The Temple of the Muses(54)
The bearers began to trot, then to run as I continued to flail the air as if bringing down a harpy with every blow. The Romans in the litter clapped and cheered me on. Soon I was wishing we had another litter to race against, for I think we made it back to the Palace in record time. After the first quarter-mile there was no crowd to speak of, since nearly everyone in the city had gone to the Rakhotis, but this was so much fun it seemed pointless to slow down.
When we were safe within the Palace precincts, the litter almost tipped over as all the right-hand bearers collapsed at once, coughing and vomiting. Somehow disaster was averted, though, and we dismounted safely.
“I didn’t know you were so handy with a whip,” Hermes said uneasily.
“Keep it in mind,” I advised him. The rest of the Roman party congratulated me and clapped me on the shoulder.
“Just don’t forget the five hundred denarii,” I told them. Then I went to seek out Creticus.
9
THE LEADERS OF THE ROMAN COMMUNITY in Alexandria gathered in the assembly hall of the embassy to address their complaints and concerns to Creticus and the other officers of the Roman legation. There were quite a few of them, merchants for the most part. It was customary for upper-class Romans to despise merchants, but these were a force to be reckoned with. The wealthy grain traders were among the most influential men in our Empire. The moneylenders were similarly powerful, although if anything even less loved. There were many other merchants as well. Exporters of papyrus and books were numerous, as Egypt was virtually the only source of papyrus and the Library was the greatest book-producing organization in the world. There were dealers in ivory and feathers, in exotic animals and slaves. There was even a man whose sole business was the export of high-quality sand for the Circuses and amphitheaters of the Roman world.
“Ambassador,” said the spokesman for the group—a big-nosed, bald-headed individual named, as I recall, Fundanius—“the situation here quickly grows intolerable. We Romans are publicly insulted as we seek to carry out our business in the streets of Alexandria. We are pelted with offal, and our wives are assailed with the vilest of language. Are you going to wait for open violence against us before you take action?”
“What action would you have me take?” Creticus demanded. “I am an ambassador, not a proconsul. I have no imperium and therefore no legions. I cannot whistle up a military force because you are getting nervous. May I remind you that Egypt is an independent nation, a friend and ally of Rome? I will carry your message to his Majesty, but that is all I am empowered to do. I will send a letter to the Senate describing the situation here.”
“What cares this mongrel king for our welfare?” Fundanius said, sneering. “And what good will a letter to the Senate do? If you sent it today, it would not reach Rome before we were all massacred in our beds.”
“A massacre of Roman citizens would probably stir the Senate to action, if that is any comfort to you,” I said helpfully.
“This is an outrage!” Fundanius shouted. “We are treated with disrespect by the Egyptian rabble. Roman citizens!”
“Sir,” said Creticus, “you are a moneylender, and men of your trade are universally hated. You should be grateful that you’ve escaped crucifixion all these years.”
“You can speak thus!” Fundanius said scornfully. “You patricians can huddle safely here in the Palace, gorging yourselves, while we who do the real work of the Empire are exposed to every peril!”
“For your information,” Creticus said, “the gens Caecilia is plebeian. I admit there is little pleasure in sharing the same class designation with moneylenders and tax-farmers.”
A book exporter stood. He was a tall man of dignified appearance.
“Gentlemen, this is unseemly. We need not refight the brawls of the Gracchi when we are in danger from without. In any case, this is not a conflict between Egypt and Rome, but rather the doing of a malignant religious fraud from Asia Minor. Honored Ambassador, can the king do nothing about this man? With his supposed divine revelations he has whipped up the ignorant multitude against us, and it is no more to the advantage of the Ptolemaic house than it is to Rome.”
“Well, at least one of you can talk sense,” Creticus grumbled. “Just now our situation is delicate. King Ptolemy would like to take action, but he worries that rioting here could spread to the nomes and bring about fullscale civil war. For years Luculius and Pompey had their legions in Asia, within easy striking distance of Egypt. For all those years the Egyptians had to tread softly Now such Roman forces as remain under arms are preparing for trouble in Gaul. It could be a long time before we are in a position to intervene in Egyptian affairs.”