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Authors: Robert Fabbri
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whilst in the army, when their father called the brothers into his study.
‘Well, my boys, January is almost upon us,’ he began without inviting them to sit down. ‘You have kept your side of the bargain, so I shall keep mine. I have arranged for us to stay, as you did, Sabinus, four years ago, at the house of my brother by marriage, your uncle, Gaius Vespasius Pollo. There we shall have access to the highest social circles in Rome and even to the imperial household itself. Gaius now counts amongst his patrons Antonia, sister by marriage to our illustrious Emperor.
‘As you know, Gaius has no children and is therefore eager that you, his sister’s offspring, should thrive. He will introduce you to wealthy and influential people and write many letters of recommendation and introduction. He is to be respected and honoured; who knows, he may even decide to adopt one of you.’ He paused and looked sternly at his two sons. ‘I have been most impressed by the progress you have both made, not least in your abilities to set aside petty personal differences and work together. This is one of the most important attributes for a Roman nobleman. You will be in a society that is ruthless and competitive where everyone is out for themselves and their family. You will be elected to offices or serve in the legions alongside men who for no apparent reason are your enemy and only see you as someone to outdo. Yet for the good of Rome you must work with these men, as they must work with you. Keep your eyes on them, never trust them, but co-operate with them; if you do that you will be serving both Rome and yourselves well.’
‘Yes, Father,’ the brothers said in unison.
Titus rose and guided both his sons out of the study into the atrium, past the rainwater pool with its spluttering fountain, to the alcove by the household altar where the death masks of the family’s ancestors hung on the wall. He stopped in front of the sombre array of lifelike, or deathlike, waxen images.
‘Each one of these men had a life with its own successes and failures, and every one of them did his utmost to serve our family andthe Sabine tribe. Then, after they had won for us our citizenship, they served Rome. You, my sons, will build on what they have done and raise the family of Flavius from obscurity here in the Sabine Hills to greatness in the greatest city of all. I’ll do everything in my power to aid you; provide money and use what contacts I have, but I shan’t be around for ever. When I’m gone you will have to support each other. To this end I have brought you here before our ancestors. Here you will swear to be ever faithful to one another, always to look out for each other and, above all, to support each other in whatever enterprises you find yourselves in.’
‘But, Father, to be bound by oath as well as blood is unnecessary. Our blood-tie compels us to do all that is being asked in the oath,’ Sabinus argued.
‘I understand that, but this oath will be made in front of not only all our ancestors, but also all our gods, including your Mithras. It will therefore be the most binding oath you have ever taken and so will supersede any other. If there comes a time when one of you is unable to properly aid the other because of a previous oath this will nullify it. Do you see, Sabinus?’
Sabinus met his father’s eye for a few moments, then he nodded and looked at Vespasian, who played dumb. He now felt certain that Sabinus knew of the prophecy since his father was giving him a way to break his mother’s oath. At some point in the future, when Sabinus felt the time was right, Titus wanted him, Vespasian, to know its content, and because of this oath Sabinus would be able to tell him.
Titus then looked at Vespasian. ‘This is the last time you will be addressed as a boy.’ He lifted the leather thong of the bulla over Vespasian’s head. ‘I decree that from now on, my son, you, Titus Flavius Vespasianus, are a man. Take up a man’s
‘Well, my boys, January is almost upon us,’ he began without inviting them to sit down. ‘You have kept your side of the bargain, so I shall keep mine. I have arranged for us to stay, as you did, Sabinus, four years ago, at the house of my brother by marriage, your uncle, Gaius Vespasius Pollo. There we shall have access to the highest social circles in Rome and even to the imperial household itself. Gaius now counts amongst his patrons Antonia, sister by marriage to our illustrious Emperor.
‘As you know, Gaius has no children and is therefore eager that you, his sister’s offspring, should thrive. He will introduce you to wealthy and influential people and write many letters of recommendation and introduction. He is to be respected and honoured; who knows, he may even decide to adopt one of you.’ He paused and looked sternly at his two sons. ‘I have been most impressed by the progress you have both made, not least in your abilities to set aside petty personal differences and work together. This is one of the most important attributes for a Roman nobleman. You will be in a society that is ruthless and competitive where everyone is out for themselves and their family. You will be elected to offices or serve in the legions alongside men who for no apparent reason are your enemy and only see you as someone to outdo. Yet for the good of Rome you must work with these men, as they must work with you. Keep your eyes on them, never trust them, but co-operate with them; if you do that you will be serving both Rome and yourselves well.’
‘Yes, Father,’ the brothers said in unison.
Titus rose and guided both his sons out of the study into the atrium, past the rainwater pool with its spluttering fountain, to the alcove by the household altar where the death masks of the family’s ancestors hung on the wall. He stopped in front of the sombre array of lifelike, or deathlike, waxen images.
‘Each one of these men had a life with its own successes and failures, and every one of them did his utmost to serve our family andthe Sabine tribe. Then, after they had won for us our citizenship, they served Rome. You, my sons, will build on what they have done and raise the family of Flavius from obscurity here in the Sabine Hills to greatness in the greatest city of all. I’ll do everything in my power to aid you; provide money and use what contacts I have, but I shan’t be around for ever. When I’m gone you will have to support each other. To this end I have brought you here before our ancestors. Here you will swear to be ever faithful to one another, always to look out for each other and, above all, to support each other in whatever enterprises you find yourselves in.’
‘But, Father, to be bound by oath as well as blood is unnecessary. Our blood-tie compels us to do all that is being asked in the oath,’ Sabinus argued.
‘I understand that, but this oath will be made in front of not only all our ancestors, but also all our gods, including your Mithras. It will therefore be the most binding oath you have ever taken and so will supersede any other. If there comes a time when one of you is unable to properly aid the other because of a previous oath this will nullify it. Do you see, Sabinus?’
Sabinus met his father’s eye for a few moments, then he nodded and looked at Vespasian, who played dumb. He now felt certain that Sabinus knew of the prophecy since his father was giving him a way to break his mother’s oath. At some point in the future, when Sabinus felt the time was right, Titus wanted him, Vespasian, to know its content, and because of this oath Sabinus would be able to tell him.
Titus then looked at Vespasian. ‘This is the last time you will be addressed as a boy.’ He lifted the leather thong of the bulla over Vespasian’s head. ‘I decree that from now on, my son, you, Titus Flavius Vespasianus, are a man. Take up a man’s
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