CHAPTER FOUR.
THE PROCESSION.
The sun had scarcely risen half-way to the meridian when the head of thesacrificial procession streamed forth from the Temple of Peace, in thewide forum belonging to which its component parts had been collected andarranged. Preceded by banners came the pontiffs of the sacred college,walking under silken canopies to shield their persons from the sun'sburning rays. They were followed by the augurs in saffron and purpletogas, wearing on their heads the conical caps with spikes ofolive-wood, and carrying the litui--long staffs with golden crooks atthe ends [Note 1]. Then came the tubicini, or trumpeters, soundingloudly on their curved instruments of bronze with shrill notes, and thetubas, straight silver trumpets, hollowing them, with various ensignsand insignia, emerged the chief flamens, wearing the laena and apex,with wreaths of laurel. Now, after a profusion of banners, appeared achariot drawn by four white steeds, richly adorned with wreaths, bearingalong a magnificent statue of Jupiter Tonans [Note 2], with thunderboltsin hand, followed by superb statues, larger than life, of Mars, Apollo,Juno, Venus, and Minerva--the goddesses habited in robes either suppliedby pious matrons or from the properties of the temples. The car ofJuno, adorned with peacocks' feathers [Note 3], that of the CythereanVenus, with apple in hand, was drawn along, her car bearing imitationsof swans and doves, and ornamented with wreaths of myrtle and roses.The car of Minerva followed, the goddess represented by a giganticstatue, a sphinx in the middle of the helmet, supported on either sideby griffins, while standing on her car were huge dragons, cocks, andowls, with branches of the olive-tree arranged upon it. All these carswere drawn, not by horses, but by young patricians, who eagerly soughtthe opportunity to perform so grateful a service to the deities theyworshipped. In a long line came other gods and goddesses, not seated incars, but placed on high platforms, carried by men, some appearingsingly and others in groups, representing the various actions for whichthey were renowned. Between each god or goddess walked youths, swingingcensers, emitting as they moved them to and fro sweet odours grateful totheir divinities. The bearers of the almost countless images were, likethose who drew the chariots, mostly patricians, or young men of wealthof plebeian family, who thus sought an easy mode of exhibiting theirpiety.
Now came, preceded by lictors with their fasces, the vestal virgins,seated in silver chariots drawn by milk-white steeds, followed closelyby another band of flamens, leading a long line of hostia (oxen to besacrificed), their horns richly gilded, their heads adorned withwreaths, each animal led by a victimarius. So numerous were they, thatit appeared as if the line would never end; for Coecus had arranged tooffer up a whole hecatomb of victims.
Following the hostia came another band of trumpeters with numerousbanners, the ornaments at their summits glittering in the sun; with aband of inferior priests, minor flamens, popos [Note 4], and otherattendants at the temples, chanting loudly in honour of their gods;while next came large parties of citizens in festive dresses, eager toshow their affection for the long-established religion of theirancestors; the whole followed by a body of troops, with their standardsunfurled, and other insignia held aloft. The procession, as seen from adistance, had indeed the appearance of some enormous serpent withshining scales, as, emerging from the precincts of the temple, it woundits way along through the narrow streets, past the temples of Venus andRome, under the colossal statue of Nero, on the outside of whichscaffolding had been erected, affording accommodation to thousands ofspectators; then turning westward, under the arch of Titus, and betweenthe numerous temples which lined that portion of the Sacra Via, throughthe Forum Romanum, under the arch of Severus; when, gaining the Capitol,it proceeded direct towards the temple of Jupiter Optimus. Here thehead of the vast column, the pontiffs, the flamens, and the augurs, asthey arrived, gathered in due order under the porch,--the variousstatues of the gods being ranged on either side, the vestal virginstaking the post of honour awarded to them, while the people arrangedthemselves so as to leave an open space round the numerous altars, whichstood prepared for the sacrifice of the victims. The animals, as theycame up held by the victimarii, were arranged in front of the altars;when the flamens, having strewed their heads with roasted barley-meal,the popos, stripped and girt ready, advanced with huge hammers in theirbelts; then, at a signal from the chief pontiff, the fires were lighted,and each of the performers having been previously sprinkled withholy-water, the popos, holding up the heads of the animals, gave thefatal blow which brought them to the ground; when, the deadly knivesbeing plunged into the victims' hearts, they were rapidly and skilfullydismembered. The augurs, with due care, examined the intestines, which,being placed on the altars, were now strewed with barley-meal; and asthe fires blazed up, wine was poured forth, and incense thrown uponthem; the trumpets the meantime sounding, and the choristers loudlysinging hymns in praise of Jupiter and the immortal gods. As theincense rose in thick clouds towards the sky from the multitudes ofaltars, the pontiff delivered a stirring oration to the people in praiseof the gods, exhorting them to continue firm to their worship. As thepontiff ceased, the whole temple became filled with the sweet-scentedsmoke of the incense, the drums sounded out their loudest notes, and asthe people shouted forth their vows to adhere to the ancient faith underwhich Rome had become great and powerful, many declared that the godswere seen to smile in approval of their piety.
When the procession first emerged from the temple, close to where Gaiuswalked was seen a powerful Numidian slave, holding by the hand a youngand handsome boy. Every now and then Gaius glanced at the latter,apparently to observe what so imposing a scene was producing on hismind. The boy appeared to pay but little attention to the pageant; butthough he did not struggle, he walked as one who felt himself a captive,and his eye ranged eagerly over the countenances of the spectators,especially on those who stood far back in the crowd, as if he weresearching for some one with whom he desired to speak. He made but shortreplies to the slave, who seemed to take pleasure in telling him thenames of the temples, and describing the attributes of those gods towhom they were dedicated. At length, when the temple of Jupiter, on theCapitoline Hill, was reached, and Gaius stood, with others of thepontiffs, on the steps, the Numidian led the boy to a position behindhis master, where he could see all that was going forward. The victimshad been slain, and their entrails were still burning, when, at a signfrom Gaius, the Numidian brought forward the lad.
"This must have been an interesting sight for you, my dear Jovinian,"said Gaius to his nephew; "let me see that you appreciate it. Come, youshall have the privilege of taking part in the sacrifice. A flamen willgive you some incense: cast it on the altar; the act is a simple one,and will prove a grateful offering to the Immortals."
"I would obey you, uncle, in all the things of life," answered Jovinianfirmly; "but understand that the God we Christians adore is a spirit,and desires to be worshipped from the heart in spirit and in truth, andthat the offering of incense, even to Him, is offensive as it is vain;much more so is it when burnt in honour of those who are no gods, butthe foolish imaginings of ignorant men; and I will not do what isdispleasing to Him, and would bitterly grieve the heart of my belovedmother, could she see me."
"Boy! boy! how dare you use language such as this to me, a Romanpontiff!" exclaimed Gaius, becoming angry; then, after a moment,resuming his calm demeanour, he continued, "What folly is this, that youshould object to so trifling an act as that I wish you to perform!"
"No act, however trifling, if offensive to the true God, can beperformed without sin," answered Jovinian. "I am told that thousandssubmitted to be torn to pieces, or crucified, or to be slain bygladiators, in yonder Flavian amphitheatre, rather than act as you wouldhave me do."
"Remember, Jovinian, that I have the power to compel you to do as Idesire," said Gaius; "it is not for my own pleasure, but to satisfy thescruples of my principal, and to prove that you are a true child ofancient Rome."
"Uncle, I will not do this sinful thing," answered the boy, in a tone of
determination in which Gaius had never before heard him speak. "You mayorder the Numidian to flog me, you may refuse me food, or have me put todeath with any tortures you can devise, but I tell you I possess astrength beyond my own. It is that which God gives to those who trustHim. He is omnipotent, and nothing human can withstand His power.Therefore, I say again, you cannot compel me."
Gaius was astonished at the bold answer of his young relative, and wasafraid to press the point, lest the bystanders might overhear theconversation. He accordingly judged it prudent to commit him again tothe care of the Numidian, directing the slave, as he valued his life,not to let the boy escape. Meantime the augurs had been examining withsagacious looks the entrails of the slain animals, and soon unanimouslyannounced with authoritative voices that the gods were pleased with theliberal sacrifices offered to them, and that, undoubtedly, as long asRome itself should stand, their ancient faith would continue, in spiteof the assaults made on it by the Christians and other atheists. Thevast multitude shouted loudly at the announcement, their cries beingtaken up by those who stood at the eastern brink of the Capitoline Hill,and echoed by the masses who thronged the streets along the Forum evento the Flavian Amphitheatre, where many remained to watch the return ofthe procession to the spot whence it had set out. The carcases of thebeasts not consumed were distributed liberally among the families of theinferior flamens and servitors at the temples, the begging priestspushing eagerly forward to get a share of the flesh, of which there wasenough to supply large numbers of the people. Coecus, again marshallinghis forces, led the way from the temple, the various performersfollowing in due order. "This day's work, as I foretold would be thecase, has been a success, Gaius," he observed to the younger pontiff, aswith stately step they marched along through the Forum. "We must deviseothers of a similar nature to amuse the populace, and use every effortto win back those of the patricians who are showing indifference to theworship of the gods. Provided we employ proper measures, they can be aseasily gulled as the ignorant multitude; but we must suit the bait tothe nature of the birds to be caught."
"I feel not so certain of success. Those who have once adopted theprinciples of the Nazarenes are not likely to be won back again,"answered Gaius. "I have lately had an example of the obstinacy of thesepeople; they are not to be influenced by persuasion or dread ofconsequences. We know how they behaved in former ages; and even whenDiocletian found that they were dangerous to the state, and allowed themto receive the punishment they deserved, they still persevered inpropagating their faith, unmoved by the dread of the fate awaiting them.Then what can we expect now that the emperor patronises them, and, asit is reported, actually professes to have become a Christian?"
"By Bacchus! then we must find another mode of acting," said Coecus."If we cannot destroy, we can corrupt their faith, and, depend on it,success will attend our efforts."
Meantime young Jovinian, attended by the Numidian, had returned to hisuncle's abode. Gaius, taking the hint from Coecus, still hoped to winover his nephew, for whom he entertained all the affection a man of hisnature was capable of feeling. Observing that the boy suffered fromconfinement, he allowed him to take walks through the city, closelyattended by the Numidian Eros--who was charged, however, to keep astrict watch on him, that he might be prevented from making his escapeor communicating with any of his mother's Christian friends.
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Note 1. Ever since borne by the bishops of the Roman Church.
Note 2. One day to appear in the edifice dedicated to Saint Peter, toact the part of the apostle; the ignorant multitude being taught by themodern flamens devoutly to kiss its toe.
Note 3. Still used in the papal processions.
Note 4. The popes were priests appointed to put the victims to death.