CHAPTER II.
Early next morning Quintus made his way to the Flamen's house. Thegreat sitting of the Senate, which was to determine the fate of theedict against the Nazarenes, had been fixed for this forenoon; untilhe should join it, Titus Claudius was spending the morning with hisfamily. The weather was unusually mild for the late season, and Octaviahad ordered that breakfast should be served in the peristyle, andhere, comfortably extended on his couch, the high-priest was enjoyinghis favorite dish, fresh eggs with _garum_.[20] The ladies, attendedonly by Baucis and a little girl, were sitting in easy-chairs, sippingmilk cooled with ice[21] out of pale, gleaming Murrhine cups. Perfectsilence reigned in the cavaedium; not even a slave stole across themarble flags, and the very tree-tops, golden in the morning sunshine,were motionless in the mild autumn air.
As Quintus came in from the arcade, and saw this party of those whowere near and dear to him, his heart sank within him. A longing, whicheven in his sleep had haunted his dreams, and had driven him from hisbed before daybreak, came over him now with almost irresistible force;his impulse was to throw himself at his father's feet, and kiss thehands that had so often rested lovingly on his head and brow. But hecontrolled himself. He went up to the high-priest, and gave him anaffectionate kiss as usual, pressed his hand warmly, and then greetedthe rest of the party gaily enough.
The previous day Quintus had come to a conclusion, which must openan impassable gulf between himself and his father. At the very time,when Titus Claudius was putting the finishing strokes to the greatplan of attack against the Nazarenes, Quintus had made up his mind,that nothing less than the doctrine of that contemned sect couldquench the thirst of his yearning soul. This consciousness had startedinto being suddenly, like a plant which springs up in a night; butthe soil whence it made its way towards the light was--as we alreadyknow--ready long since, up-turned, as it were, by the ploughshareof doubt and dissatisfaction. The germ of his new views of life hadlong been slumbering as a dim craving, a longing, deep but aimless,for some saving certainty; it had needed no more than a fertilizingshower to develop it. Quintus was not disposed to bring a criticalphilosophy to bear on each of the various mysteries of the new faith,which, indeed, were as yet only known to him in part; but he graspedthe kernel of the matter, and the more he investigated it, the deeperhis conviction grew. The grand principle of the brotherly equality ofall men, impressed him as strongly as the simple and yet consolingmetaphysics of Christianity. To a naturally-creative imagination likehis, the doctrine of an universal spirit embracing all time and spacein sempiternal love was intrinsically clear and intelligible. He foundin it the happy half-way term between the bewildering superstitionsof popular belief and the cold abstractions of systematic philosophy.Added to this, was the ineffaceable impression made on his feelings bythe high-souled nature of the wounded slave. The figure of Eurymachusshed a heavenly light on the source, whence he could have derived hisinvincible strength and lofty contempt of suffering and death.
Late the evening before, Quintus had sought out old Thrax, and had toldhim that Eurymachus at last was safe. Then they had all sat togetherfor a long time--Quintus, Thrax, Glauce, Euterpe, and Diphilus--andthe old man had not wearied of talking of the carpenter's Son, of hiswanderings through the land of Palestine, and the agonizing death hehad suffered on the cross to redeem mankind. The impressive story ofthat life and passion, which has touched and stirred so many millionhearts since, had an extraordinary effect on Quintus. And, in fact,Thrax told his story well; the glow of conviction seemed to sparklefrom his eyes. His was not the calm inspiration of Eurymachus--itwas the language of a vehement and excited nature, of a soul full ofsuppressed energy and enthusiasm; not John, who leaned on the bosom ofJesus, but Peter drawing his sword in passionate zeal.
As Barbatus ceased speaking, Quintus started up, threw his arms roundhim, and exclaimed through his tears: "Receive me among you.... I too,am one of you!"
So it was agreed that Quintus Claudius, the son of the Flamen, TitusClaudius Mucianus, should, next day, be baptized in a quarry not farfrom the river Almo.
It was the thought of this privilege, and of the contradictory aspectsof his position, which all through the night had pursued him in athousand different forms, and now, in his father's hall, filled himwith unutterable confusion. He felt that he must for a moment forgetthe abyss that lay between them, and once more hear his father's voicein loving tones, before their parting was an accomplished fact--forever.
The sense of an imperative duty was added to this sentiment. He feltthat, hoping against hope, he must, even at the eleventh hour, tryto weaken his father's position.--The final details of the edict,he knew, were virtually in the Flamen's hands. The Senate had longbeen accustomed to vote for whatever the Emperor wished, without anyalterations, and Titus Claudius spoke in Caesar's name. Domitian, amplysatisfied of his representative's inexorable temper, had not even takenthe trouble to look through the sketch of the edict; the whole tenor ofthe law, in fact, lay in the high-priest's hands.
How gladly would Quintus have poured out his heart to his father,and have told him without reserve all that he held to be true, fair,and good! How willingly would he have gone up to him, and have said:"Caesar's government is groping in darkness; these Christians, whom youare condemning to destruction, are not criminals, but noble, virtuous,high-souled men--as noble, and virtuous, and high-souled as youyourself, father, who persecute them with such vindictive fury."
But such boldness, alas! was out of the question; Quintus knew hisfather too well. He knew, that the rigid convictions of a mind like hiswere impervious to all that was new or strange, that even the logicof facts could only reach him by a long and circuitous route. Hisconvictions had been the slow growth of years of unresting activity,and now they were immovable--a part of his very self. Thus Quintus hadnot the smallest doubt, that Titus Claudius, like a second Brutus,would not spare his own son, if duty and paternal feeling shouldcome into conflict. So it was not his own peril only, which dictatedmoderation and silence, but regard for his father's situation; and henever had felt a more tender reverence for him, than in this terriblehour. He could not speak as an adherent, nor even as a defender ofthe persecuted creed; only as a looker-on from the point of view ofabstract justice. In speech and in silence alike he must betray noimpatience, and seem only to have acquired his more exact knowledge ofthe Christian creed by accident. He could do no more than represent theNazarenes as harmless folks, who neither deserved persecution nor wereworth the trouble.
When he had taken his seat at the table by Lucilia, like a man who hastime before him, he asked, throwing his head back and clasping hishands across his knee:
"Well, father ... and to-day is the last meeting?"
"As you say," replied the high-priest.
"I must confess, that the matter has remained almost unknown to me....I have been so absorbed in study, that I have hardly time to frequentthe baths...."
"You are three-and-twenty, Quintus! When do you propose to take aproper interest in the great concerns of the Empire?"
"Indeed I generally follow them all with eager interest. It is onlythat just lately, at this moment...."
"This is the very moment, when all who are well-affected ought to clingtogether and show their zeal in action."
"It is said, that the decree you propose is excessively severe," saidQuintus after a pause.
"It will answer its purpose."
"And will be issued unmodified?"
"Why should good sound sense be modified?"
"Well ... opinions might differ."
"They might, if the whole body of the Fathers[22] were men of the samestamp as that Cornelius Cinna ... then sound sense would indeed be indanger!"
"Cornelius Cinna is a man of keen judgment...."
"I quite understand, that you should talk the language of the uncleof your betrothed; but, as I know him, he is devoid of all capacityfor statesmanship. Now in this matter of the Nazarenes he has amply
betrayed his want of judgment--I will call it so, since I should beloth to suppose that his opposition arises from mere personal aversion."
"What?" cried Quintus astonished. "Cornelius Cinna takes the part ofthe Nazarenes?"
"No, he does not take their part, but he does not regard them asdangerous. He laughs at them as visionaries and fools, who are nomore to be held as reprobate, than the worshippers of Isis, or anyother oriental sect. Mockery, contempt, are the only weapons worthyof a thinking man. When I pointed out to him, that the creed of theNazarenes was undermining the religion of the state in a way which noother superstition had done, he dared to utter these audacious words:'If your Olympus cannot take care of itself, it may crumble into dust.'"
"The words, I admit, sound audacious enough," replied Quintus, lookinghis father in the face; "but they cover a truth nevertheless, which, itseems to me, cannot fail to be self-evident to the priest of Jupiter."
"You think so? I can only tell you, that I see nothing of the sort.The rabble crowd of superstitious cannot, to be sure, destroy almightyJupiter himself, but it can upset the belief in his divine rule. Wemay be deprived of our discernment of the truth, if a lie becomesparamount."
"Why then do you not resist the belief in Isis?"
"Because the religion of Isis has never dared to interfere in anyway with that of the state. Besides, Isis is Juno; the name makes nodifference. The symbol may vary--the essence remains untouched. Youknow, that even in my own house I have suffered Baucis...."
"Oh! merciful Isis!" cried the old woman in alarm, "am I too tobe dragged under the dreadful law? Why, how often have I been toBarbillus? Four, or at most five times--or six or seven...."
"Hold your tongue, and leave us together," cried the priest angrily."She is getting silly," he added, as Baucis vanished among the columns.
"She is growing deaf," said Claudia in excuse. "Since our return fromBaiae, I have had more to put up with every day."
"You see I can be patient," Titus Claudius went on, addressing his son."But in this instance we must take up arms against the attacks of adangerous foe. The Nazarenes are working underground, day and night,like moles. Their passion for converts amounts to insanity; they aresystematically undermining the state and society. I am determined toput a stop to these attacks. If we do not put our veto on them in time,we shall have a common porter on the throne of the Caesars, and allthat wear the purple will be put to the sword. Some slave, whose soleemployment till now has been to drag dead beasts to be buried, or carryplague-stricken wretches through the streets, will be sacrificing inthe Roman Capitol as high-priest to the Nazarene! I know it all fullwell; there are unmistakable signs in the air. This, my dear Quintus,by the help of the gods, is what we must oppose, and I shall availmyself of the aid of all the terrors of the law. This very day it willbe proclaimed to all men, that leniency is at an end: henceforth thepunishment for the crime of belonging to the Nazarenes is death by wildbeasts in the Arena."
The blood faded from the young man's face; his heart stood still. Hecould not utter a word.
"What is the matter with you?" asked Titus Claudius startled. "You arepale ... trembling...."
"It is nothing," Quintus said with an effort. "I was only horrified atthe severity of the measure. What? The disgraceful death of the vilestcriminals ... hideous butchery for the amusement of the mob...? Father,impossible!"
"It is necessary," replied the Flamen.
"I do not understand you. Is it necessary to punish with death acrime--which to me seems an error indeed, but a pardonable, a noble, asublime error...? Father, you do not know these persecuted people; youhave never studied their doctrine; you cannot imagine how completelyyou are entangled in delusions about them. The Nazarenes are notrebels; they are quiet, duteous folk, who ask but one thing: to beallowed to worship their God. Their Master himself taught them: 'Torender unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's.'"
"Only a partisan of the sect could have poured such lies into yourear...."
"I was, by accident, witness to a discussion," Quintus stammered out."And I will pledge my life and honor as to the truth of what I havesaid!"
"The truth!" laughed his father. "For the truth of your own view of thematter at most. By the gods, but I really do not understand how my son,of all men, should have come to be a defender of this accursed sect!However, be it so! I leave you the free exercise of your judgment; thecourse of events will soon rectify it. Meanwhile, you will perhapsallow me to carry out the line of action, which I have cautiouslyweighed with solemn appeals to my conscience."
"Then you want to conjure the age of Nero from the grave?"
"Yes, my son. The age of Nero was not so bad, though the unbridledCaesar himself committed many crimes. His fight against the Nazareneswipes out all scores."
"Then you can praise him for having wrapped Nazarenes in tow and rosin,and set fire to it?"
"Those are mere foolish tales, invented by contemptible writers, whowere at a loss for color in their pictures."
"What? Things that all the world knows, a fable!"
"As you say."
The blood mounted to the young man's brow.
"Then perhaps you will say it is a fable, that Domitian--a secondNero--has killed his mistress by a kick?"
"Who says so?" cried Titus Claudius starting up.
"All Rome. You only, Father, seem to be ignorant of what has filledthousands with horror."
"You heard it from Cinna."
Quintus shrugged his shoulders.
"Be easy," the priest went on; "I have it from Parthenius, that Juliadied of her long illness."
"Parthenius!" laughed Quintus scornfully.
"I am not justified in doubting his assertion, particularly in thisinstance, when it is in contradiction to such an impossible calumny.I myself have been intimate with Caesar long enough to know his calmnature, his equanimity, and self-command."
"Yes, when he speaks to you; but every one knows that he wears a maskin your presence. You are, in fact, the only man in Rome, who cancommand his respect."
"I should be a fool indeed to believe such a thing. I know fullwell, that hatred and calumny never sleep. The higher their prey,the more virulent is their attack. Beware, my son, of propagatingsuch disgraceful reports; do not break the law which threatens thedetractors of the sovereign with heavy punishment."
"Then, to be a worthy citizen, I must choke the truth?"
"Not the truth--only lies. The weeds have been allowed to grow toolong, and now we must mow down the crop, which threatens to choke thegood seed! Here comes the boy to tell us the time. In an hour theSenate meets. Let us enjoy the interval without vexing each other."
"Then you persist in extreme measures? Every one who confesses theNazarene must die?"
"Without reprieve, be he slave or senator."
Quintus was fighting an agonizing battle; his lips trembled, alreadyparted to cry in despair to the inexorable judge: "Father, you arecondemning your son to death...!" but he controlled himself in time. Herose.
"Farewell," he said in a low voice, and he held out both hands tohis father. "I am very busy," he added in a steady voice. "Importantbusiness--you need not laugh, Lucilia--requires my return. Father, whenit is your turn to speak in the Senate, remember your son--perhaps thethought may soften your heart; the Christians, too, whom you doom todeath, are fathers ... sons...."
He rushed away. He was on the verge of tears, but he set his teeth andclenched his fist.
"Oh! misery, misery!" he said to himself. "Father! Father! who couldhave foreseen this severance when I, as a boy, sat at your feet? Nay,quite lately, when you spoke to me so gravely!--How happy, how gay theyall were; and he, so calm in the sense of doing his duty! If he onlyknew--it would kill him!"
He hurried through the atrium, almost beside himself; Blepyrus, towhom he had only yesterday granted his pardon, was waiting there withothers of his clients and slaves.
His family looked after him in silence. Octavia was the first to speak.
r /> "It is strange," she said thoughtfully, "by all the gods, strange! Whatcan have come over him? He always held the populace in such contempt."
"It is impossible to count upon him," said Lucilia. "But this time, itseems to me, he is carrying his whim too far."
"You are wrong," said her father sternly. "It was no whim that spokein that mood of excitement, it was genuine enthusiasm. I have observedin him for some time, that this frame of mind has been growing toa height. It is the sacred fire of pity, which burns within him, anoble sentiment which discerns the man even in the criminal. He cannotcomprehend, that the State must ignore all such sentiment, if thecommonwealth is not to suffer. His impulse is a foolish one, but I lovehim for it; and many a Roman maiden who, with thumbs turned down,[23]helps in condemning the stricken gladiator to the death-blow, mightenvy him his nobler soul!"
The high-priest rose and walked two or three times up and down, pastthe fountain where the sparkling water now gleamed in the rising sun.
"It is time to go," he said, standing still in front of his wife."What a pity! It is a glorious morning, and I feel as if I had neverso thoroughly enjoyed the rest and peacefulness of this peristyle.Perhaps it is only by contrast with the storms outside, that toss thevessel of state.... The sitting will be a long one, if only on Cinna'saccount, who never will refrain from words, even when the struggle isa hopeless one. I shall be thankful if it is all over by supper-time.And--did I tell you?--Sextus Furius is to be our guest."
Claudia colored.
"He is welcome," Octavia said.
"Oh! that odious man with a long-pointed nose!" cried Lucilia. "It ishorrible always to have none but such weak-kneed old men at table withus."
Titus Claudius was accustomed to allow considerable license to hisadopted daughter's audacity, but such broadly-expressed contempt wasbeyond all permissible measure.
"Lucilia!" he exclaimed almost angrily. "You sometimes allow yourselfjests, which seem to me positively silly. Remember--do you hearme?--many follies, which we forgive in a child, sound shocking whenuttered by the lips of a young woman. How dare you make any guests ofmine the subject of your mockery? Sextus Furius is an honorable man,wise, experienced, and worthy of all respect. If his outward man is notaltogether that of the fine gentlemen, who swarm and buzz from morningtill night round the dressing-chairs and litters[24] of fine ladies, inmy eyes, at least, that is to his advantage."
"My dear, good, little father," said the criminal, "do not take athoughtless speech so seriously; I cannot bear to hear you speak to meso ungraciously--and your eyes are not so kind and sweet as usual, andhere on your forehead--just here--there is an ugly line that makes youlook so much older...."
She threw her round, rosy arms round his neck, and stroked his cheeklovingly.
"Come, be kind again to your little girl--and I will declare that yourlong-nosed--oh! I forgot--your excellent friend, Sextus Furius, isdelightful." Titus Claudius gently released himself; he could not helpsmiling.
"It is impossible to scold you, you little imp," he said shaking hishead. "I am afraid I spoil you."
And he once more glanced up at the blue sky, as though he grudgedhaving to exchange the airy peristyle for the senate-house. Then,waving them a farewell, he went off to his own rooms.
"But he is a perfect horror, all the same," Lucilia repeated, when herfather was out of hearing. "I can tell you, Mother dear, I could notkiss him for a thousand millions, much less marry him! And is thislong-nosed, weak-kneed creature to be the husband of our Claudia?"
"Silence, silly child," said Octavia with affected severity. "Yourfather's will is our law. He has his own reasons for whatever hedecides on."
"You are only making believe," said Lucilia. "You know you like him nobetter than I do, and you, too, grieve over the odious fancy...."
"Lucilia!"
"Well ... is one to bite one's tongue out simply from respect ofpersons? My father often has fancies. What should Claudia have to dowith that wooden simpleton? And he is as cowardly as a whimperingwoman! Cornelia told me so--she heard it from her uncle."
"It is not every one, that has the headstrong spirit of Cinna."
"A Scythian, who simply cut down all before him, his wife into thebargain, rather than a milksop, that you can knock down with a feather!"
"You know nothing about it, child. But where is Claudia? Why has sheleft us?"
"She has gone to her own room, I daresay, to cry there. Sinceyesterday, when my father told her of his determination, she haspractised such complete self-control, that her grief must have its wayat last."
But Lucilia was mistaken. Claudia had followed her father, and wentinto his room close on his heels.
"What do you want?" he asked in surprise, seeing his daughter standbefore him, pale, calm, and stately.
"I have a confession to make to you, which has been on my lips eversince yesterday."
"Well?" said the high-priest, hardly attending.
"Send away the servants."
"Child, I have no time now for any discussions; in twenty minutes...."
"I will not detain you." The Flamen signed to the slaves, whodisappeared with an enquiring glance at the young girl's unusuallyserious face and manner.
"Now--what have you to say?" he asked, when they were alone.
"Father," said Claudia in a low, but resolute tone, "I cannot marrySextus Furius."
"Folly!"
"It is not folly--it is as I say."
"Indeed! and why not?"
"Because I do not care for him."
"An excellent reason! Why, you hardly know him; try first to understandhis worth."
"I solemnly assure you it is quite in vain. My heart is given away--Ilove Caius Aurelius Menapius."
"What!" cried the priest sternly. "A provincial, a man of no birth orfamily!"
"He is a Roman knight."
"A knight--and who is not a knight now-a-days? A man is a knight, ifhe is anything but a laborer or a slave. Besides, is not his motherdescended from some barbarian tribe?"
"From the tribe, that could conquer Varus."
"So much the worse. It grieves me to have to tell you, that I willnever submit to such a vagary."
"But let me ask you one thing: do you not esteem Caius Aurelius?"
"You know I do. From the first I have thought most highly of him. But,by Jupiter! To regard him as my guest is one thing--as a suitor for mydaughter's hand is quite another!"
"Father, if you part me from Caius Aurelius, I shall never be happyagain. He has my promise."
Her tone, and, yet more, the sparkle in her eyes betrayed such settleddetermination, that the high-priest was staggered. The thoughtflashed upon him that, after all, not everything in the world couldbe calculated by the inexorable laws of logic; the possibility ofClaudia's choosing for herself he had never taken into consideration.And now this possibility--nay, actuality--stood before him sopressingly, in the form of a pair of tearful, suppliant eyes, that heat once lost his grasp of the situation. As for Claudia herself, herforced calmness was fast giving way before the storm of excitement,which shook every fibre of her slender frame.
"Claudia, my darling," stammered the Flamen, clasping his child in hisarms, "you are trembling and tearful; but come, come, be reasonable.There, lay your head on my shoulder, and tell me, calmly and withouttears, what is troubling your heart? I am your father, my child, andnot a tyrant. Do you hear, my Claudia?"
She looked up like a flower after a thunder-shower--a radiance of agrateful smile lighted up her features.
"You are so good!" she said, tenderly. "Forgive me, if I cannot helpcausing you trouble."
"Speak, my child; tell me everything. But, no; for the present leaveme. You are agitated, and time presses. We will talk it all over--thisvery evening.--Just now I have not leisure--I belong to my country.Meanwhile I must ask you one thing: do not be too abrupt with SextusFurius. Promise me that, dear Claudia."
"With all my heart."
She kissed her father eager
ly and left the room.
"No," said the priest half-aloud, "she must not and shall not beunhappy. I never before saw her like this; that anguish came fromthe bottom of her heart. I know her; I understand her! The dignityof my name! Yes, it is dear to me, and sacred as a gift bestowed bythe gods--but at that price! Never. My heart swelled as she clung tome, crying in my arms. And yet what a joy to me, in spite of sorrow!Ah, my children! how you have grown to be part of my very soul! Everylife-throb of my heart is doubled by your lives! I thank Thee,all-merciful giver, for so precious a blessing--every cloud of incense,that rises from thine altar, wafts up my fervent thanks to thy throne!"
For a few minutes he stood absorbed in thought; then he called hisslaves to dress him.
A quarter of an hour later Titus Claudius was at the temple of JupiterCapitolinus, where the Senate was to sit.
Almost all the Fathers had met on this occasion. Here sat Nerva, anoble and reverend figure, mild, but majestic as Jove; there, bendingover his rolled book and writing tablets, sat Cornelius Cinna, thechief opponent of the proposed law; there again sat Sextus Furius, shyand hesitating, but in earnest discussion with his neighbor, evidentlyendeavoring to display a feverish anxiety that the new decree shouldbe passed. On every side were snow-white togas, grave and dignifiedfaces, a strangely-excited air of suspense. The scribes--the writersof protocols--sat at tables prepared to write, while at the entrancesstood the lictors[25] with their axes and fasces.
The presiding magistrate--on this occasion a praetor, no doubt becausethe consul, Titus Flavius Clemens, was suspected of secretly favoringthe Nazarenes, or even of having joined the sect--pronounced thesitting opened.[26] He briefly set forth the occasion of the presentmeeting, and explained to the assembled worthies the main features ofthe edict, as drawn up by Titus Claudius.
When these preliminary statements--known as the _relatio_,[27] hadbeen got through, the collecting of votes began with the usual formulaaddressed to each senator: "_Quid censes?_"--"What thinkest thou?"
As almost every member present declared his assent without hesitation,and some with servile cordiality, in hardly more than a quarter of anhour it came to Cinna's turn to express his opinion.
He rose slowly. His by no means remarkable stature seemed to grow fromthe sheer calm dignity of the man. His eye glanced contemptuouslyround at the assembled multitude and rested, at length, on the graveface of Titus Claudius Mucianus. Then, in clear and audible tones,he began to contest the proposed measure which, in his opinion, wasunworthy of the Roman name. It was a brilliant and memorable effort ofpolitical eloquence. At the same time his discourse was not framed onthe ordinary models in any respect, it was not with the arid wisdom ofa statesman that he spoke--no, it was the biting lash of the satiristthat he wielded--the fiery invective of epigram, that gave glow to hiswords. There was not a province of human knowledge so recondite, thathis subtle mind had not drawn upon it for drastic similes and ironicalcomparisons.
"Will you nail flies to the cross," he exclaimed in a voice of thunder,"erect cranes and levers, to lift a straw over a wall? Send me ahundred cohorts to my country-house; a mole-hill has been discoveredthere! Give me shears and scythes and a couple of wagons; I want tocut a rose-bud at Praestum! Reef the sails, captain, the fair Lycorisis about to sneeze! You are really inimitable, you stern guardians ofmorals and most sapient defenders of the immaculateness of the State!Punish the sparrows, if you please; one of those traitorous villainsbut just now soiled my cloak. Away with the wretch to the field ofblood! If you do not at once take steps, the Senate and the whole Romanpeople will be buried alive by cock-sparrows."
After thus gibbeting the measure as absolutely superfluous, petty andridiculous, from the point of view of any cultivated and philosophicalmind, he followed up his statement to its logical issues.
"This decree," he cried, turning towards Titus Claudius, "condemns theNazarenes, because they regard the gods of the populace as unreal--asmere idols of the fancy. Well! And is it the right or the duty ofthe State, to take under its control any such matters of personalconviction? Where would you draw the line, ye assembled Fathers? Doyou not perceive, that you are throwing away the last fragments ofour liberties, if you assent to this law? What? You will kill theNazarenes? Then you are equally bound to crush all, who refuse toacknowledge the love passages of Mars and Rhea Silvia as facts! Andagain I say, where do you draw the line? How far does the duty ofa staunch citizen extend? Must an Athenian, for instance, give dueguarantee, that he accepts the historical reality of Leda's eggs? Is herequired to believe in Danae's golden shower, in Sisyphus[28] and histormenting labor with the marble mass that forever rolls downwards?Nay, noble Fathers! Nothing like this has ever yet been heard of inRome. Never yet has the State ventured to put forward any article offaith as a test and standard, and require every Roman citizen to bepersuaded of its truth or lose his rights and privileges. What is themeaning of our old, beautiful and truly Latin word '_religio_?'[29]Nothing more than the holy dread, the heartfelt reverence of man beforea higher power; but what that higher something may be, it containsno indication. It is left to each individual, to conceive of an ideawhich may satisfy his own soul and intellect. The measure now beforeyou will drag this religion from the depths of men's souls into thepublic street, as it were, in defiance of the original deep-felt senseof the word, and of the spirit of our traditions and customs; it willcreate a State-religion, and condemn every man's opinions to wear atleast the same livery. Assembled Fathers! Such a decree as this meansossification--spiritual ossification--of the age we live in, and forthis, if for no other reason, it should be thrown out!"
He paused; a dull, uneasy silence filled the room. The senators sat inconsternation at the unheard-of audacity of the man, who could dare todefy Caesar's omnipotence with such disinterested liberality.
"He is uttering his own death-warrant," whispered Sextus Furius.Gradually a low murmur arose and swelled by degrees.
"Have you done?" asked the President, seeing that Cornelius Cinna gaveno sign of resuming his seat.
"Allow me a few words more," replied Cinna. "Do not be afraid, thatmy intention is merely to postpone your decision by digressions.[30]I only want to touch on one other point, which has perhaps escapedthe notice of the noble Fathers. This law, which in accordance withmy every conviction I feel bound to oppose, not only threatens tocripple the public mind; it will destroy all the peace and happinessof family life. Tale-telling and dishonorable espionage, to a verygrave extent, will be the inevitable out-come--and of these, as it is,Rome needs no increase! A law, which offers a prize, as it were, tothe informer--such a law, I say, is death to the morality and mutualconfidence of the people. I have warned you! Do not calmly lend a handin forging a weapon, which threatens thousands of peaceful citizenswith death. Can you foresee, that no conditions will arise to turnits point, even against yourselves? You are masters of the cast onlyso long as the spear is in your own hands. Assembled Fathers, I amconvinced that you will unanimously reject this measure which, on onehand, is superfluous and undignified, and, on the other, to the lastdegree dangerous--reject it, I say, to the honor and glory of the nameof Rome!"
The impression made by this speech--which derived from the dignifiedpresence, the sonorous voice and the impressive manner of the speakeran importance far beyond the mere meaning of the words--was soprofound, that it fanned into brief flame the few sparks of the oldRoman spirit, which still lurked here and there in the assembly. Shoutsof approbation were audible on both sides. For a moment the gravefeatures of Titus Claudius wore an expression of anxiety. But the criesof assent were few and scattered. On any other occasion Cornelius Cinnawould have triumphed, but now only one voice could gain a hearing--thevoice of fear. The effect of its eloquence was visible as the nextnames were called; the members announced, not without hesitation, thatthere was much in Cinna's discourse which was amply justified, butthat they must nevertheless cast their votes in favor of the decree,particularly as they felt assured that Titus Claudius, th
e realoriginator of the measure, would only have acted on a perfect knowledgeof the state of affairs, and after the maturest deliberation. Andindeed, the motives which the Flamen had assigned on former occasions,had by no means been nullified by Cornelius Cinna.
When four or five speakers had expressed themselves to this effect,in feeble and colorless language, it was the turn of Titus ClaudiusMucianus himself. He rose with the lofty indifference of a man, who nolonger has a doubt of the triumph of his cause. He abstained, almosttoo evidently, from all rhetorical effects. In a cold and strictlybusiness-like address he recapitulated the points from which thegovernment viewed the measure. Cornelius Cinna, he said, was entirelywrong, if he thought that its object was to fetter liberty of thoughtand belief. The whole matter bore a simply political aspect in the eyesof the government. He thanked the eloquent speaker, who had thrown somuch light on the subject from the other side; such a dissertationalways tended to enlightenment. At the same time, he hoped that theassembled Fathers would allow themselves to be guided rather by theforce of solid argument, than by the dazzling light of a brilliantoratorical display. Then, step by step, he proceeded to demolishCinna's assertions, and it was with special emphasis, that he combattedthe idea that the new law would conduce to espionage and informing; themeasure--as the most superficial glance could detect--contained nothingto arouse suspicion on that score. Cornelius Cinna had altogethermisunderstood its tendency. The speaker ended with a short but strikingpicture of the danger to society, which it was proposed to guardagainst, and appealed to the assembled Fathers, in the words of the oldRoman text of warning: "Be on your guard, lest the Fatherland shouldsuffer!"[31]
A thunder of applause filled the temple. The remaining senatorsrenounced all expression of opinion, and the praetor proceeded tocollect the votes by a show of hands.[32] The measure was passedagainst a minority of six. The exhausted senators rose and made theirway homewards--only just in time for the usual supper-hour.
Quintus Claudius supped late and alone. He had spent the whole dayin solitude in his room; gloomy and anxious forebodings tortured hissoul. He eat but little, and then again withdrew--not even Blepyrus wasadmitted to his apartments. At about the beginning of the second vigil,Quintus threw on his toga and went out slowly into the moonless night.After a long walk he reached the coppice on the bank of the Almo,where Euterpe and Diphilus were waiting for him. An hour later the deedwas done. Quintus was baptized by the eldest member of the congregationof Nazarenes.
It was nearly midnight, when he took his way homewards. The endlessAppian Way was silent as he turned into it, and silent too was the busycity. It was not till he reached the Flavian amphitheatre, that he metany stir of life. There, standing by the fountain of the Meta Sudans,was a group of men, talking eagerly. They were discussing the event ofthe day--the edict just published against the Christians.
"There will be heaps and heaps of arena fights," cried one; "the Suburaswarms with Nazarenes."
"Let them have it!" said another. "The last wild-beast fight was themost wretched affair; and when I sit there, in my newly-bleachedtoga,[33] blood is what I want!"
"Merciful Lord Jesus Christ!" murmured Quintus. "From this hour my onlyGod! To Thy keeping I commend my life. And ah! protect him--that dearfather, who never dreams how fearful is the darkness that shrouds hissight. Preserve him--my dear, dear father; and forgive him, O God--himand his fellows--for they know not what they do."
FOOTNOTES:
[20] GARUM. A delicacy similar to our caviare, prepared from the entrails of sea-fish.
[21] MILK COOLED WITH ICE. In well-to-do families, the drinks, etc. during the warm season of the year, were cooled by snow or ice. See Mart. _Ep._ XII, 17 ("Caecubum cooled with snow-water") XIV, 103, 104, etc.
[22] FATHERS. This nearly corresponds with the Latin _patres conscripti_, as the senators were called.
[23] WITH THUMBS TURNED DOWN. These words, with very little variation, are found in a satire by Juvenal. Turning down the thumbs by the audience was a sign, that mercy was refused the conquered gladiator.
[24] DRESSING-CHAIRS AND LITTERS (_cathedrae_). High-backed chairs with arms and a stool for the feet. The fashionable Roman dames performed the duties of the toilet in these _cathedrae_.
[25] LICTOR. A public officer, who attended on the higher magistrates, and who preceded them bearing the fasces, the bundle of rods with an axe.
[26] PRONOUNCED THE SITTING OPENED. The following description of a session of the Senate corresponds precisely, in its main features, with the accounts handed down to us by the ancient authors.
[27] RELATIO. The name, as is evident, given to the discourse concerning the cause and purpose of the session.
[28] LEDA. DANAE. SISYPHUS. Familiar forms of the Hellenic myths. Leda was the daughter of Thestius and the wife of Tyndareus. Zeus approached her in the guise of a swan. Danae, conquered by Zeus in the shape of a shower of golden rain, gave birth to Perseus. Sisyphus, son of Eolus and Enarete, king of Ephyra, (Corinth) was compelled in the nether-world, as a punishment for his crimes, to roll the oft-mentioned mass of stone up-hill.
[29] TRULY LATIN WORD RELIGIO. The etymology of the word _religio_ really corresponds with the interpretation here given by Cinna.
[30] POSTPONE YOUR DECISION BY DIGRESSIONS. This was called; _dicendo diem eximere_; for no valid decree could be made after sunset.
[31] BE ON YOUR GUARD, LEST THE FATHERLAND SHOULD SUFFER. A variation of the familiar formula: _videant consules ne quid res publica detrimenti capiat_.
[32] COLLECT THE VOTES BY A SHOW OF HANDS. See Tac. _Hist._ IV, 4, and Sen. _Ep._ VIII, 6.
[33] NEWLY-BLEACHED TOGA. The fullers (_fullones_) played an important part in ancient Rome. When togas became soiled and unsightly, they were given to the _fullo_ to be washed, smoothed, and renovated. At the festivals, even the most insignificant man appeared, so far as his circumstances would permit, in gala dress.