Earth Tremors

Tremors

Caecilius was dining with a friend. The friend was staying in a splendid villa near Nuceria. The friend was Barbillus, a wealthy merchant. Barbillus said to Caecilius, "I am worried. I was walking in the garden yesterday and reading a book. Suddenly, the ground shook very much. I felt the tremors. What were you doing?"

"I was dictating letters to a slave," said Caecilius. "I also felt the tremors. After the ground shook, Grumiō entered the study and led me to the garden. We saw a marvellous cloud."

"Were you afraid?" asked the merchant.

"We were not afraid," Caecilius replied to Barbillus. "After I saw the cloud, I called my family to the lararium. Then we made a sacrifice to the household gods."

"By Hercules! You were very brave," shouted the merchant. "You felt the tremors, you saw the cloud. Yet you were not frightened."

"We were not afraid because we believed in the household gods," said Caecilius. "A long time ago the ground shook. A long time ago the tremors destroyed villas and walls. But the household gods saved my villa and my family. Therefore, I am not worried."

Suddenly, a slave entered the dining room. "Master, Clēmēns is in the atrium. Clēmēns has come from the city. He is looking for Caecilius," the slave said to Barbillus.

"I do not understand," exclaimed Caecilius. "I sent Clēmēns to my farm this morning."

The slave led Clēmēns into the dining room. "Why did you leave the farm? Why did you come to this villa?" asked Caecilius.

Clēmēns told his master and Barbillus the whole story.