THE WIVES OF THE (LESARS. 145 



Clodius had engaged by liberal donations, to aid him in the difficult 

 and impious enterprise. The lover was to enter Caesar's house, in 

 feminine attire, among the crowd of females ; the soft and youthful 

 features of the disguised adventurer were not at variance with his as- 

 sumed costume ; and the darkness of the hour and vestibule were 

 favourable to his concealment. The hour of the sacrifice arrived; 

 and Clodius trusted boldly to his fortune. Abra was punctually 

 ready to receive him ; she led him to the chamber and having left 

 him there, proceeded instantly to seek Pompeia, and to intimate the 

 safe arrival and attendance of her lover. But Abra, when in quest of 

 her, was met by Caesar's mother, who detained her in some occupation 

 for a time beneath her personal direction. The patience of Clodius 

 was exhausted; he began to fancy various causes of Pompeia's ab- 

 sence and delay ; his natural impetuosity was stung by disappoint- 

 ment ; and, without adverting to the chances of discovery, he rushed 

 from Abra's room, and hurried indiscriminately through the cham- 

 bers of the mansion. Clodius, by this mad precipitation, utterly con- 

 founded all Pompeia's well-digested plans ; his anxiety and rage were 

 so apparent, that his dress no longer saved him from suspicion; he 

 shunned the lights ; avoided those he met ; and, as he constantly con- 

 cealed his face, the singularity of his demeanour raised the curiosity 

 of those who witnessed it. A servant of the household having found 

 him in some obscure recess agitated, as it seemed, and shunning 

 observation asked him, " who she was, and what she sought ?" The 

 promptness of the interrogatory so disconcerted Clodius, that, for a 

 time, his tongue refused its office. When at length he answered, 

 that he " looked for Abra," his embarrassed countenance and mascu- 

 line voice belied his habit and revealed his sex ; the terrified attend- 

 ant instantly proclaimed the presence of a man and the violation of 

 the mysteries ; and consternation seized the whole assembly. Abra, 

 amidst the general confusion, used her utmost efforts to recover Clo- 

 dius, whom at length she found, and hid a second time in her apart- , 

 ment. The sacrifice was, notwithstanding, interrupted the ceremo- 

 nies were suspended. Pompeia, who foresaw the unavoidable exposure 

 which awaited her, was pale and tremulous. Her eye wandered 

 her speech faltered, and her whole deportment manifested trouble 

 and dismay. Aurelia ordered the immediate closure of the doors, and, 

 flambeaux being brought by her command, proceeded with a com- 

 pany of matrons to a strict investigation of the various apartments. 

 Clodius, attired as has been stated, was found in that of Abra, and 

 ordered to depart. On the ensuing morning, the criminal audacity of 

 Clodius became the topic of discourse through Rome ; and Pompeia, 

 whose illicit prepossessions had been long suspected, was generally 

 mentioned as the paramour, by whose contrivances the daring youth 

 had been admitted to indulge a mutual passion, and defile the myste- 

 ries of Fauna. Caesar readily perceived, by all the features of the 

 case, that his wife was privy to the enterprise, and calmly visited her 

 infidelity with repudiation. 



veste muliebri deprehensum domi C. Csesaris, cum pro populo fieret, cumque per 

 manus seprullse servatum." Cic. Attlco Epl. I. 12. 



M. M. No. 98. U 



