After
Eli’s rendezvous with Julia outside of the Circus Maximus, his guardian has become
suspicious. When Eli returns to his seat, the guardian tells him not to take so
long next time. However, Eli shrugs it off, knowing that when the opportunity presents
itself to see Julia again, he will not pass it up.
The
following day, the ludi continues in Rome with a theater show. Eli’s master, Titus,
has finally been acquitted from his adultery charges and is in attendance with Eli.
They watch the first act and then step outside of the arena during the intermission.
Eli becomes annoyed with Titus for complaining about the actors in the play. This
is common, as many ancient Romans held stage actors in contempt, especially due
to the fact that mimes and pantomimes had become the primary form of stage entertainment
by this time. In contrast, Eli enjoyed the first half of the show and is excited
to see what occurs after intermission. Just as they are about to re-enter the performance
space, Eli catches a glimpse of his beloved Julia. She is talking to one of the
actors to the side of the stage. The man is dressed as a woman, which was required
since females were not allowed to perform in this era. Suddenly, a shockwave reverberates
through every fiber of Eli. Julia has just kissed the actor, who is dressed as a
woman. It is a sight to behold, but Eli fails to see the humor at the moment. He
sprints to the stage and tackles the actor, cueing a melee among the fellow actors
and some of the attendees. Titus is outraged at Eli’s actions and pulls him away
from the fight so that he can punish Eli in his own manner. Just then, Julia’s father,
Marcus Julius Antonius, emerges to break up the fight. Senator Antonius grabs Eli
and tells him that the Gods will administer a great punishment unto him. Eli grabs
the knife he has been stashing under his garment and stabs Julia’s father repeatedly,
before turning around and stabbing Titus to death. Julia is overcome with emotion
as this is the most macho display she has ever witnessed. She grabs Eli and they
run away, down the Via Sacra, to start a new life together.
