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NERO
Chapter XVI – Conspiracies (Domus of Aulus Plautius, Rome, Dies Iovis Kal. Iun. DCCC A.V.C., in the 6th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [or Thursday, June 1st, AD 47]) ‘Tempora quid faciunt.’ (‘The times do change.’) - Martial (‘Epigrammaton Liber’) Aulus Plautius returned to his palatial domus with his two sons, one a very surprising recent acquisition. They were in separate litters, carried by four strong slaves apiece. Ahead, another servant, called a ‘lictor’, proudly carried his master’s ‘fasces’, a wooden bundle with an axe in the middle, as befitted the general’s rank amongst high Roman officialdom. Aulus Plautius and his sons were returning home after a day spent watching the gladiatorial contests in the amphitheatre of T. Statilius Taurus on the Campus Martius. Unlike myself, who had attended the same event and had been revolted by the spectacle, the general and the 4 and 10 year-old boys had, like most others present except the performers, thoroughly enjoyed the occasion. Accordingly, when the threesome alighted from their curtained transport to be greeted in the main tablinum of their resplendent residence by Pomponia Graecina, they were all able to answer her question with a resounding simultaneous “Yes!” The boys exhibited particular excitement in replying to their mother’s enquiry of “Well, did you enjoy the games?” Pomponia Graecina, with Nigerinus as ever standing at her side, patiently listened for a while to her sons’ thrilled recall of the day’s events before, having realised that their ecstatic chatter could last all night, she gently and diplomatically brought their babble to a halt. “You can tell me more over dinner,” the smiling Pomponia Graecina eventually advised her sons, “but first you must go with your father and Nigerinus to bathe.” The boys were initially disappointed that their copious verbal recollections had to be temporarily terminated. However, as always, they obeyed their kind, loving mother’s instruction. Even the older newcomer amongst the pair went willingly with Aulus Plautius and the black slave, for he was now thoroughly accustomed to being intimately washed and groomed daily by the pleasant and efficient eunuch or one of his slightly less able colleagues. This event invariably happened whilst similar concurrent attention was given to his younger sibling, although usually much earlier in the day, well before noon. Aulus Plautius’ presence was also unusual because his customary mid-afternoon bathing time was, of course, generally later than that of his sons, and was sometimes passed in one of the supposedly public, but in reality preclusive, baths utilised by the Roman upper classes in the city. Exclusivity was ensured by the high cost of entry, which was way beyond the capacity of a plebeian to afford. Consciences about the exclusion of the lower orders from such an amenity were assuaged by provision of many cheaper, and consequently less opulent, facilities elsewhere. Aulus Plautius used his particular so-called public baths when he desired social discourse with other men in the upper echelons of Roman society. The general sometimes made specific arrangements to meet particular people, with whom he had business or other matters to discuss, within the large ornate amenity. However, on this particular day, spent from morning to late afternoon at the games, normal ablution arrangements had been foregone and so father and sons were cleansed and groomed together by Nigerinus and two other eunuchs of their master’s inner household. Aulus Plautius, as head of his house, benefited from Nigerinus’ now recognised and highly regarded expert attention, whilst the boys had to be content with the less proficient, but still good, handling of the other slaves. Neither the 4 nor 10 year-olds begrudged their father the privilege of the black eunuch’s skills, and not just because of respect for the head of the house or the fact that he was kind and, when state duties or other affairs permitted, always attentive to his sons. They were rather proud to be sharing the domus’ private bathhouse with their male parent, for they were still basking in his reflected glory, the general currently being one of the most famous and esteemed Romans as a result of his recent victories in Britannia. The boys had also been particularly proud to be with their father at the recent games, when the huge crowds greeted the great general with almost as much acclamation as the Emperor himself. The cheering even continued during the journey home, when passers-by noticed to whom the train of three litters belonged. The boys had additionally been as thrilled at observing the games from their highly privileged position in the Imperial box as at actually watching the sight of the bloody scenes below. The very pleasant company of Britannicus and his best friend was another very agreeable bonus to the occasion. The newcomer to the family was now less reticent at disrobing to permit the attendant slave carefully to wash and groom him. Drastic cleansing was also no longer needed, just the normal bathing routine, which began with the light oiling of his naked body. The boy did not even now mind sporting the inevitable erection whilst his eunuch rubbed his very pretty, completely smooth 10 year-old form, appreciating from his new father’s example that such a phenomenon was not unusual during the process. As the nude boy lay on the marble-topped table to accept the slave’s manual attentions, whilst his father and brother received similar nearby, he reflected again on his recent sudden miraculous change in fortune. He still did not fully know why the wonderful Pomponia Graecina had chosen the seemingly drastic step of adopting him as her second son instead of selecting less extreme methods to help him. In fact, Pomponia Graecina, who was in her mid-forties, about twelve years younger than her husband, had always wanted children. She had endured a number of miscarriages and had actually given birth on several occasions but her offspring had unfortunately not survived beyond their early months. On turning forty, she had sadly given up the idea of having a child of her own blood. However, she then experienced another confinement, as a result of her spouse’s last night at home before departing for Britannia. This time, marvellously, the pregnancy not only went to full term but also produced a healthy baby boy, named after his unavoidably absent father. Aulus Plautius therefore returned not just to an ovation and home but additionally to his 4-year old namesake. The elderly general’s grateful tears were profuse when his beloved wife introduced her husband for the first time to his young son and heir. Neither parent had believed that they would be blessed with such a fabulous miracle so late in life. The infant was healthy and possessed a pleasant gregarious intelligent character. However, in order to help him to continue to survive his childhood safely with a maintained admirable disposition, both parents decided that, in the absence of natural siblings, a worthy young residential companion should now be acquired. Cephas, who regularly visited his most important patron, Pomponia Graecina, was aware of this desire and so it was not just guesswork that encouraged him to believe that the woman might help the young street urchin. Cephas, however, had not expected Pomponia Graecina to adopt the beggar boy. He had instead believed that she might take him on as a companionable servant for her son. Nevertheless, when the preacher later reflected on her decision, which had initially stunned him, he began to recognise why it had been made. The astute Cephas would not have made the approach to Pomponia Graecina if he had not quickly judged, from his discussion with the young beggar about his life and background, that the boy was a deserving candidate to be the younger Aulus Plautius’ live-in friend. However, it was not the man's resultant recommendation, based on this perception, that had caused the woman to decide that adoption of another son rather than recruitment of another servant was the most appropriate way forward. It was a step that her husband, as always putty in his dear wife’s hands, warmed towards with remarkably little persuasion. Pomponia Graecina had made her decision when tears had formed in her eyes. This had occurred after Cephas had revealed to her who the young beggar’s true father and mother had been. However, no-one else, other than her husband and, of course, the boy himself, was to learn the potentially dangerous secret of the 10 year-old’s real name for many years. Instead, a private familial conspiracy was hatched to introduce the child to high Roman society as an orphan adopted from a conveniently obscure rural branch of the maternal ‘gens’, or ‘family’. The former street beggar now bore the same proud praenomen and nomen as his fair-featured adoptive father and brother, Aulus Plautius, with the addition of the differentiating cognomen of Suffuscus, referring to the colour of light brown, the hue of his lovely hair and eyes. Accordingly, herein, I shall refer to the boy, as many others now did to avoid confusion with his father and brother, simply as ‘Suffuscus’. I consider this distinction important, reader, because he has a major role to play in my life and saga. (Domus of Palaemon’s residential pupils, plebeian quarter, Rome, same time) ‘Patience is the best remedy for every trouble.’ - Plautus Persius and Quintilianus were also engaged in private conspiracy. Almost three months had passed since their painful humiliation at the hands of Otho and his younger schoolboy companions in the woods by the Via Flamina. However, the two friends, intimate in all senses of the word, had not given up plans to secure revenge. They instead patiently believed that the time lapse would encourage their abusers into a false sense of security and that the imminent advent of the long summer holidays would additionally aid their enterprise. Persius and Quintilianus were not returning for the vacations to their families, respectively in Volaterrae in Etruria, just north of Rome, and Calagurris on the river Ebro in Hispania. It would have been relatively easy and quick for P to do so but the length and potential dangers of Q’s journey home had encouraged the latter to remain in Rome. It was something his best friend had therefore elected to do as well, so as not to leave his closest companion to experience a lonely summer. His decision had been assisted by not being particularly attracted to spending his vacation with an uncaring, alcoholic and sometimes violent widower father. As mentioned, there was an additional motive for Persius’ decision, for he and Quintilianus appreciated that Otho and his young cronies might become more vulnerable to revenge when the gang tried to find ways of averting boredom during the early stages of the holidays. For young Roman patricians, most of the hot summer would be spent on rural estates or at seaside villas with the rest of their families, but usually only from late Junius. Persius and Quintilianus therefore recognised that they had a few weeks in which to implement their plan, which was based on their belief that they knew what would be one of the pastimes of Otho’s gang. P and Q hoped that the activity would provide them with their perfect opportunity for vengeance. As the naked Persius and Quintilianus manually brought each other’s cocks to delicious orgasmic eruption in the privacy of their bedroom, their pleasure was intensified by the thought that their patience should soon pay off by being able at last to initiate their conspiracy. They were alone because their roommates, Gaius and Hylas, would not return from the barbarity of the gladiatorial games until later. The 17 and 5 year-olds would be also delayed because, after the awful day-long spectacle had finally concluded, they would first be escorting, back to the urban villa of Caius Silius, a certain young slave, by the name of Bicilus. In fact, despite introducing myself at the beginning of my history as Bicilus, I shall now confess that this is not my true birthname, nor will it be my appellation when I die. Officially in Rome, male slaves are historically named after their masters by adding to the owners’ praenomena the suffix of ‘puer’ or ‘por’, meaning boy, which would be considered an insult to a freeman. This custom, however, became rather impractical, given the small variety of Roman forenames, which gave all male slaves one of only just over thirty titles. The practice was even more unreasonable when the master owned many male slaves, for example all of Caius Silius’ would be called Caipor or some variant. A fashion therefore developed to add a Greek forename. I suspect that Caius Silius’ daughters would have liked my personal Greek affix to be ‘No-Balls’ in the Hellenic tongue. Fortunately, my master, even before he had seen me, had already decided on Bicilus, for no better reason than a recently deceased eunuch of this name had been a favourite slave of his when a boy. Despite our initial difficulties in communication because of my lack of Latin at the time, Apollinus had successfully advised me about my new appellation before I ever met my new owner. (Campus Martius, Rome, Dies Iovis A.D. VI Id. Iun. DCCC A.V.C., in the 6th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [or Thursday, June 8th, AD 47]) ‘Many receive advice, few profit by it.’ - Publius Syrus It was the fourth day of the long summer holidays. Persius and Quintilianus had patiently waited and watched in their hiding place for their chance of revenge and the delicious moment had finally arrived. The seed of their plan had actually been planted by Palaemon, during one of his considerate frequent visits to his domi for residential pupils to check personally on the wellbeing of his charges, some of whom were a very long way from home and family. Ever thoughtful, the renowned teacher wanted none of the boys to be dissatisfied, sad or lonely. Such consideration significantly aided Palaemon’s popularity with pupils and parents, helping to gain his schools much repute, especially amongst the equestrian class. The latter generally did not mind the man’s extremely humble beginnings and was seemingly indifferent to his reputation as a rake. The parental customers instead appeared very grateful for the careful attention to their boys’ welfare, not only for the maintenance of their happiness but also for the stimulus such a policy appeared to give to learning. There seemed no doubt to many that the eventual young product of the renowned teacher’s educational amenities were young men of ability and well-rounded character. Neither parents nor sons thought anything of the wide use of corporal punishment in Palaemon’s educational establishments, especially as it was usually only dispensed when it was deserved, which is not something that can be said of all such places. Frequent chastisement of children, particularly boys and regardless of status, by cane or whip is universal throughout the Roman Empire, not only at school but also at home. The young victims live to expect it if they are caught misbehaving, and invariably grow up to believe that their own offspring will benefit considerably from a similar corrective regime to encourage personal discipline. Accordingly, fathers, mothers and teachers believe that they would be failing to bring up the next generation properly as well-adjusted citizens if physical castigation of the young was not meted out when clearly due. The commissioning by Palaemon of Gaius’ assistance to resolve the original problem that had existed between Persius and Quintilianus had been symbolic of the renowned teacher’s comprehensive knowledge of his pupils’ personal difficulties. The youth’s success in speedily resolving the problem was also testimony to the tutor’s sagacity as to how such issues could best be tackled, including, if necessary, the use of wise delegation to those better qualified to fulfil the remedial tasks. As mentioned earlier in my saga, Palaemon had perceived that Persius and Quintilianus had been bullied, humiliatingly and painfully, by young Otho and his cronies on the Ides of Martius. The teacher had also appreciated that the boys would want to extract revenge. His philosophy to life did not discourage such a desire, as long as vengeance was in appropriate measure and essentially harmless. His beliefs instead stimulated him to conspire to provide a little help, wanting his pupils not to make fools of themselves or put themselves in the way of further harm. Ever mindful of his educational responsibilities, Palaemon also thought that the planning process associated with securing retribution would be a good intellectual exercise. Accordingly, during one of his visits to the domus in which Persius and Quintilianus resided, the teacher gave P and Q some information, believing, correctly as it turned out, that they would put the data to good use. Palaemon advised Persius and Quintilianus that, during the forthcoming summer holidays when the boys would be remaining in Rome, they might like to check out a new site he had just heard about, which might be a good venue for some pleasurable activity. He smilingly informed his pleasant pretty pupils, whom he knew were rather more than just close friends, of what he had been told at a recent dinner hosted by the father of Marcus Salvius Otho. Otho’s family had purchased one of the few remaining undeveloped riverbank sites on the Campus Martius in Rome. They planned to build a new domus at the tree-lined location once finance had been finalised. Meanwhile, the father had advised Palaemon that his son and some friends would probably use the private spot for bathing during the early summer before the families departed for the countryside, few Roman urban domi possessing swimming pools. Persius and Quintilianus were at first puzzled as to why Palaemon had told them this news, as the teacher must have known that Otho and his younger cronies attended different schools and were not friends. However, later, when they were alone, naked and in each other’s arms once more, engaged in further post-sex conspiratorial chat, realisation finally dawned. Persius and Quintilianus suddenly appreciated that Palaemon must have somehow guessed their desire to avenge a wrong perpetrated by Otho and his gang. Neither thought for a moment that Gaius or Hylas would have betrayed their secret, correctly trusting their roommates explicitly. However, neither also now minded their teacher’s perceptive supposition because it was evident from the man’s conspiratorial air when conveying his tidings that he thought that the knowledge might be of help in their quest for vengeance. Palaemon was, as usual, correct and Persius and Quintilianus, having given their personal adult slaves the afternoon off, were now hiding in shrubbery near to the pleasant secluded bathing spot recently purchased by Otho’s family. Trespassers were discouraged from entering the little riverside wood by signs threatening arrest and prosecution but this did not deflect P and Q from their mission. Of course, Persius and Quintilianus did not know on what day Otho and his gang would come for a swim and so had decided to visit the site every afternoon until they did. This was their fourth day in their hideaway, where they would stay for a couple of hours until reluctantly deciding that their targets were not going to materialise. However, on this occasion, they did. The identity of the arrivals confirmed Otho’s particular liking for younger friends of great social standing, whom he obviously enjoyed influencing and leading. Lesser gang members had apparently not been invited for the swim, for there were only four boys accompanying the 15 year-old. These were in descending order of current importance 14 year-old Rubellius Plautus, 9 year-old Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, 12 year-old Silius Italicus and 8 year-old Marcus Annaeus Lucanus, with the first and second pairings separated in stature only by their age. Persius and Quintilianus were amazed that only one slave, who belonged to Otho, had escorted the quintet to the secluded scenic spot. In fact, the other personal servants had been dismissed for the afternoon after they had accompanied their charges’ litters to the residence of the 15 year-old, who had reasons not to be guarded too closely during the later swimming expedition. This rationale also now encouraged Otho to discharge his own surprised slave for a few hours, saying that his four friends and he would be perfectly safe whilst they engaged in their pastime. The adult servant was not one to argue. Not only did the surroundings indeed seem secure but also the time off gave him the opportunity to visit a secret friend, a female street prostitute who gave him pleasure in return for the odd item of food he salvaged for her from his master’s table. He had no such largesse now but he was sure that he could obtain what he wanted from the whore on credit. As usual with Romans of all classes, Otho and his gang swam naked and soon all five boys had stripped and were in the water, which was then upstream of where the Tiber became Rome’s main sewer. If this had not been the case, the 15 year-old’s father would not, of course, have considered the site for a new riverside domus. Although normally shy of nudity outside the bathhouse, the young quintet was not timid in each other’s company because they had swum together previously, during visits to Rubellius Plautus’ urban domus, which possessed a pool, and, in previous summers, to each other’s country villas. However, all were rather bored of using the 14 year-old’s city facility and were currently looking forward to the thrill of frolicking more freely in the great river on which Rome stood, especially on this very hot day. The sun beat down relentlessly with not a cloud to bar its rays. The observing Persius and Quintilianus were immensely happy to be hiding in the relative cool of the tree-shaded foliage, although they were beginning to envy their targets’ access to the even cooler river. This stretch of water was virtually clear of traffic because of its shallowness and bends, most barges and boats preferring to traverse a straighter, deeper canal, which ran parallel to the Tiber but out of sight beyond a quiet distant bush-covered embankment. The cocks of Persius and Quintilianus became quite hard under their light summer tunics at the sight of the enemy quintet first stripping and playing naked in and out of the Tiber. All of the young carefree nudes were quite handsome, with the exception of the 9 year-old, with both P and Q considering that Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus’ chubbiness was rather off-putting. The secret watchers were also amused by the fact that Otho appeared to share their genital excitement without concern, for the unabashed 15 year-old displayed a fulsome and constant erection throughout proceedings. The smirking Persius and Quintilianus additionally noticed that only Otho exhibited pubic hair, and then not very much. 14 year-old Rubellius Plautus, who was, in the opinion of P and Q, the prettiest of the young offerings on display, was still completely smooth in the genital region, although his currently flaccid penis promised to show much maturity if it too became excited. Once serious swimming by the young quintet finally began, after the initial playful manoeuverings had continued for a while, Quintilianus whispered to Persius “Should we do it now?” The latter was about to answer positively when Otho, pleasant body dripping wet, gleaming in the sunlight and still sporting a hard-on, appeared on the riverbank nearby. He was quickly followed by a similarly damp and sparkling Rubellius Plautus, whose own cock was beginning to grow visibly. Meanwhile, the other three members of the fivesome remained in the water, whilst P and Q forestalled action in favour of maintaining their quiet furtive observation of events. Both Otho and Rubellius Plautus, however, now ran towards where Persius and Quintilianus were hiding. (Villa of Caius Silius, Rome, same time) ‘I was panic-stricken at his words, and could not look at him without trembling.’ - Plato (‘The Republic’) I was crying my heart out and could not stop. Unusually for the normally very straightforward Gaius, the youth had been keeping bad news from me until the last moment, knowing what my undoubted reaction would be. The perceptive 17 year-old was, as customarily, not mistaken, hence my lachrymose display, which both he and Hylas tried their best to assuage by gently holding and stroking me. I was 15 but, at that instant, you would have thought that I was at least half that age or younger, for this is how true love can affect you. I was finally brought to my senses when Gaius quietly declared “Oh, alright, I won’t go. I’ll make some excuses and stay in Rome instead.” At last, selflessness guiltily began to overcome my selfishness and, having absorbed the full implications of my youthful lover’s kind offer, I decided that sadly it had to be rejected. I somehow stopped crying, dried my eyes and face as best I could and then looked at Gaius. His right hand reached out to help clear my visage of extraneous tears before remaining to hold my shoulder. We were still dressed because we had not yet made love, for we actually did spend the majority of our daily time together in dedicated educational pursuits. Gaius was determined to improve my ability at speaking, reading and writing Latin up to his own undoubtedly very skilled standards, before moving on to higher plains of learning. Gaius was always patient. However, he also required my fullest attention and efforts and I believe that my rapid progress proves that I did not let him down. I was not the only recipient of such kind attention because Gaius was teaching Hylas as well, every evening in Palaemon’s domus for residential pupils. However, because of his slave’s tender age, he approached the tuition of the 5 year-old more slowly and less demandingly whereas, with me, the 17 year-old was correctly trying to make up for lost time. During this particular daily meeting, as Gaius was guiding my reading and understanding of Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’, I recognised that he was hiding something bad from me. I had actually known for some time previously that he was building up the nerve to tell me. I could now read him as well as I could the scroll in my hands. However, I did not possess the fortitude to extract the dreaded data from him, preferring to let him tell me in his own good time, whilst determined to be brave when I was finally acquainted with the information. The news, when it was eventually delivered, did not meet my worse nightmares by any stretch of the imagination. Nevertheless, my resolve to be courageous did not hold and the sobbing began. Gaius had advised me that his parents expected him to return home to Volsinii for the summer and he felt obliged to go. He did not need to add that his feeling of obligation stemmed from not only duty but also genuine love for his father and mother, which was the main reason why I could not stand in his way. My attitude might have been different if it was only Gaius’ sense of responsibility towards parents that barred our way to continuing our wondrous association over the next 2˝ months. However, I now had enough appreciation of life, much learnt from the wonderful youth himself, that you should not stand in the way of love. I reflected how my own father and mother would have felt if their adored younger son had declined such an opportunity to see them again. Of course, I should have seen the approach of Gaius’ dilemma, which his situation truly was because I knew he was torn between conflicting but similar loving emotions. However, my passion for him had blinded me to the implications of the long summer break, never thinking for a moment that a day would come when he would not be nearby to help, protect and love me. The cause of this blindness had also induced me to break down immediately on hearing his tidings. Fortunately, I must really have been learning from the example of his perfect personality because, after regaining my composure, I told him “No! You must go home and not just because it’s your duty as a son. I also realise that you want to do so. I know you love your parents and, after over nine months in Rome, have finally begun to appreciate the charms of your hometown!” I tried my best to prevent my voice from showing too much sad emotion, and my eyes from shedding more tears, whilst I conveyed these words but I do not think that I quite succeeded. However, when Gaius’ response was to reiterate his intention to stay, I successfully stiffened my resolve and engaged him in short friendly but nevertheless heated discussion. The eventual outcome of this was triumph for my point of view. I rarely defeated Gaius in debate. However, I knew that my pyrrhic victory had been made much easier by a beautiful opponent who did not really consider his position truly defensible and only needed a slight push to encourage his retreat. My triumphal reward consisted of several delightful gifts. First, there was a tight lingering hug from Gaius, which I reluctantly had to terminate when I felt some tears fall on my neck. As my eyes were now dry and Hylas had diplomatically retreated from the bed to sit somewhere else in Caius Silius’ guestroom, recognising what was now certainly imminent, I realised that there was only one possible source of the lachrymation. “Now, stop,” I reprimanded Gaius, with outrageous gall, given what I myself has so recently been doing, “or you’ll start me again. We’ll only be apart for a couple of months and I’ll be alright until you return. Now, let’s say our temporary goodbyes in an appropriate manner.” I then began to pull my skimpy tunic up and over my head. Shortly afterwards, I received my second triumphal reward. The third was another scroll, which Gaius presented to me as a parting gift once we had redressed. I opened the papyrus to discover that it was a neat copy in Latin of Plato’s ‘The Republic’. “I don’t agree with everything that’s written in the work,” my youthful lover announced, “but concur with much. However, I think that it will help guide you to what we all should be seeking in life, the harmony of our souls!” The 17 year-old received a lingering kiss from a 15 year-old as a thank you. Shortly afterwards, after a heart rendering farewell, somehow mutually bravely borne without further crying, Gaius and I parted. However, sweet Hylas now had tears in his eyes as he left with his master, matching the earlier lachrymose displays of his supposed elders. My only consolation at our temporary parting was a reassurance from Gaius that Palaemon himself would ensure my continued wellbeing during the youth’s absence. Gaius did not say so but he was obviously concerned that Caius Silius might conspire to make use of the youth’s departure for Volsinii to act against me in some nasty way. (Imperial palace, Rome, same time) ‘……..the just does not desire more than his like but more than his unlike, whereas the unjust desires more than both his like and his unlike?’ - Plato (‘The Republic’) In fact, I was currently far from Caius Silius’ mind. He was naked, sharing the Empress’ bed with the similarly nude Messalina. The young woman, still very beautiful despite her well-practised nymphomania, was stroking my master’s flaccid cock whilst they conversed, hoping to revive the substantial penile instrument for eventual resumed activity. Messalina’s body exhibited cum stains around all three main bodily orifices, locations where Caius Silius had already impregnated her. However, despite my master’s rightly renowned sexual athleticism, an early attempt to repeat his efforts for a fourth time was temporarily beyond him. Caius Silius therefore encouraged Messalina to talk about their private conspiracy. Both now appreciated that their circumstances were beginning to ripen sufficiently to enable them soon to launch their attempt to attain supreme power. They therefore quietly debated their next moves until, male partner’s cock finally reinvigorated, the supposed handsomest man in Rome was tempted by the Empress to place more of his seed into her eagerly waiting vagina. Meanwhile, unseen ears once again heard everything from nearby. (Domus of Aulus Vitellius, Rome, same time) ‘……..perfect injustice is more gainful than perfect justice?’ - Plato (‘The Republic’) Aulus Vitellius was lounging alone on a couch in the sun-filled open-air atrium of his palatial domus, close to an ‘impluvium’, or ‘ornamental pool’. He had a goblet of wine in his hands and his mind was focused on domestic problems. Aulus Vitellius was unhappy with married life. His new bride was pretty enough and enjoyable in bed but she also had a mind of her own, which she frequently expressed. Her freshly acquired husband was therefore regularly assailed by vociferous complaints about his social activities. He had believed it perfectly acceptable to continue to pursue a vigorously hyperactive and variable sex life by holding and attending orgies. Unfortunately, his spouse disagreed and not only told him so but also was making life hell for him. Despite the primary role played by husbands in Roman society, wives are not treated as badly as they were in ancient Greece, when they would be virtually locked away to look after the home and the children whilst their menfolk engaged and enjoyed themselves elsewhere. This would often take the form of attending symposia, where the adult male host and guests would drink and dine whilst viewing and discussing the particular attributes of an especially beautiful boy, all present being of renowned citizen stock. The boy would have been brought to the event by his proud father at the behest of the host, who would have earlier expressed his great admiration for the son and wish to introduce him to the ways of true Greek manhood. The parent would happily depart to return after the symposium had finished. Meanwhile, the youngest freeborn visitor of worthy background would soon find himself without robes and being passed from host to guests and back again. The men would talk to each other and to the boy, whilst intimately manually inspected his young delectable form. Sexual activity would often then be indulged in if the young star of the event was willing, which was invariably the case, otherwise he would not have attended. Agreement would then generally be reached later with the father for the son to gain an adult pedagogue, who would befriend, in all senses of that phrase, and guide the child until he finally entered manhood. Aulus Vitellius’ orgies had often followed similar paths. However, they would invariably include young females as well as males and the extent of the commitment of the many resultant eager pedagogues did not go beyond that night’s bedding of the girls or boys. In Rome, a husband’s rights to such indulgences are not as in ancient Greece. For a start, wives are granted a significantly greater visible role and rights, which can, if necessary, be upheld by the courts. Aulus Vitellius wanted no such trouble, especially as, like Caius Silius, he was sensitive towards his public, if not private, reputation, being as ambitious as my master. He therefore very reluctantly curtailed his activities, further encouraged by the fact that his spouse, because of Imperial blood links, came from an even more influential family than his own and was earnestly supported by her important brother. Aulus Vitellius was, of course, dissatisfied with the situation and began to formulate a conspiracy to secure a return to his old ways. The strategy that he finally devised involved targeting someone even more important than the present incumbent to be his wife, someone who was actually still a child and so was not in a position to disturb his sexual proclivities. Naturally, this would mean a tricky divorce and would also entail the removal from the scene of his young marriage target’s current betrothed. Nevertheless, Aulus Vitellius planned to overcome these problems and achieve his aim through just one device, which would simultaneously not only permit him to appear to be the innocent party but also bring public ostracism to his current spouse and brother-in-law. Alus Vitellius’ present wife was Junia Calvina, great great granddaughter of the Emperor Augustus and brother of Lucius Junius Silanus, himself earmarked for wedlock to 8 year-old Octavia, elder offspring of the latest Princeps and Messalina.
(Campus Martius, Rome, same time) ‘……..a friend ought always to do good to a friend and never evil.’ - Plato (‘The Republic’) Fortunately, the concealment of Persius and Quintilianus was sufficiently good to prevent discovery by Otho and Rubellius Plautus, although at first P and Q worried that this might not be the case. Persius and Quintilianus were put at their ease when Otho stopped nearby to allow Rubellius Plautus to catch up, holding out his right hand as he did so. 15 and 14 year-old palms were soon joined and the naked boys then dashed behind some bushes to disguise their activities from anyone in or on the river. However, unknowing to them, they were still clearly visible to P and Q, whose excitement was reinforced considerably when they now saw the pair of older boys close by embracing and kissing. By this time, Rubellius Plautus’ substantial cock was now as hard as that of Otho and those of the two secret observers. The erotic embrace lasted a while until the 15 year-old eventually disentangled himself to request “Lean against the tree. I can’t wait!” His large throbbing penis, almost vertical and drooling precum, clearly indicated what was behind his impatience. Rubellius Plautus, whose own cock now exhibited similar features, obeyed the order without demur, turning his back to Otho in order to do so. The 14 year-old then lent his palms against the nearest tree and bent himself slightly at the waist so that his pert posterior was perfectly positioned for his young lover’s delectation. Rubellius Plautus soon felt Otho’s hands rub his lustrously smooth prone buttocks before hearing a couple of spits as the 15 year-old lubricated his engorged member. The 14 year-old then felt his slightly older lover’s cockhead press gently against his sphincter, whilst the hand not aiming the soon-to-be-launched projectile engulfed his own vibrating penis. Such was their own personal excitement at the erotic sight that Persius and Quintilianus were now sweating, but not from the warmth of the sun, and encountering great difficulty in remaining quiet. They also struggled to prevent personal orgasm when they saw Otho’s cock slip, with little resistance, into Rubellius Plautus’ eagerly awaiting rear orifice. It seemed to Persius and Quintilianus that Rubellius Plautus’ patrician rectum was well accustomed to such invasion. This view appeared confirmed when the great grandson of Emperor Tiberius uttered no anguished moan at Otho’s invasion but instead groaned ecstatically, whilst the 15 year-old’s large erection thrust in and out of his 14 year-old innards with great urgency. The acute titillation experienced by the young spectators, however, temporarily made them fail to recognise why Otho had been so eager to dismiss the slaves who would normally attend the quintet. The 15 year-old obviously wanted none of these minions to be in a position to report to parents what he was occasionally literally up to with friends. It was a realisation that would only dawn on Persius and Quintilianus later, when they discussed how lucky they had been that the servants had been discharged from their duties for a few hours. Otho was rubbing Rubellius Plautus’ rigid cock, as his own enjoyed the delights of the 14 year-old’s rear. However, there was only so much pleasure the boys could endure before the inevitable happened. Simultaneous to a loud cry of sheer rapture from the 15 year-old, as he filled his friend with large amounts of love potion, the 14 year-old’s penis erupted copious amounts of similar white fluid all over the tree trunk in front of him. Meanwhile, Persius and Quintilianus could not prevent themselves depositing the same genital product in their own undergarments, miraculously managing somehow to remain silent as they did so, although it was doubtful whether the naked boys they were watching would, in their sexual delirium, have noticed if noises had been emitted. The only sounds that could be heard above the loud pants of Otho and Rubellius Plautus were the singing of birds, the chirping of crickets and the more distant splashing of three boys still swimming in the river. However, this situation was eventually disturbed when a pop resounded, as a softening satiated cock extracted itself from a similarly satisfied anus to permit a vacuum to be eradicated by the inflow of air. The scarlet-faced Persius and Quintilianus then saw the equally flushed Otho and Rubellius Plautus embrace and kiss again briefly before emerging from their hiding place to dash to the river, into which they quickly dived. P and Q presumed that the 15 and 14 year-olds’ rush would be caused by their need to first hide from their friends and then wash their reddened semen-stained cocks, with the recipient of recent sodomy also having to pay attention to his cum-smeared bottom. (Villa of Caius Silius, Rome, same time) ‘……..forms of government differ; there are tyrannies, and there are democracies, and there are aristocracies…….. And the different forms of government make laws democratical, aristocratical, tyrannical, with a view to their several interests; and these laws, which are made by them for their own interests, are the justice which they deliver to their subjects, and him who transgresses them they punish as a breaker of the law, and unjust. And that is what I mean when I say that in all states there is the same principle of justice, which is the interest of the government; and as the government must be supposed to have power, the only reasonable conclusion is that everywhere there is one principle of justice, which is the interest of the stronger.’ - Plato (‘The Republic’) I was now standing discreetly but formally, hands behind back and legs slightly apart, in a corner of one of Caius Silius’ resplendent tablina, ready when beckoned to serve my mistresses and their younger guests. I had wiped as much evidence of my earlier crying as possible from my face and tried not to look too miserable. Meanwhile, Sribonia and Tullia were nearby, playing board games with their younger guests, Britannicus and Titus Flavius Vespasianus.
You may think, reader, that, with much time spent with Gaius and Hylas, and with Sribonia and Tullia adopting a more responsible attitude towards me as a result of Britannicus’ influence, I must now have been having an easy time. However, this was not the case. Even a bribed major domo could not let any of the his master’s slaves appear to be slackers through favouritism because this could cause problems with the other servants. Even the dreadful penalties sometimes doled out for misdemeanors might not eradicate the difficulties that this could present because it was well known that the servile class had many very subtle, disguised ways of expressing resentment. The freeman in charge of the household was not prepared to endanger his position by allowing this to happen and so kept everyone, including me, very busy. I had to make up for time spent with my youthful lover. I was invariably up before dawn for a cold bath and careful grooming and dressing supervised by Apollinus, who was charged with making me presentable to be of service in the inner household. A floral laurel in my long golden hair remained a part of my domestic uniform, which still otherwise comprised the bronze slave tag around my neck and a revealingly short scarlet tunic, with Caius Silius’ insignia and no underwear. My feet remained bare unless I left the confines of the urban villa, when I would be permitted to wear my sandals. However, the external welfare of the souls of my feet was undertaken not out of any consideration for me as a person but from the need not to give a slave the excuse of developing a foot injury that could lay him off work for a while. Such damage was easy to suffer on the heavily littered and polluted streets of Rome, especially in the narrow thoroughfares of the plebeian quarters, always dark even at the peak of summer daytime. If time permitted and we were safely alone, I would usually thank Apollinus for his kind pre-dawn attention in the usual manual or oral manner before checking the tidiness of the family accommodation and helping to prepare the breakfast table settings for the master and mistresses. This morning repast was usually taken by Caius Silius separately and much later than his daughters because of his customary extended exertions of the previous night, frequently exhaustingly indulged at the Imperial palace. I personally attended the mistresses at their breakfast and made myself constantly available to be at their beck and cry throughout the remainder of the day, apart from one session. Gaius’ daily visits were now timed to coincide with the girls’ bathing routines, when they would be attended only by female slaves. After my class with Gaius, I would return to the service of Sribonia and Tullia until they retired for the night. However, my work was not yet over, for I would now be required to help to clean and tidy the family rooms in readiness for the next day. I was pointedly kept well away from Caius Silius. Happily, he reciprocated during his now rare excursions to the basement slave quarters. Unfortunately, the salvation of my bottom from my master’s enormous penile tool often only meant more work for the pert posteriors of Apollinus or some other poor slaveboys. When formal banquets were now held, I again tended to serve the mistresses or alternatively guests distant from the master, who tried to treat me as if I did not exist in his eyes. However, I could sometimes feel his malevolent stares piercing my back. Gaius’ coercive influence had happily kept me out of being of service, in two senses of that word, at Caius Silius’ occasional orgies for male cronies, now no longer frequented by either Palaemon or my youthful lover. Their non-attendance was not a snub to my master, just a reflection of the fact that the latter no longer extended invites to the renowned teacher and his current star pupil. Nevertheless, Caius Silius still kept to the agreement he had reached with Gaius and Palaemon. When such dubious occasions occurred, I was more than pleased to be sent to help Apollinus and others in the kitchens rather than serve lechers at tables and later in guestrooms. I ate when duties allowed and brief relief cover was organised by the major domo, although he would sometimes forget my need for food. Bed for me was usually attainable at about the 22nd hour of the day, although there might not be time for any sleep at all if a function had been held because they often lasted until daylight. When this happened, Gaius would often take pity on me and let me doze instead of reading the latest scroll he had brought me or practising my writing on the clay tablet he loaned me. The sessions with the wonderful youth were kind respites from my daily toil that I would miss greatly whilst he was away from Rome. Sometimes, if I did manage some nighttime sleep, it would be interrupted by the requirement to go again to clean and tidy some family rooms, disturbed earlier by the late arrival home of Caius Silius from a banquet elsewhere. He would often be accompanied by drunken acquaintances and all would be set on further drink and entertainment. Depending on tastes, the latter might include the bodies of some of my master’s choicest young slaves, a selection from which I was now gratefully excluded, although Apollinus was often not so lucky. Occasionally, it would be me who had to attend to Apollinus at the pre-dawn bath because of my fellow 15 year-old’s involvement in one of Caius Silius’ nocturnal sojourns to the basement or late-night revelries above. I hope that you can therefore appreciate, reader, from this description of my normal routine, that my current life, although I know it could have been much worse, was no sinecure. (Campus Martius, Rome, same time) ‘”Tell me then, O thou heir of the argument, what did Simonides say, and according to you truly say, about justice?” “He said that the repayment of a debt is just, and in saying so he appears to me to be right.”’ - Plato (‘The Republic’) It took some time for Persius and Quintilianus to recover themselves from the recent erotic scene to progress their plan of vendetta, although, reader, on reflection, they probably never truly did for the practice that they had just observed now became part of their own sexual repertoire. Nevertheless, on this particular day, they would have to defer their first attempt at the art in favour of initially securing their revenge. They did so now by emerging from their hiding place to gather up their targets’ clothing whilst the quintet remained occupied in the Tiber. It was with great pleasure that, after carefully placing undetected the light summer tunics, undergarments and sandals in the cloth sack they had brought with them for the purpose, a grinning Persius shouted a greeting to Otho and his friends, who were still swimming. “Hello, boys,” P said, “I hope you’re enjoying yourselves!” Otho and his companions immediately stopped what they were doing and, with heads bobbing above the water, looked at the riverbank to see Persius and Quintilianus standing there with broad smiles and a full sack. “What are you two doing here,” the concerned leader of the quintet asked, “as this is private property?” “Oh, sorry,” P replied whilst maintaining his smirk, “we’ll leave immediately, taking this discarded clothing we’ve found with us.” “You can’t do that,” shrieked Otho, “because the clothes belong to us.” “Can’t we?” replied Quintilianus, not wanting his friend to have all of the fun in advising the quintet of their fate, before adding “Just watch us!” The quick thinking Otho, however, appreciating that Persius and Quintilianus were attempting to realise revenge for the incident in the woods by the Via Flamina, by leaving him and his friends naked a long way from their homes, thought that he had a clever retort. “Take them,” he declared, “for we don’t care. My slave will eventually return and I’ll have him fetch fresh apparel. Meanwhile, we’ll just continue to play here!” “That mightn’t be advisable,” Persius immediately responded. “Why not?” asked Otho, as he and his four worried companions slowly made their way towards the riverbank, knowing that greater speed would not result in recapture of their attire because the 13 year-olds would be long gone by the time they scrambled onto land. “Because we’ve already thought of that,” P retorted with an even broader grin, “and so we now propose to find the nearest contingent of the garrison of Rome. We’re going to tell them that there’s five naked boy whores, pretending to be of patrician stock, selling themselves to all-comers here. I think that that’ll guarantee the swift arrival of some troops determined not only to restore morality in this part of the Campus Martius but also to have some fun whilst doing so. I’m sure you’ll all quickly be enjoying military cocks up your bottoms, just like you’ve recently given Rubellius Plautus!” This comment caused Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, Silius Italicus and Marcus Annaeus Lucanus to look at their older friends in shocked surprise. “I think,” Persius continued, “that the troops will then either cut your throats or throw you into prison. I somehow don’t think that you’ll be believed if you try to avoid such soldierly attention by claiming to be who you actually are, even if they give you that chance. However, it’s up to you if you want to take the risk!” A very disturbed Otho now changed tack. “You wouldn’t dare tell the garrison such a thing,” he suggested unconvincingly. However, it was a happy Quintilianus who made the final retort. “As Persius said,” he advised, “it’s up to you if you want to take the risk!” The two 13 year-olds then looked at each other, giggled and ran off, ignoring the several loud entreaties of “Please don’t go!” and belated apologies of “We’re sorry if we hurt you before!” Otho and the other four young nudes eventually clambered onto the riverbank, none now displaying erections and all shivering slightly, but not through any chill in the water or air. They then entered into debate as to what they should do. The 15 year-old’s servant was not due back for a couple more hours, plenty of time for members of the garrison of Rome to find them in this little wood and do whatever they wanted to do with the naked quintet. The five boys believed that it was very unlikely that Persius and Quintilianus would carry out their threat relating to the soldiers, despite the pair’s vengeful disposition. However, all of the quintet also experienced a nagging doubt as to the correctness of their supposition. It was therefore very reluctantly but unanimously agreed that they had no choice. They would have to provide P and Q with their revenge by running as fast as they could, naked through the streets of Rome, back to the nearest family domus of the five, which happened to be that of Silius Italicus. Once at the domus of Silius Italicus, the boys knew that schoolboy honour meant that they would have to lie about the disappearance of their clothing. No reference to Persius and Quintilianus could be made. Instead, unknown thieves would have to be blamed. Before setting off, the nude quintet, some already displaying damp eyes at the humiliation to be imminently endured, prayed privately to the gods that their ordeal would be quickly over. The last thing they wanted was to be waylaid by lecherous paedophiles or other boy gangs, eager to have different kinds of fun. Nudity was not uncommon on the streets of Rome, although the disgrace was normally restricted to two categories of city lowlife. First were criminals on the way to a scene of punishment or execution, which might include one of the amphitheatres or such a place as the Tarpeian Rock. This was a crag on the Capitoline Hill from which traitors were traditionally thrown to their deaths. The Rock was named after a Vestal Virgin called Tarpeia who, during the early days of Rome, had tried to betray the Capitol to the Sabines, a rival Italian people who had been infuriated by the rape of some of their women. The girl was the daughter of the officer commanding the defence but familial and national duty had been subsumed by greed for the gold amulets sported by the besieging warriors. These valuable ornaments were promised to Tarpeaia in return for opening the gates of the citadel at an agreed time on the pretext of fetching water. However, she had not profited from her attempted treachery because, after the god Janus had intervened to save the city from the Sabines by encouraging geese to cackle, the furious attackers themselves threw the young female traitor off the precipice. Thereafter, the gates of Janus’ temple were forever kept open so that the deity might go instantly to the aid of the Romans in times of trouble and geese were considered to be the most sacred of fowl. The second group of nudes that can be commonly be seen on the thoroughfares of Rome are, of course, slaves. However, naked display is usually reserved for miscreants or those making their way to and from market after somehow losing their attire en-route, as had happened to Nigerinus. Even those selling their bodies generally have some form of cover, if only to tease interest out of prospective clients, although some brothels are not afraid of exposing all of at least some of the goods on offer. Naked female or male whores can therefore sometimes be seen outside such establishments or being marched through the streets displaying signs that advertise where their charms can be bought.
In the event, Otho and his four naked friends made the journey to Silius Italicus’ domus safely, if by no means comfortably. Higher speed, as a result of greater age, made eventual arrivals achieve their goal almost in order of birth. The 15 year-old was closely followed by 14 year-old Rubellius Plautus, with the 12 year-old host not far behind. There was then a gap before 8 year-old Marcus Annaeus Lucanus attained safety and an even bigger delay before the chubby and slower 9 year-old Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus finally reached the destination. However, a slave, despatched from the alerted residence, had intercepted the latter, carrying some clothing. The attire was too big for the recipient but, at the time, the need for sartorial elegance was far from the shamed boy’s mind. Other slaves soon attended to the humiliated gang’s sore feet, wounded by stones and other street impedimenta on which they had trodden during their furious headlong rush. Whilst this was being done, all of the exhausted quintet felt deep hurt within their other souls too, for the wounds to their pride were even worse than those to their flesh. Their acute discomfort at their public nudity had been compounded by the loud abusive commentary, full of amused innuendo, they had heard from many passers-by, male and female, young and old, on the way. This had been intensified further when they passed a laughing Persius and Quintilianus, strategically placed on that part of the route the fivesome had to take, regardless of the identity of domus that would form their destination. None could afford to stop, particularly as the avengers now had no sack of clothing visibly in their possession. In fact, some of the city’s poor would be gaining from the very expensive attire because the collection had been given to a nearby charity shop, actually run by a friend of Cephas, although the boys donating the goods knew nothing at the time of the preacher or his sect. The five nude runners, although much of the progress of Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, particularly towards the end of his journey, could hardly be termed ‘running', did not, however, notice Palaemon en-route. The renowned teacher was coincidentally walking with Axenius along one of the roads taken by the naked boys when he spotted the sorry and shameful but nevertheless, knowing the undoubted background, highly amusing procession. Palaemon had already previously appraised his young slave and lover about the possible outcome of his advice to Persius and Quintilianus, never suspecting that he would bear witness to its delicious denouement. The surprise at actually observing the fruits of his action only intensified his enjoyment and laughter, emotions shared by his beautiful 17 year-old companion. The tutor was particularly pleased to note that P and Q, who had bluffed about involving soldiers, had sought only mental and no real physical harm in securing retribution. He believed that, by following one of his philosophies, his young pupils could be considered to be on a higher moral plain than the suffering scholars of his teaching rival. Later, after Persius and Quintilianus had, in the privacy of their bedroom, first practised on each other, rather clumsily it has to be admitted, the act of sodomy for which they had recently been given a practical educational demonstration, giggling erupted again at recall at the success of their conspiracy. Later still, whilst the boys held each other as the night shadows began to lengthen, they began to discuss the incongruity of the sight of Otho’s penis, as the blushing 15 year-old nude had run past them in the street, to much loud ribaldry from all around. “Why, do you think,” asked a chortling Quintilianus, “did Otho’s cock become so fully hard again that a string of precum was dribbling from its head?” Otho and three of the victims of the sweet revenge of Persius and Quintilianus actually managed eventually to laugh off the humiliating episode as just retribution by clever rivals. Their appreciation of schoolboy honour encouraged them to forgive and forget their shame and to put the matter down to experience. Scores were even and no further action was taken by them to gain the lead once more, for they considered that, in the circumstances, a tie between the two sets of rivals was an appropriate result. Otho took the lead in advocating this attitude, for he was to have a lifelong respect for worthy opponents, something that would eventually unfortunately and fatally get the better of him. Otho, Rubellius Plautus, Silius Italicus and Marcus Annaeus Lucanus actually become quite friendly with Persius and Quintilianus during future years, as their paths crossed more amicably in high Roman society. However, 9 year-old Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus adopted a different attitude from his friends. He instead vowed to himself to secure personal retribution for what had been inflicted on him by P and Q, no matter how long it took to achieve. The boy did not like being made to look a fool in public. After all, he knew that he was destined for greatness. (Via Appia, Campania, Dies Iovis A.D. X Kal. Iul. DCCC A.V.C., in the 6th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [or Thursday, June 22nd, AD 47]) ‘Hope, he says, cherishes the soul of him who lives in justice and holiness and is the nurse of his age and the companion of his journey; hope which is mightiest to sway the restless soul of man.’ - Plato (‘The Republic’) My scribe wrote, at the end of the previous chapter of my story, that the next half-year seemed to pass very quickly for me. However, I have to confess that, on this day, I believed that time would instead now advance agonisingly slowly, for Caius Silius had indeed conspired to take action that would affect my personal situation and Palaemon had been unable to stop him. My youthful lover, Gaius, would have earlier headed north out of Rome, on the Via Cassia, for his lakeside hometown of Volsinii. However, I was now in a horse-drawn wagon on the Via Appia, many miles from the Empire’s capital and going in the opposite direction. Apart from my usual attire, I held in my hands my only personal possession, the scroll Gaius had given me. I now desperately hoped that Plato’s book, 'The Republic’, would truly bring me 'harmony of the soul', as the youth had suggested, for I feared that my master would shortly be satisfying his own personal vendetta against me and that I would never return to Rome or to my lover. I hoped and prayed to the gods of my people that my worries would prove groundless. (To be continued in chapter XVII – ‘Helius’)
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