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diff --git a/44330.txt b/44330.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f8d1b8 --- /dev/null +++ b/44330.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9534 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Valerius. A Roman Story by John Gibson +Lockhart + + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no +restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under +the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or +online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license + + + +Title: Valerius. A Roman Story + +Author: John Gibson Lockhart + +Release Date: December 1, 2013 [Ebook #44330] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VALERIUS. A ROMAN STORY*** + + + + + + BLACKWOOD'S + + STANDARD NOVELS + + ---------------------- + + VALERIUS + + + + + + VALERIUS + + A ROMAN STORY + + + NEW EDITION + + + WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS + EDINBURGH AND LONDON + + + + + + + VALERIUS. + + + + + + _BOOK I. CHAPTER I._ + + +Since you are desirous, my friends, that I should relate to you, at length +and in order, the things which happened to me during my journey to Rome, +notwithstanding the pain which it must cost me to throw myself back into +some of the feelings of that time, I cannot refuse to comply with your +request. After threescore years spent in this remote province of an +empire, happy, for the most part, in the protection of enlightened, just, +and benevolent princes, I remember, far more accurately than things which +occurred only a few months ago, the minutest particulars of what I saw and +heard while I sojourned, young and a stranger, among the luxuries and +cruelties of the capital of the world, as yet imperfectly recovered from +the effects of the flagitious tyranny of the last of the Flavii. + +My father, as you have heard, came with his legion into this island, and +married a lady of native blood, some years before the first arrival of +Agricola. In the wars of that illustrious commander, during the reigns of +Vespasian and Titus, he had the fortune to find opportunities of +distinguishing himself; but when his general was recalled, by the jealousy +of Domitian, he retired from public life, and determined to spend the +remainder of his days in peace, on the lands which belonged to him in +right of his wife here in Britain. He laid the foundations of the house in +which I have now the pleasure of receiving you; and here, in the +cultivation of his fields, and in the superintendence of my education, he +found sufficient employment for an active, though no longer an ambitious +mind. Early in the reign of Trajan he died. Never did either Roman or +British dwelling lament a more generous master. + +I cannot pretend to regret the accident which immediately afterwards +separated me from a gentle mother--never to see her more upon the earth. +Yet deeply was the happiness of my returning hour stained by that +privation. It is the common rule of nature, that our parents should +precede us to the grave; and it is also her rule, that our grief for them +should not be of such power as to prevent us from entering, after they are +gone, into a zealous participation both of the business and the pleasures +of life. Yet, in after years, the memory of that buried tenderness rises +up ever and anon, and wins rather than warns us to a deliberate +contemplation of our own dissolution. + +Towards the end of the winter following the death of my father, there +arrived letters which engaged anxious consideration. They were from +members of his family, none of whom either my mother or myself had seen. +It was explained, especially by Caius Licinius, the lawyer, (who was near +of kin to our house,) that by the death of a certain Patrician, Cneius +Valerius by name, I had become legally entitled to a very considerable +fortune, to claim and take possession of which, demanded my immediate +presence in the metropolis. My rights, said this jurist, were indeed +called in question by another branch of the family, but were I on the +spot, his professional exertions, with whatever interest he or any of his +friends could command, should be at my service, for the sake of my father +and of my name. + +The love of travel had never before been excited in my bosom; but now that +I knew I was so soon to embark for Italy, the delights which I might there +hope to experience came crowding upon my imagination. The dark and +pine-clad banks of my native Anton, said I, shall now be exchanged for +that golden-waved Tiber, of which so many illustrious poets have sung. +Instead of moving here among the ill-cemented and motley fabric of an +insulated colony, and seeing only the sullen submission of barbarians on +the one hand, or the paltry vanity of provincial deputies on the other, I +shall tread the same ground with the rulers of the earth, and wear, among +native Romans, the gown of my ancestors. I shall behold the Forum, which +has heard the eloquence of Cicero and Hortensius; I shall ascend to the +Capitol, where Caesar triumphed; I shall wander in the luxurious gardens of +Sallust, or breathe the fresh air in the fields of Cato: I shall gaze upon +the antique majesty of temples and palaces, and open my eyes on all that +art and nature have been able to heap together through eight centuries, +for the ornament of the chosen seat of wisdom and valour. + +A single trusty slave was selected to accompany me. It was not certainly +on account of his accomplishments that Boto had been chosen for this duty; +for although he had lived all his days in the vicinity of the colonists at +Venta, there was scarcely a person within the bounds of the British Belgae +that spoke worse Latin. He was, however, a man of natural sagacity, +possessing shrewd discernment concerning whatever things had fallen under +his customary observation; and he shewed no symptom either of diffidence +respecting his qualifications for this new office, or of regret at being +separated from those in whose company many years of gentle servitude had +glided over his sun-burnt countenance. It was reported to me, that he +invited several of our rustics to drink with him in one of the out-houses, +where his exultation knew no limits. He was going to Rome, for his young +master very well knew he could never get on in such a journey without the +helping eye and hand of Boto; and he had a brother in Italy already, (he +had gone over with a distinguished legionary some ten years before,) and +from him (for he would of course meet with him as soon as our arrival +should be known) he would receive all requisite information concerning the +doings of the great city. The usefulness which, he doubted not, I should +be constrained to acknowledge in his manifold qualifications, would, +without all question, entitle him to some signal reward--perhaps nothing +less than manumission on his return. + +Two days passed more quickly than any I ever remember to have spent amidst +a strange mixture of mirth, and sorrow, and noisy preparation. + +Where that single tall naked pine now stands buffeted by the wind, then +grew a thick grove, of which that relic alone survives. It was there that +I turned round to gaze once more on the quiet verdure of these paternal +fields, and our small pastoral stream glistening here and there beneath +the shady covert of its margin. + +I had at first intended to cross over to Gaul, and traversing that +province, enter Italy, either by the route of the Alps, in case we could +procure convenient guides and companions, or by some vessel sailing from +Marseilles or Forum Julii to Ostium. But the advice of one of my +neighbours, who had himself been a great traveller, made me alter this +plan, and resolve to commit myself to the care of an experienced mariner +who was just about to sail for Italy, by the way of the pillars of +Hercules, in a vessel laden chiefly with tin; and on reaching the +Clausentum, I found this man, with several passengers, ready for the +voyage. + +For the first three or four days, I was so afflicted by the motion of the +vessel, that I could bestow little attention on any external object; my +eyes were so confused and dazzled, that I saw nothing beyond the corner of +the deck on which I had caused my carpets to be laid; and a few +ejaculations to Castor and Pollux were all the articulate sounds that I +uttered. By degrees, however, the weight of my depression began to be +alleviated; and at intervals, more particularly during the night watches, +if I was not altogether in possession of myself, I was at least well +enough to enjoy a sort of giddy delight in watching the billows as they +rose and retreated from the prow. There were moments, also, in which the +behaviour of Boto, under this new species of calamity, could furnish me, +as it had already done the more hardy of my fellow-voyagers, with store of +mirth. Near us frequently, upon the deck, sat a Captain of the Praetorian +Bands, who, more than any other of these, displayed a florid complexion +and cheerful eye, unalterable by the fluctuation of the waters. This +Sabinus had served in all the wars of Agricola, and accompanied him even +in his perilous circumnavigation of the islands which lie scattered to the +north of Britain. He had also gone back to Rome with his commander, not, +like him, to extenuate imperial jealousy by the affectation of indolence, +but to seek for new occupation on some other disturbed frontier of the +Empire. In Syria and Cappadocia he had spent some years; after which, he +had attended the Emperor himself through Maesia and Illyricum, and all +those countries he traversed and retraversed, during that shameful contest +in which so many Roman eagles were made the prey of barbarous enemies, and +which terminated at last in that cowardly treaty, by which Domitian +granted a diadem to Decebalus, and condescended to place the Roman Senate +among the tributaries of a Dacian. Our friend had also strutted his part +in that gorgeous triumph, or rather succession of triumphs, by which the +defeated and disgraced Prince, on his return from the Ister, mocked the +eyes and ears of the incredulous and indignant Romans. In a word, he had +partaken in all kinds of fortune, good and evil, and preserved his +rubicundity and equanimity unaltered in them all. Having attained to a +situation of some dignity, he had now been visiting Britain on a special +message from the new Emperor, and was returning in the hope that no future +accident of fortune, or princely caprice, would ever again make it +necessary for him to quit the shows and festivities of the capital. + +This good-natured man sat down beside my suffering peasant, endeavouring +to withdraw his attention from the pangs of his sickness, by pointing out +the different boats which came in view as we held on from the Gobaean +rocks, keeping close to the shore as we went, in order to shun, as well as +we could, the customary fury of the Aquitanic Ocean. "Behold these +fishing-vessels," he would cry, "which have undoubtedly been upon the +coast of Rutupia for oysters, or it may be about the mouth of yonder +Ligoris for turbot, and are now stretching all their canvass to get home +with their booty to Italy. Smooth be your winds and fair your passage, oh +rare fish!" To which the downcast Boto would reply, "Lavish not, oh +master, your good wishes upon the mute fish, which have been tossed about +all their lives, but reserve them rather for me (unhappy) who am thus +tormented in an unnatural and intolerable manner;" or perhaps, "Speak not, +I beseech you, of oysters, or of turbot, or of any other eatable, for I +believe I shall never again feel hungry, so grievously are all my internal +parts discomposed. Oh, that I had never left my native fields, and +bartered the repose of my whole body for the vain hope of gratification to +my eyes!" + +By degrees, however, custom reconciled all of us to the motion of the +bark, and the weather being calm during the greater part of the voyage, I +enjoyed, at my leisure, the beauties, both of the sea, and of the shores +alongst which we glided. From time to time, we put in for water and other +necessaries, to various sea-ports of the Spanish Peninsula; but our stay +was never so long at any place as to admit of us losing sight of our +vessel. Our chief delight, indeed, consisted in the softness and amenity +of the moonlight nights we spent in sailing along the coasts of +Mauritania,--now the dark mountains of the family of Atlas throwing their +shadows far into the sea--and anon, its margin glittering with the white +towers of Siga, or Gilba, or Cartenna, or some other of the rich cities of +that old Carthaginian region. On such nights it was the custom of all the +passengers to be congregated together upon the deck, where the silent +pleasures of contemplation were, from time to time, interrupted by some +merry song chanted in chorus by the mariners, or perhaps some wild +barbarian ditty, consecrated by the zeal of Boto to the honour of some +ancient indigenous hero of the North. Nor did our jovial Praetorian disdain +to contribute now and then to the amusement of the assembly, by some +boisterous war-song, composed, perhaps, by some light-hearted young +spearman, which our centurion might have learned by heart, without any +regular exertion, from hearing it sung around many a British and Dacian +watch-fire. + +Thus we contrived to pass the time in a cheerful manner, till we reached +the Lilybaean promontory. We tarried there two days to refit some part of +our rigging, and then stretched boldly across the lower sea, towards the +mouth of the Tiber. We were becalmed, however, for a whole day and night, +after we had come within sight of the Pharos of Ostium, where, but for the +small boats that came out to us with fresh fish and fruit, we should have +had some difficulty in preserving our patience; for, by this time, our +stock of wine was run to the last cup, and nothing remained to be eat but +some mouldy biscuit which had survived two voyages between Italy and +Britain. During this unwelcome delay, the Praetorian endeavoured to give me +as much information as he could about the steps necessary to be pursued on +my arrival in the city. But, to say truth, his experience had lain chiefly +among martial expeditions and jovial recreations, so that I could easily +perceive he was no great master of the rules of civil life. From him, +however, I was glad to find, that the reputation of Licinius was really as +great at Rome as it had been represented in our province; and, indeed, he +treated me with a yet greater measure of attention after he was informed +of my relationship to that celebrated jurist. + +Early in the morning, a light breeze sprung up from the west, and with +joyful acclamations the sails were once again uplifted. The number of +mariners on board was insufficient for impelling the heavily laden vessel +altogether by the force of oars, but now they did not refuse to assist the +favouring breeze with strenuous and lively exertion. The Praetorian cheered +and incited them by his merry voice, and even the passengers were not +loath to assist them in this labour. My slave, among the rest, joined in +the toil; but his awkwardness soon relieved him from his seat on the +bench; a disgrace which he would have shared with his master, had I been +equally officious. + +Ere long, we could trace with exactness those enormous structures by which +the munificence of Augustus had guarded and adorned that great avenue of +nations to the imperial city. Those mountains of marble, projected on +either side into the deep, surpassed every notion I had formed of the +extent to which art may carry its rivalry of nature. Their immovable +masses were garnished here and there with towers and battlements, on which +the Praetorian pointed out to me the frame-work of those terrible +catapults, and other engines of warfare, of which no specimens have ever +been seen in Britain. + +No sooner had we stept upon the shore, than we were surrounded by a great +throng of hard-favoured persons, who pulled us by the cloak, with +innumerable interrogations and offers of service. Among these, the +varieties of form, complexion, and accent, were such, that we could not +regard them without especial wonder; for it appeared as if every tribe and +language under heaven had sent some representative to this great seaport +of Rome. The fair hair and blue eye of the Gaul or German, might here be +seen close by the tawny skin of the Numidian or Getulian slave, or the +shining blackness of the Ethiopian visage. The Greek merchant was ready, +with his Thracian bondsman carrying his glittering wares upon his back; +the usurer was there, with his arms folded closely in his mantle; nor was +the Chaldean or Assyrian soothsayer awanting, with his air of abstraction +and his flowing beard. + +Boto, as if alarmed with the prevailing bustle, and fearful lest some +untoward accident should separate us, kept close behind me, grasping my +gown. But our good friend Sabinus did not long leave us in this +perplexity; for, having hastily engaged the master of a small barge to +carry him to Rome, he insisted that I should partake of this easy method +of conveyance. We found the vessel small but convenient, furnished with a +red awning, under which cushions and carpets were already stretched out +for our repose. The oars were soon in motion, and we began to emerge from +among the forest of masts with a rapidity which astonished me; for the +multitude of vessels of all sizes, continually crossing and re-crossing, +was so great, that at first I expected every moment some dangerous +accident might occur. + +By degrees, however, such objects failed to keep alive my attention; the +sleeplessness of the preceding night, and the abundance of an Ostian +repast, conspiring to lull me into a gentle doze, which continued for I +know not what space. I awoke, greatly refreshed, and found we had made +considerable progress; for the continual succession of stately edifices +already indicated the vicinity of the metropolis. The dark green of the +venerable groves, amidst which the buildings were, for the most part, +embosomed, and the livelier beauties of the parterres which here and there +intervened between these and the river, afforded a soft delight to my +eyes, which had so long been fatigued with the uniform flash and dazzle of +the Mediterranean waves, and the roughness of the sea-beaten precipices. +The minute and elaborate cultivation every where visible, the smoothness +of the shorn turf on the margin, the graceful foliage of the ancient +planes and sycamores,--but, above all, the sublimity of the porticos and +arcades, and the air of established and inviolable elegance which pervaded +the whole region, kept my mind in pleasurable wonder. Here and there, a +gentle winding conducted us through some deep and massy shade of oaks and +elms; whose branches, stretching far out from either side, diffused a +sombre and melancholy blackness almost entirely over the face of Tiber. +Loitering carelessly, or couched supinely, beneath some of these hoary +branches, we could see, from time to time, the figure of some stately +Roman, or white-robed lady, with her favourite scroll of parchment in her +hand. The cool and glassy rippling of the water produced a humming music +of stillness in the air, which nothing disturbed, save only the regular +dash of the oars, and, now and then, the deep and strenuous voice of our +cautious helmsman. Anon would ensue some glimpse of the open champaign, +descending with all its wealth of golden sheaves to the very brink of the +river--or, perhaps, the lively courts of a farmyard stretching along the +margin of some tributary streamlet--or some long expanse of level meadow, +with herds of snow-white heifers. I could not gaze upon the rich and +splendid scene without reverting, with a strange mixture of emotions, to +the image of this my native land; its wild forests, shaggy with brushwood +and unprofitable coppice, through which of old the enormous wild deer +stalked undisturbed, except by the adder of the grass, or the obscene fly +of the thicket; its little patches of corn and meadow, laboriously rescued +from the domain of the wild beast, and rudely fortified against his +continual incursions;--the scattered hamlets of this Brigian valley, and my +own humble villa--then humbler than it is now. Trees, and temples, and +gardens, and meadows, and towns, and villages, were, ere long, lost in one +uniform sobriety of twilight; and it was already quite dark, when the +centurion, pointing to the left bank, said, "Behold the Gardens of Caesar: +beyond, is the Portian Gate, and the street of the Rural Lares. In a few +moments we shall see the lights of the Sublician Bridge, and be in the +city." At these words I started up, and gazing forward, could penetrate +through the mists of evening into the busy glare of a thousand streets and +lanes, opening upon the river. The old wall was already visible; where, +after having swept round the region towards the Vatican and Janicular +Hills, it brings the last of its turrets close down to the Tiber, over +against the great dock-yards by the Field of Brutus. + +Through a forest of triremes, galleys, and all sorts of craft, we then +shot on to the bridge--beneath the centre arch of which our steersman +conducted us. Beyond, such was the hum of people on the quays, and such +the star-like profusion of lights reflected in the water, that we doubted +not we had already reached the chief seat of the bustle of Rome. On, +however, we still held our course, till the theatre of Marcellus rose like +a mountain on our right. It was there that we ran our bark into the shore, +not far from the little bridge--the third as you ascend the river--which +conducts to the Island and the Temple of AEsculapius. While our friend was +settling matters with the master, and the attendants were bringing out our +baggage, I stood by myself on the elevated quay. Here a long tier of +reflected radiance bespoke, it may be, the vicinity of some splendid +portico--of palace, or temple, or bath, or theatre; there a broad and +steady blaze of burning red, indicated the abode of artizans, resolved, as +it seemed, on carrying their toil into the bosom of the night. +Between--some speck of lustre betrayed, perhaps, the lamp of the solitary +student, or the sober social hour of some peaceful family, assembled +around the hearth of their modest lares. Behold me then, said I, in the +capital of the globe; but were I to be swallowed up this moment in the +waves of Tiber, not one of all these lights would be dimmed. + + + + + _CHAPTER II._ + + +Being told that my relation had his residence at no great distance, the +friendly Sabinus insisted upon escorting me thither in safety. We walked, +therefore, along two or three proud streets, which brought us near to the +Pantheon of Agrippa, and there the house was easily pointed out to us; its +porch decorated with recent palm-branches, which the Centurion said must +have been placed there by the joyful hands of some fortunate client. Here +having thanked this kind person, and left honest Boto among the crowd of +slaves in the vestibule, I was speedily conducted into the presence of the +Patrician. + +I found him in a small upper chamber, lighted by a single silver lamp +suspended from the roof, enjoying, as it appeared, repose and relaxation +after the exertions of the day. He was reclining when I entered; and +although supper was long over, some fruits and other trifling things still +remained on the board. At table with him there was no one present, +excepting a Greek of solemn aspect, whom he introduced to me as the +superintendent of his son's education, and Sextus himself, a modest and +ingenuous youth, who sat at the lower extremity of his father's couch. He +was indeed a very mild and amiable young man, and I had more pleasure, +after a space, in surveying his features, than the more marked lineaments +of the other two. At first, however, nothing riveted my attention so much +as the energetic physiognomy of the Senator. The forepart of his head was +already quite bald, although the darkness of the short curls behind +testified that age was not the cause of this deformity. His eyes were +black and rapid, and his eyebrows vibrated in a remarkable manner, not +only when he spoke, but even when he was silent; indicating, as it +appeared, by their transitions, every new train of thought and imagination +within his mind. His style of conversation was quick and fervid, and his +gestures vehement as he spake; it being apparent, that, from restlessness +and vanity of disposition, he was continually exercising a needless +measure of mental activity and anxiety. Not satisfied with his own +sufficient richness of ideas, no thought could be expressed which he did +not immediately seize upon, and explain, even to him by whom it had been +first suggested, with much fluency and earnestness of illustration. On the +other hand, the guest, who wore a long beard reaching to his girdle, +preserved in all things an uncommon demureness of manner, restraining +every salient movement of his mind, and watching, with the gravity of a +Numa, the glancing eyes and sharp features of his patron. A roll of yellow +parchment graced his left hand, but the other was employed in selecting +from the table such articles as were most agreeable to his palate. +Licinius, although meagre in person, and at that time parched with +declamation, seemed to live in such a state of intellectual excitement, +that he thought little either of eating or drinking; therefore, the +Athenian, resigning, for the most part, his share of the conversation, +amused himself, in exchange, with the more trivial gratifications +abandoned to him by his host. Nor, if one might draw any conclusion from +his complexion and figure, was this the first occasion on which +Xerophrastes had exercised that species of humility. + +When Licinius had inquired of me concerning my native place, and also +given a few words to the affairs which had brought me to the city, his +conversation was naturally directed to subjects more new to me, if not +more interesting to him. "You would observe," said he, "the palm branches +at my door. They were won to-day by a five hours' harangue before the +Centumviri. It is only in contests such as these that men of my order have +now any opportunity to exercise themselves, and preserve some remembrance +of those ancient worthies and great public characters that once adorned +the state. To these things, therefore, young kinsman, I entirely devote +myself; nor aim, like other citizens of rank, at passing the day in +diversion, and ending it with luxuries. At supper my table is furnished +with moderate fare, while in other houses I know not how many roasted +boars and pompous sturgeons have been regaling with the rich perfume of +their sauces and stuffing, guests who love the meat more than the man who +gives it. This learned person knows how laborious is my course of life, +and what an impatient crowd awaits my appearance every morning. His pupil +will, I hope, tread in the same steps, and afford to a future generation +the image of the former Licinius." With these, and the like discourses, he +occupied our ears till it was time to retire; and then intimated that he +had allotted to me an apartment which he expected I would continually +occupy during my residence in the city. But being informed that I had a +British slave with me, he insisted on having this man sent for, that he +might see him, as he expressed it, before the genuine unsophisticated +barbarian had been corrupted by keeping company with the cunning menials +of the metropolis. Whereupon, it was commanded that Boto should come up, +and he was forthwith ushered in by a certain leering varlet, with rings in +his ears, whose face resembled some comic mask in the habitual archness of +its malicious and inquisitive look. + +Not few were the bows and scrapes with which my Briton entered these +penetralia; nor was the astonishment inconsiderable with which the orator +regarded Boto. "So, friend," said Licinius,--"and you have ventured to come +to Rome, without so much as shaving your beard?" But the merry and +good-natured tone in which these words were uttered, having somewhat +reassured the bashful rustic, he gave a sly side-look towards the +philosopher, (who, I think, had never once glanced at him,) and replied to +Licinius, "Pardon me, O master, for coming thus into your presence; but I +knew not, till Dromo told me, that beards were worn in Rome only by goats +and the wisest of mankind." The words of the barbarian amused the +orator--but, turning round to his own slave, "Ah! Dromo," said he, "do I +already recognize the effects of your teaching?--beware the whip, corrupt +not this good Briton, at your peril." He then asked of Boto various +questions concerning his recent voyage; to all of which he made answers +after his own fashion, sufficiently sagacious. Great contempt, however, +was depicted on the face of the silent stoic during this conversation; +which he, no doubt, looked upon as a very unworthy condescension on the +part of Licinius; till at last, having, in a leisurely manner, poured out +the last of the flagon, Xerophrastes arose from his couch and departed. As +he withdrew, he unfortunately struck his knee on the corner of the table, +which elicited from his stubborn features a sudden contortion. This, +however, he immediately smoothed of, twisting his involuntary stoop into +an obeisance to the Senator. + +Young Sextus conducted me to my chamber; and we conversed together with +easy juvenile confidence for some time before he left me. + + + + + _CHAPTER III._ + + +My sleep was sound and sweet; nevertheless, when the morning began to +dawn, I was awakened by its first glimmerings, and found that my thoughts +became at once too busy to admit of a return to slumber. I therefore +arose, and went to walk in an open gallery, with which my chamber was +connected. This gallery commanded a prospect of a great part of the city, +which at that hour appeared no less tranquil than stately, nothing being +in motion except a few small boats gliding here and there upon the river. +Neither as yet had any smoke begun to darken the atmosphere; so that all +things were seen in a serene and steady light, the shadows falling broadly +westward over streets and squares--but pillars, and obelisks, and arches, +rising up every where with unsullied magnificence into the bright air of +the morning. The numerous poplars and other lofty trees of the gardens, +also, seemed to be rejoicing in the hour of dew and silence; so fresh and +cheerful was the intermixture of their branches among the piles of white +and yellow marble. Near at hand, over the groves of the Philoclean +Mansion, I could see the dome of the Pantheon, all burnished with living +gold, and the proud colonnades of the Flaminian Circus, loaded with armies +of brazen statues. Between these and the river, the theatres of Pompey and +Marcellus, and I know not how many temples, were visible. Across a more +crowded region, to the westward, my eye ascended to the cliffs and towers +of the Capitol; while, still farther removed from me, (although less +elevated in natural situation,) the gorgeous mansion of the Emperor was +seen, lifted up, like some new and separate city, upon its enormous fabric +of arcades. Behind me, the Flavian Amphitheatre, the newest and the most +majestic of all Roman edifices, detained the eye for a space from all that +lay beyond it--the splendid mass of the Esquiline--and those innumerable +aqueducts which lie stretched out, arch after arch, and pillar after +pillar, across the surrounding plain. + +As I stood upon a projecting balcony, I heard some person stepping softly +along the floor, and, being screened by some pillars, looked back into the +gallery without subjecting myself to observation in return. The noise, I +found, was occasioned by one of the slaves of Licinius, (the same I had +remarked over night,) who had an air of anxious vigilance on this +occasion, looking about from side to side as if afraid of being detected +in some impropriety. I heard him tap at one of the apartments adjoining my +own, and young Sextus, opening the door, eagerly asked, "Well, Dromo, good +Dromo, what news?--Have you seen or heard any thing of her?--Speak low, I +beseech you, and remember that my preceptor is near." "Which preceptor?" +replied Dromo; "count me your best, and I will teach you how to manage all +besides."--"Hush!" whispered the young man; "he may be astir with these +eternal parchments."--"Be easy," returned the slave; "I have found out +facts which will serve to bridle that tongue at any time."--"Dromo," said +Sextus, "have a care; remember the thong of sleek leather which hangs at +the foot of the stair-case; and many is the time I have saved you from it; +for which you may, perhaps, have to thank the beauty of her who has +rendered you necessary to me, as much as my own good nature. But no more +idle words at present--what have you to tell me?" + +"I have just been down," answered he, "to the herb-market. I had made my +bargain, and was coming away, when I met one of old Capito's men, driving +an ass laden with articles from the country. So I asked if he was carrying +a present to his master's brother. He said he had brought nothing for +Lucius but a letter; and that he believed its purport was to invite the +two young ladies, to come out to-day and enjoy the beauty of the season. I +no sooner got this information, than I ran hither as swiftly as my legs +would carry me. You can easily go out, as if by chance, to pay your +respects to the Patrician." + +"Ah, Sempronia!" sighed Sextus, "shall I approach you at last?--What will +she think when she sees me there?--Oh, how will she speak to me?" + +While he was uttering these words, Dromo suddenly started, and came +peeping on tiptoe towards the place where I stood. I stepped from behind +my pillar, and said to the astonished youth, "Fear not, Sextus, that I +shall intermeddle with your secrets, or make any use of what I have +accidentally overheard. But I wish you would satisfy my curiosity, and +inform me who is this lady, and what may be the meaning of all this +concealment?" + +Here Dromo, perceiving that his young master was a good deal confused, +came forward and said, "From observing your looks last night, when I was +making a handle of yon barbarian to torture our friend of the porch, I +think you are a good-natured person, who would not willingly bring any of +us into trouble. The truth is, that Licinius wishes my young master here +to marry a certain lady, who has already had wet eyes over the ashes of a +first husband; but who is of noble birth, and very rich. Now Sextus, being +only eighteen, does not like this great lady so well as she likes him; and +has, in fact, lost his heart elsewhere."--"Dromo," answered I, taking young +Sextus by the hand as I spoke, "this is a pretty common sort of story; but +I shall take no side till I have seen both of the ladies; and the sooner +your ingenuity can bring that about, the more shall I be beholden to +you."--"We shall try," replied the slave, observing that I had overcome the +reluctance of the lover; "but in the meantime I observe that the clients +are beginning to assemble in the porch, to await the forthcoming of +Licinius. Go, therefore, and get some breakfast, for, by and by, you will +both be expected to accompany the Senator to the Forum, to hear him plead; +which, between ourselves, will be a six hours' job for you, unless you +manage matters dexterously." + +This hint produced a visible effect on Sextus; but we went down together +immediately to an apartment, where some bread and grapes were prepared for +us; and there, with much ingenuousness, he opened his heart to me. But +what surprised me most of all, was to hear, that although he had been +enamoured of Sempronia for several months, and was well acquainted with +several of her relations, he had never yet seen her, except at certain +places of public resort, nor enjoyed any opportunity of making known his +passion. + +While I was expressing my astonishment at this circumstance, we were +interrupted by Xerophrastes, who came to inform us that Licinius, having +already descended into the hall, was about to issue forth, and desirous of +my company, if no other occupation detained me. We accordingly followed +the philosopher, and found his patron where he had indicated, pacing to +and fro, in the highest state of excitation, like a generous steed about +to scour the field of battle. The waxen effigies of his ancestors stood at +one end of the hall, some of them defaced with age; and upon these he +frequently fixed his ardent eyes. Seeing me enter, he immediately cried +out, "Come hither, young friend, and I shall presently conduct you to a +scene worthy, above all others, of the curiosity of a stranger." + +With this, arranging his gown, and putting himself into a dignified +attitude, he ordered the porter, who stood chained by the door, to throw +wide its massy valves; which being done, the litigants and consulters, who +were without, received the orator with acclamations, and surrounded him on +all sides. Some of the poorer ones, I observed kissing the hem of his +garment, and dodging wistfully at his elbows, without ever attracting a +word or look from him; while those of a higher class came forward more +familiarly, seeking to impress particular circumstances upon his memory, +and paying him compliments on the appearance he had made the day before in +the Centumviral Court. Encircled by this motley group, he walked towards +the great Forum, followed at a little distance by Sextus, the preceptor, +myself, and some freedmen of his household. In moving on, we passed, by +accident, the door of another great pleader, by name Bruttianus, who stood +there attended in a similar manner. When he perceived Licinius, this man +took from his door-post a green palm-branch, and waved it towards us in a +vaunting manner; but our friend, saluting him courteously, cried out, with +his sharp and cutting voice, "We shall try it again." Whereon +Xerophrastes, immediately stepping up to his patron, began thus, "How this +vain-glorious person exposes himself!--he is certainly a weak man; and his +tones, by Hermes, are more detestable than those of an African fowl."--At +which words, Sextus tipped me the wink; but I did not observe that +Licinius was at all displeased with them. Yet, soon after, Bruttianus +having overtaken us, the processions were joined, and the two pleaders +walked the rest of the way together in a loving manner, exchanging +complimentary speeches; to which Xerophrastes listened with edifying +gravity of visage. + +At length we entered that venerable space, every yard of whose surface is +consecrated to the peculiar memory of some great incident in the history +of Rome. Young Sextus allowed me to contemplate for some time, with silent +wonder, the memorable objects which conspired to the decoration of this +remarkable place; but after the first gaze of astonishment was satisfied, +proceeded to point out, in order, the names and uses of the principal +structures which rose on every side over its porticos--above all, of its +sublime temples--into whose cool and shady recesses the eye could here and +there penetrate through the open valves. Nor did the ancient rostrum from +which Tully had declaimed, escape our observation--nor within its guarding +rail of silver, the rising shoots of the old mysterious fig-tree of +Romulus--nor the rich tesselated pavement which covered the spot that had +once yawned an abyss before the steady eye of Curtius--nor the resplendent +Milliary pillar which marked the centre of the place. In a word, had the +gathering crowds permitted, I could have willingly spent many hours in +listening to the explanation of such magnificent objects; but these, and +the elevated voice of Licinius, who was just beginning his harangue, soon +compelled me to attend to things of another description. + +Within one of the proud ranges of arcade, on the side nearest to the +Capitoline stairs, a majestic Patrician had already taken his seat on an +elevated tribunal--his assessors being arranged on a lower bench by his +side, and the orators and clients congregated beneath. When I heard the +clear and harmonious periods of my kinsman; when I observed with what +apparent simplicity he laid his foundations in a few plain facts and +propositions; with what admirable art he upreared from these a +superstructure of conclusions, equally easy as unexpected; when he had +conducted us to the end of his argument, and closed with a burst of +passionate eloquence, in which he seemed to leave even himself behind him, +I could not but feel as if I had now for the first time contemplated the +practised strength of intellect. Yet I have lived to discover that the +talent which so greatly excited my wonder is often possessed from nature, +or acquired through practice, in a measure which at that time would have +afforded me scarcely inferior delight, by men of no extraordinary rank. + +The keen and lively gestures of the fervid Licinius, whose soul seemed to +speak out of every finger he moved, and who appeared to be altogether +immersed in the cause he pleaded, were succeeded by the solemn and +somewhat pompous stateliness of Bruttianus, who made a brief pause between +every two sentences, as if he were apprehensive that the mind of the judge +could not keep pace with the stream of his illustrations, and looked round +ever and anon upon the spectators with a placid and assured smile, rather, +as it seemed to me, to signify his approbation of their taste in +applauding him, than his own pleasure in their applauses. Nevertheless, he +also was a splendid speaker, and his affectation displeased the more, +because it was evidently unworthy of his understanding. While he was +speaking, I observed that the Stoic preceptor was frequently shifting his +place among the crowd, and muttering every where expressions of high +contempt. But this did not disgust me so much as the fixed attitude of +ecstasy in which he listened to the discourse of his own patron, and the +pretended involuntary exclamations of his delight. "Oh, admirable +cadence!" he would say, "I feel as if I were draining a honey-comb. Oh, +harmonious man, where have I, or any other person here, sucked in such +sweetness!" These absurd phrases, however, were caught up forthwith, and +repeated by the numerous young men who hung upon the skirts of the orator, +and seemed, indeed, to be drinking in nectar from the speech, if one might +judge from their countenances. From their taking notes in their tablets +from time to time, and from the knowing looks they assumed at the +commencement of every new chain of argument, I guessed that these might be +embryo jurisconsults, preparing themselves by their attendance for future +exertions of the same species; and, indeed, when I listened to their +conversation at the close of every speech, I thought I could perceive in +their tones and accents, studied mimicry of the natural peculiarities of +Licinius, Bruttianus, and the other orators. Altogether, the scene was as +full of amusement as of novelty, and I could willingly have remained to +the end of the discussion. But my eyes chanced to fall upon young Sextus, +and I could not but see that his mind was occupied in matters remote from +the business of the Forum. He stood with his arms folded in his gown, and +his eyes fixed upon the ground, only lifting them up from time to time +with an impatient air towards a side entrance, or to observe by the +shadows on the porticos what progress the sun was making. + +Perceiving, at length, that Xerophrastes had his back turned to us, and +that his father was engaged with his tablets, he plucked me by the sleeve. +I understood his meaning, and followed him quickly through the crowd; nor +did we look back till we had left the noise of the Forensic assembly +entirely behind us. "I am depriving you," he said, "of no great +gratification, for that old creature is, indeed, possessed of much natural +shrewdness, but he is bitter from observing that his reputation is rather +eclipsed by younger people, and looks like some worn-out and discarded +cat, grinning from the top of the wall at the dalliance of some sleeker +rival. You could find no delight in the angry sneerings of such an envious +person; and his age would prevent you, at the same time, from willingly +giving way to contemptuous emotions. I will be your guide to the villa. +But if any questions be asked on our return, you can say I was anxious to +shew you something of the other regions of the city." + +He hurried me through noble streets, and past innumerable edifices, before +each of which I would gladly have paused. Nevertheless, seeing him wrapped +up in anxious thoughts, I did not oppose myself to his inclinations; and +ere long, having passed the Hill of Gardens, I found that we had gained +the eastern limit of the city. + + + + + _CHAPTER IV._ + + +A sharp walk of about an hour and a half on the Salarean Way, brought us +within sight of the Suburban of Capito. + +A lofty wall protected the fields of this retirement from the intrusive +eyes of passengers. We entered by a small side-door, and found ourselves, +as if by some magical delusion, transported from the glare of a Roman +highway, into the depth and silence of some primeval forest. No nicely +trimmed path conducted our feet. Every thing had at least the appearance +of being left as nature had formed it. The fern rustled beneath us as we +moved; the ivy was seen spreading its careless tresses from tree to tree; +the fawn bounded from the thicket. By degrees, however, the gloom +lessened, till at length, over an open space of lawn, we perceived the +porch of entrance, and a long line of colonnade. We passed under the +porch, and across a paved court where a fountain was playing, into the +great hall, which commanded all the other side of the place--a noble +prospect of elaborate gardens gradually rising into shady hills, and lost +in a distance of impenetrable wood. + +Here a freedman attended us, who informed us that Capito had retired into +a sequestered part of the grounds with some friends from the city; but +that if we chose we could easily join him there. We assented, and, +following his guidance, ere long traversed no narrow space of luxuriant +cultivation. From one perfumed terrace we descended to another; till, +having reached a certain green and mossy walk, darkened by a natural +arching of vines and mulberries, the freedman pointed to a statue at the +farther end, and told us it stood over against the entrance of his +master's summer-house. When we reached the statue, however, we could +perceive no building. The shaded avenue terminated in face of a +precipitous rock, from which there fell a small stream that was received +in a massive basin, where the waters foamed into spray without +transgressing the margin. A thousand delicious plants and far-sought +flowers clustered around the base of the rock and the brink of the +fountain, and the humming of innumerable bees mingled with the whispers of +the stream. We stood for a moment uncertain whether we should move on or +retire, when we heard one calling to us from beyond; and passing to the +other side of the basin, descried, between the rock and the falling water, +a low entrance into what seemed to be a natural cave or grotto. We +stooped, and found ourselves within one of the most luxurious retirements +ever haunted by the foot of Dryad. A sparry roof hung like a canopy of +gems and crystals over a group of sculptured Nymphs and Fawns, which were +placed on a rustic pedestal within a circular bath shaped out of the +living stone. Around the edge of the waveless waters that slumbered in +this green recess, were spread carpets rich with the dyes of Tyrian art, +whereon Capito was reposing with his friends. He received Sextus with +kindness, and me with politeness, introducing us both to his companions, +who were three in number--all of them, like himself, advanced in years, and +two of them wearing long beards, though their demeanour was destitute of +any thing like the affected stateliness of our friend Xerophrastes. These +two, as our host informed us, were Greeks and Rhetoricians--the third, a +Patrician of the house of the Pontii, devoted, like himself, to the +pursuits of philosophy and the pleasures of a literary retirement. + +They were engaged, when we joined them, in a conversation which had sprung +from the perusal of some new metaphysical treatise. One of the Greeks, the +more serene-looking of the pair, was defending its doctrines with +earnestness of manner, although in a low and measured cadence of voice; +the other espoused the opposite side, with quickness of utterance and +severe animation of look; while the two lordly Romans seemed to be +contenting themselves, for the most part, with listening, although it was +not difficult to perceive from their countenances, that the one sided in +opinion with the Stoic, and Capito himself with the Epicurean. + +They all arose presently, and proceeded to walk together, without +interrupting the conversation, along the same shaded avenue which Sextus +and myself had already traversed. He and I moved along with them, but a +little in their rear--my companion being still too much abstracted to +bestow his attention on what they were saying; while I myself, being but +little an adept in such mysteries, amused myself rather with the exterior +and manners of the men, than with the merits of the opinions they were +severally defending. The Greeks were attired in the graceful costume of +their country, which was worn, however, far more gracefully by the +Epicurean than his brother,--the materials of his robe being delicate, and +its folds arranged with studied elegance, whereas the coarse garment of +the Stoic had apparently engaged less attention. Nevertheless, there was a +more marked difference between the attire of Capito and that of Pontius +Mamurra; for the former was arrayed in a tunic of the whitest cloth, +beneath which appeared fine linen rollers, swathing his thighs and legs, +to protect them, as I supposed, from the heat and the insects, and a pair +of slippers, of dark violet-coloured cloth, embroidered with silver +flowers; while the other held his arms folded in the drapery of an old but +genuine toga, which left his yet strong and sinewy nether limbs exposed to +the weather, all except what was covered by his tall black sandals and +their senatorian crescents. + +As we passed on, our host from time to time directed the attention of his +visiters, more particularly of the two Greeks, to the statues of bronze +and marble, which were placed at convenient intervals along the terraces +of his garden. The symmetry of these figures, and the graceful simplicity +of their attitudes, inspired me with I know not what of calm and soothing +pleasure such as I had never before tasted, so that I thought I could have +lingered for ever amidst these haunts of philosophic luxury. The images +were, for the most part, portraits of illustrious men--Greeks, Romans--sages +and heroes; but beautiful female forms were not wanting, nor majestic +representations of gods and demi-gods, and all the ethereal imaginations +of the Grecian poets. Seeing the name of Jupiter inscribed upon one of the +pedestals, I paused for a moment to contemplate the glorious +personification of might and wisdom, depositing, at the same time, a +handful of roses at the feet of the statue--upon which I could observe that +my behaviour furnished some mirth to the Epicurean Demochares; while, on +the contrary, Euphranor, the disciple of the Porch, approved of what I +did, and rebuked his companion for saying any thing that might even by +possibility disturb the natural piety of an innocent youth. But the Roman +Stoic stood by with a smile of stately scorn; and utter indifference was +painted on the countenance of Capito. At another time, Sextus having staid +behind to examine the beauties of a certain statue of Diana, which +represented the goddess stretched out in careless slumber on the turf, +with a slender grayhound at her feet, the Epicurean began to rally me on +having a taste inferior to that of my friend, whose devotion, he said, +could not be blamed, being paid to an exquisite imitation of what the +great Nature of things had decreed should ever be the most agreeable of +all objects in the eyes of a person of his age.--"Whereas you," continued +he, "appear to be more occupied with deep-hung eye-brows, ambrosial +beards, and fantastic thunderbolts, and the other exuberances of Homeric +imagination." + +To this reproach I made no reply, but Capito immediately began to recite +some verses of a Hymn of Calimachus, in which both the Greeks joined him; +nor could any thing be more delightful than the harmonious numbers. A +sudden exclamation of my friend, however, interrupted them, and Capito, +looking up a long straight pathway, said, "Come, Valerius, we shall see +whether you or Sextus is the more gallant to living beauties, for here +come my nieces. I assure you, I know not of which of them I am the more +proud; but Sempronia has more of the Diana about her, so it is probable +she may find a ready slave in our Sextus." + +We advanced, and the uncle, having tenderly saluted them, soon presented +us to their notice. Sextus blushed deeply when he found himself introduced +to Sempronia, while in her smile, although she looked at him as if to say +she had never seen him before, I thought I could detect a certain +half-suppressed something of half-disdainful archness--the colour in her +cheeks, at the same time, being not entirely unmoved. She was, indeed, a +very lovely girl, and in looking on her light dancing play of features, I +could easily sympathize with the young raptures of my friend. Her dress +was such as to set off her charms to the utmost advantage, for the bright +green of her Byssine robe, although it would have been a severe trial to +any ordinary complexion, served only to heighten the delicious brilliancy +of hers. A veil, of the same substance and colour, richly embroidered with +flowers of silver tissue, fell in flowing drapery well-nigh to her knees. +Her hair was almost entirely concealed by this part of her dress, but a +single braid of the brightest nut-brown was visible low down on her +polished forehead. Her eyes were black as jet, and full of a nymph-like +vivacity. + +The other, Athanasia, was not a dazzling beauty. Taller than her cousin, +and darker-haired, but with eyes rather light than otherwise, of a clear, +somewhat melancholy gray--with a complexion paler than is usual in Italy, a +demeanour hovering between cheerfulness and innocent gravity, and attired +with a vestal simplicity in the old Roman tunic, and cloak of white +cloth--it is possible that most men might have regarded her less than the +other. A single star of diamonds, planted high up among her black hair, +was the only ornament she wore. + +At the request of the younger lady, we all returned to the grotto, in the +neighbourhood of which, as I have already mentioned, our tasteful host had +placed the rarest of his exotic plants, some of which Sempronia was now +desirous of inspecting. As we paced again slowly over those smooth-shaven +alleys of turf, and between those rows of yews and box, clipped into +regular shapes, which abounded in this more artificial region, the +conversation, which the appearance of the cousins had disturbed, was +resumed; although, as out of regard to their presence, the voices of the +disputants preserved a lower and milder tone than before. I must confess, +however, that mild as was the manner of the discourse, I could not help +being somewhat astonished, that a polite Roman could permit such topics to +be discussed in the hearing of females; above all, that he did not +interpose to prevent Demochares from throwing out so many sarcastic +reflections concerning the deities whose statues decorated the garden. A +beautiful Mercury, in particular, which we all paused to admire, elicited +many observations, that I could easily see were far from being agreeable +to the fair cousins. But greatest of all was my wonder at the behaviour of +Capito himself, who, after we had again entered that delightful grotto, +turned himself to me as if peculiarly, and began a deliberate and +ingenious piece of declamation concerning the tenets of his favourite +philosophy;--such as the fortuitous concourse of atoms, the transitory and +fluctuating nature of all things, and the necessity of snatching present +enjoyments, as nothing permanent can be discovered whereon to repose the +mind. With great elegance, indeed, did he enlarge on these golden +theories, nor did he fail to intersperse his discourse with many exquisite +verses from Lucretius and other poetical followers of his sect. Such, +however, was the earnestness of his declamation, that I could not help +believing him to be quite sincere to what he said, and asked him, not +without anxiety, whether he had all his life been an Epicurean, or whether +it was only of late that he had espoused that discipline. + +"Valerius," said he, "the question is not discreditable to your tender age +and provincial education. To be born wise, Fate or Heaven has denied to +the human race. It is their privilege to win wisdom for themselves; the +fault is their own, if they do not die wise. When the stripling enters +upon the theatre of the world, bright hopes are around him, and he moves +onward in the buoyancy of conscious power. The pride of young existence is +the essence and extract of all his innumerable sensations. Rejoicing in +the feeling of the real might that is, it is his delight to think--to +dream--of might existing and exerted as for ever. New to the material, but +still more to the moral world, he believes in the stability of all things +whose transitory nature has not been exhibited before him. New to the +tricks of mankind, he believes that to be said truly, which, why it should +be said falsely, he is unable to conjecture. For him, superstition has +equal potency to darken the past, and illuminate the future. At that early +period, when ignorance is of itself sufficient to produce a certain +happiness, the ambition is too high to admit such doctrines as I have no +shame in avowing. But time moves on, and every hour some tender plant is +crushed beneath his tread. The spirit clings long to its delusions. The +promise that is destroyed to-day springs into life to-morrow in some new +shape; and Hope, like some warring deity of your poets, bleeds and sickens +only to revive again. But disappointment at length gathers to itself the +vigour of an enduring form. The horizon becomes colder around us--the soul +waxes faint and more faint within. It is then that man begins to recognize +the true state, not of his own nature alone, but of all things that +surround him--that having tasted much of evil, he is taught to feel the +value of good--and weaning himself from vain-glorious dreams, learns the +great lesson of wisdom, to enjoy the moments as they pass--to snatch some +solid pleasure, at least, amidst a world of vision and imagination; so, in +a word, as the poet has expressed it, he may not have reason to complain +in the hour of death that he has never lived. + +"In me," he continued, "you behold one that has gone through the +experience necessary to produce an entire acquiescence in these doctrines. +I am one of those, Valerius, who have resolved to concentrate, after this +fashion, the whole of my dreams upon the hour that is. There are not +wanting, indeed, here and elsewhere, persons who profess the same +theories, only in the view of finding excuse and shelter for the practice +of vice. But till it be proved that the practice of vice is the best means +of enjoyment, in vain shall it be asserted that our doctrine is +essentially adverse to virtue. The mistakes or the misdeeds of individuals +must be estimated for nothing; for where is the doctrine that may not be +shewn to have been defended by impure livers? The founder of our sect is +acknowledged, by its most virulent enemies, to have been the most +blameless of men, and they, I must take leave to believe, can never be +sincere friends of virtue, who doubt, that he who is a true worshipper of +pleasure, may also be the worshipper of virtue." + +There was a certain something, as I thought, more like suppressed +melancholy than genuine hilarity, in the expression of the old man's face, +as well as in the tone of his voice, while he gave utterance to these +sentiments; nor did any of those present appear desirous of protracting +the argument; although I did not imagine from their looks that any of them +had altered their opinion. What, however, I could not help remarking in a +particular manner, was the gentle regret painted in the countenance of the +elder niece, while Capito was speaking. The maiden sate over against him +all the while, her cheek supported on her left hand, with an expression of +tender affection. From time to time, indeed, she cast her eye upward with +a calm smile, but immediately resumed her attitude of pensive abstraction. +Her uncle took her hand in his when he had done speaking, and kissed it +gently, as if to apologize for having said any thing disagreeable to her. +She smiled again upon the sceptic, and walked by herself, (for I could not +help following her with my eye,) down into a dark walk of pines that +branched off at the right hand from the entrance into the grotto. There I +saw her stoop and pluck a pale flower. This she placed in her bosom, and +then rejoined us with a more cheerful aspect; after which, we all walked +towards the villa. Nor did it escape my notice, that, although Sempronia +appeared willing to avoid Sextus as we went, it always happened, by some +accident or other, that he was nearer to her than any other person of the +company. + +They were both at a little distance behind the rest of the party, when +Euphranor addressed himself to me, saying, "Is not this youth, your +companion, the same that is under the guidance of a certain +Xerophrastes?"--"The same," said I, "and a wary, sage-looking Athenian is +his tutor. I believe he also is of the Porch."--"No doubt," interrupted +Demochares; "he has a beard that Zeno might have been proud of, and walks +as if he conceived himself to be the chief pillar of the Porch, if not the +Porch itself."--"Who shall prevent Demochares from having his jest?" +replied Euphranor. "The man is by birth a Thessalian, and his gutturals +still remind one strongly of his native hills."--I would gladly have heard +more of it, but he was interrupted by the nearer approach of the rest. + + + + + _CHAPTER V._ + + +Before the hour of taking the bath, we exercised ourselves for some time +in the tennis-court, where I could not but admire, especially after having +heard Capito philosophise, the vigour and agility displayed by him as well +as his companions. I was then conducted into the baths, where, after being +washed and perfumed in the most luxurious manner, I was arrayed in an +elegant supper-garment by one of the slaves of our host. At table we were +joined again by the ladies, who both reclined on the same couch with their +uncle. Three comely youths attended us, in short tunics, and girt with +napkins of fine linen; but, during the repast, an ancient female slave +stood in silence behind the couch of the young ladies. A small fountain of +alabaster played between two tall candelabra of the same material, at the +farther end of the apartment; and a young damsel stood beside them, +swinging slowly from time to time a silver censer, from which clouds of +delicate odour rolled up to the mirrored roof. + +In all things the feast was splendid; but there was no appearance of +useless or vain ostentation. Every thing was conducted in a style of great +calmness and order, without the least formality. The repast interrupted +not the conversation, which went on in a manner to me equally instructive +as entertaining; although I must confess the presence of Athanasia +sometimes rendered me inattentive to what was spoken. I could not divest +myself of the idea, that some unknown circumstance was pressing on the +mind of the fair creature, and that when she smiled upon those who +addressed her, it was sometimes to conceal her ignorance of that which had +been said. + +Being asked by Capito, I endeavoured, among other things, to inform him +and his friends, as far as I could, concerning the then condition of this +island, which, more particularly after the exploits of Agricola, had come +to be a subject of some interest. In return, the chief topics which then +occupied the capital were discussed by them, as I perceived, in a great +measure on my account; and I listened with delight to the praises, which +they all agreed on bestowing on the new Emperor. Many anecdotes were +narrated, which tended to strengthen the feelings of admiration, with +which I had already been accustomed to contemplate his character. But +others were told, as the conversation went on, which I could not so easily +reconcile with the idea I had formed of him. + +For example, I was somewhat disturbed with what they told me concerning +his treatment of the Christians, who, as we understood in Britain, had +been suffered to live in tranquillity ever since Nerva acceded to the +empire. But now, from the circumstances related, it appeared that the mild +and humane Trajan had taken up, in regard to this sect, the whole aversion +of Domitian; every day some cruel catastrophe was made known of some +person who had adopted their tenets. Being ignorant of the nature of those +tenets, and having heard only in general terms that they were of Jewish +origin, dark, and mystical, I was at a loss to account for the extreme +hatred of the Prince, or rather for his condescending to give himself so +much trouble concerning a matter so obscure and seemingly trifling. + +Capito, however, assured me, that although I might have good occasion to +wonder at the steps taken by the Emperor, it would no longer be said by +any one, that the progress of the Christian sect deserved to be considered +as a matter either of obscurity, or of no consequence. "On the contrary," +said he, "from what you have just heard of the numbers and quality of +those that have lately suffered various punishments, you cannot hesitate +to admit that the head of the empire has been justified in considering it +as a subject worthy his attention." + +"We have adopted the gods of many nations," said Pontius Mamurra, "nor do +I see why, because the Jews have been unfortunate in a contest with Rome, +we should take it for granted that theirs are unworthy of respect. If, +however, as we have heard asserted, he who embraces this creed becomes an +infidel in regard to the deities of Rome, I say Caesar does well in +refusing toleration to the intolerant superstition. Domitian was a tyrant, +and a monster of humanity; the late prince was wise and good; and yet it +may be, that, in regard to these Christians, the principle of Domitian's +conduct was right in the main, and that of Nerva's wrong. But you, Capito, +regard both sides of the question, I have no doubt, with the same +indifference." + +"I hope," replied Capito, "I shall never regard with indifference any +question, in which the interest of the empire and the honour of Trajan are +concerned. But if you mean only that I am indifferent about the nature of +this Syrian superstition, you are in the right. I have no knowledge of its +dogmas, nor desire to have. I presume they have their share of that old +eastern barbarity, in the shady places of which the elder Greeks used to +think they could discover the outlines of something really grand and +majestic." + +"It may be so," said Mamurra; "but if the superstition be found dangerous +to the state, the Prince does well in repressing its progress. That is the +only question of which I spake."--"There is, indeed, no other," said +Capito; "I thought of none."--"And how do you answer it, dear uncle?" said +Athanasia, (lifting herself up, for the first time, to take part in the +conversation.)--"Nay, my love," said the old man, "to answer that is the +business of Caesar, and of the Senate. I only regret, that blood should be +shed, and citizens exiled; above all, in the reign of a just and merciful +Prince.--Sempronia," continued he, "what is that strange story your father +was telling about one of the daughters of Serennius?" + +"They only allege," replied Sempronia, with a smile, "that Tertulla had a +flirtation with a handsome young Greek, and the Greek happened to be a +Christian,--and she was converted by the Greek,--and she was found out in +going with him to some secret assembly of these people, in a vault by the +Vatican Hill,--and her father has been glad to send her to Corsica, partly +to escape the lawyers, and partly, I suppose, in hopes that the quietness +of the island, and the absence of handsome young Christians, may perhaps, +in time, restore poor Tertulla to her right mind--This is all. Do you think +that a strange story, uncle?" "Not, if it be exactly as you have told it, +Sempronia. What says Athanasia?" Athanasia answered gravely, that she was +sorry for Tertulla, and had never heard any thing of the young Greek +before. + +By this time, the increasing darkness of the chamber had warned me that we +ought to be thinking of our return. I had more than once looked towards +Sextus, but he refused to meet my eye. When I was on the point of +speaking, Sempronia, starting from her couch, exclaimed, that she was sure +there was thunder in the skies; and presently flash after flash gleamed +along the horizon. All sat silent, as if awe-struck; but Sempronia was the +only one that seemed to be in terror from the tempest. Nevertheless, my +eyes rested more on Athanasia, who looked paler than she had done, +although her countenance preserved its serenity. "How awful," said I, "is +the voice of Jupiter!" Athanasia folded her arms upon her bosom, and +lifting her eyes to heaven, said in a whisper,--"How awful is the voice of +God!" She then dropt her hand on the end of her couch, and half +unconsciously taking hold of it in mine, I asked her if she was afraid. +"No," said she, "I am not afraid, but the heaviness of the air makes me +faint, and I never can listen to thunder without feeling something +extraordinary within me." + +Capito said, he could not think of our going into the city that evening, +and that we must all make up our minds to remain in the villa. The +countenance of Sextus brightened up, and he looked to me as if to ask my +assent. I was easily persuaded, and our host despatched a messenger to +inform Licinius of the cause of our absence. The old man then led us into +another apartment, which was richly furnished with books and paintings. +Here he read for some time out of one of the poets, to a party, none of +whom, I am afraid, were very attentive in listening to him, till, the hour +of rest being come, we were conducted to our several apartments, Sextus +and myself, indeed, being lodged in the same chamber. + +We were no sooner left alone than I began to rally my friend on the beauty +of his mistress, and the earnest court he had been paying her. The youth +listened with blushes of delight to her praises, but seemed not to have +the least idea that he had been so fortunate as to make any impression on +her mind. On the contrary, he scarcely appeared to be aware of having done +any thing to attract attention from her, and expressed astonishment when I +assured him, that his behaviour had been such as could not possibly admit +of more than one explanation in the eyes of a person so quick and +vivacious as the lovely Sempronia. + +After we had both retired to our beds, and the lights were extinguished, +we still continued for some time to talk over the incidents of our visit, +and the future prospects of Sextus and his love; until at length sleep +overpowered us in easy bonds, and agreeable dreams followed, I doubt not, +in the hearts of us both, the thoughts and sights of a delightful day. +Mine surely were delightful, for they were all of Athanasia. Yet, even in +the visions of the night, I could never gaze on her face without some +strange impression of mystery. I saw her placid smile--I heard the sweet +low cadence of her voice--but I felt, and I could not feel it without a +certain indescribable anxiety, that her deep thoughts were far away. + + + + + _CHAPTER VI._ + + +I awoke early, and drew near to the bed of Sextus; but seeing that he was +fast asleep, and that a quiet smile was on his lips, I could not think of +awakening him. The sun shone bright into the apartment, and I resolved to +walk forth and breathe the balmy air of the garden. + +The moisture was still heavy on the green paths, and the birds were +singing among glittering leaves; the god-like statues stood unscathed in +their silent beauty. I walked to and fro, enjoying the enchantment of the +scene;--a new feeling of the beauty of all things seemed to have been +breathed into my soul; and the pensive grace of Athanasia hovered over my +imagination, like some presiding genius of the groves. + +I found myself near the favourite grotto, and had stood over against its +entrance for some space, contemplating the augmented stream as it fell +from the superincumbent rock, and regretting the ravage which the nightly +tempest had made among the delicate flowers round its basin. Twice I +thought I heard the murmurs of a voice, and twice I persuaded myself that +it was only the rippling of the waters; but the third time I was satisfied +that some person must be near. I passed between the water and the rock, +and beheld the fair creature that had been occupying so many of my +thoughts, kneeling far within the grotto, as it seemed, in supplication. +To disturb her by advancing farther, would have been impious; to retire, +without the risk of disturbing her, almost impossible; but I remained +there fixed to the spot, without perhaps considering all these things as I +should have done. The virgin modesty of her attitude was holy in my eyes, +and the thought never occurred to me, that I might be doing wrong in +permitting myself to witness the simple devotions of Athanasia. "Great +God, listen to my prayers," was all I understood of what she said; but she +whispered for some moments in a lowly and fervent tone, and I saw that she +kissed something with her lips ere she arose from her knees. She then +plunged her hands into the well, by whose brink she had knelt, and turned +round to the light. "Athanasia, forgive me," was already on my lips; but +on seeing me, she uttered a faint cry and fell prostrate upon the marble. +I rushed forward, lifted up her head, and laved water from the fountain, +till I saw her lips tremble. At last she opened her eyes, and after gazing +on me wildly for a moment, she gathered her strength, and stood quite +upright, supporting herself against the wall of the grotto. "Great +heavens!" cried I, "in what have I offended, that I should be rendered the +cause of affliction to Athanasia? Speak, lady, and say that you forgive +me." + +"I thought," said she, with a proud calmness, "that Valerius was of +Roman--of Patrician blood. What brings him to be a spy upon the secret +moments of a Patrician maiden?"--Then bursting into a tone of unutterable +fervour, "Speak," said she, "young man, what have you heard? How long have +you stood here? Am I betrayed?" + +"Witness, heaven and earth!" cried I, kneeling, "and witness every god, +that I have heard nothing, except to know that you were praying. I have +only seen you kneeling, and been guilty of gazing on your beauty." "You +heard not the words of my prayer?" said she. "No, not its words, +Athanasia, nor any thing of its purpose." "Do you swear this to me, young +man?" "Yes, I swear by Jupiter and by Rome--as I am a man and a Roman, I +know not, neither do I desire to know, any thing of what you said. Forgive +me for the fault of my indiscretion--you have no other to forgive." + +Athanasia paused for a moment, and then resuming more of her usual tone of +voice, (although its accents were still somewhat disturbed and faltering,) +said to me, "Valerius, since the thing is so, I have nothing to forgive. +It is you that must pardon me for my suspicion." "Distress me not, +Athanasia," said I, "by speaking such words." "From this hour, then," said +she, "what has passed here is forgotten. We blot it from our +memories;"--and with that, as if in token of the paction, she extended to +me her hand. I kissed it as I knelt, and swore that all things were safe +with me; but added, as I arose, "that I was afraid I should be promising +more than I should be able to perform,--did I say I should be able to +forget any hour, or any place, where I had seen Athanasia." "Nay," said +she, "no compliment, or I shall begin to suspect you of insincerity." I +was then about to withdraw from the grotto; but seeing a scroll of +parchment lying at the feet of Athanasia, I stooped, and presented it to +her, saying, "I was afraid she might forget it." She took it eagerly, and +saying, "Of that there was no danger," placed it in her bosom, within the +folds of her tunic. She was then gathering up her black tresses, and +fastening them hastily on the back part of her head, when we heard the +sound of footsteps not far off, and beckoning to me to remain where I was, +she darted from me, and in a moment vanished among the trees. I waited for +a few minutes, and then stepping forth, beheld her walking at a distance, +beside her sister, in the direction of the villa. They were soon lost +among the paths, and I returned alone into the grotto. + +I sat down beside the dark well, wherein she had dipt her hands, and mused +in a most disturbed mood on all the particulars of this strange and +unexpected interview. Every motion of her features--every modulation of her +voice, was present with me; I had gathered them all into my heart, and I +felt that I must cherish them there for ever. From the first moment I saw +her, my eyes had been constrained to gaze upon her with an interest quite +novel to me; but now I knew that she could not smile, without making my +heart faint within me, and that the least whisper of her voice was able to +bring tears into mine eyes. Now I thought of my own unworthiness, and +could not help saying to myself, "Why should a poor ignorant provincial, +such as I am, be torturing myself with the thoughts of such a creature as +this?" Then, again, some benign glance of hers would return before me, and +I could not help having some faint hopes, that her innocent heart might be +won to me by faithful unwearied love. But what always threw me back into +despair, was the recollection of the mystery that I knew hung over her +mind, although what it was I could not know. That she had been saying +something in her prayers which could not be overheard without betraying +her, she had herself confessed. What could be this secret, so cherished in +dread, and in darkness?--A crime?--No crime could sully the clear bosom of +her innocence. No consciousness of guilt could be concealed beneath that +heavenly visage. But perhaps she had been made the confidante of some +erring,--some unhappy friend. Perhaps, in her prayer, she had made mention +of another's name, and implored the pardon of another's guilt. Last of +all, why might it not be so, that the maiden loved, and was beloved again; +that she might have some reason to regard any casual betrayal of her +affection as a calamity; and that, having uttered the name of her lover in +her secret supplications, her terrors might all have been occasioned by +her apprehensions of my having overheard it? And yet there was something +in the demeanour of Athanasia, that I could not bring myself to reconcile +entirely with any one of these suppositions. Had she feared that I had +overheard any confession of guilt,--even of the guilt of another,--surely +some semblance of shame would have been mingled with her looks of terror. +Had she apprehended only the discovery of an innocent love, surely her +blushes would have been deeper, and her boldness less. Yet the last +solution of the difficulty was that which haunted me the most powerfully. + +When I came forth into the open air, I perceived that the sun was already +high in heaven, and proceeded in haste towards the villa, not doubting +that Sextus and Capito would be astonished by the length of my absence. I +found them and the ladies walking under the northern colonnade, having +returned, as they told me, from a fruitless search after me through almost +the whole of the garden. I looked to Athanasia, as if to signify that she +well knew where I might have been found; but, although I saw that she +understood my meaning, she said nothing in explanation. Sextus drew me +aside shortly after, and told me, that his father had sent to inform him, +that our presence was necessary in the city before supper-time, to attend +a great entertainment which was to be given that evening by the lady whose +cause he had successfully pleaded in the Forum on the preceding day; which +lady, I now for the first time learned, was no other than the same Marcia +Rubellia, to whom his father was very anxious the youth should be married. +The success of this pleading had increased very much the wealth of the +lady, and, of course, as Sextus well knew, the anxiety of Licinius for the +proposed union; and to remain at the villa any longer, was, he said, +entirely impossible, since he already suspected his father had not been +quite pleased with him for leaving the Forum the day before, without +staying to hear out a cause in which his duty, if not his inclination, +ought to have made him feel so greatly interested. + +We bade adieu, therefore, to our kind host and the young ladies, not +without more reluctance than either of us durst express, and ready +promises to return soon again to the villa. We found Dromo and Boto +waiting for us at the gate, the former of whom looked unutterable things, +while the latter appeared to be as joyful in seeing me again, as if we had +been parted for a twelvemonth. The two slaves were mounted on asses, but +they led horses for our conveyance; so we mounted with all speed, and were +soon beyond the beautiful enclosures of Capito. As soon as we were fairly +out of sight of the house, Dromo began to ply Sextus with innumerable +questions about the result of the visit, all of them in bad Greek; that, +as he said, there might be no chance of what passed being understood by +the Druid; for by that venerable designation, he informed us, the +primitive Boto had already come to be best known in the vestibule of +Licinius. "Ah!" quoth he, "there is no need for many words; I am sure my +young master has not been behindhand with himself. If he has, it is no +fault of mine, however. I put Opportunity into his hands, and she, you +know, as the poets say, has only one lock of hair, and that is in front." + +Sextus being very shy of entering into particulars, I found myself obliged +to take upon me the satisfying of the curiosity of this inquisitive +varlet, which I did in a manner that much astonished Sextus, who by no +means suspected, that in the midst of my own attention to the other +cousin, I had been able to take so much notice of what passed between him +and Sempronia. However, the gentle youth took a little raillery all in +good part, and we laughed loudly in unison at the triumphant capers which +the whip of Dromo made his poor ass exhibit, in testimony of his +satisfaction with the progress which all things appeared to be making. We +reached the city about three hours after noon, and were told by the slaves +in attendance, that Xerophrastes had gone out some time before, and that +Licinius was already busy in arraying himself for the feast of Rubellia. + + + + + _CHAPTER VII._ + + +Her mansion was situated about the middle of the Suburra, in a +neighbourhood nowise splendid, and itself distinguished, on the side +fronting to the street, by no uncommon marks of elegance or opulence. A +plain brick wall covered almost the whole of the building from the eye of +the passenger; and what was seen deserved the praise of neatness, rather +than of magnificence. Nevertheless, the moment one had passed the gate, +and entered the court, one could not help perceiving, that taste and +wealth had been alike expended abundantly on the residence; for the broad +terrace and gallery behind were lavishly adorned, the one with sculpture +and the other with paintings; and the gardens, which these overlooked, +appeared to be both extensive and elaborate. + +We were conducted through several pillared halls, and then up a wide +staircase, of somewhat sombre magnificence, into the chamber where the +company were already in part assembled, and busy in offering their +congratulations to the mistress of the feast. She was so much engaged with +their flatteries that she did not at first perceive our entrance; but as +soon as she knew who had come, the chief part of her attention was divided +between her victorious advocate and his blushing son. + +Rapidly as we have been advancing in our imitation of the manners of the +capital, our island, most unquestionably, has never yet displayed any +thing that could sustain the smallest comparison with what then met my +eyes in the stately saloon of this widow. The group around her was gay and +various, and she was worthy of forming its centre; young and handsome, +dressed in a style of the utmost splendour, her deportment equally elegant +and vivacious. Her complexion was of that clear rich brown which lends to +the eye a greater brilliancy than the most exquisite contrast of red and +white; and over which the blood, when it does come into the face, diffuses +at once the warmest and the deepest of blushes. Her hair appeared to be +perfectly black, unless where the light, streaming from behind, gave an +edging of glossy brown to the thick masses of her curls. Her robe of +crimson silk was fastened by a girdle, which seemed to consist of nothing +but rubies and emeralds, strung upon threads of gold. She wore a tiara +that rose high above her tresses, and was all over resplendent with +flowers woven in jewellery; and around her delicate wrists and ankles were +twined broad chains of virgin gold, interspersed with alternate wreaths of +sapphire. Her form was the perfection of luxury; and although I have said +that her deportment was in general lively and brilliant, yet there was a +soft seriousness that every now and then settled in her eyes, which gave +her, for a moment, a look of melancholy that seemed to me more likely to +be in harmony with the secret nature of her disposition. I watched her in +particular when she spoke to Sextus; her full rich-toned voice was then +merry, and her large eyes sparkled; but when she was engaged with any +other person, she could not help gazing on the beautiful youth in silence; +and then it was that her countenance wore its deepest expression of +calmness--I had almost said, of sadness. + +I had been gazing on her, I know not how long, from another part of the +room, when I heard a hearty chuckle from behind me, and thought I could +not be unacquainted with the voice. Looking round, I saw, not without +delight, the stately figure of my Praetorian Captain, Sabinus, whose +cheerful eye soon distinguished me, and who forthwith came up to salute me +in the most friendly manner. I introduced him to Licinius and Sextus, the +former of whom expressed himself as being much gratified with the +attention the centurion had shewn to me during our voyage; so that I felt +myself, as it were, no longer a stranger in the place; and the lutes and +trumpets at that moment announcing that supper was ready to be served up, +I took care to keep close to Sabinus, and to place myself near him on the +couch. + +The room in which the feast was prepared, communicated by a pair of brazen +folding doors, richly sculptured, with that in which the company had +assembled; but from it, although the sun had not yet gone down, all light +was excluded, excepting what streamed from golden candelabra, and broad +lamps of bronze suspended overhead from the high and painted ceiling. The +party might consist of about twenty, who reclined along one demi-circular +couch, the covers of which were of the softest down, and the frame-work +inlaid with ivory;--the part of the room enclosed by its outline being +occupied with the table, and an open space to which the attendants had +free access. We had no sooner taken our seats than a crowd of slaves +entered, carrying large boards upon their heads, which being forthwith +arranged on the table, were seen to be loaded with dishes of gold and +silver, and all manner of drinking vessels, also with vases of rare +flowers, and urns of perfume. But how did the countenance of Sabinus +brighten, when the trumpet sounded a second time as if from below, and the +floor of the chamber was suddenly, as it were, pierced in twain, and the +pealing music ushered up a huge roasted boar, all wreathed with stately +garnishings, and standing erect on his golden platform as on a chariot of +triumph! "Ah! my dear boy," cries he, "here comes the true king of beasts, +and only legitimate monarch of the woods. What should we not have given +for a slice of him when we were pent up, half-starved and fainting, in +that abominable ship of ours?--All hail, most potent conqueror! but whether +Germanic or Asiatic be thy proper title, I shall soon know, when that +expert Ionian has daintily carved and divided thee." But why should I +attempt to describe to you the particulars of the feast? Let it suffice, +that whatever idea I had formed of Roman profusion was surpassed, and that +the splendour of the entertainment engaged the attention of all except +Rubellia herself, who, reclining immediately above Sextus, kept her eyes +fixed almost all the time it lasted, upon his luxuriant curls of dark +hair, unless when she caused the young damsel, her cup-bearer, to pour out +to her wine in a goblet of onyx, which she touched with her lips, and then +handed to the indifferent boy. When the supper was half over, the +folding-doors were again thrown open, and there entered a group of maidens +and beautiful youths, who danced before us to the music of the lute, and +scattered crowns of roses at the feet of Rubellia and her guests. She +herself placed one of them on the head of Sextus, and another on that of +his father, who lay on the other side of her, and then caused a large cup +of wine to be carried all around, whereof each of us tasted, and drank to +the health of the orator, in whose honour the entertainment was made. The +ladies that were present imitated the example of the hostess, and crowned +such as were by them; but Sabinus and I, not being near enough to any of +them, received that courtesy from some of the dancing maidens. Libations +were poured out abundantly on the marble floor, and all the gods were +invoked to shower down their blessings on Rubellia, and those that had +been so fortunate as to serve her. Sweet strains of music resounded +through the tall pillars of the banqueting-room, and the lamps burned +heavily in an atmosphere overloaded with perfumes. + +It appeared to me, from the beginning, that my friend Sabinus witnessed, +not without some feelings of displeasure, the excessive attentions which +Rubellia lavished on young Sextus; and I gathered, from the way in which +he every now and then looked towards them during the supper, that, had the +place permitted, he would not have allowed such things to go on without +some comment. But when we had left the banqueting-room, and removed to +another apartment, where, amidst various entertainments of dancing, music, +and recitation, Rubellia still retained close to herself the heir of +Licinius, the centurion made to himself abundant amends for the previous +restraint to which his temper had been subjected. "Confess now," said he, +"that she is a lovely creature, and that your British beauties are tame +and insipid, when compared with such a specimen of Roman fascination; and +confess, withal, that this curled boy is either the most ignorant, or the +most insusceptible of his sex. Good heavens! in what a different style was +she treated by the old magistrate, whose very bust there, in the corner, +looks quite blank and disconsolate with its great white eyes, while she, +that sate for so many months pale and weeping by his bed-side, is thinking +of nothing but to bestow all the wealth he left her on a beardless +stripling, who appears to regard the bust and the beauty with almost equal +indifference.--Alas! poor old withered Leberinus, little did you imagine +that so small a phial would suffice to hold all her tears. My only wonder +is, that she still permits your marble image to occupy even a corner of +her mansion; but, no doubt, you will soon be sent on your travels. I dare +say, some cold pedestal in the garden will, ere long, be the best birth +you need look for.--Well, well, you see what fools we may be made by the +cunning of these pretty crocodiles. I trust my dotage, when it does come, +will not shew itself in the same shape with that of my good old friend. I +hope the ghost of the worthy Praetor will not frown unseen the night she +takes this Adonis to her arms. If I were in his place, I should give her +curtains a pretty shake. By Hermes! it would not be a pretty monument and +a flowery epitaph that would make me lie still." + +"How long is it," said I, "since this venerable magistrate died? Surely +she has allowed him the decency of a tenmonth's grief, before she began to +give suppers, and perceive the beauty of Sextus?" "Whether it be a +tenmonth ago or not," replied the Centurion, "is more than I can take upon +me to decide; all I know is, that it appears to me as if it were but +yesterday that I supped here, (it was just before I set off for Britain,) +and saw the young lady reclining, even at table, with those long black +curls of her's, in the bosom of the emaciated Leberinus. By Jupiter! the +old man would not taste a drop of wine unless she kissed the cup--she +coaxed every morsel he swallowed down his throat, and clasped the garland +round his bald pate with her own fingers; ay, twice before that sleek +physician--that solemn-faced Greek, whom you see at this moment talking +with your kinsman, advised her to have him carried to his bed. For all the +gravity of his looks, I would lay a trifle, that worthy Boeotian has his +own thoughts about what is passing, as well as I. But the worst-pleased +face in the whole room is, I think, that of old Rubellius himself yonder, +who has just come in, without, it is evident, being aware that any feast +was going forward. Without question, the crafty usurer is of opinion he +might have been invited. I promise you, I can interpret the glances of +that gray-headed extortioner; and well I may, for it is not the first time +I have had an opportunity of studying them. Ay, ay, quoth he to himself, +she may do as she will with the bonds of Leberinus; but she might have +remembered, that a codicil can be easily tacked to the end of a living +man's testament." + +"But, after all," said I, "one must admit, that if she married old +Leberinus to please her father, the widow has some right to choose her +second husband according to the pattern of her own fancy." "Oh! by all +means," answered he; "let her please herself; let her make a fool of +herself now, if she will. She may perhaps learn, some time or other, that +it is as possible to have too young a husband, as to have too old a one." +"Come now," said I, "Sabinus, confess that if she had selected some +well-made, middle-aged man--some respectable man--some man of note and +distinction, you would have judged less harshly of poor Rubellia." "Ah! +you cunning dog," said he; "who would have thought that you had brought so +much wickedness from that new world of yours? But do you really think she +will wed Sextus? The boy appears strangely cold. I should not wonder, when +all is done, if the match were more of the orator's seeking than his own." +"I can only tell you," said I, "that I have never heard Licinius mention +any thing about it; and, I dare say, Sextus would be very sorry to think +of losing his liberty for the sake of the wealth of Leberinus--ay, or for +that of old Rubellius to boot." "Young friend," quoth he, "you are not +quite acquainted with the way in which these matters are managed at Rome. +If we had you six weeks at the other side of the Viminal, we should teach +you better." + +I know not how long this sort of talk might have lasted; but Licinius put +an end to it by joining us, and soon engaged the worthy Centurion, and +several more of us, with some lively, but unintelligible discussion on the +merits of some new edict, of which none of us had ever heard, or were +likely ever to hear any thing again. We were glad to escape from the +lawyer into another room, where some Greek slaves were performing a sort +of comic pantomime, that appeared to give more delight to old Rubellius +than any other of the spectators. As for Sextus, I saw plainly that he was +quite weary of the entertainment, and anxious to get away; but we were +obliged to remain till after Licinius was gone, for it was evident that he +wished his son to see out the last. But no sooner had we heard his chariot +drive off, than the young man and I took leave of the lady, and withdrew. +Sabinus lingered a moment behind us, and then joined us in the vestibule, +from which, his course lying so far in the same direction as ours, we all +proceeded homewards on foot. + +We had proceeded along the street of the Suburra for a considerable space, +and were already beneath the shade of the great Temple of Isis and +Serapis, (which stands on the northern side of the Esquiline Hill, nigh +over against the Amphitheatre of Vespasian,) when, from the opposite side +of the way, we were hailed by a small party of soldiers, who, as it turned +out, had been sent from the Praetorian camp in search of Sabinus, and one +of whom had now recognized his gait and stature, notwithstanding the +obscurity of the hour. The Centurion went aside with the leader of these +men for some moments, and then informed us that it was very fortunate they +had so easily recognized him, as the business on which they had been sent +was such as did not admit of being negligently dealt with. "To-morrow," +said he, pointing to the Amphitheatre before us, "that glorious edifice is +to be the scene of one of the grandest shows exhibited by Trajan since his +accession to the empire. It is the anniversary of the day on which he was +adopted by Nerva, and the splendour of the spectacle will be in proportion +to the gratitude and veneration with which he at all times regards the +memory of that excellent benefactor. But there are some parts of the +exhibition that I am afraid old Nerva, could he be present to behold them, +would not regard with the same feelings as his successor." "Surely," said +I, "the beneficent Trajan will not stain the expression of his gratitude +by any thing unworthy of himself, or that could give displeasure to +Nerva?" "Nay," replied the Centurion, "it is not for me to talk about any +thing that Trajan chooses to do being unworthy of Trajan; but you well +know that Nerva would never suffer any of the Christians to be molested +during his reign, and now here are some of these unhappy fanatics, that +are to be compelled either to renounce their faith in the face of the +assembly to-morrow, or to die in the arena. It is to inspect the condition +of these unfortunates, who, I know not for what reason, are confined in a +dungeon below the ramparts in the vicinity of our camp, and to announce to +them the final determination of their fate, that I, as Centurion of the +night, have now been summoned. If you are curious to see the men, you are +at liberty to go with me, and I shall be obliged to you for your company." + +My curiosity having been excited in regard to the new faith and its +adherents, I was very desirous to accept of this offer. Nor did Sextus any +sooner perceive that such was my inclination, than he advised me to +gratify it, undertaking, at the same time, to satisfy his father, in case +of any inquiry, that I was in a place of safety, and under the protection +of Sabinus. With him, therefore, and with his Praetorians, I proceeded +along various streets which led us by the skirts of the Esquiline and +Viminal Hills, on to the region of the Mounds of Tarquin, over against +which, as you have heard, the great camp of those bands is situated;--if +indeed that ought of right to be called by the name of a camp, which is +itself a city of no slender dimensions, and built with great splendour of +architecture, spread out beyond the limits of Rome, for the accommodation +of that proud soldiery. There my friend took me into his chamber, and +furnished me with a cloak and helmet, that I might excite no suspicion by +accompanying him on his errand. The watch-word of the night also was given +me, _Silent faith_; and proceeding again, we shortly reached the place +where the Christians were lying. + + + + + _CHAPTER VIII._ + + +Entering the guard-room, we found it crowded with spearmen of Sabinus's +band, some playing at dice, others carousing jovially, many wrapt up in +their mantles, and asleep upon the floor; while a few only were sitting +beneath the porch, with their spears in their hands, and leaning upon +their bucklers. From one of these, the Centurion, having drawn him aside, +made inquiry concerning the names and condition of the prisoners, and +whether as yet they had received any intelligence as to the morrow. The +soldier, who was a grave man, well stricken in years, made answer, "that +the men were free-born and of decent estate, and that he had not heard of +any thing else being laid to their charge, excepting that which concerned +their religion. Since they have been here," he continued, "I have been +several times set on watch over them, and twice have I lain with one of +them in his dungeon; yet have I heard no complaints from any of them, for +in all things they are patient. One of them only is to suffer +to-morrow--but for him I am especially concerned, for he was known to me of +old, having served often with me when I was a horseman in the army of +Titus, all through the war of Palestine, and at the siege of Jerusalem." + +"And of what country is he?" said Sabinus. "Is he also a Roman?" "No, +sir," answered the spearman, "he is no Roman; but he was of a troop of the +allies that was joined often to our legion, and I have seen him bear +himself on the day of battle as well as any Roman. He is by birth a Greek +of the Syrian coast; but his mother was of the nation of the Jews." "And +yet, although the son of a Jewess, he was with us, say you, at the siege +of Jerusalem?" "Even so," replied the man; "and not he only, but many +others; for the Jews were divided against themselves; and of all them that +were Christians, not one abode in the city, or gave help to defend it. As +this man himself said, the oracles of the Christians, and their prophets, +had of old given warning that the city must fall into the hands of Caesar, +by reason of the wickedness of that people; therefore, when we set our +camp against Jerusalem, these all passed out from the city, with their +wives and children, and dwelt safely in the mountainous country until the +fate was fulfilled. But some of their young men fought in our camp, and +did good service, because the place was known to them, and they had +acquaintance with all the secrets of the Rock. Of these, this man was one. +He and all his household had departed from the ancient religion of the +Jews, and were believers in the doctrines of the Christians, for which +cause he is now to suffer; and of that, although I have not spoken to him +this evening, I think he has already received some intelligence, for +certain of his friends passed in to him, and they covered their faces as +they went in, as if weeping." "Are these friends still with him?" said +Sabinus. "Yes," answered he, "for I must have seen them had they come +forth again. Without doubt, the two women are still with him in his +dungeon." "Women?" quoth Sabinus; "and of what condition think you they +may be?" "That I know not," replied the soldier; "for, as I have said, +they were muffled in their mantles. But one of them, at least, is a Roman, +for I heard her speak to him that is by the door of the dungeon." "How +long is it," said the Centurion, "since they went in to the prisoner?" +"More than an hour," replied the soldier, looking at the water-clock that +stood beneath the porch; "and if they be Christians, they are not yet +about to depart, for they never separate without singing together, which +is said to be their favourite manner of worship." + +He had scarcely uttered these words, when the soldiers that were carousing +within the guard-room became silent, and we heard the voices of those that +were in the dungeon singing together in a sweet and lowly manner. "Ah, +sir!" said the old soldier, "I thought it would be even so--there is not a +spearman in the band that would not willingly watch here a whole night, +could he be sure of hearing that melody. Well do I know that soft +voice--Hear now, how she sings by herself--and there again, that deep strong +note--that is the voice of the prisoner." + +"Hush!" quoth the Centurion, "heard you ever any thing half so divine? Are +these words Greek or Syrian?" "What the words are I know not," said the +soldier; "but I know the tune well.--I have heard it played many a night +with hautboy, clarion, and dulcimer, on the high walls of Jerusalem, while +the city was beleaguered." "It is some old Jewish tune then," said +Sabinus; "I knew not those barbarians had had half so much art." + +"Why, as for that, sir," replied the man, "I have been all over Greece and +Egypt--to say nothing of Italy--and I never heard any music like that music +of the Jews. When they came down to join the battle, their trumpets +sounded so gloriously, that we wondered how it was possible for them ever +to be driven back; and then, when their gates were closed, and they sent +out to beg their dead, they would play such solemn awful notes of +lamentation, that the plunderers stood still to listen, and their warriors +were delivered to them with all their mail as they had fallen." "And the +Christians also," said Sabinus, "had the same tunes?" "Oh yes, sir--why, +for that matter, these very tunes may have been among them, for aught we +know, since the beginning of their nation. I have stood sentinel with this +very man, and seen the tears run down his cheeks by the star-light, when +he heard the music from the city, as the Jewish captains were going their +rounds upon the battlements." "But this, surely," said the Centurion, "is +no warlike melody." "I know not," quoth the old soldier, "whether it be or +not--but I am sure it sounds not like any music of sorrow,--and yet what +plaintive tones are in the part of that female voice!" "The bass sounds +triumphantly, in good sooth." "Ay, sir, but that is the old man's own +voice--I am sure he will keep a good heart to the end, even though they +should be singing their farewell to him. Well, the Emperor loses a good +soldier, the hour Tisias dies. I wish to Jupiter he had not been a +Christian, or had kept his religion to himself. But as for changing +now--you might as well think of persuading the Prince himself to be a Jew." + +"That last high strain, however," quoth Sabinus, "has ended their singing. +Let us speak to the women as they come out; and if it be so that the man +is already aware of what is to be done to-morrow, I see not why we should +trouble him with entering his cell. He has but a few hours to live, and I +would not willingly disturb him." "I hear them coming," said the soldier. +"Then do you meet them," said Sabinus, "and tell them that the Centurion +wishes to speak to them ere they go away--we will retire out of hearing of +the guard." + +With that he and I withdrew to the other side of the way, over against the +door of the prison; and we stood there waiting for the women under a +fig-tree, close by the city wall. In a few minutes two persons, arrayed as +the soldier had described, drew near to us; and one of them, without +uncovering her countenance, said,--"Master, we trust we have done no evil +in visiting the prisoners; had it been so, surely we should not have been +permitted to enter without question." + +These words were spoken in a voice tremulous, as if with grief rather than +with terror; but I could not help starting when I heard them. However, I +commanded myself, and heard in silence what Sabinus replied.--"Be not +alarmed," said he; "there is no offence committed, for no orders have been +issued to prevent these men from seeing their friends. I sent for you, not +to find fault with what you have done, but only to ask whether this +prisoner has already been told that the Emperor has announced his +resolution concerning him, and that he must die to-morrow, in the +Amphitheatre of Vespasian, unless he renounce his superstition."--"He knows +all," answered the same voice; "and is prepared for all." + +"By heavens! Valerius," whispered Sabinus; "it is no mean person that +speaks so--this is the accent and the gesture of a Roman lady." Then +raising his voice, "In that case there is no need for my going into the +dungeon; and yet, could I hope to say any thing that might tend to make +him change his purpose, I would most gladly do so. The Emperor is as +humane as he is just, and unless when rebellious obstinacy shuts the gates +of mercy, he is the last that would consent to the shedding of any +blood.--For this Tisias, of whose history I have just been hearing +something, I am in a particular manner interested, and to save him, I wish +only I had power equal to my inclination. Is there no chance of convincing +him?"--"He is already convinced."--"Could his friends do nothing?"--"His +friends have been with him," said the voice.--This last sentence was spoken +so distinctly, that I knew I could no longer be mistaken; and I was on the +brink of speaking out, without thinking of the consequences that might +occur, when she that had spoken, uttered a faint cry, and dropping on her +knees before Sabinus, said,--"Oh, sir! to us also be merciful, and let us +go hence ere any one behold us!"--"Go in peace, lady," answered the +Centurion, "and henceforth be prudent as well as kind;" and they went away +from us, and were soon lost to our sight in the windings of the street. + +We stood there for some moments in silence, looking towards the place +where they disappeared. "Strange superstition," said Sabinus; "what +heroism dwells with this madness!--you see how little these men regard +their lives;--nay, even women, and Roman women too--you see how their nature +is changed by it."--"It is, indeed, a most strange spectacle," said I; "but +what is to be the end of it, if this spirit become diffused widely among +the people?"--"In truth I know not," answered the Centurion; "as yet we +have heard of few who had once embraced this faith, renouncing it out of +fear for their lives."--"And in the days of Nero and Domitian," said I, +"were not many hundreds of them punished even here in the capital?"--"You +are within the mark," said he; "and not a few of those who were sent into +exile, because of their Christianity, were, as you may have heard, of no +ordinary condition. Among these there were Flavius Clemens, the Consular, +and his wife, Domitilla; both of whom I have often seen in my youth--both +relations to the family of Vespasian--whom, notwithstanding, all the +splendour of the imperial blood could not save from the common fate of +their sect. But Nerva suffered all of them to live in peace, and recalled +such as were in exile, excepting only Domitilla, whose fate has been +regretted by all men; but I suppose it was not at first judged safe to +recal her, lest any tumult should have been excited in her name, by those +that regretted (and I am sorry to say these were not a few) the wicked +license of which they had been deprived by the death of her tyrannical +kinsman, and the transition of the imperial dignity into another line. She +also with whom we have been speaking, is, I am sure, a Roman lady of +condition; and you may judge of her zeal, when you see it brings her +hither at midnight, to mingle tears and prayers with those of an obscure +Asiatic. Did you observe, that the other female both walked and stood +behind her." + +"I observed all this," answered I. But little did Sabinus suspect that I +had observed so much more than himself had done. Before parting from him, +I said I should still be gratified with being permitted to see the +prisoner; and although he declined entering himself, he accordingly gave +command that the door of his dungeon should be opened for me, requesting +me, at the same time, to refrain from saying any thing more than was +necessary for the explaining the apparent purpose of my visit,--the +communication, namely, of Trajan's decree. + +The Centurion withdrew to his camp; and the same old spearman with whom we +had conversed at the Porch, carried a torch in his hand, and shewed me the +way into the dungeon. + +Between the first door and the second, which appeared to be almost +entirely formed of iron, there intervened a few broad steps of mason-work; +and upon the lowest of these, I stood waiting till he should open the +inner door. Several keys were applied before he discovered the right one; +but at last the heavy door swung away from before him so speedily, that +the air, rushing out of the vault, extinguished the torch; insomuch, that +we had no light excepting that which streamed from an aperture high up in +the wall of the dungeon itself; a feeble ray of star-light alone--for the +moon had, long ere this time, been gone down--which, nevertheless, sufficed +to shew us to the prisoner, although we at first could see nothing of him. + +"Soldiers," said the old man, in a voice of perfect calmness, "for what +reason are you come?"--"We come," said my companion, "by command of the +Centurion, to inform you of things which we would willingly not have to +tell--To-morrow Trajan opens the Amphitheatre of Vespasian."--"My comrade," +said the prisoner, "is it your voice I hear? I knew all this already; and +you know of old that I fear not the face of death."--"I know well, Tisias, +you fear not death; yet why, when there is no need, should you cast away +life? Think well, I beseech you, and reserve yourself for a better +day."--"The dawn of that better day, Romans, already begins to open upon my +eyes. I see the east red with the promise of its brightness. Would you +have me tarry in darkness, when I am invited to walk forth into the +light?"--"Your words rejoice me," answered the spearman; "and I am sure all +will rejoice in hearing that you have at length come to think thus--Trajan +himself will rejoice. You have but to say the word, and you are +free,"--"You mean kindly," said the old man, rising from his pallet, and +walking towards us as far as his fetters permitted; "but you are much +mistaken--I have but to keep silence, and I am free."--"Alas! what mean you? +Do you know what you say? You must worship the gods in the morning, else +you die."--"Evening, and morning, and for ever, I must worship the God that +made heaven and earth. If I bow down to the idols of Trajan, I buy the +life of a day at the price of death everlasting. Tempt me not in your +kindness: I fell once. Great God, preserve me from falling! I have bade +farewell to my friends already. Leave me to spend these few hours by +myself.--Leave me to prepare the flesh for that from which the spirit +shrinks not." So saying, he extended his hand to the spearman, and the two +old men embraced each other before me. + +"Prisoner," said I, "if there be any thing in which we can serve you, +command our aid. We have already done our duty; if we can also do any +thing that may give ease to your mind now, or comfort to your kindred, you +have but to speak."--"Sir," replied he, "I see by the eagle wings on your +helmet, that you are one in authority, and I hear by your voice that you +are young. There is a certain thing, concerning which I had some purpose +to speak to this old brother."--"Speak with confidence," said I; "although +I am a Roman, and bear all loyalty to Caesar, yet this Praetorian helmet is +not mine, and I have but assumed it for the sake of having access to your +prison. I am no soldier of Trajan: Whatever I can do for you without harm +to others, speak, and I will do it. I will swear to you----" "Nay, sir," +said he, "swear not--mock not the God of heaven, by invoking idol or +demon--I believe your word--but, since you will hear, there is no need why +any other should be witness to my request."--"I will retire," said the +other, "and keep watch at the door. I am but a poor spearman, and this +young patrician can do more than I."--"Be it so," said the prisoner, a +second time embracing him; "I would not willingly expose you to any +needless danger; and yet I see not what danger there is in all that I have +to ask." + +With this the spearman withdrew; and being left alone with Tisias, I took +his hand, and sitting down beside him on his pallet, shortly explained to +him the circumstances under which I had come thither. + +"Young sir," said he, "I know not what is about the sound of your voice, +and the frankness of your demeanour, that makes me feel confidence enough +to intrust you with a certain thing, which concerns not myself, nor any +hope of mine, for that were little--but the interests of one that is far +dearer to me than I can express, and who, I hope, will live many happy +days upon earth, after I shall have sealed my belief in the message of +God, by blood that has of old been exposed a thousand times to all mortal +perils, for the sake of worthless things. But a very short while ago, and +I might have executed this thing for myself; but weakness overcame me at +the moment of parting." + +"If it be any thing which you would have me convey to any one, say where I +may find the person," said I, "and be assured I shall deliver it in +safety." + +"Sir," he proceeded, "I have here with me certain writings, which I have +carried for these twenty years continually in my bosom. Among these, is +one of the sacred books of the faith for which I am to die, and I would +fain have it placed in the hands of one to whom I know it will be dearest +of all for the sake of that which it contains; but, I hope, dear also for +the sake of him that bequeaths it. Will you seek out a certain Roman lady, +and undertake to give into her own hands, in secret, the scroll which I +shall give you?"--"I will do my endeavour," said I; "and if I cannot find +means to execute your command, I shall destroy the book with my own hands +before I quit Rome--for my stay here is uncertain."--"If you cannot find +means to do what I ask safely," he replied, "I do not bid you destroy the +book--_that_ is yours to do with as it shall seem good to you--but I conjure +you to read it before you throw it away. Nay, even as it is, I conjure you +to read it before you seek to give it to her whose name I shall +mention."--"Old man," said I, "almost I believe that I already know her +name, and more besides. If it be so that I have conjectured aright, be +assured that all you ask shall be fulfilled to the letter; be assured +also, that I would die with you to-morrow, rather than live to be the +cause or instrument of any evil thing to her that but now visited you in +your dungeon."--"Alas!" cried the old man, starting up, "lay not this also, +O Lord! upon my head. Let the old bear witness--but let the young be +spared, to serve thee in happier years upon the earth!"--"Be not afraid," +said I, "if it was Athanasia, no one suspected it but myself; and I have +already told you that I would die rather than bring evil upon her head." + +"Yes," he answered, after a pause--"it was, indeed, Athanasia. Who is it +but she that would have left the halls of nobles, and the couches of +peace, to breathe at midnight the air of a dungeon, that she might solace +the last moments of a poor man, and, save the bond of Christ, a stranger! +But if you have known her before, and spoken with her before, then surely +she must indeed be safe in your hands. You know where she dwells--that I +myself know not. Here is the scroll, from which that noble maiden has +heard my humble voice essay to expound the words of eternal life. I charge +you to approach her with reverence, and give into her own hands my dying +bequest; yet, as I have said, deliver it not to her till you have yourself +read what it contains."--"Christian," said I, placing the writing in my +bosom, "have no fear--I will read your book, and ere two nights have gone +over my head, I shall find means to place it in the hands of Athanasia; +and now, farewell."--"Nay, not yet for the last time. Will you not come in +the morning, and behold the death of a Christian?"--"Alas!" said I, "what +will it avail that I should witness the shedding of your blood? The Prince +may have reason to regard you as an offender against the state; but I have +spoken with you in your solitude, and know that your heart is noble. Would +to Heaven, that by going thither I could avert your fate!"--"Methinks, +sir," he replied, "it may be weakness--but yet methinks it would give me +some farther comfort in my death, to know that there was at least one +Roman there, who would not see me die without pity; and besides I must +have you constrain yourself, that you may be able to carry the tidings of +my departure. Her prayers will be with me, but not her eyes. You must tell +Athanasia the manner of my death."--"For that cause," said I, "I will +constrain myself, and be present in the Amphitheatre."--"Then, farewell," +said he; "----and yet go not. In whatsoever faith you live,--in whatsoever +faith you die, the blessing of an old man and a Christian can do you no +harm." So saying, the old man stood up, and leaning his hand on my head as +I sat, pronounced over me a blessing which I never shall forget. "The Lord +bless thee--the Lord enlighten thy darkness--the Lord plant his seed in thy +kind heart--the Lord give thee also to die the death of a Christian!" + +When he had said so, he sat down again; and I departed greatly oppressed +in spirit, yet feeling, I know not how or why, as I would rather have lost +many merry days, than that dark and sorrowful hour. The soldiers in the +guard-room were so much engaged in their different occupations, that they +heeded me not as, dropping my borrowed habiliments, I stept silently to +the gate; and I was soon out of sight of their flaming watch-fires, and +far from the sounds of their noisy mirth. + + + + + _CHAPTER IX._ + + +The Roman streets were totally silent and deserted. It was the first time +that I had been in the presence of a human being, foreseeing distinctly, +and quietly waiting, the termination of his mortal existence, and I could +not help asking of myself, how, under similar circumstances of terror, I +should have been able to sustain my spirits?--to what resources I should, +in such a moment, look for the support which seemed to have been +vouchsafed so abundantly to this old man; by what charm, in fine,--by what +tenet of philosophy, or by what hope of religion,--I should, in the midst +of life, be able to reconcile myself to a voluntary embrace of death! To +avoid disgrace, indeed, and dishonour, said I, I think I could be Roman +enough to dare the worst; but this poor man is willing to die, rather than +acknowledge, by one offering on the altar, the deities in whose worship +all his Greek ancestors have been trained; yet who, except perhaps a few +obscure individuals that have adopted the same new superstition, would +think this man dishonoured by returning to the religion of his fathers? +Deep, indeed, must be his conviction of the truth of that which he +professes to believe--serious indeed must be his faith, and high his trust. +What if, after all, his faith should be true, and his trust wise? And the +gentle Athanasia!--She too a Christian! Might not this mystery be hereafter +explained to me by her lips? + +Musing and meditating thus, it was no wonder that I, who knew so little of +Rome, should have soon wandered from the straight way to the home of my +kinsman. But that I at last caught, at the turning of a street, a glimpse +of the Flavian Amphitheatre, which I had before passed on my way from the +feast of Rubellia, I might, perhaps, have wandered long. I had some notion +how that grand edifice was situated with respect to the house of Licinius, +and therefore moved towards it immediately, intending to pass straight +down from thence into the Sacred Way. But when I came close to the +Amphitheatre, I found that, surrounded on all sides by a city of sleep and +silence, that region was already filled with all manner of noise and +tumult, in consequence of the preparations which had begun to be made for +the spectacles. The east hardly yet indicated dawn; but the torches and +lanterns of workmen and artificers were in motion every where. On one +side, the whole way was blocked up with a throng of waggons; the +conductors, almost all Ethiopians and Numidians, lashing each other's +horses, and exchanging, in their barbarous tongues, outcries of wrath and +execration. The bellowings that resounded from any of the waggons, which +happened to be set in motion amidst the throng, intimated that savage +beasts were confined within them; and when I had discovered this, and then +regarded the prodigious multitude of the vehicles, I cannot say what +horror came over me at thinking what cruel sights, and how lavish in +cruelty, were become the favourite pastimes of the most refined of +nations. I recognized the well-known short deep snort of the wild boar, +and the long hollow bark of the wolf; but a thousand fierce sounds, +mingled with these, were new to my ears. One voice, however, was so grand +in its notes of sullen rage, that I could not help asking a soldier, who +sate on horseback near me, from what monster it proceeded. The man +answered, that it was a lion; but then what laughter arose among some of +the rabble, that had overheard my interrogation; and what contemptuous +looks were thrown upon me by the naked negroes, who sate grinning in the +torch-light, on the tops of their carriages! Then one or two of the +soldiers would be compelled to ride into the midst of the confusion, to +separate some of these wretches, fighting with their whips about +precedence in the approach; and it seemed to me that the horses could not +away with the strong sickly smell of the wild beasts; for they would +prance, and caper, and rear on end, and snort as if panic-struck, and dart +themselves towards the other side; while some of the riders were thrown +off in the midst of the tumult, and others, with fierce and strong bits, +compelled the frightened or infuriated animals to endure the thing they +abhorred--in their wrath and pride forcing them even nearer than was +necessary. In another quarter, this close-mingled pile of carts and horses +was surmounted by the enormous heads of elephants, thrust up into the air, +some of them with their huge lithe trunks lashing and beating (for they, +too, as you have heard, would rather die than snuff in the breath of these +monsters of the woods,) while the tiara'd heads of their riders would be +seen tossed to and fro by their contortions. What a cry of cursing, what +cracking of whips and cords, what blowing of horns, and whistling and +screaming; and all this mixed with what roaring and howling from the +savage creatures caged in darkness! + +I went, however, for a moment, into the Amphitheatre, by a little +side-way, where admission was cheaply obtained. Here, as yet, all things +were in order, for the hour had not yet come for giving the wild beasts +entrance to the huge dens prepared for them. A few carpenters only were +seen in one corner, erecting a sort of low stage, and singing merrily, of +whom, when I made inquiry concerning the purpose of that erection, one of +these fellows also began to jeer; "Whence come you, good sir, that you do +not know a common scaffold when you see it? It is surely not the first +time that a Christian has had his head chopped off in the Flavian?"--"By +Pluto, I am not so sure about that matter," quoth another. "I don't know +whether any of the dogs were ever beheaded here or not; if they have been, +I can only say it was better than they deserved."--"There spoke a true +man," cries a third. "No, no; keep beheading for Romans--let citizens have +their own. Things are come to a pretty pass, when they shew us nothing but +tigers against tigers. By Jove, I would rather see one of those +misbelieving Atheists set right before the mouth of a true Getulian lion's +cage, and hear his bones cracked ere all be over,--I say, I would rather +see that, than fifty of your mere beast fights."--"After all," rejoined the +first, "it must be allowed that our Caesar had a fine eye for the +Amphitheatre."--"Who doubts it?" says the other. "Rome has never seen any +thing that deserved to be called a show, since he was killed by sneaking +traitors. They say, Nero was still better at that sort of work; but 'let +the skinless Jew believe,' as the saying is. I desire to see no better +sport than Domitian gave us the very week before his death. We shall never +live to see his like again!"--"Come, boys," rejoins one of the rest; "no +despairing! I had begun to think that these good princes, as they call +them, would never shew us a bit of real sport again. Here, now, is at +least something. Who can tell what may follow? and, besides, if the worst +come to the worst, we shall still have lions against lions, tigers against +tigers, Dacians against Dacians, and now and then a Jew or a Christian, or +whatever you please to call him, exhibited _solus_ on such a stage as +this. Come, come, don't make matters worse than they are." + +The ruffians shewed that they knew well enough I was displeased, and I +half regretted, as I strode away from them, the want of that Praetorian +helmet, which would have preserved me from the insolence of their mirth. +However, I was well pleased to gain a distance at which I could no longer +be troubled with them, and walked with rapid steps along the wide streets, +over which morning was now beginning to shine; while the air, agitated +with a quick breeze, refreshed my cheeks and temples--of which I had need, +being heated with the glare and noise, and, perhaps, faint, too, after the +manner of the young, from want of sleep. + +I was admitted into the house by Dromo, who seemed to have been looking +out for me; for he opened the door almost before I had time to knock at +it. He regarded me as I entered with a very cunning face; insomuch, that I +comprehended without difficulty, he believed me to have spent the night in +some scene of debauch; but he, nevertheless, attended me, without saying a +word, into my chamber. He then assumed a countenance of great reflection, +and advised me, with much appearance of friendly concern, to go to bed, +even although I could not stay long there; "because," said he, "you will +feel much fresher when you get up; and let me tell you, you must be up +early, for I have already been with Licinius, who intends to send Sextus +with a present to Rubellia immediately after breakfast; and you may be +sure he will insist on your company, for he can do nothing without you. +Ah! had it not been for a certain pretty creature, the young gentleman +would not, I am confident, have permitted you to be going the rounds in +this way by yourself. But I take it something amiss, and shall tell him +so, that he did not depute me (who am not particularly enamoured just at +present) to go with you, and take care of your safety. I only wonder how +you have got home so well as it is."--"Indeed," said I, "good Dromo, I +cannot help wondering a little at that myself--for I have been all through +the city, and lost my way half-a-dozen times over, and yet here you see I +am."--"The more reason," quoth the slave, "that you should send some little +offering to Mercury's Temple over the way, in the morning--a few sesterces +will be sufficient--and if you have no objections, I shall willingly take +care of them for you. Mercury is the guardian of all that travel about in +the dark; and besides, he is the special patron of love expeditions. But +to say the truth, you are not the only person that owes a gift to that +shrine; for the worthy sage--Xerophrastes--he, too, has been a +night-wanderer--and he has not yet come in. I have my doubts whether, when +he does so, he will be as sober as you are; but I must take care to be at +my post, and admit him in silence, for the time is not yet come to uncloak +his doings. Trust me, this is not the only vagary I have set down to his +account--all in good time. But what says my master Valerius, touching the +offering to the great God Hermes?" + +I saw, by the knave's face, that it was necessary the sesterces should be +forthcoming. "Here they are," said I, "good Dromo; and remember, that +although Mercury, among other things, is the god of thieves also, he will +not be well pleased if you curtail his offering." "Never mind," answered +the varlet, as he was shuffling out of the room, "Mercury and I understand +each other of old. Go to bed, and try to get a little of your own old +British red into your cheeks again; for Licinius has a hawk's eye, and +will be sure to have his suspicions, if he sees you come down with such a +haggard look. Remember you have not a beard to cover half your face, and +all your iniquities." + +So saying, he left me to my couch, indeed, but not to slumber; for busy +thoughts kept me broad awake, till, after the lapse of perhaps an hour, +young Sextus entered my apartment, already arrayed with more than usual +elegance, to execute, however unwillingly, the message of his father. He +had in his hand a small casket of open ivory-work, which he flung down on +my bed, saying, "Get up, dear Valerius, and save me at least from the pain +of going alone with these gewgaws. Would to Heaven my father would marry +her himself, and then I should have no objection to carry as many caskets +as he pleases. But do you get up and assist me; and as we go along, you +shall tell me what you have seen and heard in company with your jovial +Praetorian." + +I was soon ready, and ascended, along with my young friend, the chariot +which Licinius had commanded to be ready. I told him, as we glided through +the streets, as much as I judged expedient; and, in particular, when I +perceived that our charioteer was making a circuit, in order to avoid the +neighbourhood of the Amphitheatre, I could not help expressing to him the +effect which had been produced in my mind, by my casual inspection of the +preparations. "I am afraid, then," said he, "that you will scarcely be +willing to witness the exhibition itself; and yet I would fain have you to +overcome your aversion, both because, whatever you may think of such +things, it is not fitting that you should go from Rome without once, at +least, seeing how they are conducted; and more particularly, because I +much suspect Rubellia intends to be present at the festival--in which case +I should be sorry to be compelled to attend upon her without you; and as +to leaving her at the gate of the Amphitheatre, that, you know, would be +quite impossible, unless I wished openly to contradict the wishes of my +father." + +I assured him he should not want any comfort my presence could afford him; +although not without, at the same time, expressing my astonishment that he +should consider it at all probable that his dainty Rubellia would choose +to sit among the spectators of an exhibition so abounding in circumstances +of cruelty, and, as I had understood, forbidden to her sex. "Nay," +answered he, "laws and edicts are made to be broken in such cases; and as +for the cruelty of the scene, there is scarcely a lady in Rome that would +be more scrupulous on that head than my widow. To tell you the truth, one +of the things that makes me most unwilling to go, is the fear that +Sempronia also may be there; and, perhaps, when she sees me with Rubellia, +give credence to some of the reports which have been circulated (not +without my father's assent, I think, if all were known,) about this odious +marriage, which I swear to you shall never take place, although Licinius +were to drive me from his door, and adopt a stranger."--"Sextus," I made +answer, "if Sempronia thinks there is any thing serious between the widow +and you, she must think you a pretty rascal, for the violent love you made +to herself at the Villa. But I am sure she will easily perceive, by your +countenance, that you do not regard Rubellia, handsome as she is, with any +extraordinary admiration; whereas--if you were not conscious of it, I am +sure she must have been so--there was never a face of more passionate love +than yours, all the time you were in _her_ company. And, even now, the +very mention of her name calls a glow into your cheeks,--yes, and even into +your eyes,--that I think would flatter Rubellia, could she excite such +another, more than all the jewels of all the caskets your father will ever +send."--"Distract me not, O Valerius!" said the youth,--"distract me not +with speaking of that too lovely, and, I fear, too scornful girl. Do you +not perceive that we have at last struck into the Suburra, and are quite +near to Rubellia's house?"--"It is so," said I, looking out of the +carriage, "and I suspect you are right in thinking she means to be present +at the Amphitheatre, for there is a crowd of urchins about her gate, and I +perceive a brilliant group of equipages has attracted them. She purposes +to go in all her splendour."--"Good Heavens!" replied he, "I believe all +the world is to be there. I never passed so many chariots; and as for the +rabble, see what a stream of heads continues pouring down out of every +alley. My only hope is, that Rubellia may arrive too late for the best +situations, and perhaps disdain to witness the spectacle from any inferior +part of the Amphitheatre; and yet she must have interest, no doubt, to +have secured good accommodation beforehand." + +We were just in time to meet Rubellia stepping from her portico with a gay +cluster of attendants. On seeing us, however, she beckoned with her +finger, and said, "Oh, are you come at last? Well, I must take Valerius +with myself, for I insist upon it that I shall be best able to point out +what is worthy of his notice; and you, Sextus Licinius, come you also into +my chariot; we will not separate you from your Orestes." She said so with +an air of sprightly ease and indifference, and sprung into the carriage. +An elderly lady, with a broad merry face, went into it also, but there was +still room for Sextus and myself; and the rest of the party followed in +other vehicles that were waiting. + +The crowd by this time had so accumulated, that our horses could not +advance but at leisurely pace; but the noise of the multitude as they +rushed along, and the tumult of expectation visible on every countenance, +prevented us from thinking of any thing but the festival. The variety, +however, and great splendour of the equipages, could not but attract my +attention. Now it was an open chariot, drawn by milk-white Thessalian +horses, in which reclined some gorgeous female, blazing with jewellery, +with a cluster of beautiful boys or girls administering odours to her +nostril; and perhaps some haughty Knight or Senator now and then offering +the refreshment of his flattery. Then, perhaps, would come rumbling along, +a close clumsy waggon, of the old-fashioned matronly sort, stuck full with +some substantial plebeian family--the fat, comfortable-looking citizen, and +his demure spouse, sitting well back on their cushions, and having their +knees loaded with an exulting progeny of lads and lasses, whose faces +would, every now and then, be thrust half out of the window, in spite of +the mother's tugging at their skirts. And then, again, a cry of "Place, +place," and a group of lictors, shoving every body aside with their rods, +before the litter of some dignified magistrate, who, from pride or gout, +preferred that species of motion to the jolting of a chariot. Such a +portly person as this would soon be hurried past us, but not before we had +time to observe the richness of the silken cushions on which he lay +extended, or the air of majesty with which he submitted himself to the fan +of the favoured freedman, whose business it was to keep those +authoritative cheeks free from the contamination of common dust and flies. +Anon, a jolly band of young gallants, pushing their steeds along, to not a +few of whom the fair Rubellia would vouchsafe her salutation. But wherever +the carriage was stopped for an instant, it was wonderful to see the +number of old emaciated men, and withered hags, that would make their way +close up to the windows, imploring wherewithal to obtain a morsel. The +widow herself leaned back on these occasions, as if to avoid the sight; +but she pointed to a bag of small coin that hung in a corner of the +chariot, and from it Sextus distributed to the one side, and I to the +other; and yet it was impossible to give to every one; we were surrounded +all the way with a mingled clamour of benedictions from those that had +received, and execrations from those that had got nothing, and noisy +ever-renewed solicitations from that ever-swelling army of mendicants. At +last, however, we arrived in safety at the western gate--the same around +which I had, the night before, witnessed such tumultuous preparation. One +of the officers in waiting there, no sooner descried the equipage, than he +caused a space to be laid open for its approach, and himself advanced to +hand Rubellia into the interior, but she whispered to Sextus and me, by no +means to separate from her in the crowd. + + + + + _CHAPTER X._ + + +Behold me, therefore, in the midst of the Flavian Amphitheatre, and +seated, under the wing of the luxurious Rubellia, in a very convenient +situation. There was a general silence in the place, because proclamation +had just been made that the gladiators, with whose combats the exhibition +was to commence, were about to enter upon the arena, and shew themselves +in order to the people. As yet, however, they had not come forth from that +place of concealment to which so many of their number would never return; +so that I had leisure to collect my thoughts, and survey for a moment, +without disturbance, the mighty and most motley multitude, piled above, +below, and on every side around me, from the lordly senators, on their +silken couches, along the parapet of the arena, up to the impenetrable +mass of plebeian heads which skirted the horizon, above the topmost wall +of the Amphitheatre itself. Such was the enormous crowd of human beings, +high and low, that when any motion went through their assembly, the noise +of their rising up or sitting down might be likened to the sullen roaring +of the sea, or the rushing of a great night-wind in a forest. Not less +than eighty thousand human beings, they told me, were here met together. +Such a multitude could no where be regarded, without inspiring a certain +indefinable sense of majesty; least of all, when congregated within the +wide sweep of such a glorious edifice, and surrounded on all sides with +every circumstance of ornament and splendour, befitting an everlasting +monument of Roman victory and imperial munificence. Judge, then, with what +eyes all this was surveyed by me, who had but of yesterday emerged from a +British valley--who had been accustomed all my life to consider as among +the most impressive of spectacles, the casual passage of a few scores of +legionaries through some dark alley of a wood, or awe-struck village of +barbarians. + +Trajan himself was already present--his ivory chair distinguished only by +its canopy from that of the other Consul who sate over against him; tall +and majestic in his demeanour; grave, sedate, and benign in countenance, +as you have seen in his medals and statues. He was arrayed in a plain +gown, and appeared to converse quite familiarly, without affectation of +condescension, with such Patricians as had their places near him; among +whom Sextus and Rubellia pointed out many remarkable personages to my +notice; as Adrian, afterwards emperor; Pliny, the orator, a man of courtly +presence, and lively, agreeable aspect; and, above all, the historian +Tacitus, the worthy son-in-law of our Agricola, in whose pallid +countenance I could easily recognize the depth, but sought in vain to +discover any traces of the sternness of his genius. Of all the then proud +names that were whispered into my ear, could I recollect or repeat them +now, how few would awaken any interest in your minds! Those, indeed, which +I have mentioned, have an interest that will never die. Would that the +greatest and the best of them all were to be remembered only for deeds of +greatness and goodness! + +The proclamation being repeated a second time, a door on the right hand of +the arena was laid open, and a single trumpet sounded, as it seemed to me, +mournfully, while the gladiators marched in with slow steps, each +man--naked, except being girt with a cloth about his loins--bearing on his +left arm a small buckler, and having a short straight sword suspended by a +cord around his neck. They marched, as I have said, slowly and steadily; +so that the whole assembly had full leisure to contemplate the forms of +the men; while those skilled in such business were fixing, in their own +minds, on such as they thought most likely to be victorious, and laying +wagers concerning their chances of success, with as much unconcern as if +they had been contemplating irrational animals, or rather, indeed, I +should say, so many pieces of ingenious mechanism. The diversity of +complexion and feature exhibited among these devoted athletes, afforded at +once a majestic idea of the extent of the empire, and a terrible one of +the purposes to which that wide sway had often been made subservient. The +beautiful Greek, with a countenance of noble serenity, and limbs after +which the sculptors of his country might have modelled their symbols of +graceful power, walked side by side with the yellow-bearded savage, whose +gigantic muscles had been nerved in the freezing waves of the Elbe or +Ister, or whose thick strong hair was congealed and shagged on his brow +with the breath of Scythian or Scandinavian winters. Many fierce Moors and +Arabs, and curled Ethiopians, were there, with the beams of the southern +sun burnt in every various shade of swarthiness upon their skins. Nor did +our own remote island want her representatives in the deadly procession, +for I saw among the armed multitude--not surely without some feelings of +more peculiar interest--two or three gaunt barbarians, whose breasts and +shoulders bore uncouth marks of blue and purple, so vivid in the tints, +that I thought many months could not have elapsed since they must have +been wandering in wild freedom along the native ridges of some Silurian or +Caledonian forest. As they moved around the arena, some of these men were +saluted by the whole multitude with noisy acclamations, in token, I +suppose, of the approbation wherewith the feats of some former festival +had deserved to be remembered. On the appearance of others, groans and +hisses were heard from some parts of the Amphitheatre, mixed with +contending cheers and huzzas from others of the spectators. But by far the +greater part were suffered to pass on in silence;--this being in all +likelihood the first--who could tell whether it might not also be the last +day of their sharing in that fearful exhibition! + +Their masters paired them shortly, and in succession they began to make +proof of their fatal skill. At first, Scythian was matched against +Scythian--Greek against Greek--Ethiopian against Ethiopian--Spaniard against +Spaniard; and I saw the sand dyed beneath their feet with blood streaming +from the wounds of kindred hands. But these combats, although abundantly +bloody and terrible, were regarded only as preludes to the serious +business of the day, which consisted of duels between Europeans on the one +side, and Africans on the other; wherein it was the well-nigh +intransgressible law of the Amphitheatre, that at least one out of every +pair of combatants should die. Instead of shrinking from these more +desperate brutalities, the almost certainty of their termination seemed +only to make the assembly gaze on them with a more intense curiosity and +delight. Methinks I feel as if it were but of yesterday, when,--sickened +with the protracted terrors of a conflict, that seemed as if it were never +to have an end, although both the combatants were already covered all over +with hideous gashes,--I at last bowed down my head, and clasped my hands +upon my eyes. I had scarcely done so, when Rubellia laid her hand upon my +elbow, whispering, "Look, look, now look," in a voice of low, steady +impatience. I did look, but not to the arena: No; it was upon the +beautiful features of that woman's face that I looked, and truly it seemed +to me as if they presented a spectacle almost as fearful. I saw those rich +lips parted, those dark eyes extended, those smooth cheeks suffused with a +steadfast blush, that lovely bosom swelled and glowing; and I hated +Rubellia, for I knew not before how utterly beauty can be brutalized by +the throbbings of a cruel heart. But I looked round to escape from the +sight of her;--and the hundreds of females that I saw fixed with equal +earnestness on the same horrors, taught me, even at the moment, to think +with more charity of that pitiless gaze of one. + +At that instant all were silent in contemplation of the breathless strife; +insomuch, that a groan, the first that had escaped from either of the +combatants, although low and suppressed, sounded distinctly amidst the +deep hush, and being constrained to turn once more downwards, I beheld +that, at length, one of the two had received the sword of his adversary +quite through his body, and had sunk upon the sand. A beautiful young man +was he that had received this harm, with fair hair, clustered in glossy +ringlets upon his neck and brows; but the sickness of his wound was +already visible on his drooping eye-lids, and his lips were pale, as if +the blood had rushed from them to the untimely outlet. Nevertheless, the +Moorish gladiator who had fought with him had drawn forth again his +weapon, and stood there awaiting in silence the decision, whether at once +to slay the defenceless youth, or to assist in removing him from the +arena, if perchance the blood might be stopped from flowing, and some hope +of recovery even yet extended. There arose, on the instant, a loud voice +of contention; and it seemed to me as if the wounded man regarded the +multitude with a proud, contemptuous glance, being aware, without +question, that he had executed all things so as to deserve their +compassion, but aware, moreover, that even had that been freely vouchsafed +to him, it was too late. But the cruelty of their faces, it may be, and +the loudness of their cries, were a sorrow to him, and filled his dying +breast with loathing. Whether or not the haughtiness of his countenance +had been observed by them with displeasure, I cannot say; but those who +had cried out to give him a chance of recovery, were speedily silent, and +Caesar looking round, and seeing all the thumbs turned downwards, was +constrained to give the sign, and forthwith the young man, receiving again +without a struggle the sword of the Moor into his gashed bosom, breathed +forth his life, and lay stretched out in his blood upon the place of +guilt. With that a joyous clamour was uplifted by many of those that +looked upon it, and the victorious Moor, being crowned with an ivy +garland, was carried in procession around the arena by certain young men, +who leaped down for that purpose from the midst of the assembly. In the +meantime, those that had the care of such things, dragged away, with a +filthy hook, the corpse of him that had been slain; and then, raking up +the sand over the blood that had fallen from him, prepared the place, with +indifferent countenances, for some other tragedy,--while all around me, the +spectators were seen rising from their places, and saluting each other; +and there was a buzz of talking as universal as the silence had been +during the combat; some speaking of this thrust and that ward, and paying +and receiving money lost and won; some already discoursing of other +matters, as if nothing uncommon had been witnessed; while others, again, +appeared to be entirely occupied with the martial music which ever struck +up majestically at such pauses, beating time upon the benches before them, +or joining their voices with the proud notes of the trumpets and clarions. +Rubellia talked gaily with Sextus, inviting him to ridicule me with her, +for the strangeness of behaviour I had displayed. + +The sun, by this, had already mounted high in the heavens, and the glare +became so intolerable, that men could no longer fight on equal terms; +which being perceived, Caesar gave command to look after the wild beasts, +and, in the meantime, (for I heard his voice distinctly,) to give warning +to the Flamens that they should have their altar set forth. + + + + + _CHAPTER XI._ + + +Upon this, Trajan, with those immediately about his person, withdrew; but +Rubellia told me he had only gone to the Palatine by the subterraneous +path, for the purpose of taking some refreshment, and that there was no +doubt he would return in time to witness the rest of the spectacle. This +example, however, was followed in some sort by a great part of the +spectators, for some departed altogether from the Amphitheatre, while many +more were seen moving from place to place, crossing from one vomitory to +another, and paying their respects to different parties of friends, who +had occupied places at a distance from them during the combats. In the +meantime, servants of Trajan's household were observed giving directions +in the arena to a great number of persons, who afterwards began to +distribute baskets of dried fish, bread, and other eatables, among such as +chose to accept of them; while viands of a more costly description were +introduced among the wealthy, by slaves and freedmen of their own. Neither +were the bearers of water-jars idle, nor the street hawkers of fruit; +least of all, those whose traffic is in snow,--of whom, I believe, hundreds +were scrambling in all quarters over the benches, whistling shrilly, as is +their method, to announce the article in which they dealt. + +The Lady Rubellia was not one of those who would ever leave her friends +destitute of the means of refreshment on such an occasion as this; and +accordingly two or three of her household were soon with us, bearing jars +of sweet-meats, baskets of fruit, flasks of wine, with other appurtenances +of a luxurious collation. We had scarcely begun to taste of these things, +when our attention was attracted by some one striding, with great +activity, from one row of benches to another behind us, and looking round, +I discovered the rosy countenance of Sabinus, whose anxiety to join us +was, as I immediately suspected, the cause of this exertion. An ordinary +person would have sought some circuitous method of approach, rather than +attempt the sheer descent from one of the stone parapets which rose +immediately in our rear; but the brawny limbs of the Centurion shrunk not +from that adventurous leap, and, in a word, I soon found him seated beside +us, bowing and smiling to Rubellia with his usual mixture of boldness and +suavity. He delayed not from participation in her delicacies; but lifting +a goblet of Falernian, drank down, without stopping, till he could see the +foundation of its interior gold. His fingers also soon became acquainted +with the receptacles of fruit and confectionary; and I was half-inclined +to some suspicion, that he might perhaps have remained in his original +situation, had he not chanced to observe the slaves of Rubellia, as they +came up the vomitory, with their comely-looking, napkin-covered baskets +upon their heads. As it was, his arrival was acceptable, except perhaps to +Rubellia, who I thought looked as if she were not overmuch pleased with +the interruption his mirthful talk occasioned to the conversation on which +she had been endeavouring to fix the attention of young Licinius. + +For that, however, another interruption had been already prepared in +another part of the assembly, from which our Xerophrastes also had taken +cognizance of our position. There was such a crowd, however, immediately +below us, that I know not whether the philosopher would ever have been +able to make his way to the region where we sat, had it not been that we +heard his voice in disputation, and entreated those that opposed his +passage, if possible, to make room for him. The first glimpse we had of +his countenance, shewed us that the squeeze had been giving him serious +inconvenience, for the drops of perspiration stood visible on his bald +front. The persons whom he was addressing, however, seemed to listen with +such unconcern, that it was impossible not to feel somewhat displeased +with them, for treating so disrespectfully one whom his venerable aspect +might have entitled to more courtesy. In vain did he represent to them, +(for we heard his strong voice distinctly every now and then,) that it was +not for the sake of any personal ease or convenience he was desirous of +penetrating into an upper part. In vain did he reiterate "My pupil"--"my +disciple"--"my young scholar, Sextus Licinius"--"the son of Caius +Licinius"--"the son of the great orator Caius Licinius is there." In vain +did he enlarge upon the constancy of attention which philosophers owe to +those who are placed by the hands of parents under their superintendence. +No sooner, however, did Sextus and I begin to shew the interest we took in +his situation, than Sabinus raised himself up on the bench, and called +aloud on those that surrounded the Stoic, with a voice of much sternness +and authority, to let him pass immediately at their peril. + +Many eyes were forthwith turned towards us; and whether it were the +dignity and haughtiness of the Centurion's voice and attitude, or that his +garb alone gave him much weight in the assembly, the resistance was +relaxed, and Xerophrastes enjoyed an opportunity of almost entirely +recovering his usual serenity of aspect before he reached us. The first +thing he did was to accept of a cup which I held out to him, and then with +much courtesy did he thank us all, but most the Centurion, for the part he +had taken in working out his deliverance from the hands, as he expressed +it, of those inhuman and illiterate persons; "while you," he continued, +"brave warrior, have shewn that in your breast, as in that of +Epaminondas--of Alexander--and of your own Julius--the reverence of the +muses, and of divine philosophy, does not disdain to inhabit with the +ardour of active patriotism, and the spirit-stirring delights of Mars." + +"As for that," said Rubellia, with a smile, "all the world knows that +Sabinus is quite a philosopher--he was just beginning a very learned +harangue when we were attracted by your voice in the crowd; and you have +the more reason to thank him, because he was cut very unseasonably short, +in consequence of the distress in which we perceived you." + +"Most noble lady!" replied the Stoic, "you know not how much you have +delighted me; from the first moment, indeed, that my eyes rested upon the +countenance of your heroic friend, I suspected that he had subjected +himself to some other discipline besides that of camps. I saw the traces +of thought, lady--and serious contemplation. The mind can never exercise +its faculties, without conveying some symptoms of those internal +operations to the external surface of the visage. The soul can never +energize habitually, without betraying its activity in the delicacy and +acumen, which the more elegant and susceptible parts of the corporeal +frame acquire during those elaborate and mysterious processes of thought. +I saw, therefore, and suspected. But what thanks are not due to you, for +having so agreeably confirmed me in this happy suspicion! Of a surety, the +noise and tumult of the camp is not so well adapted for the theoretic or +contemplative life, as perfect leisure and retirement; yet, who shall +doubt that the soul of great energy can overcome all such disadvantages? +Who shall think that the spirit of Socrates did not eagerly philosophize +during the campaign he served?--Who shall say that the Stagyrite must have +suspended his acute, although imperfect investigations, even although he +had accompanied his royal pupil across the Hellespont, and attended all +the motions of his victorious army, instead of staying at home to teach +the youth of Greece?--Who, finally," said he, casting his courteous eyes +full on the Praetorian, "shall suspect but that this generous warrior has +been effectually advancing the growth of philosophic science, within his +own mind at least,--if not composing works, in his intervals of leisure, +destined hereafter to benefit and instruct the world, even although he may +have been attending the flight of the Eagle from utmost Britain to the +desert frontiers of the Parthian?"--"Nobody, indeed," replied the sportive +lady--"nobody, indeed, who has enjoyed any opportunity of being acquainted +with the Centurion, can have any doubt on that head.--Sabinus," she +continued, turning towards him, "what treatise are you at present engaged +with? Come, now, speak out, and truly;--are you still busy with your peri +tes Phuseos tou oistrou bakchikou,(1) that you were quoting from the other +night?--or are you deep in '_the delight of contemplation_?'--or----"--"Not at +all," quoth the Centurion, interrupting her; "I am only deep in _love_----" +Saying so, he laid his hand in a very tender fashion upon his breast, and +even, as I thought, began to throw a little sentiment into his eyes; but +he had no opportunity of going on with his speech, for Xerophrastes had no +sooner heard him utter the word _love_, than he immediately began to pour +out a new rhapsody. + +"Love!" quoth he; "Ha! love:--in good sooth, a noble subject, and one +concerning which not a few laudable treatises have been composed. Yet, +without question, much remains to be done in this matter; and I should be +most proud if the illustrious Sabinus would vouchsafe to me a perusal of +his speculations. Without question," he continued, "you have commenced +with a proper definition and division of the subject. You have +distinguished betwixt what is properly called _love_, and the other more +or less kindred affections, with which hallucinating writers have too +often committed the error of confounding it. You have described, in the +first place, the difference between it and the _Storge_ or natural +affection which parents have for their offspring--an affection in which not +a few of the irrational tribes appear (if physiologists may be trusted) to +be even superior to the human race."--"Hens, for example," quoth the +Centurion, with a face of infinite gravity.--"Even so--_hens_," continued +the sage; "an apt illustration.--I perceive, indeed, lady," whispered he to +Rubellia, "that you have not deceived me concerning the attainments of +this your noble friend.--Hens--a most acute illustration!--See you now, O +Sextus!" he went on, "it is not the characteristic of true philosophy to +despise those illustrations which are drawn from the affairs of ordinary +life, and the common surfaces of things. No: it is rather her part to shew +forth her own intrinsic excellence and splendour, by raising that which is +in itself low and customary, to unexpected dignity, by her methods of +felicitous application. See you, now, with what unexampled skill this +hero--this philosopher, I should rather say--may I presume to add, this +brother philosopher?--has illustrated the nature of love in this treatise +of his, by introducing the domestic habits of your common household fowl. +Such things should not pass unheeded by the young aspirants to learning, +because these, more than any other circumstances, may furnish them with +encouragement to proceed in their course, by shewing how many of the +materials of philosophy lie every where under the eyes of the most common +traveller of the path of life; and how assuredly it is the fault of the +individual himself, if he neglect the means of spiritual advancement, +which are sure to be afforded in whatever situation may chance to have +been assigned to him." + +"I beg your pardon for interrupting you," said Rubellia; "but Sabinus has +almost finished the grapes while you have been speaking; and I would only +just beg to suggest, that it is the fault of the individual, Xerophrastes, +if he neglects the means of corporeal refreshment, which may yet be +afforded to him by what remains in the basket." + +"Most kind lady," resumed he, "your benevolence is worthy of your +nobility.--But you know not how much the philosophy I have embraced, tends +to lessen the natural desire of man for such things as you allude +to--nevertheless," he continued, "I will not refuse to partake yet farther +of your bounty; for I have been sorely dealt with in the multitude, as +yourselves witnessed." + +So saying, he took hold of the basket, and began to feel in the bottom of +it, but found very little to his purpose; for, to say the truth, the rest +of the party had been almost as eager in their attentions to it as the +Centurion. A few slender bunches, notwithstanding, were still there, one +of which the philosopher thrust into his mouth, and the rest he concealed +beneath one of the folds of his huge mantle, until he should have made an +end of his criticism. Meantime, the natural language of the broad, jovial, +unreflective countenance of our worthy Centurion, seemed considerably at +variance from the notion of his attainments and pursuits, which this merry +lady had been instilling into the pedagogue. Rubellia herself, however, +appeared to enjoy the thing far more keenly than either Sextus or I; +insomuch, that I was afraid Xerophrastes would penetrate through the joke +she was playing off upon him, before he had given himself his full swing +in commendation of the Praetorian. But Sabinus, on his side, was, as it +seemed, of opinion, that he had already heard enough of such +disquisitions; for he had scarcely seen out the last cup of Falernian, ere +he began to give hints that he wished very much to descend into the arena, +for the purpose of observing the animals about to be exhibited, while they +were yet in their cages. Xerophrastes, however, even when he had heard him +signify this desire, appeared still to be resolved on considering him as +one of the philosophic order of mankind; for he at once offered to +accompany him, saying, that the visit was of course intended for the +gratification of some scientific curiosity, and that therefore he should +think himself culpable did he neglect the opportunity. + +"Come, then," quoth the good-natured Sabinus, "by all means prepare +yourself for the descent; but at least allow me to precede you, that there +may be no risk of untimely obstructions."--"Most assuredly, noble +Centurion," replied Xerophrastes, "in this, as in all things, I shall be +proud to be enumerated among your followers. My pupil, also," he added, +"and his friend, will no doubt accompany us, that they may benefit by our +discourse on whatever may be subjected to observation."--"Venerated +friend," said Rubellia, "would you leave the ladies by themselves in the +midst of the Amphitheatre? I hope Sextus Licinius, at least, will consider +our weakness, and remain for our protection." + +She laid her hand on my companion's arm, with a look which was decisive. +Her ancient crony whispered something about the impropriety of leaving +only one of the party to attend upon two females; but I took advantage of +her low tone to pretend ignorance of that hint, and rose with the +Centurion. + +"Go quickly," said Sextus, "for the interval must be well-nigh at an end; +and if those that have gone out begin to rush in again, you may have +difficulty in regaining your places."--"Give fear to the winds," quoth +Sabinus; "am not I with them, that know every lion-feeder in Rome? No +chance of the exhibition recommencing without my having sufficient +warning. It is not for nothing that I have lost and won so many thousand +sesterces in the Amphitheatre. Would to Hercules as much respect were paid +to experience every where else, as in the Arena to your true old Better. +Already, I perceive that half a dozen of those knowing characters down +below, about the entrances to the dens, have detected me. They must fancy +my purse is in a poor state indeed, when I don't seem to think it worth +while to take even a single peep at the cages. Come, worthy brother in +philosophy, and you, my fellow-voyager, let us be alert, lest we arrive +after Plataea." + +We obeyed with due alacrity, and, leaving the reluctant Sextus to his +fate, touched presently the margin of the arena. We had no sooner arrived +there, than an old skin-dried limping Numidian, with a bit of lion's hide +fastened round his loins--one who, from his leanness and blackness, had +very much the appearance of having been baked to a cinder, drew to the +Centurion, with many nods and significant grins of recognition. Sabinus, +on his part, seemed noways backward to acknowledge this acquaintance; but, +on the contrary, began to talk volubly with him in a strange sort of +broken dialect, chiefly composed, as I afterwards learned, of Punic +vocables. After this had lasted some minutes, he took Xerophrastes and me +by the hand, and seemed to introduce us to the Numidian, who then desired +us all to come down, and he would conduct us to a place where we should +see something not unworthy of being seen. About to follow these +directions, I felt my gown seized from behind, and looking round, observed +that it was my faithful Briton, who, from the heat and confusion of his +aspect, appeared not to have come thither without a considerable struggle. +Sabinus seeing him, said, "Ah! my old friend Boto, how have you come to +this part of the Amphitheatre? We must not leave you behind us, however: +Of a surety, you have never seen a lion--you shall descend along with your +master; and who knows but we may persuade Xerophrastes that you also are a +brother philosopher?"--"Most noble Centurion," replied the grateful slave, +"I saw you and my master from the very topmost bench, where I have been +sitting for these three hours with Dromo, and I was determined to draw +near to you, if it were possible. To go from this place up to yonder +quarter would perhaps be impossible; but it is never a very difficult +matter to go down in this world; so, saving your reverence, I trundled +myself over the benches, and when heads were in my way, I trundled myself +over them too."--"It is well, good Briton," quoth the Centurion--by this +time we had crossed the arena--"and now prepare to exercise your eyes as +well as you already have exercised your limbs; for know, that very near to +you is the abode of nobler animals than even your lord hath ever +observed." + +With this the African opened one of the iron doors edging the arena, and +having received some money, admitted us to the sight of a long flight of +marble steps, which appeared to descend into the bowels of the earth, far +below the foundation of the Amphitheatre. "Come along, masters," quoth he; +"we had better go down this way, for we shall have a better view of the +animals so, than on the other side. My master, Sabinus, will tell you all, +that old Aspar knows as much about these things as any Numidian in the +place."--"Indeed, since friend Bisbal is gone," quoth the Centurion, "there +is not another of these that is to be compared to you."--"Ah!" replied +Aspar, "Bisbal was a great man; there is not a feeder in Rome that is +worthy to tie the latchet of his sandals, if he were alive."--"Why, as to +that," said the other, "old Bisbal was very seldom worth a pair of sandals +worth the tying, when he was alive; but, come on, we have no great leisure +for talking now, and Aspar shall shew a lion with any Bisbal that ever +wielded whip.--Come on." + +We soon reached a large vaulted place, apparently below the Amphitheatre, +the sides of which were almost entirely covered with iron-gratings,--while +up and down the open space were strolling many strange groupes of men, +connected in different capacities with the bloody spectacles of the arena. +On one hand, we saw some of the gladiators, who had already been +combating, walking to and fro with restless and agitated steps, as if they +had not yet been able to recover themselves from the excitement into which +their combats had thrown them. Even of such as had been victorious, I +observed that not a few partook in all these symptoms of uneasiness; and +the contrast thus exhibited to the haughty mien of calmness they had so +lately been displaying, affected me with a strange sense of the irrational +and inhuman life these unhappy persons were condemned by folly or +necessity to lead. The blood had forsaken the lips and cheeks of others, +and from the fixed stare of their eyes, it appeared that their minds were +entirely withdrawn from every thing passing around them. Their limbs, so +recently nerved to the utmost show of vigour, were now relaxed and +unstrung, and they trod the marble floor with heavy and straggling feet. +But they that appeared to me to be in the most wretched state, were such +as, they told us, expected to be led forth shortly to contend with the +wild beasts, in whose immediate vicinity they were now walking. The +summons to battle with a human opponent calls into action the fierceness +and the pride of man; but he that has to fight with a beast, how should he +not be weighed down with the sense of mortal degradation; how should the +Reason that is in him not fill him, in such a prospect, with dispiriting +and humbling, rather than with strengthening and stimulating thoughts? +Howbeit, the Centurion, although the most good-natured of mankind, being +rendered from custom quite callous to these things, immediately entered +into conversation with some of those unfortunates, in a tone of coolness +and unconcern that shocked me the more, because it did not seem in the +smallest degree to shock them. Among other topics, he enlarged at much +length to one of them upon the best method of evading the attack of a +tiger. + +"Look ye now," said he, "there are some that are always for taking things, +as they call it, in good time,--these will be pointing their swords before +the creature makes his spring; but I have seen what comes of that, and so +has old Aspar here, if he would be honest enough to confess it. The true +way is to watch his eye when he is setting; let him fairly fix upon his +mark, and spring; but at the moment when he is taking his leap, then is +the time for the gladiator to start aside, and have at him with a +side-thrust. Your side-thrust is the only one I would lay an _as_ +upon."--"Yea," quoth the grinning Aspar,--"it was always on your cool steady +side-thrust, the moment he had sprung, that the great Bisbal used to stake +himself. Ha! ha! I was fond of the side-thrust in my day myself; but I got +a scratch once--witness my poor leg, masters,--and since then I am a poor +feeder."--"I was always clear for the side-thrust," quoth Sabinus. "I never +saw it fail but twice, and then, to be sure, the men died; but they could +have had no chance at all with the frontguard; and it is always +something," continued he, clapping one of the poor expecting gladiators on +the back,--"it is always something to have a chance. Be sure you try him +with the side-thrust, if it come to your turn to-day." + +The poor creature--he also was an African--lifted up his head on being so +addressed, and shewed all his white teeth in a melancholy attempt at a +smile; but said not a word in reply, and forthwith became as downcast as +before. But the Centurion took little or no heed of the manner in which +his advice had been received. He contemplated the man's figure for a +moment, as if to form some judgment concerning the measure of his +strength; and after doing the like in regard to some of his companions, +commanded Aspar to shew us where the prime lions of the day were reposing. + +The Numidian seized a long pole that was leaning against one of the +pillars of the vault, and led us to a certain part of the grated wall, +behind which was the den, wherein six monstrous Atlantic lions were kept. +I looked in upon them with wonder, and not without dread, through the iron +net-work of the doors. An imperfect gleam of light descended from above +upon their tawny hides and glaring eyes. They, like the gladiators, seemed +also to be preparing for the combat; but not like them in fear, nor in +cold dewy tremors; for the deprivation of food, which they had been made +to suffer in prospect of the exhibition, had roused all the energies of +their savage natures; insomuch, that a sulky and yearning rage seemed to +spread through every nerve and sinew of their gigantic frames, and to make +them paw their quadrangular prison with long and pliant strides. They +moved, however, as yet in total silence; so that Boto having fixed his +eyes upon them, took courage to approach the grate,--slowly, nevertheless, +and with a face that appeared to lengthen an inch for every inch he +advanced. But when he had almost touched the bars, one of the huge lions +came forward towards him, with something between a growl and a sigh, which +made Boto spring backward with great and surprising agility, and with such +force, that both he and Xerophrastes, who happened unfortunately to have +been standing a little way behind him, were overthrown at all their length +upon the floor. + +The Centurion, and the limping old keeper, burst into laughter; but +Xerophrastes rising, and shaking his garment, said, with some warmth, +"Think not, O Sabinus, that any sudden start of fear has thus ridiculously +stretched me upon the floor; but attribute the mischance only to this rude +offspring of British earth, whose unreclaimed natural feelings are still +shamefully affected by natural causes."--"Castor and Pollux," quoth the +Centurion,--"you take every thing too seriously, my friend."--"I take it not +seriously," replied he, with admirable gravity. "My philosophy forbids me +to do so; it has steeled me against externals."--"Has it so, in faith!" +rejoined the Centurion. "I think some of your equanimity is, in fact, +owing to the trifling circumstance, that you have in reality received no +injury whatever from your tumble. And as to steeling, let me tell you, I +think the iron in the grated door there is much better placed, than in the +bosom of a philosopher; for, in the door, it serves the purpose of +preventing all harm; but if these animals were once out, all the mental +steel of which you boast would not save every bone in your body from being +cracked in the twanging of a bow-string."--"You speak," replied +Xerophrastes, "as if you had embraced the tenets of a sect not worthy of +the lovers of wisdom--You speak as if the artificial contrivances of human +workmen were all in all. An iron cage may confine wild beasts; but can +cages be made for all those misfortunes to which mankind are liable, and +against which the force of the mind is their only means of defence? Can +you cage the Eumenides, when they come to avenge a life spent in ignoble +indolence and degrading luxury?"--"In truth," replied the Centurion with a +smile, "I have never seen the Eumenides except once, and that was in the +theatre of Athens. But Boto, perhaps, has been more fortunate. Did you +ever see the Eumenides, good Boto?" "No, master," replied, stupidly, the +perplexed Boto, "I never was at the theatre." + +"Ye gods!" exclaimed the Stoic, "of a surety this Britain must have been +the last spot rescued from the dominion of Chaos!" + +But while we were yet contemplating those enormous animals, and amused +with the awkward gestures of Boto, the trumpets were blown in the +Amphitheatre, and no sooner did the sound of them penetrate into the +vaults, than it was evident, from the bustle which ensued, that the +Emperor had returned to his place. With all speed, therefore, did we +reascend to the upper air, leaving the gladiators in the act of mustering +in their respective quarters of the gloomy vault; and the feeders not less +busied in preparing their beasts for the expected combat. Had we not been +under the protection of Sabinus, we should have attempted in vain to +regain our places; but he being an acknowledged and current authority, +known in every department of the Amphitheatre, the door-keepers, and other +functionaries, durst refuse him nothing; room was made for us where no +room appeared; and, in a word, we shortly found ourselves once more seated +by the side of Rubellia and Sextus. + + + + + _CHAPTER XII._ + + +The day was by this time considerably advanced; and, in spite of the +awnings spread all over head, the rays of the sun were so powerful, that +the marble benches felt hot to the touch, wherever they were exposed to +them; and altogether there was such a glare and fervour throughout the +place, that my eyes began to be weary of gazing; and very gladly would I +have retired, rather than remain to see out the rest of the exhibition. +Nevertheless, there was no appearance of any one having gone away in +weariness; but, on the contrary, the seats, and even the passages, seemed +to be more crowded than they had been in the anterior part of the morning. + +The arena was vacant, when I looked down upon it; but in a short time, a +single old man, who, as Rubellia told me, had, without doubt, been found +guilty of some atrocious wickedness, was led forth from a small wicket on +the one side, and presently his fetters being struck off, those that +conducted him retired, leaving him alone upon the sand. The eyes of this +malefactor refused at first to look steadfastly on the objects around him, +and it seemed to me that he had probably been long confined in some dark +place, so grievously did the dazzling splendour, reflected from the floor +and walls, appear to bewilder and confound him. Nevertheless, after a +brief space, he seemed in some measure to recover himself, and assumed a +posture of resignation, leaning with one hand against the parapet, as if +he needed support to uphold himself. Pallid and extenuated were the +outlines of the old man's visage, and his hair and beard exhibited not a +little of the squalidness attendant on long confinement; yet there was +something in the attitude, and even in the countenance, which made me +harbour the suspicion that he had not, at some former period, been +altogether unacquainted with the luxuries and refinements of social life. +The beauty, indeed, of the mould in which his form had originally been +cast, might, perhaps, have been the sole cause of these casual +demonstrations of elegance; yet it was impossible not to regard the man +with greater interest, by reason of the contrast suggested between what he +once perhaps had been, and what he now was. + +A feeling of the same sort seemed to pervade many more in the assembly; +and I heard a continual whispering among those around me, as if there was +a general anxiety to learn something of the history of the man. No one, +however, appearing to be able to say any thing concerning this, I kept my +eyes fixed upon himself, awaiting the issue in silence. Judge then, what +was my surprise, when one of the heralds of Trajan, having commanded that +there should be silence in the amphitheatre, said, "Let Tisias of Antioch +come forth, and answer to the things that shall be alleged against him." +To which the old man, that was alone in the arena, immediately made +reply,--"Here am I--my name is Tisias of Antioch."--In vain, however, even +after hearing the well-remembered voice, did I attempt to persuade myself +that the face was such as I had pictured within myself; for, as to seeing +it, I have already told you that utter darkness prevailed in the dungeon +all the time I was there with him. + +Then arose the Prefect of the city, who had his place immediately under +the chair of Caesar, and said in a voice, which, although not loud, was +heard distinctly all through the Amphitheatre,--"Tisias of Antioch, being +accused of blasphemy and contempt for the Gods, has been brought hither, +either to refute this charge, by doing homage at the altar of Jupiter Best +and Greatest; or, persisting in his rebellion, to suffer openly the +punishment which the laws have affixed to such perversity. Let him remain +where he is until the Flamens invite all to join in the sacrifice." + +Tisias, hearing these words, stept forth into the middle of the arena, and +folding his arms upon his breast, stood there composedly, without once +lifting up his eyes, either to the place from which the Prefect had +spoken, or to any other region of the Amphitheatre. The situation in which +he stood was such, that I commanded, where I sate, a full and distinct +view of every movement of the old man's countenance, and assuredly my eyes +were in no danger of being directed away from him. For a few moments there +was perfect silence throughout the assembly, until at length the same +herald made proclamation for the doors to be thrown open, that the priests +of Jupiter might have access. There was heard forthwith a noise, as of the +turning of some heavy machinery, and a part of the ground-work of the +arena itself appeared to be giving way, right over against that quarter in +which Tisias had his station. But of this the purpose was soon manifested, +when there arose from underneath into the space thus vacated, a wooden +stage, or platform, covered all over with rich carpetings, whereof the +centre was occupied by a marble altar, set forth already with all the +usual appurtenances of sacrifice, and surmounted on one side by a gigantic +statue of bronze, in which it was easy to recognize the features of the +great Phidian Jupiter. Neither had the altar any sooner made its +appearance there, and the sound of the machinery, by which its great +weight had been lifted, ceased to be heard, than even as the herald had +given command, the main gates of the Amphitheatre were expanded, and +thereby a free passage prepared for the procession of the Flamens. With +that, all those that were present in the Amphitheatre, arose from their +seats and stood up, and a sweet symphony of lutes and clarions ushered in +the sacred band to the place appointed for them. And, first of all, there +marched a train of fifty beautiful boys, and then an equal number of very +young maidens, all, both boys and maidens, arrayed in white tunics, and +having their heads crowned with oaken garlands, and bearing in their hands +fresh branches of the oak tree, which, above all the other trees of the +forest, is, as you have heard and well know, held dear and sacred to +Jupiter. Then these youthful bands were separated, and they arranged +themselves, the boys on the right, and the girls on the left hand of the +altar, some of them standing on the arena itself, and others on either +side, upon the steps of the platform whereon the altar was fixed; and +beautiful, indeed, was their array, and comely and guiltless were their +looks; and much modesty was apparent, both in the downcast eyes and closed +lips, with which some of them stood there to await the issue of their +coming, and in the juvenile admiration wherewith others of them were +regarding the wide and splendid assemblage around them; insomuch, that I +could not but feel within myself a certain dread and fearfulness, when I +saw the feet of so many tender and innocent ones placed there upon the +same hot and guilty sand, which had so often drunk the blood of fierce +beasts and cruel malefactors--alas!--which had drunk the blood of the +innocent also--and which was yet to drink thereof abundantly. + +And after them there came in the priests themselves of Jupiter, arrayed in +the white garments of sacrifice, walking two by two, the oldest and +principal of them coming last. And behind them again, were certain younger +assistants, clothed also in white, who led by a cord of silk inwrought +with threads of silver, a milk-white steer, without spot or blemish, whose +horns were already gilt, and his broad brows crowned with oak leaves and +roses. And last of all entered the Vestal Virgins, none of whom had ever +before been seen by me, and they also walked two by two; and no one could +contemplate without veneration the majesty of their demeanour. With broad +fillets were they bound around the forehead, and deep flowing veils hung +down to their feet, entirely covering their faces and their hands; +nevertheless, their dignity was apparent; and it was not the less +impressive, by reason of the great mystery in which all things about them +appeared to be enveloped. + +Imagine, therefore, to yourselves, how magnificent was the appearance of +all things, when youths and damsels, and priests and vestals, had taken +their places, according to the custom of their sacred observances; and all +that innumerable company of spectators yet standing up in the +amphitheatre, the choral-hymn was begun, in which every voice there was +united, except only that of Tisias the Christian. Now, it was the soft low +voices of the young maidens that sounded, and then these would pause, and +give place to the clearer and more piercing notes of the boys that stood +on the other side of the altar; then again the priestesses of Vesta would +break in from afar with their equable harmony; and anon these in their +turn ceasing, the Flamens of Jupiter would lift up their strong deep +chanting, until, at the appointed signal from him that stood on the +highest step of the altar, with the cup of libation in his hand, the whole +people that were present burst in and joined in the rushing stream of the +burden, "Jupiter,--Jupiter, hear us!--hear us, Father of Gods and men!" +while the wine was poured out, gushing red upon the marble, and the +incense flung on high from fifty censers, rolled its waves of smoke all +over the surface of the arena, and quite up to the gorgeous canopy of that +resounding Amphitheatre. Magnificent, indeed, was the spectacle, and +majestic the music; yet in the midst of it, how could I take away my eyes +from the pale and solitary old man, by reason of whose presence alone all +these things were so? With calm eyes did he regard all the pageantry of +those imperial rites,--with closed lips did he stand amidst all the +shouting multitudes. He bowed not his head; he lifted not up his hand; +neither would he bend his knee, when the victim was slain before the horns +of the altar; neither would he in any thing give semblance of being a +partaker in the worship. + +At length the song ceased, and there was a proclamation again for deep +silence; and the Prefect of the city, addressing himself once more to +Tisias, spoke thus:--"Impious and unhappy man, with great clemency have all +things been conducted as concerning thee. When, after long imprisonment, +and innumerable exhortations in private and in public, thou hadst always +rejected every means of safety, and spurned from thee the pardon of those +in whose hands thy being is placed, yet, notwithstanding of all thine +obstinacy and continual rebellion, was it determined, that, in the face of +all the people, thou shouldst once more have free grace offered to thee, +provided only thou shouldst, when all the assembly worshipped, join thy +voice with them, and bow thy head also toward the altar of Jupiter. +Nevertheless all that now hear me shall bear witness, that, with open and +visible contumacy, thou hast rejected this opportunity also of being +reconciled unto the prince and the empire,--that, when every knee bent, and +every voice was lifted up, thou alone hast stood upright, and thy lips +alone have been closed. If it be so, that, from some inflicted, rather +than voluntary perversion of mind, thou hast never yet been able to +understand the danger in which thou art placed, know now, that there +remains no hope at all for thee, except for a moment; and let the strong +fear of death open thine eyes, that thou mayst see where thou art, and for +what purpose thou hast been brought hither. Thou art a born subject of +Rome, and thy life can only be held by thee, in virtue of obedience to the +laws. These are clearer upon nothing, than the necessity that all men +should acknowledge the deities of Rome; and of good reason, since, if they +be despised, and their authority set at nought, by what means shall an +oath be ratified, or a pledge given; or how may the head, which counsels +and protects, be assured that the members shall not be lifted up against +it? Let silence remain in the assembly, and let Tisias of Antioch make his +election, whether he will give obedience, or suffer the penalty of +transgression." + +Then the Prefect, and all those round about Trajan, sat down, and there +was a deep silence throughout the lower region, where, for the most part, +they of condition were placed; but when the rabble, that sat above, beheld +the stern and resolute countenance with which the old man stood there upon +the arena, it seemed as if they were enraged beyond measure, and there +arose among them a fierce uproar, and a shouting of hatred; and, amidst +groans and hisses, there was a cry from innumerable voices of--"Christian! +Christian!--Blasphemer! Blasphemer!--Atheist! Atheist!--A tiger! A tiger!--Let +loose a tiger upon the Christian!" + +Nevertheless, the old man preserved unmoved the steadfastness of his +demeanour, and lifting up his eyes to the place from whence the tumult +proceeded, regarded the ferocious multitude with a visage, not of anger or +of scornfulness, but rather of pity and calmness; insomuch, that I +perceived the nobles and senators were somewhat ashamed of the outcry, and +the Prefect of the city arose from his place, and beckoned with his hand, +until the people were weary of shouting, and order was, in some measure, +re-established in the Amphitheatre. + +Then Tisias, perceiving that silence once more prevailed, lifted up his +hand, and bowed himself before Trajan, and the great men of authority that +were near to his chair, and said, with a firm clear voice, in the Roman +tongue, "My name, O Trajan, is Tisias--the son of Androboulos. I am a +native of Antioch, in Syria, and have in all things, except only in what +pertains to this cause, observed throughout all the years of my life the +statutes of the empire, as they, by whose accusation I have been led +hither, shall themselves be constrained to bear witness for me this day. +My father was a Greek of Macedonian extraction, being descended from one +of those that came into Syria beneath the banners of the great King +Seleucus; but he took to wife a maiden of the Hebrew nation, and in +process of time became a proselyte to the faith of her fathers. +Nevertheless, he lived in trust and honour beneath the governors appointed +by those that were before you in the empire, and brought up me and all his +children to reverence, in all things that are lawful, the authority of +Caesar. But as to the faith of the true God, whose worshippers ye blindly +and foolishly call atheists and blasphemers, from that he neither swerved +himself, nor would permit any of those that were in his household to +depart. Now, when he had been a dweller for some time in Jerusalem, the +great city of the Jews, he began to examine into those things which were +reported publicly concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who is also called the +Christ, of which things not a few that had been eye-witnesses were then +living in that city. And when he had been satisfied from their testimony, +that those miracles, of which you have all heard, were in truth performed +in the sight of the people by Jesus, and had listened unto the words of +their teachers, and saw how they proved that the old prophets of the +Hebrews had foretold those wonderful works, he perceived that Jesus of +Nazareth was indeed the Christ of God, and the great Deliverer that had +been promised to that people, even from the beginning of their nation. And +he believed on him with all his household; and I also, from a stripling, +have, although unworthy, been a Christian; for by that name were they +first called in Antioch, the city of my birth. + +"But being brought into trouble by reason of his religion, which the +rulers of the Jews abhorred, my father departed, after a time, from +Jerusalem, and dwelt with my mother in one of the villages of Palestine, +until his death. Not long after which time, the Jews rebelled against +Caesar, and the great war began, which terminated in the overthrow of +Jerusalem, and the utter ruin of their nation. Now, when Vespasian first +came with his army into those regions, I, being without employment in the +place where we had our habitation, and having, moreover, taken up a great, +and perhaps a sinful, wrath against the Jews, on account of the sufferings +which my father had undergone among them, and of the evils which, at their +hands, our whole household had sustained, joined myself to one of the +bands of Syrian auxiliaries; and although my mother entreated me, could +not be persuaded to refrain from following the camp of Caesar with them. Of +which thing it has often since then repented me, and in which, it may be, +I still hold myself not to have done altogether as was right; for if the +Jews had offended Caesar, it was, indeed, a reasonable thing that Caesar +should visit them with his vengeance; but, peradventure, it behoved not +any of them that were descended from the fathers of that people, to take +part in the warfare. Nevertheless, being then young, and, as I have said, +irritated by the sense of domestic injuries, I scrupled not to fulfil in +all things the duty of a soldier, and followed the eagles of Vespasian and +his son, even to the day when the lines were drawn around the Holy City; +and it was manifest, that the war could have no end, but in the eternal +overthrow of the power of the Jews. Neither did the length of the siege +weary me, or produce within me any sort of unwillingness; but, on the +contrary, so long as the city was beleaguered, I remained with the band in +which I had numbered myself, and did in all labours such service as my +strength would permit. Even among the soldiers that have guarded my +prison, since I was led into Rome for the sake of that accusation which +has been brought against me in the matter of my belief,--even among them, I +have seen the faces of some that were my comrades in that fierce war, and +that long beleaguerment, who also, if they be commanded, will not refuse +to bear testimony before you, that all these things are true, even as I +have said, and that I was a faithful soldier, both of Vespasian and of +Titus, unto the last. Neither, indeed, did I lay down arms immediately +when Jerusalem had been sacked, and the Temple burnt, according to the +prediction of Christ, but went with Caesar along the sea-coast, and was +present with him all through the journeyings he made in Egypt, even to the +day when he made his great festival at Alexandria, and crowned the Ox Apis +with his own hands, in the presence of all that people. On which day it +was, that, for the first time, I also was accused of being a Christian, +and at the command of Titus himself, was interrogated by one of the rulers +of the army. + +"Now with shame and confusion of face must I acknowledge, that on that day +I, from desire of life, forgot myself utterly, and being deserted of all +steadfastness, went up to the altar in presence of my judge, and offered +gifts there, whereon I was declared free of all blame; and even received +honour and commendation thereafter from them, on account of my services in +the war. But, from that day, my spirit sunk within me, and I knew not what +to do; I grew weary of all things, and determined to leave the band in +which I was serving, that I might seek out, if it were possible, the +habitation of my mother, and make atonement in secret for the wickedness +of which I, unhappy and fearful man, had been guilty at Alexandria. Being +absolved, therefore, from my oath of service, on account of the length of +time I had remained with the army, I departed from Egypt, and, after a +time, found out my mother where she was dwelling in the mountainous +country of Palestine, to the north of Jerusalem. In going thither, +however, I was constrained to pass by the place where I had so long lain +in your camp, O Romans! and to look with my own eyes on the sorrowful +desolation of that ancient city, where so many holy prophets of the +Hebrews had ministered, and so many great kings reigned in the days of the +old time, when their nation flourished, and was chosen and favoured of the +Almighty. And it was then, indeed, that I first began to repent me of +having been present in the host of Titus, and of having had a part in that +terrible destruction; to which, when I added the recollection of my own +miserable timorousness at Alexandria, great was my perplexity, and I fled +across the mountains with much speed, seeking in vain to fly from the +stings and unceasing torment of my own meditations, which nevertheless +continued ever more and more to sink into my spirit; insomuch, that when I +came into the place where my mother was dwelling, scarcely could she +recognize me, wasted and worn as I was with that perpetual misery of shame +and repentance. Without reproaches, however, and indeed with great +kindness, did she receive me into her habitation, even although, as I have +said, she had been much offended with me because of my going up to the +beleaguerment of the city of her fathers. But when I, being humbled, made +confession to her and her household, and to all the faithful that were in +that place, of the grievous sin whereof I had been guilty in Egypt, both +she and all the rest of them busied themselves continually to comfort me, +and to assure me that there was yet hope, if my repentance were sincere, +and my resolution immovable never again to yield myself to any similar +temptation. One of them also, that had been set apart to minister in holy +things among the scattered believers that dwelt up and down in that +region, came not many days after to the same place, and having publicly +heard my confession, admitted me once more to be a partaker with them in +the mysteries of the sanctuary. From which day, O Trajan! I have never +again been so far deserted of myself, as to fall back into that miserable +error, or by any cowardly word of mine, to deny the faith that is in me, +which is the faith of the True God that made heaven and earth, and of his +Son Jesus Christ, whom he sent into the world to teach loving-kindness, +and long-suffering, and patience, among all kindreds, and tongues, and +nations of mankind; and to make expiation, by the accursed death of the +cross, for the evil and the wickedness that is in the world. From which +faith, should I now depart, out of terror for that which, by your command, +may befal me in this place, of a surety no comfort could ever again come +to me in my mind, for I should be bowed down, and utterly miserable, out +of grief and shame; which as you yourself, O Caesar, will admit and +acknowledge, is far worse than death itself, or any evil which the body of +man can sustain. Neither could I have any hope of being reconciled unto +the True God, whom I should have so, once and again, denied; insomuch, +that neither in life nor in death should I be able to have any +happiness;--for in life, what happiness is there to him that is ashamed of +himself?--and, in departing from life, what comfort can be given to him, +that, knowing the truth, hath openly abjured the truth for the sake of a +few, at the utmost, and these most miserable and unhappy years? I am an +old man, and my near kindred and my friends are already dead, so that poor +after all, and not worthy to be mentioned, is the sacrifice on which I +have this day resolved. And as for you, O Romans, should I now make +shipwreck of my faith, and tell a lie to save my life before you, with +what contempt would yourselves be constrained forthwith to look upon me? +Whosoever is wise among you, according to the philosophy of the earth, +would utterly despise me; and whosoever is brave and steadfast of spirit, +would think foul scorn that a soldier of Titus should be so much afraid to +die. Therefore, O Trajan, am I resolved to endure all things rather than +sacrifice to your gods; and if such be your will, I will not refuse to die +for this cause, to which witness has already been borne in Rome by the +blood of holy Apostles, and other noble martyrs of Christ." + +The old man, having said these words, bowed himself once more reverently +before Trajan, and then folding his arms in his cloak, appeared to await +whatever might be appointed. Steadfastly did I look upon his face at that +moment, to see whether it might exhibit no trace of wavering, or at least, +if pride barred irresolution, whether, nevertheless, there might not +appear some token of natural sorrow, and human unwillingness to die; yet +in vain did I scrutinize and seek for any such symptoms of spiritual +weakness; for although it was visible that, with the exertion of so long +standing and speaking, to say nothing of thought and anxiety, his bodily +strength was much spent, still his eye preserved firmness, and his brow +remained serene; and the parched lips of the old man did not once betray +the least shadow of trembling. Methinks I see him even now, as he then +stood--his deep calm eyes sometimes turned upwards to Trajan, but for the +most part bent to the ground, beneath those gray brows of his, whose dark +shade rested upon his large solemn eyelids. Upon his broad front, as he +stooped, no hair appeared, but long hoary ringlets, clustered down on +either side, mingling with the venerable, although dishevelled beard, that +lay upon his bosom. Heroic meekness was enthroned visibly upon all his +lineaments, and a murmur began to run through the assembly, as if--even in +a Christian--it were not possible to contemplate such things without +admiration. + +But as they afterwards related to me--for I myself was not indeed +sufficiently attentive to it--Trajan, who had as yet, during all the +occurrences of the day, preserved unmoved the majestic serenity of his +countenance, when he observed this last movement in the spirit of the +assembly, began all at once to be very indignant, that such things should +occur in such a place, in consequence of the appearance merely, and the +language, of a culprit and a Christian. I confess it, that I was too much +occupied with gazing on Tisias, to have any leisure for remarking the +particulars of the deportment of any other person present--no, not even of +Caesar; yet such had been the effect produced on me by the history which +the old man delivered of himself, that I indeed was not prepared at the +moment to find the strong arm of power directed ruthlessly, and +immediately against him. At least, said I to myself, the Prince will +institute an inquiry among all those now present in the capital, who are +likely to be able either to contradict essentially, or to confirm, the +narrative in which this man has thought fit to embody his only defence. +Many years indeed have elapsed since the walls of Jerusalem were shattered +by the engines of Rome, and the golden gate of its antique temple refused +to be any protection against the furious soldiery of Titus. Yet surely not +a few of such as were present in that proud host, must be still in life; +yea, not a few of them must be now present in the capital of the world. +The old spearman, with whom I talked in the guard-room, and beside the +ramparts underneath which this Christian was imprisoned, he surely cannot +be the only witness that remains to give testimony. He at least there is, +and we shall forthwith have him at least confronted with Tisias. + +Such were my thoughts within me; judge, therefore, what was my +astonishment when I heard the trumpet sound, and perceived that its note, +without any word being spoken, was at once received as a sufficient +warning by the priests and the vestals, and the youths and the damsels, +and all those that had in any way been connected with the service of the +altar, to retire from the place whereon they stood, and leave the old man +there alone, to await the issue of his destiny. Immediately on the signal +being given by the trumpet, did all these begin to move away; but although +in silence they had at first marched into the Amphitheatre, they did not +retire from it in silence. Another hymn, on the contrary, in which also, +as it seemed, different parts were allotted for each different order of +singers, was begun to be sung by them even before they had moved from the +arena; and after the last of their procession had disappeared behind the +wide folding-doors of the Amphitheatre, we still heard their voices +chanting solemnly until they had entered the great Temple of Isis and +Serapis, which, as I have already said, stands over against it, on the +brink of the Esquiline. And while all were yet listening to their singing, +and to the harmony of lutes and other sweet-sounding instruments that +accompanied their voices, the slaves and other attendants removed every +thing from the arena, except only the altar and statue of Jupiter, which +were still left where they had been placed; insomuch, that ere they had +made an end of singing, and we of listening, the old man was left alone +there as at the beginning, when he first came forth. + +But just when deep silence once more prevailed, and expectation was most +intense concerning what should be at length commanded by Trajan, it fell +out so, that a little bald ape escaped through the bars of one of the +grated doors, which were along the boundary-wall of the arena, and leaping +forth upon the sand, began to skip up and down, challenging, by all manner +of foolish gestures, the attention of those that sate over against it, +leaning down from the parapet. And immediately certain painted courtezans, +that were sitting not far from thence, with gilded breasts and +bright-coloured garlands, and all other gorgeous trappings of the +degradation of harlotry, began to throw down apples and nuts to the +obscene creature, and to testify much delight in the grimaces with which +it received them, hopping to and fro, and casting them away, and then +catching them up again, with continual gibbering and prating; and no +sooner did the rabble that were above perceive these things, than they +all, as with one consent, began to applaud; so that the vaulted vomitories +and wide arches of entrance, and all the marble walls, re-echoed with +every wild sound of carelessness and merriment. While, in the meantime, +the African feeders and naked gladiators, and all those hangers-on of the +Amphitheatre, whom we had seen in the dark places below, hearing now the +sounds that had arisen among the assembly, began to shew themselves in +crowds from behind the same grated doors through one of which the monkey +had escaped, and to partake in the mirth of the spectators, and to whistle +upon the creature, and to excite it to new caperings, by their outcries +and jeerings. It seemed as if the minds of all present were entirely +occupied with the pranks of this brute; and that almost it was forgotten +amidst the tumult, not only for what purpose all that solemn and stately +pageantry had just been exhibited before them; but even that Tisias was +still standing there upon the same arena. + +For myself, who had never before looked upon any creature of this +disgusting tribe, and had gathered only some general notion of its +appearance from the treatises of the physiologists and the narratives of +travellers,--I could not, indeed, refuse to contemplate at first its +motions with some curiosity; but I knew not, after the scene had lasted +for a little space, whether to be more humbled within myself by the +monkey's filthy mimickings of the form and attitudes of mankind, or by the +display of brutish heartlessness, which burst forth from all that +countless multitude, while gazing on that spectacle of humiliation. + +But it was not until my eye fell again on Tisias, who stood all this time +solitary and silent amidst the hub-bub, that my sorrow and indignation +were the greatest. There stood the old man even as before, with his arms +folded in his gown, and his eyes resting on the sand before him, pale, +calm, and unmoved in his meekness, even as if his ears had not once +received any sound of all the shoutings and the joyous laughters of that +unpitying rabble, that had come there to behold him die. Once, indeed--it +was but once--I thought I could perceive that a slight emotion of contempt +wreathed for an instant his thin and bloodless lips; but it seemed as if +that were but the involuntary and momentary passing over him of one proud +thought, which he cast from him immediately, as a thing unworthy of the +resolute mind of his integrity, choosing rather to array himself in the +divine armour of patience, than to oppose, with any weapon of human +passion, the insults heaped upon his head by the cruel callousness of that +degenerate congregation of men. And, whether it were that the sight of all +this did not affect me alone with such reflections, or only that they in +authority were afraid too much of the day might be occupied with what +formed so unseemly an addition to the ordained business of the assembly, +while the uproar of mirth was yet at its height, certain of the lictors +that were about the consular chairs leapt down into the arena, and beat +the monkey back again among the feeders, and other base hirelings, that +stood behind the grated doors of which I have spoken. Whereupon there was +at once an end of the tumult, and the lictors having reascended to their +places, the eyes of all began once more to fix themselves upon the +Christian. + +And he also, when he perceived that it was so, and was sensible of the +silence that once more prevailed, it seemed as if he, too, were aware that +at last his appointed hour had come, and that he must needs prepare +himself in good earnest for the abiding of the issue. For, instead of +continuing steadfast in his place, as he had done during all the time he +had as yet been exposed there, it appeared as if now at length, being +swallowed up in the contemplation of the approaching fate, he had quite +forgotten all the rules he had laid down to himself concerning his +behaviour. Not that he now lost remembrance of the courage which hitherto +he had manifested, or even, that any the least symptom of changeableness +was made visible upon his countenance. But it seemed to me, of a truth, +that of such things as he had determined upon within himself before he +came thither, touching the mere external demeanour of his bodily frame, +the memory now, in this final moment of expectation, had somewhat passed +away; for Tisias stood still no longer on the centre of the arena; but +retaining his arms folded as they had been, and his eyes fixed upon the +sand, he began to pace rapidly to and fro, traversing the open space +whereon he alone now was, from side to side, without once looking up, or +exhibiting any token that he was conscious of the presence of any man. By +and by, nevertheless, in the deeper knittings of his brows, and in the +closer pressure of his extenuated lips, and then again in the quivering of +the nerves and muscles upon the arms and legs of the old man, as he moved +before us, it was testified how keenly the spirit was at work within; the +strong soul wrestling, it may be, with some last stirring temptations of +the flesh, and the mind itself not altogether refusing to betray its +sympathy with the natural shudderings of the body. But the moment that the +herald of Trajan commanded attention in the assembly, and that the Prefect +of the city began again to prepare himself for speaking, that moment did +the old man appear to return at once again entirely to himself; and he +fixed his eyes upon the Prefect with even the same steadfastness as when +he made his oration to Caesar. + +"By all the gods," whispered Sabinus at that moment, "this is a true +soldier of Vespasian and Titus. He will die for this superstition with the +constancy of a Roman."--"With all the constancy of a philosopher, say +rather," quoth Xerophrastes, who had overheard his whisper--"yea, with all +the constancy of a philosopher. Of a surety, there must be some lessons of +nobility in this faith of the Jews."--"Now, speak not, but look at the old +man," interrupted Rubellia; "the signal is given for the executioner." + +And I looked, and saw that the Prefect was standing up in his place, +immediately below the chair of Trajan, and immediately he began to speak; +and he said, first looking towards the people,--"Let there be silence, and +let no man stir in this place until this matter be ended." And then +addressing himself, as it seemed, to Tisias,--"With all patience," +proceeded he, "have the words which this man chose to utter in his +defence, been listened to; but it must be manifest to all men, that they +contain no shadow of apology, but rather afford the strongest confirmation +of all that had before been alleged. Instead of departing from his error, +or offering any extenuation of its magnitude, his words have tended only +to shew what was already well known to all that have had any dealings with +the adherents of this blasphemous sect; that their obstinacy is as great +as their atheism is perverse; and that no clemency can, without blame, be +extended to their wilfulness, and to the scorn wherewith they are resolved +to regard all things sacred. Nevertheless, inquiry has been made, and +confirmation has been given, by those who were present in the wars of the +Divine Titus, as to that which this man hath said concerning his own +service throughout the glorious campaign of Palestine, and the siege of +the city of the Jews. For which service, it hath seemed right unto Caesar, +Ever-Merciful, that no circumstance of needless shame be added to the +death by which this Christian must now expiate before all them who have +seen his contempt of the sacrifice of Jupiter, and heard his words of +blasphemy against all the gods, the guilt of which, it is manifest to all, +he hath been justly and necessarily accused. Let those, therefore, who had +been commanded to bring forth a tiger, depart now with their beast, and +let this man be beheaded before the Altar of Jupiter; after which, for +this day, the assembly will disperse; for, until the morrow, the spectacle +of the wild animals, which the Prince hath prepared, must be deferred." + +The Prefect made his obeisance again to Caesar, and sate down in his place, +and immediately one of the doors of the arena was flung open, and there +entered some slaves, bearing a wooden block upon their shoulders, behind +whom followed also certain ill-favoured blacks, out of the company of +African gladiators, one of whom carried bare in his hand a long and heavy +sword, the surface of which glittered brightly as he moved, as if newly +sharpened and burnished for the occasion. Seeing all which fatal +preparations, Tisias immediately flung aside the long cloak in which +hitherto his arms and all his body had been wrapped; and after regarding +those that had come in for a moment with a steadfast eye, he turned +himself to the place where the Prefect was sitting, as if he had yet one +word to say before he should submit himself to the sword; whereupon the +Prefect said,--"If the prisoner has yet any thing to offer, it is not too +late for mercy--Let him speak." + +"I have nothing more to offer, O Romans!" answered the old man, "as +concerning that of which I have spoken. But since already some favour has +been extended to me by reason of my services in the army of Caesar, perhaps +so neither will this be refused, that my body may be given to such as +shall ask for it, that it may be treated without indignity after my soul +is released." + +"It is granted," replied the Prefect.--"Is there any thing more?" + +The old man was silent. + +With that, the block being already fixed upon the sand immediately in +front of the Altar of Jupiter, one of the Africans moved towards Tisias, +as if to conduct him to the place where it behoved him to kneel; but he, +observing what was his intention, forthwith prevented him, and walked of +himself steadily close up to him in whose hand the sword was unsheathed. +Being come thither, he immediately took his station over against the +block, and having for a moment placed his hand upon his eyes, and moved +his lips, as it seemed, in fervent supplication, dropped his one knee on +the ground, and stretched forth his neck towards the block; but suddenly, +after he had done so, he sprung again upon his feet, and began to gaze +with a keen eye all around the assembly, as if he were in search of some +one to whom he had something yet to say. In vain, however, as it appeared, +did he make this endeavour; for after a little space, he shook his head +despairingly, and gave over the steadfastness of his look. Nevertheless, +he lifted up his voice, and, surveying once more the whole face of the +Amphitheatre round about, from side to side, said audibly,--"There is one +here who made last night a promise to me in my dungeon. I cannot see him +where he is; but I conjure him to take good heed, and execute, as he is a +man and a Roman, all those things which he said to me he would do." Now, +when I heard him say so, I well knew within myself that it was for me only +his eye had been searching, and half did I arise from my seat, that he +might see I was there, and observe my resolution to keep the faith I had +plighted voluntarily to him in his prison. But Sabinus, having watched my +earnestness in contemplating Tisias, and comprehending something of that +which was meant, held me firm upon the bench, whispering, "As you regard +me, Valerius, and as you regard your own safety, be still." + +Being thus constrained, I neither rose up, nor made any attempt to attract +the attention of Tisias--for which forbearance, I confess to you, I have +since that day undergone the visitation of not a few bitter thoughts--but +remained steadily in my place, while the old man once more addressed +himself to kneel down upon the block that was before him. Calmly now at +length did he kneel, and with much composure did he place himself. Yet, +before the gladiator was ready to strike, he lifted his head once again, +and gazed upwards for a moment towards heaven, with such a countenance of +faith and hope, that there went through all the assembly a murmur, as it +were, and a stirring breath of admiration. Then bowed he for the last time +his gray hairs, and almost before he had rested his neck upon the tree, +the strong sword of the African smote with merciful fierceness, and the +headless trunk falling backwards upon the sand, the blood spouted forth in +a gushing stream, and sprinkled all over with red drops the base of the +statue of Jupiter Capitolinus, and the surface of the marble altar, +whereupon the sacrifice of the Flamens had been offered. + +The executioner having made an end of his duty, wiped his sword from the +blood of the Christian, and advancing towards the seats of the +magistrates, claimed the largess that was due to him,--which when he had +received, as is the custom, he and all his attendants withdrew immediately +from the arena; the Emperor, at the same moment, and the Consulars, and +all they that were about him, departing also from the assembly; and the +whole Amphitheatre speedily being filled with the clamours of an universal +upbreaking and dispersion. + + + + + + _BOOK II. CHAPTER I._ + + +I saw, my friends, that you listened with not less of indignation, than of +astonishment, to the account which I yesterday gave you of a day spent in +the Amphitheatre of Vespasian. Neither did I expect that it should be +otherwise with young persons of ingenuous minds, whose feelings have never +been hardened by any experience of the life of Rome. + +And yet, when you reflect a little more upon the matter, I think you will +abate something of the wonder you manifested on hearing of the fondness of +the Roman people for some of those cruel, ruthful spectacles. You will +admit, at least, that there is a certain natural principle, on an +exaggerated and morbid obedience to which, rather than on any total and +absolute departure from the laws of our mind, much of that which excited +so much of your astonishment and indignation also may be supposed to +depend. In and by myself, I maintain it must always be a most interesting +thing for a man to witness, in whatever shape, the last moments of any +human creature. I mean not those merely corporeal struggles, in which +there must always be every thing to revolt, and nothing to interest, +because in them, it is evident, the nobler part of our nature can have no +share--the soul being already swallowed up, and its divinity absorbed in +the intense convulsions of animal suffering. These are things on which no +eyes can gaze willingly, without indicating degradation of spirit. But +before that curtain falls, beyond which every one must shudder to +penetrate, there is a last terrible act of the real tragedy, which must +ever have power to fix the eyes with an earnestness not the less deep, +because of its being preceded by some struggles of reluctance. We live in +a state in which, however we may clothe ourselves in the armour of levity, +or with the more effectual armour of occupation, it is impossible that the +one fearful idea of dissolution should not ever and anon come to scare us +with its terrors. We feel that we are walking over a soil, on the most +level and the most rugged parts of which it is equally possible we may +meet with the dark pit wherein it is our destiny to stumble. How sudden, +or how gradual soever the inevitable fall may be, we well know we shall +have little enough space to prepare ourselves for the last leap, when we +shall be fairly on the declivity; and I maintain, once more, that it is a +rational, no less than a natural, curiosity, which leads us to seek to +supply, in some measure, this necessary defect, and to gather, if +possible, from witnessing the last moments of others, some hints which may +be of use to us when our own dark hour shall come. We see a being standing +on the edge of a precipice, to which the only thing we know certainly, is, +that we ourselves shall one day be brought; and shall it be possible to +feel no curiosity concerning the manner in which he conducts himself on +that giddy brink? That which is denied to us in our own person, may, in +part, be supplied in his; and the eyes which dwell upon his features, +while they are filled with the overwhelming expectation of near +approaching death, make the closest approximation of which our nature +admits to penetrating the actual mysteries of the unseen region. For +myself, both wiser and better did I come away from all that mournful +spectacle. But perhaps I am joining together things which, after all, had +no necessary connection, when I ascribe to my contemplation of the death +of Tisias, and the other cruel sights which, as it seemed, were regarded +with indifference by the great multitudes around me, so much of the change +which, about this period, my own spirit underwent. + +The slumbers which followed that busy day of novelties and terrors, were +long and heavy; for utterly worn out were both mind and body, and youth +hastened to repair the waste of its energies, by drinking deeply at the +great fountain of natural refreshment. Nevertheless, although the hand of +sleep had lain steadily upon me, when I awoke in the already-confirmed +light of morning, I found myself yet filled with a confused and tremulous +sense of excitation, as if the spirit had disdained to be idle after +having received so much food for activity, and Fancy had still been +garnishing the passive sphere of the night with aerial representations of +all the gorgeous and solemn realities of the by-past day. I lay there +ruminating amidst the dispersing shadows of the mysterious world of +dreams, and scarcely as yet aware that a whole night had passed since I +had returned from the Amphitheatre, when I was at length roused to a +sudden and complete recollection of all things by the entrance of Boto. + +"My dear master," said he, making a sort of start after he had come in, "I +was afraid you would be angry with me for not coming to you sooner, but +now I perceive you have been as lazy as the rest of us. Why, surely, you +are not aware what time of day it is! What would my dear old lady over the +water say, if she heard of my young master lying in bed till within three +hours of noon? Oh, what a place is this you have brought me to! Why, when +I awake in the morning, the first thought that comes into my head always +is, What, Boto, and is it really possible that all that wide roaring sea +lies between you and the green banks of quiet Anton? Is it truth, good +truth, and neither dream nor witching, that you, _Boto_, are in _Rome_? +But I sometimes have to jump up, and take a look out of the window before +I am quite convinced; and then, to be sure, I know well enough that I, who +used always to dream about driving cattle to Venta, and perhaps kissing a +Brigian lass by the way, could never dream of so many fine things unless I +were really among them. Good heavens! what a heap of stories I shall have +to tell, when we get safe back to Old Britain!"--"Indeed, Boto," said I, +"you will be quite a travelled man. Be sure you do not give yourself too +many airs on the occasion."--"Travelled man, in faith," replied the clown. +"I should like to know, who it is that will be able to hold up his head +with me, when I am once fairly back again? Oh, how the old smith will be +humbled! He thought himself such a mighty person, because my old master, +your father, had taken him with him as far as Camolodunum, and how he used +to brag of what he had seen there; but now, I trow, Master Pernorix will +be fain to talk quietly about his journeys.--O Rome, Rome! what fine things +shall I have to tell them all about Rome,--and the lions, and the monkeys, +and Caesar, and the elephants, and the fighting men, and the Christian, and +all the wonderful sights we saw yesterday. But the worst of it is, that +nobody will ever be able to believe one half of what I shall tell +them.--And when does my dear Master Valerius think we shall be returning to +my old lady, and all the rest of them in Britain?" + +"Of a truth, good Boto," said I, "that is more than I can pretend to give +you any notion of; but I dare say, you shall have both time and +opportunity to pick up a few more marvels still before we go. In the +meantime, you are comfortable, I hope, in your quarters, and Dromo takes +good heed of you."--"Dromo," quoth he, looking as arch as his massive +features would admit of,--"Dromo, indeed!--If I had nobody to trust to but +him, I should be very ill off. Dromo is a great man; the young lord of the +house has him up in his chamber every day to talk with him by himself; and +when he comes down again, or returns from any of the errands he is sent +out upon, there is no bearing with him in the court-yard, where we are all +huddled together. As for the overseer, old Sarcalus, the freed-man, he has +quite given him up. Nobody dare speak about whipping him; he looks upon +himself as almost as important a person as his master, I believe, if the +truth were known; and yet I should not complain, for, after all, it was +Dromo that carried me yesterday to the Amphitheatre."--"Ay, that was very +kind of Dromo--I should have thought of it myself. And did he not see that +you got your supper snugly, when you came back?"--"Ah! now, master, don't +make them whip me--I see they have told you all."--"All!" said I--"I do +assure you they have told me nothing about you; but come, speak out. It +must be something very bad that would make me think of having you whipt. +You have only been three days in Rome--I shall make allowance for a few +vagaries, provided they be not very extravagant."--"Well, then, Master +Caius," quoth he, "since they have told you nothing beforehand, and you +seem inclined to be so good-natured with me, I shall e'en tell you all +myself, and I hope you won't think me, after all, very much to +blame."--"Speak out, my honest Boto, and remember there is Dromo also to be +examined, in case you keep any thing back from me."--"Ah! master, but Dromo +would not be so easily caught as poor Boto. Dromo is a cunning man, and a +close; and besides, they say he was born in a city they call Crete, and +the people of that place can't speak a word of truth, even although they +were willing. Do not think any thing at all about Dromo; but trust +entirely to your own poor Boto, and he will tell you every thing. Dromo is +a sad dog." + +I know not what more he might have proceeded to say concerning Dromo, had +not that crafty Cretan, who, without question, had been listening all the +while behind the door, just at that moment glided in on very delicate +tiptoe, and coming close up behind the British slave, as he stood in the +act of haranguing me, smote him a smart fillip upon the cheek with the +back of his fingers, mimicking, at the same time, the outlandish accent of +the man, and repeating after him into his tinkling ears, the words, _Dromo +is a sad dog--Dromo is a cunning man, and a close--Dromo would not be so +easily caught as poor Boto_.--"Ha, ha! Master Valerius," then said he to +me, "and so you would really take the trouble to ask questions of this +worthy man, when you had it in your power to send for me? I thought it had +not been for nothing that three persons I could name entered upon a +certain alliance--but 'tis all one to the Cretan.--Both Sextus, and you, may +manage your own affairs for yourselves, if such be your pleasure." + +I knew not on this whether to be more amazed with the impudence of the +Cretan, or the confusion of poor Boto, who stood rubbing his cheek with a +strangely mingled aspect of sheepishness and sulkiness; but Dromo soon put +an end to the affair, by turning round with a face of admirably feigned +astonishment to my Briton, and saying, "Good heavens! Boto, are you still +there? Do you not perceive that your master and I have something to say to +each other in private? Begone, my good man--shall I never be able to render +you susceptible of the smallest polish?" + +These last words being accompanied with a gentle push on the back, soon +expelled poor Boto, who, nevertheless, did not depart without casting +towards me a look of woful appeal over his shoulder. But I perceiving +plainly, in the midst of all his frolicsome behaviour, that Dromo had +really something to say to me; and suspecting, of course, that the +interest of Sextus might be concerned in what he had to say, suffered my +slave to withdraw in good earnest. Dromo, after the door was shut, laid +his finger upon his lip, and stood still for a moment in an attitude of +close attention; but the heavy heels of the reluctant Briton were heard +with great distinctness, lumbering along the marble floor of the gallery; +so, being satisfied that there was no eavesdropping in the case, the +varlet seated himself forthwith in a posture of great familiarity on the +nether end of my couch, and, to judge from the expression of his +countenance, seemed evidently to be preparing himself for a disclosure of +some importance. At length, after not a few winks of much intelligence, it +was thus he began:--"You may hear Boto's story, sir, at any time you +please, and I dare say it will amuse you; but, in the meantime, I must +really have you attend to me, for, without jesting, things are by no means +in so fair a train as I had thought for my young master; and if something +effectual be not speedily discovered, I am really at a loss to think how +we shall be able to get out of our difficulties, in such a manner as may +be either satisfactory to him, or creditable to my management. But you had +better get up and dress yourself, and while you are doing so, I will tell +you every thing." + +I did as he bade me, and then the Cretan proceeded:--"As I was coming out +of the Amphitheatre yesterday, I happened to find myself rubbing shoulders +with a certain old fat Calabrian, whom I had seen before about Rubellia's +house in the Suburra, and thinking that no harm could possibly come of +being civil to him, I began immediately to ask his opinion of the +spectacles. I wish you had been there to see how much he was delighted +with the attention I paid him, and how he plumed himself on being admitted +to talk on such subjects with such a person as me; for the man himself is +but an ignorant fellow, and seems never to have kept company but with the +grooms and hinds. From less to more, we began to be the greatest friends +in the world; and by the time we got to the Arch, it was evident that we +could not possibly part, without having a cup together to cement the +acquaintance. Well, we were just about to dive into one of the +wine-cellars there, below the gate-way, when I saw your friend Boto +standing by himself in the middle of the street, apparently quite a-gaze +and bewildered, and not able to form the smallest guess which way he ought +to take in order to reach home; and being a good-natured fellow, in spite +of all that has been said, I immediately shouted out his name till he was +compelled to hear me, and then beckoned to him to come along with us, +which indeed he did without much coaxing." + +"Well, Dromo," said I, "and so all your great news is, that you have been +leading my Briton into one of your debauches? In truth, I think you need +not have made such an affectation of mystery withal."--"Stop now," quoth +he, cutting me short; "if the slave be too slow, I am sure the master's +quickness will make up for it.--Hear me out before you begin commenting; +such interruptions would bring the Stagyrite himself to a stand. We were +soon, all three of us, seated in one of those snug little places, which if +you have not yet seen, you are ignorant of the most comfortable sight +within all the four walls of Rome,--a quiet cleanly little place,--three +good hassocks upon the floor, a handful of sausages, a plate of dried fish +as broad as the shield of Ajax, and a good old fashioned round-bellied +jolly jug of Surrentine in the midst of us. I dare say, there were a +hundred besides employed in the same way in the house; but we shut the +door, and were as private as behind the altar of Vesta."--"A tempting +scene, Dromo; and what use did you make of your privacy?"--"All in good +time, Master Valerius; you would have the apple before the egg. We had +scarcely emptied our first jug, ere the conversation between the Calabrian +and me took a turn that was not quite unnatural; for slaves, however +little you may trust them, will always be smelling out something of the +truth; and you may be sure, all this visiting, and feasting, and riding +about in chariots, and sitting together at the Amphitheatre, has not been +going on, without causing a good deal of talk both in this house and the +rich widow's. The courtship was of course the subject of our conversation, +and I, pretending to know nothing of it myself, except from the common +report of the slaves about our house, affected to consider it as highly +probable, that the fat Calabrian might have had much better opportunities +than mine of being informed how the affair really stood." + +"And did he really seem to have any knowledge about it?" said I.--"Not +much--not much; but still the man did tell me something that I think may +turn out to be well worth the knowing. 'I am sure,' said I, (by this time +Boto was fast asleep,)--'I am sure, if Rubellia won't have my young master, +it won't be for want of presents; for we all know he has already given her +a whole casket of rings and bracelets that belonged to his mother, and he +is sitting for his picture, which, they say, he is to give her +besides.'--'And _I_ am sure,' quoth the Calabrian in return, 'that if your +young master don't have my lady, it won't be for want of presents neither; +for she is the most generous open-handed lady in the world, and that her +worst enemies will allow, although her father be an old rogue, and an +usurer, as all the town says he is. No, Dromo,' continued he, 'nor will it +be for want of philtres, nor of charms, nor of any thing that soothsaying +can procure; for, between ourselves, my lady keeps up a constant traffic +of late with all that sort of gentry; and what the issue of it all may be, +Hecate only knows.' Now, Master Valerius, when I heard him speak of +philtres and charms, you may be sure I began to quicken up my ears more +keenly than ever." + +"Dromo!" said I; "you are not serious. You do not mean surely to make me +think that you believe in the efficacy of love-potions, or any such +quackeries?" "Quackeries! do you call philtres quackeries? Why, there was +a girl once gave myself a philtre that kept me raving for six +months."--"What sort of a looking girl was she, good Dromo?"--"Bah!" quoth +he; "don't expect to jeer me out of memory as well as judgment. Heavens +and earth! when did any body ever hear of any body denying the efficacy of +philtres? What an atheistical sort of barbarians those Britons must be. I +wonder you are not afraid of some evil coming upon you. Remember Dian's +handful; remember the fate of Actaeon!"--"Good Dromo," said I, "I suppose +you also suffered from peeping. But talk seriously; are you yourself a +dealer in philtres, that you are so anxious I should believe in their +power? Or what is your meaning?" + +"My meaning is this," quoth he, with great vehemence,--"it is, that if +Rubellia gives Sextus such another philtre as a certain cunning damsel +gave me, before I left pleasant Crete, to be a drudge and a packhorse here +in Rome, where a man may sweat all his life in another's service without +being once thanked for his pains, and perhaps be laid out, look ye, for a +supper to the vultures at last, because no body will treat his carcase to +a blaze of old sticks,--I say, that if the Lady Rubellia contrives to give +Sextus such another philtre as that, the game's up, Master Valerius; and +we may as well set about painting the dead, as try to save him from her +clutches. The man's gone--he's as lost as Troy."--"Well, Dromo," said I, for +I perceived there was no use in fighting it with him, "and have you not +been able to hit upon any feasible scheme?"--"Ay, have you come to that at +last? that is just what I have been cudgelling my brains about for the +last twelve hours. But if I do hit upon any thing, I shall need +assistance. In such cases, the best judgment can do nothing by +itself."--"Fear not, Dromo," quoth I; "if my assistance can do you any +good, you well know you can command it to the utmost."--"Then prepare," +replied the Cretan, rising up with an air of much solemnity--"then prepare +in good earnest; for, may Cerberus growl upon me, if I don't find out some +scheme before another day goes over, and shew you all what stuff I am made +of. To think of entrapping Sextus without consulting Dromo!--No, by Cretan +Jove, she shall not accomplish it--no, not even with a sea of philtres." + +"And, in the meantime," said I, "what must Sextus do with himself?"--"He +must not go near the Suburra; he must remain closely at home; and as for +tasting any thing at her house, or any thing that comes from her--by +heavens, if he does not take his oath against that--we may as well leave +him to his destiny. If he will but take good care for this one day, I +think there is every chance something may be hit upon ere the morning. I +have got my cue, and shall not be idle, I promise you; but I undertake +nothing, unless you swear to keep Sextus safe, and at a distance from her, +till night-fall."--"Good Dromo," said I, "make yourself easy on that score; +it will be a new circumstance indeed, if we find any difficulty in +persuading Sextus to stay a single day away from the Suburra." + +"Persuading!" quoth the slave; "who ever heard of such a word as +persuasion at such a crisis as this? I tell you he _must_ be kept away; +and if no other plan can be fallen on, I have a great mind to turn the key +on him and his pedagogue both together. I heard them hammering at their +lessons already as I came along--and that puts me in mind that I have a +very shrewd notion there is more between that bearded goat of ours and +this Rubellia, than any of us had been suspecting. Unless that Calabrian +lies--and I think lying is above his sphere--this old rogue has been oftener +in the Suburra of late than we had any thought of. So help me Hermes! I +believe Licinius has been employing him to go his private messages to +Rubellia--but that is only one insult more, and I shall have my revenge all +in a lump." + +"I think it very likely," answered I, quietly, "that Licinius may have +been employing Xerophrastes in some such embassies; and, if I mistake not +the matter, he would feel himself quite as much in his element, trotting +along the Sacred Way, and so forth, on such delicate errands for the +father, as in expounding musty parchments to the son."--"No matter for all +that," quoth Dromo, rubbing his hands; "the more enemies the more glory. +Would Miltiades have been pleased had the Spartans arrived?--Leave all to +me--take you care only of Sextus, and I am not afraid for any reinforcement +that rascally rhetorician may bring against me."--While he was saying so, +the face of the Cretan exhibited symptoms of incipient glee; and he +concluded with snapping his fingers, and uttering a short keen whistle, +such as you have heard from the lips of a hunter, when the dogs begin to +bay around a thicket. + +Seeing his eyes dance with the expectation of some bustling scene, I could +not help participating, in some measure, in the feelings of the Cretan; +and, "Dear Dromo," said I, "I beseech you, if it be possible, let me have +a share in whatever you resolve upon."--"Watch well," replied he, "during +the day, and you shall see what you shall see, when the moon mounts above +the Coelian, and the hour for grubbing among herbs and bones is come.--But +now I hear some one coming--it is Licinius."--Dromo, finger on lip, glided +from the room. Nor had his well-practised ears deceived him, for he +scarcely vanished, before my kinsman entered. + +"Valerius," said he, saluting me affectionately, "I thought you were +probably much fatigued with your spectacles, so I desired that nobody +should call you this morning; but I met Boto in the hall, and hearing that +you were astir, I have come up, for I wish a little private conversation. +Shall we walk in the eastern portico, till Xerophrastes leaves Sextus at +liberty?" + +He led the way along the gallery, and in passing, we also heard the deep +voice of the rhetorician resounding among the pillars, and could even +catch a few of the magniloquent phrases with which he was feeding the ears +of his pupil. "Ay, ay," says Licinius, "I wish, indeed, it were possible +to inspire the youth with some sense of what is due to the dignity of +principle, and how absurd it is to think of gratifying whims at the +expense of duty. But I fear the boy is incorrigible; and, Caius, I am +sorry to say, I suspect you have been looking on his errors with a +countenance rather of favour and of confirmation, than, as I should have +expected, of rebuke." + +"Licinius," said I, "you know not how much you distress me. I could rather +die than encourage Sextus in any thing I thought evil; but, indeed, I have +seen nothing to make me imagine him capable of such conduct." + +"Come, by Hercules," returned he, "there is no occasion for so many words. +I thought it very odd that you went away so soon from the Forum the other +day, considering that you had never been there before; but I thought it +doubly and trebly remarkable that Sextus should have accompanied you, when +the case in hand affected the affairs of Rubellia. But I have since found +out that it was not the society of old Capito which attracted him--no, my +friend, nor yet the alarm of a thunder storm that detained you at the +villa. In a word, Valerius, I strongly suspect that Sextus is carrying on +an intrigue with a young lady whom I never saw, but who, I am quite sure, +will never be mistress of a dozen lizards, and that this is the true cause +of his reluctance concerning a match, which, to say nothing of the +pleasure it would give to me, is the only means by which I can see any +prospect of the young man's fortune being made, and the dignity of his +family kept up, after another effigy shall have been added to our hall. +Infatuated and headstrong boy! if he owes nothing to himself or to me, is +it possible that he can look upon that venerable line of sages and heroes, +without feeling shame in the degradation of his own earth-stooping +desires?" + +"Without question," said I, "you allude to the Lady Rubellia, whom, as I +have heard from various quarters, you are desirous of seeing wedded to +Sextus." + +"Yes, Caius Valerius, it is indeed to her I allude; and it is of the +obstacle which--unwittingly, I doubt not--you yourself have been throwing in +the way of that union, that I have now to make my complaint. Not such the +service that I had expected from my kinsman. Rubellia is descended from a +noble family, and, both in possession and expectation, her wealth is +great. Two heavy fines laid upon me by Domitian, and the expense at which +I have maintained my rank among the great patrons of Rome--these things +together have impoverished me, and to an extent not altogether convenient. +In this boy my hopes were placed; and see now how they are all likely to +be blasted for a dimpled cheek and a pair of wanton eyes!--or rather, +indeed, I should say, for the sake of the malignant pleasure that is +derived from thwarting my purposes; for, if beauty were what the boy +wanted, where should he find beauty beyond Rubellia? Perhaps, Caius, I +should, before this time, have made you acquainted with my intentions from +my own lips. But it is my own foolish indulgence which has made my +degenerate boy quite forget, not only what is the duty of a son, but what +is the power of a father." + +"I trust," said I, "there is no need for all this seriousness. Sextus has +only laid aside the garb of a stripling; it is too much to be despairing +of his success in life, only because he is unwilling, at a period so +early, to enter upon a permanent connection. Is it possible, that, if he +really dislike Rubellia, you would wish to see him marry her--only to +divorce her, without question, as soon as he should find it possible to do +so without inconvenience?"--"Handsome, rich, noble, and almost as young as +himself, why, in the name of all the gods, for what cause should he +divorce Rubellia?"--"Sir," said I, "he loves not Rubellia, nor will ever +love her; and if you cause your son to marry this woman, look you well to +it, that the unhappiness of both rest not on your head. Handsome, rich, +noble, and young she may be; but I am sure, she has neither such a heart, +nor such a mind, as should belong to the wife of your Sextus. A luxurious +woman is Rubellia, and I have seen her find luxury in the contemplation of +blood. Wed not Rubellia to your son."--"Peace, Valerius," he answered; +"what boyish nonsense is this?--I _will_ wed Rubellia to my son; and let +him see to it, that he tempts me not farther with his disobedience." + +Licinius said these last words in a voice of so much earnestness, that I +knew not well what answer to make to him; but while I was hesitating, one +of the little boys about the house, (I mean the children of the domestic +slaves,) said, "If it please my lord, the same senator that was here in +the morning is waiting in the hall."--"Pontius Mamurra!" said the orator, +leaving me. + +I, for my part, when I heard the name of the visiter, began to understand +somewhat of the channel through which my kinsman had been informed about +what had passed at the Suburban. I had no leisure, however, to reflect +long upon this hint; for I found Sextus waiting for me. "Come," he said, +"I was afraid I must set off without you. My father has been looking on me +this morning with such an aspect of displeasure as I rarely before +witnessed in him, and if I defer going to the painter about this likeness, +he will be altogether enraged at supper-time. I know very well he means +the ring, in which it is to be placed, for another present to Rubellia; +but notwithstanding, what can I do? Any opposition to him in lesser +matters would only tend to bring on some final explanation about the great +affair itself, and that, whether it be weakness in me or not, I as yet +have no courage to encounter. The man must be expecting me; and I am sure +you will accompany me, for I have much need of you to keep up my heart. +Xerophrastes, indeed, has been desired to go with me; but he will be no +comfort, for I see plainly, from the drift of his harangues, that he is +enlisted against me. Dear Caius, I have nobody in the whole world I can +trust to but Dromo and yourself." + +He had scarcely said so, when we heard Xerophrastes pacing up and down +with solemn strides in the gallery; so I knew not how to excuse myself, +although I was very anxious to have staid at home for another purpose. +Sextus had taken my gown from the nail; he threw it over my shoulders +before I had time to say any thing, and we were soon on our way to his +ungrateful destination. + + + + + _CHAPTER II._ + + +We had to traverse a considerable part of the city; for this painter was +one of those who exercise their art during the public hours of the day in +the baths of the Palatine, where, as you have heard, in the wide circuit +of the princely residence, abundant accommodation is set forth for all +such ingenious persons. We proceeded along the edge of the river, and by +the west of the Capitol, following the line of that great Triumphal Way +which has been witness of so many glorious pageants; for so, they told me, +we should most easily ascend into the Caesarian courts. But when we had +come thither, we found the whole open space, in front of the portico and +stairs of Trajan, occupied by a detachment of the Praetorian cohorts, drawn +up in splendid array to receive some promised donative; while the music, +and the clamours of their mustering, had collected enough of spectators to +render the passage onwards in some measure difficult. We were constrained +to form part of their attendance, and stood gazing among the multitude. +Even Xerophrastes caught some animation from the brilliancy of the +spectacle; and the enamoured and perplexed Sextus himself, beating time on +my shoulder, seemed to have forgotten, for a moment, the anxieties of his +situation. + +Some horsemen, however, riding along to keep the ground open in front of +the soldiery, compelled us to shift to the eastward, where many chariots +were drawn up--and in one of these Rubellia. The lady looked paler than I +had before seen her, and had not the air of being in the smallest degree +occupied with what was passing. I did not think it necessary to take any +notice of her being there to my companions, and was willing, indeed, to +keep myself turned away from the place where she sat, in order to avoid +our being recognized. Yet there was something in her aspect and attitude, +that, as by a sort of fascination, drew my eyes to the spot I wished to +avoid. From time to time, therefore, I felt myself constrained to regard +the melancholy lady; and by and by, Sextus perceived what it was that +attracted my attention:--so I discovered, although he said not a word, from +a fervent pressure upon my arm as I stood before him. At that moment there +drew near a little ugly old woman, with no covering upon her head but long +coarse gray clusters of hair hanging matted and twisted down upon her +shoulders, who lifted up a basket of trinkets, and presented it; but +Rubellia started on her seat, and, looking in the face of the old +creature, manifested signs of no trivial emotion; for her colour returned +with a sudden flush, and her eyes recovered all their animation, and it +was evident she had something to say which could not regard the gaudy +ornaments offered to her view. Whatever it was, however, she did not +occupy much time in saying it; for scarcely a minute elapsed before the +basket was lowered again, and the old woman began to move towards another +part of the crowd; on which Rubellia sunk back in her chariot, and +appeared to relapse into pensive abstraction. + +Presently a low voice croaking out, "Rings, rings--amulets and rings!" +amongst the crowd that stood immediately behind me; and I perceived the +same woman pushing her basket between Xerophrastes and Sextus.--"Noble +youth," quoth the hag, leering, "lovely young gentleman--sweet Adonis, my +charming lord, do now look into old Pona's basket--do take a look at +Ponula's rings and amulets--her amulets and rings. Here is one that I could +have sold a hundred times, but I was determined to keep it till I should +see the prettiest young gentleman in Rome, and I will never go back to +Naples without selling it, after this day; for this little amulet must be +nobody's but yours. You will break my heart, my prince, if you buy not my +beautiful amulet." + +"And what," said Sextus, blushing and laughing, "may be the virtues of +your amulet?" + +Then laying her yellow hand upon his shoulder, till she had made him stoop +down so that she might get close to his ear, she began to pour out, with +much mysterious volubility, all the story of its marvellous potencies; but +what she said even I could not know, only I heard the words, "AEthiopian, +AEthiopian," and "Memnon, Memnon," and something about "not a pretty lady +in Rome." But just as the woman was most earnest in her whisper, and +Sextus, apparently at least, in listening, I found my gown plucked from +behind, and behold, there was Dromo, with a countenance tremulously +agitated, and white as a piece of dead parchment, pointing to his young +master and the old hag, and beseeching me to separate them, by motions in +nowise to be mistaken. How he had come thither, or what was the cause of +this anxiety, I had no time to conjecture, for before I could say a word, +he began to bellow out,--"The horses, the horses--make room for the horses;" +and immediately those that stood near him began to move a little, and +then, the cry being repeated, those that stood farther off mistaking the +noise of their feet for the approach of some new squadron, there arose a +sort of rushing among the crowd; and, in a twinkling, the voice of Pona +was heard grumbling and croaking at a distance from the place to which our +party were borne. Close, nevertheless, did the faithful Cretan stick to +us; and no sooner was quiet in some measure restored, and the false alarm +he had created at an end, than he whispered into my ear, "For the sake of +all that is sacred, let not that foul hag speak another word to my young +master--I will tell you more anon. Meantime, haste ye, haste ye. Make the +best of your speed to the Palatine; it will be much easier for you to push +your way thither, than it was for me to reach you." + +My friend being already weary of the heat and the pressure, we were ready +to take advantage of an opening pointed out by the Cretan. It so happened, +however, that in the same commotion the chariot of Rubellia also had +changed its situation; for just as we had escaped, as I thought, and were +about to place our feet on the magnificent flight of stairs that leads +from the New Way to the Augustan Towers, there came to us a lad of that +lady's household, who told us she was near at hand, and desirous, if it so +pleased us, of our company. Aware that we were in sight, how could we +disobey? We found the lady in her chariot, but not such as we had seen her +before. On the contrary, the liveliness of her aspect seemed now to be +restored, and she received us with her usual gaiety of address. "Careless +men," said she, as we drew near; "I suppose I might have sat here till the +Greek Kalends, before any one of you would have observed me." + +"Most noble lady," quoth Xerophrastes, "bear it not indignantly, that +amidst all the confusion of men and horses, and trumpets and shoutings, +our attention was abstracted from that which was most worthy of notice. My +young friends deserve to be excused, since even I, who am not in the habit +of being much troubled by such vanities, was so bewildered that I scarcely +knew my right hand from my left, in this human chaos.--Pardon, noble +Rubellia; we have been unwitting offenders." + +"And was it so?" said the lady, not looking at the Stoic.--"But I did not +call for you to hear useless apologies. What new sight is it that attracts +you to the Palatine?--or is it only that you are desirous of exhibiting to +Valerius the old-established wonders of the place? In either case, I have +half a mind to accompany you. In spite of all they tell us about the +Golden House, I can scarcely think the Palatine shewed more splendidly +than it does now, even in the days of Nero." + +"Indeed," said I, as we began to mount together the broad slabbed steps +which rise up, tier above tier, from the portico on the street, to that +which hangs on the brow--"Indeed, it is not easy for me to doubt that +Rubellia is in the right."--For now, on one side, were all the pillars and +arches of the Forum stretched out below us, and, on the other, lay the +great Circus, topped with its obelisk; while before rose the gray cliffs +of the Capitoline, with their domes and proud pinnacles in the glow of +noontide--the space between, radiant with arms and banners. Even +Xerophrastes did not refrain from some ejaculations.--"Illustrious Rome! +how great is thy sublimity!" And then, after a pause, he repeated, in a +voice of much majesty, those verses from the Fury of Ajax: + + "Oh! might I be where o'er the living deep + Lies the broad shadow of the Sounian cliff, + Waving with all its glorious garniture, + Of rock-sprung foliage: from old Ocean's side, + That I might look on Athens once again!" + +Some of the hints which had reached me concerning his nativity recurring +to my recollection, I could not help echoing his quotation with another +from the AEneid, about the wide tracts ploughed by the Thracians; of which +impertinence the sage took no notice. + +Nor was admiration diminished when, having gained the top of that massive +staircase, or rather, as I should say, hill of marble, we passed beneath +the sounding portal, the sole remnant of the original pile of Augustus, +and found ourselves within the first of those great imperial quadrangles, +by which the whole summit of that once so variously and multitudinously +peopled region is now occupied. The light and airy porticoes--the domes--the +princely towers--the universal profusion of marble, brass, ivory, flaming +gold, lavished on arch, metope, and architrave--all conspired to dazzle the +sight, and I stood still to gaze. + +"Observe," said Sextus, "those two equestrian statues of bronze on the +left hand. I have heard my father say that they mark the sites of two +houses, which, before Augustus began to enclose the whole Palatine in his +walls, were inhabited, the one by Cicero, the other by Clodius; these are +the only traces of their mansions." + +"What grim-looking figures!" said the lady; "yet, I dare say, they don't +cast half such fierce looks on each other, as the predecessors you +mention. I should like to have seen the countenance of old Tully, the +morning he went down the hill to deliver his harangue for Milo." + +"I am glad," said I, "that Sextus has told me this; for in reading those +famous philippics in time to come, I shall possess a new key to the +bitterness of their phraseology, knowing, as I do, that the two lived just +over the way from each other, and that the orator, when his spirits were +flagging, could derive a new reinforcement of spleen from merely putting +his head out of the window."--"To hear you," says Rubellia, "one would +think you were studying the art of making philippics--I am afraid, that if +it be so, my joining your party may prove to have been but an ill-judged +thing; for if any of you be preparing to abuse me, my presence will serve +to sharpen your weapons."--"In that case, however," interrupted the smiling +Xerophrastes, "my noble lady will admit, that the converse also will hold +good, and that if praise be in meditation, it will not be the feebler +because the subject of the intended panegyric has passed before our +eyes."--"Most courteous of men," replied the lady, "who talks of the +stiffness of the Porch? To-day and yesterday you have paid me as many +compliments as might give a lesson to the gayest trifler about these +baths. If all," she continued, (gazing as she spoke, with all her eyes +upon Sextus,)--"if all were as profuse, I should be unable to sustain the +weight of their civilities."--"Nay, Oh! generous lady," quoth the sage +again, "it must be remembered, that, as the poet has expressed it, there +are two kinds of shame--there is the wicked shame and the good shame. Why +should it be doubted, that a modest Verecundity, not unsuitable to their +age, has laid her finger on the lips of our young friends? I swear by the +Victrix of Ida, that your presence itself is that which occasions their +silence;--bear it not ill--bear it not harshly--the young will learn--not +every one has seen Corinth."--"No, truly," answered the laughing lady; "but +I doubt whether they that have been so fortunate, have ever seen any thing +half so fine as what now awaits Valerius." + +She pointed to the solemn Doric columns which sustain the portico of the +famous Temple of Apollo, whose shade lay far out upon the court before us; +and, passing between those brazen horsemen, we soon began to ascend the +steps that lead up to the shrine. Nor can I tell you how delightful was +the fragrant coolness, which reigned beneath the influence of that massive +canopy of marble, to us whose eyes had been so long supporting the +meridian blaze. We entered with slow steps within the vestibule of the +Temple, and stood there for some space, enjoying in silence the soft +breath of air that played around the flowing fountains. Then passing on, +the airy hall received us; and I saw the statue of Phoebus presiding, like +a pillar of tender light, over the surrounding darkness of the vaulted +place; for, to the lofty shrine of the God of day no light of day had +access, and there lay only a small creeping flame burning thin upon his +altar; but a dim and sweet radiance, like that of the stars in autumn, was +diffused all upon the statue, and the altar, and the warlike trophies +suspended in the inner recesses, from the sacred tree of silver that +stands in the centre; amidst the trembling enamelled leaves and drooping +boughs of which hung many lamps, after the shape and fashion of +pomegranates: and out of every pomegranate flowed a separate gleam of that +soft light, supplied mysteriously through the stem of the silver tree. + +There appeared presently from behind the statue, a majestic woman, arrayed +in long white garments, and having a fillet of laurel leaves twined above +her veil. Venerable and stately was her mien, but haughty, rather than +serene, the aspect of her countenance. Without looking towards us, she +went up to the altar, and began to busy herself in trimming the sacred +fire, which, as I have said, exhibited only a lambent flame. When, with +many kneelings and other ceremonies, she had accomplished this service, +the priestess turned again, as if to depart; and then first, as it seemed, +observing the presence of strangers, she stood still before the altar, and +regarding us attentively, began to recognize the Lady Rubellia; whom, +forthwith advancing, she saluted courteously, and invited to come with the +rest of us into her privacy, behind the shrine of the God. + +She led the way, Rubellia and the rest of us in her train, through several +folding-doors, and along many narrow passages all inlaid, on roof, wall, +and floor, with snow-white alabaster and rich mosaic work; until at length +we came to a little airy chamber, where three young maidens were sitting +with their embroidering cushions, while one, taller than the rest, whose +back was placed towards us, knelt on the floor, touching, with slow +fingers, the strings of a Dorian lyre. Hearing the sound of her music as +we entered, we stood still in the door-way, and the priestess, willing +apparently that our approach should remain unknown, advancing a step or +two before us, said, "Sing on--I have trimmed the flame; but remember, I +pray you, that the precincts of Phoebus are not those of Pluto, and let not +your chant be of such funereal solemnity. We solitaries have little need +of depressing numbers." + +"Dear friend," replied she that had been thus addressed, without changing +her attitude, "you must bear with my numbers such as they are; for if you +bid me sing only merry strains, I am afraid neither voice nor fingers may +be able well to obey you." + +These words were spoken in a low and melancholy voice, which I well +recognized. Sextus, also, perceived who spoke; but when he looked at me to +signify this, I motioned to keep silence. + +"Then please yourself," said the priestess, laying her hand on Athanasia's +shoulders; "but do sing, for I should fain have my maidens to hear +something truly of your music." With that she again applied her fingers to +the lyre, and stooping over it, began to play some notes of prelude, less +sorrowful than what we had at first heard. "Ay, my dear girl," says the +priestess, "you could not have chosen better. Heavens! how many lordly +choirs have I heard singing to that old Delian air. There are a hundred +hymns that may be sung to it--give us whichsoever of them pleases your +fancy the best."--"I will try," replied the maiden, "to sing the words you +have heard before. If I remember, you liked them." Then boldly at once, +yet gently, did her voice rush into the current of that ancient strain +that you have heard so often; but it was then that I myself for the first +time heard it. + + The moon, the moon is thine, O night, + Not altogether dark art thou; + Her trembling crescent sheds its light, + Trembling and pale, upon thine ancient brow. + + The moon is thine, and round her orb + A thousand sweet stars minister, + Whose twinkling rays dark wells absorb, + And all the wide seas drink them far and near. + + They kiss the wide sea, and swift smiles + Of gladness o'er the waters creep; + Old hoary rocks rejoice, and isles, + And there is glory on the slumbering deep + + Afar. Along the black hill's side, + Right blithe of heart the wanderers go, + While that soft radiance, far and wide, + Gleams on the winding streams and woods below. + + And gaily for the fragile bark, + Through the green waves its path is shorn, + When all the murmurs of the dark + Cold sea lie calm'd beneath that gliding horn. + + Yet hail, ye glittering streaks, that lie + The eastern mountain tops upon! + Hail, ye deep blushes of the sky, + That speak the coming of the bridegroom sun! + + Hail to the healing beam of day, + That rouses every living thing! + The forest gulphs confess thy sway, + And upon freshening branches glad birds sing. + + And loathsome forms, that crept unseen + Beneath the star-light faint and wan, + Cower in their brakes the thorns between, + Dreading that fervid eye, and its sure scan + + Triumphant. Welcome life and light! + Sing rocks and mountains, plain and sea; + Fearful though lovely was the night; + Hail to more perfect beauty--hail to THEE! + +"Why stop you, Athanasia?" said the priestess, finding that here she +paused,--"why do you rise up, and take your fingers from the lyre, before +you sing out the chorus?"--"No more, dear aunt--excuse me--no more. I have +already sung all that I can," replied Athanasia.--"Nay, then," says she, +"if you be fatigued, sing not; but join me, maidens, in the close--perhaps +it rises too high for Athanasia." + +And with that the ancient lady herself, joined by the three damsels that +had been embroidering, took up the strain, which, indeed, rose higher +towards its end + + Hail to thee Phoebus, son of Jove, + Glorious Apollo, Lord of Light, + Hail, lovely in thy Delian grove, + And terrible on Delphos' haunted height! + + Hail to thee here beneath the dome, + Great Phoebus, of thy Latian shrine; + All hail from Caesar and from Rome; + Hail by thy dearest name, God Palatine! + +But as they were singing the last verse of all, Rubellia also aided their +melody with a rich strong gushing voice, which rose far above all the +others; and the silent Athanasia turning round quickly, perceived, not +without manifestation of alarm, by how many strangers her song had been +overheard. On seeing who we were, she saluted Sextus and myself with +modest courtesy, amidst her confusion; and it may be that my companion, as +well as myself, blushed at the same moment; for he could not see Athanasia +without thinking of Sempronia. + +It seemed as if her confusion were not unconnected with some suspicion of +having been recognized near the Praetorian guard-house; for, after the +first glance, I in vain endeavoured to meet her eye; while on the +contrary, to Sextus she directed both looks and words, enough to provoke +visibly some not altogether benign movements in our Rubellia. Such, at +least, was my interpretation of the fair widow's aspect, and the tone of +impatience in which she, after a minute or two had passed, began to urge +the propriety of our proceeding to the part of the imperial edifice in +which the painter was expecting us. + +The priestess of Apollo hearing her say so, courteously offered to guide +us beyond the precincts of the temple, and our whole party were again in +motion; but Athanasia remained behind with the three young damsels, and I, +who walked last, saw her, ere the portal received me, preparing again to +handle the lyre, with fingers visibly trembling, and a pale countenance, +not as I thought unstained with some yet more distinct traces of keen +emotion. The sight of her agitation fixed my footstep for a moment, and it +was then that, on her casting a sudden glance round to the place where I +stood, I perceived truly that I had not been mistaken, and that the tears +were gathered within her eyelids. It was no more, however, than one +glance, for immediately she stooped again, and, dashing her fingers along +the chords of the instrument, appeared to bury her thoughts in its +harmony. I stood for a moment, and then ashamed of myself, and troubled +with her troubles and with my own, I followed the rest into the great +library which Augustus placed beneath the protection of the Palatine +Apollo. The priestess parted from us at its entrance, after pointing out a +low and massive door of bronze on the right hand, within which, as she +told me, the remains of the Sybilline prophecies are preserved, unseen by +profane eyes, watched over perpetually by the guardians of the place. + + + + + _CHAPTER III._ + + +I had walked by the side of my young friend, and behind the Stoic, (who, I +think, was expressing, in his pompous fashion, much admiration of the +singing of Rubellia,) along one or two of the great halls in which the +library is contained, before the novelty of the objects surrounding me +made any impression even on my eyes; and even after these were in some +measure engaged, my mind still continued to dwell on that troubled aspect, +and on the notes of the uncompleted song. At length, however, the levity +of youth, and natural curiosity revived; and I began to be present, not in +body merely, in a place where there was much that might well interest the +mind. Far-receding rows of columns conducted my eyes into the interminable +recesses of that wide range of chambers, in which the records of the +thought and spirit of all past ages are piled up together; and gazing on +the loaded shelves which every where ascended into the galleries, I could +not but be affected with many new emotions. I perused glorious names on +the busts that seemed to preside over the different compartments. The high +filletted front of Homer detained for the first time my contemplation; the +eyes of the divine old man, even in sculpture, distinctly and visibly +blind, while the serenity and sanctity of the towering forehead, revealed +how the intense perception at once of the lovely and the great could +compensate for visions of earthly beauty shut out. The mild Plato, and the +imperious Stagyrite--Pindar--Simonides--Alcaeus--and I know not how many more, +succeeded as we passed along--each in his own sphere, reigning by himself; +yet all connected together by a certain common air of greatness, like so +many successive princes, or contemporary heroes of the same mighty empire. + +From this main range, there diverged many lesser chambers, in which we saw +studious persons engaged, each seated by himself, and having his eyes +fixed on the parchment before him. Of these, some deigned not to intimate +by the smallest movement their perception that any one had approached; but +with others Xerophrastes exchanged, as he walked, lofty salutation, and +one or two even entered, for a moment, into conversation with him. With +one of these, indeed, (an ancient of bitter aspect,) to such a length did +the colloquy extend, that we began to think we should never be able to get +our Stoic away from him; till, as our fortune would have it, it became +necessary for them to have a certain book for the purpose of reference, +and then Xerophrastes began to make inquiries concerning Parmeno, who, as +I gathered, must needs be one of those intrusted with the care of the +library. + +"I am afraid," said the other, "if we must wait for him, we shall not be +able to get that work either to-day or to-morrow; for his pupil, the son +of Fabricius, is dead, and I suppose he will now change his quarters, and +be no longer seen so often about these haunts of the muses." + +"Alas!" interrupted Sextus, "I met Fabricius in the Forum a few days ago, +and he told me his son was ill; but little did I imagine my dear companion +was so near his end! Is it indeed so?" + +"Even so," rejoined the other. "Rapid have been the shears of Atropos! It +is but a few moments since Agaso, the painter passed; and, he told me he +had been receiving orders to take a likeness, as well as he could, from +the corpse." + +"If Agaso be so engaged," replied Xerophrastes, "I am afraid we need not +expect to find him neither in his usual place. Perhaps we had better make +inquiry for him at the dwelling of Fabricius." + +To this Sextus assented; or rather, being lost in reflection concerning +the death of his friend, he suffered himself to be conducted by the Stoic. +Passing, therefore, through one or two more apartments, we issued forth, +and drew near to the vestibule of Fabricius' house, who, as they told me, +was a noble Roman, having the chief superintendance of the whole library, +and an intimate friend of Licinius--one whose domestic calamity could not +fail to spread much affliction through a wide circle of patrician kindred. + +At the vestibule, we found assembled not a few of the young man's +relations; but Xerophrastes immediately said, "Behold Parmeno, he is the +most afflicted; and what wonder that it should be so?" + +"Alas!" said Sextus, "the bier is set forth; the last rites are to be +performed this evening." + +This Parmeno was a striking figure. Seated close by the bier, his head was +involved in his cloak, so that only his eyes and his nose could be seen, +but these of themselves expressed a decorous affliction; and the folds of +the cloak fell down over the rest of his person in great order and +dignity. On the pavement beside him was seen lying, half-unfolded, a book +inscribed with the name of Heraclitus, which he appeared to have been +reading. When Xerophrastes approached, this mourner stretched forth his +hand, and shook his head, but he did not say any thing, nor even look +towards the rest of us; and indeed to have done so, would have disturbed +the attitude in which he had placed himself. Xerophrastes, on his part, +received the proffered hand, and shaking his head in response, said, "Yes, +my Ionian friend, I may still bid thee hail and live; but I must say +farewell to the plant thou wast rearing. Farewell to the youthful promise +of Fabricius!" + +On hearing these words, the sitting philosopher drew his mantle quite over +his face, and leant himself heavily against one of the fluted columns of +the vestibule, for he seemed to be much shaken. In the meantime Sextus +approached the bier, and contemplated his companion as he lay there +wreathed with melancholy garlands; his countenance bearing a natural +mixture of sadness and astonishment. Nor could I, who had never before +seen the young man, behold the spectacle without similar emotions; for his +age, as it seemed, could not have been much different from my own, and the +pale features were interesting, their expression not less amiable than +solemn. + +"Alas!" said Sextus, "the last time I saw him, how differently did he +appear! We rode out together with some others to Tibur, and spent all the +day there; and as we returned by the moonlight, how joyous his +conversation! Methinks I yet hear him laughing and speaking. We parted at +the foot of the Capitoline, and never did I see him again till now." + +"Oh, fate of man!" quoth Xerophrastes; "how uncertain is life, how certain +death! Without doubt, young Fabricius had as little thought of dying as +any of your company; and yet, see now, he is arrayed for the last time, +and this juvenile gown, which he should so soon have laid aside for the +manly, is destined to be consumed with him." + +"A fine lad he was," cries one of the standers by,--"a fine lad, and an +excellent horseman. The Martian Field did not often behold such a rider in +these degenerate days of the Roman youth." + +But while the rest were still contemplating the bier, Xerophrastes, +turning to his brother philosopher, said, "Tell me now, my learned friend, +do you still, after this mournful event, continue to reside with the elder +Fabricius? Has that excellent man any more sons to be educated, or will he +retain you only for the sake of the library, with which assuredly he will +find few so conversant as yourself?" + +To which Parmeno replied, "Your question, O Xerophrastes, shews that clear +judgment concerning the affairs of men, for which you have always been +celebrated. No, my friend, the gray-haired Fabricius no longer requires my +residence here; for he is about to retire into one of his villas on the +Campanian shore, and to bury for ever his affliction in the privacy of his +woods. We are about to part, not without mutual tears; and several +Patricians have already been applying to him for his influence with me, +whom, although unworthy of so much research, they earnestly covet, and +wish to engage as the instructor of their young men. I have been sitting +here not unseen, beside this my former charge, and each is impatient to +solicit me into his service." + +"Your reputation I well know is high," replied Xerophrastes, "and +deservedly so; more particularly, for that fine talent you have for giving +metaphysical interpretations of mythology, and for explaining the obscure +allegories of ancient poets. But for my own part, Parmeno, I find not so +much delight in abstract ideas, or in the passive contemplation of the +universe; but incline rather to study, as heretofore, that part of +philosophy which relates to action, and the morality of duty." + +"Yes, worthy Xerophrastes," returned he, with a most languid serenity; +"and so far as I understand, you sort well in this with the stirring +disposition of your friend Licinius." + +To which Xerophrastes made answer:--"My patron Licinius is fond of action, +and I of the rules of action. He says, it is only in war, or in civil +functions of a public nature, that a person can prove himself a man. The +rest, he says, is visionary, and comes to nothing, or is a slumber of the +mind in sensuality, without thought." + +"Does he think, then," quoth Parmeno, his wobegone countenance relaxing +into a smile,--"Does Licinius think, then, there is no sensuality in +perpetual action, and declamation and noise? To me such things appear +almost as trivial as the lazy enjoyments of Epicureans, besides being +harsh and disagreeable, and not unfrequently ridiculous. But observe, O +Xerophrastes! that I speak these things as it were abstractly, and not by +any means in disparagement of Licinius, your excellent patron and friend." + +To which the stoic replied in astonishment--"What is this you have said? Do +you assert that action is sensual?" + +Then Parmeno, lifting from the pavement the book which he had been +reading, or appearing to read, said, "It is even so, most erudite +Xerophrastes. Indeed, I have always delighted in the most primitive and +remote doctrines handed down from antiquity; and among others, in the +riddles of this obscure Ephesian. Following the scope of his philosophy, I +am led to believe, that, so often as the mind impels, or is impelled by +other causes, it begins to lose sight of pure knowledge, and becomes in +danger of thinking that every thing is vain, light, and evanescent, except +what is perceived by the senses. Heraclitus well says, that Love and +Hatred govern all things. Now, when the principle of Discord prevails, it +subjects all things to the dominion of action, and to the gross +perceptions of sense. But when that of Love is prevalent, it emancipates +the struggling chaos of things from the yearning of compulsion, and from +the darkness of sensual proximity; for, between things that struggle +immediately against each other, light has no room to enter in and shine; +and therefore it is, that, when Love gains the ascendency, a new +arrangement is produced--an arrangement which, if I may so express it, is +more serene, transparent, orderly and divine, and wherein things exist in +safety from the danger of mutual destruction." + +After a preliminary cough:--"My opinion," replied Xerophrastes, "coincides +rather with that of Empedocles. The immortal Sicilian thinks that Discord +is the only separating and arranging principle which marks the boundaries +between things, and enables them mutually to act and repel, in such a way +as to preserve order."--"Nay, nay," interrupted Parmeno, his hands being by +this quite disentangled from his cloak, and his countenance lighted +up,--"Nay, nay, to such doctrine I never shall assent. From Empedocles--even +from Xerophrastes, I must differ for ever on this head. The order of which +you and the Sicilian speak, is the order of darkness only, and of blind +force,--a kind of order in which fierceness and cruelty always reign." But +Xerophrastes continued:--"And I farther concur with Empedocles in thinking, +that Love is a principle of which the predominance is more fit to turn +order into a chaos, than to produce the effects you have described."--"Nay, +speak not against Love," quoth Parmeno--"Speak not against Love, nor +believe that any respect is due to the dictates of Empedocles, who taught +the worst that can be taught by any man--that is to say, the alternation of +order and confusion succeeding each other throughout all time. To seek for +truth in conceptions like these, is no better than to seek repose in the +bosom of AEtna."--"In reference to that point," resumed Xerophrastes, "I +agree with you in your disapprobation of Empedocles. But when you say, +that Love is the source of knowledge, you much astonish me; for I have +always thought rather that its tendency is to bring confusion upon the +mind." + +"Once more," said Parmeno--"once more, let me beseech you to say nothing +against love. You are thinking of the love of particular objects. You +speak of Cupid, and not of that heavenly Eros, who, so far from +enchaining, or tyrannizing over the mind, rather enables it to escape into +the tranquil freedom of far extended contemplation. But what is +contemplation without the knowledge of permanent forms, on which the mind +may find repose, and so keep itself from being perplexed by the shifting +aspects of the many-coloured universe? And therefore it is, O +Xerophrastes, that, sometimes laying aside Heraclitus, I study the ancient +verses of the poet, Xenophanes, who shews, by the nature of abstract +forms, that a certain unity pervades all things. Xenophanes mused of old +at Colophon, looking through the blue ether of my native Ionia.--But why +should I speak thus at length? Alas! what is the occasion of our being +here!--I perceive the approach of the poet, who was to compose an +inscription for the urn of my dear Fabricius. Yonder also is the +architect, who comes with a design for the tomb. Oh! day of wo, that I +should sit in judgment concerning the epitaph and tomb of my ingenuous +youth!" + +"It is, indeed, true," replied Xerophrastes, "that even I, in the +repercussions of our talk, had well-nigh forgotten this unhappy +occurrence; but, perhaps, there is something not after all entirely +excusable in our giving so much superiority to the affairs of +philosophical discussion. Now, however, it is evident, that we must +suspend our colloquy--And who, I beseech you, above all things, is he that +now draws near to the place of this mournful assembly, holding a horse in +his hand. Methinks I have seen his face before." + +"That you have indeed, Master," quoth he that had come up,--"that you have; +and no longer ago than yesterday neither, if you will be pleased to give +yourself the trouble of recollecting. My name is Aspar--I am well known. If +but my excellent friend, the noble Centurion Sabinus, were here, poor old +Aspar would have no reason to complain of the want of a good word." + +"Good morrow to you, Aspar," said Sextus; "but what is it that brings you +hither just at this moment? And for what purpose have you brought your +horse with you? for people of your sort do not in general ride in the +courts of the Palatine." + +"Alas!" quoth Aspar, "and is it you, who seem to have been one of the +contemporaries of that peerless youth--is it you that ask such a question +as this? I did not, in truth, imagine that there was any friend of young +Fabricius, who did not know his affection for little Sora. There is not +such another within twenty miles of the Capitol; but I brought her hither +merely out of regard for the family. As for myself, I should never bear to +look on her again with pleasure, after knowing the sudden manner of his +death. I wish to Heaven the filly were fairly lodged in one of the +paddocks of the Lord Fabricius himself." + +"Lead the animal round into the stables," says Parmeno, "and I doubt not +care will be taken of her.--Yonder comes one of the buffoons of the +theatre;--he, I doubt not, is here to disgrace, if he be permitted, this +solemn scene, with ranting quotations from the tragic poets. Alas! alas! I +cannot bear all this: There also advance the officiators from the Temple +of Libitina; they have their cypress boughs ready in their hands. Oh, my +learned friend, I cannot sustain these things; let me be gone into the +mansion." + +The admirer of Heraclitus, picking up his scroll, and gathering together +the folds of his mantle, moved slowly into the house, Xerophrastes +following with similar gestures. Sextus and I also were about to take our +departure; and he, having procured from one of the slaves of the house a +myrtle garland, had already placed it upon the bier of the young +Fabricius, as the last testimonial of his concern; when there drew near +two young men, clad in long mantles of black, who, solemnly embracing my +friend, began to exchange with him many expressions of grief. + +While they were thus engaged, Rubellia, who had been standing all this +while a little apart, sent a boy to inform us that the painter we were in +search of had at last made his appearance, and was anxious to proceed with +his portrait. I drew Sextus away, therefore, and soon joined the lady and +the artist; but as we were moving off thus, one of the bystanding slaves, +an old gray-headed man, came up and whispered to Sextus, "Sir, be not +deceived; these two nephews of my bereaved master are to me the most +disagreeable part of all this preparation. You have heard their +lamentation, and seen their sweeping raiment of mourning; but, be sure, a +principal subject of their reflection is the probability that one or other +of them must be adopted by Fabricius. Alas! alas! so goes all between +Lucina and Libitina. There was never a birth nor a marriage that did not +create some sorrow, nor a funeral procession that did not give rise to +some joy. Your rhetoricians talk, but what avails it all? Slaves and +masters are alike subjected to the evils of the world, and of these death +is both the last and the least." + + + + + _CHAPTER IV._ + + +Agaso, the painter, was a smart dapper little bandy-legged man of Verona, +dressed in a Grecian mantle, and endeavouring to look as much as possible +like a Greek. Had Xerophrastes not gone off with his brother of Ionia, I +have no doubt this man would have made his presence a sufficient excuse +for speaking nothing but Greek to us; but, even as it was, his +conversation was interlarded with an abundant intermixture of that noble +tongue. Nothing could be spoken of which Agaso did not think fit to +illustrate, either by the narration of something he himself had seen or +heard during his residence at Athens, or, at least, by some quotation from +the Grecian poets. To judge from the square, and somewhat ponderous +formation of the man's features, Nature had not designed him for any of +the most mercurial specimens of her workmanship; but he contrived, +notwithstanding, by perpetual shrugging and grimacing, and, above all, by +keeping his eyes and eyebrows continually in motion, to give himself an +air of no inconsiderable life and vivacity. + +Hopping before us with much alacrity, this artist conducted our steps +through eight or ten galleries, until at length a curtain being withdrawn, +which had covered the space between two pilasters, we found ourselves in a +spacious apartment, which, from the courteousness wherewith he bowed us +into it, there could be no difficulty in perceiving to be the customary +sphere of his own exertions. It was not altogether deserted even when we +entered, but the removal of the curtain attracted more of the loungers of +the baths, and ere Sextus was fairly fixed before the table of the +painter, the modest youth had the mortification to find himself surrounded +with a very crowd of knowing and curious physiognomies. The presence of +these, however, appeared not unwelcome to the master. On the contrary, +there arose between the little man, as he was preparing his brushes, and +those who had come to survey him at his work, such a gabble of +compliments, remarks, and disquisitions, that it seemed to me as if he +would have been disappointed had he not been favoured with their +attendance. + +"How noble," cries one, "is that portrait you have just been finishing of +Rupilius!--Heavens! with what felicity you have caught the air! Methinks I +see him about to enter the Basilica, when he knows that some great cause +is awaiting his decision. What solemnity in his aspect! what grandeur in +the gown!--How finely the purple of the laticlave is made to harmonize with +the colouring of the cheeks and chin! What beautiful handling about the +fingers with which he grasps his tablets!--As for the head of the stylus, +it is the very eye of the picture."--"Exquisite indeed," quoth another; +"but who can look at it, or at any thing else, in the same room with this +little jewel?--Heavens! what a beauty! who can it be? for I never saw her +either at the Circus or the Amphitheatre. What an inimitable modesty!" + +The painter heard this last piece of eulogy with an air of some +embarrassment, and at the same time looked very cunningly towards the +person who had uttered it. But the Lady Rubellia tossed her head, and +whispered to me, "Pretty she may be, though I cannot say that style of +dressing the hair is at all adapted for such features; but for modesty! +hem. I asked Agaso two or three days ago who it was, and he told +me--guess!--it is a little Spanish girl, whom that august-looking person, +with the grand laticlave, and the purple cheeks and chin, and the +glittering stylus, thought fit to bring home with him when he was relieved +from the hard duties of the Pro-praetorship. I dare say, he takes care she +shall not be seen either at Circus or Amphitheatre; and, indeed, I think +it is sufficient impudence to shew her likeness in the company of so many +portraits of respectability." + +"My dear lady," quoth the painter, who overheard somewhat, "for the sake +of all that is sacred, no word of this again! Wait, at least, till the +canvass for the Augurship be over. There are always so many to exaggerate +and misrepresent."--"Exaggerate, indeed! I think Rupilius ought to be +ashamed of himself; and at his time of life too. I think you said he was +just the same age with my uncle?"--"Yes," says the painter, "he must be of +that standing; and I think he went to Spain just about the period of your +marriage."--"Filthy old fellow," quoth she, very quickly; "and this is the +treasure he has brought home with him! I have a great mind to tell his +wife."--"Hush, hush," said Agaso, "this is the very day Rupilius spoke of +bringing her to see his own portrait; and, indeed, I am sure that is the +Senator's cough. I rely on your prudence." + +And the portly original of the laticlaved portrait walked into the room, +having his gown and every part of his dress arranged as represented in the +picture; although in the living countenance it was easy to discover a few +lines and spots which had been omitted in the copy. By his side moved a +short woman, arrayed in the extremity of costly attire, whose swarthy +complexion did not, in spite of cosmeticism, harmonize very well with the +bright golden ringlets of her Sicambrian peruque; while behind the pair +came a thin damsel, whose lineaments exhibited a sort of faint shadow of +the same visage, the rudiments of which had been so abundantly filled up +in that of the rubicund magistrate. The ex-pro-praetor, after saluting +Agaso, stood still with dignity in the midst of the apartment, while the +fond daughter, rushing close up to his picture, could with difficulty +affix any limits to her expressions of satisfaction:--"O Jupiter! look at +the ring. It is the very ring he wears!--the very images are engraved upon +it; one can see the three Graces. I never saw such a picture--when will it +be brought home?"--"Hush, hush, now, Primula," quoth the mother. "It is +certainly a likeness; but why will artists, now-a-days, always paint +people older than they are? And besides, it wants something of his +expression. Don't you think so yourself, sir?" (turning to the painter) +"Rupilius has surely been looking very gloomily when he sat." + +On this the painter, leaving Sextus, advanced to her side, and after a +pause of some moments, spent in contemplating alternately his own work and +the original, said, with a courteous simper, "How much am I indebted to +you, most noble lady, for this visit, and these judicious remarks! I only +wish you had accompanied the senator, for then, without question, his +countenance would have worn the look you desiderate; and I perhaps might +have more easily succeeded in catching it, being aided by your +suggestions. I hope it may yet be amended."--"How modest he is!" ejaculated +the spouse. "A single sitting will suffice, I am sure. We shall come some +day when you are quite alone, and I will sit by you, and talk to Rupilius +all the while."--"Delightful!" replied the artist; "how happy shall I be in +such an opportunity of improving both the picture and myself! We must +positively prevail on the senator to give us this one sitting +more."--"Never ask his consent," quoth the matron, smiling upon her lord; +"leave the whole matter to me. The picture is for me. And besides, if he +were to refuse, I know how I should be certain to overcome him; for he has +asked me to sit to you myself, and you know if I were to persist in +sitting with my gloomy face, as he has with his, we should soon bring him +to his right reason."--"_Your_ gloomy face, noble lady!" replied the +artist, strutting back a pace or two. "I am afraid, if that is the charm +by which alone he is to be softened, we must give up all our hopes."--"I +protest," says the lady, "I believe you will keep me laughing all the time +I sit. And pray now, what dress do you think I should wear? Prima says, I +ought certainly to be in green; but I was thinking, that perhaps a yellow +byssine would suit me better. But I shall send over half a dozen robes, +and then we can choose whichever seems to be the best. One thing only I am +quite resolved upon, and that is, that I shall have my golden chain, with +the miniature of the Pro-praetor--the Senator, I mean--at the end of +it."--"Nothing could be in finer taste," he made answer; "and if my lady +should think of green, or purple, or any dark colour for the gown, the +rings of the chain and the setting of the miniature would have the richest +effect."--"And do, my dear mother," interrupted Prima; "and do have on the +sapphire tiara when you sit to Agaso. Or what would you think of having +your own hair simply like this lady here? What a beauty!"--"A smart little +girl, indeed," quoth the mother. "I think I should know that face. Is she +Roman, Agaso?"--"No, not a Roman," answered the artist; "nor do I think my +lady can ever have met with her. But perhaps my Lord Rupilius may, for she +is a Spaniard." + +Agaso turned with a smile to the Senator; but he, scarcely appearing to +look at the picture, answered, with great gravity, "I think I have seen +the countenance before; and perhaps it was in my province. The face is +certainly a pretty one; but nothing so very extraordinary."--"They may say +what they like," observed the spouse, drawing herself up; "but there is no +such thing as a really urbane air to be got out of Rome." + +Meantime, in another part of the room, some other picture appeared to be +exciting a scarcely inferior measure of curiosity. On approaching the +party, I perceived that this was a sketch, in chalk only, of the head and +shoulders of an old man; and when I had gained an opportunity of more +nearly surveying it, I recognized without difficulty the features of +Tisias of Antioch. The greater number of those who were looking on it, +seemed also to have been present at his death; for I heard pointed out by +them with exactness the parts in which the resemblance had been most +successfully taken. The beauty of the old man's lineaments, and the +serenity of his aspect, they all admired; and while they were loud in +praising these, Agaso himself also joined them, saying, "Oh, so you have +found out my old Christian! How did you get hold of him? for I meant it +not to be seen till I had lain on a little of the colour. But is it not a +fine study?--is it not a noble head? I think I shall introduce it in the +picture I am painting for Pliny. The subject is the sacrifice of +Iphigenia. I went to the Amphitheatre," he continued, "rather late, +without expecting any thing particular; but it immediately struck me that +he might be turned to some account. I made several little sketches of him, +for it was a long time ere it was over; and this is from the one I took +just after he had made his oration. His hands and feet were singularly +fine, I thought. Here," said he, turning over the leaves of his +tablets--"here you have him in a variety of shapes!--the muscles shewed +powerfully when he knelt;--there, again, you have his fingers as they were +folded on his breast--not much flesh, but the lines good--veins well +expressed." + +But about this time the great bell rung in the tower above the Baths, and +the greater part of the young loungers soon dispersed themselves; some to +fence or wrestle--others to play in the tennis-court--others to ride in the +Hippodrome, in preparation for the bath. So Agaso, being left alone with +Sextus, Rubellia, and myself, had at length leisure to proceed with his +portrait of the youth. + +Much did the lady and the painter discourse, and many merry things were +said by them both; but all they said could not entirely remove the +embarrassment fixed on the countenance of Sextus; nor, of a truth, did he +present himself with much advantage before the artist. Rubellia, +nevertheless, sate over against him with looks of no severe criticism; and +I doubt not she would have remained to the end of the sitting, had not one +of her household come with a message, which, as it seemed, rendered +necessary her departure. It struck me, that the messenger answered very +well to Dromo's description of the fat Calabrian with whom he and Boto had +been drinking; but of this I said nothing to Sextus. + +It was near the hour of supper before we were dismissed, and we found +Licinius already about to enter his eating chamber. + + + + + _CHAPTER V._ + + +The orator received us with less coldness than I could have expected. I +suppose his knowledge that our morning had been spent in Rubellia's +company, had in some measure softened his feelings of jealousy towards his +son; and perhaps he had given me credit for advice, to the merit of which +I had no claim. But he remained not long at table after supper was +concluded, being summoned to discourse in private with a client:--so that +Sextus and I were left to spend the evening as it might please ourselves; +for as to Xerophrastes, he had not as yet made his appearance, and we took +it for granted he had remained at the mansion of Fabricius, for the +purpose of consoling with philosophical controversies his bereaved brother +of Ionia. + +We retired, therefore, into the apartment of my young friend; but he could +not read a page without coming upon some verse which made him throw down +the scroll to ruminate on the charms of his Sempronia. When he took up his +lute, his fingers seemed to evoke only the most melancholy sounds. It was +only in the exercise of the foil, that he succeeded in banishing from his +thoughts the troubles of his situation; but both of us having contended +till we were breathless, were soon compelled to sit down, and then the +unhappy boy's exhausted body seemed to communicate a new debility to his +mind. We sat for the most part in silence, (for I soon found that I could +not say any thing capable of interesting him,) until the shades of evening +had quite darkened the chamber, and then we walked together, not less +silently, in the adjoining open gallery, until the moon had arisen from +above the tall poplars around the Pantheon and Baths of Agrippa, and +diffused her radiance over all the beautiful gardens and noble edifices +that lay beneath us down to the brink of the river. Lassitude of spirit +then, if not expectation of sleep, rendered Sextus desirous of retiring to +his couch; so, having exhorted the youth to wrestle with his grief, and to +call hope to his aid, I at length left him to himself. But as for me, I +had as yet no feeling of weariness, and, besides, I remembered the promise +I had made to Dromo in the morning. + +I was very much surprised, indeed, that the Cretan had not as yet come to +me, and made inquiry concerning him of Boto; but hearing that the man was +absent from the house, I thought from this there was the more likelihood +of his being engaged in some scheme, the result of which I should by and +by learn from his own lips. I dismissed my Briton, therefore, and prepared +to read by my watch-light, and while I was considering what I should read, +I remembered the scroll I had received from Tisias, which forthwith I took +from the place in which I had locked it up on the morning of the preceding +day. There fell from out of it, as I unfolded it, a letter sealed, but +without any superscription. This I of course considered as meant only for +the eye of Athanasia; so I kissed the parchment her fingers were destined +to touch, and, before I began to read, restored it to its receptacle. + +More than one of you, my young friends, have already heard me speak, on +another occasion, of the impression which that night's reading made upon +my mind, and been told, from my own lips, what book it was that was +contained in the scroll of Tisias; the rest of you will judge for +yourselves with what astonishment it was that I, who had at the best +expected to unfold some obscure treatise of Asiatic lore, some +semi-barbarous exposition of mystical riddles, found myself engaged in the +perusal of a plain and perspicuous narrative of facts, written evidently +by a man of accomplishment and learning, and in Greek of which the most +elegant penman of these times could have had no occasion to be ashamed. In +a word, it was the Gospel of the holy physician St Luke which had been put +into my hands; and at this day I am still grateful that this was the first +of the Christian books which I had an opportunity of seeing; for such had +been my education, that I am afraid others, not less worthy of the true +faith, might have repelled me by the peculiarities of their composition, +as well as by the acquaintance with many things, to me then entirely +unknown, which they take for granted in the style of their commencement. +Here, however, there was enough only of mystery, the more effectually to +stimulate my curiosity, while the eagerness with which I engaged myself in +its gratification, was abundantly repaid from the beginning, both by the +beauty of the simple narrative itself, and the sublimity of the +conceptions embodied and evolved in its course. + +Considering the book which I was reading, as one merely of human origin +and invention, I could not help regarding it with such admiration, that it +appeared to me above all things wonderful, I had never seen it mentioned +by any of the writers of the age, or heard it spoken of by any of those +who, in my presence, since I came to Rome, had talked concerning the faith +and doctrines of the persecuted Christians. But this was not all. At +least, said I to myself, there is something here which deserves to be +inquired into and examined. Of things such as these, if told falsely, it +must needs have been--nay, it must still be, easy to prove the falsehood. +It is impossible that, in the days of Tiberius, any such events should +have occurred in Palestine, without being more or less submitted to the +inspection of Roman eyes. This is no wild tale, handed down from the dark +ages of a barbarous race. Here I have a Roman Centurion described as among +the witnesses of this man's miraculous power, and acknowledging the +divinity of his benevolence. Here, at least, must have been one spectator +without prejudices, otherwise than against this Prophet of Nazareth. Of a +surety, the legends of Rome herself contain many tales which demand a much +greater measure of indulgence; since the wonders they narrate appear to +have been oftentimes attended with no beneficial consequences, either to +individuals or to the state; whereas here the occasion seems always to +have been such as might justify the interference of supernatural might. +The power of this person seems to have been exerted only for good; and his +precepts are full of such godlike loftiness as neither Socrates, nor +Plato, nor any of those Greek sages, who bowed in reverence to the hoary +wisdom of Egypt and India, would have disdained to admire. + +The doubts, suspicions, and distrusts, with which such thoughts were +mingled,--the under-current of reluctance with which I felt myself all +along contending,--were such as you may more easily imagine than I can +describe. + +As the narrative went on, however, you will have no difficulty in +supposing that my attention became more and more rivetted, and that, +occupied with the strange events and sublime scenes it unfolds--and +agitated by turns with the pity, the wonder, the terror, and the +admiration that matchless story must ever awaken,--I had forgotten every +thing beyond the page of the volume on which my finger was fixed. + +It was only the rustling of Dromo's cloak against the edge of my chair, +that made me aware my privacy was disturbed. His hands seemed to be busied +in tightening his girdle even before he was able to speak, and the first +words he uttered, were--"Come, sir--this is no time for study. I have +acquaintance with some of the soldiers at the Capene Gate, and they will +let us pass through; but they are relieved at the next watch, and then we +shall have no chance."--"And why," said I, hastily thrusting the scroll +into my bosom--"why, Dromo, or for what purpose should we desire to pass +through the Capene Gate at the dead hour of night?"--"Come," said he; +"there is no time for explanation. It is simply because it is the dead +hour of night that we must pass through the gate; for it would do nobody +any good to pass through at any other time. Come--or abandon Sextus to his +fate." + +Thus adjured, I could not oppose any obstacle to his zeal. The chained +porter was lying asleep across the threshold; but Dromo had already found +means to have the door opened, so he leaped lightly over the man, and I +imitated his agility. The Cretan then locked the gate on the outside, by +means of a key which he carried in his bosom; and I followed his rapid +steps without farther question. + +This cunning varlet, (who seemed, indeed, to move as if he had a natural +aversion to every open place,) threaded one obscure lane after another, +keeping always, where the moonlight had any access, to the dark side of +the way; a person better skilled than myself might well have been somewhat +puzzled; as for me, I had not the least conception whither I was going. +Close, however, did I adhere to him; and we reached the Capene Port, which +is on the south side of the city, not many bow-shots from the Anio, before +I could have imagined it possible to traverse so great a space. + +Here Dromo told me to wait for him a single moment, and stepped down into +a cellar, in which a light was burning; but he staid not long, and when he +returned to me, I observed that his style of walking was more clumsy than +usual, which, indeed, was not to be wondered at, considering that he had +now to carry, not only himself, but two huge skins of wine, intended, as I +at once suspected, for the purpose of facilitating our passage. I told him +my suspicion in a whisper; but he made no answer, except by handing to me +one of his burdens. So laden, we crept on as well as we could to the +portal, beneath the shadow of which two Praetorians were pacing, their +armour ringing audibly upon them amidst the silence of the night.--Silently +did the well-oiled hinges turn, and very silently stooping did we step +beneath the lintel of the Capene Gate, which as silently was again made +fast. + +As we advanced among the funereal monuments which line the Appian Way on +either side, Dromo stood still every now and then for a moment, as if to +listen; but whatever he might have heard, or expected to hear, I perceived +nothing, except here and there the howl of a dog, or the lazy hooting of +the night-owl, from the top of some of the old cypresses that rose between +us and the moon. + +At last he seemed to catch the sound he had been expecting, for he started +suddenly; and laying his finger on his lip, crept to the parapet. + +The ground behind was more desolate of aspect than any part of that which +we had traversed--stoney and hard, with here and there tufts of withered +fern; and immediately below the wall two human figures were visible. The +one was sitting on the ground, wrapped in a dark cloak which entirely +concealed the countenance: the other was a half-naked boy, holding in a +string a little new-shorn lamb, which with one of his hands he continually +caressed. But forthwith the sitter arose, and throwing away the cloak, +displayed the gray tangled tresses of an old woman, and two strong boney +arms, one of which was stretched forth with an impatient gesture towards +the stripling, while the other was pointed upwards to the visible moon. +"Strike," said she, "strike deeply--beware lest the blood tinge your feet +or your hands;"--and I recognized at once the voice of the same Pona that +had attracted my notice in the morning, at the foot of the Palatine. + +The boy drew forth instantly a knife from his bosom, whose glittering +blade was buried in the throat of the yearling, and it was then first that +I perceived a small ditch dug between the boy and the woman, into which, +the lamb's throat being held over it, the blood was made to drop from the +wound. So surely had the blow been given, that not one bleat escaped from +the animal, and so deeply, that the blood flowed in a strong stream, +dashing audibly upon the bottom of the trench. And while it was dropping, +the old woman muttering a sort of chant to Hecate, as I gathered, showered +from her girdle I know not what of bones or sticks, mingled with leaves +and roots, which afterwards she seemed to be stirring about in the blood +with one of the tall strong stems of the fern that grew there. The +wildness of her gestures was such, that I could not doubt she had herself +some faith in the efficacy of the foul charms to which she had resorted; +nor could I see her stirring that trench of innocent blood, without +remembering the still more ruthless charms, whose practice the poets of +Italy have ascribed to such hoary enchantresses. The dreariness of the +midnight wind, too, as it whistled along the bare and steril soil around +us, and the perpetual variations in the light, by reason of the careering +of those innumerable clouds, and the remembrance of the funereal purposes +for which, as it seemed, all this region was set apart--the whole of this +together produced, I know not how, a certain pressure upon my spirits, and +I confess to you, I felt, kneeling there by the side of my now trembling +Cretan, as if I owed him no great thanks for having brought me that night +beyond the Capene Gate. + +It seemed as if the goddess, to whom the witch's song had been addressed, +did not listen to it with favourable ear; for the clouds gathered +themselves more thickly than ever, while the wind howled only more loudly +among the tombs, and the half-scared owl sent up a feebler hooting. +Notwithstanding, the old woman continued fixed in the same attitude of +expectation, and the stripling still held the well-nigh drained throat of +his lamb above the trench. By degrees, however, the patience of both +seemed to be exhausted; and there arose between them an angry altercation. +"Infernal brat of Hades!" quoth the witch, "look ye, if you have not +stained your filthy hands, and if the thirsty shadows be not incensed, +because you have deprived them of some of the sweet blood which they +love!"--"Curse not me, mother," replied the boy--"Did you think, in truth, +that the blood of a stolen lamb would ever propitiate Hecate?"--"Imp!" +quoth she, "Hold thy peace, or I will try whether no other blood may make +the charm work better!"--"Beware!" quoth the boy, leaping backwards--"beware +what you do! I am no longer so weak that I must bear all your blows." + +"Stop," cried I, "for there are eyes that you think not of, to take note +of your wickedness;" and in my vehemence I shook one of the great loose +stones that were on the top of the wall, which rolled down and bounded +into the ditch beside them; and the woman, huddling her cloak over her +head, began to run swiftly away from us, along the wall over which we were +leaning. The boy only stood still for a moment, and looked upwards towards +the place where we were, and then he also fled, but in the opposite +direction; and Dromo said to me in a very piteous whisper, but not till +both were out of sight,--"Heaven and earth! was ever such madness as to +scare the witch from her incantation? Alas! for you and for me, sir--and, +most of all, alas for Sextus--for I fear me after this we shall have no +luck in counteracting the designs of Rubellia." + +"Rubellia! what? can you possibly imagine Rubellia to have any thing to do +with this madness?" + +"Imagine?" quoth he; "do you need to be told, that if things had gone well +with that woman and her ditch, we should never have been able to preserve +Sextus from her clutches?" + +"By the rod of Hermes, good Dromo!" said I, "this will never do. I shall +believe much on your credit, but not things quite so extravagant as this." + +He made no reply save a long, incredulous, and, I think, contemptuous +whistle, which seemed to reach the ears of every owl between us and the +Appian; with such a hooting and screeching did they echo its note from +every cypress. And when Dromo heard that doleful concert, his dread +redoubled within him, for he shook from head to foot, while I held his arm +in mine; until, at last, he seemed to make one violent effort, and +springing on his feet, said--"Come, Master Valerius, let us behave after +all like men!"--I smiled when he said so--"The hour has not yet come, if my +Calabrian friend is to be trusted, at which the lady was to visit Pona in +her dwelling. It is but daring a little more. If she has seen and known us +already, then nothing can endanger us farther; and if she hath not, we may +escape again."--"Well spoken," said I, "most shrewd Dromo, and like +yourself; but what is it that you would have us to do?"--"The first thing," +he replied, "is what has already been too long delayed." + +The Cretan produced from under his cloak a long fictitious beard, which he +immediately proceeded to fix upon his own face with a string. A thin tall +cap of black cloth was next brought forth, which he fastened in like +manner around his brows; and a little piece of chalk, with which he once +or twice rubbed over his black bushy eye-brows, completed a disguise +beneath which I should certainly have sought in vain to discover any trace +of the natural countenance of Dromo. In short, after a few changes in the +folding of his cloak, there stood before me a figure so venerably +mysterious, that had I met it unawares at midnight, in the neighbourhood +of so many tombs, I am not sure, although of no superstitious temper, that +I could have regarded it without awe. + +"Come now, good Master," quoth he, "you are taller than I, pluck me a +branch from the nearest tree, and I think you shall confess I make a +decent Soothsayer." In this it was easy to gratify him; for there was an +old willow just a few yards off, and its boughs were so dry with age, that +I soon abstracted a very proper wand for him. After receiving which, he +stood for a moment leaning on it in a dignified fashion, as if to rehearse +an attitude worthy of his new vocation; and then said--"Well, sir, I think +if the Lady Rubellia comes now, we shall be tolerably prepared for her. +But I have no disguise for you; therefore, the moment you hear a footstep, +be sure you wrap your face in your gown, and stand behind me, for so shall +you best consult both your own concealment, and the dignity of this +Assyrian. There is no other way by which she can come from the Suburra, +therefore we might stay very well where we are; but I think it might be +still better to await her coming where there are either tombs or larger +trees to cast a shade over our equipage, in case the moon should take it +into her head to be more kind to us than she was to Pona."--"By all means," +said I, "most venerable man--and besides, the wind is rather chilly, +therefore I shall be well pleased to have shelter as well as shade." + +"You shall have both," quoth he; "there is a thick grove of pines only a +little way on. I believe there is a very grand tomb in the midst of them, +in case you should prefer to sit under it.--By the bye," he continued, +after some little pause, "it is odd enough that it should be so; but I +believe it is the very place where all that race of the Sempronii, to +which a certain young damsel belongs, have been burnt and buried ever +since Rome was a city. You cannot see their tomb yet; but that is only +from the thickness of the trees, some of which are, I suppose, even older +than itself. Now I remember me, it was just there that they set up two +winters ago the funeral pile of old Caius--I mean the father of the Lady +Athanasia, whom you saw at Capito's villa. They are a very noble race, and +although none of the richest now-a-days, there is not a prouder in Rome. I +saw the procession at that old man's funeral myself, and I think the +images of his ancestors that they carried before him, would have reached +half way from hence to the Great Road. Grim, dusty figures, I trow they +were; but I doubt not there had been many a haughty captain among them +when they were alive." + +These words were spoken as we were moving onwards towards this same grove +of pines, and before he had made an end of speaking, we could clearly hear +the wind sighing among their branches, and along the dry underground. And +on coming to them I found that he had said truly there was a tomb in the +midst of them, for a very noble, high, circular tower was indeed there, +which, from the grayness of its walls, and luxuriance of ivy, had the +appearance of being at least as ancient as any of the surrounding trees. +The only method of access to the inside, seemed to be by means of a +winding stair, which rose on the exterior from the ground to the summit--a +method not unusual in Roman sepulchres--and it was on one of the steps of +this stair that I seated myself, where, between the shaded wall on the one +side, and the pine branches on the other, I was effectually concealed. As +for Dromo, I know not whether it was that he coveted not exactly such +close proximity to the stones of such an edifice; but instead of ascending +with me, he took up a position beside one of the largest pines over +against me. + +Although the moon had got rid of her clouds, and the sky, where any of it +could be seen, was abundantly brilliant, the natural darkness of that +funereal grove was such, that very little difference could be produced in +the midst of it by any variation on the face of any nightly luminary. The +tower itself received some of the moonbeams on its carved surface; but its +contemporary trees participated not in any such illumination,--one solemn +shade covering all things beneath the influence of their growth. "I can +scarcely see you, Dromo," said I; "but I think that speck must be your +beard, and if so, I beg you would tell me what it is you really have in +view by all this preparation? Do you expect me to stay here on a +tomb-stone all night, merely because you wish to have an opportunity of +terrifying poor Rubellia by some ghost-like howl or other when she passes +you?--which, by the way, it seems by no means certain she will do at all. +Or what is your purpose?"--"Hush!" was his answer; "ask no questions, but +hem thrice if you hear a footstep--for young ears are the keenest." +Accordingly silence was kept so strictly, that, in spite of the chillness +of the stone on which I sate, I presently fell into a sort of dozing +slumber. + +By degrees, however,--nor, considering the hour and the fatigue I had +undergone, is it wonderful that it should have been so,--my sleep must have +become sufficiently profound, for I did not at first, on waking from it, +very well remember either where I was, or for what purpose I had come +thither. And, indeed, I have little doubt my slumbers might have continued +till day-break, but for the interruption I am now to mention. + +And yet it seemed as if even in my sleep I had been prepared for this by +some strange anticipation, for although it was a near sound of singing +voices that dispelled my slumbers, and made me start from the stone on +which I had placed myself, I could not help feeling as if that sound were +not altogether new to me;--whether it were that the half-sensible ear had +been already ministering indistinctly to the dreaming spirit, or that some +purely fantastic prelude had been vouchsafed to the real music. I started +up suddenly, that much is certain, and listened with astonishment, yet not +altogether with such surprise as might have been expected to attend a +transition so hasty from sleep to waking, and from silence to the near +neighbourhood of sounds at once so strange and so sweet. With breathless +curiosity, nevertheless, with awe, and not entirely I think without +terror, did I listen to the notes which seemed to ascend out of the +habitation of the noble dead into the nightly air--wild, yet solemn, as if +breathed from the bosom of a stately repose and a pensive felicity; +insomuch, that almost I persuaded myself I was hearing the forbidden +sounds of another world, and the thought came over me,--yet almost I think +at that moment without farther disturbing me,--what fearful interpretations +the old poets have affixed to such untimely communion, and how the +superstition of all antiquity has shrunk from its omen. + +My first impulse, after a moment had elapsed, was to call on Dromo, and I +did so, at first in a low whisper, and then two or three times more +loudly--but all equally in vain, for no answer was returned; and though I +strained my eyes in gazing on the place where I had last seen him, yet +there I could perceive no trace whatever of any human figure. The +moonlight indeed shewed with more distinctness than before the tall stem +of the old pine-tree against which he had been leaning; but no motion, nor +the least appearance of whiteness, could either my eyes or my imagination +discover there. I might easily, you will say, have stept across the road, +and entirely satisfied myself; but I know not well what it was that nailed +me to the place where I stood, and prevented me even from once thinking of +doing so. The calm sepulchral music, my friends, still continued to stream +from the recess of the mausoleum, and painless awe held me there, as if by +a charm incontrollable. I gazed upwards, and beheld the moon riding above +the black pine tops, in a now serene and cloudless heaven. The wind also +had passed away, as it appeared, with the clouds it had agitated. The bird +of night was asleep on her unseen bough; and all was silent as death, +except only the dwelling of the departed; and a certain indescribable +delight was beginning, as I gazed and listened, to be mixed with the +perturbation wherewith at first I had been inspired. + +And I know not how long I might have stood so, but while I was yet +listening to this mysterious music, there was mingled with its expiring +cadence the sound of a heavy footstep on the staircase above me, and +looking up, I perceived in the moonlight the figure of a man, clad in a +white gown, but having a naked sword stretched forth in his hand, +immediately over the place whereon I was standing. I obeyed the first +natural impulse, and leaped downwards swiftly on seeing him; but this +availed me nothing, for he also leaped, and almost before my feet had +touched the ground, I felt the grasp of his hand upon my shoulder, and +that so strongly, that I perceived plainly there was as little possibility +of escape as of resistance. I made therefore no farther effort, but +suffered him to do with me as he pleased; and he, on his part, said not a +single word, but still retaining his hold, pointed with his sword to the +same steps from which I had descended, and compelled me to mount them +before him, up to the very summit of the round tower. + +"Why is this, sir?" said I; "and whither do you conduct me?" + +"Peace," was all his answer; and, in like manner as he had made me climb +the exterior, so also he compelled me to begin the descent of a similar +flight of steps, which led down from an aperture above, into the interior +of the edifice. And although I must confess to you that I obeyed not this +silent guidance without considerable fear, yet I strove as well as I could +to control myself. I moved with a step in which I think not there could be +perceived any trembling. + +Yet you will admit that even had I been master at that moment of less +firmness, I might have been excusable; for looking down, I perceived that +a lamp was burning in the midst of the sepulchral tower far below me, and +saw sitting around it a company of eight or ten persons, at whose mercy, +it was quite visible, I must be placed. Neither, if I might judge from the +demeanour of the person that was bringing me into their assembly, did +there appear to be any great room for dependance on them; for, as to +themselves, not one of them looked up towards me as I was stepping down, +and being wrapped in their cloaks, I had no means of discovering what +manner of persons they were. The way in which I had been treated, however, +by one of their number, was a sufficient evidence, either that they +conceived themselves to have been injured by my being there, or that they +were capable of taking some undue advantage of my helpless condition. The +calmness of their attitudes, and the recollection of the sounds that I had +heard, inclined me to the former of these suppositions; and when I +perceived that not one of them stirred, even till I had reached the +lowmost step of the interior staircase, in this, without question, I +already felt myself considerably strengthened. + +"Behold," said my guide, as I at length touched the marble floor of the +mausoleum itself--"Behold proof, and that living, that my suspicions were +not quite so groundless as you were pleased to imagine. Here is a man whom +I found listening, even on the very steps of this tower. It is for you to +decide what shall be done with the eaves-dropper." + +With this the whole company sprung at once to their feet, and I perceived +evidently, from the surprise expressed in their looks and attitudes, that +until that moment not one of them had been aware of my approach. I was +about to speak, and declare my innocence of any treachery, or even of any +knowledge concerning the purpose of their meeting; but before I could do +so, one of them, and I think the oldest of all that were present, having +in an instant recovered the tranquillity which my arrival had disturbed, +said to me in a voice of the utmost gentleness, "Young man, what has +brought thee hither, or who sent thee? Art thou indeed a spy, and was it +thy purpose to betray our assembly?" + +"Sir," said I, "I know nothing of your assembly, or of its purpose; I fell +asleep by accident on the outside of this tower, and, when I awoke, the +music that I heard detained me." + +"Examine the stripling," quoth he that had conducted me--"examine his +person."--"His looks belie him," replied the senior, "if you have cause for +suspicion. But if you will it so, search the young man." And with that my +guide, laying his unsheathed sword upon a table, or altar of black marble, +proceeded to search my garments, and finding in my bosom the scroll which +I had received from Tisias, he glanced on it for a moment, and then +handing it to the senior, said, "Now, sirs, doubt ye if ye will."--"Before +heaven--it is the book of the holy Luke!" said the other; "this is indeed +suspicious. How came this scroll into thy hands, young man? Art thou aware +that one of the books of the Christians has been found in thy bosom?"--"I +know it," said I; "it is one of the books of their faith, and I have read +in it this evening for the first time."--"Then thou art not thyself a +Christian?"--"I received the book from one Christian," said I, waiving the +question; "and I made promise to deliver it into the hands of +another?"--"Name the Christian who gave thee this book!" said my stern +guide.--"Tisias of Antioch," I replied; "the same who died yesterday in the +Amphitheatre."--"Yes," quoth he, again; "and I suppose it was there he gave +it to you. Every one knows the name of Tisias. Name, if you please, the +person to whom you are to deliver the book."--"You shall pardon me," said +I, "that I will not. You may call me an eaves-dropper, if you will; but +you shall find I am no traitor. It is a Roman--a noble Roman lady to whom I +must give this book; and I would not tell you her name although you should +slaughter me here in this tomb, which I have entered living and without +guilt." And having said this, I folded my arms, and stood still, abiding +their will. + +But scarcely had I finished these words, ere I felt a small trembling hand +laid upon my shoulder, and looking round, I perceived Athanasia herself, +who whispered into my ear,--"Valerius, was the book for me? If so, you may +say it boldly, and I will vouch for your word."--"For you, lady," I +answered in the same tone, "and for none other. You well know that I was +present in his prison the night before his death; so far at least you can +confirm what I have said." + +"Sir," said she, addressing the old man that had before questioned me, "I +know this young man: and I believe what he has said, and will be +answerable for his fidelity. It was he that went in to our friend the +other night in his prison, and the book was intrusted to him by the old +man, that it might be given into my hands. His name is Valerius--Caius +Valerius--and he is by birth a noble Roman." + +"Say you so, lady?" interrupted my original conductor; "then I ask his +pardon. I have wronged Caius Valerius; but both you and he must forgive +me, for it must be confessed he was found in a very extraordinary +situation." + +"Even so," I replied, "I have nothing to complain of. I perceive that I am +present in an assembly of Christians; but he shall do me much wrong that +thinks I bear any enmity to them,--or, from all that I have yet seen or +read, to the faith which they profess. I have read part of that book," I +continued, "for I made promise to Tisias that I should do so before giving +it to Athanasia; and I trust I shall still be permitted by her to read +more of it before it is finally demanded from me."--"Oh, read it!" said +Athanasia, gently again whispering to me. "Oh yes, read the book, +Valerius, and may God enlighten the reader." And so saying, she herself +took up the scroll from the table on which it was lying, and gave it again +into my hands.--"There was also a letter for you," said I, receiving it, +"but that I left at home."--"No matter," said Athanasia, "you shall give me +the letter and the book both together hereafter." + +"In the meantime," said I, "I suppose it were better I should retire." + +"Young sir," said the senior, "that is as you please; in a little while we +shall all be moving towards the city. Stay with us till then, if such be +your will; that which you may hear, can at least do you no harm. Already, +I doubt not, you have seen enough to despise the ignorant calumnies of our +enemies." + +When he had said so, the old man walked to the side of the sepulchre, and +took out from behind one of the urns that stood there, (ranged in their +niches,) a small casquet, which, returning, he placed before him on the +marble table. Then, opening the casquet, he brought forth a silver goblet, +and a salver containing some little pieces of bread; and, untying from his +neck a massive cross of gold, he set that also on the table, between the +cup and the salver. In brief, the Christian priest, (for such, as you +already see, he was,) had finished his preparation, and was about to +commence the administration of the blessed Eucharist. And when all the +rest were kneeling before the table, Athanasia, laying her hand upon my +arm, beckoned to me to kneel by her side; and so indeed I would have done +in my ignorance, had not the priest himself pointed to a station a few +yards behind the lady, to which, accordingly, I drew back--apart from those +who were to be privileged with the participation of those holy symbols. + +Scarcely had they composed themselves in their places, and listened to the +first words of the appointed service, when I, standing there by myself, +thought, unless my ears deceived me, there must be some one on the outer +stair-case of the tower; and my eyes instinctively, I suppose, were fixed +upon the aperture, which, as I have told you, was in the high roof above +the circle of the niched walls. Here, however, when I first looked, there +was nothing to be seen, but the round spot of the sky, far up in the midst +of the marble roof; but while I was looking steadfastly, that space was +suddenly diminished; and a dog bayed, and at the same moment a voice which +I well knew, screamed, "I have them--I hold them--let them burst the net if +they can." + +The cry of Pona disturbed effectually the Christian priest, and the whole +of those that were with him. Rising up hastily from their knees, they +stood all together around the table, while the old man, having kissed both +the cup and the cross, restored them as quickly as he could to the casket +from which they had been taken. But while the priest was doing this, he +that found me on the stair appearing to revert into his suspicion, and +looking sternly upon me where I stood, said, "Is this then the innocence +which we spared! Is this the noble Roman for whom Athanasia pledged +herself? Speak, brethren, what shall be done to this traitor, by whom, +even more than by those dogs of the tombs, it is a shame for us that we +have been hunted?" Saying so, the man lifted up his sword again, and it +seemed as if he would have smitten me to the ground without farther +question. But Athanasia threw herself swiftly between him and me. "For +shame, Cotilius," said she; "such suspiciousness is unworthy of a Roman +knight."--"You say well, noble damsel," quoth the old priest, interrupting +her; "but you might say also that such cruelty is unworthy of a soldier of +Christ. Peace, peace, children; there is no evil in the youth, nor, if +there were, would it be our part to avenge it." + +While he was saying this, three or four blazing torches were thrust down +into the place from above, and Athanasia, laying her hand upon my arm, +said, "Look up, Caius, I see helmets.--Alas! am I not already here? why, if +they will slay me, should they drag me away now from the tomb of my +fathers?" I felt the trembling of her hands, and she leaned upon my +shoulder. I know not, I will confess to you, whether at that moment I +tasted more of pleasure or of pain. + +But by this time several of the soldiers had already begun to descend into +the tower, and before another minute had elapsed, we found ourselves +surrounded by the flame of their torches. And he that seemed to lead the +party, after counting us one by one, said, turning to his companions, +"Well, an old woman has told the truth for once--here are even more I think +than she warned us of.--Come along, worthy people, you must not keep the +Tribune waiting for you all night, and our watch is well-nigh expired +already. Come, mount the stair--it will take a good half hour yet, I +believe, to lodge you all safely in the Tullian--And do you," he added, +laying his hand on the hilt of Cotilius' sword--"do you, brave sir, allow +me to save you the trouble of carrying this bauble." Nor was the stern +knight so foolish as to dispute the command; but having yielded up his +sword, he forthwith began to ascend, one or two spearmen preceding him +with their torches. The priest followed, and so did the rest; the last +being Athanasia and myself. + +On every side around the old tower, when I looked from the summit of it, I +perceived foot soldiers drawn up in a double line, while the road along +which I had come with Dromo, was occupied by a band of horsemen, one of +whom moved forward when he saw us descending, as if to take cognizance of +the number and quality of the surprised assembly. His long cloak being +muffled about his ears as he sate, and the shadow of his helmet falling +deeply, I did not at first suspect who it was; but he had not counted half +the party to the superior Officer behind him, ere I recognized him from +the sound of his voice; and who, think ye, should it be but my good friend +Sabinus? + +The Centurion, when his eye detected me, checked his horse so sharply that +the animal bounded into the air; and, "Valerius!" quoth he, "ha! by the +life of Caesar, what is the meaning of this? Valerius in a Christian +synagogue! By all the gods, there must be some mistake." But before I, in +my confusion, could make any answer to these exclamations, his eye chanced +to glance on Athanasia, who, trembling, still retained the support of my +arm; whereupon, "Ha! ha!" said he, in a quite different tone of voice, +"there is a lady in the case." And then, stooping in his seat, he +whispered, half laughing, into my ear, "My most hypocritical smooth-face, +you shall see what is the consequence of bringing these transatlantic +pranks of yours to Rome. By Hercules, you wild dog, it may cost you some +little trouble to get out of this scrape." + +Having said so, he turned his horse, and rejoining the troop, appeared to +enter into close conversation with him who sate at the head of the line. +Of what my friend said, I could catch nothing more than certain vehement +oaths, while, all the time, the Tribune (for such he was) continued to +shake his head, in a way significant at once of doubt and determination. +The end was, that he pointed with his sword; and Sabinus forced his horse +backwards, at one plunge, into the place from which he had advanced. + +Our party were immediately separated one from another. I saw the priest +lifted on a mule and hurried away towards the city, with a horseman on +each hand of him. The fiery Cotilius, and one or two more, were compelled +to follow, with similar attendance, in the same direction; others, again, +had their horses' heads turned more to the westward--but all departed at +speed, and were soon lost to my view among the projections of the tombs. +The last that remained to be disposed of were Athanasia and myself, and +for a moment I had some hope that we might perhaps be intrusted to the +same guards; but this hope was in vain, and after I perceived that it was +so, scarcely even was time permitted to me for bidding her farewell. To +kiss her hand, and to whisper a single word of parting hope into her ear, +was all I could do. A tear rolled from her cheek and fell upon my hand; +yet she smiled faintly upon me, and "Hope," said she--"yes, dear Valerius, +Hope and Faith both go with me." And with that the pale maiden was +separated from the arm to which she had trusted, and I saw her also +mounted and borne away rapidly. A moment after, I found myself, in like +manner, seized and lifted upon a horse, and almost before I could look +around me, we had escaped from the flare of the torches, and the crowd of +the soldiery, and were stretching at a rapid pace, I knew not whither, +although I suspected, from the width of the road, that we had regained the +Appian. + +But I have forgotten to mention to you, that just at the moment when they +were lifting Athanasia upon the mule that was to bear her from my sight, +my eye caught a glimpse of the witch Pona, who was sitting at the root of +one of the pine-trees, close to the tower. And behind her stood, leaning +against the tree, a figure wrapped in a rich red cloak, which I suspected +to be a female also, but could not be certain, because the countenance was +concealed in the folds of the garment. To this person, whoever it might +be, the witch turned round eagerly, while the soldiers were carrying off +Athanasia. I saw no more, for, as I have told you, immediately afterwards +I also was carried away. + + + + + _CHAPTER VI._ + + +Our hasty pace had not borne us to any great distance from the place where +all these things occurred, ere the sky, which, as ye have heard, had all +that night been sufficiently variable, began to exhibit appearances which +my two companions interpreted as significant of the approach of one of +those nocturnal storms, to which, at that season of the year, the fair +heaven of Italy is peculiarly subject. That they apprehended somewhat of +this sort, I perceived from their looks, as they stopped for a moment to +draw the hoods of their mantles over their brazen helmets; for words they +uttered none, either to me or to each other, until our journey drew near +its close. For me, however, the numberless agitations through which I had +passed in the course of the few preceding hours, had, I suppose, +communicated an unnatural measure of ardour to my boyish blood; for +neither did I feel the night-breeze chill me as we rushed through it, nor +partook, in any sort, of the desire my companions testified to cover +themselves from the rain, which seemed to be about to discharge itself out +of all those black and lowering clouds now gathered above our heads from +every region of the heavens. When, on the contrary, the first heavy drops +fell, I bared my forehead with the eagerness of one who, in a parched +region, comes suddenly upon the margin of a well-spring. Nor did this +sensation subside even after the storm had thickened to the utmost, and +the dusty roads had drunk abundantly of the plashing rain. The strong wind +blew with redoubled coolness upon my moistened neck--the rain-drops dashed +on my hot hands; and I perceived, that, as is the nature of those animals, +the thunder which was mustering in the air, filled my horse one moment +with dread, and the next with a blind fierceness. At last the thunder +shouted over-head, and its echoes spread wide and far on either side, +until they seemed to be absorbed to the left in the remote depths of the +Appenine, and on the right hand in the measureless bosom of the Western +Sea--of which, as we galloped along the hill side, the broad lightning +(unless my fancy deceived me) revealed ever and anon a distant and +melancholy glimpse. + +We had passed a hill covered with towns, villages, and stately mansions, +(which I afterwards learned was no other than the famous Alban,) ere the +storm subsided beneath the influence of the reddening dawn. Yet even then +we slackened not our pace, although the horses were by this time not a +little exhausted with the swiftness of their motion, and the weight of +their wet riders. On rode we in the growing light of the morning; but I +perceived ere long that we had left the wide and magnificent Appian Way, +and were pursuing the line of a narrower road, which seemed to carry us +more and more westward. + +We halted for a moment on the brow of a declivity, where three paths +separated; and I perceived that among my guides there was some little +uncertainty as to which of these it behoved them to follow. While they +were muttering together, I looked and beheld at length the wide sea +heaving far below, over what appeared to me to be a forest as mighty as I +had ever seen in my native island. + +Old hoary oaks leaned on either hand quite over the narrow path-way, into +which (after their brief pause of consultation) my conductors directed our +course. Here and there, such a shield had those huge leafy boughs extended +over the road, that the dust rose from amongst the feet of our horses as +if all that night not one drop of rain had fallen there; although +elsewhere, in the absence of such mighty trees, the water lying across the +path in pools testified abundantly that the tempest had not spared the +forest any more than the champaign. Vast waving gulfs of bay and ilex, +with here and there some solitary pine raising itself proudly in the +midst, seemed to stretch away on either hand between the groves of those +gigantic oaks. + +The path we followed carried us ever deeper and deeper into the bosom of +the woods; and, at length, so buried were we in the windings of their +stifling shade, that I had lost all notion of the direction in which I was +moving; until, after two or three hot hours, weary man and jaded horse +were, I believe, equally delighted with snuffing once more the open +current of the air. We reached not the edge of the forest, however, before +I could hear distinctly the dashing of the Mediterranean waves; and the +last ascent we climbed laid open to my view a long sweep of the rolling +waters, and their rocky coast garnished every where with the richness of +superincumbent woods. Far, very far, in the distant north, I thought I +could recognize some of the stately towers of Ostium, bosomed apparently +within the billows over which they presided. All between was one wide +waste of wood and rock, save here and there a watch-tower perched on the +margin, and whitened half-way up with the foam of the yet uncalmed sea. + +Then, nor ever could I look upon the waters of the great deep, without +something of that filial yearning which seems so natural to every native +of our sea-girt island. But neither could I contrast the condition in +which I now approached it, with the gay and hopeful mood in which I had so +lately left it behind me, without many thoughts more sad and serious than +as yet had frequently visited my bosom. What a strange brood of visions +had passed before my eyes, since, but a few days before, I stept for the +first time, light of heart, beneath the shadow of those far-off bulwarks! +What new emotions had arisen, in the interval! How had every sense been +gratified! how had every dream of imagination been exceeded! Yet what a +void had been revealed within!--Alas! said I to myself, why is it that I +have been subjected to all these novelties? Had I not done better to have +remained, after all, where life flowed ever calmly--where affection hung +over me like a protecting buckler, and my soul could sleep in the security +of unbroken faith! But this was only for a moment. The thoughts of +Athanasia haunted me more deeply and more firmly. I thought over every +word she had spoken--every look of hers rose up in succession, with all the +vividness of a beautiful and a troubled dream. I seemed to feel, as if she +were yet present beside me, the trembling of her pale fingers upon my +shoulder--I kissed the hand on which her parting tear had fallen, as if it +were yet wet with the dear moisture. When I thought of the perils in which +she must now be enveloped--of the pains she must have suffered--must at that +moment be suffering,--it was as if I could have burst bands of iron, like +flax, from off my hands. When a glimpse of the darker future opened before +me, I shuddered, and, urging my poor horse onwards in the recklessness of +total abstraction, I perceived that even my guides pitied the agony of my +despair. + + + + + _CHAPTER VII._ + + +We stopped before one of the watch-towers which, as I have told you, I had +seen scattered along the edge of the sea. But this, when we came up to it, +appeared larger than I had expected to find any of them. The narrow way, +alongst which we had been riding, brought us close to its gate, on the +side towards the land; but the rock shelving rapidly on the other side, +gave it the semblance, at a little distance, of being suspended over the +waves. + +It was a building of rude, and apparently very antique structure, the +under part square, but the upper circular; as is, for the most part, the +old Roman fashion in such erections. And this, indeed, I doubt not, might +have stood there long enough to have shewn a beacon, when some fleet of +Syracuse or Carthage darkened the blue sea over against the Lestrigonian +bay renowned in old song, or the snow-white promontory of Gaieta. + +One of the soldiers dismounted, and began to knock rather violently at the +door; but some little time elapsed ere any sound from within responded to +the clamour he raised. At last a hard and withered face made its +appearance at a little opening above the door, and then the helmets +passed, I suppose, for a sufficient warrant, for in a twinkling we heard +the bolts creaking; the old postern was soon set ajar, and forth stepped +the venerable keeper. Imagine a tall, skinny man of threescore years, with +a face as dry and yellow as ye have seen on the outside of a pye, and hair +as white as ever the skill of a confectioner could represent, and legs +bearing the same proportion to the feet, which the shaft of Saturn's +scythe usually does to its blade. Clothe the nether part of this figure in +Dacian, or Gaulish breeches, throw a somewhat threadbare cloak over his +shoulders, and to finish the outfit, deck his head with a casque of the +Macedonian cut, that is to say, sitting close above the ears, and topped +with a bristling plume of horse hair. The Warder stood with dignity, and +listened with gravity, while one of my Praetorians whispered his message. +On its conclusion, he shrugged his shoulders, and regarding me with a +glance made up, I think, in pretty equal proportions, of surprise and +contempt, signified by the motion of his hand that we might all three +enter. He whistled at the same moment, and there came forth a comely +damsel, who, with many blushes and smiles, took possession of the reins of +our horses.--"Stand there," quoth he, "stand there, little Cestia, and see +if there be never a handful of corn to be got for the prince's +cattle,--stand there, and we shall be with you again anon." And then he +also whispered something into the maiden's ear, and I saw her looking at +me from under her eyelids with an expression of very uncommon curiosity. +Two or three curly-pated urchins, of different sizes, joined her at the +same moment, and to them, in her turn, the maiden whispered; whereupon the +eldest of the children retreating behind her, eyed me earnestly along the +skirt of her tunic, while the younger ones continued to gaze where they +were, with looks of open stupidity and wonder. Of all this I could make +nothing at the moment, but when we had got fairly into the inside of the +tower, I heard the children whispering to each other, "A Christian! A +Christian! A Jew! A Jew!" + +The lower part of the tower, into which I had now been conducted, seemed +to form nothing more than one huge, bare, and quadrangular apartment, +serving, I supposed (and rightly) at once as hall and vestibule to the +upper chambers contained within the walls. A small flight of steps, in one +of the corners, seemed to afford the only means of access to what was +above; but from the position of a door immediately below these, it was we +inferred that there were vaults under ground. Close beside this door there +stood, upon a very rude pedestal, a still more rude bust, either of +Jupiter, of Apollo, or of Hercules. The workmanship was such, that I could +not be very certain which of the family it was intended to represent, nor +whether the principal appendage was a club, a lyre, a bow, or a +thunder-bolt; but it did not escape my observation, that the old keeper +crept as close as he could to the sacred stone, as soon as I stepped over +the threshold. + +One of the little boys that had come out to the door on our arrival, +busied himself in setting forth a wooden board, whereon he placed in great +order a huge piece of yellow cheese, and a heap of crisp white cakes of +rye. A large jug of water also garnished the mess; but there seemed to be +a little less of diligence, or more of difficulty, about the wine. After +some pause, however, the mistress of the garrison appeared. A string of +amber beads floated to and fro on the ocean of her bosom. She had fine +golden bracelets on her arms too, but they were only half seen, being +almost buried in fat; and she wore a flaxen wig, which did not entirely +conceal the dark bristles below. At the girdle of the amazon hung, on the +right side, the much desiderated bunch of keys, being balanced on the left +by a dagger and toothpick case, almost of equal dimensions. + +"Will _you_ drink to Caesar, young man?" cried the matron, ere the sitting +had been much prolonged; "will you drink honestly to the Emperor, in case +you also have a full cup given you? and, by the by, I think you must have +almost as much need of it as the rest." And, with this courteous +invitation, I heard her whisper to one of my guards,--"By Jove, 'tis a +proper lad, after all; is this true that they have told me of him? Why, I +believe, the young man has a red edge to his gown. What is his name? who +is he?"--I heard him answer,--"By the life of Caesar, you know as much about +him as any of us. There was a whole cluster taken last night a little way +beyond the Capene-Gate, and he was one; but what they were about, or who +he is, I know not, only he is certainly somebody, for I saw our Centurion +salute him."--"I saw him with Sabinus," whispered the other--"I am quite +sure of it, the last day the Amphitheatre was open; they sate together, +and appeared familiar."--"I pray you, sir," quoth the lady, raising her +voice,--"I pray you fill your cup, and here I pledge you to our better +acquaintance. You shake your head--well. But what must be, must; and while +you are with us, we may at least be good friends."--"Thanks," said I, +complying with her command; "Here, then, is health to all present; and +fair health to the great Trajan, says no one here more heartily than I."--I +drank off the wine, and setting down the goblet, I believe I said, +"Excellent, by Jove," or something of that sort; for they all started when +they heard what I said, and the old woman called out lustily, "Fill him +another cup to the brim, whether he be Christian or not. The young man at +least swears by the gods, and drinks to Caesar." + +"The old man," observed one of the soldiers,--"he that was killed the other +day in the Amphitheatre--he might have saved his head, even at the last +moment, if he would have done as much."--"Well, well," quoth she again; +"let every one mind his own matters. Husband, bring down your book, and +let the new-comer enter his name with his own hand." + +Having drained his cup, the keeper rose, and ere long returned with a +musty scroll of parchment, which, having blown away the dust from it, he +presented to me. I glanced over the record, and found in it the names of +various persons, all apparently entered in their own handwriting; and most +of them, as I could perceive, bearing date in the troublous reign of +Domitian. The last was that of Marcus Protius Lamontanus, who, as it +seemed, had been set free from his confinement immediately on the +accession of Nerva; and immediately under this I wrote my own name, with +that of my birthplace. The keeper read, and said, "So preserve me the +power of Jove! A Valerius! and born in Britain! Can you be the son of the +same Valerius who was Centurion in the ninth legion under Agricola?"--"You +have guessed rightly--I am the same."--"Then the more is the pity," he +replied, in a grave voice, "that you should have entered, in such a case +as this, the dwelling of one that was a true soldier beneath the eagle of +your father. But forgive me if in any thing we have been +disrespectful."--"There is no occasion," said I, "for any such apology. I +am here as a prisoner, and have been treated with all courtesy beyond what +a prisoner could expect." + +"By Hercules!" interrupted the spouse, "I thought I had some knowledge of +the face--Well, I hope ten years hence he will be as fine a man as his +father was the day he slew the Caledonian giant, and tumbled him from his +chariot in front of all the line--yes, in sight of Galgacus himself. It was +the same day," said she, turning to her lord, "that you were taken +prisoner, and driven away into the woods."--"As witness these marks," quoth +the man; and with that he stripped open his tunic, and displayed part of +his breast, stamped with various figures of blue and yellow, after the +northern fashion, and bearing withal the traces of two formidable wounds. + +The woman redoubled her kindness; but not wishing to interrupt festivity, +I soon requested her to shew me the place where I was to be confined. And, +indeed, as you may imagine, I had by this time not a little need of +repose. + +Both she and her husband accordingly rose to usher me to my prison. I gave +money to the soldiers, and requested them to inform Sabinus of the place +to which I had been conveyed; but did not choose to write any thing, +either to him or to Licinius, until I should have had a little time for +reflection. + + + + + _CHAPTER VIII._ + + +My fatigue brought speedy sleep; and so profound, that before I again +unclosed my eyes, the calm sea was already purple below me, and the sun +about to set. But neither purple sea, nor golden sky, nor all the divine +tranquillity of the evening air, could sooth my mind into repose, after I +had once awaked to a sense of the situation into which I had been +brought--I should say rather of the situation in which Athanasia was +placed. For myself, I could not in seriousness fear any calamity worthy of +the name,--if such should come, it must be my business to wrestle with it +as I might. But to think of her, young, beautiful, innocent; and of all to +which she might be exposed amidst the rude hands in which I had left her! + +Some time had passed before my attention was attracted by a conversation +carried on in the chamber below me, in which you will not be surprised +that I should have felt myself interested, even although the distance was +such that I could not distinguish one word that was said. I knew from the +first moment that it was impossible I should be mistaken--I was perfectly +certain it was Sabinus himself, who was talking with the old woman; and I +at once suspected that the worthy Centurion, having learned from the +soldiers who carried me off, to what place they had conveyed me, had +undertaken this speedy journey, for the purpose of comforting me in my +confinement. The kindness with which he had treated me from the beginning +of our acquaintance had been such, that I could have no occasion to wonder +at his exerting himself to discover me; but I confess this alacrity was +more than I had been prepared for, and I waited only for the moment when +he should enter my apartment to throw myself upon his bosom, and intrust +all my troubles to him, as to a friend and a brother. There was something, +however, which I could not at all comprehend in the merriment which seemed +to be reigning below on his arrival. Peals of female laughter interrupted +the uniform hearty tone of the Centurion's voice; and the feeble treble of +the old Warder himself was stretched ever and anon in attempt at a +chuckle. + +At last in they came, and Sabinus, embracing me affectionately, thrust +into my hand a piece of parchment, which I perceived to be nothing less +than an order for my immediate release. Then taking off his riding-cap, +and rubbing with his handkerchief his most audacious and soldier-looking +brows, "My dear boy," quoth he, "I see you are going to thank me--but wound +not modesty by fine speeches. There was war before Helen--have a better +care another time, and don't pay Rome such a poor compliment, as to say +that you can find nobody to charm you but a Christian damsel, and no place +for flirtation but a gloomy tomb lined with urns and lachrymatories. My +honest friend here was quite frightened with the idea of having such an +unbelieving reprobate as they said you were, under the same roof with her +children. But now her fears are dispelled, for good souls are always +tolerant to the little vagaries of young blood; so thank your hostess, my +lad, kiss her hand, take one cup to the hearth of the old tower, and +tighten your girdle." + +"Well!" quoth the woman; "who should have thought when the soldiers +brought him in with such mystery, that it was all for kissing by +moonlight! I protest to Venus, they would have made me believe he had been +caught eating an infant; but still I cannot quite pardon him. Well--well--we +must e'en take good hope he will mend ere he dies." + +"Die?" cried the Centurion; "do you talk of dying to one that has scarcely +yet begun to live!--Come, come, Caius, I hope, after all, you may never get +into a worse scrape." + +"And if I do," said I, "I hope I shall always be equally fortunate in my +jailers." + +"By the beard of Jove!" quoth Sabinus, "it needs no great skill to see +that you have been fortunate in that respect. I swear that, if the truth +were known, you are almost as unwilling to leave this tower now, as you +were last night to be torn away from another." + +"Oh, Master Kaeso," quoth she again, "when will you have done with your +joking? Well, your father loved a jest in his time himself; but now he, I +suppose, is quiet enough. And he, good old man, how does he wear?--Can he +still sit in his porch of a fine morning, and listen to the news, as he +used to do, with his cup at his knee?" + +"I trust the old grasshopper can still chirp when the sun shines. But to +tell you the truth, it is long since I have seen him; and if this young +blade has no objection, I mean to pay him a visit this very night. I am +only just come home from Britain, and have not yet had leisure to salute +my Lares." + +I said something about being anxious to return as soon as possible to +Rome; but the Centurion answered me with another shout, "Come, come; she's +safe enough. I suppose you think every one gets out of jail as easily as +yourself." + +I found it was out of the question to disapprove of any of the schemes of +Sabinus; so, having saluted the hostess, and flung my purse to her +children, (who, by the way, still regarded me with looks of apprehension,) +I accompanied him with a good grace to the gate. I made inquiry before I +went forth concerning the old jailer likewise; but I could easily gather +from the expression of face with which his wife accompanied her indistinct +reply, that he had, long before that time, reached a state in which she +felt little desire to exhibit him. The Centurion whistled as he stepped +across the threshold, and there forthwith drew near a soldier, wearing the +Praetorian helmet, (now sufficiently familiar to my sight,) and leading in +his hand three horses. In the rear, I recognized, not without +satisfaction, the busy countenance of my friend Dromo, whose ass did not +appear quite so eager to join the party as its rider. A few sturdy thumps, +however, at last brought the Cretan close to us, who saluted me with great +appearance of joy, and then whispered into my ear, "Great Jove! we must +keep silence for the present. What a story I have to tell; and I suppose +there is one to hear likewise--but all in good season. We must not crack +nuts before monkeys. I have a letter for you," he added, "from Sextus, and +another from Licinius." + +The Centurion sprung on his trusty war-horse, who seemed to rejoice in the +feeling of his weight; and we were soon in motion. I asked no questions +either about the course or distance, but rode by his side so silently, +that he bestowed on me many good-natured rebukes, for suffering a little +affair of love to distress me so greatly. "Cheer up now," quoth he, "and +do not make me repent of carrying you to my father's house, by shewing the +old man, who has had enough of troubles, such a countenance as must make +him think of Orcus, even although he did not know himself to be near its +gates. It is more than a year since I have seen him." + +This sort of speech he repeated so often, that I thought the best way +would be to tell him frankly the true history of the adventure, from whose +immediate consequences he had delivered me. I told him, therefore, every +thing about both Tisias and Athanasia, and, indeed, kept nothing from him +in the whole matter, except only what referred to the impression made on +my own mind by what I had read of the Christian book,--for, as to this +subject, it was one which I totally despaired of being able to make him in +any measure comprehend,--and besides, the state of my own mind was still so +uncertain in regard to it, and my information so imperfect, that I could +not trust myself with speaking of it to any one, until I should have had +leisure for more both of reading and of reflection. + +He preserved silence for some minutes, and then said, "In truth, Caius, +you have distressed me. I thought it was merely some little frolic born of +an hour, to be forgotten in a day; but I cannot refuse you my sympathy. +Would I had more to offer!"--"Dear Sabinus," said I, "I know not how to +thank you. You saw me but a few days ago the merriest young fellow that +ever trod the pavement of Rome--happy in the moments that passed, and full +of glad hopes for all that were to come; but now I feel myself quite +changed. Almost I wish I had never left my British fields; and yet I +should never have seen Athanasia."--"Poor fellow!" quoth he, laying his +hand on the mane of my horse, "I perceive there is, indeed, no trifling in +your case. Compose yourself; whatever chances there may be in your favour +will never be bettered by despondence." He paused a little, and +proceeded--"The worst of the whole is this new bitterness against these +Christians. Except during Nerva's time, there was always some punishment +to be feared by them, in case of being detected; but there was a way of +managing things in almost every case, and people were well enough disposed +to grant immunities which were always attended with some good to the Fisk. +Nero and Domitian, to be sure, acted otherwise--but these were madmen; and +even they did so only by fits and starts. But now, when a prince like +Trajan has taken up the matter, it is no wonder that one should consider +it more seriously. One cannot help fancying he must have had some good +reason before he began--that is one thing; and having once begun, he is not +the man to drop it lightly--which is a more weighty consideration. Do you +think there is positively no chance of her giving up this dream, when she +finds what it has exposed her to?" + +"No," said I; "I am sure she will not, nor can I wish it would be +otherwise with her." + +"Well," he resumed, "I enter into your feelings so far, my friend, even on +that point. I cannot imagine you to have been so deeply smitten with a +girl of a flighty unsteady character. But then this is not a case to be +judged of on common principles. It is no light thing to be exposed to such +examinations as are now set afoot for these people; and if she behaves +herself so resolutely as you seem to expect, what is the end of it? I +consider it highly probable--for there is no friendship in uncandid +speaking--that, in spite of all her friends can do, they will banish her at +the very least; scarcely dare I speak of it, but even worse than +banishment has heretofore befallen Romans--ay, Roman ladies too,--and these +as high in birth and place as Athanasia." + +"My dear Sabinus," said I, "do not imagine that now for the first time all +these things are suggested to me. Imagine rather, how, unable for a moment +to expel them from my mind, I have spent these miserable hours. Her +friends, too, what must not be their alarm!" + +"The thing was so done," quoth the Centurion, "that I think it is +impossible it should have made much noise as yet. If there was in the +family no suspicion that the lady had any connection with these people, +they must be in perfect perplexity. I lay my life they take it for granted +she has had some private intrigue, and has gone off with her lover." + +"Alas!" said I, "when they hear the truth, it will be still worse than +this in their eyes. Yet it appears fit that no time should be lost in +making them acquainted with the real state of the case. O Sabinus, I +foresee that in all these things I shall have need of your counsel and +your help." + +"You shall have them both, my dear boy," said he,--"you shall have them +both to the uttermost. But there is no question at all about the propriety +of telling the relations all you know. Licinius is probably well +acquainted with them. I am almost sorry for having prevented your +immediate return to the city; and yet one night will soon be over." + +"But Athanasia herself----" + +"Ah! that indeed is a point of some difficulty. It was merely from having +remembered who the men were that rode off with you, that I was enabled to +learn so soon whither you yourself had been conveyed. But the party +consisted of a few men out of almost every one of our cohorts,--those, in +short, that were on duty, scattered up and down in different parts of the +city; and I may not find it very easy to discover who had the care of any +other individual." + +"But Athanasia----" + +"True," said he, "I had not thought of it. There was but one female +besides herself. That will furnish a clue. You may rely on it, I shall +easily find out the place to which they have taken her; but then where, +and at what distance that may be, Heaven only knows; for it seemed as if +every prisoner were to be carried to a separate place of confinement. At +all events, even if we knew where she is, we could do nothing at present. +Come, cheer up, now you have unburdened yourself of all this load. I shall +be ready to start as early as ever you please in the morning." + +By this time the moon was in full splendour, and nothing could be more +beautiful than the scenery of the native place of Sabinus, as we drew near +to its precincts. A little gentle stream, which kissed our path, did not +desert us as we entered the village, but murmured all through its humble +street. Street, indeed, I should not say; for there were dwelling-houses +on the one side only, the other being occupied with gardens, in the midst +of which I saw the Doric portico of a small temple. In front of this a +bridge crossed the stream, and there we were met by a troop of maidens, +who seemed to be moving toward the sacred place with some purpose of +devotion, for they were singing in alternate measures, and in their hands +they carried garlands. Some recognized Sabinus, and, without interrupting +their chant, saluted him with their laughing eyes. We halted our horses, +and saw them proceed all together into the hallowed enclosure, which they +did, not by means of the bridge, although they were close by it, but by +wading hand in hand through the stream below; whose pebbles, as it +appeared from the evenness of their motion, dared not to offer any +violence to the delicate feet that trod upon them. "Happy creatures," said +I to the Centurion; "of a surety they think these moonbeams shine on +nothing but glad faces like their own. Alas! with what heart does poor +Athanasia at this moment contemplate this lovely heaven!"--"Nay, Valerius," +quoth he, "if people were not to be contented with their own share of +sorrow, would the world, think ye, be worth living in? I hope Athanasia +herself will ere long sing again by the moonlight.--But stop, here is my +own old haunt, the abode of our village barber, and now I think of it, +perhaps it might be as well that you and Dromo should remain here for a +moment, till I ride on to the house, and let them know you are coming, for +the sudden sight of strange faces might alarm the old folks at this hour." + +He had scarcely said so, when the tonsor himself, hearing, I suppose, the +sound of our horses' feet, ran out with his razor and basin in his hand, +to see what might be the matter. "Ah, good Virro," quoth the Centurion, +"with joy do I once more behold your face. Well, the girls still sing, and +Virro still shaves; so every thing, without question, goes well."--"The +Centurion himself!" replies the barber; "so Venus smile upon me, it is +Kaeso Sabinus, who I began to think would never come back again.--Here, boy, +bring out a cup of the best. Alight, I pray you--well, at least, you shall +kiss the rim of the goblet."--"I will," said he, "I promise you, my good +friend, and that in a minute or two; but I must first salute my father; +and, in the meantime, I leave with you in pledge, good Virro, my excellent +friend here, and the most knowing Cretan that ever landed at +Brundusium.--Dismount, Valerius, I shall be with you again ere Virro can +half smoothen the chin of Dromo, which even this morning shewed no small +need of trimming."--"Well, well," said the tonsor, "eagles will have their +own way. Be speedy." + +The Centurion had set the spur to his charger; and we, in obedience to his +command, submitted ourselves to the guidance of the oily-faced little +barber. A stripling was already holding two horses at the door, but +another came out and took care of our animals, and we entered, exchanging +courteous salutations, the tonsorial penetralia. + +They were occupied by as various and talkative a company, as the +imagination of Lucilius ever assembled in such a place. In the middle of +the room, which was spacious, though low-roofed, hung a huge shield of +brass, with a dozen mouths of flame blazing around the edge of its +circumference, close beside which sat a man with a napkin tucked about his +neck, the one side of whose visage, still besmeared with a thick coat of +lather, testified that the curiosity of Virro had induced him to abandon a +yet uncompleted job. The half-trimmed physiognomy, however, displayed no +sign of impatience, and the barber himself seemed not to think any apology +necessary, for he resumed his operations with an air of great +cheerfulness, saying, "Neighbours all, here is Kaeso Sabinus, that is now +the Centurion, come once more to gladden the old village with his merry +face, and that, I promise you, is prettily tanned since we knew him +first." + +This piece of news appeared not a little to interest several of those who +were sitting under the tonsor's roof. "Ha!" said one, "the noble +Centurion! Well, has he brought home a wife with him at last? for the talk +was, that he had been seen at the Amphitheatre, paying great court to one +of the richest ladies in Rome." + +"A wife?" says Virro, "no, no, centurions and barbers can do without +wives. But if he is to have one, I shall be happy to hear she is rich; for +centurions, after all, sometimes carry most of their silver upon their +helmets, as we do most of our brass on our basins."--"Indeed," said I, "I +never heard of it before." + +"If it please you, friend," said another of them, "is this the same +Sabinus that has lately been in Britain?"--"Britain," quoth an ancient +dame; "I never heard that name before--Britain! I know it not--I know not +where he hath been, but they told me it was over the sea, perhaps in +Palestine."--"Tut, dame," interrupted the barber, (who was now busy on +Dromo,) "you think every one goes to Palestine, because your own boy +carried a spear with Titus; but you know they ruined the city, and killed +all the Jews and Christians, and there is no occasion for sending +Centurions thither now."--"Killed all the Jews and Christians, said you?" +quoth another. "I think the old dame has the better of you as to that +point at least, Virro. Not Trajan himself will ever be able to kill them +all; the superstition spreads like a pestilence. It was but last night +that a hundred of them were taken together in one place, eating human +flesh."--"Human flesh!" quoth the barber. "Oh, ye gods, why do ye endure +such barbarians!" + +"Human flesh!" echoed Dromo, springing from his seat, and I looked at him, +and saw that the barber in his horror had made in truth a deep incision +upon the cheek of the poor man. The blood, oozing from the cut, had +already traced a river of crimson upon the snowy surface of his +well-soaped chin. It was this that had deranged the philosophic composure +and customary phlegm of my Cretan; and no wonder; but the enthusiastic +tonsor took no notice of what had occurred.--"Great Jove," he proceeded, +and he pointed to the roof with his razor as he spake--"Great Jove! I +adjure thee! are all thy lightnings spent; is there never a thunderbolt +remaining?" + +"In the meantime," quoth one of the bystanders, "they are in the hand not +of Jove, but of Trajan, and he, I think, cannot now be accused of treating +these wretches with too much lenity. You have all heard of that +Tisias?"--"We have," cried another; "but what was a single individual to +this great assembly? what a sight will it be the day they are all +executed!" + +"I think," said the same person who had inquired whether our Centurion +were the Sabinus that had been in Britain,--"I think you are overrating the +numbers of that assembly. I heard of no more than a dozen." + +This stranger (for such he seemed) had probably taken that day a +considerable journey, for his tunic and boots were covered with dust. He +was attired in the plainest manner, but notwithstanding, there was +something about him which gave one the idea of rank superior to the +company in which he was seated; and his complexion was so dark that I +could not help thinking to myself,--I am not the only provincial in the +room; here is certainly some well-born African or Asiatic. + +"You have not told me, however," said he, after a pause, "whether or not +this be the Sabinus that was lately in Britain."--"Sir," said I, "it is the +same; I myself came in the same ship with him, but a few days ago. He is a +Centurion in the Praetorian Bands."--"Yes," replied the stranger, "I guessed +in truth, it must be the same; for I remember no other of that rank +bearing the same name."--"If you are acquainted with him," said I, "you may +have an opportunity of seeing him immediately, for I expect him here every +moment to conduct me to his father's villa, which is hard by." + +"Well," quoth the barber, who by this time had ended, without fresh +misadventure, the trimming of the Cretan--"well, I hope he will stay for a +moment when he does come, and then we shall be sure to hear the truth as +to this story about the Christian assembly. They may talk as they please, +but may Jove devote me, if I had Caesar's ring upon my finger for one +night, this should be the last of them."--"And how, friend," said the +stranger, "by what means, if I may ask you, should you propose so speedily +to do away with this fast-spreading abomination?"--"Look ye, sirs," quoth +he, "I would place myself thus in my tribunal"--(he took his seat at a +little table, beside a goblet of wine, as he spake,) "I would seat myself +thus in the midst of a field, as Cato and the great Censors of old used to +do. I would cause Rome to be emptied--man, woman, and child should pass +before me; and every one that did not acknowledge the gods as he passed, +by all the gods! he should sprawl upon a tree in presence of all the +people. What avails watching, prying, spying, and surprising? I should +make shorter work of it, I trow." + +"You may say what you will," said one who had not before spoken, "I cannot +bring myself to believe every thing I hear concerning their +superstition."--"Ay, goldsmith," quoth the barber, "you were always fond of +having an opinion of your own; and, pray, what is it that you have had +occasion to know about the Christians, more than the rest of us who hear +you? If you mean that you have seen some of them die bravely in the +Amphitheatre, why, that we have all heard of at least, and I think nobody +disputes it."--"No, master barber," replied he, "that is not what I was +thinking of. I have seen your common thief-knave, when he knew he could do +no better, brace you his nerves for the extremity, and die like a +Hercules. I would rather judge of a man by his living than his +dying."--"True," rejoins Virro; "and pray, what have you got to tell us +about the life, then, of the Christians?"--"Not much," said he, "you shall +hear. My old mother (peace to her manes) was passing the Salarian one day +last year, and there came by a hot-headed spark, driving four abreast in a +chariot as fiercely as Nero in the Circus. He called out, that I believe, +but the dame was deaf, and whether he tried to pull up, I know not, but +the horses trod upon her as she fell. Another of the same sort came close +behind, and I have been told they were running a race; but however that +might be, on they both passed like a whirlwind, and my poor mother was +left by herself among the flying dust. But the gods had mercy on her; they +sent a kind heart to her aid. She was carried into one of the stateliest +villas on that side of Tiber, and tended for six weeks by a noble lady, as +if she had been not my mother, but her own; and this lady, friends--by Jove +I suspected it not for long after--this lady was a Christian; but I shall +not say how I found it out, nor would I mention the thing at all but among +honest men. But where were these you spoke of taken?--I should like to know +who they were." + +"They were taken," said the stranger, "not far from the Appian Way, within +one of the old monuments there,--a monument, it is said, of the +Sempronii."--"Of the Sempronii?" cried the goldsmith, "Phoebus Apollo shield +us!" and from that moment he became as silent as hitherto he had been +communicative. + +The swarthy stranger, the silence yet continuing, arose from his seat, +laid a piece of money upon the table, and moved towards the door. The +barber also rose up, but he said to him, "Sit still, I pray you, my +friend;" at the same time beckoning with his finger to the goldsmith, who, +with a very dejected countenance, followed him into the street. What +passed between them there, we perceived not; but the artificer re-entered +not the chamber till some moments after we had heard the departing tread +of the stranger's horses. When he did come in again, he had the appearance +of being in great confusion. + + + + + _CHAPTER IX._ + + +Shortly after Sabinus reappeared, and bidding adieu to our tonsor, we +walked with him towards the paternal mansion,--and we soon reached it; for, +as I have already said, it was but a little way out from the village. + +The dwelling was modest enough, having no external ornament but a single +portico, with a few statues ranged between its pillars. We entered by this +portico, and found the feeble old man sitting by himself in an apartment +immediately adjacent, wherein the beams of the moon, having partial +access, were mingled with the subdued light of a painted lamp suspended +from the ceiling. The father of my friend had all the appearance of +sinking apace; yet he received me with an air, not of cheerfulness, but of +kindness. The breeze found admission through the open pillars, and his +countenance exhibited in its wan and faint lines the pleasure with which +the coolness affected him. Beside him were placed baskets of roses, +gathered from the abundance of his gardens. The young Vernae, who from time +to time brought in these flowers, came into the chamber with a decent +appearance of sobriety and concern; but they were never long gone before +we could hear them laughing again at their play.--"Poor children," quoth +the old man; "why should they trouble themselves with thinking of the not +remote victim of Orcus?"--To which the Centurion replied, somewhat +softening that loud and cheerful tone with which he was accustomed to +address all persons--"Courage, my dear father, you must not speak so. +Cerberus, I perceive, has only been making an ineffectual snap at you, and +you will be growing younger after all this." + +At which the old man shook his head, without any external sign of emotion, +and replied, in a low monotonous voice,--"Younger in the wrong way, my boy; +for I become every day smaller in body, and feebler, and less able to do +any thing to help myself. Nor am I unconscious that I have seen my due +proportion of time. And yet, oh! fast sliding gentle brook, which I see +between these paternal trees--I am still loath to exchange thee for Styx, +and to lose the cheerful and sacred light of the sun and moon. I wish only +I were once more able to repair with thy stream to the banks of father +Tiber, that I might salute the good Emperor, who has been so kind to my +son, and who would treat even an old broken-down, and long-retired +soldier, like myself, with more favour than is to be expected from +Rhadamanthus. As clouds let down their drops, so the many-peopled earth +lets fall dismissed ghosts upon the Stygian shore." + +While he was saying things in the same strain, an ancient Egyptian, who +seemed to have the chief management of every thing, came into the chamber, +and after desiring some of the boys to bring forth refreshments, took his +place on a low stool by the foot of his master's couch. "Come, Tarna," +said the Centurion, "what has become of all your philosophy? Why do you +not inspire our friend with less of gloominess? Why is it that you do not +bring out for his use some of those old stories, with which, when I was +young, you were more willing to treat my ears than they were to attend?" + +"Nay," said the invalid, before the Egyptian could make any answer,--"I +liked well to listen to his Epicurean theories when I was able to walk +about the fields; but now I would rather have him be silent. Do not +trouble me any more, good Tarna, with any of your speeches. Allow me to +believe as all my fathers did, and to contemplate not only the sepulchre +in which their urns are placed, but the same dim regions in which many +dear shades expect the greeting of a descendant." + +"To me," said the slave modestly, "it still seems, that by the rushing +shower of atoms which moves every where through space, the mind is +soothed, as by the sound of a great river carrying continually the watery +offspring of the mountains into the bosom of ocean. The mind, sirs, +appears to me to be calmed by the contemplation of infinity, even as the +ear of an Egyptian sleeper is calmed by the eternal music of rolling +Nilus. It mingles itself with that which it contemplates; it perceives--it +feels itself to be a liquid part of that vast endless stream of universal +being: a part which has been casually arrested and detained, but which +will soon mingle again and be scattered away in a thousand fragments, to +wander, no one knows whither, through the great all-receiving void--not to +lose existence, for in that my dear master entirely misunderstands me--but +to cease from feeling as a Sabinus, or a Tarna." + +The old man kept regarding his Egyptian with a placid smile; but I could +not help interposing: "What is this you have said? Do you assert that I +can cease to be Valerius, to feel as Valerius, and yet not lose my +existence? Can I _be_, and yet not be _myself_?" + +"Most easily," replied he; "the divided fragments may move about for a +thousand years, before it befall any of them to be stopped in some future +combination of atoms. These, it is manifest, only tremble and suffer when +they form part of a soul, but are immediately released from all pain or +mischance, when this confinement and cohesion are at an end, and they, +being dispersed, regain liberty and wander about singly, as of yore; for, +as our great dispeller of delusion says--When death is, we are not. If, +therefore, Sabinus shrinks from the fear of death, it is an idle fear. +Does he not perceive that when death arrives, Sabinus is no longer to be +found. Whatever its effects may be, they must affect not him, but an army +of innumerable disjointed essences, in no one of which could he by any +means be able to recognize himself." + +"To make a short story out of a very long one," interrupted the Centurion; +"life, you think, is not worthy of the name of existence--that being so, it +is no wonder you should think lightly of death." + +"Mistake me not," quoth the sage; "no--life _is_ existence; I not only +admit that, but I assert that it is the business of every man, and the +sole true object of wisdom, to render life, while it endures, pleasant. +Earthly pleasure consists in a bland juxta-position of atoms necessarily, +though not permanently, connected; the removal of pain implies that +quiescence which pervades the nobleness of the unenclosed ALL. To exist in +this shape, we are compelled; it is our business to render our existence +as near an approach to felicity as we may." + +"Fill your cup, Tarna," quoth the Centurion; "I am no great philosopher, +yet methinks I can see the drift of this part of your story. Fill up your +goblet, most venerable Epicurean, and see (if it be not below your +dignity,) whether the atoms, which, by a fortuitous and temporary +juxta-position have formed your throat, will not feel their corners very +philosophically softened by the rushing of a little rivulet of good +Falernian--one cup of which, saving your presence, I hold to be more worthy +of wetting my guttural atoms, than all the water that ever sported its +music between Memphis and Alexandria." + +While the slave and the Centurion were thus discoursing, the old man +appeared to taste, as it were, the pleasure of a renovated existence, in +contemplating the brown health and strong muscular fabric of the inheritor +of his name. The hearty masculine laugh with which my friend usually +concluded his observations, was, I take leave to think, richer music to +his ears than ever Egyptian heard in the dark rollings of the Nile, or +Epicurean dreamt of in the airy dance of atoms. I suspect he was more +reconciled to the inevitable stroke of fate, by considering that he was to +leave such a representative behind him, than by any argument which his own +superstition, or the philosophy of his attendant, could suggest. In return +for this obvious admiration, the Centurion, without question, manifested +every symptom of genuine affection. Yet, I think, the instinctive +consciousness of his own strength made the piety of the robust son assume +an air more approaching to that of patronage, than might have been +altogether becoming. If such a fault there were, however, it escaped the +notice of the invalid, who continued, till Tarna insisted upon his +retiring, to gaze upon my friend, and listen to his remarks, with looks of +exultation. + +The Centurion withdrew with his father, so that I was left alone with +Tarna for some time; and it was then that, in my juvenile simplicity, I +could not help expressing my surprise at finding in servile condition a +man possessed of such acquirements as his, and addicted to such pursuits. + +"It would argue little," he replied, "in favour of such pursuits, if they +tended only to make me repine at the place which has been allotted me--no +matter whether by the decree of fate, or the caprice of fortune. And after +all, I am not of opinion that any such external circumstances can much +affect the real happiness of any one. Give to him that has been born a +slave, what men are pleased to call his freedom; in a few weeks he will +become so much accustomed to the boon, that he will cease to think of it. +Heap wealth upon him; to wealth also he will gradually become habituated. +Rank--power--with all it is the same. It is in the mind only that the seat +of happiness is placed; and there it never can be, unless in companionship +with thoughts that look down upon, and despise being affected by trifling +things." + +"And are such," said I, "the views of all those who follow your sect?" + +"I wish it were so," he replied; "but ere you remain long in the city, you +will meet with not a few, philosophers only in the name, who, having small +means of subsistence, but being desirous of leading a luxurious and +agreeable life, become teachers of such doctrines as may accord best with +the vicious inclinations of those who are most likely to entertain them. +These persons assume too often the name of Epicureans. They are seen every +where at feasts crowned with myrtle, and fawning upon gouty senators; and +whenever a boar's-head appears, they are sure to call it worthy of +Meleager. Their conversation is made up of stale jests about Charon and +his boat, and the taking of Auguries; and, when finally inebriated, they +roll upon the ground like those animals, to whom, in consequence of the +proceedings of such hypocritical pretenders, the ignorant have dared too +often to liken the wisest of mankind. Such things I disdain--I am satisfied +to remain, as I was born, in the rank of AEsop, Epictetus, Terence." + +By this time the Centurion had returned. He had a lamp in his hand; and he +interrupted our conversation. "Come, we start betimes, Caius; and you too, +my sweet cock of Cyrene, I think you had better fold your wings, and +compose yourself upon your roost." + +Oh, enviable temperament! said I to myself--you liken the slave to a bird. +Methinks yourself are more deserving of the simile. The light and the air +of heaven are sufficient to make you happy--your wings are ever +strong--their flight ever easy--and the rain of affliction glides off them +as fast as it falls. Sleep softly, kind heart. It is only the troubles of +a friend that can ever disturb your serenity. + + + + + _CHAPTER X._ + + +I was in bed before Dromo interrupted my reflections by saying, in a low +tone of considerable confidence, "And now, Master Valerius, do you still +continue, as much as two days ago, to disbelieve in philtres and despise +enchantresses? You see what, with all my precaution, has come of this +connection between Rubellia and the Neapolitan." + +"In truth, Dromo," I replied, "it is visible that Pona had some share in +leading the soldiers to the Sempronian Sepulchre; but I am doubtful if +that had any thing to do with the private affairs of the lady Rubellia. As +to that matter, I confess myself entirely in the dark."--"Dark indeed," +quoth he, "must your observation have been, if you have yet to learn that, +but for that accursed witch, nothing of all this had befallen; but if +there be an edict against the Christians, there are twenty laws against +sorcery; and that both Pona and she that consulted her shall know well ere +long, if they do not as yet know it; or may Cretan change places with +Boeotian!"--"Say on, good Dromo," I replied, "I am all ears; and as you +appear to have been all eyes, I shall probably soon be more enlightened." + +"Well," quoth he, "I am glad to find that you are in a mood to listen to +me decently. You remember where I took my station when you mounted those +unfortunate steps upon the tower. I had not stood there many minutes +before I heard somebody approaching; and having no doubt it was Rubellia, +I was preparing myself for giving her such a salutation as I thought would +put a speedy end to her wandering for that night. On came the steps, but +no Rubellia. No; it was Xerophrastes himself; and although he had laid +aside the Greek mantle, and donned a boatman's black cloak for the nonce, +I promise you I knew his stately gait well enough beneath all these new +trappings. It was no part of my job, however, to attempt frightening the +stoic."--"And so you let him pass without doing any thing?"--"I did; I +confess I gave one or two groans after he had gone on a few paces, but I +did not observe him much quicken his walk, and I believe, to do the man +justice, he set it all down to the wind rustling among the trees. But I +thought not much of him at all, to speak the truth; for, said I to myself, +Well, if it be as I have suspected for these two blessed days, and this +master long-beard is really in league with the widow, the chances are, she +herself is not far behind him. I lay by, therefore, and expected in +silence till I should hear another tread; and in the meantime I spoke to +you once or twice across the path, but you made me no answer, for which +you know your own reasons."--"The reason," said I, "was a very simple one, +I assure you. I had fallen asleep, and no wonder, for you know how long I +had been a watcher."--"Well," said he, "I guessed as much, and it was +nothing but the born tenderness of my disposition, which made me cease +from offering you any disturbance. I thought I should surely be enough +single-handed for the widow; and besides, in case of need, I knew your +waking would always be in my power." + +"Admirably reasoned, Dromo," said I; "and so it seems no need came, for +you certainly never awakened me; for which I may thank the bonds from +which the Centurion's kindness has just set me free. But you have atoned +abundantly--I pray you, get on with your tale." + +"Presently," he resumed, "I heard footsteps, indeed, my good master, and +not footsteps alone, but voices; and I moved from the place as hastily as +I could, till I came to a tree, the branches of which, springing low on +the trunk, offered an opportunity for mounting, which I should have been a +Boeotian indeed had I neglected. I mounted, and hiding myself as well as I +could among the boughs, awaited the arrival of the party, which +consisted--ay, stare if you will--of Xerophrastes and the widow, walking in +front, in earnest talk by themselves,--and the Neapolitan in the rear. They +halted, and though they spoke low, I could hear them distinctly."--"And +what, in the name of Heaven, said they?" + +"'Are you sure,' said the widow, 'that this is indeed the girl whom Sextus +went to see at the Villa? Can there be no mistake?'--'Mistake, lady, there +is none,' replied the Stoic. 'Pona was at the villa with her basket, and +she saw them all walking together in the garden.'--'And this little +Christian,' said the lady as if to herself, 'it is she that has cost me +all this trouble! It is for this Athanasia that I have been insulted as +never woman was by man, and they are both here in the tower!'--'They are, +lady,' quoth the witch; 'they are both in the tower, for I saw her go in +by her self first, and then in went some dozen of those muffled +blasphemers, and, last of all, went in he himself. I saw him not enter +indeed, but I swear to you, that I saw him here not twenty paces from +hence, and he had with him that cunning slave of his, (meaning myself, +sir,) whose ugly face, (the foul woman added,) I would know although it +were disguised beneath all the washes that were ever mixed in the +seething-pots of Calabria.'--'But what,' interrupted our long-beard, 'what +will Licinius say? At least, my lady and my friend Pona will take good +care that no suspicion rests upon me. Sextus is a silly boy, without +taste, judgment, or discretion; but Licinius is acute and powerful.'--'Fear +not,' said Rubellia; 'fear not, dear Xerophrastes. Nobody shall appear in +the matter except Pona, and she tells you she has already given warning at +the Capene Gate. There are always a hundred men stationed on the Coelian. +Nothing can save them!' + +"These words were scarcely out of her mouth, ere the soldiers were heard +approaching. Xerophrastes ascended with great agility a tree just over +against mine; Rubellia retreated among the pines; and Pona alone awaited +the guard. I would have periled a limb to have been able to give you the +alarm; but little did I suspect, that had I sought you where I left you, I +should have sought in vain.--How, I pray you, did you contrive to get into +the accursed tower?" + +I told him I should give him the story another time at full length, and +mentioned briefly what had occurred. And then the Cretan proceeded with +his narrative. + +"I leave you to guess, Valerius, how my heart beat when I saw the witch +lead the soldiers straight to the place where I supposed you were still +sitting--with what anxiety I saw the tower surrounded--its tenants brought +out,--with what astonishment I saw you led out, the last of their number.--I +had neither time to think by what means all this had happened, nor the +least power to interfere. I saw you all mounted--guarded--borne away. +Whither they carried you, I was unable to make the smallest conjecture. I +saw Sabinus speak to you, and then I had hope,--but that too failed. In +brief, I did not venture from my tree till the whole assembly, not +forgetting Xerophrastes, had departed; and you may judge what a story I +had to tell Sextus when I reached home. + +"Instead of waiting to ponder and hesitate, as he used to do when his own +matters perplexed him, he went from me straight to his father. But before +they had done with their conversation, Sabinus himself arrived, and he was +immediately taken into the same chamber where they were. Licinius and he +went out together soon afterwards, and I think they walked towards the +Palatine; but whithersoever they went, they had a good deal of work before +them, for the day had advanced considerably before they returned. The +Centurion's horses were brought to the door shortly after; my master +desired me to accompany him; and gave me letters for you, which I had +almost forgotten to deliver." + +Such was the story of the faithful Cretan. The letter of Licinius I have +still preserved:-- + +"Since our Sabinus desires that I should write to you, although his own +kindness renders it unnecessary that I should do so, I cannot refuse. I +understand little, my Valerius, of what has brought you into this +condition, from which, not without difficulty overcome, you are, +notwithstanding, speedily to be delivered. I guess, that hastiness of +various sorts, not, however, entirely without excuse in a person of your +age, has been the means of implicating you in the affairs of a sect, +equally unworthy of your communication, whether you consider the country +in which their superstition originated, or the barbarities with which it +is stained. But even for beauty, my young friend, it becomes not a Roman, +least of all a Valerius, to forget what is due to the laws of Rome, and +the will of the Prince. Consider with yourself how nearly you have escaped +serious evil. Return to us, and forget what has passed, except for the +lesson it must teach you. Of Rubellia and Xerophrastes I am unwilling to +believe, without farther examination, what has been told me by my slave +Dromo. We shall speak of that and other matters, when (which I hope will +be early to-morrow) you once more give me the pleasure of seeing you. I +have then much to say. Farewell." + + + + + + _BOOK III. CHAPTER I._ + + +Day was far advanced before the Centurion and myself once more drew near +to the city. When we reached the first declivity beyond the Anio, the sun +was about to sink behind the Janicular. The innumerable sounds of the +capital, blended together into one mighty whisper, seemed only to form +part of the natural music of the air, and might almost have been +confounded with the universal hum of insects. We rode slowly down the +hill, the base of which is ever darkened by the solemn groves of the +Appian. + +We advanced in silence through that region of melancholy magnificence. I +scarcely knew whether I should be able of myself to recognize, among so +many similar edifices, the mausoleum of the Sempronii, and some feeling +rendered me unwilling to put any questions concerning it to Sabinus. + +But while we were moving leisurely, we heard of a sudden a clang of +cymbals among the trees, a little to the right hand, and the Centurion, +saying, "What company can this be?" led the way down a narrow path +branching from the main road. This path was winding and dusky, being edged +on either side with pines and cypresses, so that for some space we saw +nothing; and the cymbals having ceased again, the Centurion said, "I +suppose it is some funeral; they have probably completed every thing, and +have seen out the last gleam among the embers. Let us get on, for perhaps +we may be kept back by their procession, if they are already returning." +We quickened our pace accordingly, till a sharp turning of the road +discovered to us a great number of persons who were standing silent, as if +in contemplation of some ceremony. Several persons on horseback seemed, +like ourselves, to have had their progress interrupted; but they were +sitting quietly, and making no complaint. The silence of the whole +assembly was indeed such, that Sabinus motioned to me to ask no questions, +adding, in a whisper, "Take off your cap; it is some religious rite--every +body is uncovered." + +The Centurion, however, was not a person to be stopped thus, without +wishing to understand farther the cause of the interruption. The one side +of the road was guarded by a high wall, to the top of which a number of +juvenile spectators had climbed;--the other by a ditch of great breadth, +and full of water, beyond which was a grove of trees; and I saw him eyeing +the ditch, as if considering whether, by passing it, it might not be +possible, without disturbing the crowd, to get nearer the object of their +attention, or at least to make progress in our journey. At last he +beckoned to me to follow him, and the bold equestrian at one leap passed +easily. I imitated the example, and so did the Praetorian soldier, his +attendant, who had now come up to us; but as for Dromo, he was obliged to +remain behind. + +Ere we reached the bottom of the declivity, I perceived that we had come +close to the Sempronian monument, and that the ceremony, whatever it might +be, was taking place in front of the tower. We gave our horses to the +soldier, and contrived to gain the bank over against it--the same place, in +fact, where the Cretan slave had taken his station among the pine-trees, +on the night when all those things occurred of which I have spoken to you. +Like him, we placed ourselves as quietly as we could behind the trees, +and, indeed, for our purpose, there could have been no better situation. +We were contented, however, to occupy it as much as possible without +attracting observation; for it was evident, in spite of the curiosity that +detained so great a multitude near at hand, there must be something +mysterious or ominous of nature in that which was taking place, since not +one of the crowd had dared to come forward, so as to be within hearing of +the officiators. + +And these, indeed, were a melancholy group. For men, and women, and +children of every age, to the number it may be of an hundred, appeared all +standing together in garments of black; while, in the midst of them, and +immediately by the base of the tower, two or three veiled priests, with +their necessary assistants, seemed to be preparing for sacrifice a black +bull, whose hoofs spurned the dust as they held him, and his gilded horns +glittered in the light of the declining sun. Sabinus no sooner discovered +the arrangement of the solemn company, than he whispered to me, "Be sure, +these are all the kindred of the Sempronii. Without question they have +come to purify the mausoleum, and to avert the vengeance of the violated +Manes. Behold," said he, "that stately figure, close to the head of the +animal on the right hand; that, I know, is Marcia Sempronia, Priestess of +Apollo. Without doubt, these by her are her brothers." + +"Some of her near relations they must be," I made answer; "for observe you +that girl whose face is wrapped in her mourning veil, and whose sobs are +audible through all its folds? I had one glimpse of her countenance, and I +am sure it is young Sempronia, the cousin and companion of Athanasia,--the +daughter of Lucius the senator." + +"Poor girl," replied Sabinus, "from my heart I pity her. They are all +joining hands, that the nearest of the kindred touching the priest, his +deed may appear manifestly to be the deed of all." + +At this moment, one of the officiators sounded a few mournful notes upon a +trumpet. The priest who held the axe, clave at one blow the front of the +bull. The blood streamed, and wine streamed with it abundantly upon the +base of the mausoleum; and then, while we were yet gazing on the +convulsions of the animal, the trumpet sounded a second time, and the +whole company sung together, the priest leading them. + +The shadows of the tower and of the pine trees lay strongly upon them, and +I thought there was something of a very strange contrast between the +company and their chant, on the one hand, and the beautiful sculptures, +full of all the emblems of life and happiness, on the other, with which, +according to the gay dreams of Grecian fancy, the walls of the funereal +edifice itself had here and there been garnished. Fauns, and torch-bearing +nymphs, and children crowned with garlands, and wreathed groups and +fantastic dances, seemed to enliven almost to mockery the monumental +marbles; but one felt the real gloominess both of death and of +superstition, in the attitudes and accents of the worshippers. It was thus +they sung:-- + + Ye Gods infernal! hear us from the gloom + Of venerable depths remote, unseen; + Hear us, ye guardians of the stained tomb, + Majestic Pluto--and thou, Stygian Queen, + On the dark bosom leaning of great Dis-- + Thou reconciled Star of the Abyss. + + Blood, not for you, unholy hands have poured, + Ye heard the shriek of your insulted shrine; + Barbarian blasphemies, and rites abhorred, + Pollute the place that hath been long divine; + Borne from its wounded breast an atheist cry + Hath pierced the upper and the nether sky. + + With blood of righteous sacrifice again + The monumental stone your suppliants lave. + Behold the dark-brow'd bull--Behold him slain! + Accept, ye powers of the relenting grave, + The sable current of that vital stream; + And let the father's hope upon the children gleam. + + And ye, that in the ever dusky glades + Of Hades, wandering by Cocytus' shore, + Ancestral spirits--melancholy shades-- + With us the tresspass of the tomb deplore; + Oh! intercede--that terror and disgrace + May not possess (as now) your resting-place. + + What though the liquid serpent of the deep + Between lie coil'd in many a glittering ring: + Not unobserved of your pale eyes we weep, + Nor to deaf ears this doleful chant we sing; + Strong is the voice of blood through night to go, + Through night and hell, and all the realms below. + + Then hear us, kindred spirits--stately Sire + And pensive Mother! wheresoe'er ye glide; + If ever solemn pile and soaring fire + In freedom sped you to the Stygian tide,-- + Have pity on your children: let the breath + Of living sorrow melt the frozen ear of death. + + For Her that, sprung like us from your high line, + Hath mingled in the sacrifice of guilt, + Ye know that angry star, her natal sign, + To expiate whose curse this blood is spilt; + If not suffices this atoning blood, + Oh, steep the thought of her in Lethe's flood. + + Beneath that current lazy and serene, + In whose unfathomable waters lie + The slumbering forms of horrors that have been + In Hades, and in Ocean, Earth, and Sky-- + With long forgotten curse and murder old, + Steep that lost daughter's errors manifold. + + Once more for you an hallowed flame there burns. + Once more for you an hallowed stream there flows; + Despise not our lustrations of your urns, + Nor let unhoused Manes be our foes! + Above the children of your lineage born, + Hover not, awful ghosts, in anger and in scorn. + +These words were sung, as I have said, by the whole of this kindred there +assembled together; the first part of them distinctly, though not loudly; +but the last verses in a note so low, that no one, unless quite near, +(like ourselves,) could have comprehended their meaning. But as for the +young Sempronia, when they came to that part of the chant in which +reference was so particularly made to Athanasia, not only did her lips +refuse to join in the words, but her agitation was such that I thought the +poor maiden would have screamed outright, had she not been controlled by +the eye, and the hand also, of her aunt the Priestess. Sobs, however, and +low hysterical groans, could not be stifled; and at last so great was her +agony, that even the haughty Priestess was compelled to give way to it. + +"Bring water," said she; "dash ye water upon the foolish thing: methinks +it seems almost as if she had partaken in the frenzy of her unhappy----" + +And before she could finish the sentence, one or two of the females that +were present did take hold of Sempronia, and began, seeing there was no +water nearer at hand, to bear her slender form towards the small stream of +which I have already spoken, and which flowed immediately behind the clump +of pine trees, amongst which the Centurion and I were standing. + +She was quite passive in their hands; and they dragged her without +resistance or difficulty to the place where we were standing; but they +could not pass without seeing us: and no sooner did the eyes of Sempronia +fall upon me, than she burst by one unexpected effort from the arms of +those that were sustaining her, and ere I or any one could suspect what +she was to do, there lay she at my feet, clinging with her arms around my +knees. "Oh, Valerius," said she--"Oh, dear Valerius, they curse Athanasia! +Where is my Athanasia? whither have they taken her? Oh, tell me, that I +may go to her--that I may go to comfort Athanasia!" + +"Peace!" said, before I could answer, the Priestess of Apollo--"Peace, mad, +wretched thing,--has infatuation blasted the whole of our line?" And she +seized Sempronia by the arm, and compelled her to spring from her knees. +But the maiden still clung by her hands to me, and continued, with looks +and words of misery, to demand from me that knowledge which, alas! I would +myself have given so much to possess. Sabinus, however, smote me on the +shoulder, as if to make me recollect myself; and I had resolution enough +not to betray the feelings with which I listened to Sempronia's frantic +supplication. + +"What is this, sir?" then said the Priestess--"What is it that you know of +Athanasia? and why is it that you have presumed to witness the secret +sacrifice of a noble race?--Speak--or is there no meaning in this poor +girl's frenzy? And yet, methinks I have seen you before, and that, too, in +the presence of----" + +"It was," said I, hastily--"it was indeed in the presence of Athanasia; but +that circumstance, if you please to remember, was altogether accidental. I +was with the lady Rubellia when you found her in the Temple of Apollo----" + +"Yes," said she, "it was that same day when she refused to name the name +of Phoebus in his own precincts! Ha! little did I imagine what thoughts +were in her breast--else might we at least have been spared this open +degradation. And yet you, methinks, saluted Athanasia.--What is your name, +sir?--Know you, in truth, whither the lady Athanasia has been conveyed?" + +"He was with her!--he was with her!" exclaimed Sempronia,--"he was with her +in the tower when the soldiers came.--O Valerius! tell me where she is +now,--into what dungeon have they cast my friend--my sister----" + +"Ha!" quoth the Priestess, "he was with her in the +tower!--Romans--kinsmen--Lucius--Marcus--hear ye this? I charge ye, seize upon +this treacherous blasphemer!--It is he that has deceived Athanasia; and now +must he come here to taint the smoke of our sacrifice, and pollute our +prayers with his presence.--Seize him!"--And she herself grasped my cloak as +she spake--"Seize, I charge ye, this accursed Christian!" + +But Sabinus, when he saw the Priestess thus furious, stept forward, and +said to her kinsmen, who were standing in perplexity behind her, "Sirs, I +beseech you, be not you also carried away with this madness.--My friend +here knows nothing of the lady Athanasia, except that she was borne away +by soldiers from the very place where we are standing. I myself witnessed +it also, being here with the Praetorians. Valerius is no more a Christian +than she who accuses him." + +"I know not, sirs, how we are to understand all this," said one of the +Sempronii, in a calm voice. "Is this young man the same Valerius who is +living in the house of Licinius?--Yet it must be he. I have been with +Licinius this very day; and if this be he, whatever he may have known +before, I am sure he knows nothing of where Athanasia is now,--and, sister, +I am well assured he is no Christian." + +"It is the same, sir," said Sabinus. "He is the same Caius Valerius of +whom you spake, and I am Sabinus, a Centurion of the Praetorians." + +"We have all heard of your name," said Sempronius, respectfully; "I +perceive there is some mistake in all this matter. If it please you, let +us walk aside, and understand each other." + +So saying, he withdrew Sabinus to a little distance, and beckoned to me to +accompany him. "Valerius," said the old man, when he perceived that we +were out of hearing, "I crave you, in the first place, to forget all this +trouble which has been occasioned to you by the violence of my daughter, +on the one hand, and of my sister on the other. They are women; and, for +different reasons, the violence of both is excusable. I have been for a +considerable part of this day with Licinius, and have heard from him +enough to satisfy me how guiltlessly you yourself have been involved in +this affair; and your speedy liberation from confinement is more than +enough to confirm my belief of all that he said. Yet there is much which I +do not understand. I pray you speak openly, and fear nothing--you have, +indeed, nothing to fear. Was it in consequence of any private meeting with +my niece--nay, I mean not to suspect you of any thing amiss--in one word, +how was it that you happened to be taken into custody with that unhappy +girl?" + +"Sir," I replied, "you are a noble Roman, and the near kinsman of +Athanasia. You have a right to put these questions, and whatever +reluctance I may have to overcome, I feel that I have no right to refuse +an answer." And so I told Sempronius, plainly and distinctly, the story +both of my unwilling entrance into the mausoleum, and of my forcible +abduction from it. In short, I saw no reason to conceal any thing from the +person who was most likely to be able to serve Athanasia, if any thing to +serve her were possible. + +"It is well," he said; "you speak as becomes a man of the Valerian blood. +But as for poor Athanasia, I swear to you I cannot yet bring myself to +believe that she hath in reality been privy to such things as have been +discovered concerning these Christians."--"Discovered!" said I. "I pray +you, what has been discovered concerning them? If you allude to any of the +wild stories that are circulated about their religion, you may depend upon +it, it is all mere madness to believe a word of it. I have read in their +sacred books myself, and I swear to you, that, so far as I have seen, +nothing can be more simple, benign, humane, than the morality inculcated +by their leader." + +"Young man," he answered, "I was not thinking of their creed, which, for +aught I know or care, may be sublime enough; for there was always a +mysterious sort of philosophy current among those old Asiatic nations. But +I speak of the designs of these men; in one word, I speak of their +conspiracy."--"Conspiracy!--What? How? Against whom? I will pledge my life, +no conspiracy was sheltered beneath yon tower that night. I swear to you, +they are simple people, and were thinking of nothing but their +worship."--"Worship!" quoth he; "I promise you it will not be so easy to +persuade me that Cotilius has suddenly become a man of so much piety, +either to our gods, or to the deities (if they have any) of the +Christians.--What, Cotilius? By Jove, Rome does not hold at this moment a +more bold, daring, godless rascal. You may as soon try to make me believe +that Capaneus came to Thebes with a hymn in his mouth. No, no--the sworn +friend of Domitian will not easily gain credit for his new-sprung +sanctity."--"Cotilius? That was the very name of the man that seized me, as +I have told you."--"I should have guessed as much," said he;--"Yes, I +promise you, how little soever Athanasia might have known, secrets they +had; and Cotilius was well aware at what peril they should be revealed." + +"The late example," said I, "must indeed have alarmed him."--"What," said +he, "do you speak of that fanatic Syrian? You know little of Cotilius. No, +no--had the worst of his fears been the necessity to worship all the +deities between Euphrates and Rhine, he would have slept soundly."--"But +surely," said I, "you do not believe that Athanasia had any knowledge of +the man's secret designs, if he had any. He may have used Christianity, or +desired to use it, as a weapon against the State; but be certain, neither +she nor any of those really attached to their religion, had any notion of +his purpose." + +"It may be so, indeed," he answered;--"Heaven grant it may. As for +Cotilius, I will speak to you more at length of him anon. I will bid adieu +to my sister, and take order about my daughter; and then, if it so please +you, we shall walk together to the city." + +To this I agreed, but Sabinus rode on to the camp of the Praetorians. He +whispered to me, however, that unless he were most necessarily detained, +he should be, ere long, at the house of Licinius. + +"To you," said the Senator, as we went on, "who have so lately come from +your island, the whole of this expiatory spectacle is probably quite new; +but I am sure Sabinus could not have been aware what was its purpose, +otherwise he would not have been guilty of so grievously offending the +feelings of my sister, and some of the rest of my kindred, by remaining a +witness of these most private rites. The Priestess is indeed inconsolable, +and her grief has set half her other passions in motion likewise. +Athanasia was as dear to her as if she had been her daughter; so, in +truth, she was to us all, ever since her parents died. But Cotilius, this +knave Cotilius, has, I fear, blasted her hopes and ours."--"It occurs to +me," said I, "and I should have mentioned it to you before, that there +seemed to be no great understanding between this Cotilius and Athanasia. +She was evidently displeased with many things he both said and did; and +he, on his part, did not appear to relish her interference."--"True," he +continued, "you have already hinted as much; and I assure you, these are +some of the circumstances in the whole case that tend most to excite my +hopes. Great Heavens! what would Caius have said had he dreamt that his +orphan was to be suspected of having sympathy with any of the dark designs +of that shame to Roman knighthood! But you, of course, are a stranger to +this man's history."--"With its end, at least," I replied, "it is like we +may all be soon enough acquainted." + +"Yes," said he, "Heaven grant we have not cause too deeply to remember it! +but I have known him from the beginning. I told you already that he was in +great favour with Domitian."--"And the reverse, of course," said I, "both +with Nerva and Trajan." + +"Even so," he continued, "and with reason; for in all the disturbances +which occurred on the accession of the last sovereign, and, in particular, +in those foul intrigues among the Praetorians, which at one time brought +Nerva's own life into immediate danger and compelled him to bare his neck +to the soldiery at his gate, this Cotilius was more than suspected to have +had a deep concern. When Petronius and Parthenius(2) were hacked in +pieces, it needed no great witchcraft to detect some of the moving spirits +that produced their catastrophe; but proof there was none at the time; and +even had there been proof enough, the good old man would have been too +timid to act upon it. These things, however, could not be forgotten either +by Nerva or his successor. Hitherto, the strong hand has repressed every +rebellious motion; but be sure that no man ever lived more an object of +suspicion, than this man has done ever since Nerva adopted Trajan." + +"And you think," said I, "that, among other intrigues, it had occurred to +this man to make his own use of the Christians; despised and persecuted +though they be, there can, indeed, be no doubt that their numbers are +considerable, and that their faith is a strong bond of cohesion." + +"It is even so," said the Senator. "But as yet the treason even of +Cotilius rests on suspicion only, and report; and, after all, even if he +were proved guilty of having nourished such schemes, the account you give +of what you saw and heard at their assembly, inspires me with considerable +doubts whether he can be supposed to have ever as yet ventured to invite +their participation;--unless, indeed, they practised deception while you +were with them. The moment I heard of what had happened, I went to the +Palatine, in hopes of attaining either assistance from Urbicus, or mercy, +if that were all we could look for, from Trajan. But Urbicus could give me +no satisfaction, except that my niece was in a solitary and safe place. +The charges, he said, against one of the leaders (he meant Cotilius) were +heavy; and until these were sifted, it was impossible that access could be +afforded to any one who had been thrown into confinement. The Emperor had +shewn unusual symptoms of anxiety, and had even, so he hinted, been in +person investigating the matter at a distance from the city, during great +part of the preceding night and day. To tell you the truth, Valerius, till +this thing fell out, I was wont to consider the new violence about the +Christians as somewhat unworthy of the enlarged intellect of Trajan: it +had not occurred to me, how easily the resources of such a superstition +might be enlisted in the cause of discontent." + +"Of course," said I, "nothing will be done in regard to Athanasia until +all circumstances have been examined." + +"Done!" said he; "has not enough been done already to justify almost in a +man more than you have seen among our women? Has not a whole family been +disgraced? Has not the mausoleum of their fathers been prostituted for the +unholy purposes of this barbarian sect? If the Senate should be summoned, +with what countenance should I shew myself among my friends?--Unhappy girl! +How little did she know in what trouble she was to involve those that love +her the best." + +By this time we had come within sight of the house of Licinius, and the +Senator took leave, with a promise that I should see him on the morrow. + +I found Sextus alone in his chamber, where he embraced me with all the +ardour of juvenile affection. "Alas!" said he, "my dear Caius, at any +other time I might have found fault with you for taking so great a part in +my griefs, and yet keeping so many of your own to yourself. But if it be +indeed as Sempronia has said, I should be a strange friend to choose this +hour for complaining of such trifles as regard only myself." + +"Sextus," I replied, "it was only because of the greatness of your own +distresses that I concealed from your kindness any of mine." + +"My Valerius," he answered, "we shall talk at length to-morrow; at +present, I have only time to say, that the misfortune of Athanasia was +communicated to Sempronia almost immediately, by an old freedwoman, who +had been in the habit of attending her when she went from home in secret, +and who, going to the mausoleum to accompany her on her return, arrived +there just in time to see what befel her. She saw you also, (how she knew +who you were, I know not,) and when she had told her story to Sempronia, +the poor girl, before speaking even with her father, sent for me to come +to her in the gardens. I did so; all that passed I need not repeat; but I +hope my advice was the right one. At all events, I acted for the best, and +my father, who is now aware of every thing, seemed to approve of what I +had done. O Valerius! were Athanasia free, and you happy, many things have +occurred to make me much more at ease than when you left us. My father is +evidently shocked with what Dromo told about Rubellia; and as for +Xerophrastes, he had not once spoken to him either yesterday or to-day. +Indeed, neither of them have been much here. My father is continually +exerting himself concerning Athanasia; and Xerophrastes, I suppose, is +afraid of a discovery. As for me, I am sorry I must leave you, for I +promised to meet Sempronia; and although I have nothing to tell her, I +cannot fail in my appointment. She must have returned before this time +from the mausoleum, where an expiatory sacrifice was to be made at +sunset." + +Sabinus by this time had hastened to me once more, according to his kind +promise. I told him that my kinsman was not at home, and that I proposed, +in the meantime, accompanying his son a part of the way towards the +Suburban of Capito. The Centurion insisted on going with us, saying, that +he could not think of returning to the camp without having spoken with +Licinius. + + + + + _CHAPTER II._ + + +The Centurion, in virtue of his office, had free access to the gardens of +Trajan; so he led us by both a more delightful and a nearer path towards +the Salarean Gate. Young Sextus then quitted us; and we returned slowly +through the beautiful groves of the Imperial Villa, in hopes of finding my +kinsman by the time we should reach his mansion. But as we were walking +very quietly along one of the broad green terraces, we heard voices in an +adjoining alley, separated from us by luxuriant thickets of myrtle, and +Sabinus, whispering to me, "Hush, let us see what we have got here," +insinuated himself with great dexterity among the verdant shrubs. I +followed him with as little noise as was possible, and having found a +convenient peeping place, we soon perceived two figures at some little +distance from us in the moonlight.--"Come, Sabinus," I whispered, "they are +lovers perhaps--I don't see what right we have to overhear."--"Peace," quoth +he, "if you stir, they will detect us, and it is nothing unless it be +known." + +With some reluctance I remained where I was; but my scruples were at an +end the moment I perceived who they were. + +"Most noble, most illustrious lady," said Xerophrastes, "this matter has +indeed been conducted unfortunately, yet no reason see I why you should +give way to so many groundless apprehensions. The only thing, after all, +that you have lost, if indeed you have lost it, is the good opinion of +Licinius; for, as to that foolish boy----"--"Name him not," replied Rubellia, +"name not the stripling. Surely madness alone can account for my +behaviour."--"Madness!" quoth the Stoic; "yes, truly, and who, at certain +moments, is free from such madness? As Euripides has expressed it, Venus, +if she come in wisdom, is the wisest; if otherwise, the most frenzied of +influences. The greatest have not been exempt from such visitations. +Banish it from your heart, noble lady, or replace it by something more +worthy of your discernment. There is, I think, but one pair of eyes in +Rome that could have been blind to such perfections."--"O Xerophrastes!" +said she, "speak not to me of perfections. Alas! I was born under a +deceitful star--a star of apparent splendour and real misery."--"Noble +lady," he replied, "I swear to you that what tincture of philosophy I have +imbibed, is unable to sustain my serenity when I hear such words from your +lips. You are surrounded by all that externals can minister. It is your +part to compose your mind, and then how should it be possible for you to +taste of unhappiness? Think no more of that boy." + +The philosopher took her hand with an air of the deepest sympathy, and at +the same time drew the end of his mantle over his face, as if to conceal +the extent of his participation in her distresses.--"Alas! lady, this is, +after all, a miserable world. There is no rest but in the affections, and +behold how they are harassed on every hand by the invidious accidents of +life. Philosophy proclaims her antidote, but the poison is every where; +and it is all one course of being wounded to be cured, and being cured +only to be more easily wounded again." + +Our friend continued in an attitude of pensive contemplation. The +moonbeams fell full on his high brow and the large massy features of his +countenance, and on the robust limbs which emerged from below the stately +folds of his mantle; and I could not help thinking that there was +something almost heroic, which I had never before remarked, in the whole +of his appearance. Rubellia kept her eyes fixed steadfastly upon him. + +"I should have known nothing of it," he resumed, "had I never deserted my +paternal valley for the vain pleasures of Athens, and the magnificence of +Rome."--"You repent," said she, "that you ever visited Italy? I pray you +deal with me openly. If it be your wish to leave Rome, speak, and I shall +put it in your power to retire to Greece as handsomely as you could ever +have hoped to do from the family of Licinius. Of wealth, as you well know, +I have enough both for myself and for my faithful friends, among whom, be +sure, I place you in the first rank. Control your feelings, I pray you +once more--and speak freely." + +Hastily and fervently he pressed his lip upon the beautiful hand of +Rubellia, and whispered something into her ear. She started, and I think +blushed in the moonlight; but neither seemed offended very deeply with +what he had said, nor with the gesture he had used.--"Softly, softly," +whispered the Centurion, "be not ashamed, fair lady, of the love of thy +servant." + +But (whether the echo of his Horatian parody had reached her ear or not, I +cannot tell,) scarcely had these words been uttered, ere Rubellia started +from her seat, and began to move pretty quickly down the shaded alley, as +if towards the entrance of the gardens. Xerophrastes sate still for a +moment, even after the lady had arisen, covering his eyes, and part of his +broad forehead with his hands, as if buried in his own thoughts too deeply +to be with ease affected with a sense of things passing around him. Then, +at last, he arose, and uttering an exclamation of surprise, walked after +the noble dame, taking heed, however, (it did not escape our observation,) +to arrange, as he rapidly followed her, the massive folds of his mantle +into a graceful drapery. + +Sabinus restrained himself till they were beyond the reach of his voice; +but he then made himself ample amends. "Ha!" said he, "is this to be the +end? Most pensive ghost of Leberinus, is this to be thy successor?"--"Good +heavens!" said I, "Sabinus, do you think it possible she should make the +pedagogue her husband--she that was but yesterday so desperately enamoured +of the beautiful young Sextus?"--"My dear islander," quoth the Centurion, +"do you remember the story of a certain beautiful boy, called Adonis?"--"To +be sure," said I, "who is ignorant of the story of Adonis, or of the +beautiful verses of Bion-- + + "I weep for fair Adonis--for Adonis is no more, + Dead is the fair Adonis--his beauty I deplore; + His white thigh with a tusk of white the greenwood monster tore, + And now I weep Adonis--for Adonis is no more.'" + +"Well spouted," quoth the soldier; "and with an excellent gravity: But +think you Venus never altered the burden of her ditty? Have you never +heard of Mars the blood-stained, the destroyer of men, the leveller of +city walls--nor of Anchises, the Dardan shepherd, wiser in his generation +than one who inherited both his station and his opportunity; no, nor even +of Vulcan, the cunning Artificer, the Lord of the One-eyed Hammerers, the +Lemnian, the Chain-maker, the Detector, the awkward Cup-bearer, whose +ministration, as honest Homer confesses, fills Olympus with +inextinguishable laughter. Have you heard of all these, and I take it of a +few more besides; and yet do you talk as if Venus, after the white boar's +tusk had pierced the white thigh of her Adonis, had made no use of her +beautiful girdle, but to wipe the tears from her pretty eyes withal?--her +girdle, of which, heaven pity your memory, I know not how many blessed +ages after Adonis had fallen, the same faithful bard said, + + 'In it is stored whate'er can love inspire: + In it is tender passion, warm desire, + Fond lovers' soft and amorous intercourse; + The endearing looks and accents that can fire + The soul with passionate love's resistless force, + 'Gainst which the wisest find in wisdom no resource.' + +I was there the night she espoused Leberinus, and I pitied her very +sincerely, when I saw the pretty creature lifted over the old man's +threshold in her yellow veil, which I could not help thinking concealed +more sighs, if not more blushes, than are usual on such occasions. But I +promise you the glare of her new torches shall affect me with different +emotions." + +Such talk passed as we were leaving the gardens of Trajan. But as we +advanced into the more peopled region, we found the streets full of +clamour, insomuch that quiet discourse could no longer be carried on. The +evening was one of the most lovely I had ever seen, and the moon was +shedding a soft and yellow light upon the lofty towers and trees, and upon +all that long perspective of pillars and porticos. Yet groups of citizens +were seen running to and fro with torches in their hands; while many more +were stationary in impenetrable crowds, which had the air, as it seemed to +us, of being detained in the expectation of some spectacle. Accordingly we +had not jostled on much farther, ere there arose behind us a peal of what +seemed to me martial music; but my companion, as soon as the sounds +reached him, warned me that a procession of the priests of Cybele must be +at hand. + +At last they came quite close to us, and passed on dancing around the +image of the Goddess, and singing the chaunt of Atys. A path being opened +for them by the crowd all along, they made no halt in their progress, but +went on at the same pace, some of them leaping high from the ground as +they dashed their cymbals, and others dancing lowly while they blew the +long Phrygian trumpets and crooked horns of brass. The image itself was +seated in a brazen chariot, to which brazen lions also were fastened, the +whole being borne on the shoulders of some of the assistants. Behind it +came others, beating great hollow drums; and then again more, leaping, and +dancing, and singing, like those who preceded it. They were all clad in +long Asiatic vests, with lofty tiaras; and their countenances, as well as +their voices, intimated sufficiently that they were ministers of the same +order to which the hapless Atys had belonged. Yet nothing but enthusiasm +and triumph could be discovered in their manner of singing that terrible +hymn. + +They had not advanced much beyond the spot where we were standing, ere +they stopped of a sudden, and, placing the chariot and image of Cybele +between the pillars of one of the porticos that run out into the street, +began a more solemn species of saltation. When they had finished this +dance also, and the more stately and measured song of supplication with +which it was accompanied, the priests then turned to the multitude, and +called upon all those who reverenced the Didymaean mysteries, to approach +and offer their gifts. Immediately the multitude that were beyond formed +themselves into a close phalanx, quite across the street, and torches +being conveyed into the hands of such as stood in the foremost rank, there +was left in front of the image an open space, brightly illuminated, for +the convenience, as it seemed, of those who might come forward to carry +their offerings to the foot of the statue. And, indeed, it appeared as if +these were not likely to be few in number; for the way being quite blocked +up by those torch-bearers, no one could hope to pass on easily without +giving something, or to pass at all without being observed. Not a few +chariots, therefore, and litters also, having been detained, the persons +seated in these vehicles seemed to be anxious, as soon as possible, to +present their offerings, that the path onward might be cleared to them by +command of the priests. It was necessary, however, as it turned out, that +each person in advancing to the chariot of Cybele, should imitate the +motions practised by the Galli themselves; and this circumstance, as may +be imagined, was far from being the most acceptable part of the ceremony +to some of those who had thus been arrested. A few of the common sort, +both men and women, stepped boldly into the open ring, and with great +appearance of joy went through the needful gesticulations. But, at first, +none of the more lordly tenants of the chariots and litters seemed to be +able to prevail on themselves to follow the example. At length, however, +the impatience even of these dignified persons began to overcome their +reluctance; one and another red-edged gown was seen to float in lofty +undulations across the torch-lighted stage, and when a handful of coin was +heard to ring upon the basin of the Goddess, doubt not the priests +half-cracked their cheeks in blowing horn and trumpet, and clattered upon +their great tambarines as violently as if they had made prize of another +Atys. But how did the Centurion chuckle when he observed that one of the +next chariots was no other than that of Rubellia herself, and perceived +that she and the Stoic were now about to pass onwards like the rest, at +the expense of exhibiting their agility before the multitude. + +"Jove in heaven!" cried he, "I thought the garden scene was all in all; +but this is supreme! Behold how the sturdy Thracian tucks up his garment, +and how, nodding to the blows of the tambarine, he already meditates +within himself the appropriate convolutions. And the pretty widow! by the +girdle of Venus, she also is pointing her trim toe, and, look ye! better +and better, do you not see that she has given her veil to the Stoic, that +so she may perform the more expeditely?" + +At this moment, some one from behind laid hold of my arm, and whispered my +name. I looked round, and perceived an old man, wrapped in a very large +and deep mantle, the folds of which, however, were so arranged that I +could see very little of his features. Stepping a pace or two backwards, +he beckoned to me with his hand. I hesitated; but his gesture being +repeated, I also entered within the shade of the pillars, and then he, +dropping his mantle on his shoulders, said, "Valerius, do you not remember +me? We met last at the tomb of the Sempronii."--"At the tomb of the +Sempronii!" said I; and recognized, indeed, the features of the Christian +priest, who had treated me on that eventful evening with so much courtesy; +but my wonder was great to find him in such a situation; for I had seen +him conveyed away between armed guards, and I could not imagine by what +means he, of all others, should have so soon regained his freedom. He +observed my astonishment, and said, in a low voice, "My friend, perhaps I +might have as much reason to be surprised with seeing you here, as you +have in seeing me. But follow me into this house, where we may communicate +what has occurred." + +The hope of perhaps hearing something concerning Athanasia determined me. +I cast a look towards Sabinus, and saw him attentively engaged in +witnessing the performance; and hoping that he might continue to amuse +himself so for a few minutes longer, I permitted the old man to lead me +into the vestibule. The slaves, who were waiting there, seemed to receive +him with much respect. He passed them, saying, "Do not trouble +yourselves--I shall rejoin your master;" and shortly ushered me into a +chamber situated over the hall of entrance, where a grave personage was +reclining by the open window. He perceived not our approach till we had +come close up to his couch, for he was occupied with what was going on +without. When the old man accosted him, and said, "Pontius, I have been +successful. Here is my friend, Caius Valerius," the stranger rose up, and +saluted me with kindness. "Caius Valerius," said he, "will pardon me for +being desirous of seeing him here, when he learns that I was one of his +father's oldest friends, and served with him many campaigns both in +Germany and Britain. I should have been ill pleased had I heard that you +had been in Rome, and departed without my having an opportunity of +retracing, as I now do, the image of my comrade." + +I had to answer not a few questions concerning the situation of my mother +and myself, before I could lead the conversation into the channel I +desired; and at length, indeed, it was not so much any thing I said, as +the readiness of the priest himself, which gave to it that direction; for +the first pause that occurred in the discourse between Pontius and myself, +he filled up, by saying, "And now, will Valerius pardon me for asking, if +he has ever looked again into the narrative of Luke, or whether his +curiosity, in regard to these matters, has been entirely satisfied by the +adventures of one unfortunate night?" + +The manner in which Pontius regarded me when the priest said this, left me +no doubt that he was at least favourably inclined to the opinions of the +Christians; so I answered without hesitation, "My curiosity, instead of +being satisfied by what I saw that evening, received new strength; but you +may easily believe that the troubles in which I was involved, and still +more the troubles with which I know others yet to be surrounded, have +hitherto taken away from me both the means and the power of gratifying my +curiosity as I would wish.--But tell me, I pray you, by what means is your +imprisonment at an end?"--"My friend," replied the priest, "you speak +naturally but rashly. I believe you yourself are the only one of those +surprised in the tower, whose imprisonment has as yet terminated. Yet +hope, good hope is not absent,--above all, I trust there is no reason to +despair concerning that dear child who interfered in your behalf, when a +bold, and, I fear me, a false man, had drawn his weapon to your peril. As +for me, I have but gained the liberty of an hour or two, and long ere dawn +I shall be restored again to my fetters."--"Your fetters!" said I, "am I to +understand, that, by the connivance of a Roman jailor, you are this night +at liberty to perambulate the streets of Rome?"--"Young man," answered the +priest, "he is a Christian."--"Even for his sake," said I, "the name is +honourable." + +"Valerius," said he, "I pray you speak not things which may hereafter give +pain to your memory. Already you have read something of the life of ONE, +for whose sake our name is indeed honourable--of Him I trust you shall ere +long both read and think more; but how shall I bless God, that threw my +lot, since captivity it was to be, into a place where such authority was +to have the superintendence of me? Yet more, how shall I be sufficiently +grateful, that She, in all things so delicate, although in nothing +fearful, has shared the same blessing?" + +"Heavens," said I, "what do I hear!--Is Athanasia indeed lodged in the same +prison with yourself, and may she also go abroad thus freely?" + +"Think not," he replied, "that I embrace such freedom for any purposes of +mine own. What I do for the service to which I am bound, think not that +Athanasia will ever desire to do for herself. She abides her time +patiently where the lot hath been cast for her; in due season, if such be +the will of the Lord, she shall regain that in truth, of which this is but +the shadow." + +"God grant our prayer," said Pontius, "and not ours only, but the prayer +of all that know her, and have heard of this calamity!--Whatever the +exertions of her family and their friends can accomplish, most surely +shall not be awanting. Would that those who are linked to her by ties yet +more sacred had the power, as they have the will, to serve her! Yet Hope +must never be rejected. The investigations of this very night may produce +the true accomplices of Cotilius; and then Trajan will be satisfied that +the Christians stand guiltless of that treason." + +"Alas!" said I, "if this faith be a crime, how can any one hope to follow +it without being continually liable to accidents as unfortunate? In Rome, +at all events, what madness is it thus to tempt the fate which impends +over the discovery of that which it must be so difficult, so impossible to +conceal?" + +The aged Priest laid his finger on his lips, and pointed to the window. I +listened, and heard distinctly the shrill voices of the mutilated dancers, +as they brake forth above the choral murmurs of the drums and cymbals, and +I perceived that the bloody legend of Atys was once more the subject of +their song. + +The ancient waited till the voices were drowned again in the clamour of +the instruments, and then said to me, "Young man, do you know to what +horrid story these words of theirs refer? Do you know what sounds all +these are designed to imitate? Do you know what terror--what flight--what +blood--what madness are here set forth in honour of a cruel demon--or +rather, I should say, for the gain of these miserable and maimed +hirelings? Do you know all these things, and yet give counsel of flight +and of cowardice to me, upon whose head the hand of Christ's holy apostle +hath been laid? Read, dear Valerius, read and ponder well.--My prayers, and +the prayers of one that is far purer than me--they are ever with you. But +now since I have introduced you to Pontius, why should I delay here any +longer? He, both for your father's sake and for your own, and for that of +the faith, (of which you have had some glimpses) will abundantly aid you +in all things. Deal not coldly nor distantly with him. I commit you into +his hands, as a brand to be snatched from the burning." + +Pontius reached forth his hand and grasped mine in token of acquiescence +in all the old man expressed. He, by and by, looking into the street, +said, "These jugglers have now departed to their dens, and the gaping +multitudes have dispersed. But I still see one person walking up and down, +as if expecting somebody; and it seems to me that it is the same, +Valerius, who was in your company." I perceived that it was indeed +Sabinus, whistling to himself on the bright side of the pavement. I +therefore bade them adieu, saying, "Dear father, when shall I see you +again, and when shall I hear farther of Athanasia?"--The old man pausing +for a moment, said, "To-morrow at noontide be in the Forum, over against +the statue of Numa. You will there find tidings." + +The Centurion plainly intimated that he took it for granted I had been +engaged in something which I wished to keep from his knowledge; but such +affairs made no great impression on him; and after laughing out his laugh, +he bade me farewell by the portico of Licinius. + + + + + _CHAPTER III._ + + +In the morning I found my kinsman and his son extremely uneasy, in +consequence of the absence of Xerophrastes, who had not returned during +the night; but Sabinus came in while they were talking to me, and +narrated, without hesitation, all he had seen and heard both in the garden +of Trajan, and at the procession of the Galli. Young Sextus could scarcely +be restrained by respect for his father, from expressing, rather too +openly, his satisfaction in the course which the affairs of the +disappointed lady appeared to be taking; while the orator muttered words +which I thought boded not much of good to the ambitious pedagogue. The +Centurion alone regarded all these things as matters of mere amusement, or +so at least he seemed to regard them; for, as I have already hinted, I was +not without my suspicion, that he was at bottom by no means well pleased +with the contemplation of the future splendour of the Stoic. + +However, after many jests had been exchanged between Sextus and the +Centurion concerning this incongruous amour, Licinius said, he was in so +far much relieved by what he had heard, as it satisfied him that both the +widow and Xerophrastes were now otherwise occupied, than in prosecuting +their designs against the niece of his friend Capito. + +"I myself," he continued, "was all yesterday, as well as the day before, +exerting every means in my power for her extrication from this unfortunate +confinement. Cotilius, without question, has indeed been a traitor; but I +believe the Prince himself is, by this time, well inclined to absolve, not +only the young lady, but by far the greater part of those who were taken +with her, from any participation in his traitorous designs. The charge, +however, of which it rests with them alone to exculpate themselves, is one +of a nature so serious, that it is impossible to contemplate without much +anxiety the pain to which so many families--above all, the noble and +excellent Sempronii--may still be exposed. But this day Cotilius will, in +all likelihood, pay the last penalty of _his_ crimes--and then we shall see +what intercession may avail. Would to heaven there were any one who could +obtain access to the deluded lady, and prevail with her to do that which +would be more effectual than I can hope any intercession to prove. This +infatuation--this dream--this madness--is, indeed, a just source of fear; and +yet, why should we suppose it to be already so deeply confirmed in a +breast young, ingenuous, so full, according to report, of every thing +modest and submissive? Surely this affectionate girl cannot be insensible +to the affliction of those who love her.--But you still shake your head, +Valerius; well, it is in our hands to do what we can; as for the issue, +who can hope to divert Trajan from doing that which he believes to be +just? Our best hope is in his justice----" + +"And in his clemency," interrupted the Centurion; "you will scarcely +persuade me that Caesar can meditate any thing serious concerning a young +beauty, who has been guilty of nothing but a little superstition and +enthusiasm. Nobody will confound her case with that of any obstinate old +fanatic. In the meantime, what avails it to distress ourselves more than +is necessary? Licinius is able to do something; and as for Valerius, the +best thing he can do is to get on horseback, and go with Sextus and myself +to inspect the cohorts that have arrived from Calabria." + +Young Sextus, on all occasions fond of military spectacles, embraced this +proposal; and fain would they both have prevailed on me to accede to it +likewise. I knew, however, that it would be impossible, if I accompanied +them, to keep my appointment with the old Christian; and that I was +resolved on no account to forego. I therefore retired to my chamber, there +to await the approach of the hour; and spent the time till it drew near, +in perusing once more the volume which had been restored to me by +Athanasia. This volume, and the letter which I have before mentioned, I +placed together in my bosom, before I went forth into the city. + +I entered the Forum, and found it, as formerly thronged with multitudes of +busy litigants and idle spectators. A greater concourse, indeed, than was +usual, crowded not it only, but the avenues to it, and the neighbouring +streets, by reason of a solemn embassy from the Parthian, which was to +have audience that day in the Senate. But I, for my part, having +discovered the statue of Numa Pompilius, resolved to abide by it, lest, +being mingled in the tumult of the expecting multitudes, I should, by any +mischance, escape the notice of the old man, who, I doubted not, meant to +seek me there in person. The time, however, went on--senator after senator +entered the temple--and, at last, the shouts of the people announced that +Trajan had arrived. And immediately after he had gone in, the pomp of the +embassy appeared, and every eye was fixed upon the long line of slaves, +laden with cloth of gold and rich merchandise, and upon the beautiful +troop of snow-white horses, which pawed the ground, in magnificent +caparisons, before the gate of the Senate-house. But while all were intent +upon the spectacle, I observed a little fair-haired girl standing over +against me, who, after looking at me for some moments, said with great +modesty, "Sir, if you be Caius Valerius, I pray you, follow me." + +I followed her in silence up the hanging stairs, and, in a word, had soon +reached the level of the Capitol, from whence, looking back, I could +perceive the whole array of the forensic multitudes far below me. The +child paused for a moment at the summit, and then, still saying nothing, +conducted me across two magnificent squares, and round about the Temple of +Jupiter, until, at length, she stopped at one of the side doors of an +edifice, which, from the manner in which it was guarded, I already +suspected to be the Mammertine. + +The girl knocked, and he who kept the gate, saluting her cheerfully, +allowed us to pass without question into the interior of the prison. My +companion tripped before me along many passages, till we reached at length +a chamber which was arranged in such a manner that I could with difficulty +believe it to belong to a place of punishment. + +Here I was soon joined by the old priest, (whose name, if I have not +before mentioned it, was Aurelius Felix,) together with a mild-looking man +of middle age, whom he desired me to salute as the keeper of the prison, +saying, "Here, Valerius, is that Silo, of whom yesterday evening you spake +with so great admiration. But I hope the benevolence of a Christian will +ere long cease to be an object of so much wonder in your eyes." + +"My father," said the jailer, "methinks you yourself say too much about +such little things. But, in the meantime, let us ask Valerius if he has +heard any thing of what has been determined by Caesar." + +I answered by telling what I had just heard from Licinius; upon which the +countenance of the old man was not a little lightened; but Silo fixed his +eyes upon the ground, and seemed to regard the matter very seriously. He +said, however, after a pause, "So far, at least, it is well. Let us hope +that the calumnies which have been detected, may turn more and more of +discredit upon those that have gone abroad concerning that which is dearer +to you, my father, and to all your true companions, than any thing of what +men call their own. But, alas! these, after all, are but poor tidings for +our dear young lady." + +"Fear not," answered Aurelius: "have I not told you already oftentimes, +that strength of heart goes not with bone and sinew, and that my gentle +child is prepared for all things? She also well knows that the servant is +not greater than the master." + +The old man motioned to us to remain where we were, and withdrew. I sate +for some minutes by the side of Silo, who was, indeed, manifestly much +troubled, until at length the same modest little damsel opened the door, +and addressing the jailer as her father, asked leave to conduct me to +Aurelius. + +The child led me, therefore, into the adjoining chamber, and tapped gently +at a door on the other side of it. The voice of the old priest bade us +come in, and Athanasia arose with him to receive me. She was dressed in a +white tunic, her hair braided in dark folds upon her forehead; her +countenance was calm, and, but for the paleness of her lips, I should have +said that her gravity scarcely partook of sadness. When, however, we had +exchanged our salutations, it was evident that some effort had been +necessary for this appearance of serenity; for when she spoke to me her +voice trembled in every tone, and, as she stooped to caress my young +guide, who had sate down by her feet, I saw the tear that had been +gathering drop heavily, and lose itself among the bright clusters of the +little damsel's hair. I took her unresisting hand, and imitated as best I +could the language of consolation. But it seemed as if my poor whispers +only served to increase the misery. She covered her face with her hands, +and sobs and tears were mingled together, and the blood glowed red in her +neck, in the agony of her lamentation. + +The old priest was moved at first scarcely less than myself by this +sorrowful sight. Yet the calmness of age deserted him not long, and after +a moment there remained nothing on his countenance but the gravity and +tenderness of compassion. He arose from his seat, and walked quietly +towards the end of the apartment, from which when he returned, after a +brief space, there was an ancient volume open in his hand. And standing +near us, he began to read aloud, in the Greek tongue, words which were +then new, and which have ever since been in a peculiar manner dear to me. + +_God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble. Therefore +will not we fear though the earth be removed; though the mountains be +carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be +troubled; though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof._ + +Athanasia took her hands from her face, and gradually composing herself, +looked through her tears upon the old man as he proceeded. + +_There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God; +the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High._ + +_God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God shall help her, +and that right early._ + +_The heathen raged; the kingdoms were moved. He uttered his voice; the +earth melted._ + +_The Lord of Hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge._ + +The blood had mounted in the countenance of Aurelius, ere he reached these +last words. The tears also had been dried up on the pale cheek of +Athanasia; and although her voice was not heard, I saw that her lips moved +fervently along with those of the priest. Even in me, ignorant of their +source, the words of the royal prophet produced I know not what of +buoyance and emotion, and perhaps my lips, too, had involuntarily essayed +to follow them; for when he paused from his reading, the old man turned to +me with a face full of benignity, and said, "Yes, Valerius, it is even so; +Homer, Pindar, AEschylus--these, indeed, can stir the blood; but it is such +poetry as this that alone can sooth in sorrow, and strengthen in the hour +of tribulation. Your vain-glorious Greeks called all men barbarians but +themselves; and yet these words, and thousands not less precious than +these, consoled the afflictions, and ennobled the triumphs of the chosen +race of Israel long, long years, ere ever the boasted melody of Ionian or +Doric verse had been heard of. From this alone, young man, you may judge +what measure of candour inhabits along with the disdain of our proud +enemies:--how fairly, without question, or opportunity of defence, the +charge of barbarity is heaped upon what they are pleased to call our +_superstition_;--how wisely the learned and the powerful of the earth have +combined in this league against the truth which they know not,--of which +they fear or despise the knowledge. Surely the truth is mighty, and the +gates of hell shall not prevail against her." + +"But, alas! my dear father," said Athanasia, "I fear me this is not the +place, nor the situation, in which Valerius might be most likely to listen +to your words. It may be that his own narrow escape, to say nothing of our +present danger, has rendered him even more cautious than he was before." + +"And who, my dear child," he replied hastily,--"and who is he that shall +dare to blame caution, or to preach, above all in such things as these, +the rashness that is of folly? Valerius will not believe that we, like the +miserable creatures whose impious songs he heard last night, are studious +only of working upon the fears of the ignorant, and harassing, with dark +and lying dreams, the imaginations of the simple. _Here_ are no wild +stories of blood-thirsty deities, and self-sacrificing maniacs. _Here_ is +that which Socrates vainly sought by all the ingenuity of reason. _Here_ +is that of which some faint and mysterious anticipations would appear to +have been shadowed forth in the visions of Plato. _Here_ is that which, as +that Mighty Martyr who died in this very city hath said, innumerable +prophets and kings of the old time desired to see, and yet saw not. Do +nothing rashly, young man; but it is possible, as you yourself well know, +that this may be the last opportunity I shall ever have of speaking with +you; and therefore, before we part, I must needs charge you solemnly, that +henceforth, if your knowledge increase not, the sin shall be upon your +head. I charge you, Valerius, that when you return to your island, you +blot not from your memory the things that you have seen and heard in this +great city of light and of darkness. Examine--judge--ask aid, and aid shall +not be refused you. I take Athanasia to witness, that I have given you the +warning that is needful." + +"Oh, sir!" said Athanasia, "I am sure it shall not be in vain that you +have done so. I am sure Valerius will never forget this hour----" + +She gazed in my face, and a tear was again visible, yet on all her +countenance there was no other semblance of passion. The venerable +Aurelius clasping his thin hands together, whispered,--"Would to God that I +were here alone! Shall the axe be laid to the root of the fair young tree +that hath but begun to blossom, when so many old trunks stand around +withered with the lightnings, and sore broken by the winds?--The will of +the Lord be done!" + +"Amen!" said Athanasia, taking the old man by the hand, and smiling, I +think, more cheerfully than I had yet seen her--"My dear father, I fear you +yourself, after all, are teaching Valerius to take but a sad farewell of +us." + +"Alas! my child," he replied, "he must have a hard heart that could look +unmoved on that sweet face in this hour of sadness. But we are in the +hands of a greater than Trajan. If so it please Him, all may yet go well +with us even here upon the earth. You may live to see many happy years +among your kindred--and I, (the old man smiled most serenely,) and for me, +my gray hairs may be laid in bloodless dust. Whatever awaits us, blessed +be the name of the Lord!" + +So saying, the old man retired from the chamber, and once more I was left +alone in the presence of Athanasia. I took from my bosom the book and the +letter which I had placed there, and laid them upon her knee. She broke +the seal, and read hastily what Tisias had written, and then concealed the +scroll within her tunic, saying, "Alas! Valerius, little did the brave old +soldier suspect how soon his peril was to be mine--Will you permit me like +him to make you my messenger?--will you seek out my cousin, my sister, and +tell Sempronia in what condition you have found me?--no, not in what you +found--but in what you now see me. Will you go, Valerius, and speak comfort +to my poor friend? Her pity, at least, I am sure is mingled with no angry +thoughts; and yet she only has reason to complain, for her secret thoughts +were not hid from me, and, alas! I concealed mine from her." + +"I have already seen her," said I, "and you do her no more than justice. +But, indeed, Sempronius himself thinks of you even as gently as his +daughter." + +"I doubt it not, Valerius; but, alas! there are many others besides these; +and I know not what relic of weakness it is, but methinks I could have +borne the worst more easily, had it not been for what I picture to myself +of their resentment. Alas! I am cut off for ever from the memory of my +kindred." She threw open the lattice, as if that she might inhale the free +air, and her eyes wandered to and fro over all the magnificent prospect +that lay stretched out below us,--the temples and high porticos of the +Forum--the gleaming battlements and long arcades of the Palatine--the baths, +and theatres, and circuses between and the river--Tiber winding away among +fields and groves--and the sky of Italy extending over all things its arch +of splendour. When the trumpets were blown by the gate of the +Senate-house, the sound floated upwards to us as gently as if it had been +borne over the waters. The shouts of the multitude were faintly re-echoed +from the towers and the rocks. The princely pageant shewed like a pomp of +pigmies; spear, and helmet, and eagle glittered together, almost like dews +upon the distant herbage. Athanasia rested her eye once more upon the wide +range of the champaign, where fields and forests were spread out in +interminable succession--away towards the northern region and the visible +mountains. She raised her hand, and said, "Valerius, your home lies far +away yonder. I must give you something which you shall promise me to carry +with you, and preserve in memory--of Rome." + +Before I had time to make any answer, she had taken out of a casket that +stood beside us, a scroll of parchment, bound with a silk ribbon, which +she immediately put into my hands, and--"To-morrow," said she, "Valerius, +our fate, they tell us, must at length be determined;--if we share the fate +of Tisias, the last gift of Tisias shall be yours. If, however, any mercy +be extended to us, I cannot part with that memorial of a dying martyr. I +must keep to myself the old man's favourite volume, for it was for me he +had designed it. But I have made a copy of the same book for yourself. I +have written it since I came hither, Valerius, and you must not despise it +because the Mammertine has not furnished the finest of materials. Take +this, Valerius, and take with it my thanks--my prayers. I know you will not +forget my message to my dear sister.--Sextus and she--may many happy days be +theirs--and yours." + +I kissed the sad gift, and placed it in my bosom. + +"Valerius," she said, "dry up your tears. You weep for me because I am a +Christian; forget not that the Roman blood flows in my veins, and think +not that its current is chilled, because I have forsworn the worship of +idol and demon, and am in peril for the service of The Living God." + +"Athanasia!" said I,--"I weep for you, but not for you alone. I ask +nothing--I hope nothing--but I could not bear to part with you thus, and not +to tell you that when I part from you, I bid farewell to all things. +Pardon me--once more pardon me." + +A single flush of crimson passed over her face, and I saw her lips move, +but the syllables died ere they were uttered. She continued for a moment +gazing on me, pale, and trembling; and then at last she fell upon my neck +and wept--not audibly--but I felt her tears. + +Athanasia was still folded to my bosom in that strange agony of sorrow and +of confidence, when Silo, the jailer, entered the apartment, abrupt and +breathless. + +"Oh, sir!" said he, "your sufferings are mine--but it is necessary that you +should leave us, and on the instant, for the Prefect is already at the +gate, and unquestionably he will examine every part of the prison; and +should you be recognized as the person who was taken in the Mausoleum, you +see plainly to what suspicions it might give rise. Come then, sir, and let +me secure your escape--we shall take care to warn you of whatever occurs, +and we shall send for you, if there be opportunity." + +Athanasia recovered herself almost instantly, when she heard what Silo +said. + +"We shall meet again," said I. + +"Once more," she replied--"at least once more, Valerius." + +And I tore myself away from her; and the jailer having once again +committed me to the guidance of his child, I was in a few moments +conducted to the same postern by which I had been introduced. In a word, I +found myself in the court of the Capitol, at the instant when the Prefect, +with all his attendants, was entering by the main gate of the Mammertine. + + + + + _CHAPTER IV._ + + +On reaching home, I was told that Licinius was still absent; and found at +the same time a billet upon the table, which informed me that Sabinus had +carried Sextus with him to his quarters, and that both expected I would +join them there immediately upon my return. I knew not how to refuse +compliance, and yet I could not bear the thought of being so far from the +Capitol, in case of any message being sent to me from the prison. Since I +could do no better, however, I charged Boto to remain in my apartment till +sunset, and bring me, without delay, any letter or messenger that might +arrive in my absence. Should none such appear within that space, I gave +him a note, which I desired him to deliver into the hands of Silo; and +having, as I thought, furnished him with sufficient directions how to +discharge this commission, I myself took the path to the Praetorian Camp, +where I thought it very probable that I might gather some new intelligence +as to Cotilius. + +The Praetorian who had accompanied Sabinus at my release from the rustic +tower, recognized me at the gate, and conducted me immediately to the +Centurion, who, to my surprise and displeasure, had directed that I should +be ushered without delay to, not his own apartment, but the general table. +Here I was received most courteously, however, and hoping the feast was +nearly over, took my place near my friend. + +Several of those high-fed warriors who had more than once disposed of the +empire, were reclining upon rich couches around the board; and their +effeminate exterior would, perhaps, have made them less formidable in my +eyes, had I not remembered the youth of the great Caesar, the Parthian +retreat of Antony, and the recent death of Otho.(3) There were present, +besides, a few casual visiters like ourselves; among others, a sleek +Flamen, who reclined on the right hand of the presiding Tribune, and a +little bald Greek, who seemed to think it incumbent upon himself to fill +up every pause in the conversation, by malicious anecdotes or sarcasms, of +which last it was easy to see that the Flamen opposite was a favourite +subject. Neither wit nor impiety, however, could make speedy impression +upon the smooth-faced Flamen, who seemed to think, if one might judge from +his behaviour, that the most acceptable service he could render to the +deities, was to do full and devout justice to the gifts of their +benevolence. + +A very animated discussion concerning the review of the newly-arrived +cohorts, (which, I have told you, had taken place that morning by the +river side,) relieved for some time the patient Flamen from the attacks of +this irreverent person, and engaged the zealous participation of those who +had hitherto been the most silent of the company. Sabinus, among the rest, +was ready with a world of remarks upon the equipments, the manoeuvres, the +merits, and the demerits of the troops in question; but something he said +was quite at variance with the sentiments of one of his brother +Centurions, who disputed with him rather warmly than successfully for a +few moments, and at last ended with saying,--"But why should I take so much +trouble to discuss the point with you, who, we all know, were thinking of +other matters, and saw not much more of the review than if you had been a +hundred miles off from it?" + +The Centurion coloured a little, and laughed, as it seemed to me, with +rather less heartiness than usual; but the disputant pursuing his +advantage, said, "Yes, you may laugh if you will; but do you think we are +all blind, or do you suppose we are not acquainted with certain +particulars? Well, some people dislike the Suburra, but for my part I +agree with Sabinus; I think it is one of the genteelest places in Rome, +and that there are some of the snuggest houses in it too--and if old men +will die, for me, I protest, I don't see why young men should not succeed +them." The Centurion laughed again, and natural ruddiness of complexion +was, I thought, scarcely quite sufficient to account for the flush on his +countenance, as he listened to these innuendos. But the master of the +feast cut the matter short, by saying that he had a health to propose, and +that he expected all present should receive it with honour.--"Here," said +he, "is to the fair lady Rubellia, who is never absent when the Praetorians +turn out, and may all things fair and fortunate attend her now and +hereafter." I whispered to Sabinus,--"My friend, I think you have really +some reason for blushing. If you had no pity on Xerophrastes, you might at +least have had some for the pretty widow." + +He made no answer to this, and looked, if possible, more confused than +ever; but, just at that moment, a soldier came in, and delivered a billet +to the presiding Tribune, who handed it to Sabinus immediately after he +had read it, and said, loud enough to be heard by all those who sate near +him, "I wish the Prince would give some of this work to these new comers. +But, indeed, I wonder what Lictors are good for now-a-days; but every +thing that these Christians are any way concerned in seems to be a matter +of importance." + +Sabinus, having read the billet, handed it back again to the Tribune, and +said aloud, "_Exit_ Cotilius!--Who would not be of the chorus at the +falling of that curtain?" + +The Tribune shrugged his shoulders, whispered something into the ear of +the messenger, and then, dashing more wine into his cup, said, "Rome will +never be a quiet place, nor the Praetorian helmet a comfortable head-piece, +till these barbarians be extirpated." + +The Flamen tossed off a full goblet, and, smiting with his hand upon the +table, said, "There spake a true Roman, and a worshipper of the Gods. I +rejoice to find that there is still some religion in the world; for, what +with skulking Jews on the one hand, and bold blasphemous Cyrenaeans on the +other, so help me Jupiter, the general prospect is dark enough!" + +"In my opinion," quoth the bald Greek, putting on an air of some gravity, +"the Jews will have the better of the Cyrenaeans. Indeed, I should not be +much surprised to see this Christian superstition supplant every other." +The Flamen half started from his couch. "You observe, gentlemen," +proceeded the Greek,--"what great advantage any new superstition has over +any thing of the same sort that is old. We all know, for example, that +Isis and Cybele have for many years past left comparatively few +worshippers to Mars, Apollo,--even to Jupiter. It is lamentable; but it is +true. I have heard that unless on some very great day, a gift is now quite +a rarity upon the altar of any of the true ancient deities of Rome. Egypt +and Mount Ida have done this; and why should not Palestine succeed as well +as either? In the meantime, the enlightened contemplate every different +manifestation of the superstitious principle with equal indifference; and, +I confess to you, I have been a little surprised to perceive how far +Trajan is from imitating their example. But that Chaeronaean master of his, +that Plutarch, was always an old woman; and I fear the Prince has not been +able to shake off the impression of his ridiculous stories." + +"Hush!" quoth the master of the day, "if it please you, nothing can be +said here against either Trajan or his friends; and, as for Plutarch, he +was one of the pleasantest fellows that I ever met with." + +Sabinus, desirous of restoring the harmony of the assembly, called +forthwith on a musical senior, to join him in a song. The gentleman +required solicitation, but at last announced his consent to attempt the +female part in the duet of Horace and Lydia. Sabinus, always ready, began +to roar out the tender words of regret and expostulation which the most +elegant of poets has ascribed to himself; and the delicate squeaking +response of our wrinkled Lydia formed an agreeable contrast. + +All, in short, were once more in perfect good humour, when another soldier +appeared behind the couch of the president, and handed to him what seemed +to be another billet of the same complexion. He tossed the paper as before +to my friend, who looked very serious as he read it.--"Caius," he +whispered, "an additional guard is ordered to the Palatine--and the reason +is said to be that the rest of the Christian prisoners are to be examined, +within an hour, by the Emperor himself." + +I had scarcely had a moment to compose myself, when one of the slaves in +attendance signified that a person wished to speak with me in the +anti-chamber. It was Dromo.--"Sir," said he, "I have no time for +explanation. Silo wishes to see you--I left Boto with him at the +Mammertine." + +As we walked from the camp, Sabinus, with his guard, passed without +noticing me; and I received some explanations which I must give to you +very briefly. Boto, mistrusting his recollection of my instructions, had +requested Dromo to assist him in finding his way to the Mammertine; and +the Cretan had come to be witness of a scene, which, in spite of his +sarcastic disposition, he could not narrate without tokens of sympathy. I +mentioned to you that my faithful slave, in coming with me to Rome, had +indulged the hope of meeting once more with a brother, who many years +before had been carried off from Britain. I smiled when the poor man +expressed confidence that he should find out this ere he had been many +days in the metropolis of the world. But now, in truth, a fortunate +accident had recompensed much ill-regulated search. He had found his +brother, and he had found him in the Mammertine. That very brother was +Silo, to whose kindness I, and one dearer than myself, had been so deeply +indebted. The Cretan, himself a slave and an exile, had partaken in the +feelings of the long-lost brothers, and hastened to bring me from the +camp, that Boto might be spared the pain of immediately parting from Silo. + + + + + _CHAPTER V._ + + +I had hurried along the darkening streets, and up the ascent of the +Capitoline, scarce listening to the story of the Cretan. On reaching the +summit, we found the courts about the Temple of Jupiter already occupied +by detachments of foot. I hastened to the Mammertine--and before the +postern opened to admit us, the Praetorian squadron had drawn up at the +great gate. Sabinus beckoned me to him. "Caius," said he, stooping on his +horse, "would to heaven I had been spared this duty! Cotilius comes forth +this moment, and then we go back to the Palatine; and I fear--I fear we are +to guard thither your Athanasia. If you wish to enter the prison, quicken +your steps." + +We had scarcely entered the inner-court, ere Sabinus also, and about a +score of his Praetorians, rode into it. Silo and Boto were standing +together; and both had already hastened towards me; but the jailer, seeing +the Centurion, was constrained to part from me with one hurried +word:--"Pity me, for I also am most wretched. But you know the way--here, +take this key--hasten to my dear lady, and tell her what commands have +come." + +Alas! I said I to myself, of what tidings am I doomed ever to be the +messenger!--but she was alone; and how could I shrink from any pain that +might perhaps alleviate hers? I took the key, glided along the corridors, +and stood once more at the door of the chamber in which I had parted from +Athanasia. No voice answered to my knock; I repeated it three times, and +then, agitated with indistinct apprehension, hesitated no longer to open +it. No lamp was burning within the chamber, but from without there entered +a wavering glare of deep saffron-coloured light, which shewed me Athanasia +extended on her couch. Its ominous and troubled hue had no power to mar +the image of her sleeping tranquillity. I hung over her for a moment, and +was about to disturb that slumber--perhaps the last slumber of peace and +innocence--when the chamber-walls were visited with a yet deeper glare. +"Caius," she whispered, as I stepped from beside the couch; "why do you +leave me? stay, Valerius." I looked back, but her eye-lids were still +closed; the same calm smile was upon her dreaming lips. The light streamed +redder and more red. All in an instant became as quiet without as within. +I approached the window, and saw Cotilius standing in the midst of the +court; Sabinus and Silo near him; the horsemen drawn up on either side, +and a soldier close behind resting upon an unsheathed sword. I saw the +keen blue eye as fierce as ever. I saw that the blood was still fervid in +his cheeks: for the complexion of this man was of the same bold and florid +brightness so uncommon in Italy, which you have seen represented in the +pictures of Sylla, and even the blaze of the torches seemed to strive in +vain to heighten its natural scarlet. The soldier had lifted his sword, +and my eye was fixed, as by fascination, when suddenly a deep voice was +heard amidst the deadly silence--"Cotilius!--look up, Cotilius!" + +Aurelius, the Christian priest, standing at an open window, not far +distant from that at which I was placed, stretched forth his fettered hand +as he spake:--"Cotilius! I charge thee, look upon the hand from which the +blessed water of baptism was cast upon thy head. I charge thee, look upon +me, and say, ere yet the blow be given, upon what hope thy thoughts are +fixed?--Is this sword bared against the rebel of Caesar, or a martyr of +Jesus?--I charge thee, speak; and for thy soul's sake speak truly." + +A bitter motion of derision passed over his lips, and he nodded, as if +impatiently, to the Praetorian. Instinctively I turned me from the +spectacle, and my eye rested again upon the couch of Athanasia--but not +upon the vision of her tranquillity. The clap with which the corpse fell +upon the stones had, perhaps, reached the sleeping ear, and we know with +what swiftness thoughts chase thoughts in the wilderness of dreams. So it +was that she started at the very moment when the blow was given; and she +whispered--for it was still but a deep whisper--"Spare me, Trajan, Caesar, +Prince--have pity on my youth--strengthen, strengthen me good Lord!--Fie! +fie! we must not lie to save life. Felix--Valerius--come close to me, +Caius--Fie! let us remember we are Romans--'Tis the trumpet----" + +The Praetorian trumpet sounded the march in the court below, and Athanasia, +starting from her sleep, gazed wildly around the reddened chamber. The +blast of the trumpet was indeed in her ear--and Valerius hung over her--but +after a moment the cloud of the broken dream passed away, and the maiden +smiled as she extended her hand to me from the couch, and began to gather +up the ringlets that floated all down upon her shoulder. She blushed and +smiled mournfully, and asked me hastily whence I came, and for what +purpose I had come; but before I could answer, the glare that was yet in +the chamber seemed anew to be perplexing her: and she gazed from me to the +red walls, and from them to me again: and then once more the trumpet was +blown, and Athanasia sprung from her couch. I know not in what terms I was +essaying to tell her what was the truth, but I know that ere I had said +many words, she discovered my meaning. For a moment she looked deadly +pale, in spite of all the glare of the torch-beams; but she recovered +herself, and said in a voice that sounded almost as if it came from a +light heart,--"But Caius, I must not go to Caesar, without having at least a +garland on my head. Stay here, Valerius, and I shall be ready anon--quite +ready." + +It seemed to me as if she were less hasty than she had promised, yet many +minutes elapsed not ere she returned. She plucked a blossom from her hair +as she drew near to me, and said, "Take it: you must not refuse one token +more; this also is a sacred gift. Caius, you must learn never to look upon +it without kissing these red streaks--these blessed streaks of the +Christian flower." + +I took the flower from her hand, and pressed it to my lips; and I +remembered that the very first day I saw Athanasia, she had plucked such +an one, when apart from all the rest, in the gardens of Capito. I told her +what I remembered; and it seemed as if the little circumstance had called +up all the image of peaceful days; for once more sorrowfulness gathered +upon her countenance. If the tear was ready, however, it was not permitted +to drop; and Athanasia returned again to her flower. + +"Do you think there are any of them in Britain?" said she; "or do you +think that they would grow there? You must go to my dear uncle, and he +will not deny you, when you tell him that it is for my sake he is to give +you some of his. They call it the Passion-flower--'tis an emblem of an +awful thing. Caius, these purple streaks are like trickling drops; and +here, look ye, they are all round the flower. Is it not very like a bloody +crown upon a pale brow? I will take one of them in my hand, too, Caius; +and methinks I shall not disgrace myself when I look upon it, even though +Trajan should be frowning upon me." + +I had not the heart to interrupt her; but heard silently all she said, and +I thought she said the words quickly and eagerly, as if she feared to be +interrupted. + +The old priest came into the chamber while she was yet speaking so, and +said very composedly, "Come, my dear child, our friend has sent again for +us, and the soldiers have been waiting already some space, who are to +convey us to the Palatine. Come, children, we must part for a +moment--perhaps it may be but for a moment--and Valerius may remain here +till we return to him. Here, at least, dear Caius, you shall have the +earliest tidings, and the surest." + +The good man took Athanasia by the hand, and she, smiling now at length +more serenely than ever, said only, "Farewell, then, Caius, for a little +moment!" And so, drawing her veil over her face, she passed away from +before me, giving, I think, more support to the ancient Aurelius than, in +her turn, she received from him. I began to follow them, but the priest +waved his hand as if to forbid me:--the door closed after them, and I was +alone. + + + + + _CHAPTER VI._ + + +I know not, my friends, how to proceed with the narrative of what +followed. Thoughts, passions, fears, hopes, succeeding so rapidly, give to +that strange night, when I look back upon it through the vista of years, +the likeness of some incoherent, agonizing dream. Much, without doubt, of +what passed within my own mind I have forgotten; but it seems to me as if +what I saw or heard were still present in the distinctness of reality. +That chamber in the Mammertine! Its walls are before me blazing with the +reflection of torch-light, and then again, all dim and shadowy--the stars +shining feebly upon them from the twilight sky--every thing around lonely +and silent, except the voice of Silo's little maiden,--bewailing no doubt +in her privacy the departure of Athanasia. + +Her father after a little time rejoined me. "Sir," said he, "all is now +quiet here; will you walk with me towards the Palatine, that we may at +least be near to know what is reported of their proceedings? My brother +will stay here till we return." + +We soon had descended from the Capitoline, passed through the silent +Forum, and gained the brow of the opposite eminence, where, as shortly +before at the Mammertine, all was light and tumult. Every court was +guarded with soldiery, and groups of busy men were passing continually +about the imperial gates and porticos. Silo led me round and round the +buildings, till we reached what seemed an abandoned wing. "Sir," said he, +"you do not know more familiarly the house in which you were born and +reared, than I do every corner within these wide walls. But I have not +crossed the threshold since the day Caesar died.--I was the slave of +Domitian, and he gave me my freedom.--He was kind to his household." + +We entered beneath a small portico--and Silo drew a key from his bosom. The +lock, after two or three trials, yielded to its pressure. A large empty +hall received us, the circumference of which was scarcely visible by the +light of the newly-risen moon, streaming down from a cupola. + +Another and another sombre chamber we in like manner traversed, till at +length Silo opened one so comparatively light, that I started back, +apprehending we had intruded farther than he intended. A second glance, +however, seemed to indicate that we were still in the region of +desolation, for a statue lay in the midst of the floor, one of its limbs +snapped over, as if it had fallen and been permitted to remain. + +"Where are we, Silo?" I whispered, "what means this unnatural light among +so many symptoms of confusion?" + +"Sir," said the freedman, "this is the place in which alone Domitian used +to eat and sleep, and walk about for the last months of his life, when he +was jealous of all men; and he contrived these walls, covered all over +with the shining Ethiopian stone, that no one might be able to approach +him without being discovered. Even when a slave entered, he would start as +if every side of the chamber had been invaded by some host of men; fifty +different reflections of one trembling eunuch. It was, they say, behind +this shattered piece of marble that he ran when he had felt the first +treacherous blow. Yonder in the corner is the couch he slept upon, and he +had always a dagger under his head, and he called to the little page that +was waiting upon him to fetch it from the place; but the scabbard only +remained; and then in came Parthenius and Claudianus, and the gladiator, +and the rest, who soon finished what the cunning Stephanus had begun. Let +us go on;--we have not yet reached the place to which I wished to bring +you--but it is not far off now." + +With this Silo walked to the end of the melancholy chamber, and pressing +upon a secret spring, where no door was apparent, opened the way into a +room, darker and smaller than any of those through which we had come. He +then said to me, "Now, sir, you must not venture upon one whisper more--you +touch on the very heart of Domitian's privacy. It is possible that the +place I have been leading you to may have been shut up--it may exist no +longer; but the state in which all things are found here makes me think it +more likely that Trajan has never been master of its secret. And in that +case, we shall be able both to see and to hear, without being either seen +or heard, exactly as Domitian used to do, when there was any council held +either in the Mars or the Apollo." + +I started at the boldness of the project which now, for the first time, I +understood; but Silo laid his finger on his lip again,--cautiously lifted +up a piece of the dark-red cloth with which this chamber was hung,--and +essayed another spring in the pannelling beneath. Total darkness appeared +to be beyond; but the jailer motioning to me to remain for a moment where +I was, and to keep up the hanging, glided boldly into the recess. I +wondered how he should tread so lightly, that I could not perceive the +least echo; but this no longer surprised me, when I had the sign to +follow. The floor felt beneath my foot as if it were stuffed like a +pillow; and, after I had dropped the hanging, every thing was totally +dark, as it had at first appeared to me, except only at certain points, +separate and aloft, which let in gleams of light, manifestly artificial. +Silo, taking hold of me by the hand, conducted me up some steps towards +the nearest of these tiny apertures; and, as I approached it, I heard +distinctly the voices of persons talking together in the room beyond. I +did not draw my breath, you may well believe, with much boldness; but my +eye was soon fixed at one of the crevices, and, after the first dazzle was +over, I saw clearly. Silo took his station by my side, gazing through +another of these loop-holes, which, that you may understand every thing, +were evidently quite concealed among the rich carved-work of an ivory +cornice. + +The chamber was lighted by three tall candelabra of silver, close beside +one of which was placed a long table covered with an infinity of scrolls +and tablets. One person, who had his back turned towards us, was writing, +and two others, in one of whom I instantly recognized the Emperor, were +walking up and down on the other side. + +"No, Palma," said Trajan, for it was that old favourite whom he +addressed--"I have made up my mind as to this matter. I shall never permit +any curious inquisition as to private opinion. Every man has a right, +without question, to think--to believe--exactly what pleases him; and I +shall concede as much in favour of every woman, Palma, if you will have it +so. But it is totally a different affair, when the fact, no matter how, is +forced upon my knowledge, that a subject, no matter who or what he be--a +subject of the Roman empire, refuses to comply with the first, the +elemental, and the most essential of the laws. The man--aye or the +woman--that confesses in my presence contempt for the deities whom the +commonwealth acknowledges in every step of its procedure--that person is a +criminal; and I cannot dismiss him unpunished, without injuring the +commonwealth by the display of weakness in its chief. As for these poor +fanatics themselves, it is the penalty of my station that I must control +my feelings." + +"But you are satisfied, my lord," said Palma, "that these people are quite +innocent as to Cotilius's designs; and as it was upon that suspicion they +were apprehended, perhaps it may be possible----" + +"Yes, Palma," interrupted the Prince; "quite possible and quite easy, +provided they will condescend to save themselves by the most trivial +acknowledgment of the sort which, I repeat to you, I do and must consider +as absolutely necessary. And women too--and girls forsooth--I suppose you +would have me wait till the very urchins on the street were gathering into +knots to discuss the nature of the Gods.--Do you remember what Plato +says?"-- + +"No, my lord, I do not know to what you refer." + +"Why, Plato says that nobody can ever understand any thing accurately +about the Deity, and that, if he could, he would have no right to +communicate his discoveries to others; the passage is in the Timaeus, and +Tully has translated it besides. And is it to be endured that these modest +fanatics are to do every hour what the Platos and the Ciceros spoke of in +such terms as these? I think you carry your tolerance a little farther +than might have been expected from a disciple of the Academy." + +"I despise them, my lord, as much as yourself; but, to tell you the truth, +it is this young lady that moves me to speak thus--and I crave your pardon, +if I have spoken with too much freedom.--Her father was one of the best +soldiers Titus had." + +"The more is the pity, Palma. Have you ever seen the girl yourself? Did +you give orders that she should be brought hither? I have not the least +objection that you should have half an hour, or an hour if you will, to +talk with her quietly; perhaps your eloquence may have the effect we +desire." + +"I doubt it, my lord, I greatly doubt it," he replied; "but, indeed, I +know not whether she be yet here--Did you not send to the Mammertine?" + +The man writing at the table, to whom this interrogation was addressed, +said, "I believe, sir, both this lady and the old man that was in the same +prison are now in attendance." And upon this Trajan and Palma retired +together towards the farther end of the apartment, where they conversed +for some minutes in a tone so low, that I could not understand any thing +of what was said. Trajan at length turned from his favourite with an air, +as I thought, of some little displeasure, and said aloud, coming back into +the middle of the room,--"I know it is so; but what is that to the affair +in hand? I am very sorry for the Sempronii, but I doubt if even they would +be so unreasonable as you are." + +"Will you not see the poor girl yourself, Caesar?" + +"You do not need to be told, that my seeing her would only make it more +difficult for me to do that, which, seeing or not seeing her, I know to be +my duty. Do you accept of my proposal? Are you willing to try the effect +of your own persuasion? I promise you, if you succeed, I shall rejoice not +less heartily than yourself; but it is rather too much to imagine that I +am personally to interfere about such an affair as this--an affair which, +the more I think of it, seems to me to be the more perfectly contemptible. +Nay, do not suppose it is this poor girl I am talking of--I mean the whole +of this Jewish, this Christian affair, which does indeed appear to me to +be the most bare-faced absurdity, that ever was permitted to disturb the +tranquillity of the empire. A mean and savage nation have but just +suffered the penalty of obstinacy and treachery alike unequalled, and from +them--from the scattered embers of this extinguished fire, we are to allow +a new flame to be kindled--ay, and that in the very centre of Rome. I tell +you, that if my own hand were to be scorched in the cause, I would +disperse this combustion to the winds of heaven; I tell you, that I stand +here Caesar, and that I would rather be chained to the oar, than suffer, +while the power to prevent it is mine, the tiniest speck to be thrown upon +the Roman majesty. By all the Gods, Palma, it is enough to make a man sick +to think of the madness that is in this world, and of the iron arguments +by which we are compelled to keep those from harming us, that at first +sight of them excite no feeling but our pity. But I am weary of these very +names of Palestine--Jew--Christian. Go to this foolish girl, and try what +you can make of her; I give you fair warning--no breeders of young +Christians here." + + + + + _CHAPTER VII._ + + +Cornelius Palma, after the Prince retired, was apparently for some space +busied with his reflections. He then talked in a whispering manner with +the secretary, and moved towards an extremity of the chamber. But the +moment Silo perceived this, he plucked my sleeve, and drew me to the other +end of our closet, where, as I have told you, the light had admittance in +a similar manner. Here another of the imperial apartments was visible in +equal distinctness; and in it appeared Athanasia and her friend, as +waiting now at length in entire composure the moment when they should be +summoned. + +Palma entering, both rose, and he, returning their salutation, remained +before them for a moment in silence, his eyes fixed on Athanasia. It was +to Aurelius, nevertheless, that his first words were addressed:--"From what +has been reported of your behaviour at the execution of Cotilius, I fear +there is nothing to be gained by speaking to _you_, concerning the only +means by which your own safety can yet be secured. You are obstinate, old +man, in your superstition?"--"Noble Palma," said the priest, "contempt is +the only thing I fear from men. But I thank my God, that it is the only +thing I have it in my power to avoid."--"I will not argue with you," +answered Palma, pointing to a door near him:--"It was not with any purpose +of bending you, that I undertook this painful office. I desire to speak in +freedom with one whose case is, I trust, less hopeless." + +The old man, pointing to his fetters, said meekly, "Let them guard me +whither it pleases you." + +"Sir," said Athanasia, "I pray you let Aurelius remain; imagine not that I +shall either hear or answer less freely because of my friend's presence." + +"He will, at least, retire to the other end of the chamber," said +Palma--"and interfere no farther." + +The priest drew back;--Athanasia, on her part, seeing that Palma hesitated, +and seemed at a loss how to begin, said to him in a tone of modest +composure:--"Noble sir, if your purpose be indeed as kind as I think it is, +I pray you spare me at least the pain that is needless, and spare yourself +what I am sure is painful to you. You see my youth and my sex, and it is +not unnatural for you to think as you do; but know that my faith is fixed, +and that I hope I shall not be deserted, when I strive even at the last +moment to do it no dishonour." + +"This gray beard," said Palma, "has made you, then, thoroughly a +Christian?" + +"I would it were so," she answered--"I would to God it were so!" + +"Lady," resumed Palma, "we have knowledge both of your father's high +character, and of your own amiable dispositions. If you persist in this +manner, you will give grief to Caesar; and as for your family, have you yet +seriously considered into what misery they must be plunged?" + +"Sir," she replied, "this is cruel kindness. I have considered all +things." + +"Young maiden," continued Palma, "the touch of the physician's knife is +painful, yet his hand must not falter. But I have sent for those, who, I +hope, may speak more effectually." + +The Senator turned from the pedestal on which he had been leaning, and +walked to the door over against where Aurelius was sitting: and after a +moment had elapsed, there entered, even as I had anticipated, both her +uncles, Lucius and Velius. Behind them came, wrapped in her consecrated +veil, the Priestess of Apollo; and last of all, gazing wildly around, her +apparel disordered, the friend of her youth, the sister of her bosom,--she +to whom in all things, save one, Athanasia's heart had ever been laid +open. The two Patricians advanced, deeply dejected, towards the place +where Athanasia stood waiting their approach. The stately Priestess, +walking yet more slowly, lifted the veil from her face, which was pale and +calm as marble. But when the youthful companion at last rested her eye +upon her friend, and the fettered hands clasped together on that bosom, +she rushed past them all, and was folded in a cold embrace; for though +Athanasia pressed Sempronia to her bosom, I saw also that she trembled +from head to foot, and that her eyes were riveted on those who approached +with seriousness more terrible than the passion of young sympathy. + +"Athanasia," said Lucius, taking her by the hand, "look not upon us thus; +we come as to a daughter." + +"Dearest," said old Velius, "listen to thy true friends. Do you put more +faith in the words of strangers than in the blood of kindred--the affection +of your father's brothers--the guardians of his dear orphan?" + +"Wo is me!" said Athanasia--"O God, strengthen me! Why, oh, why am I forced +to wound these kind hearts! Have pity upon me, have pity upon me--you know +not what you speak of, else you would all be silent." + +"Weep," said the Priestess; "weep, and weep largely. There is yet time to +repent. Abjure this madness; let the last of your tears be shed upon the +altars of your paternal Gods, and they also will be merciful. Nay, tremble +not when you hear my voice, Athanasia. I love you as tenderly as the rest, +and if you have deceived me also, I have long since pardoned." + +The Priestess kissed her forehead; and she bowed her head, weeping at +length audibly. But Athanasia speedily recovered herself, and gently +removing the hands of Sempronia, stood erect again in the midst. + +"Dear friends," said she, "the moments you have to be with me are +numbered; what avails it that they should be spent in words that can have +no effect? I have been baptized in the name of the one true God--I have +partaken of the symbols of the Christian mystery--and I have no more power +to bring myself out of this peril, than he that stands in the front +rank--without sword or buckler--deprived of all things but his honour." + +"Athanasia!" said Velius, "alas! my dear girl, what madness is this? Do +you hold yourself wiser than all the wise men, and all the good, and all +the great men that have ever lived in Rome? Do you deem yourself able to +penetrate mysteries from which all the sages of the earth have retreated +with humility? Consider with yourself--remember the modesty that might be +becoming in your tender years--and, I must speak the truth, your +ignorance." + +"Oh, sir!" she answered, "believe not that I have been brought into this +place, because of my being puffed up with emptiness of conceit. I know +well that I am a poor, young, unlearned creature; but God gives not +according to our deserts; and because I am poor and ignorant, must I +therefore reject the promise of his riches, and the great light that has +been manifested to me,--which, would to God it had also been to you, +despite the perils which a dark world has thrown around it." + +"O Athanasia!" said young Sempronia, "I know the secrets of your heart, +although you have kept from me some of them. Think, dear sister, of all +the love that we bear to you--and, oh! think of Valerius." + +"The more, then, is the sacrifice!" said Athanasia. "Caius Valerius also +is a Christian--at least I hope in God he will soon be sealed into our +brotherhood." + +"Amen! amen!" said Aurelius. + +The Priestess turned round when he uttered this, and observing that he +also was fettered, "Blasphemer!" cried she, "behold the end of your +frenzy. Your eyes are dim, your clay is already yearning, it may be, to be +sprinkled into ashes; but behold your victim. Ye Gods that see all things, +have mercy upon the errors of deceived, ensnared, murdered youth! Hoary +Apostate! feeble though you be, may strength be given to you in anger, +that you may taste the full struggle and the true agony. May you be strong +to wrestle, that you may fall slowly, and feel your fall! Would to the +Gods, just and merciful, that you might struggle and fall alone!" + +"Rash woman," said the manacled Saint, "most surely your last wish is +mine. But why is it that you have come hither with cruel words, to +imbitter equally the last moments of a life that is dear to you, and a +life that you despise? You speak of ignorance and of deceit. Little know +ye who are the deceived. We are the servants of the living God, whose +light will soon shine abroad among the nations, and quench glimmering +tapers, fashioned with the hands of men, with which, hitherto, ye have sat +contented amidst darkness. Caesar may bind and slay--but think ye that the +spirit is his to do with it what he will? Think ye that chains and +dungeons, and the sword of man can alter the course of things that are to +be, or shake from its purpose the will of Him, in whom, blind and +ignorant, ye refuse to behold the image of the Maker of all--shutting eyes, +and ears, and your proud hearts; and blaspheming against the God of +heaven, whose glory ye ascribe to stocks and stones, and to the ghosts of +wicked and bloody tyrants, long since mouldered into dust,--and to the sun, +and the moon, and the stars of the sky, which God set there to rule the +day and the night, even as he lets loose his winds to scatter the leaves +of the forest, and to lift up the waves of the great deep?--Leave us, I +beseech you.--The young and the old are alike steadfast, for God is our +strength, and he bestows it on them that ask for it in the name of the +Redeemer." + +"Peace, thou accursed!" said the Priestess; "I serve the altar, and came +not hither to hear the Gods of heaven and earth insulted by the lips of +hardened impiety.--Athanasia! will you go with us, or will you stay here, +and partake the fate of this madman?" + +"O God!" cried the maiden; "how shall I speak that they may at length hear +me!--Friends--dear friends--if you have any love, any compassion, I pray you +kiss me once, and bid me farewell kindly, and lay my ashes in the +sepulchre of my fathers--beside the urn of my mother. Fear not that I will +disturb the repose of the place--I shall die in anger against no one, and I +shall have rest at length when I am relieved from this struggle. Pardon, +if in any thing besides I ever gave you pain--remember none of my offences +but this--think of me kindly. And go now, dear friends; kiss my lips in +love, and leave me to bear that which must be borne, since there is no +escape but in lying, and in baseness, and in utter perdition here and +hereafter. May the Lord strengthen his day soon, and may ye all bless the +full light, although now ye are startled by the redness of the dawn! +Farewell--kiss me, Velius--kiss me, Lucius--my aunt also will kiss me." + +They did kiss her, and tears were mingled with their embraces; and they +said no more, but parted from her where she was. Palma himself lifted the +desolate Sempronia from the ground, and he and her father carried her away +senseless, her tresses sweeping the pavement as they moved. + +The prisoners were alone. "The moment is come," said Silo; "now, sir, +prepare yourself to risk every thing where every thing may be gained." + +He did not whisper this, but spake the words boldly; and ere I could +either answer any thing, or form any guess as to his meaning, he had +leaped down from my side, and thrown open another secret spring. Silo +rushed in, and I followed him. It was all done so rapidly, that I scarce +remember how. I cannot, indeed, forget the wild and vacant stare of +Athanasia, the cry which escaped from her lips, nor the fervour with which +she sunk into my embrace. But all the rest is a dream. The door closed +swiftly behind us;--swiftly I ran, bearing the maiden in my arms through +all the long course of those deserted chambers. Door after door flew open +before us. All alike, breathless and speechless, we ran on. We reached the +last of the chambers, the wide and echoing saloon, ere my heart had +recovered from the first palpitation of surprise; and a moment after we +breathed once more the free air of heaven. + +"Stop not," said I, "for the sake of God. Hasten, Silo, it is you that +must guide us."--"Ha!" said he, "already have they perceived it? Great God! +after all, is it in vain?" We heard shout echoing shout, and the clapping +of doors. "Treachery, treachery! Escape, escape!"--and trumpet and horn +mingled in the clamour of surprise, wrath, terror. "Ride, ride," screamed +a voice high over all the tumult--"ride this instant--guard every +avenue--search every corner--the wing of Domitian!" + +"We are lost," said Silo;--"we can never reach the gate." + +"To the Temple of Apollo!" said I; "the Priestess will shelter Athanasia." + +"Thank God," whispered Silo, "there is one chance more."--And so we began +again to run swiftly, keeping close beneath the shaded wall of the +edifice, and then threading many narrow passages of the hanging gardens of +Adonis, we reached indeed the adjoining court of the Palatine, and found +ourselves, where all was as yet silent and undisturbed, under the sacred +portico. The great gate was barred. Athanasia herself pointed out a +postern, and we stood within the temple. + +It was filled as before, (for here the alternations of day and night made +no difference,) with the soft and beautiful radiance proceeding from the +tree of lamps. But the fire on the altar burned high and clear, as if +recently trimmed, and behind its blaze stood one of the ministering +damsels. Her hand held the chain of the censer, and she was swinging it +slowly, while the clouds of fragrant smoke rolled high up above the +flames;--and the near light, and the intervening smoke, and the occupation +with which she was busied, prevented her from at first perceiving what +intrusion had been made on the solitude of the place. Athanasia ran on, +and clasping the knees of the astonished girl with her fettered hands, +began to implore her by the memory of old affection and companionship, and +for the sake of all that was dear to her, to give escape, if escape were +possible--at least to give concealment. The girl had dropped the censer +from her hand, and seemed utterly confused, and unable to guess the +meaning of what she saw and heard. "Lady!" cried Silo, falling by the side +of Athanasia--"Oh, lady! stand not here considering, for this is the very +moment of utmost peril. Behold these fetters--they tell you from what her +flight hath been." + +The girl grasped the hands of Athanasia, and gazed upon the manacles, and +still seemed quite amazed and stupified; and while Silo was renewing his +entreaties, we heard suddenly some one trying to open the postern which +the freedman had fastened behind us. Once and again a violent hand essayed +to undo the bolt, and then all was quiet again. And in a moment after, the +great gate was itself thrown open, and the Priestess entered, followed by +her two brothers, who supported between them the yet faint and weeping +young Sempronia. + +In a moment Athanasia had rushed across the temple, and knelt down with +her forehead to the ground, close by where the feet of her haughty +kinswoman were planted. + +"Unhappy!" said she; "by what magic do I behold you here? How have you +escaped? and why--oh! why fled hither? Think ye, that here, in the Temple +of Apollo, the priestess of an insulted God can give shelter to blasphemy +flying from the arms of justice? Ha! and he, too, is here!--Outcast! how +durst thou? Speak, unhappy Athanasia--every thing is dark, and I see only +that you have brought hither----"--"Friends, friends--oh! blame them not," +interrupted the maiden--"Oh! blame them not for venturing all to save me. +Oh! help us, and help speedily--for they search every where, and they may +speedily be here." + +"Here?" cried the priestess--"who, I pray you? Ha! run, fly, bolt the door. +If Caesar speaks, I answer." + +The ring of arms, and voices of angry men, were heard distinctly +approaching. In a moment more we could hear them talking together beneath +the very portico, and trying, in their turn, to thrust open the massive +valves of the temple. "Who calls there?" cried the Priestess--"Who calls +and knocks? If a suppliant approaches, let him come as a +suppliant."--"Castor! We are no suppliants," answered a rough voice:--"Dead +or alive, you must give up our pretty Christians. Come, come, my sly +masters; yield, yield, there is no flying from Caesar." + +"Peace, insolent!" quoth the Priestess--"peace, and begone! This is the +Temple of Apollo, and ye shall find no Christians here. Turn, rude man, +and dread the arm that guarded Delphos!" And saying so, she at length +lifted up Athanasia, and moved towards the other extremity of the fane, +where, as I had occasion once to tell you before, the private chamber of +the Priestess was situated on the right hand beyond the statue of Apollo. +In passing the image she halted an instant, laid her hand on her eyes, and +kissed its feet, with a murmur of supplication; but that was her only +utterance: and the rest gave none. + +She thus led us across the chamber in which, on a former day, I had heard +Athanasia sing; and in like manner, having taken a lamp in her hand, on +through the long passages which conduct towards the receptacle wherein the +Sybilline prophecies are said to be preserved. She opened the door which +she had, on that earlier day, told me led into the repository of those +mysterious scrolls. Two inner doors appeared before us; that to the left +she opened likewise, and we perceived, descending from its threshold, a +dark flight of steps, as if down into the centre of the rock. + +"Here," said she, as she paused, and held the lamp over the gloomy +perspective--"here, at last, I leave you, having already done too much, +whether I think of the God I serve, or of Trajan, or of myself. But for +the blood of kindred not little may be dared. Go with her, since you have +come with her. More I cannot do. Here--take this lamp; the door at the +bottom is fastened only from within; let it fall behind you, and make what +speed you may." + +"One thing," said Silo, "had better be done ere you depart;" and so, very +adroitly, he, by means of his jailer's key, relieved both of them from +their fetters. He then whispered, "Go no farther, Valerius; you may rest +assured that no one suspects us." I saw that he designed to return into +the courts of the Palatine, and so proceed homewards, as if ignorant of +every thing that had occurred. The good freedman had no other course to +pursue, either in duty to himself or to his family. But for me, all my +cares were here. I squeezed by the hand both Lucius and Velius, and both +warmly returned my pressure. The Priestess gave the lamp into my hand, and +the door was shut upon us; and we began, with hearts full of thankfulness, +but not yet composed enough to taste of lightness--with thankfulness +uppermost in our confused thoughts, and with no steady footsteps, to +descend into the unknown abyss. + + + + + _CHAPTER VIII._ + + +The steps were abrupt and narrow; but in a few minutes our feet became +accustomed to them, and we descended rapidly. After we had done so for +some time, we found ourselves in a low chamber of oblong form, in the +midst of which an iron stake was fixed into the floor, having chains of +ponderous workmanship attached to its centre, and over against it, a +narrow chair of the same metal, it also immoveable. I asked Athanasia to +repose herself here for a moment; for it was evident that the tumultuous +evening had much worn out her strength. But she said, shuddering, "No, not +here, Valerius; I never saw this place before, but the aspect of it recals +to me fearful stories. Here, wo is me, many a poor wretch has expiated +offences against the dignity of the shrine, and the servants of its Demon. +My father knows, I doubt not, some humble Christian roof, beneath which we +may be safe until the first search be over. Let us breathe at least the +open air, and He who has hitherto helped will not desert us." + +"No, my children," said Aurelius; "let us not linger here. Christian +roofs, indeed, are known to me, both humble and lofty; but how to know how +far suspicion may already have extended?--or why should we run any needless +risk of bringing others into peril, having by God's grace escaped +ourselves, when all hope as to this life had been utterly taken away? Let +us quit these foul precincts--let us quit them speedily--but let us not +rashly be seen in the busy city. There is a place known to me, (and +Athanasia also has visited it heretofore,) where safety, I think, may be +expected, and where, if danger do come, it shall find no unnecessary +victim. Let us hasten to the Esquiline." + +"Thanks, father!" said Athanasia; "there no one will seek us: there best +shall our thanksgivings and our prayers be offered. We will rest by the +sepulchre of our friend, and Valerius will go into the city, and procure +what things are needful." + +We began the descent of another flight of steps, beyond the dark chamber. +This terminated at length in a door, the bolts of which being withdrawn, +we found ourselves beneath the sky of night, at the extremity of one of +the wooded walks that skirt the southern base of the Palatine--the remains +of the Assyrian magnificence which had once connected the Golden House of +Nero with the more modest structures of his predecessors. I wrapped +Athanasia in my cloak, and walked beside her in my tunic; and Aurelius +conducted us by many windings, avoiding as far as was possible the glare +of the Suburra, all round about the edge of the city, to the gardens which +hang over the wall by the great Esquiline Gate. + +"Is it here," said I, when he paused--"is it in the midst of this splendour +that you hope to find a safe obscurity?" + +"Have patience," replied the old man; "you are a stranger:--and yet you +speak what I should have heard without surprise from many that have spent +all their days in Rome. Few, indeed, ever think of entering a region which +is almost as extensive as the city itself, and none, I think, are +acquainted with all its labyrinths." + +So saying, the priest led the way into one of the groves. Its trees formed +a dense canopy overhead; nor could we pass without difficulty among the +close-creeping undergrowth. At length we reached the centre of the wide +thicket, and found a small space of soil comparatively bare. The light of +moon and star plunged down there among the surrounding blackness of +boughs, as into some deep well, and shewed the entrance of a natural +grotto, which had, indeed, all the appearance of oblivion and utter +desertedness. "Confess," said he, "that I did not deceive you. But there +is no hurry now; let me taste once more the water of this forgotten +spring." + +I had not observed a small fountain hard by the mouth of the grotto, +which, in former days, had evidently been much cared for, although now +almost all its surface was covered with leaves. The marble margin shewed +dim with moss; nor had a statue just within the entrance of the grot +escaped this desolation. Damp herbage obscured its recumbent limbs, and +the Parian stone had lost its brightness. "You can scarcely see where the +inscription was," said Aurelius, "for the letters are filled up or +effaced; but I remember when many admired it, and I can still repeat the +lines-- + + 'Nymph of the grot, these sacred springs I keep, + And to the murmur of these waters sleep; + Ah! spare my slumbers, gently tread the cave, + And drink in silence, or in silence lave.'(4) + +Little did they, who graved this command, conjecture how well it was to be +obeyed. But there should be another inscription.--Ay, here it is," said he, +stepping on a long flat piece of marble among the weeds. I was advancing +to examine the stone, but the old man stopped me:--"What avails it to spell +out the record? Do you remember the story of Asinius? It was within this +very cavern that the man was butchered;(5) and now you see both he and his +monument are alike sinking into forgetfulness. I believe, however, the +monument itself must bear the blame in part; for I have heard my father +say that he had been told this was a favourite fountain until that +slaughter." + +Athanasia meantime had sat down by the grotto, and was laving her forehead +with the water of the solitary fountain. Aurelius, too, dipped his hands +in the well, and tasted of the water, and then turning to me, he said, +with a grave smile, "Valerius, methinks you are religious in your regard +for the slumbers of the nymph." He whispered something into the ear of +Athanasia, and received an answer from her in the same tone, ere he +proceeded:--"Draw near--fear not that I shall do any thing rashly--we owe all +things to your love--we know we do; but speak plainly.--Do you indeed desire +to be admitted into the fellowship of the true Faith? Let not the symbol +of regeneration be applied hastily. Without doubt, great were my joy might +my hands be honoured to shed the blessed water of baptism upon the brow of +dear Valerius." + +"Caius," said Athanasia, "I know God has touched your heart; why should +this be delayed any longer? You have shared the perils of the faithful. +Partake with them in good as in evil. Hesitate no longer; God will perfect +what hath been so begun." + +"Dearest friends!" said I, "if I hesitate, it is only because I doubt if I +am yet worthy. Surely I believe that this is the right faith, and that +there is no God but He whom you worship." + +"Acceptable is humility in the sight of Heaven," said the priest; and he +rose up from the place where he had been sitting, and began, standing by +the margin of the well, to pour out words of thanksgiving and +supplication, such as I have never heard equalled by any lips but his. The +deep calm voice of the holy man sounded both sweet and awful in the +breathless air of midnight. The tall black trees stood all around, like a +wall, cutting us off from the world, and from the thoughts of the world; +and the moon, steady in the serene sky, seemed to shower down light and +beauty upon nothing in all the wide earth, but that little guarded space +of our seclusion. I stepped into the cool water of the fountain. The old +man stooped over me, and sprinkled the drops upon my forehead, and the +appointed words were repeated. Aurelius kissed my brow, as I came forth +from the water, and Athanasia also drew slowly near, and then hastily she +pressed my forehead with trembling lips. + +We sate down together by the lonely well; and we sate in silence, for I +could not be without many thoughts partaken by none but myself, at the +moment when I had thus, in the face of God and man, abjured the faith of +all my fathers, and passed into the communion of the despised and +persecuted Few; nor did either the priest or Athanasia essay to disturb my +meditations. + +There were moments (for I must not conceal from you my weakness) in which +I could scarcely help suspecting that I had done something that was wrong. +I thought of my far distant mother; and I could not reflect without pain +upon the feelings with which I had every reason to suppose that she, kind +as she was, and merciful in all things, would have contemplated the scene +which had passed. I thought of my dead parent too; and that was yet more +serious and awful. The conviction of my own mind, in obedience to which I +had acted, relieved me, however, from any feelings of self-reproach.--My +father is dead, said I to myself--He died in ignorance, and he has not been +judged according to the light, which never shone upon him. But now--Oh, +yes! it must be so--the darkness has passed from before his eyes; and, if +the spirits of the departed ever visit, in the dim hours of silence, those +who were dear to them upon this earth, surely his venerable shade stood by +smiling while the forehead of his son was laved with these blessed waters. + +Meantime, minutes--hours, perhaps, glided away, while troubled, and solemn, +and tender thoughts thus occupied by turns my bosom. The old priest sate +by me, his arms folded on his breast, gazing upwards upon the spangled +glories of the firmament. Athanasia was on the other side, close by the +statue of the Sleeping Naiad. From time to time, she too would fix her +eyes for a moment upon the untroubled beauty of the moon; and then, +stooping over the brink of the fountain, once and again I saw its calm +dark waters rippled beneath her by the dropping of a tear. + +"My children," said, at length, Aurelius, "methinks more sadness is +amongst us than might suit the remembrance of what Providence has done for +us, since the sun that went down upon fear and sorrow is about to rise +upon many fair hopes. I am old; the world lies behind me, save a remnant I +know not how brief. It lies all before you, and you have a light whereby +to look upon it, which my early day wanted. I trust that soon, very soon, +ye shall both be far from this city--I say both, for I know well, go where +ye may, ye will go together. As for me, my lot is cast here, and here I +will remain. Caius, you must leave us betimes--you must return into the +city, and consult with your friends and hers, how best Athanasia may be +conveyed safely beyond the bounds of Italy. Caesar, indeed, rules every +where; but at a distance from Rome suspicion is, at least, less watchful; +and there is no precept given by which ye are bound to seek unnecessary +perils." + +"Aurelius," said I--"dear father, think not but that I have already been +considering all these things anxiously. As soon as I have seen you safely +placed within the retreat of which you have spoken, I shall hasten to +Licinius, my kinsman, who already, indeed, must be feeling no small +anxiety from my absence. I shall speak with him, and with both the +Sempronii. My own errand to the capital I value as nothing, and I shall be +ready on the instant, if Athanasia herself will consent to partake my +voyage." + +"Yes, Caius," said the father--"this child of God will be your wife, and ye +will both serve the Lord many days, amidst the quiet valleys of your far +off island.--Nay, daughter, do not weep, for these are not common days, and +you must follow without fear the path which God's providence points out. +Before ye go, my children, I myself shall join your hands in the name of +our God." + +Athanasia heard his words, and saw me gaze upon his face, but she made no +reply, except by the tears which Aurelius rebuked, and a timid, yet grave +and serious pressure, with which she, when he had made an end of speaking, +returned the fervid pressure of my hand upon hers. + +"Children," said the old man, "there is no need of words when hearts are +open--the tears that ye have shed together are the best earnest of the vows +that ye shall ere long, I trust, pronounce. Yet, let no rashness attend +your steps. The dawn must now be near, and Athanasia and I had better +retire into our protecting covert. Valerius will leave us, and return at +eventide. Till then, fasting and praying, we shall give thanks for our +deliverance, and ask the aid that alone is precious for the time that yet +remains." + +I had, fortunately, brought all the way with me the lamp which lighted our +steps down the mysterious staircase, from the shrine of Apollo. Some +little oil still remained within it, and Aurelius soon struck a light, +and, taking it in his hand, began to enter before us the dark cavern, by +the mouth of which we had all this while been sitting. You, perhaps, have +never heard of those strange excavations, the whole extent of which has +probably never been known to any one person, but which appear, indeed, as +the priest had said, to be almost co-extensive with the great city beneath +which they are placed. For what purpose they were at first dug, is a +subject which has long exercised the conjectures of those fond of +penetrating into the origin of things, and the customs of antiquity. By +some it is supposed, that in such caverns, winding far away into unseen +recesses, the first rude inhabitants of Italy, like the Troglodytes of +Upper Egypt and Ethiopia, had fixed their miserable abodes. Others assert, +that they owe their origin merely to the elder builders of the visible +Rome, who, to avoid marring the surface of the earth, were contented to +bring their materials of sand, clay, and stone, from these subterraneous +labyrinths, which so grew with the progress of diligence, and with the +extension of the city itself. Perhaps both conjectures may have some +foundation in truth; but be that as it may, there is no question, that, in +succeeding times, these catacombs had been widened and extended, to serve +as places of burial for the mortal remains of the poor citizens. And now +is it to be wondered at, that here, in regions so obscure and dismal, the +persecuted adherents of the Faith should have frequently sought not only +resting-places for the bodies of their dead, but even shelter for +themselves, amidst the terror of those relentless days? Hither, more than +once, the aged priest said, he had fled to escape the pursuit of his +enemies--here once more he hoped the shield of safety would lie over his +peril--here, at last, by whatever death he should die, his brethren had +promised to lay his bones in the earth, beside Tisias of Antioch, and many +more that, in the bloody times of Nero and Domitian, had already, in the +sight of all that heartless city, merited the crown, and the spotless +robe, and the palm-branch of martyrdom, by patient endurance of the last +insolence of man. + +Our father, therefore, held the lamp before us, and we entered those +gloomy regions, wherein alone the servants of the Son of God could at that +troubled era esteem themselves in safety from the hot pursuit of +contemptuous power. We passed along beneath the arches of the rock-hewn +roof, and between the endless winding walls, on either side of which +appeared many humble inscriptions, recording the virtues of the departed +and the regrets of the surviving poor. Of these last, however, as it +appeared, all must long since have been gathered to the ashes of those +they lamented, for there was no semblance of any new monument among all +that we observed, and most of them, to judge from the shape of the letters +upon them, must have been set up at least as long ago as the period of +Asinius. After traversing many of these subterraneous galleries, we came, +at last, to one more low-roofed than the rest, into which Aurelius struck +aside, saying, "Here Tisias lies, but no inscription marks the place where +a martyr finds repose. Here is the spot; with my own hands I lent feeble +help in digging the grave. Athanasia, too, knows it well, for she also did +not fear to assist in rendering the last honours to that soldier of +Christ." + +A flat thin stone, without mark or epitaph, indicated the spot. + +"Father," said Athanasia, "let me rest here. I am weary and worn--but here +I shall fear no evil. Conduct Caius back to the grotto; it is time he +should go." + +Thus leaving her by the funeral-stone, Aurelius and I retraced our steps +to the mouth of the catacomb. + +"Already," said he, "the sky is red eastward--walk cautiously through the +gardens, and regain with all speed the house of your kinsman. Go, my son; +may all blessings attend your steps. Come back at the rising of the moon, +and cast a stone into the fountain, and I shall be within hearing. Go, and +fear not." + + + + + _CHAPTER IX._ + + +I passed without disturbance through the gardens of the Esquiline, and the +streets of the city, in which no one was as yet moving, except a few +rustics driving asses laden with herbs to the market-place. When I reached +the house of my kinsman, however, it was evident that sleep did not +prevail within its gates; lights were visible in the vestibule, and there +I found several of the slaves sitting in conversation. My own could not +conceal the extravagance of his satisfaction on seeing me enter among them +in safety; so that I had no doubt his brother had informed him, in so far +at least, of what had passed after our leaving him in the Mammertine. +Dromo received me also with warm demonstrations of joy, and conducted me +to the chamber of Licinius, in which, with the orator himself, were +Sextus, pale with watching, Sabinus, still habited in military attire, +with a goblet of wine before him on the table, and Lucius Sempronius, who +was reclining at some little distance from the rest. It was he that +eagerly began to question me; and I perceived from the style in which he +spoke, that all present had already been made aware of the manner in which +Athanasia had been withdrawn from the council-chamber. A few words +informed them of what had followed after we quitted the Temple of Apollo. + +"I thank the gods," said Sempronius,--"so far at least it goes well--but if +this strictness, of which the Centurion speaks, shall be adhered to, there +still must be no small difficulty about conveying her beyond the city." + +"In truth," quoth Sabinus, after a little pause, "I am afraid this is +scarcely a matter in regard to which I should be consulted. I know not but +already I have done several things that could not be quite reconciled with +my duty. I shall, in all probability, be set on the watch myself, and if +so--much as I must regret the necessity--it certainly will be most necessary +for me to discharge what is committed to my trust. Is there no +possibility, think you, of inventing some impenetrable disguise? Depend on +it, it is quite impossible the young lady should remain any where in Rome, +without being ere long discovered. The first thing is to have her safe +beyond the city-walls." + +"I myself," said I, "shall embark instantly for Britain. Sempronius, +Athanasia must go with me--Surely it may be possible to have her carried +unobserved to the shore." + +"You!" said Licinius--"you embark instantly for Britain?--You know not what +you speak; your law-suit has been determined this very afternoon. Every +thing that Cneius left is your own." + +"O Jove!" cried Sabinus, "did ever mortal receive such news with such a +face! But come, here is health to the heir of the Valerii, and may this +Massic choke me, if I love him not the better for his gravity." + +"Would to heaven!" said Sempronius, "our young friend had loved under +other auspices! No, Valerius must stay and take possession, destined, as I +hope he is, to equal, under the favour of the gods, the noblest name in +his lineage. My dear niece--let us trust she may be concealed somewhere in +safety from the pursuit. Separated from this fanatic crew, she will, ere +long, without question, abandon the dreams they have filled her mind +withal; and on some happier day, our friend may perhaps have no reason +either to fear or to blush, for lifting her over the threshold of the +Valerii." + +I drew near to the old man, and, receiving his embrace, whispered into his +ear, "Sempronius, you speak generously; but know that this very evening I +also have become a Christian." + +"Heavens!" cried he, "what limits shall be affixed to this contagion! Rash +boy! have you not seen already to what consequences this must lead?" + +"What?" says Licinius--"what new calamity is this? Have my ears deceived +me? Speak, dear Caius--for the sake of all the blood in your veins--you have +not embraced this frenzy?" + +"My friends," said I, "why should I speak to one, when all of you are, I +well know, alike interested? In all things else I bow to age and +understanding so much above my own; but here I have thought for myself, +and my faith is fixed." + +Licinius heard me with a countenance of painful and anxious emotion. In +the eye of young Sextus I saw a tear ready to start, and his whole aspect +was that of one sad and bewildered. Sempronius leaned his brow upon his +hand, and turned himself away from me. But as for the Centurion, he +preserved his usual air; and after a moment, all the rest continuing +silent, said, "Valerius, I have been in love ere now, and perhaps am not +out of the scrape at present; but you have thrown a new light upon the +matter. What do you fancy to be the great merits of the present age, that +it should be treated with more favour than all that have gone before it? +And, if you come to speak of the Jews, every body knows they are a most +pitiful, mean, knavish set of creatures. They were always by the ears +among themselves; but I think it is rather too much that they should have +the credit of bringing their betters (by which I mean all the world +besides) into confusion. You are but green yet; all this will blow over +anon, and you will laugh more heartily than any one else when you think of +your weakness. But look up, good friend, I don't think you are listening +to me." + +"My dear Sabinus," said I, "I do listen, but I think it is rather to the +gay Praetorian, than to the patient friend I had expected to find in you." + +"Come!" said he again, "you take every thing so seriously. If you are +resolved to be a Christian, I am very sorry for it; but even that shall +not stand between me and a true friend. I hope you will soon see the thing +as I do--I know you will; but, in the meantime, Valerius, you may count +upon me."--And the kind man squeezed my hand with his customary fervour. + +He then turned round to the rest of our friends, and began to propose for +their consideration a dozen different schemes of escape, that had already +suggested themselves to his imagination. + +Licinius took advantage of the first pause, to suggest that the Centurion +seemed in a hurry to get rid of me. He then passed into an account of the +speech he had delivered on the preceding afternoon before the Court of the +Centumvirs, and of the unhesitating manner, so gratifying to his feelings, +in which its judgment had been pronounced. For some moments, in his detail +of these proceedings, he seemed almost to have lost sight of the present +situation and views of the person most interested in their termination. +But when, in the progress of his story, he came to enlarge upon the +magnificence of my new possessions--the domains in Africa--the rich farms in +Sicily--the numerous slaves engaged in their cultivation--the Spanish silver +mine--and, last of all, the splendours of the great villa upon the banks of +the Tiber--it was not difficult to perceive that he could scarcely restrain +his indignation at the purpose I had been expressing. "And such," said he, +"are the realities which our young friend quits for the reasons he has +mentioned! Well, every man must judge for himself. If it must be so, let +it be so." + +I heard him patiently to the end, and then said, "You have well summed up +the whole matter, my dear Licinius. It must indeed be so. I go immediately +to Britain, and I trust she--for whom I would leave all these things, were +they greater than they are--shall, by the aid of your kindness, go with me +in safety. There is one request only which I have, in addition to all +this, to lay before you; and that you may hear it the more patiently, it +does not concern myself. + +"In a word, then," I continued, "should happier days arrive, I hope once +more to be among you here in Rome. The wealth which, thanks to your zeal, +Licinius, is this day mine, can be of little use to me in the British +valley, to which, for the present, I retire. Above all, this beautiful +villa of which you speak,--why, because for a time I am unable to occupy +it, should the mansion of my fathers stand empty, when there are others +among their descendants, who lie not under the same necessity of exile? +Till I am enabled to breathe in freedom the air of Italy, I trust Licinius +will consent to let Sextus represent me in my villa. There, too, I hope +Sempronius will permit his daughter to be. It will give pleasure to +Athanasia, to think that those halls contain the dearest of our friends. +When we come back, if ever we do so, they will not grudge to make room for +us beneath the same roof with themselves. Licinius--Sempronius--what say +you?" + +They were both silent for a moment; but Sabinus was at hand to answer for +them:--"By all Olympus! I shall knock down any man henceforth, that in my +presence abuses Christianity as a destruction of men's hearts. Let it be, +good friends, as our Caius says. I know, Sextus, I have at least your +voice upon my side. Let it be so; and, for heaven's sake, let it be +immediately. A wedding is the very thing to divert attention from these +troubles in both kindreds." + +Our conversation was interrupted by Dromo, who told me that Silo the +jailer had come to see me, and was below in the hall. There I found the +humane man, with his little daughter in his hand, and walked aside with +him into the inner portico of the house. I told him how the escape, for +which his zeal alone was to be thanked, had been terminated--and to what +resolution I had now come;--and then inquired whether no suspicion had been +attached to himself, in consequence of his absence from the Capitoline. +Having assured me that he had no reason to think so,--"The oath which I had +taken to Trajan," said he, "prevented me from adopting the simpler course +of setting open for our dear friends the gates of the Mammertine; and I +trust that I did not offend against that oath by acting as I did, after +they had been taken away for the time from my keeping. But both they and +you must be aware of the pain which I suffered during their confinement, +and of the dangers which I have encountered by their escape. I am resolved +no more to be subject to such struggles. I cannot preserve my faith as a +Christian, and my honour as a servant of Trajan. This very day I resign my +charge in the Mammertine; this very night, if it so please you, I am ready +to accompany you and my dear young lady, in your flight to Britain." + +I need not say with what gladness I heard this proposal. Returning to my +friends, I informed them of what I had just heard, and perceiving now at +last that there was no chance of diverting me from my project, they +entered, like true friends, into serious consultation respecting the best +method of carrying my project into execution. The aid of Silo, who had +already given such proofs both of presence of mind, and of prudence, and +courage, was regarded by them as of the highest importance. He was shortly +summoned to take part in our deliberation, and it was resolved, that after +resigning in a formal manner the office he held, and transferring his +property for the present into the custody of Licinius, he should forthwith +repair to Ostium, and there hire and put in readiness, for immediate use, +a small vessel, the lightest he could find, in which the fugitive party +might transport themselves at least as far as Corsica. To this the zealous +Silo without hesitation assented. It was agreed that he should have the +mariners on their benches by the coming on of night, and that he himself +should be waiting for us by a certain ruined tower, which stands +conspicuously by the river side, about a mile and a half above Ostium. We +left it to Silo himself, to stock the bark with any merchandise which he +might deem best adapted to deceive the superintendents of the haven. + +Partly from the necessity of making provision of various kinds for this +voyage, but still more in consequence of the law-suit, with the +termination of which you have just been made acquainted, I had no leisure +that day, from which to work out unnecessary pain either for myself or for +others. I had to assist Licinius in looking over an infinity of deeds, and +to superintend the drawing out of others. In the next place, I had to go +to the Forum for the purpose of manumitting some slaves, (such a largess +being naturally expected); and while I was occupied with this, need I tell +you, that my own poor Briton was not forgotten? Licinius having, at the +joint request of Sextus and myself, accorded that morning to the Cretan +also the well-merited gift of his liberty, Boto and Dromo were seen +strutting about the Forum together for some moments, each arrayed in that +worshipful cap which had formed the most prominent object in their +day-dreams of felicity. I shall not trouble you with needless particulars. +Let it suffice, that the greater part of the day was thus spent in +unavoidable business. + +Towards evening, I stole privately from my kinsman's house, being willing +to avoid a formal farewell, and repaired to Sabinus, who received me with +very lively emotion. What he dwelt upon most fervently, however, was the +probability--the certainty he seemed to esteem it--that a persecution of +this nature could not be long persisted in by such a prince as Trajan; and +the pleasure with which, that being all at an end, he should see me come +back to Rome, and take due possession of the inheritance of my fathers. +After expatiating most fluently for some minutes on the expected delights +of that day, he paused suddenly, and then added, in a tone of some little +hesitation, "And as for me, I wonder in what state you shall find me. Rich +or poor--married or single--Centurion or Tribune--one thing is certain, that +I shall, in all circumstances, be not a little rejoiced to see you." + +"You had better marry, my good captain," said I. + +"Marry! me to marry? I have not the least thought of such a thing. You did +not put any faith, did you, in the raillery of those waggish fellows of +yesterday?" + +"A little--a very little, Sabinus." + +"Poh! poh! now you are jesting." + +"And much, very much, Sabinus, in the conscious looks of a certain +blushing Centurion, yesterday." + +"Come," quoth he, "there is more cunning in these British eyes than I ever +should have dreamt of. Fill your cup to the brim, boy, and since you are +to leave us so speedily, I shall have no secrets for you. I have seen +service;--true, but what of that? I have kept a light heart in all my +campaigns. But my day, it must be confessed, begins to wear a little, a +very little, towards the evening; and, Castor! if you allow supper-time to +slip over, I don't know but you must go to bed with a light stomach. Now +or never was the word, my boy; and the widow is mine own." + +"And Xerophrastes?" said I. + +"And as for the most sagacious and venerable Xerophrastes, why, to tell +you the truth, I see nothing for him but that he should allow his beard to +curl as it pleases, drop his long cloak over his ambitious pair of shanks, +forswear moonlight, purchase for himself a dark lantern instead, and see +whether he can't find, within the four walls of Rome, an honest Greek, and +a constant widow, to make one blessed wedding withal. That is my advice to +the Stoic--Stoic no longer--but, if there be hoops upon a tub, the most +cynical of all Cynics." + +When it was at last necessary that I should move--"Dear Caius," said the +Centurion, "you know the Prefect has set a price on their heads, and I +promise you it is such a temptation as no virtue, that keeps watch beneath +any common praetorian breast-plate, could well be trusted to wrestle with. +But hope, and dare. And here, take once more this helmet, and cloak, and +sword, and with them share the password of the night." + +Sabinus then gave private orders to one of his troop, and walked with me +towards the Esquiline.--But why should I linger over what little remains of +this story? Why pain you with the parting which I witnessed between my +Athanasia and the holy Aurelius, afterwards numbered among the martyrs of +Christ?--Behold us at last issued from the Catacombs, and mounted on the +trusty horses which our friend had caused to be waiting at no great +distance from the thicket that clothed their entrance. Behold us arrived +without interruption at the Ostian Gate of Rome. + +The soldiers on guard challenged us cheerily as we came up to them. + +"The word, comrades?" + +"_Titus!_" quoth the Centurion. + +"Pass on--whom bear you with you, comrades!" + +"A Christian--a Christian prisoner," said I. + +"By Jove, that's worth gold to you, brother," quoth the guard.--"Open the +gate there;--pass on, friends. I hope I shall have luck one day myself." + + + + + + FINIS. + + + + + + + PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH. + + + + + + + FOOTNOTES + + + 1 "Concerning the nature of the Bacchic Stimulus." + + 2 These were the principal conspirators by whom Domitian was slain. + They were afterwards butchered by the Praetorians, who regretted the + tyrant; and it was supposed to be chiefly in consequence of that + slaughter, and its shameful consequences to himself, (for he was + compelled, among other insults, to return public thanks to the + butchers,) that Nerva called to his aid the personal vigour and high + military genius of Trajan. + + 3 ----Catonem + Novisti moriens vincere, mollis Otho. + + 4 So Pope has rendered the beautiful lines: + + Hujus Nympha Loci, sacri custodia fontis, + Dormio, dum blandae sentio murmur aquae; + Parce meum, quisquis tangis cava marmora, somnum + Rumpere; sive bibas, sive lavere, tace. + + 5 Asinius autem brevi illo tempore quasi in hortulos in _arenarias_ + quasdam juxta portam Exquiliniam perductus, occiditur.--Cic. _Pro + Cluent._ + + + + + + TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE + + +Variations in hyphenation (e.g. "eyebrows", "eye-brows"; "godlike", +"god-like") have not been changed. + +Other changes, which have been made to the text: + + page 72, question mark added after "him", quote mark added before + "His" + page 267, "Aybss" changed to "Abyss" + page 307, "Capito" changed to "Capitol" + + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VALERIUS. 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