"Two of the greatest problems in history" "Are how to account for the rise of Rome" "And how to account for her fall." "We may come nearly to understanding of the truth," "But if we remember that the fall of Rome like her rise," "Had not one cause but many." "And it was not an event," "But a process spread over 300 years." "Some nations have not lasted that long" "As Rome fell." "In the year 180 A.D.," "The Emperor Marcus Aurelius," "Who led his Roman legions" "Against the Germaenic tribes along the Danium frontier." "My lord, Caesar." "The omens are bad." "I could not find its heart." "When I was a child Themonitus," "I has a secret fear that night would come" "And would never end." "That we would live out our lives in total darkness," "But it was a small fear then." "Yet my lord, Caesar." "The sun always rises," "And will again." "So you say." "It is said more people died this moment" "When night is about to give way to day than in any other time." "It seems to me night whispers:" "Come away with me" "To the west, and sleep forever." "What is another day to offer you?" "What is another day to offer you, Themonitus?" "Warmth..." "Life..." "Color..." "People." "My lord, Caesar," "The sun." "As you predicted." "I congratulate you, Themonitus" "Themonitus." "Levius," "Levius." "How is Caesar?" "Well, in order to answer that question" "One must consider three aspects of the situation" "One, our emperor has been at the war for 17 years" "And lived under very difficult conditions." "Two, no one could ever describe Marcus Aurelius" "As a robust man." "There's a joke among the soldiers here about Themonitus." "They say ask Themonitus what day is it," "And he will lecture you on the history of the calendar." "You are well my lord, Caesar." "It seems that every governor, every king" "In the whole empire is waiting in the valley below." "I invited them here for a particular purpose." "I've also asked my son, Comadeus." "Your great friend, Comadeus." "Tell me of your last campaign" "In this barbarian forest." "Two or three times," "We thought we had Balimar, their leader," "But each time he was able to get away." "A few days longer, Caesar." "We'll bring you his head." "No, Levius." "Please don't bring me his head." "I wouldn't know what to do with it." "Bring him to me alive." "But he is the heart of the barbarians..." "Then bring me the heart of the barbarians." "I wish to speak with him" "Speak with him?" "Rome has existed for a thousand years," "It is time we find peaceful ways to live with those" "You called barbarians," "So bring me this Balimar alive and quickly." "There was a rumor that Lucila was here." "Lucila, Caesar's daughter." "Ah yes, Caesar's daughter." "As the dog fears the eagle," "As the lamb fears the wolf," "So is my heart heavy with fear." "Oh, mother Vesta, eternal mother of Rome." "Help me." "Bring back the health of my father." "Protect us from the danger which hangs over the empire." "Let there be peace over all Rome." "Lucila." "Levius." "Lucila," "You are beautiful." "What does that mean?" "It has been so long." "I have forgotten." "Why didn't you ever try to see me when you are in Rome?" "It seemed you didn't want to see anyone." "I thought by living alone away from the world," "I could find peace." "Then I found there is no real peace" "In being alone." "There is only loneliness." "I too had been lonely, Lucila." "I'm here now, Levius." "And if my father's health improves," "And if your duties as a soldier do not prevent it," "We may see each other," "If you want to." "I want to." "Kitritdarte, king of Petra." "Welcome Kitritdarte." "Welcome Petra." "Costabokus, king of the Omnia." "Greetings Costabokus, king of the Omnia." "Severius, proconsul of Judea." "Africa." "Welcome..." "Perjileana, proconsul of Syria." "Marcelus, governor of Egypt I think." "Marcelus, friend of Caesar." "And who would this be, Themonitus?" "Perjileana, proconsul of Syria." "My greatful thanks Themonitus." "Perjileana, friend of Caesar." "Welcome." "Pericleas, proconsul of Athens." "Pericleas of Athens." "Rome is honored, Sir Hamas" "That Armenian's king is with us." "My lord, Caesar" "Armenia hopes for even closer ties to Rome." "Perthinas, Britania" "Welcome Perthinas." "Welcome Britania." "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Governors, consuls," "Princes..." "You have come from the deserts of Egypt," "From the mountains of Armenia," "From the forest of Goule" "And the prairies of Spain." "You do not resemble each other," "Nor do you wear the same clothes," "Nor sing the same songs," "Nor worship the same gods." "Yet like a mighty tree" "With green leaves and black roots," "You are the unity which is Rome." "Look about you and look at yourselves," "And see the greatness of Rome." "Two hundred years ago the Goules were our fiercest enemies." "Now we greet them as friends." "In the whole world," "Only two small frontiers are still hostile to us." "One here in the north which separates us" "From those who are called barbarians," "The other in the east Persia." "Only on these two borders will you find" "Walls, palisades," "Forts and hatred." "But these are not the frontiers Rome wants." "Rome wants and needs human frontiers." "We had to fight long wars." "Your burdens had been great." "But we come now to the" "End of the road." "Here!" "Within our reach golden century of peace." "A true Pax Romana." "Wherever you live," "Whatever the color of your skin." "When peace is achieved," "It will bring to all," "All!" "The supreme rights of Roman citizenship." "My lord, Caesar." "Are you ill?" "A small pain in my side." "It will pass." "No longer provinces, all colonies" "But Rome," "Rome everywhere." "A family of equal nations." "That is what lies ahead." "May God hastens the day." "Lucila," "Each time I see you" "I wondered how it is possible," "I fathered something so beautiful." "You make it hard for me to take leave of this life." "Father," "You have a long life ahead of you." "Death is in the order of things." "Didn't they teach you that in school?" "I will not let you leave me." "Is there a choice?" "Soon this trickle of blood," "This few bones," "This net woven with nerves and arteries will be dust." "No choice." "Now that I'm here." "I will see that You take better care of yourself." "Even so," "Time is short." "And there is a decision which I can no longer delay." "I have sacrificed the love of my son." "Comadeus will never be my heir." "Levius," "My wish that you should succeed me." "And I intend to present you to the leaders of the empire" "Openly as my successor." "But," "You said yourself, Caesar." "It needs someone who will change," "Who will find your ways." "A man of the tenth century of Rome." "I know only the ways of war." "I would not know how to make allies out of the barbarians." "You will find your ways." "I have a heart for you, Levius." "But Comadeus already shares the throne with you." "I have hope that the position and" "Responsibilities would make him grow up" "But he is interested only in games and gladiators." "It was you Caesar who brought me into your family." "Comadeus and I are like brother." "I love Comadeus, too." "But that's just a feeling." "A personal feeling." "My lord, Caesar." "Price Comadeus sent you his greetings." "He is in the snow country," "Two days journey from here." "Perhaps, I should meet Comadeus" "My lord, Caesar." "Yes, Levius." "Go and meet him." "And think about what I said but remember my time is short." "Even though Comadeus is my brother," "I would have done as you did, father." "And would you also have chosen Levius?" "Yes!" "Yes." "Only..." "Why did he hesitate?" "If it not been the kind of man who hesitate when face" "With such a great responsibility I would not have chosen him." "Come, sit by me." "Let me look at you." "Are you happy?" "You seem reasonably happy, and yet..." "And yet, father." "A disturbing whisper reached me" "That you thought once of retiring to the temple of Vesta." "I know it is too simple to think of life" "As I the beautiful or ugly." "There was a time" "When life seemed very ugly to me." "Is it because of your mother?" "I was ashamed." "She brought you such pain." "I knew moments of happiness with her," "And beauty." "But she looked for lovers elsewhere," "Since she could not love me." "You're the best." "The greatest of men." "Is that the way it must be, father?" "Only moments of beauty" "And then betrayal." "We must try to understand other people more." "Understand cruelty and weakness." "Even that." "You have such a gift for life, Lucila," "But I think you ask too much of it." "Learn pity." "Learn to have compassion." "To yourself, too." "Pity and compassion to yourself." "The future will make great demands on you." "Oh, father." "Levius!" "Levius!" "Levius!" "Comadeus!" "Comadeus!" "Levius!" "Galius Levius, warrior, voyager." "Comadeus, Comadeus." "Most strongest of them all." "I miss you!" "Are you well?" "I never am well!" "I have much to tell you." "And I you!" "We both come up from Rome." "To the honors," "Matches, glorious." "Father." "I've seen too little of you." "That was not my wish." "Nor mine." "But this wars have been endless." "Endless because," "You were too gentle." "I would have fought these wars differently." "There's a lot we do differently Comadeus." "I wish you could have come to Rome more often." "As a new generation, there's a whole new feeling." "You mean I'm getting old, senile perhaps." "Rome has changed since you were there." "Rome has changed." "It is now crawling with gladiators." "Sister," "I thought you retired as a Vesta virgin." "And abandon Rome to you and your athlete." "Female philosopher." "As I remembered, you two began to quarrel as soon as" "You could walk." "I expect you're tired." "And thirsty." "We'll talk together soon." "Come let us find someone..." "Vitorious Poliminus and Victorinus," "We have fought four campaigns together." "Felibus, the greatest gladiator of all Rome," "Survivor of a hundred combats." "We've come to fight your battles." "Gladiators to fight us soldiers..." "Why not?" "We'll teach your legions how to kill." "Have some wine." "Marcus Aurelius, our Caesar" "Does not look well." "Dying man never do." "But you knew Caesar was dying where else could have" "Pulled you and your kind away from the city of Rome." "You know, Levius." "It's when I'm with you," "I feel... good." "Safe." "Don't ever change." "Caesar was just telling me I should change." "Oh father thinks too much." "As much for a Roman to think of these days." "Why Levius," "For a moment that honest warrior's face" "Of yours took on a philosopher's role" "Let's not think, let's drink." "As in the old days?" "As in the old days." "Did you study logic?" "Do you know what a dilemma is?" "A dilemma." "Is..." "When we have two possibilities and both of them are impossible." "That is the norm" "Drink with me." "Now drink with me." "Drink with me!" "I'm Caesar's son," "I can have you burned alive!" "Why Levius." "My friend." "My brother." "Something is struggling you, isn't it?" "Your father," "Have asked me..." "To be his heir." "My own father." "But I'm his son." "He must hate me very much." "He does not hate you." "I did not ask for this, Comadeus." "Nor did you refuse." "Ask me to refuse!" "Ask you?" "If you listen carefully." "You will hear the gods..." "You will hear the gods laughing." "I do not hear them laughing." "You will do what the gods decide!" "She is for you." "She thinks." "Levius." "Levius." "Lucila." "Lucila!" "Have you finished with Comadeus and wine?" "My world has suddenly become strange." "I'm not sure where I am." "I'm sure of only one thing." "I love you, Lucila." "If you are so sure," "Why did it take you so long?" "I think I must have known all these years." "I must have been certain that one day this will happen." "No, we have not known." "No and not know." "How can that be?" "I'm not sure how it was." "But I know now." "You were always with me." "Everywhere." "I took you in the battle with me." "You were with me in the gold fields." "But you know this." "Only this." "I know this." "You were with me, too." "Always!" "There were times when I wanted to run away from life," "I did not because I told myself that" "One day" "You will be with me." "I want to be with you for the rest of my life." "I love you." "Do you, Levius?" "Bring him back to me safely." "Bring him back to me quickly." "Make him love me forever." "Get these men back behind the lines." "We're setting a trap for Balimar." "I will lead the attack." "The men we sent first at the battle" "Will be used as bait." "Many will die." "It will be specially dangerous for their leader." "We will be the first into this battle." "We will be your bait." "And if I die, then the gods are not with me." "Then Levius, my friend," "My brother." "Will it not relieve you of a great burden?" "As a command you will lead your men forward." "You will move deeper and deeper into that forest" "Until the barbarians are convinced" "That it is safe to attack." "You will stand and hold until" "We move in and close the trap." "We will stand and hold." "Balimar!" "Balimar has escaped" "Because some of your gladiators we cowards." "Father..." "Father." "It has been decided, Lucila." "Armenian throne would become even closer" "A part of Rome," "A lovely part," "Will become Armenia." "Lucila," "I want you to take care of these." "I wrote them while campaigning in these forests." "I will watch over them, father." "I have tried to convince myself," "But my fears for the empire are unreasonable." "But my fears are reasonable." "The east, Lucila is where the danger lies." "We must make an alliance that will show the whole world" "What value Rome places on her eastern frontier." "An alliance with Armenia." "And so..." "Caesar must give his daughter in marriage" "To the king of Armenia." "I had hopes that the gods would be kind." "I had hope that you would not have a marriage without love." "Father..." "You know better than anyone" "What a marriage without love can mean." "Yes." "Yes." "I do." "I know you love me." "Therefore..." "Therefore, if you asked me," "It can only mean that you must have tried with all your strength" "To find another way." "Yes, I have." "And you could not." "No..." "I could not." "Therefore, it must be time." "Does..." "Does Rome punish cowards?" "Stop this!" "Stop this!" "Stop this!" "You cruelest cowards!" "Let 20 of your men fight 20 of ours." "If they dare unless you are cowards." "Move out of the way!" "No one touches, Berilus!" "I am the commander of the northern army." "Continue the punishment." "I will not permit this!" "Withdraw, Comadeus!" "I cannot." "Nor can I." "Then let the gods decide." "Yes, the omens had been bad." "Bad for whom?" "For us, for Rome." "At least here we can speak clearly." "What would you like, Julianas," "That the gods sent us written messages" "Advising us on each small move we make." "Is the murder of an emperor" "A small move?" "Richard." "Caesar is dying and he knows it." "At any moment, he will disinherit Comadeus and proclaim" "Levius his heir." "Once he does that publicly." "What hope is there for us?" "To kill Caesar." "Does Comadeus know?" "No." "He must never know." "Caesar's gone." "There are so many close to him." "How could it be done?" "Quite easily." "We always know that Caesar loves fruit." "Apple." "Now this blade carries a deadly poison." "On the side with the carved snake." "Cut fruit with it, an apple." "Offer the poison half to Caesar," "Eat the other half for yourself," "Then long live the emperor, Comadeus." "It could be done before hundreds of witnesses." "No one could be suspected." "From whom will Caesar accept fruit?" "Who is close enough to him." "I am." "You!" "You are blind." "I have only to feel the blade and know its side." "And who better than a blind man." "Are you a man to enjoy an irony Marcus Aurelius?" "Look well then at the emperor of all Rome" "Become no better than a slave." "And who or what is your master." "Slave!" "A small point in your side." "Perhaps not larger than a grain of wheat." "Of what use is your wisdom now." "No answer." "Think of all you've read and pondered over the years." "And the talk, Marcus Aurelius." "The hours of talk with your friend," "Themonitus." "Surely it must have prepared you for this moment." "But it has failed you, hasn't it?" "You are not prepared." "Why?" "In all that talk did this is this topic dead," "Slip your mind or did you know deep down" "That your wisdom would be helpless before this mystery." "Of mysteries." "But once you have admit that" "All other knowledge and skills" "Become trivial and meaningless." "But then you will not help thought and read" "And talk and wonder." "So, perhaps it is just as well." "For if men do not think greed," "Talk to each other" "Above all else, talk." "There are no longer men." "He has come for me." "The silent boat will ferry me across" "The shadow of river." "I am not ready for you." "I've always been willing to bargain with my enemies." "Can we not make a treaty." "For your part I asked you to wait two years." "One year." "I cannot do it in less than a year." "I do not seek pleasure or friendship or love." "I speak only of Rome." "And when I say Rome, I mean the world." "The future." "For my part I am prepared to live on in pain." "A year." "What is a year to you?" "Stupid thing." "And it was I who said," "It is not in the nature" "Of fig tree to be a fig as for honey bees to give honey," "And for the lion who fall upon the land." "So it is in the way of things that you should come for me." "Forgive me, Berklin." "I did not realize you were blind and deaf" "Come for me when you will." "My hand shall lead us." "But I tell you this" "That it is a great truth that we have not yet divined." "Oh, it is you Cleanda." "Is there something I can do my lord Caesar?" "I'm in pain." "The Greeks say there is nothing better than fruit to soften pain." "Share this with me." "I have been engaged to king Hamus." "But you are mine." "My father gave his word." "Come away with me." "Where could we go?" "Anywhere where we could be alone." "But there is no such a place." "I'm Caesar's daughter." "A woman..." "That is much higher rank." "I couldn't live that way." "Nor could you." "I could." "I have to choose between being Caesar's heir or your love." "I choose your love." "I cannot." "How can you do anything else?" "Only this is real." "All else is half-life." "A dream." "Only this." "How can you ask me to forget everything I am?" "All that my life means." "How could your life mean anything without love?" "I will not let this happen." "Father," "Why did you deny me?" "Caesar is dying!" "Father." "Levius." "You are looking for a document Themonitus?" "A document in which my father named me his heir." "There is no such document." "There must be." "His last word was Levius." "I will bare witness." "And it was Caesar's wish" "That you be his heir." "If it was only your word, Lucila," "There would be doubt." "Caesar must be undoubted Caesar." "Is it not possible, Lucila that there are" "Other ways of becoming the real heir of Marcus Aurelius?" "Hail, undoubted Caesar!" "Hail Comadeus!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Comadeus!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Comadeus!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Comadeus!" "I will never forget what you have done today." "Let this be heard over the four corners of the empire" "That I Comadeus," "Now Caesar" "To proclaim Galius Matheus Levius" "Commander-in-chief of all Roman armies." "Proconsul of the Roman empire," "Second only to Caesar himself." "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Remember, thou are mortal." "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "Hail Caesar!" "In these buildings" "You store all the law," "All the writings of the great men of Rome." "I am leaving with" "My husband." "And soon I'll be far from this city." "Now I ask" "That you guard these" "The meditation of my father Marcus Aurelius." "Whatever has happened" "In the days to come." "Let not this be destroyed." "For this is Rome." "When..." "When my father was dying," "I spoke to the gods," "Saying..." "I am not like my father." "And if I'm to be crowned Caesar," "I would change all he did." "I offered them my life," "And told them that if it is not for the good of Rome" "That I be Caesar," "Then let me be killed." "But you see..." "I'm alive." "And Caesar." "Now!" "I wish to see Rome once more..." "the city of light." "Gaiety, the beauty and strength." "We will have games." "The people of the city will be fed." "You  your Eastern provinces will send us" "Twice the grain they've been sending" "The taxes on them will be doubled." "My lord, Caesar." "This cannot be done." "We have famine," "Not only in our provinces of" "Syria and Egypt," "But also in Armenia, Cappadocia" "Arabia" "In the whole Eastern half of the Roman empire," "People are dying of hunger When the words spread that" "You have sent for us," "It was joy and hope." "Our people said," "Rome cannot let us die." "Our Caesar will send us help." "If we carry out these orders," "We risk having the entire East" "Rise up against Rome." "You will tell your provinces," "Egypt, Syria," "The entire Eastern half of the empire" "That if there is a least resistance to my orders," "I will destroy them." "You will also let them know they must forget" "The weakness of my father." "The tribe of Polybus and his legions Dead march, ambushed." "Barbarians." "Human sacrifice." "Romans." "Attack!" "Balimar!" "Balimar!" "Lay down your weapons and swords." "We have fought each other long enough!" "You will never drag me," "And my people to the streets of Rome as slaves." "Balimar!" "You or your people will never be slaves!" "This I pledge you on my honor!" "Caesar will never accept this." "They are prisoners of war." "They must be sold as slaves." "Let us die killing Romans!" "Put them in chain!" "Put them in chain!" "So we can talk to them as men." "We are asking only that you give us your words," "And your chains will be removed." "You don't seem to understand." "Galius Matheus Levius" "Wishes to remove your chains." "He wishes to make free men," "Free women of you." "Wishes to make you Romans." "Is it that you doubt the word of Levius?" "Tell me, I want to help you." "This is Voltran," "Our god of war." "If your gods are stronger than ours," "They will give you strength." "If they are not, you will reach out and touch Voltran." "You are surrounded by Roman soldiers." "At my first scream they will fall upon you and kill you." "We have lost the battle," "Voltran says we must die." "Let us look upon this logically." "You wish to know" "If our god are stronger than your god." "One, what will you know if" "I touch your god." "What if it's I am weak?" "Two..." "We wish to help you," "To free you." "If I scream you will all die." "Although I've been a slave," "I'm not accustomed to pain." "All I am is a philosopher," "I am weak." "I'm not worthy of it." "Barbarians!" "Monsters!" "Animals!" "Touch Voltran then will know" "If your gods are weak." "I cannot," "I cannot bear this." "It's beyond all human endurance." "I cannot." "Oh, Levius." "What a world to" "The future rested in such as this." "I have no intention of turning..." "My faith was not strong enough!" "You did not even scream." "There's no reason to take our god." "That's no reason to change your ways." "What do you want with us Roman?" "You miserable, uneducated, half men." "You are not taught of what we fought for" "And yet..." "We want you." "We want you." "Sister!" "If he hasn't been Caesar," "He'll be the greatest gladiator in Rome." "Yes!" "You do belong in the arena." "You mean to say you me all this way to sharpen your wits." "Everything you do has a purpose." "I came to tell you what your friends dare not." "You are pushing our Eastern provinces to rebellion." "Now I see." "You've come to scold me." "And may I remind, my sister." "That her younger brother cannot be order about and ridicule." "You seem to forget that I'm Caesar." "I do as I wish." "Do you?" "Do you?" "You had only one idea," "To smash and destroy everything father did." "You always resented me, Lucila." "Why?" "What have I ever done to you?" "It's what you are doing now!" "You're lying." "Don't you suppose I know that it was you" "Who poisoned father against me." "I did not have to." "The problem is you and the cruel things you did." "How is it that you never knew about the cruel things you did," "Especially to our own mother." "I was in the room when she died." "When our mother died..." "Remember!" "I heard her beg you." "Lucila," "Why do you hate me so." "If I'd done anything to hurt you," "Forgive me." "And you let her die without a word." "Wasn't that cruelty?" "There was a reason." "Reason?" "What was it tell me?" "Nothing." "Tell me." "Tell me!" "Caesar!" "You are unarmed." "Even a woman with a dagger" "Could be dangerous." "She has no dagger." "She is my sister." "Leave us." "So, you came to warn me." "No other reason." "Didn't you know Levius" "Was on his way back to Rome?" "I did not know." "Do you know why he is coming?" "Stay here with me, Lucila." "We'll find other ways to show the loyalty" "Of Armenia." "Galius Matheus Levius." "I heard a whisper that Lucila is here in Rome." "I do not heard him saying that anything is possible now" "That Comadeus has become Caesar." "I've been hearing these wild rumors" "That you've come with your head full of ideas," "For a new Rome." "Rome of my father." "I let you intend to come before the Senate." "With these ideas These wild schemes of yours." "What will you do if I were to say, Levius" "I don't want you to do it." "Just that." "Nothing more." "I would still do what I believe must be done." "Abandon this plan, Levius." "And I will see to it that you and Lucila can always be together." "Oh, Levius." "Oh, what will I do?" "I'm not as strong as I thought I was." "I have not learned to live without you." "There is no life for either us apart Lucila." "I told you this before but you would not listen." "I thought you betrayed my father." "But now I know." "You found your own way of making the world you want." "And yet if I try to make that world," "Comadeus will keep us apart." "Make that world." "Levius" "And let's see," "What will keep us apart." "Hail Levius, conqueror of the German." "Hail Levius, Germanigan!" "Honorable fathers" "And Senators of Rome." "Have you heard what is being proposed?" "Galius Matheus Levius," "Have asked that we the Roman Senate" "Should give" "These barbarians," "These savages" "Roman citizenship and settle them on Roman lands." "To treat these wondering murderers" "As brothers," "Equal." "And what about other provinces?" "What of Goule?" "So loyal to us." "What of Syria," "And Egypt which send us our grain?" "If we make Roman of these barbarians," "Can we withhold Roman citizenship from them?" "No!" "Then what becomes of the precious price" "Roman citizenship once was" "It becomes a cheap, common thing." "It will be given away like bread." "I say no!" "Warriors!" "Let us rid our minds of these poisonous idea." "Crucify their leader." "Send the rest as slave" "Teach them once and for all what it is to make war on Rome." "That..." "Is the Roman way." "Honorable fathers of Rome!" "You have greeted me as a soldier," "Who came in small triumph from the wars." "And I thank you for it." "But you will have a hard decision to make here today!" "And it must not be I as a soldier" "Swayed your vote." "I ask, therefore, of Caesar" "That a man who's neither soldier nor senator," "But a philosopher." "A man of reason" "Be permitted to speak for me." "Fellow Romans!" "Greek!" "Greek!" "Roman Greek have become a Roman by choice." "Slave!" "Slave!" "I'm not a slave." "I want my freedom." "Fellow Romans." "I am a teacher," "And as a teacher I know that when I" "Tried to teach the same lessons for a hundred times" "And still the pupil does not understand" "Then I force to conclusion that" "Perhaps there's something wrong," "Other with the lesson" "Or the teacher." "A hundred times we have taught" "Those we have called barbarians" "What it means to make war with Rome," "We burned their villages," "We crucified their leaders." "We've enslaved their young." "As far as go out to death and buried." "The slaves die, slowly." "But their hatred that we leave behind us" "Never dies!" "Hatred means wars." "Wars mean tribute" "From our provinces," "Taxes," "Hunger," "Disease." "How costly that is!" "How wasteful!" "And yet the answer is simple." "We must have no war." "No war?" "When your friends continually attack us." "This is treason!" "These people have proved their aims" "Very clearly." "To destroy us" "And to destroy the whole Roman way of life." "And yet..." "The answer is simple." "Let us transform my friends from men of war" "To men of peace." "Let us put them on our abandoned farmland." "Not only will they produce food for themselves," "But this I pledge you." "One day they will send food to Rome." "Yes, I agree!" "Put them on those lands." "Let them produce for us" "But as slaves." "That is the way it has always been?" "Neither here, we have twenty thousands" "Of slaves in the family states." "Where are they now?" "All sold or freed." "Why?" "Because neither oppose to slavery." "No, because it is no longer profitable to keep slaves." "Slaves do not produce as much as free men." "Let us do what is profitable." "And right." "Let us share the greatest gift of all." "Let us give these men the right of Rome and freedom." "And they will spread the word" "That Rome has accepted them as equal, then" "We will have our human frontiers." "The Roman peace" "That Marcus Aurelius promised." "In the name of Caesar..." "In the name of Caesar!" "Caesar has asked me" "When has Rome ever been greater or stronger?" "I say in answer to Caesar," "Never has Rome been greater or stronger than mow." "And what is it that has kept our empire together?" "Our strength!" "Our might!" "Equality..." "Freedom..." "Peace." "Who is it that uses these words but Greeks," "And Jews and slaves." "Behind him and his people are the bandits..." "Untold millions of them." "Waiting for a moment of weakness ready to destroy us." "If we take these barbarians and be amongst us," "Our enemies will say is it because" "We are weak." "Then they will pour in to us from everywhere." "It will be the end of the Roman empire." "It will be the end of Rome." "End of Rome?" "The end of Rome?" "How should an empire die?" "Does it collapse in one terrible moment?" "No." "No!" "But there comes a time when its people no longer believe in it." "Then, then!" "That an empire begins to die" "Fathers of Rome," "I have lived under four great emperors" "Trageon," "Henum," "Antonitus" "Marcus Aurelius" "When during all those years our empire grew." "Changed." "There all life is grow or die." "And you, the senators," "Are the heart of Rome." "It is through you that the people speak." "Speak up!" "Let the world hear you!" "Let the world know" "That Rome will not die." "There are millions like them waiting at our gates." "If we do not open these gates they will break them down" "And destroy us, but instead," "Let us grow ever bigger," "Ever greater." "Let us take them among us." "Let the heart of the empire grow with us" "Honorable fathers." "We have changed the world." "Can we not change ourselves?" "Yes!" "It is time to change!" "An end of war." "End to war!" "Levius." "Oh Levius." "You have won." "We have won." "We have won the Senate." "We have yet to win Rome." "Rome is with you." "The armies are with you." "I'll be with you." "March against Comadeus." "With you as Caesar all Rome will change" "You think you have defeated me," "Haven't you?" "Since it was for Rome it cannot be your defeat." "It is also very clear now," "Why you came." "To destroy me." "I could kill you, both!" "As for the Senate..." "If you will try to oppose the will of the Senate..." "I will not oppose the will of the Senate." "We'll allow your barbarians to settle," "But you," "You are no longer second in command to Caesar." "You will return to your northern frontiers," "And you will patrol them forever." "Until it is my pleasure to change my mind." "No, no, no, sister." "I'm not giving you anymore chances to prop against me." "You will go back to your husband in Armenia," "And you will not see Rome or Levius again." "A few days ago," "You were ready to make peace with Rome." "Over these half years we have made many peace treaty." "But many have died." "Of the northern people only you were left." "If you are afraid of the hordes of bandits on your frontier," "Rome will protect you." "Why did you refuse?" "Why?" "Speak out clearly," "Now!" "Or be on your way." "All these years in this wilderness." "What have we accomplished?" "The first time in the history of the Roman empire" "Boast of the northern peace." "And that could be a long, months, years." "For that moment has come." "That one moment that is too much" "Would that moment would come" "If Lucila were here with you?" "A command from Caesar." "Your ought to return to Rome." "Themonitus," "Look!" "It's Levius!" "All is well without you." "We prosper." "They have a home, like the Roman." "As you can see there's more than enough for ourselves." "You were right, Levius." "There's no limit what could be done" "With the human spirit, for good or evil." "Have you heard from Lucila?" "No." "I haven't heard a word, not for months." "I hear there's a famine I Rome." "People are dying in thousands of hunger" "And pestilence." "I must get there before night fall." "I'm glad you prosper." "Terrible day, isn't it Levius?" "I'm afraid the gods are angry." "They are torturing Rome with this" "Pestilence" "Thousands have died." "I am alone." "I have no one to..." "To turn to," "Except you." "I have not wanted to be away." "The entire East of Babel," "Arabia," "Judea, Cappadocia, Syria," "Egypt..." "Syria and Egypt!" "That is Marcelus' and Versilana's..." "They were among the most loyal." "Yes, to my father." "The army is against me," "Against Rome." "Even Sir Hamas has joined them." "He has forced Lucila to flea with him Levius." "Where is the Eastern army, Comadeus?" "They have sided with the rebels." "There's only the northern army left to crash them." "And you," "You're the only one they will follow." "Levius." "Take command." "Do not give me this power, Comadeus." "The gods are all with me." "They will always be with me." "Go to the East and crash this rebellion." "Do not give me this power." "I'm not afraid." "You asked for this meeting!" "Speak!" "You are prepared to do battle with us," "Even before you have spoken to us." "You have rebelled against Rome." "Marcus Aurelius spoke of an empire" "Of equal nations." "Rome will not tolerate rebellion!" "We're old friend, Levius." "You are traitors!" "You have caused two armies to mutiny!" "You have threatened the empire!" "We are not alone in this, Levius." "Levius." "Levius." "Oh Levius." "The gods were kind to us." "They sent you." "You." "You." "You're a part of this, Lucila?" "I am a great part of this." "Why a rebellion?" "We are breaking away from Rome." "We will make our own empire with these" "An Eastern empire." "An Eastern empire!" "You will make chaos!" "What will hold you together?" "What will you do to divide the empire?" "But not if you'll join us, Levius." "We will have all Rome greater than ever." "What have you done, Lucila?" "I am trying to prevent a disaster" "My brother has set upon." "They may be wrong of what Comadeus has done," "But this is not the way to oppose him." "I cannot let you destroy the empire!" "Cannot!" "Cannot!" "If you cannot then take your army back to Rome." "Let us make our own destiny here." "And let the rebellion go on unpunished!" "I am part of this rebellion!" "I am beginning to wonder if you ever love me." "It is out of love that I dared so much." "Run, Lucila." "Hide somewhere now before it is too late" "Because as certain as death," "We'll fall upon the rebellious army and crash them" "I do not run, Levius." "You have violated the truce!" "We have done more than that, Lucila." "We have joined with the Persian." "The Persians." "What can we do?" "Join Levius?" "How would Comadeus repay us except with torture and death." "It is Romans against Persians" "While we stand by." "Get the men behind us!" "If I die Levius, know this..." "I have given orders" "To have Lucila killed at once." "The King is dead!" "The king is dead!" "I have lost!" "Let me die!" "No, Lucila." "I want you to live." "I want you to live." "I want to die!" "I want to die!" "Hail Levius!" "Comadeus," "Emperor of the Roman world salutes you and proclaim, henceforth," "You will be known as Galius Matheus Levius Partius," "Conqueror of Persia." "Caesar has asked me to say to you," "Levius, my friend, my brother." "I wish you to share the throne," "To become Caesar with me." "But first..." "The following villages is to be destroyed." "From each rebel cities of" "Cappadocia, Syria and Egypt." "Five thousand persons will be taken and crucified." "Five thousand persons from each city should be burned alive." "We'll teach them to make revolution." "Stop the crucifixions!" "Cease these men!" "Romans!" "Romans!" "Romans!" "Romans!" "Now can we say to our Senate," "To our empire," "To the whole world." "Look!" "Here we meet in friendship of loving people from the north." "And the god's people from the south." "What we have done here could be done" "The whole world over." "Where is this gift from Galius Levius?" "It was Levius who did this to us!" "Galius Matheus Levius!" "You told him I would share the throne with him." "This was his answer." "Tell Caesar," "There will be a new Rome or a new Caesar" "Cleanda!" "Get me gold, Cleanda." "Strip all the public monuments," "The temples," "The gods and goddessess." "Get me enough gold, Cleanda" "To drown Levius" "And his new Rome." "Destroy the Barbarians!" "Men of Rome!" "Men of Rome!" "Do not touch these people!" "They've become your brothers!" "Let them live in peace they are Romans now!" "Go hug them!" "The whole northern people will answer with death and fire!" "They hatred will live for centuries to come." "Romans and Romans blood will pay for this." "You will make nations of killers out of them!" "Put aside your weapons and" "Let us live together in peace!" "Peace!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "What happened, gentle Greek?" "Did you try to tell them there were three possibilities?" "Did you not know that there was a fourth possibility?" "This is the way they answered reason." "And now even you must see" "That this is the only way to answer them." "Look at his face." "Tell me what I must do in his name." "March the army into Rome and dredge the city with rod!" "He is dead." "He does not seem dead to me." "I can still feel his life." "I can hear his words." "He was my father's friend." "I will go alone into Rome." "If I do not return by sunset," "Then let the army into Rome." "I've been made a gold." "Did you know?" "I ordered 30 days of celebration to mark the event." "Leave at once, Comadeus!" "I can still spare your life!" "I've finally understood why they have sent me this pestilence." "There was famine." "There were too many mouse." "So the gods" "Made less mouse." "Comadeus, the army is at the gate of the city." "If I do not return by sunset," "The legions will march on Rome!" "I offered you everything" "And yet you put yourself against me." "You could have become a god." "Take your sword, Comadeus," "And I will show you." "I will show you how much of a god you are." "I will appeal to the Senate." "There must some love for the empire left among them." "I love you, Levius." "Yet now you must die." "What there a sort of joke for god laugh is?" "You told me once that you never heard" "The gods laughing me." "Listen." "Listen, carefully." "Glorious Caesar!" "Will the name Lucious Eileus Maurilius" "Comadeus Ogastus Pius Felix," "Pacifier of the whole earth, invincible?" "Invincible!" "Roman Hercules," "High priest, emperor." "Father of his country." "And now conqueror of Persia!" "We are gathered here" "To beg permission of our divine, Caesar." "That he authorizes us to proclaim that from this day forth" "Our empire be called," "Not the Roman empire but the empire of Comadeus." "And that the city be called, not Rome," "But the city of Comadeus." "You have my permission." "Galius Levius is among us." "Galius Levius wishes to speak." "Speak." "Honorable fathers of Rome." "What have you done?" "What have you become?" "You are the Senate of the people of Rome" "The voice!" "The conscience of the empire!" "Stand up!" "Rid yourselves of this man," "Who has imperiled the life of the empire" "The northern army is at the gate of Rome" "The army will support you." "Take him!" "Cease him!" "From Caesar!" "From Caesar!" "A change of command!" "A change of command!" "Galius Levius" "Is no longer your leader!" "Your new commander is" "Caesar himself!" "Gold!" "Gold!" "Caesar has sent gold for soldiers of Rome!" "Gold!" "Gold!" "Gold!" "Gold!" "Gold!" "Three thousand dinars for each man" "In gold." "Three thousand dinars!" "Gold!" "Gold!" "Three thousand dinars in gold" "For each man." "There's not enough gold in the whole world" "To pay each man." "Three thousand dinars." "Look!" "Look!" "See Levius." "The day has ran its course and no army marches on Rome." "Our new god, Caesar" "Demands human sacrifices." "You," "And these others" "Will be the first." "There is your great Roman army." "Bought for a hand full of gold." "What are we waiting for?" "Let's take our share!" "What about Levius?" "What about the years you have given Victorinus?" "The blood you have shed The comrades who have died." "Will you throw all these away?" "Our time has come." "Time!" "Time of betrayal!" "Deserters!" "We are not deserters!" "We obeyed our Caesar!" "Your Caesar!" "Your Caesar is buying you!" "If you touch that gold you are a traitor" "You are a traitor!" "You call me traitor!" "You are leading a rebellion!" "Bolivius!" "Bolivius!" "Lucila, save yourself!" "It can't be." "It is not my father's army." "What has become of it?" "There's nothing left." "Darkness." "Death." "Run quickly, Lucila." "Bolivius!" "There's no use crying!" "You don't understand all these, do you?" "In the old days there was gold from the wars for the legionnaires." "But your father..." "He was a great man." "With this new Rome," "It has all changed." "Berilus." "Berilus, Berilus help me." "Help me." "Help me save the man I love." "I want you to kill my brother." "I'll give you money." "My jewels." "I'll give you everything I have." "There's nothing left for me." "Only my love." "There is not enough money in the world" "To pay a man to kill his own son." "Your son." "My mother." "My mother loved you." "Yes, she loved me." "And I loved her." "It's a lie!" "It's a lie." "No, Comadeus." "It is true." "It's a lie You should never have been a Caesar." "You were not born to him." "It's a lie." "I'm his son." "I'm an emperor." "Marcus Aurelius was my father." "You are not my father!" "My son." "You are my son." "My son." "You are my first son." "No!" "My son." "Gods of Rome." "Your empire is dying!" "The land of the world has gone out!" "People of Rome!" "People of Rome!" "Quickly!" "Quickly, run to your Levius." "Tell him." "The night is full of thieves." "They have robbed us" "Of our most precious treasures," "Of our pride," "Of our glory," "Of our wisdom, of our honor." "People of Rome!" "Cry out!" "Death is near!" "They do not see." "They do not hear." "Only the jackals are waiting in the darkness know." "Only the vultures that are black sky know." "More, more..." "There is no more!" "Oh Levius." "Give me your hand, Levius." "Out of all we fought for." "Out of all our grieves." "We have each other." "We have each other." "Caesar has come!" "Put her in chain." "Levius." "Why did you come, Lucila?" "You could have lived." "I love you, Levius." "We are a part of each other." "I live only if you live." "Comadeus!" "Comadeus!" "Comadeus!" "When my father," "Marcus Aurelius, died." "You brought me a torch" "And hailed me undoubted Caesar!" "I swear I will not forget that." "So I'm paying my debt to you Galius Matheus Levius," "I have fought many times in the arena." "But they whisper that no gladiator dare kill Caesar," "A god." "Only you would dare." "If you fought me now," "The world would know that it was to death." "Kill me, and they are yours." "Victorinus," "No matter which one comes out alive," "You have the power now." "You have the army." "Make me Caesar" "And I will give you one million dinars in gold." "One million five hundred thousand dinars" "Levius, listen very carefully." "Do you hear the gods" "Laughing?" "Burn them!" "Burn them!" "Burn them!" "Burn them!" "Levius!" "Levius!" "Levius!" "Levius!" "Go get the gold!" "Voltron!" "Save Us!" "Destroy them all!" "Destroy them all!" "Hail Levius!" "Hail Caesar!" "We are in command now, Levius." "Rome is ours." "Take the throne." "Be Caesar." "Galius Matheus Levius," "The people are asking for you." "The empire is yours," "Levius." "You would not find me suitable," "Because my first official act will be" "To have you all crucified." "Two million dinars for the throne of Rome." "Two million dinars for the throne." "Two million five hundred thousand dinars" "Two million and seven hundred fifty thousand dinars." "Two million..." "Emperor of the greatest empire" "Of the world!" "Ruler of the world!" "No!" "I want more!" "Three million dinars!" "This was the beginning of the fall of the Roman empire." "A great civilization is not conquered from without." "Until it has destroyed itself from within."