chapter 24/23/22 translation

24

As soon as Titus, the boys and Eucleides went through the Capena Gate into the city, Sextus shouted, "What shall we do first? Where shall we go? Shall we visit...?" "Where will you take us, uncle?" Marcus interrupted. "Shall we see the Senate house and the Forum? Sextus has read and heard many things about Rome and now, uncle, he wants to see everything." "Be silent! Be silent" said Titus. "We shall visit the Forum tomorrow. Tomorrow, Euclides, you will be permitted to take the boys there. There will be enough time then. Today, however, boys, I shall take you home through the city and I shall point to you everything on the journey." They had now arrived at the Circus Maximus, which was not far off. Sextus was astounded when he saw the massiveness of the Circus Maximus. Marcus too was astounded although he had seen the Circus before. Titus was astounded, astonished not by the massiveness but the silence of the Circus. "Alas! Alas!" said Titus. The Circus is closed today. In three days, however, the ruler himself, Titus Flavius Vespasianus will hold magnificent games. "Will you not take us there?" asked Marcus. "Alas! I will not be able to take you there," said Titus. Perhaps Eucleides will take you. "Not at all!" Sextus replied. "Eucleides loves books, not games." "Come on, boys!" interrupted Titus. "Now we shall go round the Palatine Hill and we shall enter the Forum at the Arch of Tiberius. Perhaps we shall meet your father there, Marcus. The senators will soon be coming out of the Senate house." And so they left the Circus and went round the Palatine. On the way, Titus showed the boys the wonderful buildings that the rulers had built on the Palatine. At last they arrived at the Arch of Tiberius, exhausted now by the effort and the heat. "Here is the Arch," said Titus, "which..." "You will see everything tomorrow, "interrupted Cornelius, who had arrived at that very time at the Arch from the Senate house. "When you come back to the Forum tomorrow, Eucleides will explain everything to you. It is now too late. Come on! We shall now go home."

22

It was now day. At first light the carriage driver helped the slaves of the innkeeper drag the carriage out from the ditch and move it towards the inn. Then the slaves dragged the chests of the Corneliī to the coachman. Meanwhile, in the inn, while all were preparing themselves, Sextus, now forgetful of the terror happening during the night, told the soldier's story to Cornelia. Eucleides was telling the slaves an order. Cornelius himself was shouting at Aurelia and the children, "Come on, all! Do not stop! It is time to go!"At last they all came from the inn and they climbed into the carriage."Goodbye!" shouted the boys."Goodbye!" responded the innkeeper, who was standing in the road. "Do not fall into another ditch on the journey! You all are not able to sleep in better inns."Then the carriage driver grabbed hold of the reins and spurred on the horses. At last they were able to journey to Rome.On the journey Sextus explained to everyone of Marcus's dead mouse; Cornelius told the soldier's story to his wife. Now they were approaching the city, when suddenly the boys caught sight of a huge building.Marcus asked father, "What is that?And Sextus, "Who lives in that building?"Cornelius responded to him with a laugh, "No one lives in that building. It is the tomb of Messalae Corvini, who was a distinguished orator. That is a tomb of many and distinguished citizens because they are Roman it is not allowed to have a tomb of the city.""Is it therefore a tomb, father?" asked Marcus."Yes!" responds Cornelius. "It is a tomb of Caecilla Metella. Have you not heard of Caecilla Metella?"But Marcus did not answer his father. Now they were able to see the city. "Look, Rome!" he shouted."Look, Rome! Look, Rome!" shouted Sextus and Cornelia. Then Cornelius said,"On a short tim we will go towards the Porta Capena and we will see your uncle Titus. For he explained letters through his slave and all. Titus will soon welcome us near the Porta

23

Meanwhile Titus, uncle of Marcus and Cornelia, was waiting near Porta Capena for them. Citizens, Merchants, Slaves were going through the gate and running this way and that. Titus however was sitting in a litter. When he caught sight of the Corneliuses, he climbed down out of the litter. The Cornelius's got out of the Carriage. For during the day it was not allowed for Romans to drive carriages into the city. Sextus was amazed when he saw the crowd of citizens, the crowd of slaves. On all sides there was the noise of wagons, on all sides there was the shouting of merchants, of travelers, of coachmen. Titus greeted Cornelius and Aurelia and the children with great joy. "How happy," he said, "I welcome you all! Surely you all are tired from the journey. "Very tired," replies Cornelius. "It is necessary for me to go quickly to the senate house, but first I will take Aurelia and Cornelia home. "Yes!" says Titus. "Look! The litter-bearers, whom I hired for you, will carry you home. I will take care of the boys. The boys will see many and wonderful things, and I will explain everything to them. And so the litter-bearers quickly carried the father, mother, and the daughter through the roads of the city to the house. After they arrived, Aurelia and Cornelia, tired from the journey, went to rest. However Cornelius washed himself, and put on another toga praetexta, sat in the litter again.