“I was betrothed, my lord, to a maiden named Psyche. She had a brother,
a bright lad, named Gannon. He was employed by Sejanus as a secretary
and a messenger. He has carried letters even to thee, O mighty
Tiberius. One day he happened to read a communication from Livilla to
Sejanus. On the night of that day he was murdered by order of Sejanus.
But before his death the lad sewed to the under side of his tunic a
message. The lad’s dead body, clothed in that tunic, was carried to
his home. The tunic was there removed. The parents of the lad were
seized and imprisoned before they could bury his body. The father is
an inoffensive schoolmaster; the mother, a good and honest woman. At
the time of their arrest Psyche and I were walking in the Campagna.
When we reached her home, she also was arrested. Going into the house,
she found the tunic of her dear brother. Broken-hearted, she kissed
it, when suddenly she discovered the message. I read it with her. The
poor boy wrote that he had done wrong; that he had ‘read a letter from
L to S about Lygdus.’ These initials, my lord, referred without doubt
to Livilla and Sejanus; for Gannon had told his parents that he had
always carried messages between them. These two names are, therefore,
the only ones he could have meant. I have known this Lygdus, and at
one time nearly became his victim. On the road to the camp with my
betrothed, I besought her not to reveal her knowledge of the writing.
Now, O mighty emperor, hearken unto what follows. When I left Psyche at
the camp, I went to the house of Lygdus. He was not there. I then went
to the palace of Drusus. The gate-keeper informed me that but that very
morning the eunuch had entered the service of Livilla as cup-bearer.
While I was speaking at the gate, calls of the guests for their litters
were heard. I waited and watched the people hastening in confusion from
the palace. I learned that Drusus had died suddenly. O noble lord, well
do I remember every episode of that horrible night! After the guests
had left, Sejanus arrived and entered the palace. When he left, Lygdus
bade him farewell at the gate. An order had been issued for my arrest;
but my stable-boy warned me and I fled to Casinum. When Macro became
sub-prefect, I hastened to him with my story. I have ended, O mighty
Tiberius.”
While Gyges related his story, the emperor nervously worked his fingers
about his mouth. Apparently these startling disclosures made but little
impression upon his callous nature. When Gyges finished, he drawled
out, “Antonia mentions not her daughter’s name.”
“’Twas Livilla without doubt, my lord, who sent the message to Sejanus
about Lygdus.”
“Where is now the lad’s tunic?”
“Sejanus has destroyed it.”
“Where are the lad’s parents?”
“They are still in prison, my lord.”
“And the maiden Psyche?”
“She is a prisoner at Pandataria.”
“Ah, is she, then, the criminal that Sejanus has described to me?”
asked the emperor, now truly surprised.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account