Duras (Dacian king)

Transcription

Open the gates, and we'll let you keep your life and your freedom ! Who are you? The masters of the world ! You will be, if we perish ! THE DACIANS I got him ! - No, I got him ! - Well, whose arrow is this? Yours. He's around here. He can't have gone f ar. Uncle Luper calls us. We'd better go back. You'd rather go back, than see that I'm the one who got the deer. Come on ! He's so sad ! His eyes are full of tears. You were right. It's your arrow. Your aim is pretty good. Have you forgotten I'm the one who taught you how to aim? Where have you been ? I should break your bones ! You're making me roam the mountains ! Shut up ! No... Guess what news I bring you ! - What is it? - Take a guess ! - The youth contest? - Right. Next week in Argidava. Come on, leave it here and follow me ! Decebal waits for us. - You'll catch me ! - Who's reaching him first? - So, you're here ! - Your horse was better. That's what you say. I'm a better rider. Aren't you going to help me ? Will you go and fetch some spring water? Will you? You should know that a warrior doesn't do any woman's choir. Well, you warrior ! - You'll go get some water ! Right? - No ! Tell me, who's going to bring water? Who's the one ? You're hurting me ! You'll be sorry. I had a surprise in store for you. You're just saying so. Meda ! - Meda ! Is he mine ? - Yes, he's yours ! - Can I take it? - Yes ! Come on ! Fuscus, will you show these ninnies how to throw a spear? It's the Rhine legions. I bet ten jars of Falern wine that his spear will thrust the eye of the target ! Do you trust me? I gave you your first lesson. Prove that you deserve my trust ! You're on time, as always. Tell me, how is it that our beloved emperor Domitian didn't come with you? I'd have thought him much more eager to take the credit for our victory and acquire the title of "Dacicus". - He'll be here in four days. - Four days, you say... Yes, he's right behind me. The imperial house moves slower than the horsemen. He has a lot of slaves, both men and women. And what women they are, dear Fuscus ! He took everyone with him: sorcerers, cooks... He even took some historians with him, artists from Asia Minor and many accountants to count the Dacian treasury. To have his back watched, the emperor took with him the Fifth ltalica Legion. He'd better stayed in Rome, for the sake of all of us. For our sake and for his. Let's take advantage of these four days ! You, more than anyone else. - Why is it so ? - Come ! Father ! It's been so long since I've seen you ! You're strong like a bear now ! Forgive me ! I'm happy to see you. I missed you and your advice. You did well by yourself. Atius, you can be proud of your son. He's covered himself in glory on all battle fields. Glory and dust, also... Allow me to wipe the traces of this long journey. - You have my bath at your disposal. - I'll hurry. Atius... Domitian will be here in four days. How many soldiers did he keep with him? The Fifth ltalica. They were under my command in Syria. Their actual leader is a good soldier, but he likes wine and money. He shall have both. It seems, though, that it will be toughest to convince Severus. I'm the one who taught him to stay away from the plots that eat away at the empire. I foresee that, during our first battle, a terrible misfortune will happen to our "divine" Domitian. - There mustn't be any first battle. - Atius, you know you can trust me. Why don't you want war against Dacia ? Ever since we met, when you were a poor officer with no master, and up to this day, when you became f amous and rich, I've been the one who put the questions. All right. Forgive me ! We'll do it your way. It is the right way, Fuscus. It's always been like this. My decisions were always the best. There's our hero ! My supper will be poorer than Domitian's, but I invite to join me with all my heart. To victory against the Dacians ! So... You're indulging yourselves in disgusting orgies... You thought I was a tired old sag, that I needed four days to get here. Why aren't you on the other side of the river, brave Fuscus? Look ! There's Atius, the heart and nerve of the Roman Senate ! What are you doing here ? You have news, haven't you? Bad news, of course. What else ? I'm listening and prepared to hear anything. Funny ! Why is it that the Marcomanni rebelled just now? Maybe because of the Dacians' gold. You're either crazy, or traitors. You want me to give up this war and go back to Rome without paying my legions? No. You will cross the Danubius at once ! I'd like to give the Senate Fuscus' opinion, as well. I'm a soldier and I obey Rome's law and the decisions of the Senate. I tell you that I would need another five legions to defeat the Dacians. Fuscus, you told me in Rome that a single legion would crush the barbarians Not even the last of my soldiers would say such a thing. You've been plotting against me. You'd like to see me back to Rome, defeated by the Dacians and with all legions unpaid and dissatisfied. What do you have to say, Severus? I'm for going to war. Let's not forget that Julius Caesar said the clash with the Dacians would be more difficult than the one with the Gauls. Now I want to meditate more about Caesar's end, than his words. Domitian, let's be frank ! You're interested more in Decebal's gold, than in a battlefield victory. I always said that rich people are also the most intelligent. Don't you think that several messengers led by a shrewd man would get from Decebal what you want so badly, but without a war? Who might this man be? When I came from Asia Minor, ten years ago, I had some fruitful negotiations with Duras, the former Dacian king. All right. You go, then ! But take one of my personal guards with you. Meanwhile, you build the bridge ! You'll plea a better argument in front of the barbarians, if our twelve legions will be on the left shore of the Danubius. I'll be merciful with the barbarians. After all, I don't like wars. I might be a poet, had I not in mind Nero's fate. It was a short reunion. Allow me to come with you on the other shore ! I wanted to ask you the same thing. I've been waiting for this moment for so many years ! I waited for it and feared it. I'd like to understand you. There are so many things we don't understand, my son ! We're like a shell wanting to gather the immensity and howl of the sea. Sometimes, life makes us hide before our most beloved. Son, do you trust me ? You know too well that you matter the most to me, of all things. I'd like to stay with you for a few more moments. Yes, f ather. I'll announce the guard that must come with you. Search everywhere ! Domitian, let me be the one who starts the battle ! The Senate and the Roman people lost our very best man. I'm in pain. I'll send the urn with his ashes in Rome, the city he loved and served like no other. And those barbarians will know Rome's wrath ! Only five of you are left in the great contest. Fight bravely ! May the best win ! - There are only three left ! - Now you can see my teaching skills. But, to be honest, I'd have been better ! See ? Decebal, the Romans are crossing the Donaris. I've killed their first nobleman who trod on our land. He was the only Roman who shouldn't have died. I thought that... it was a good thing. Cotizo ! Don't win this contest ! - You're crazy. - I'm not. There's going to be a war, Cotizo. Please, don't win the contest ! - Do you hear me ? - All right. Promise me ! I promise... I'll win the contest. Decebal ! Our best warrior won the contest. It's your son ! No ! We'll wait for them here and we'll crush them like ants. What does this mean ? You want that l, Luper, run from the Roman's faces like a woman? There are twelve legions, that is 72 354 men. They are led by general Fuscus. - How do you know that? - Zoltes told me. From now on until we die or beat them, I'm the one who gives the orders ! The children, women and old people will go in the mountains. You'll keep the Romans here until midnight. Don't you dare die like a hero, or I'll break your bones ! Father, you didn't teach us to flee. Why aren't we f acing the Romans? We must avoid this war, Cotizo. Forgive me, but you talk like Meda. If I were you, I wouldn't turn my back on the Romans. My son, is it that you and the others don't trust me anymore ? I didn't want to say this. Everybody loves you and will follow you. I'm proud to be your son. Go ! Take Meda and help the other people ! I'll reach you later. It looks deserted. Yes... It's for the first time they greet us with flowers. They're withdrawing their troops. We put them on the run. No, young man. The charge is ahead. Look ! Faster ! Come on ! We must survive until midnight ! Do you hear me ? We must ! Hurry up ! We will take the fortress ! Cavalry... Charge ! Fuscus ! Your bravery on the battlefield commends you. Your f ather, the illustrious Atius, will be avenged. What a stench ! And now, Fuscus, the prisoners... Marcus ! What is this? You have only one prisoner? You fought well. Speak, and you'll know Rome's generosity ! Where is Decebal ? Had I also a weapon, you wouldn't be so brave. I can see you didn't wash your f ace. Do you want a weapon ? Take it ! Quite shiny... And tasteless. Are all these necessary, for a bunch of barbarians who are giving themselves in ? Domitian, this is Burebista's throne, one of Caesar's mightiest opponents. If you receive them here, they will be impressed. Let's impress them then, Fuscus ! Let the barbarians in ! Which one of you is Decebal ? Decebal is the great king of the free Dacians. We are bearing his message to the Roman emperor Domitian. Are you that one ? I'm listening. A mouse... A frog... A bird... A quiver of spears... A plough knife... Your message pleased me. I'm for peace. My conditions will be sent to Decebal by my messenger. Give these messengers a tour of our camp ! They should see most of it ! Describe their awe and astonishment, at the sight of my wisdom ! Fuscus, do you know what all these mean ? It's a common habit with the barbarians. They are hiding their pride through silly fables. The mouse is the land, the frog, the waters. The bird is the sky and its freedom. The spears are their weapons and the plough knife is the plenty of the land. Rest assured that Decebal submits to you ! Write it down ! My dear Fuscus, you have once again astonished me with your wit. You can do as you please with these animals. I'll keep the cages as a memory of your insight. Severus will deliver our answer. Hail, Decebal ! Welcome, general Severus ! What is the message of your master? Domitian, emperor of Rome, has willingly deciphered your message and here's his answer. He accepts your surrender. He'll come to Sarmizegetusa and will crown you himself as king of Dacia and subject of undefeated Rome. The Senate will nominate you, Decebal, for your merits, a friend of the Roman people. This is all. General Severus, according to our ancestors' custom, you are our guests. Drink the wine of this earth, where Dionysus was born ! Tomorrow we'll talk about masters and slaves, for tomorrow we'll know each other better. It's your turn, Roman boy. I want to ask you something, Decebal. Wherever my f ate and my gods lead me, I try to understand the life of those we fight against. Tell me, why do the Dacians laugh before dying? You're bragging that you saw Dacians die, you Roman ! Meda, pour a cup of wine for our guest ! Forgive me, father. I'm not any Roman's slave. This Roman is my guest. Pour him some wine, Meda ! Come on, warrior, take some raspberies ! Forgive me if I insist, Decebal, but this is very important for me. Why do the Dacians laugh before dying? Zalmoxis gave us several lives, Severus. How could we leave this life and live another, where other secrets of the skies and earth are to be revealed to us? Crying and moaning? Or laughing, so that Zalmoxis may see our joy? But how do the Romans die, general Severus? We'll see them soon. Forgive my children, general ! They are like young wolves. They must bite, to have their teeth grown. Where do you have this medallion ? My father gave it to me. Atius was the only Roman whose death I did not want. There are many things we don't understand, Severus. We are like a shell which wants to gather the great howl of the sea and its secrets. I would very much like to understand this, Decebal. Come with me, and you will. We have plenty of gold, Severus. Maybe gold and wealth are our curse. They spark the hatred or the excessive love of foreigners. Some of them are strong. They haven't been defeated. I know that. I always hosted them as friends, and never as masters. This is the law of this land and of every man. If we who live today are to die, the law will stay the same. Here lie the ashes of those who fought for us, so that we may never feel the harsh rule of other strangers. Here lie kings, priests, clan leaders... Oroles, Burebista... Deceneus, Scorilo... And this urn was supposed to shelter the ashes of great Zoltes, whom you knew under the name of Atius, your f ather. He went to Rome 40 years ago and took the name of a Roman patrician who lived in Moesia. Each year, I would send him a vessel full of gold. Rome opened its gates to him. Gold is a wonderful key. Atius told me every plot weaved in Rome. Now I see why he didn't want to fight against you. His death, the earth in his fist... Why didn't he ever talked to me about this? He taught you to be a fine warrior in the world's greatest army, so that you may serve your people one day. You were much too young for him to unveil his secret. Today is too late. What do you want from me now? What have you stirred in the heart of Zoltes' son? Even the tamed wolf returns to the woods when his kind calls him. Was my call strong enough ? Now you're as lonely as I am, in the belly of the earth, waiting for Zalmoxis' signs. Will you be able to defeat them? They lost battles, but they were never defeated. They're stubborn, strong, numerous and greedy. Then, let's give them the gold they are asking for. Never ! I kept my soul in darkness and solitude. It judges the world by other measures than those of ordinary people. Sometimes, it's harder for us to subdue our pride than to win a battle. Think, Decebal ! Wouldn't it be better for you to subdue your pride ? Great priest, if people on this earth of ours learn that they can live like slaves, then, we are defeated forever. But if we fight so bravely that, several centuries later, those who want to surrender will be ashamed, it means we won the battle and we'll stay here, no matter how many storms we wil f ace. Decebal... If you decide to go to war, you must send a messenger to Zalmoxis. You know our ancient law. The messenger will be... I know.