"In the dawn of our history, we men of Rome were strong and fierce but also uncouth and solitary creatures." "It was only when we acquired wives that our rise to greatness truly began." "It is the women of Rome with their steely virtue and chaste morals who have conquered the world." "It is by their virtuous light that we men have trod the perilous paths of glory." "It is the women of Rome who guarded hearth and home while we men burnt Carthage." "It is the women of Rome, like the she-wolf that suckled Romulus and Remus, who have raised a nation of wise statesmen and invincible warriors." "And on behalf of we men," "I take this moment to thank you all." "When the time is right," "I shall make sure that you women are rewarded for your virtue." "In the future, I shall enact laws that reward fertility and sanctity in marriage." "I shall enact laws that severely punish adultery, promiscuity and vice of all kinds." "That's very good." "I shall remember that one." "If you'll excuse me." "What did you think?" "Your speech?" "Oh, strong stuff." "Very amusing." "They bought it wholesale." "I mean every word." "Yes, I really think you do." "Myself, I suspect the women of old Rome were a parcel of whores and termagants." "We shall agree to differ." "There's the young piece I was telling you about." "She's very presentable." "As ordered." "Impeccable family, young, healthy, proven fertility." " How many children?" " Just the one." "A son, Tiberius." "Introduce me." "Caesar, may I present" "Alfidia and her daughter Livia?" "Honored." "Tell me, how would you like to be married to me?" "I would like that... if my husband does not object." " What is his name?" " Claudius Nero." "I know the family." "They're good, patriotic people." " They will not say no to a divorce." " I'm sure not, sir." "Excellent." "See to the details." "She'll do nicely." "Now that other business before I dive back into this female swamp." "Herod's gold is offshore at Ostia waiting on the high tide." "I've been liaising with Antony's man, Posca, on the details of delivery." "We wanted to use the Aventine collegium for transportation, if you are agreeable." "It's a good idea." "They have men allied both to myself and to Mark Antony." "That's good." "Make sure the entire business is invisible." "I want complete deniability." "If the bribe comes to light, it must be Antony's fault alone." "Papa, when we get to Jerusalem, will Uncle Levi be there?" "Maybe." "Maybe not." "Remember when we first met?" " Your cousin's house." " Yes." "I saw you and I thought," ""There." "There is a good man for me." ""Maybe not such a nice dresser as I would like, but a good man."" "It's been many years now, and you have never proved me wrong." "Papa, are we there yet?" "It's gorgeous." "I can have it?" "Anything you like, my love." "My little caramel." "Why don't you... go inside and see... if there's anything else you like?" "How good you are to me." "Off you go." "Take your time." "You might have chosen a less conspicuous conveyance." "This is my third-best litter." "You are nondescript enough for both of us." "Has the... has the Judean shipment arrived yet?" "You needn't worry about them." "They don't understand a word we say." "Do you, my darlings?" "The lower orders understand more than you think." "Really, you are too absurd." "We are stealing from our own chiefs." "No precaution we take is too absurd." "I wouldn't call it stealing." "It is a commission for services rendered." " They won't even notice the shortfall." " Don't fool yourself!" "We are thieves." "If Antony or Octavian discover it, we shall both die!" "They won't discover it." "Where and when shall we extract our share?" "The Aventine men will make delivery to the Temple of Saturn by night." "You and I will be alone with the gold until day." "Bring slaves you trust." " Oh, hello, Maecenas." " Jocasta." "Why on earth do you travel in such a garish litter?" "I thought sure my husband was intriguing with an actress or some such trollop." "How amusing." "So where are we going?" "The gold will be in Ostia tomorrow, Argosy docks." "The ship's name, Triton's Crown." "We take it from there." "By river or road?" "I'm told Octavian and Antony's men will take it by river." "So we'll take it by road, avoid any leaks their end." "Clever." "No one, no one must know what the shipment contains." "Secrecy is essential." "I'll use Rasca and his boys." "They're reliable." " They don't ask questions." " Good." "But Pullo's gonna handle this, not you." "I always handle Ostian business." "This is different." "You don't trust me, is it?" "I trust you." "Octavian and Antony, they both know Pullo." "They trust him." "Anything should go wrong, it won't come back at us." "It's all right." "I understand." "Third fucking man." "Your tea, Domina." "Help!" "Help!" "Help!" "Help, somebody!" "Help!" "Get a doctor!" "Get a doctor!" "It's Eirene!" "There's blood." "There's blood!" "She'll put you right." "No trouble." "I don't think." "She will." "Please, no burning." "In my country we are buried." "Don't talk like that." "No burning." "Put me in a black shroud... and bury me in an open field." "No trees." "No trees." "You are not dying." " Promise me." " I'll not promise anything." "You are not dying." "Promise me." "When you're old and gray," "I promise I'll bury you." "If I'm still around." "You'll be onto your second husband by then." "The baby..." "Was it a boy or a girl?" "A boy." "Bury him with me." "Don't be sad." "You make me cry." "You gods that might know this woman as one of your own, please listen to me." "We here call her Eirene, but she was called Adela where she came from, somewhere beyond the Rhine, not sure exactly where." "Anyway, you'll know her." "She was a good woman." "She always spoke very highly of you." "So please look after her and our boy." "My name is Titus Pullo, ex-13th Legion," "her husband." "Wasn't always as good to her as I should have been." "I give my life to you to use as you like, if you'll see that she's happy now." "It's Mascius, sir." "There's trouble." "Go on." "Be still, Mascius." "Be still." "Careful, you bastard." "I'm not poultry." " What happened?" " Ambush..." "Just before we got to the Ostian Gate." "All but me and him are dead." " The gold." " It's gone." "Do you have any idea who it was attacked you?" "No." "They were good, though." "They didn't give us a chance." "And brother, they were waiting for us." "All right." "Call on every man." "Tell them to cover the city." "Pay coin, give torture, kill if necessary." "Find out who did this." "You, sit with Pullo." "Make sure he has everything he needs." "I've men out all over the city looking into it." "We'll find out who's responsible soon." "You can't keep a thing like this quiet." "For a man who has lost his masters a fortune, you show little shame." "I took all proper precaution." "I used my best men." "You used Titus Pullo?" "No." "Why?" "He is your best man." "His wife died in childbirth yesterday, so I used another man." "I see." "I see." "Well..." "Very convenient." " I do not take your meaning." " The one man we know Octavian can trust is replaced at the last minute by who knows who?" "That's very convenient." "Are you accusing me of being involved in this?" "I could just as easily accuse you." " Or Lepidus." " That's ridiculous." "No one is accusing anyone." "Could it be that one of your own men betrayed you?" "Anything is possible, but I doubt it." "Why?" "They are scared of me." " Then who?" " Good question." "If not one of my men, then who?" "Do not lay the blame elsewhere." "You had custody of our property." "Its loss is your responsibility." "I understand." "I will find your property and bring it back." "Be sure that you do." "You know the consequences of failure." "I'll tell you who it was." "Gauls." "I'll wager any amount of money it was Gauls." "They breed like rabbits, you know." "No notion of working for a living." "Thieves, the lot of them." "I know it was you." "I know." "You and Antony double-crossed me." " I assure you..." " No, no, no." "I assure you, you'll both pay." "Brother Vorenus." "Welcome, sit." "Have some wine." "Make a way for the captain, boys." "Come alone?" "You celebrating something?" "No, we're just happy sort of people." "Property in my charge was stolen on the Ostia Way last night." " Oh, dear." "What sort of property?" " Belonging to the state." "That's not good." "Peeved, I'll bet, the quality." " They are." " Wasn't us, was it?" "With state property?" "Us?" "No, we wouldn't dare." "No, wasn't us." "I didn't say it was." "Just a social visit, then?" "If you happen to hear who it was did this," " I'm sure you'll tell me." " Certainly." "Can't have people robbing a fellow captain." "It's humiliating." "It makes us all look bad." "What was it exactly, this state property?" "That doesn't matter." "Can't help if we don't know what we're looking for." "You're right." "Never mind." "You've helped more than enough already." "Thank you, Memmio." "I will see you again soon." "Always a pleasure." "My advice - look to your own people." "This kind of affair is nearly always someone close." "Go tell Cotta, Acerbo, and the other captains I need to see them today." " Acerbo?" " You heard me." " I wish you took this seriously." " These things happen." " It's a great deal of money." " More money will come." "A thousand rich dukes and satraps want to be kings." "But you were robbed as if you were some petty grocer." "Tell me, why do you take such personal offense at this?" "It is a gross personal insult to you." "Someone is always insulting me." "It's the price of fame." "Mark Antony is your colleague and brother-in-law." "If you have proof that Mark Antony is responsible, tell me." "Who else knew of the shipment?" " Lepidus?" " Very possibly." "It's likely it was an accident." "There are no accidents." "It was Antony." "Since we reconciled, he has been just and honest." "I won't jeopardize our alliance because you dislike him." "I know for a fact he's been neither just nor honest with you." "He's been making a fool of you." "What do you mean?" "Forgive me, I thought it best not to tell you." "Your alliance, the wellbeing of the republic..." "Speak!" "Antony's marriage to your sister is a sham." "He's been bedding your mother as before." "That's impossible." "Antony would not dare disrespect me like that, and Octavia..." "Octavia would have told me." "She has her own reasons for keeping silent." "Domina, your son summons you to dinner this evening." "Tell him no." "I am going to the theater." "He says it's important." "Attendance is compulsory." "He's getting more and more officious." "Who else is coming?" "Just family." "Thank you all for coming so promptly." "I have urgent business to discuss." " With these?" " Patience, Cotta." " You'll like what I have to say." " Giving half price on olive oil?" "No." "Rather, I was thinking of getting deeper into the grain trade." "Things with brother Vorenus are coming to a head." "I'm thinking it's time to put an end to his arrogance." "So it was you." " You took his gold." " What gold is that?" "The gold every beggar in the city is talking about." "It was you." "Might have been." "I don't say that it was but it might have been." " And you kept it from me?" " Kept what from you?" " Don't joke with me." " You took his gold?" "Vorenus thinks I did." "So he's after your head on a stick and you're scared." " What's that to us?" " No one can handle the Aventine on their own." "But if all of us were to cooperate, like the brothers we are, different story." " Story!" " We'll crush them." "The Aventine will be ours." "The grain trade will be ours." "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait." "I don't expect you to help me out of brotherly love." "That's it, boys." "That's what you want, isn't it?" "Yes!" "Pick it up!" "Missed a bit there." "Look." "That's what you want, a bit more!" "Here it comes." "More!" "More!" "That's right!" "Now, pick it up." "Forgive me." "I unnerve you with my silence." "No, sir." "What small hands you have." " So dry." " Thank you." "Tell me, does your husband ever beat you?" "No, sir." "I hope I have never given him reason to do so." " Your father, perhaps?" " No, sir." "A virtuous woman." "Good." "That is good." "You should know that when we are married, I shall, on occasion, beat you, with my hand or a light whip." "When I do, do not think you have offended me." "I do it because it gives me sexual pleasure." "You must remember that and not be upset." "Yes, sir." "I think we shall get along very well." "They're all here." "About time." "Any news from Lucius Vorenus?" " No." " Strange." "We must be patient." "Vorenus always does what he says he'll do." " I am glad you think so." " And who is this sweet creature?" "This is Livia, daughter of Livius Drusus Claudianus." " I'm going to marry her." " How nice." "Welcome to the family." "Thank you." "I am glad to make your acquaintance." "And this must be my sister Octavia." "Such a lovely complexion she has." "What a furtive person you are." "I had no inkling you were looking to marry." "I wanted her to be here so she would properly understand what it means to be a part of this family." "It's a species of benign slavery." "Slavery, is it?" "Well, you fancy yourself a Spartacus then, do you?" " I don't follow." " I am master of this family, and you have rebelled against me." " I wish I had such courage." " You are courageous enough." "I was surprised." "I knew Mother had the stomach for any kind of depravity, but you, I was surprised." "I have shown you nothing but love and you repay me with treachery." "Remember, colleague," " you are talking to my wife." " Your wife in name only." "It is still Mother that performs the wifely function, is it not?" "While Octavia does the same for my good friend Agrippa." "That's very convenient for all involved." " What are you getting at?" " Do you deny it?" " I'll not be interrogated by you!" " Do you deny it?" "Fuck your little girl and leave my business to me!" " Do you deny it?" " It's true." "I'll not deny it." "I love your sister." "We have been meeting in secret for some time now." "But I cannot answer for Antony." "Thank you." "Thank you for being honest with me." "So what?" "What if it is true?" "What are you gonna do about it?" "There is nothing you can do about it." "I shall send my women to their house, where they shall remain in seclusion under guard" " until I say so." " I'll do no such thing!" "Silence." "You, you shall leave this city." " Leave this city?" " You shall go east to your provinces" " and you shall not come back." " Or else what, boy?" "Leave this city, or I declare our alliance is broken." "I shall have this sad story told in the Forum." "I will have it posted in every city in Italy." "And you know, the people are not so liberal with their wives as you are." "They will say you wear cuckold's horns." "They will say your wife betrayed you with a lowborn pleb on my staff." "You will be a figure of fun." "The proles will laugh at you in the street." "Your soldiers will mock you behind your back." "Go on." "Strike me." "See what happens." "Oh, and Antony, if you find that gold, you'll be sure to tell me, won't you?" " You would disgrace your own sister?" " She has disgraced herself." "It was nice to meet you." "Take care." "You're marrying a monster." "Take them home." "Take guards with you." "Make sure they get home... safely." "It was you who told him, wasn't it?" "I always knew you were a weasel." "I wish I could apologize, madam, but it was my duty." "You've done your master a terrible disservice." "Now he has no family at all." "Maecenas." "Do not blame him." "He did what he thought was right." " I do not think you can say the same." " For which I apologize." "But do not let Octavia suffer for my sins." "The fault is mine." "It was I seduced her." "You have many talents, Agrippa." "Seduction is not one of them." "She does not deserve your cruelty." " She's not..." " I've stated my intentions." "You will not be banished." "I need you." "Besides, your sudden disappearance would suggest some sort of scandal." "I thank you." "You can go." "Try one of the stuffed songbirds." "My cook does them particularly well." "Has he eaten?" "Water?" "Pullo." "Pullo, you've had no water in two days." "You need to drink something." "Mascius looked in." "Cut up nasty." "Drink." "Gold got stolen, did it?" "All but Mascius and Zeno are dead." "Don't you worry about it." "I'll..." "I'll get it back." "Memmio?" "Looks like." "I went to see him." "He had guilt written on his face very plain." "Who told him?" "He as good as said it was one of my own people." "Mascius." " He's not been happy." " And he lived." "Still, he's always been loyal." "Never had to doubt him before." "No one's a traitor until they are." "Pullo, where are you going?" "Mascius." "All right, Pullo." "Boss." "How are you feeling?" "Not so bad." "I was lucky." "Very lucky." "No word yet?" "Give it back!" " Give it!" " Children, quiet." "The only thing I can think of is maybe..." "Maybe one of Octavian or Antony's men set it all up." "Couldn't be." "They thought we'd go by river." "Didn't know we'd use the road." "True." "Memmio said that we should look to one of our own." "Listen... brother, our lives are on the line." "You wanted the responsibility." " We just want some answers." " It had to be you." "You're joking." "You think I did this myself?" "Mascius, the only people who knew what the plan was was we three here." "Third fucking man." " It wasn't me." " Give it back!" "Give me that." "Get out of here." "Don't come back in here." "Just tell the truth." "I'm sorry, brother." "Near on 20 years marching together, you boys and me." " Tell the truth." " The truth?" "The truth is I have known you as a brother." "The truth is I saved your life at Gergovia." "Took an arrow for it." "Arrow's still in there." "The truth is I'd do it again, brother." "The truth is I've been nothing but a good soldier and a good fucking friend." "You do what you have to do, brother." "See you in Hades." " Where's the gold?" " Pullo!" "Lucius!" " What?" " Lucius!" "Where did you get this?" "Father." "Father, stop it." "Stop it!" "Stop it!" "What are you doing?" "Stop it!" "Father!" "Stop it!" " Where'd you get these?" " I bought them." "Don't you lie to me." "I did." "One of Memmio's men gave them to you." " Didn't he?" " No, I don't know..." " Don't you lie to me." " I'm not lying." "You get back here." "Get back here!" "It was you, wasn't it?" "It was you." "You went to Memmio." "It was you who betrayed me." "You've been whoring yourself to one of Memmio's men." "You've been whoring yourself to the whole damn Caelian." "That's not true." "He loves me." "He loves me and I love him." "How could you be so stupid?" "He was using you to get to me." "You know nothing about it." "He loves me." "And for love of this scum you would betray your own father?" "Oh, yes!" "I betrayed you!" "And I was glad to do it." "Why?" "Why?" "Why?" "Why would you do that?" "You killed my mother." "You cursed us to Hades." "You made me a fucking whore." "And you ask why?" "Because I hate you." "I hate you!" "We all hate you." "I wish you were dead." "Go ahead." "Try and kill me like you killed Mother." "I'll not go so easy." " I didn't kill her." " Liar." " I didn't." " She didn't love you." "You killed her for it." "Shut your mouth." "Shut your mouth." " She never loved you." " You shut your mouth." " She never loved you." " You shut... shut..." "Keep your mouth shut!" "Vorenus." "Vorenus." "Our noble triumvirate announces the immediate departure from the city of his honor Mark Antony." "He will take up his seat in Alexandria as supreme governor of Egypt and the eastern provinces." "Tomorrow, at the house of Rufus, an auction of excellent slaves, from pliant virgins to learned Greeks," "Rufus has slaves for every budget." "Make way for the Triumvir Mark Antony." "Orders of his honor Triumvir Octavian Caesar, none shall enter this house." "Shall we use force?" "No." "Atia!" "Atia!" "Out of my way, you little insects." "You cannot leave without permission." "Atia, calm." "Leave it be." "I just want to talk." "Don't push me to violence, centurion." "Just talk." "I'm leaving tomorrow." "Very well." "Goodbye, then." "When the time comes," "I'll send for you." "When will that be?" "Who can say?" "We must be patient." "Promise me." "Promise me you'll send for me." "On my life, I promise." "Burn it." " And this?" " I don't know." "Burn it." "Wipe your arse with it." "I really don't care." "Well, well." "Lucius Vorenus." "You found my gold yet?" " I know where it is." " And?" "Titus Pullo will retrieve it." "I have resigned from the collegium." " Resigned?" " It's a personal matter." "I have no doubt Pullo will not let you down." "I had no doubt that you would not let me down, but here we are." "For that, I apologize." "I am come to offer you my services in Egypt, if you will take me." "Your services?" "In Egypt?" "I cannot stay in Rome, sir." "Let me go to Egypt with you." "Please." "All right." "Come with me." "I need good men." "You'll not turn to drink, will you?" "No, sir." "Well, you stoic types often do when disappointed in life." "Welcome aboard." "Thank you, sir." " What did he say?" " We sail tomorrow." "You're not gonna come back and say goodbye?" "No." "Vorena's got your blood in her." "Doesn't forgive easy." "And she's young." " Girls..." " Pullo, it's best this way." "You'll take good care of them?" "Tell them..." "Tell them I tried." "Gods protect you, brother." "And you, brother." " Don't do that." " Why not?" "I paid good money for those flowers." "You'll leave the place a desert if you carry on." "I've nothing better to do." "In the kitchen you might find something to amuse you." "What?" "Help the cook peel onions?" "Better than that." "Well, not much better, in my opinion." "You always did have lamentable taste in men." "Go on." "And don't let the guards see you smile." "They'll know something's amiss." "Go on." "How on earth did you get in?" "Octavian's men don't let a mouse get by them." "Your mother could outfox Ulysses." "Well, if she can get you inside, perhaps she can get me out." "We could run away together." "It's a nice thought but it's not possible." " We could try, at least." " No." " Why not?" "I have a little money." "We could go to the east." "He couldn't reach us there." "I would go with you to Hades, to Britain, even, if I thought we had the right." "But we don't." "Right?" "What right has he to keep me captive?" " What right has he to..." " Please." "Don't be angry." "He has every legal and moral right to do with us as he wishes." "He has forgiven me." "And he remains my friend." "I cannot repay his forgiveness by betraying him a second time." "Well, why are you here, then?" "I'm here to say goodbye." "Where are you going?" "I mean, we shall see each other again, quite often, I expect." "But our relations will be formal and correct as they should be." "Coward." "You're a miserable coward." " Octavia..." " No." "I understand." "You love my brother and the power he gives you." "Why throw that all away for a woman?" "It'd be very foolish." "Goodbye." "Oh, by the way," "I'm having a baby." "Who is the father?" "Who knows?" "Neither man is worth a brass obol, so what matter?" "Go, go, go!" "Quickly, shut the door." "Come on!" "Titus Pullo." "A parley." "Brother Pullo, I have no quarrel with you." "You're a reasonable man like I am." "It's that madman Vorenus took us to this pass." "No reason you and me can't do business." "13!" "Stand firm!" "Don't run, you cowards!" "Antony." "Cleopatra."