"Would that we could warn our Christian friends not to trust him! They might influence a few; but I fear that the mult.i.tude would rather confide in one who will ever be ready to pander to their tastes than in those who have their true interest at heart," answered Severus. "We must use every effort, however; and Amulius and other faithful friends will, I trust, not be deceived."
Then came further news from Byzantium. The emperor, although not baptised, had given undoubted proof of his desire to be considered a Christian. He had held conferences with Christian bishops and presbyters, and had issued decrees bestowing rank and dignity on numerous bishops. It was said that he intended dividing the empire into four ecclesiastical departments, after the model of the several civil divisions. Thus there were to be four prefectures, containing thirteen dioceses, which embraced one hundred and sixteen provinces. Over these ecclesiastical officers were to preside, bearing the t.i.tles of patriarchs, metropolitans or archbishops, and simple bishops,--dignified t.i.tles. .h.i.therto unknown in the Christian Church! One chief object of the emperor in thus bestowing rank and wealth on the Christian ministers was to obtain their a.s.sistance in governing the State by means of the religious sentiment or superst.i.tion of the people. The Christians had hitherto been the most docile and loyal of his subjects, as their faith inculcated implicit obedience to magistrates and all established authorities. His successors were to find that the semi-paganism which he had established under the name of Christianity had no such effect on the minds of their subjects, and that they were as ready to take up arms and resort to force whenever their pa.s.sions were aroused as the heathens had been.
These, and other events of a similar character, confirmed Severus in his resolution to quit the country.
At length the day he was free to depart arrived. Amulius had made all the necessary preparation. Three "petorritas"--the ordinary carriages at that time in use--drawn by mules, arrived at a convenient spot near the entrance to the galleries. Two litters also came--their occupants remaining concealed within. Amulius and several friends, who had come to bid Severus and his family farewell, stepped out of the petorritas.
Garments and several necessary articles had been purchased by Amulius for the use of the family, and these were already packed in the carriages. The faithful Rufina was to return to her master, but remained to the last with those whom she had so essentially served.
Severus led forth his wife, and Jovinian followed with Julia.
They were about to enter one of the carriages, when Amulius remarked, "We have brought two other travellers who are desirous of accompanying you." Ongoing to the litters he handed out two females habited in the ordinary dress of Roman ladies.
Jovinian at once recognised in one of them, although their heads were veiled, the vestal Marcia. As those around him were all of the faithful, there was no necessity for concealment.
The other lady was introduced by Marcia,--she was Coelia, whose life she had been the means of preserving. Marcia now explained that she and another vestal, who had also become a Christian, and was particularly attached to Coelia, had been placed by Fausta in charge of the prisoner, and that, having taken her place, she had allowed her to escape, aided by Christian friends, who had been watching outside the temple. They were under the guidance of Eros--he having, with the ever-active Rufina, been the means of perfecting the plan for her release. "The unhappy Vestalis Maxima," she added, "when on her return to the temple she discovered that so many of those under her rule had become Christians that the sacred fire itself had been allowed to go out, and that even Coecus, as she supposed, had deserted the ancient faith, stabbed herself in despair."
Just as Jovinian was stepping into the petorrita he found his hand grasped. Looking up, he saw Eros.
"I am to accompany you with the other runners on foot," he said, "and I have a favour to ask: it is that you will entreat Severus to allow me to go with you, for Rome is no place for me, and I will gladly serve him faithfully without wages."
Jovinian willingly promised to do what Eros desired, feeling sure that the request would not be refused.
The direct road to the port of Rome was about sixteen miles; but as a considerable circuit would have to be made, it would occupy a large portion of the day. The friends, therefore, who had come out of Rome, returned, and the travelling party set out. The first part of the journey was by by-paths, and being somewhat rough, the mules could only proceed at a slow rate. When once the high road was gained they were able to move much faster. It was well paved with slabs skilfully joined, which formed a smooth stony surface, enabling the wheels of the vehicles to run easily along. Here and there villas were seen, the inhabitants of which were still wrapt in slumber.
The travellers--although their equipages were simple--were received with respect at the inns where they stopped to rest their mules or partake of refreshment. They selected those whose hosts were Christians, and who welcomed them as brethren. Ostia was inhabited by a considerable number of Christians, engaged in commercial pursuits, and who had collected there from various parts of the world. The church of Ostia, said to have been formed in the days of the apostle Paul, was presided over by an aged bishop, with several presbyters and deacons. That it was of great antiquity was certain, as the apostle, while remaining at the port, when either embarking or landing on his journeys to and from Rome, would undoubtedly have gained many proselytes to the faith.
Jovinian pa.s.sed his time happily in company with Julia, to whom he was attached with all the strength of his ardent nature. Notwithstanding his present happiness, he did not feel altogether secure while remaining in the neighbourhood of Rome. His uncle Gaius, who possessed, he believed, a legal claim over him, might discover his retreat, and prevent him from quitting the country. About Eros he had no fear, for having been once set free, the emanc.i.p.ated slave could not again legally be forced back into captivity, Eros himself, however, was not quite so well satisfied about the matter, and had, with the permission of the master of the _Dolphin_, gone on board, and obtained concealment in the hold. It might have been wise in Jovinian to have followed his example--at all events to have lived on board the vessel until his friends were ready to embark. Instead of that he went everywhere about the town with them, and attended public worship. They were to go on board early in the morning, and to sail as soon as the tide was high enough to enable the _Dolphin_ to cross over the bar. Many of the princ.i.p.al Christians in Ostia accompanied the party down to the place of embarkation, where a boat was waiting to convey them on board the _Dolphin_, which lay with her sails loose out in the stream.
Severus, with his wife, and Marcia and Coelia, had already taken their seats; and Jovinian, who had walked down by the side of Julia, was on the point of a.s.sisting her on board, when he felt his arm seized, and a man in the dress of an emissary of the law exhibited an official doc.u.ment before his eyes. "You are, young sir, still a minor; your uncle Gaius claims you as his ward; resistance is vain, for I can summon those who would compel you to obey," said the officer.
Julia clung to Jovinian"s other arm. "Oh, come, come!" she whispered: "he cannot detain you, and the boat will in an instant be away from the sh.o.r.e."
Jovinian felt greatly inclined to follow this hint. As he was strong and active, by a strenuous effort he might shake himself free from the officer"s grasp. It was a great trial to him. Severus, whose attention had been called to what was occurring, stepped forward at once to his a.s.sistance; but the officer, fearing that a rescue was intended, summoned his attendants, dragged Jovinian from the strand, and delivered him to them. His numerous Christian friends could not, on principle, resist the law under which the officer professed to be acting.
In vain Julia entreated Jovinian to return to the boat; he was too securely held to make his escape. The mariners were anxious to sail, and not to lose the advantage of the wind and tide.
Severus had but a short time to speak a few words to his young friend.
"The law must not be disobeyed," he said; "but let me urge you to hold fast to the truth; we will pray for you and welcome you joyfully whenever you can quit Rome and join us."
"I look forward to the day when I shall be free, and able to hasten to wherever you are settled," answered Jovinian. "Your prayers will support me; I, too, will pray for myself, that I may be kept to the truth."
The heathen officer could not be induced to allow Jovinian to exchange further farewells with his friends, being still afraid--seeing the number of persons around--that an attempt might be made to rescue his prisoner. They did their utmost to console him, after the boat pushed off; but it was with an aching heart that he saw the sails spread, and the _Dolphin_ gliding out into the blue sea, which shone brightly in the rays of the rising sun, beyond the harbour.
Jovinian, with a heavy heart, walked with the officer to the inn, where the vehicle was waiting which was to convey him back to Rome. The blow he had received was so sudden that he could not for some time recover from it. He had been looking forward to days of happiness in the company of Julia and her parents, when his faith would have been strengthened, and he would have been able to profit by the guidance and instruction of Severus. He was now, once more, he supposed, to be exposed to the importunities of his uncle to turn idolater: and although he trusted that he should not be moved, it would be painful to be continually engaged in controversies with his relative. From the treatment he had before received, he was not much afraid that force would be used; at the same time he could not tell to what devices Gaius might resort to influence him. He fervently prayed that he might have strength to resist them.
On reaching the inn, the officer desired him to enter the petorrita which stood with the horses put to, before the door, and then took a seat by his side. The driver urging on his steeds, the carriage moved forward, the officials in attendance, with their garments girt about them, following rapidly on foot. The road, worn by the heavy waggons pa.s.sing along it, was in several places full of ruts and holes, over which the vehicle went jolting on, the driver caring very little for the shaking his pa.s.sengers were receiving. No stoppages were made, as the officer had been directed to return without delay to Rome. At length the Appian way--the high road between the capital and the south--was reached, when the carriage moved on more smoothly. They now pa.s.sed between numerous sepulchres,--monuments erected on both sides the road, in which the ashes of many generations of the n.o.ble dead reposed.
Jovinian recognised more than one in which his own heathen ancestors were interred. A feeling of grat.i.tude to heaven rose to his heart at the thought that his own beloved mother had accepted the truth in her early youth, and that he had been born under the full light of the Gospel. Several large buildings were pa.s.sed--that of the sanctuary of Mars, as it was called, beyond the city, within whose walls criminals flying from justice could obtain safety. The carriage then, pa.s.sing under one of those vast structures of masonry erected to carry water into the city, entered Rome by the Porta Caperia. The vehicle could now proceed but slowly, as obstacles of all sorts occurred every moment.
Sometimes a large waggon conveying building materials stopped the way.
The streets were also blocked up by the booths of hucksters, butchers, vintners, pastry-cooks, and vendors of articles of all descriptions.
Some of the pa.s.sengers of the lower orders amused themselves by jeering at the young occupant of the carriage, when they recognised the officer of the law, and suggested that he was probably some Thespio who had been robbing his master, or filching the goods from the stalls. Egyptian jugglers were performing their wonderful tricks, allowing the most venomous snakes to wind themselves round their arms and necks,--the crowd which had collected around them showing no inclination to make way for the carriage. Here also could be seen boys selling sulphur matches, others carrying huge basins of boiled pease, a dish of which they dispensed to the poorest cla.s.ses for the smallest coin.
As they entered the city Jovinian was much struck by observing masons dismantling two or three of the smaller heathen temples, which had been held in but slight consideration--mules and carts being engaged in carrying off the materials.
In their places new edifices were in course of erection, the beams and stones being wound aloft by cranes fixed on the summit of the portions already erected. It appeared to him that there was much more life and bustle in the city than he had ever before observed; but his silent custodian would afford him no information on the subject. "That is not my business," he answered, when Jovinian asked a question; "your uncle Gaius will inform you all about the matter, young man."
Jovinian had expected to drive up to the college of the pontiffs; but before reaching it the carriage turned off to the left, and stopped at a mansion under the Palatine hill. As it drew up before the _ostium_--the entrance to the house--two slaves came forth, whose countenances Jovinian did not recognise. They seemed, however, to expect him, and the officer, without hesitation, delivered him into their hands, following, as they conducted him through the _atrium_ into an inner court, in a small room at the side of which he saw his uncle reclining.
Several books were on the table before him. Gaius rose, and put out his hand to receive his nephew, his countenance exhibiting no sign of anger.
The officer, having formally delivered his charge into the hands of Gaius, retired, and the uncle and nephew were left alone.
"And so you would have deserted me, your only relative, and followed the fortunes of strangers?" said Gaius, in a half-pathetic, half-comic tone, but which certainly exhibited not the slightest feeling of resentment.
"I escaped from you, my uncle, because you desired me to embrace a faith I abhor; and although I have now been brought back, I shall be still, I trust, withheld from following your counsels."
"Ah! that is a matter which troubles me. I am thankful I did not succeed," exclaimed Gaius, in the same tone as before; "I have seen that the system of idolatry is rotten, since the emperor and other good men have deserted it; and I wish to be instructed in the doctrines of the faith you hold."
Jovinian was struck, as he well might be, with astonishment at hearing this, although he did not express his feelings. As he gazed steadily at the countenance of Gaius, he thought that he detected a twinkle in his eye which much belied his a.s.sertion. "I would thankfully be the means of bringing you to a knowledge of the truth," he said at length, "but G.o.d alone can enlighten your mind."
"Well, well, all I require you to do is to instruct me in the articles of your belief, and in the forms of your worship, and I may hope in a few weeks to make a very respectable appearance as a Christian; and if you prove an intelligent tutor I will allow you all the liberty you may desire. You can visit our relative, the presbyter Amulius, or any other friend you may desire to see, and report to them the progress I am making."
"What, my uncle, are you really serious in your wish to become a Christian?" asked Jovinian, who had not forgotten the discussion he had overheard among the pontiffs, although he felt it would not be prudent to let his uncle know that he had been an eavesdropper on the occasion.
"Of course I am," answered Gaius. "Surely the religion which the emperor adopts must be one we must all desire to follow."
Jovinian sighed; he knew the truth too well to be deceived by his uncle"s remark, and he felt that, even should Gaius have some faint wish to become a Christian, he was very far as yet from the kingdom of heaven. He resolved, however, to do what he conceived to be his duty, and to instruct Gaius as far as he was able in the principles of Christianity. He judged it wise not to complain of being dragged away from his friends--supposing his uncle had a legal power to act as he had done--and he hoped when his services were no longer required that he should be allowed to rejoin Severus.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
JOVINIAN AND HIS UNCLE.
Jovinian was treated with much kindness, and allowed all the liberty he desired--being permitted to visit Amulius and the few other friends he possessed. He still had doubts of his uncle"s sincerity. He could not forget the scheme proposed by Coecus; and Gaius might desire to take the step he proposed for the sole object of forwarding it.
Still, the temptations to join the religion professed by the emperor were great. It might pave the way to honour and wealth. Although many doubted that the emperor was really a Christian, the edicts he had issued showed that he was influenced by Christian counsellors. Among them were those for the abolition of the punishment by crucifixion, the encouragement of the emanc.i.p.ation of slaves, the prohibition of gladiatorial games, and the discouragement of infanticide.
Another edict ordered the use of prayers for the army; but that to which perhaps even the idolaters least objected was one for the observance of the Sabbath throughout all the cities and towns in the empire. The Christians, however, were greatly puzzled when they found it designated as "Dies solis," or Sunday; and it was supposed, not without justice, that the emperor selected that t.i.tle in consequence of his lingering affection towards the worship of the sun, to which he had, in former times, been addicted. The other days in the week were, to please the idolaters, called after the names of the various G.o.ds, and especially dedicated to them. The second day was Luna"s day, sacred to the moon; the next was Mercury"s day; while Jupiter and Venus had also their days; so that the populace were still kept in remembrance of their ancient G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses, although they were professedly Christians.
Jovinian found it no easy task to instruct his uncle in the truths of Christianity. Gaius readily understood and remembered the facts mentioned in the Bible; but he appeared utterly unable to comprehend their spiritual meaning, although he listened to all his nephew said.
"How is it that I see so many sects and divisions among those who call themselves Christians?" he asked: "bishops, presbyters, and people in one place quarrelling and disputing with those in another. I hear of Athanasius and Miletius, Eusebius, Arius, and numberless other heads of your sects, condemning each other,--the one party refusing to hold communion with the other, while both profess to serve the same Lord, whom you call Christ. Now look at the system of religion which has prevailed undisturbed for centuries in Rome. We have had no quarrels or disputes, and all have submitted implicitly to us, their pontiffs, the directors of their rites and ceremonies. Our men and women have been at liberty to worship the G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses they have preferred. We have added new demiG.o.ds as occasion required, nor did we refuse to place the divinities of other nations in the Pantheon, whenever they could prove a good t.i.tle to the honour. We have raised our emperors after death, however little we may have loved them in their lifetime, to the same advanced rank. I do not say that the religion in which you are attempting to instruct me may not prove in the end the best, especially as it has been adopted by the emperor; but you must acknowledge that the worship of the immortal G.o.ds has the advantage of antiquity to recommend it, and that under it Rome became great and powerful, and conquered the world."
Jovinian was puzzled how to answer some of these objections. He could not deny that disputes raged furiously among the Christian churches, especially in the East, and that many of the bishops seemed more intent on increasing their worldly wealth and dignity than on spreading the Gospel. In regard to the immortal G.o.ds, he asked his uncle whether he had ever seriously believed in their existence, or had the slightest authority for supposing that they were other than creatures of the imagination?
"Well, well,--as to that, the people believed in them, and we, the directors of their religious rites, have reaped the benefit of their superst.i.tion," answered Gaius.
"But you must acknowledge," said Jovinian, "that idolatry has debased the people with its numberless obscene and cruel rites, that the consciences of its votaries have become scathed, and have allowed them to indulge in the grossest crimes without shame or remorse. Now, on the contrary, while we acknowledge that we are vile and sinful beings, utterly unfit to enjoy a pure and holy heaven, yet we know that G.o.d has provided a way by which we can be made pure and holy, have our sins put away and forgiven, at the same time that we are bound to strive to imitate our Saviour, and to live pure and holy lives, free from the rebuke of a rude and perverse generation."
"That may be," answered Gaius; "but I wish to have the cause of these dissensions of which I hear explained to me, that I may decide whether I shall join Athanasius, Miletius, Arius, or any other party."
Jovinian hastened to consult Amulius how he should reply to Gaius.