Гладиатор

           Lucillalistenedcarefully-andwatchedherbrother.

           Finally,Commoduscouldnotlistenanylonger."YouseeGracchus,thisisexactlytheproblem,"heinterrupted."MyfatherspenttoomuchtimelisteningtotheSenate,andthepeoplewereforgotten."

           "TheSenateisthepeople,Caesar,"saidGracchus."Chosenfromamongthepeople,tospeakforthepeople."

           "Idoubtmanyofthepeopleeataswellasyoudo,Gracchus.Orhavethebeautifulhomeyouhave,Gaius.IthinkIunderstandmyownpeople."Commodussaid.

           "WouldCaesarkindlyteachus,fromhisowngreatexperience?"repliedGracchus.

           "Icallitlove,Gracchus.Iamtheirfather.Thepeoplearemychildren,"saidCommodus.Hewasgettingangry.

           Lucillasteppedforward."Senators,mybrotherisverytired,"shesaid."Pleaseleaveyourlistwithme.CaesarwilldoeverythingthatRomeneeds."Shecalledforaslavetoshowthemout.

           Thesenatorsleft,buttheywerenotpleased.ItwasnotagoodstartforthenewEmperor.Whentheyhadgone,LucillaturnedtoCommodus."TheSenatecanbeuseful,"shesaid.

           "How?"hereplied."Theyonlytalk"Hemovedtoawindowandlookedoutoverthegreatcity."Itshouldbejustyou,andme,andRome."

           "TherehasalwaysbeenaSenate..."saidLucilla.

           "Romehaschanged,"heanswered."Ittakesanemperortoruleanempire."

           "Ofcourse,butleavethepeopletheirtraditions."

           Ithadbeena"tradition"forthelasttwohundredyearstobelievethattheSenateruledRome,throughtheEmperor.Buteveryoneknewtherealsituation.