CHAPTER NINE.
THE CAPTURED RESCUED.
Coecus, finding that his companion had fallen asleep, set himself toconsider his plans with regard to the hapless Coelia. He held to theopinions put forth by some of the leading heathen philosophers of thatage, that the end justifies the means, and no feeling of compunction asto the cruel fate he designed for the young vestal entered his heart.He was of the material of which arch-inquisitors were in after years tobe made. There would be no difficulty in that corrupt city to obtainevidence to condemn his victim, as well as to prove that the partner ofher supposed guilt had escaped. After resting for some time, he wentforth again to make the arrangements he had determined on.
When, late in the day, Gaius awoke, he sent for his nephew, and, aftersome inquiries, discovered that Jovinian and Eros had been absent sincethe previous forenoon. At first he could not bring himself to believethat they had really escaped; but his inquiries at length convinced himof the fact, and, moreover, that Eros had been known to accompanyJovinian to some of the Christian places of worship. "Then the wretchedslave has himself been led to embrace this new doctrine," he exclaimed."It may be suited to such as he; but, notwithstanding, if I can capturehim, he shall be made to pay the full penalty of his crime."
The pontiff was, in truth, as much annoyed as it was in his nature tobe; but he was disposed to vent his anger on the head of Eros ratherthan on that of his nephew.
Several days passed by, and no information could he obtain as to wherethe fugitives were concealed. From a few words let drop by Coecus, heat length began to hope that he might recover Jovinian. The chiefpontiff had heard that the man he hated above all others on earth--thepresbyter Severus--was again in the neighbourhood of Rome; and from thefriendship which had existed between his sister and Eugenia, hesuspected that Jovinian, if he knew of her abode, would have gone there.What Coecus intended to do he did not say, but the muttered threats ofvengeance in which he indulged showed the evil feelings rankling in hisbosom. Assassins were to be found, even in those days, to perform anydeed of blood required of them; vice was rampant; and crimes of allsoils were committed with comparative impunity. But Rome even thus waspurer than it became in after ages; the people had been taught torespect the laws, criminals did not always escape the arm of justice,and no inconsiderable Christian community, leading pure and faultlesslives, leavened the mass, and contributed to keep the heathen in check.
Coecus had to proceed with more caution than suited his bold andimpulsive character. He succeeded, however, in persuading the chiefcivil authorities that there were some persons with designs dangerous tothe state concealed in the underground galleries in the neighbourhood ofthe city, and in obtaining a guard of soldiers to search for them. He,with some difficulty, obtained a guide who professed to be acquaintedwith all the intricate turnings of the galleries, and, moreover, to knowSeverus and Eugenia by sight. Coecus, who was well aware thatconsiderable danger might attend the expedition, had no intention ofaccompanying it, but remained in Rome, indulging himself in the hopethat he should at length destroy his old rival, or get him into hispower, while he at the same time exulted in the idea that, from themeasures he was taking, he should prolong the existence of idolatry asthe religion of the state. One of his plans was to organise anotherprocession in honour of one of the gods, similar to that which has beendescribed; for such spectacles, he knew, were at all times attractive tothe populace, and it mattered little to them whether Bacchus, Apollo,Venus, or any other divinity had the most prominent position in theexhibition.
He had given directions to the vestals to prepare for the ceremony, inwhich, as usual, they would be expected to take a leading part; and heguessed that, should any besides Coelia be tainted with the newdoctrines, they would endeavour to escape appearing on the occasion.Coelia herself remained under the strict charge of the Vestalis Maxima,whose office was in later days to be represented by that of the mothersuperior of a nunnery. The Vestalis Fausta being long past her prime,and having spent her life within the walls of the temple, had nointerests beyond them. Her temper had become soured, her betterfeelings seared; and being thus a willing instrument in the hands of thepontiffs, she was ready to execute any act of tyranny and cruelty theymight direct. Her mind, narrowed by the dull routine of duties she hadso long performed, she was a devout worshipper of the goddess sheserved; and she heard with the utmost horror and dismay that one ofthose under her charge had embraced the hated doctrines of those whomshe called the atheist Nazarenes. Poor Coelia had no hope of mercy fromsuch a person. Marcia, finding that she herself was not suspected, kepther own counsel, determined at all costs to rescue her friend. It was asore trial to her, for she felt herself guilty of dishonouring Christwhile continuing to serve in the temple of a false deity.
The pontiffs, meantime, were busily engaged in arranging the details ofthe procession. Gaius troubled himself less than the other pontiffsabout the matter. He especially disliked the exertion of the long marchthrough the city, and he doubted whether the result would be assatisfactory as Coecus anticipated. He was seated in the college, whenit was announced that a female slave desired to see him. He directedthat she should be admitted, when Rufina entered. Taking a bag of coinfrom under her cloak, she, without hesitation advanced to where he sat.
"I have come to bring the price of one who was your slave, but desiresmanumission," she said calmly, offering the bag of money to the pontiff."It contains thirty solidi, the full value you can claim for Eros, heof whom I speak," she continued, seeing that Gaius did not put forth hishand to receive the bag. "Me might have escaped beyond pursuit, andallowed you to lose his value, but, as a Christian, he knows that suchwould be wrong, and therefore I have been sent to pay it into yourhands."
"The Numidian Eros a Christian! such an idea is folly!" exclaimed Gaius,starting up with more animation in his tone and manner than he hadhitherto shown. "If he is a Christian, he thus only adds to his crime.The money he must have stolen--probably from me; I refuse, however, toreceive it. Let him return to the bondage from which he has escaped, orif I discover him he will rue the consequences. And for yourself, girl,as you have ventured in here, unless you inform me where he is hidden,and will promise to assist in his recovery, I will detain you and punishyou as you deserve with the scourge."
"I came to do the bidding of my master; and should any harm befall me,there is one to whom he will appeal for justice--the emperor," answeredRufina, without betraying the slightest fear. "You dare not detain me.Again I offer the value of your once slave, and, though you refuse, Ihave fulfilled my duty, and must be gone."
Gaius was almost speechless at what he considered the unexampledaudacity of the slave girl; and as he still refused to take the bag,Rufina, while he was considering what to do, turned, and left the hall.Before her figure had disappeared among the marble columns he startedup, and summoning one of his attendants, often employed in secretmatters, he directed him to follow Rufina, but to keep himselfconcealed, to obtain what assistance he might require and not to returnwithout bringing back Eros and Jovinian as his captives. The slave,instantly comprehending what was required of him, started off to executehis master's orders.
The pontiff sank down again upon his couch. "Though I have lost thesolidi, I shall have the satisfaction of wreaking my vengeance on thehead of the Numidian,--and, what is of more consequence, shall recovermy graceless nephew," he said to himself, stretching out his arms andgiving a yawn. "Ungrateful as he has been, I will still afford himanother chance."
On the appearance of Coecus, Gaius told him of the hopes he entertainedof recovering Jovinian and his runaway slave.
"The vile wretch of whom you speak must receive the full penalty of hiscrime, or we shall have all the slaves in Rome turning Christians andclaiming their freedom," observed Coecus. "As to your nephew, the bedof the Tiber will be the safest place to which you can consign him. Theyoung atheist, with the early training he has received, will neverbecome a trustworthy supporte
r of the ancient gods."
"I will try him, notwithstanding," answered Gaius; "but I have notcaught him yet."
Several more days passed by; but neither Jovinian nor Eros had beencaptured, and Gaius began to fear that he had lost his money and hisrevenge.
The pontiffs had been seated in conclave, and were on the point ofseparating, when a message was brought to Gaius. A gleam ofsatisfaction passed over his countenance.
"Stay, fathers, for a few moments," he said. "A rascally slave who,forsooth, has taken it into his head to turn Christian, and to decamp,moreover, with my nephew, of whom he had charge, has been captured, Iwould question the vile wretch as to what has become of the youth; andfailing to draw forth the information, as I think likely, we will makesome sport of the slave before he is sent off to receive the punishmenthe merits."
The countenance of Coecus exhibited a look of disgust, as if he had nodesire to be troubled in the matter; but three or four of the otherpontiffs acquiescing, Gaius directed that the Numidian should be broughtin. Eros soon appeared, heavily manacled, with a guard of four armedmen, who watched narrowly every movement he made, and kept their weaponsready for use, as if they feared that even now he would endeavour toescape.
The prisoner advanced with an undaunted countenance, and head erect, asif perfectly fearless of the stern judges before whom he stood. In vainGaius inquired what had become of Jovinian. Eros replied that he hadparted from him outside the gates, that he had gone with a friend, andthat more about him he knew not. He acknowledged without hesitationthat he had sinned against his master in allowing the youth committed tohis charge to depart, and that he was ready to pay the penalty of hisfault. "Wretched being! you have heaped crime upon crime," exclaimedGaius: "you have endeavoured to escape from slavery, you have disobeyedmy commands, and, as I understand, deny the existence of the immortalgods, and, following the example of the impious Nazarenes, refuse toworship them."
"I worship One who is willing and able to save me, who died that I mightbe set free, and who has forgiven me all my sins," answered theNumidian.
"What blasphemy is this we hear!" exclaimed several of the pontiffs inchorus. "He does not deny his crime, and yet talks of his sins beingforgiven. Away with him. Let the cross be his doom!"
Gains, who had no wish to lose the services of a valuable slave, pleadedthat a less severe doom than death would be sufficient, and suggestedthat instead he should be subjected to the ordinary punishment inflictedon runaway slaves--that of being hung up by the hands with weightsattached to his feet, exposed to the noonday sun till he should faintfrom exhaustion. The other pontiffs, however, were inexorable. Theslave had been brought before them for trial, and his death alone wouldsatisfy their cruelty. Perhaps they took a secret pleasure in annoyingtheir brother pontiff.
Coecus decided the matter, though he had apparently taken no interest inthe discussion. "Let the wretch die the vilest of deaths. He hasdishonoured the immortal gods!" he muttered. "It may advance our cause,as it will serve to bring into contempt the name of their founder, whenthe Christians see a base slave suffering the death he was said to haveendured."
Short time was allowed to the Numidian to prepare for his doom. He wasto suffer not as a martyr, but as a runaway slave. Strictly guarded allnight, he passed it in prayer and in singing hymns to the Saviour he hadso lately learnt to love and trust. Early in the morning he was ledforth to be conducted outside the city, bearing on his shoulders a heavybeam with a crosspiece attached, on which his arms were to be extendedtill death should put an end to his sufferings.
As Eros, staggering under the heavy weight of the cross, proceededthrough the streets of Rome, many there were who looked on with horrorand dismay at the spectacle. Coecus, more thoughtful than Gaius, hadprovided a guard, for he well knew that the Christians were alreadysufficiently numerous and powerful to have effected a rescue should theyhave discovered that he was really suffering for holding to the faith ofthe Gospel. A crowd had collected, and was following, composed chieflyof such idlers as are invariably attracted by any spectacle, though itmay even be to see a fellow-creature put to death. Gaius and some ofthe other pontiffs walked at some distance behind, the motives whichinduced them to come being in no way superior to that of the vulgarmass. The condemned slave and his guards had proceeded some distance,when a litter, preceded by a lictor, was seen approaching. It stopped,for the crowd was too dense to allow it to pass; Eros cast up his eyes,and met those of the vestal Marcia, horror-struck at what she saw. Thelove of life, the dread of the torture prepared for him, prompted thecondemned slave. Throwing down his burden, before his guards could stophim, he sprang towards the litter, and, clasping the vestal's feet,claimed her protection.
"It is given," she answered. "Citizens of Rome, the right is mine, asyou all know, to set this criminal free. Let no man lay hands on him."
"He is free! he is free!" shouted several persons from among the crowd."The ancient laws of Rome must be supported."
The guards and some others seemed unwilling to be disappointed of theirprey, but the lictors kept them off; and some, evidently recognisingEros as a Christian, gathering round, bore him off out of sight just asGaius and his companions arrived on the spot. They dared not disallowthe claim made by Marcia, for it had been the privilege of the vestalsfrom time immemorial, should they meet a criminal going to execution, todemand his release, provided the encounter was accidental, and that suchwas the case in this instance there appeared to be no doubt.
Marcia proceeded on her way, and Gaius, who was not altogetherdispleased at the occurrence, as he hoped to recover his slave, returnedto the college.