“You just heard them. Never let manners stand in the way of making your case. The great orators barely take a breath between sentences to frustrate any chance of interruption. Plow on, Alexander. I don't have all morning.”
“Here it is, then.” I took a breath and expectorated my argument as quickly as my pasty tongue would allow. “Livia, Sabina’s daughter, was sold by her father to pay his gambling debts. She is owned by Boaz who on occasion leases her to this house. Sabina is a trained healer whose talents go tragically unused. Purchase Livia for the sum of 8,000
sesterces
; Sabina will contribute 2,300 of the cost. The balance she will repay from the profits from her
peculium
– as a healer. Livia will be reunited with her mother, both will become your property and your reputation as a sage and canny patrician will increase.”
“Qualities by which I am already known. I thought you said it would cost me nothing.”
“Eventually.”
“How did she come by such a sum?”
“She sold herself to Boaz.”
Crassus nodded. “Would that all Roman mothers acted as nobly, when Roman men succumb to their failings.”
I could not help myself. “Sabina is Greek.”
Crassus eyed me. “And no less noble for it. Why does Boaz sell the girl so cheaply – she could fetch twice his asking price.”
“This I cannot explain. I think he likes the mother.”
“I will not have strangers with gods-know-what sores and ailments tromping through the house. I will not allow any such unfortunates near my children or my wife. She may not ply her trade here.”
“The empty apartment that faces the street could be used as a
taberna
. It has its own entrance and is used only for storage. It's completely separate from the main building by at least two hundred feet of garden.”
"I know where it is; it's my damn house!"
“You could charge her rent,” I said in as small and unobtrusive voice as possible.
“I
would
charge her rent. But tell me, Alexander, has your convoluted scheme considered this? What citizen would make the trek up the Palatine when there are plenty of doctors,
male
doctors, throughout the city?”
“A well-placed word or two from Crassus would push the stone from the hilltop. Word of mouth would soon cause an avalanche. In reverse, so to speak.”
“I see. More work for me. Next I suppose you will tell me that you yourself are living proof of her skills. You needn’t bother. I began looking for your replacement the moment the fever came upon you. Few survive its grip. She has a gift, without doubt.”
I held my breath. At last Crassus spoke again. “The plan has merit. Get the money from Pío and see that the girl is here by nightfall.”
“
Dominus
!”
“So help me, Alexander, if you fall to your knees or begin to blubber, I shall strike you. Get some backbone in you. I have no use for cowards. You belong to a noble house; best you act the part."
There is a nasty miniature of me that lives inside, a small but persistent voice that would spoil any triumph, sour any accomplishment. How it came to reside in my head is a mystery. I would excise it if I could; and yet I do enjoy arguing with it. Since coming to the house of Crassus I have given it a name. I call it Little Nestor. Well, here was a perfect opportunity for the daemon to be heard, and he did not disappoint. In that instant of my master’s acquiescence, I experienced real joy, a feeling that had eluded me since my abduction. Little Nestor could not let that go, and I heard him whisper:
his words are free, but you are not. Act the part, he says. As long as you remain here, like an actor never allowed to leave the stage, you will never be yourself. So act the part. Slave.
That day, I managed to ignore him, enough to say, “
Dominus
, I am very pleased. And on Sabina’s behalf, I offer gratitude. There is but one thing more; actually two. Please do not tell her this was my idea. Take credit yourself, or perhaps give it to
domina
, whatever you think best.”
“Why would we do that? Your suggestion is an act of kindness she will not soon forget.”
“First, the act is yours, not mine. Second, she is my friend; I want no debts between us. Lastly, Sabina is proud almost beyond measure. This would sit better coming from the master of the house.”
Crassus rose from his seat. “Stay here. I must fetch my wife.” He walked back toward the atrium and I heard him call for Tertulla. In a moment, the two returned, followed by Sabina, who led a wobbly, grinning Publius by the hand.
“
Columba
, a word. Sabina, if you wouldn’t mind, take Publius for some air.”
“Yes,
dominus
.” Sabina left, looking back over her shoulder to fling a nervous ‘what’s-going-on?’ face at me. I replied with a look of feigned innocence and hoped that it appeared genuine. I was never much good at dissembling.
“Alexander! What have you gone and done now?” Tertulla took both my hands in hers and held them while she spoke. Her smile was so broad and genuine I felt my face redden. “He’s so good with Marcus, husband. How's the leg, Alexander?”
"It heals," Crassus answered for me, sounding slightly irritated. He bade Tertulla sit in his chair and began to recount the details of my proposal. He stood next to me, so close I could smell his perfume. I hoped that my own scent did not offend. If only I could step further away unnoticed. I am most comfortable on the outskirts; being at the center of anything unnerves me, the center of attention in particular. To endure, I composed my features into one I hoped gave the impression of self-abasing, modestly proud interest. No mirror presented itself, so I attempted to breathe normally and instead let the vision of my mistress consume me.
Tertulla’s hair was long in those days, and as black as any Nubian’s. She wore it piled at the back of her head, held with gold butterfly pins. Two long tresses escaped this binding and fell down either side of her neck. It was a style that made her look regal, yet utterly feminine. Her sleeveless
peplos
, pinned at the shoulders with more gold butterflies, was pale blue, a foil to the darker seas of her eyes. She left one shoulder bare by draping her
palla
as a long, diagonal sash. Her toenails were painted to match her
peplos
and her long-laced sandals were gold. She was nineteen, five years younger than I; precisely the sort of girl who wouldn’t give me a second look or a first chance back in Athens. She was as beautiful as Phaedra, my youthful infatuation at the Academy, but where Phaedra was a siren, Tertulla was Venus.
81 BCE - Spring, Rome
Year of the consulship of
Marcus Tulius Decula and Gnaeus Cornelius Dolabella
“Why didn’t Sabina come to me?” Tertulla asked when Crassus had finished. “That child is a delight. I would have purchased Livia in a hummingbird’s heartbeat had I known.”
“Of course you would,
columba
, because little doves don’t know the value of money.”
“Don’t patronize me!” she said with playful indignation. The irony, however, was lost neither on me nor on Crassus, who glanced sideways at me with a weak smile.
“Never again,” he proclaimed dramatically, dropping to one knee. Tertulla laughed and slapped his hand away. “But Alexander’s plan,” he said conspiratorially, “has more financial merit. With your permission, of course.” Their playfulness with each other was embarrassing, yet wondrous to witness. Irony was everywhere this day.
“I have only one suggestion,” Tertulla said, standing and pulling her husband up with her. None present, especially the lady herself, believed that she would ever limit her opinions to just one. “Pay Boaz Livia’s full worth, love. I know that Jew; he’s as soft-hearted as a lamb. How he ever chose that trade is a wonder. How he survives in it is a miracle.”
“You needn’t worry about him,” Crassus said. “His family’s been in the business for generations. He may choose to keep a modest house in the Subura, but his accounts are overflowing. He has an eye for talent, and a keener lookout for profit. I suppose that gives him the latitude to make exceptions when he chooses.”
“So you will pay him the 16,000
sesterces
? Sabina is sure to be a success and your purse will yet be made whole. When you think of it, a little more time, not money, is all that will be required.”
“And we forbid women the practice of law! If I refuse her," Crassus said to the air above, "though the cost could not be counted in gold, its sum would be far greater.”
“Isn’t it wonderful to have a husband who comes complete with both ears
and
heart?” she asked, also to no one in particular. I felt completely useless.
Crassus answered her nonetheless. “Much depends on where you find them. They’re not much use in the senate.”
“Oh, one more thing. Let Sabina keep her coins. It is a trifle to us, but a treasure to her.”
“Let us wait a moment, Alexander," he said, finally addressing me directly. "There may yet be more.”
“No, I assure you I am quite finished.” Crassus nodded and turned back to his scrolls. “Oh.”
“Yes, dove?”
“Of course, Sabina should only be required to repay 2,300 of the total. If we choose to offer more to Boaz, that is not to be counted against her.”
“Agreed.” Now Crassus waited.
“No, no, I am quite finished. The good commander knows when to leave the field. I retreat and leave you to carry on.” She whispered, “I shan’t say a thing. Let’s tell her when we put the children to bed, shall we?” Without waiting for an answer she kissed her husband lightly on the cheek and turned toward the peristyle. “Sabina! To me, please.”
Tertulla had not gone ten steps when she stopped and called back, “Husband - interest free!” Crassus waved her off.
“I wasn’t going to charge the woman interest,” he muttered.
“Um,” I ventured after making sure that Tertulla was completely out of sight, “I have something more, if I may. It concerns my tutoring duties?”
“Why, are you tiring of them?”
“On the contrary, I think I may have found my calling. Teaching suits me. Which is what gave me this thought: Running about the house translating Pío’s instructions seems inefficient for both myself and the staff. I am constantly repeating myself and being interrupted by someone looking for a word here or a phrase there. I should like, with permission, to make the process more formal.”
“How?”
“A school. Imagine an entire bilingual staff - their value would increase two-fold at least, if I understand the market. Communication and work would flow smoother throughout the
domus
. And we needn’t limit instruction to language: any skill required by the
familia
could be taught. Gardeners could teach gardening, cook could teach, well, cooking, so that more than one of us would have the same skill. Should one become sick, others could fill in. And if
dominus
feels the need to sell one of us, we are bound to fetch a higher price.”
"And where would you organize this school?”
“The apartment has two large rooms. Plus two smaller closets.”
“You’ve been headed here all along, haven’t you?”
“When I thought of Sabina’s plight, I went to look at the apartment - the idea dawned on me then.”
“Why so timid,
grammaticus
? As you learn to know me, you will find that I am quick to appreciate logic, especially when logic leads to profit. Now I must find my wife and contradict her, gods protect me. News of this importance cannot wait for nightfall. Sabina should not have to wait an extra minute to be reunited with her daughter. Go straight to Pío and have him see to the girl’s return personally.”
“
Dominus
, what if Livia has been sent to work at another house?”
“Tell Pío to find her and remove her. He can take Betto and Malchus with him. The three of them should be persuasion enough. And if Boaz requires more convincing, remind him his asking price was two; we are paying four. If that should still prove insufficient, I will buy out any open contracts. But I shall want to
see
them first. Send Pío to me if any of this is unclear to him.”
•••
The next morning I had been released to prepare the schoolroom. Secured in my tunic was a purse containing two hundred fifty
denarii
! I went to the forum shops and purchased supplies, including writing tablets, paraffin,
stili
, paint and brushes. My plan was to whitewash one entire wall then use it to write my lessons so all could see them. The student would practice with his wax tablet and stilus, then I would paint the wall and start again. Letters, syllables and some phrases would remain constant at the top of the wall; more ephemeral lessons would be painted over.
When I returned I went right to work. Since the outside door to our new
taberna
(I had a key!) was on the far side from the main house, at first I saw no one upon my return. I was pouring white paint from the heavy pigskin into more manageable bowls when I heard a noise from the inside entrance. Expecting Sabina or Livia, I was surprised to see Boaz smiling broadly in the doorway.
“
Salve
,
paedagogus
,” he said. “May I be among the first to wish you
mazal tov
. Congratulations!”
“Boaz. It may be a little premature to call me teacher. When I have students in this classroom and when they have actually learned something, then I may be worthy of the title. But thank you, and
salve
, just the same. What brings you up the Palatine?”
“You.”
“Me?” I said, replacing the stopper in the pigskin. “We have no business together.” If he was here, he knew.
“That is true.” He reached inside his robes and pulled out a lambskin cloth. “For you,” he said, holding it out in his open palm. “
Todah rabah
. Many thanks, my friend, many thanks.”
I stayed where I was. An irrational fear gripped me: if I got too close, he would snatch me up and carry me off; another addition for his collection of human souls. I did not want to like this man. Yet the things I had heard about him, and witnessed, belied his occupation. No compunction marred his laughing eyes; his warmth and good cheer were not only genuine but infectious. How could such a man do what he did and live without shame? Instead of asking him, I said, “If you are here because of Livia, it is the lady of the house you should attend.”
“No, it is you.”
“It was she who doubled your asking price.”
“It was you who braved the lash by going before your master.”
“There was nothing brave about it,” I lied.
“I suppose, to be fair, we must admit that it was only a matter of time before Sabina herself begged for Livia. If she had not done so I would have proposed an accommodation myself.”
“You?”
“Why not? We Jews know all there is to know about slavery. From both sides of that coin. Half the people in this city are owned by the other half. If looking down upon us helps a Roman get a good night’s sleep, eh. But I ask you, who better than a Jew to see that these unfortunates are treated as humanely as possible? As long as they are in my care, that is what I do.”
“Will you not be judged by your god?”
“Hah! My God loves owners and slaves alike. As long as there is balance, there is no problem. Everything works unless someone puts an entire people under the lash; then comes the fire and flood, retribution and death. Remember Egypt? Anyway, why worry about such things? I don’t hear anybody complaining. And business has never been better.
“But you, teacher of language; you, a new slave with no standing and nothing to gain - of all of us, you were the first to act. You know, in the East, there are people who believe that everything we do in life, both good and bad, return to us three-fold in like kind. Perhaps that paint you are stirring is an emblem of your act of kindness. I have another. Please, take it.”
He stepped closer, his arm again outstretched. Curiosity got the better of me and I reached for the small bundle. When I did, he grasped my hand and pulled me close. My irrational terror flashed again. He put his other hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “Take heart, teacher. You are a good man, in a place where goodness is rarely rewarded. But sometimes, with luck, good men rise.”
He released me and I unfolded the lambskin to discover a signet ring. It’s metal glowed dully in the room’s soft light. “I still don’t know how it was you knew to come to me.”
“Do not blame Malchus. He, too, has a good heart, but sometimes it beats so loudly he doesn’t notice that his mouth is moving.”
“This ring is gold,” I said. I had never held anything of such value, even when I was free.
“The inset is carnelian, but the ring is unfinished. The stone is blank, its surface smooth. A patrician would have his seal engraved there. Perhaps someday, you will carve your own mark.”
“You are generous, and I bid you gracious thanks. But you must know that gold, gemstone or iron, it is all the same. I have no right to property. This cannot be mine.”
“And
you
must know that Boaz is nothing if not a negotiator for the ages.” He laughed. “I have already spoken to your master. The ring is yours. Keep it, sell it, do with it what you wish. Think of it as your own first
peculium
.”
The ring was large, but it slid perfectly onto the middle finger of my right hand. It made me feel uncomfortably important.
“Still the troubled look! Be at peace, friend. I am not here to take thanks but to give it.”
“It’s not that. It is only ... I am thinking of the girl.”
“Livia? A delight, no?”
“I must ask, is she pure?”
Boaz’s smile shrunk. “This is her master’s business now.”
“I see.” I removed the ring and held it out to him.
“Attend me,” he said. “I have the luxury of choosing my clients, and I sent her only to those I trust. All I can tell you is each time she returned to my house, she was almost always whistling. The child is happy. If for nothing else, keep the ring to remind you of the part you played to reunite mother and child.”
Years later, any time the subject arose, Livia has always been quick to tell me I would have been a fool to give it back.