（外文电子版资料）Robert Silverberg - Roma Eterna - Getting To Know The Dragon.pdf

Getting to Know the Dragon by R o b e r t S i l v e r b e r g I reached the theater at nine that morning,half an hour before the appointed time, for I knew only too well how Caesar Demetrius could be to the unpunctual. But the Caesar, it seemed, had arrived even earlier than that. I found his personal guard and chief drinking companion, lounging by the theater entrance; and as I approached, Labienus smirked What took you so long? Caesars been waiting for you. Im half an hour early, I said sourly. No need to be tactful with the likes of Labienus—or Polycrates, as I should be calling him, now that has given us all new Greek names. Where is he? Labienus pointed through the gate and turned his middle finger straight upward, jabbing it three times toward the heavens. I limped without another word and went inside. To my dismay I saw the figure of Demetrius Caesar right at the very summit of the theater, the uppermost row, his slight figure outlined against the brilliant blue of the morning sky. It was less than six weeks since I had broken my ankle hunting boar with the interior of the island; I was still on crutches, and walking, let alone climbing stairs, was a challenge for me. But there he was, above. So youve turned up at last, Pisander! he called. Its about time. Hurry on up! Ive got something very interesting to show you. Pisander. It was last summer when he suddenly bestowed the Greek names on us all. Julius and Lucius and Marcus lost honest Roman praenomina and became Eurystheus and Idomeneus and Diomedes. I who was Tiberius Ulpius Draco was now Pisander. It latest fashion at the court that the Caesar maintained—at his Imperial fathers insistence—down here in Sicilia, these Greek names: to be all supposed