Delaney paid his admission and entered the baths where hehad agreed to meet with Cassius and his friends, he entered the small anteroom,where he removed his tunic. toga, sandals, and loincloth and hung them up wherethey would be watched by a slave attendant. As the baths would grow larger inthe coming years, the theft of clothing would become more and more of aproblem, so that most Romans would wear only their oldest and most threadbaretogas and tunics to the baths in anticipation of losing them and having to gohome in thief’s clothing or of having to send a slave home to bring themsomething to wear.
Delaney went into the main room, which was far smaller thanthe larger baths that would eventually be built. It consisted mainly of a poolwith a tiled floor, considerably smaller than an Olympic-sized pool, the waterin it kept warm by the hot air circulating beneath the floor, from the firestoked in the basement. Off to one side was the smaller frigidarium.essentially a cold plunge. and through an arched doorway in the back was thecalidarium, a small room that was similar to modern Turkish baths, except thatthe steam came from heated water, not from pipes. he passed a small area whereseveral men lay naked upon tables, being scraped by slaves. There was no soapin Rome at this time and the bodily impurities released by perspiration werescraped off with a metal, bone, or wooden scraper called a strigilis.which had a curved blade, similar to the scrapers used on modern polo poniesafter they had lathered up.
Several of the men were being anointed with oils and perfumes,others were being carefully depilated. A few of them made little grunts astheir body hair was carefully pulled out with tweezers. On the opposite side ofthe pool was a lavatory, essentially a small, square-shaped room with benchesrunning around all four walls. The toilets were merely holes cut in the bencheswith the waste dropping down into running water underneath. Instead of toilet paper.Romans used sponges on short sticks, which could be rinsed off. It was not themost sanitary of arrangements, but the practice was much more hygienic thanwhat was known to most of the rest of the world at this time.
Cassius and the others were in the steam room, seated uponmarble benches. All of them were nude, of course, as was Delaney. Romans had ahealthy attitude about nudity, though mixed bathing was not practiced until thetime of Nero. Men worked out and wrestled in the nude, and athletic competitionson the Campus Martius were engaged in with only the bare minimum of clothing,often nothing more than a simple loincloth.
“Ah Quintullus!” said Cassius. “We were just talking aboutyou. Come, sit with us.”
Delaney joined them on the bench. They all stared at hisphysique. His muscular development was on a level that was virtually unknown inRome and it predictably took them by surprise.
By the gods!” said Trebonius. “Look at the size of him!”
“If I did not know better. Quintullus.” Brutus said admiringly,“I would swear that you had once been a gladiator. Truly, you possess thephysique of a Hercules!”
“I come from a family of large men.” said Delaney. “And lifein the country entails considerable physical labor.”
“But do you not have slaves for that? asked Albinus,frowning.
“My family is not as wealthy as that of Septimus,” Delaneysaid. “We do have slaves, but their number is far smaller than most of theestates around us. But, to tell the truth. I enjoy physical labor. It may beunfashionable. but I find that it keeps me strong and healthy.”
“A sound mind in a sound body,” Trebonius said.
“Truly, that is the Roman ideal. But you. Quintullus. havecarried it much further than any man that I have ever seen. Aside from labor,it is clear that you engage in sport. Am I correct in guessing that you are awrestler?”
“I do enjoy wrestling,” said Delaney with a smile. “I findthat it relaxes me.”
“I will wager that you do not often lose.” Trebonius saidwith a grin.
“That is true. 1 have not been bested since I was a boy.”
“My friends. I see an opportunity for us to make some moneyhere.” said Trebonius.
“We did not come here today to speak of making wagers.”Casca snapped. “We have matters of much more import to discuss.”
“Patience. Casca.” Cassius said. “Let us not rush intothings. Let us take a little time and get to know our new friend. FabiusQuintullus.” He turned to Delaney. “Casca is always fervent in his opinions,especially when it concerns politics.”
“Politics often make for fervent opinions,” said Delaney. “Myfriend Marcus and his brother, Lucius, both find mine a bit too fervent onoccasion.”
“I had that impression.” Cassius said with a smile. “Ourdiscussion at dinner last night became somewhat impassioned. I had the feelingthat they did not entirely approve of our opinions. But we were, after all,merely expressing our concerns about Rome’s welfare.”
“Do not mind Marcus Septimus.” Delaney said. “You must understandthat he has led a quiet, uneventful life in Cumae. His brother. Lucius. went offto the wars and it fell to Marcus to remain behind and manage the estate. Healways wished that he could go and experience some adventure for himself, winsome glory, share in the booty of war, hut that was not to be. So he had tocontent himself with the letters that Lucius sent home. Lucius painted such apicture that Marcus became enthralled with Caesar. He would read those lettersover and over again, playing out the battles in his mind, as if he were therehimself.”
“That is not uncommon,” Cassius said understandingly. “Thereare many Romans who followed Caesar’s campaigns in such a manner, wishing thatthey could have been there with him. But as one who has been to war himself. Ican tell you that the imagining is always much better than the actual experience.Much safer, too.”
“No doubt.” Delaney agreed. “For my part. I do not thinkthat Marcus would have made much of a soldier. He has too soft a disposition.But who is to say? Men who fear a battle have often proved themselves thebravest soldiers. while those who swagger and boast of fearlessness often turncoward in the thick of the fighting.”
“Yes, that’s very true.” said Casca.”I see you speak fromsome experience. Quintullus.”
“I have had my share.” said Delaney, “but Marcus has alwaysknown only the quiet life. And Lucius has always had a gift for writing. Weoften thought he should have been a poet. He described his experiences in Gaulso vividly that Marcus came to idolize Caesar from afar. To speak againstCaesar in his presence is like a personal affront. I can understand the way hefeels, but in certain ways. Marcus can be blind to what is happening aroundhim. In Cumae.
he is removed from the politics of Rome. They affect himonly slightly. Whereas I. who plan to settle down and live in Rome. haveconcerns that are considerably stronger.”
“We had started discussing some of your concerns last night,”said Cassius. “I would be curious to hear more of your thoughts on the matter.”
Delaney shrugged. “Like you. I have certain opinions when itcomes to Caesar.” He glanced around, as if with some discomfort. “But perhapsthey are opinions best kept to myself. I had a little too much wine last nightand spoke a bit too freely. In such troubled times, one should be careful whatone says in public.”
“Come now, Quintullus,” Casca said. “You are among friendshere. And from what you said last night. it would seem that your thoughts andyour concerns echo our own.”
“Indeed?” Delaney said warily.
“Casca speaks for us all,” said Cassius. “Men ofintelligence can see that there is danger in one man having absolute power torule in Rome. Especially a man like Caesar. In some ways, he is like anotherSulla. Only Sulla was never made dictator for life.”