Free Vespasian: Tribune of Rome by Robert Fabbri

duty, dignity and honour and go out into the world and thrive in your own right to your greater glory and to the glory of the house of Flavius.’
    Vespasian bowed his head in acknowledgement of his father’s wishes.
    Titus then turned to the lararium, where the images of the
lares domestici
, the household gods, were kept. He placed the bulla on the altar and arranged around it five small clay statuettes that he took from a cupboard next to it. He pulled a fold of his toga over his head, muttered a short prayer, and then filled a shallow bowl with wine from the altar jug. Standing with the bowl in his right hand he poured a libation over the altar in front of the largest of the figures, the
lar familiaris
, who represented the founder of the family. He then motioned his sons to join him, one on either side of the altar, and gave them each a sip of wine, before draining the rest himself and setting down the bowl.
    In the fading light the three men stood in front of the altar whilst Titus, invoking the gods and the spirits of their ancestors, administered the oath to his sons. The words he used to bind them together echoed through the columns of the atrium as the death masks, staring down with unseeing eyes in the half-light, bore witness to the solemn ritual.
    Once he had finished the ceremony he removed the toga from his head and embraced each son in turn, wishing upon them Fortuna’s blessing and placing the honour of the family in their hands.
    ‘Always remember where you come from, and to what family you belong. Each time you return home do so with greater
dignitas
, so that this house may grow in stature through the glory of its sons.’
    They stood together in silence, each making their own requests of the gods in private prayer. The room was now almost completely dark. The household slave whose duty it was to light the lamps and the fire waited at a respectful distance in the corner of the room, not daring to disturb the paterfamilias as he prayed with his two sons. The only sound to be heard was the gentle patter of the fountain.
    After a short while Titus clapped his hands, breaking the silence. ‘Varo, where are you? Bring wine, and why are we in the dark? What’s going on in this house? Have you all fallen asleep?’
    Varo came scuttling in, aiming a kick for good measure at the backside of the lamp slave, who leapt into action.
    ‘I’m sorry, master, we were waiting for . . .’ Then he trailed off.
    ‘Yes, yes, I know, and you did right. But now I want wine and light.’
    A short time later the room was filled with the light of numerous oil lamps scattered around the room and a fire crackled in the hearth. Vespasia arrived to find her menfolk seated near it with cups of wine in hand.
    ‘Ah, my dear,’ Titus said, standing up, ‘you are just in time. I am going to propose a toast; take a cup.’ He handed her one that was already filled with slightly watered best Caecuban wine. Lifting his own he raised it above his head, spilling a few drops in his enthusiasm.
    ‘Tomorrow we leave for Rome and the household of your brother. We shall make a sacrifice to the gods before we depart, so that they will favour our endeavours and to ensure that we may all return here safely. To Rome and the house of Flavius.’
    ‘To Rome and the house of Flavius,’ echoed his family as they drank the toast.

PART II
     

     
    R OME
     

     

CHAPTER V
     
    T HE BROWN CLOUD on the horizon was growing larger. It was the morning of the third day of their journey and as they neared the greatest city in the world Vespasian could feel its wealth seeping out into the surrounding countryside and beyond. Evidence of it could be seen everywhere. Farmland and farm buildings gave way to extensive market gardens where thousands of field slaves tended the long rows of lettuces, leeks, onions and herbs. Armed gatekeepers eyed passing travellers, as if each one was a potential housebreaker, from behind lavishly gilded gateways that led up