Aurelian; or, Rome in the Third Century
Saying which, he withdrew into his inner apartment, and I sought again
the presence of Livia.
LETTER XI.
FROM PISO TO FAUSTA.
A day has passed, Fausta, since the hearing of Probus, and I hasten to
inform you of its events.
But, first of all, before I enter upon the dark chapter of our
calamities, let me cheer you and myself by dwelling a moment upon one
bright and sunny spot. Early in the day we were informed that Isaac was
desirous to see us. He was at once admitted. As he entered, it was easy
to see that some great good fortune had befallen him. His face shone
through the effect of some inward joy, and his eyes sparkled in their
deep sockets like burning tapers. When our customary salutations and
inquiries were over, Julia said to him,
'I think, Isaac, you must have sold a jewel this morning to no less a
person than Aurelian, if the face may be held as an index of good or
evil fortune.'
'I have parted with no jewel, lady,' he replied, 'but there has fallen
into my hands a diamond of inestimable value, drawn from those mines of
the Orient, which I may say, not all the wealth of Aurelian could
purchase of me. Whenever I shall receive such permission, it will give
me highest delight to show it to thee.'
'Only a single jewel, Isaac?' said Julia. 'Is it but one stone that so
transports thee, and makes thy face that of a young man?'
'Lady, to confess the truth, there are four--four living stories and
precious--more precious than any that of old blazed upon the breastplate
of our high-priest Princess, I have come to tell thee and Piso what none
in Rome besides, as I think, would care to know--and strange it is that
you Christians should be those whom I, a Jew, most love, and that I, an
old and worn-out man, should fill any space, were it no bigger than a
grain of wheat, in your regards--I have come to tell you what you have
already discovered, that Hagar is arrived with the young Ishmael, and
with them two dark-eyed daughters of Israel, who are as welcome as the
others. There is not now, Piso, within the walls of Rome a dwelling
happier than mine. Soon as leisure and inclination shall serve, come, if
you will do us such grace, to the street Janus, and behold our
contentment. Sorry am I that the times come laden to you with so many
terrors. Piso,' continued he, in a more earnest tone, and bending toward
me, 'rely upon the word of one who is rarely deceived, and who now tells
thee, there is a sword hanging over thy head! Fronto thirsts for thy
life, and thine, lady! and Aurelian, much as he may love you, is, as we
have already seen, not proof against the violent zeal of the priest.
Come to the street Janus, and I will warrant you safety and life. There
is none for you here--nor in Rome--if Aurelian's hounds can scent you.'
We were again obliged to state, with all the force we could give to
them, the reasons which bound us to remain, not only in Rome, but in our
own dwelling, and await whatever the times might bring forth. He was
again slow to be convinced, so earnestly does he desire our safety. But
at length he was persuaded that he himself would take the same course
were he called upon to defend the religion of his fathers. He then
departed, having first exacted a promise that we would soon see his new
family.
Soon as Isaac was gone I sought the streets.
Rome, Fausta, has put on the appearance of the Saturnalia. Although no
license of destruction has yet been publicly given, the whole city is in
commotion--the lower orders noisy and turbulent, as if they had already
received their commission of death. Efforts have been made, both on the
part of the senate and that of the nobles who are not of that body,
joined by many of all classes, to arrest the Emperor in his murderous
career, but in vain. Not the Seven Hills are more firmly rooted in the
earth, than he in his purposes of blood. This is well known abroad; and
the people are the more emboldened in the course they take. They know
well that Aurelian is supreme and omnipotent; that no power in Rome can
come in between him and his object, whatever it may be; and that they,
therefore, though they should err through their haste, and in their zeal
even go before the edicts, would find in him a lenient judge. No
Christian was accordingly to be now seen in the streets--for nowhere
were they safe from the ferocious language, or even the violent
assaults, of the mob. These cruel executioners I found all along,
wherever I moved, standing about in groups as if impatiently awaiting
the hour of noon, or else gathered about the dwellings of well-known
Christians, assailing the buildings with stones, and the ears of their
pent-up inhabitants with all that variety of imprecation they so well
know how to use. It was almost with sensations of guilt that I walked
the streets of Rome in safety, bearing a sort of charmed life, while
these thousands of my friends were already suffering more through their
horrible anticipation, than they would when they should come to endure
the reality. But, although I passed along uninjured by actual assault,
the tongue was freely let loose upon me, and promises were abundantly
lavished that, before many days were gone, not even the name of Piso,
nor the favor of Aurelian, should save me from the common doom.
As the hour of noon drew nigh, it seemed as if the entire population of
Rome was pouring itself into the streets and avenues leading to the
capitol. Not the triumph of Aurelian itself filled this people with a
more absorbing, and, as it appeared, a more pleasing interest, than did
the approaching calamities of the Christians. Expectation was written on
every face. Even the boys threw up their caps as in anticipation of
somewhat that was to add greatly to their happiness.
* * * * *
The sixth hour has come and is gone. The edicts are published, and the
Christians are now declared enemies of the state and of the gods, and
are required to be informed against by all good citizens, and arraigned
before the Prefect and the other magistrates especially appointed for
the purpose.
* * * * *
All is now confusion, uproar, and cruel violence.
* * * * *
No sooner was the purport of the edicts ascertained by the multitudes
who on this occasion, as before, thronged the capitol, than they
scattered in pursuit of their victims. The priests of the temples
heading the furious crowds, they hastened from the hill in every
direction, assailing, as they reached them, the houses of the
Christians, and dragging the wretched inhabitants to the presence of
their barbarous judges. Although in the present edicts the people are
not let loose as authorized murderers upon the Christians, they are
nevertheless exhorted and required to inform against them and bring them
before the proper tribunals on the charge of Christianity, so that there
is lodged in their hands a fearful power to harrass and injure--a power
which is used as you may suppose Romans would use it. Every species of
violence has this day been put in practice upon this innocent people;
their perpetrators feeling sure that, in the confusion, deeds at which
even Varus or Aurelian might take offence will be overlooked. The
tribunals have been thronged from noon till night with Christians and
their accusers. As the examination of those who have been brought up has
rarely occupied but a few moments, the evidence always being
sufficiently full to prove them Christians, and, when that has been
wanting, their own ready confession supplying the defect--the prisons
are already filling with their unhappy tenants, and extensive provisions
are making to receive them in other buildings set apart for the time to
this office. A needless provision. For it requires but little knowledge
of Aurelian to know that his impatient temper will not long endure the
tedious process of a regular accusation, trial, condemnation, and
punishment. A year, in that case, would scarce suffice to make way with
the Christians of Rome. Long before the prisons can be emptied in a
legal way of the tenants already crowding them, will the Emperor resort
to the speedier method of a general and indiscriminate massacre. No one
can doubt this, who is familiar as I am with Aurelian, and the spirits
who now rule him.
* * * * *
Let me tell you now of the fate of Probus.
He was seated within his own quiet home at the time the edicts were
proclaimed from the steps of the capitol. The moment the herald who
proclaimed them had pronounced the last word, and was affixing them to
the column, the name of Probus was heard shouted from one side of the
hill to the other, and, while the multitude scattered in every direction
in pursuit of those who were known to them severally as Christians, a
large division of it made on the instant for his dwelling. On arriving
there, roused by the noise of the approaching throng, Probus came forth.
He was saluted by cries and yells, that seemed rather to proceed from
troops of wild beasts than men. He would fain have spoken to them, but
no word would they hear. 'Away with the Christian dog to the Prefect!'
arose in one deafening shout from the people; and on the instant he was
seized and bound, and led unresisting away to the tribunal of Varus.
As he was dragged violently along, and was now passing the door which
leads to the room where Varus sits, Felix, the bishop, having already
stood before the Prefect, was leaving the hall, urged along by soldiers
who were bearing him to prison.
'Be of good cheer, Probus!' exclaimed he; 'a crown awaits thee within.
Rome needs thy life, and Christ thy soul.'
'Peace, dotard!' cried one of those who guarded and led him; and at the
same moment brought his spear with such force upon his head that he
felled him to the pavement.
'Thou hast slain thyself, soldier, by that blow rather than him,' said
Probus. 'Thine own faith has torments in reserve for such as thee.'
'Thou too!' cried the enraged soldier; and he would have repeated the
blow upon the head of the offender, but that the descending weapon was
suddenly struck upwards, and out of the hand of him who wielded it, by
another belonging to the same legion, who guarded Probus, saying as he
did so,
'Hold, Mutius! it is not Roman to strike the bound and defenceless,
Christians though they be. Raise that fallen old man, and apply such
restoratives as the place affords.' And then, with other directions to
those who were subordinate to him, he moved on, bearing Probus with him.
Others who had arrived before him, were standing in the presence of
Varus, who was questioning them as to their faith in Christ. On the left
hand of the Prefect, and on the right of those who were examined, stood
a small altar surmounted by a statue of Jupiter, to which the Christians
were required to sacrifice. But few words sufficed for the examination
of such as were brought up. Upon being inquired of touching their faith,
there was no waiting for witnesses, but as soon as the question was put,
the arraigned person acknowledged at once his name and religion. He was
then required to sacrifice and renounce his faith, and forthwith he
should be dismissed in safety, and with honor. This the Christian
refusing steadfastly to do, sentence of death was instantly pronounced
against him, and he was remanded to the prisons to await the time of
punishment.
Probus was now placed before the Prefect. When it was seen throughout
the crowd which again filled the house, who it was that was arraigned
for examination, there were visible signs of satisfaction all around,
that he, who was in a manner the ringleader of the sect, was about to