The Ides of March: A Tale of Intrigue in Ancient Rome
Characters
Drusus: The protagonist and narrator of this novel. He is a callow, inexperienced, but very honest, brave, and determined young patrician. He is entrusted with an important document.
Memmius: The servant of the protagonist. He is an honest man like his master, but also wise, and protects and counsels Drusus. For example, Memmius accompanies Drusus when he has to flee Rome, and his life is in grave danger.
Portia: The younger sister of Drusus. She is impulsive and does not accept the power of men, Rome, or the senators.
Marius: Drusus’ uncle. He is a conspirator against Caesar and delivers the crucial document to Drusus after the assassination of Julius Caesar. He is a fair, scholarly, and honorable man, much like Memmius.
Cinna: A quaestor. Driven by greed, he seeks the document that Marius gave to Drusus. He will fight to the death to obtain it.
Valeria: Cinna’s bride. Upon learning of his intentions, she leaves him for Drusus, with whom she quickly falls in love.
Narrator: The narrator is Drusus, who recounts the story of the events that transpired years ago, surrounding the assassination of Julius Caesar and his uncle, Marius.
Ides of March: In the Roman calendar, the Ides of March fell on the 15th of March (not the 14th).
Summary
The novel begins when Portia and Drusus arrive at the home of their uncle, Marius. He brings news of Julius Caesar’s assassination by a conspiracy of senators, of which he was a part. Rather than die in disgrace, Marius asks Drusus and Portia to help him commit suicide, which they do. Before his death, Marius gives Drusus a secret document.
Drusus and Portia flee the house. Drusus hides Memmius with Cicero, and Portia is hidden in a cave with Eunice. Because Drusus was in danger at Cicero’s house, he went to the house of Senator Flavius. One night, Drusus and Memmius encounter a hooded figure killing someone with a dagger. Drusus crosses eyes with the murderer. The next morning, they learn that a senator had been killed, a senator who possessed the document entrusted to Drusus. Drusus discovers that the murderer was Sempronius Quintus Cinna, who was betrothed to Valeria.
In the cave where Portia and Eunice were hiding, they find a secret door that leads them to the temple of Vesta. Later, in a public bath, Drusus meets Demetrius. They become friends, and Drusus confides in him, seeking help to hide from Cinna and find Portia.
Cinna and Valeria’s wedding is imminent, and Drusus must stop it. He hides in the Temple of Vesta, where only women can enter. He is caught but released by a priest, who tells him what would happen if he entered. Drusus hopes to see Vesta and gives the maximum result. Drusus finds Portia, and the Vestal asks him to burn the paper, which he does.
Later, in a tavern, Cinna’s men capture Drusus. Cinna tells Drusus that Vesta Maxima had the document. Drusus, imprisoned, bribes the guard to call Demetrius, and his friends soon appear. They manage to escape and rescue Valeria. Portia decides to remain in the temple and becomes a Vestal. Valeria and Drusus begin their journey through the subterranean galleries, but they are attacked. Cinna wounds Demetrius, but Valeria succeeds in killing the aggressor. Valeria then tends to Demetrius’ wounds.