing my hand to his groin, this time in tandem with my lips to his own. One thing soon led to another and I eventually found myself kneeling before the standing Apollinus, holding the hem of his dark blue tunic around his waist to expose his pleasant loins. Our erotic game continued when my lips now engulfed his firm smooth erection and sucked the pleasant member with an earnestness that surprised me. I think that my friend would ultimately have preferred to fill another orifice, as our master had done the previous night, but, for obvious reasons, that target was currently out of bounds until repairs were effected. Nevertheless, also like Caius earlier, my fellow pretty 14 year-old was brought to swift climax and much sperm flooded into my mouth. I had never tasted cum before but I did not find the substance unpleasant, rather the opposite in fact, and drank the orgasmic offering almost greedily, later only having to wipe a small amount of spillage from my face. Apollinus was subsequently most grateful for my confirmation of the intimacy of our friendship, something that was to be, within the various meanings of the description, lifelong. (Main amphitheatre, Rome, two weeks later) Morituri te salutant! A man, who now went by the name of Cephas, not his birth appellation but one awarded to him by a now dead friend, was attending his first gladiatorial games in Romes main amphitheatre. He had only recently arrived in the city and was appropriately appalled at much of what he had since seen in the worlds largest and most powerful metropolis. However, his disgust at the lifestyle of many in the Imperial capital was nothing compared to his horror at what he was now about to view. The games took place in the main amphitheatre, a smaller precursor of the great Coliseum that would begin to appear a quarter of a century later. The large oval construction had tiered stands that accommodated 30,000 spectators, 20,000 less than the even more splendid successor facility. Beneath the stadium, there was a large complex of passages, rooms and stables that housed the human and animal performers. There were lifts to hoist performers into, and special equipment to change the scenery in, the arena above. Three main types of gladiatorial event take place in such amphitheatres, the usual shows of deadly man-to-man combat, wild animal fights, or venationes, and mock naval battles, or naumachiae, for which the arena would be flooded. The human performers, often considered far more expendable than some of the animals on display, are professionals, recruited from prisoners of war, slaves and criminals, as well as desperately needy freedmen and citizenry from the basest order. Their social status is low, although successful games participants can acquire tremendous popularity, particularly amongst upper-class women. By the time that I write, the training schools for gladiators have been taken into state control, to prevent the creation of private armies which could be used against Imperial authority. There are now four such schools, which can present 10,000 proficient combatants to the Coliseum on demand. The basic training is essentially of a military nature, which can, through specialism, produce fighters well versed in sixteen different styles of combat. As well as instructors, the schools employees include doctors, masseurs, armourers, bandage experts and tailors. Games were originally formally celebrations for the dead but are now becoming more often events held in honour of the Emperor. In Rome, they are organised by Imperial officials but in the provinces the task falls to the priests of the cult of the Princeps. The morning of the games are generally devoted to the fights with wild animals. In the course of the venationes, bestiarii hunt the likes of bears, lions, panthers, rhinoceroses and elephants, with bows and arrows being the most common weapons used. Combat between animals is also popular, for example a rhinoceros against an elephant or an elephant against a bear. The poor creatures are sometimes linked by long ropes or goaded, occasionally with straw dummies, or stabbed into fury to enrage them enough to fight. The midday period of games is usually taken up by the execution of criminals and those considered enemies of the state by the Emperor. Sometimes wild beasts are let into the arena to tear the naked, unarmed and occasionally bound victims to pieces. The afternoons are the traditional times for man-to-man combat, although the customary order of events is now gradually being eroded. The gladiators enter in a procession and declare to the Emperor Morituri te salutant, or Those who go to their death, greet you! After the weapons are checked by supervisors, the participants then engage in mock combat until a triumphal fanfare signals the beginning of the real fighting. Gladiators normally fight with their national weapons and protection. For example, Thracians use daggers or straight swords with round shields. Some other combatants possess long spears or curved staves and lassoes. The brave retiarii wear only simple light tunics and use nets to try to trap their opponents to kill them then with their tridents. The supervisors arm themselves with fearful whips, staves and red-hot irons in order to prompt any reluctant gladiators into action. The thousands of spectators also usually do their bit to encourage the sport by shouting vociferous and continuous orders to Hit! Strike! Kill! Wounded man can ask for mercy by laying down their arms and raising their right index fingers. The noisy crowd will then make their recommendations as to life or death to the Emperor by respectively signalling thumbs up or down. Doomed gladiators receive the coup de grace from their opponents and figures dressed up as the god of the underworld make certain of the fighters demise with red-hot irons. The bodies are then dragged off through the exit of the Gate of Goddess of Death by representatives of the Etruscan deity, Phersu. Afterwards, the floor of the arena is swept smooth again, with the bloodstains covered by sand, before the next brutal and possibly fatal competition begins. Some amongst the Roman upper classes deplore the games as a senseless amusement of a fanatical crowd. Others value them as an education in cold-blooded courage. However, the events never receive harsh criticism, as their popularity stems from the Empires military traditions and culture, in which it is both usual and natural for some people to have no rights and their lives no value. More humane ideas, as I only too well know, are very uncommon. Certainly, the view of the Emperor Claudius and his people, as they watched the games, was diametrically opposed to that of Cephas, who was probably the only one of the 30,000 spectators present who disliked the day-long spectacle. However, he nevertheless remained until the end, silently praying for the souls of those killed. (Imperial palace, Rome, same time) By art are swift ships propelled by sail and by oar, By art are light chariots driven. Love, too, must be ruled by art. - Ovid (Ars Amatoria) Messalina was not uncommonly naked and in the company of someone not her husband. This time, with her to play games, it was again Mnester, the man skilled at the arts of dancing and theatre, but he was accompanied by two of his actors, whom he knew, from personal experience, were very virile. The idea was that the Empress could continue to be phallically entertained after her regular paramour had temporarily retired exhausted. Messalina was most grateful for the kind consideration, rewarding all three pleasure-givers afterwards with much ill-gotten gold, obtained from the many bribes she received to influence Imperial decision making. The 23 year-old Empress particularly appreciated the game when one of Mnesters young men fornicated with her from the front whilst the other simultaneously entered her from the rear. 5 year-old Britannicus, his best friend, 4 year-old Titus Flavius Vespasianus, and their other usual similarly aged playmates were, at the same time, themselves all naked, but not for the same reason that the mother of Claudius prospective heir had been tempted to disrobe. The young boys were in one of the palaces ornate Greek-style palaestra, adjacent to one of the equally sumptuous bath complexes provided for the Imperial family. However, the infants had not stripped for purposes of cleansing either, because they were all engaged in a game of harpaston. Harpaston was the most popular Roman version of sphaeromachiae, a Greek word describing ball games following the Hellenic style. This included nudity, as well as much enjoyable noisy rough and tumble to gain possession of the spherical leather air-filled folliculus. The bathing of sweaty young boy bodies would follow, once physical exertion and exhaustion had made the washing of the often disobedient charges less troublesome for the attendant eunuch slaves. (The temple of Cybele, Rome, same time) Barbarous boy, who gave you leave to meddle in the art of poetry? - Ovid (Amores) Axenius was not involved in any games. He was instead using his sweet eunuch soprano voice to convey an incantation, whilst attired and made up once more in feminine style, not as ostentatiously female as the gallae but nevertheless humiliating for him. After all, the 16 year-old temple slave still considered himself a male, although his certainty was beginning gradually to lessen. The chants of others preceded and followed that of Axenius but afterwards the large audience of priestesses and worshippers present were unanimously agreed that the young Germanians rendering of his particular verse was best. Imminet leoni virgo caelesti situ! Spicifera iusti inventrix urbium conditrix, Ex quis muneribus nosse contigit deos. Ergo eadem mater diuum. Pax! Virtus! Cybele, Lance vitam et iura pensitans! (The Virgin in her heavenly place rides upon the lion! Bearer of corn, inventor of law, founder of cities, By whose gifts it is mankind's fortune to know the gods. Therefore she is the mother of the gods. Peace! Virtue! Cybele, Weighing life and laws in her balance!) (Plebeian quarter, Rome, same time) (O tempora, O mores![Oh, the times! Oh, the manners!]) - Cicero As Axenius and I felt truly sorry for ourselves, our mutual future lifelong friend, 4 year-old Hylas, to use his new Roman name, was now to endure terrible happenings with such a fortitude that we were later acutely ashamed of our contemporary weaknesses. Our much younger fellow eunuch was about to be introduced to the orgiastic rituals of the secret society that had both purchased him and ordered his gelding. (To be continued in chapter VI Rituals)
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