The Argument: In the dawn, Julia was awake not like usual. It was the celebration
of the Annae Perenae. In the partying outside, Julia caught eye of one of Albinus's
gladiators by the twinkle in his eye. As they entered the theatre, Julia followed not
too far behind and stowed away in the portico. She peered behind the veil the
gladiators rehearsing the play.
But in the middle, a voice shot through the air:
"Run! Bolt doors! Bolt doors!"
A flood of tumultuous senators rushed out of the senate vestibule. "What is this?"
she wondered. She knew Caesar was supposed to stand at the Senate today but
could be the cause of the uproar? But there was no time to linger. Her brute slave
urged her signaling that it was time to go home. She could see even Mark Antony
without his General among the disorderly mob. The entire street outside was in a
mad panic now. Blood rushed up Julia's veins fast. It was something that she'd never
experienced before.
Back at home there was nothing waiting for her. Her husband sat at the Senate that
afternoon but had not returned yet. All that crossed her mind was meeting Marcus
again. And in the thick of her gloominess she passed the night writing half a poem to him:
In these relentless walls and deep surround
Where darkness seeps and melancholies sound
Where sadness is my comfort, woe my keep
I helpless to cry out in silence weep.
Cold, silent walls! unmoved by human stress
Know this your captive dies of loneliness.
Resolve my soul to bear the pang of woe
And teach a tired old tear no more to flow.
Goddess recount how first I met my flame
To look too fondly was my only blame.
Eyes met on eyes, and lips on lips betook
Silent the words, in love's soft voice were spoke.
I heard you sing, to you my soul did fly
Enchanted by the beauty of your eye
Happy to love, unwilling to restrain
Inspired by love what stoic can refrain?
I call no duty but what love has made:
Love came, love saw, love conquered, I obeyed
In me you reined the all-devouring wave
Till spoke the awful truth, "You love a pleb.”
Then was I from the clime of heav'ns thrown
Left to imagine worlds of joy unknown.
"Goodbye" I said, as fast the tears did flow,
"Goodbye, my love, and welcome strains of woe".
Once more, I look, you catch me with a sigh
No, let me that sweet poison taste and die.
Nor cast your beauteous eyes away from mine;
To live being loved by you is joy divine!
Forbidden love - how quick the joy sublimes
To live a lov'r in these oppressive times?
O life you are a sad and strange caprice
Today I smile, tomorrow I find no peace.
Sources:
1. Dando-Collins, Stephen. The Ides: Caesar's Murder and the War for Rome.
2010 Wiley. Hoboken, NJ.
