CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
DEPARTURE FROM ROME.
Although Severus would have gladly remained, and have spread the Gospelamong the benighted inhabitants of the capital, he reluctantlydetermined to follow the counsel of his father-in-law, and the advicenow given him by his friends, and to retire to a region on which he hadlong fixed his thoughts. It was among the western spurs of the Alps,where exists a series of secluded vales inhabited by an industrious andprimitive population, and where the great apostle to the Gentiles had,it was said, converted many to the truth. Here, therefore, he wouldreceive a welcome from many brethren in the faith, and be the means ofaiding and supporting them, and yet further extending among thesurrounding people the blessings of Christianity.
Instead of travelling by land--a long and tedious journey, with manysteep and rugged passes to traverse--he determined to embark at Ostia,from whence a pleasant voyage over the waters of the Mediterranean ofthree or four days, should the wind prove favourable, would enable himto reach the port at which he hoped to disembark.
Jovinian, on hearing his plans, entreated that he might be permitted toaccompany him, although Amulius had offered the youth a home, should hehave desired to remain in Rome and continue his studies. Severus gladlyaccepted Jovinian's offer to bear him company.
"I would not willingly have parted from you, my son," he said, "althoughI wished to leave you free to follow the bent of your own inclination.I will also gladly assist you in the studies which you may desire topursue."
Jovinian expressed his thanks--his only fear being that his uncle Gaiusmight attempt to detain him. He was aware that the pontiff, being hisnearest relative, had some legal claim over him; and he knew too wellalso, even had such not been the case, that might often prevailed overright in Rome, as elsewhere. It was therefore settled that he shouldpass the time before the commencement of the journey with Severus andhis family.
During their stay news reached the party in the catacombs of the eventswhich had taken place at Rome: of the pontiffs' last unsuccessful effortto promote the cause of paganism; of the escape of the vestal Coelia;and of the strange and almost incredible report that Coecus himself haddeclared his readiness to embrace Christianity.
"Then the pontiff has already commenced his project for destroying thetrue faith which I heard discussed," observed Jovinian to Severus.
"Would that we could warn our Christian friends not to trust him! Theymight influence a few; but I fear that the multitude would ratherconfide in one who will ever be ready to pander to their tastes than inthose who have their true interest at heart," answered Severus. "Wemust use every effort, however; and Amulius and other faithful friendswill, I trust, not be deceived."
Then came further news from Byzantium. The emperor, although notbaptised, had given undoubted proof of his desire to be considered aChristian. He had held conferences with Christian bishops andpresbyters, and had issued decrees bestowing rank and dignity onnumerous bishops. It was said that he intended dividing the empire intofour ecclesiastical departments, after the model of the several civildivisions. Thus there were to be four prefectures, containing thirteendioceses, which embraced one hundred and sixteen provinces. Over theseecclesiastical officers were to preside, bearing the titles ofpatriarchs, metropolitans or archbishops, and simple bishops,--dignifiedtitles hitherto unknown in the Christian Church! One chief object ofthe emperor in thus bestowing rank and wealth on the Christian ministerswas to obtain their assistance in governing the State by means of thereligious sentiment or superstition of the people. The Christians hadhitherto been the most docile and loyal of his subjects, as their faithinculcated implicit obedience to magistrates and all establishedauthorities. His successors were to find that the semi-paganism whichhe had established under the name of Christianity had no such effect onthe minds of their subjects, and that they were as ready to take up armsand resort to force whenever their passions were aroused as the heathenshad been.
These, and other events of a similar character, confirmed Severus in hisresolution to quit the country.
At length the day he was free to depart arrived. Amulius had made allthe necessary preparation. Three "petorritas"--the ordinary carriagesat that time in use--drawn by mules, arrived at a convenient spot nearthe entrance to the galleries. Two litters also came--their occupantsremaining concealed within. Amulius and several friends, who had cometo bid Severus and his family farewell, stepped out of the petorritas.Garments and several necessary articles had been purchased by Amuliusfor the use of the family, and these were already packed in thecarriages. The faithful Rufina was to return to her master, butremained 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 accompanyingyou." Ongoing to the litters he handed out two females habited in theordinary dress of Roman ladies.
Jovinian at once recognised in one of them, although their heads wereveiled, the vestal Marcia. As those around him were all of thefaithful, there was no necessity for concealment.
The other lady was introduced by Marcia,--she was Coelia, whose life shehad been the means of preserving. Marcia now explained that she andanother vestal, who had also become a Christian, and was particularlyattached to Coelia, had been placed by Fausta in charge of the prisoner,and that, having taken her place, she had allowed her to escape, aidedby Christian friends, who had been watching outside the temple. Theywere under the guidance of Eros--he having, with the ever-active Rufina,been the means of perfecting the plan for her release. "The unhappyVestalis Maxima," she added, "when on her return to the temple shediscovered that so many of those under her rule had become Christiansthat the sacred fire itself had been allowed to go out, and that evenCoecus, as she supposed, had deserted the ancient faith, stabbed herselfin despair."
Just as Jovinian was stepping into the petorrita he found his handgrasped. Looking up, he saw Eros.
"I am to accompany you with the other runners on foot," he said, "and Ihave a favour to ask: it is that you will entreat Severus to allow me togo with you, for Rome is no place for me, and I will gladly serve himfaithfully without wages."
Jovinian willingly promised to do what Eros desired, feeling sure thatthe request would not be refused.
The direct road to the port of Rome was about sixteen miles; but as aconsiderable circuit would have to be made, it would occupy a largeportion of the day. The friends, therefore, who had come out of Rome,returned, and the travelling party set out. The first part of thejourney was by by-paths, and being somewhat rough, the mules could onlyproceed at a slow rate. When once the high road was gained they wereable to move much faster. It was well paved with slabs skilfullyjoined, which formed a smooth stony surface, enabling the wheels of thevehicles to run easily along. Here and there villas were seen, theinhabitants of which were still wrapt in slumber.
The travellers--although their equipages were simple--were received withrespect at the inns where they stopped to rest their mules or partake ofrefreshment. They selected those whose hosts were Christians, and whowelcomed them as brethren. Ostia was inhabited by a considerable numberof Christians, engaged in commercial pursuits, and who had collectedthere from various parts of the world. The church of Ostia, said tohave been formed in the days of the apostle Paul, was presided over byan aged bishop, with several presbyters and deacons. That it was ofgreat antiquity was certain, as the apostle, while remaining at theport, when either embarking or landing on his journeys to and from Rome,would undoubtedly have gained many proselytes to the faith.
Jovinian passed his time happily in company with Julia, to whom he wasattached with all the strength of his ardent nature. Notwithstandinghis present happiness, he did not feel altogether secure while remainingin the neighbourhood of Rome. His uncle Gaius, who possessed, hebelieved, a legal claim over him, might discover his retreat, andprevent h
im from quitting the country. About Eros he had no fear, forhaving been once set free, the emancipated slave could not again legallybe forced back into captivity, Eros himself, however, was not quite sowell satisfied about the matter, and had, with the permission of themaster of the _Dolphin_, gone on board, and obtained concealment in thehold. It might have been wise in Jovinian to have followed hisexample--at all events to have lived on board the vessel until hisfriends were ready to embark. Instead of that he went everywhere aboutthe town with them, and attended public worship. They were to go onboard early in the morning, and to sail as soon as the tide was highenough to enable the _Dolphin_ to cross over the bar. Many of theprincipal Christians in Ostia accompanied the party down to the place ofembarkation, 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 theirseats; and Jovinian, who had walked down by the side of Julia, was onthe point of assisting her on board, when he felt his arm seized, and aman in the dress of an emissary of the law exhibited an officialdocument before his eyes. "You are, young sir, still a minor; youruncle Gaius claims you as his ward; resistance is vain, for I can summonthose 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 theshore."
Jovinian felt greatly inclined to follow this hint. As he was strongand active, by a strenuous effort he might shake himself free from theofficer's grasp. It was a great trial to him. Severus, whose attentionhad been called to what was occurring, stepped forward at once to hisassistance; but the officer, fearing that a rescue was intended,summoned his attendants, dragged Jovinian from the strand, and deliveredhim 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 toosecurely 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 holdfast to the truth; we will pray for you and welcome you joyfullywhenever you can quit Rome and join us."
"I look forward to the day when I shall be free, and able to hasten towherever you are settled," answered Jovinian. "Your prayers willsupport me; I, too, will pray for myself, that I may be kept to thetruth."
The heathen officer could not be induced to allow Jovinian to exchangefurther farewells with his friends, being still afraid--seeing thenumber of persons around--that an attempt might be made to rescue hisprisoner. They did their utmost to console him, after the boat pushedoff; but it was with an aching heart that he saw the sails spread, andthe _Dolphin_ gliding out into the blue sea, which shone brightly in therays of the rising sun, beyond the harbour.
Jovinian, with a heavy heart, walked with the officer to the inn, wherethe vehicle was waiting which was to convey him back to Rome. The blowhe had received was so sudden that he could not for some time recoverfrom it. He had been looking forward to days of happiness in thecompany of Julia and her parents, when his faith would have beenstrengthened, and he would have been able to profit by the guidance andinstruction of Severus. He was now, once more, he supposed, to beexposed to the importunities of his uncle to turn idolater: and althoughhe trusted that he should not be moved, it would be painful to becontinually engaged in controversies with his relative. From thetreatment he had before received, he was not much afraid that forcewould be used; at the same time he could not tell to what devices Gaiusmight resort to influence him. He fervently prayed that he might havestrength to resist them.
On reaching the inn, the officer desired him to enter the petorritawhich stood with the horses put to, before the door, and then took aseat by his side. The driver urging on his steeds, the carriage movedforward, the officials in attendance, with their garments girt aboutthem, following rapidly on foot. The road, worn by the heavy waggonspassing along it, was in several places full of ruts and holes, overwhich the vehicle went jolting on, the driver caring very little for theshaking his passengers were receiving. No stoppages were made, as theofficer had been directed to return without delay to Rome. At lengththe Appian way--the high road between the capital and the south--wasreached, when the carriage moved on more smoothly. They now passedbetween numerous sepulchres,--monuments erected on both sides the road,in which the ashes of many generations of the noble dead reposed.Jovinian recognised more than one in which his own heathen ancestorswere interred. A feeling of gratitude to heaven rose to his heart atthe thought that his own beloved mother had accepted the truth in herearly youth, and that he had been born under the full light of theGospel. Several large buildings were passed--that of the sanctuary ofMars, as it was called, beyond the city, within whose walls criminalsflying from justice could obtain safety. The carriage then, passingunder one of those vast structures of masonry erected to carry waterinto the city, entered Rome by the Porta Caperia. The vehicle could nowproceed 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 passengers of the lower orders amused themselves by jeeringat the young occupant of the carriage, when they recognised the officerof the law, and suggested that he was probably some Thespio who had beenrobbing his master, or filching the goods from the stalls. Egyptianjugglers were performing their wonderful tricks, allowing the mostvenomous snakes to wind themselves round their arms and necks,--thecrowd which had collected around them showing no inclination to make wayfor the carriage. Here also could be seen boys selling sulphur matches,others carrying huge basins of boiled pease, a dish of which theydispensed to the poorest classes for the smallest coin.
As they entered the city Jovinian was much struck by observing masonsdismantling two or three of the smaller heathen temples, which had beenheld in but slight consideration--mules and carts being engaged incarrying off the materials.
In their places new edifices were in course of erection, the beams andstones being wound aloft by cranes fixed on the summit of the portionsalready erected. It appeared to him that there was much more life andbustle in the city than he had ever before observed; but his silentcustodian would afford him no information on the subject. "That is notmy business," he answered, when Jovinian asked a question; "your uncleGaius will inform you all about the matter, young man."
Jovinian had expected to drive up to the college of the pontiffs; butbefore reaching it the carriage turned off to the left, and stopped at amansion under the Palatine hill. As it drew up before the _ostium_--theentrance to the house--two slaves came forth, whose countenancesJovinian did not recognise. They seemed, however, to expect him, andthe officer, without hesitation, delivered him into their hands,following, as they conducted him through the _atrium_ into an innercourt, 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 hishand to receive his nephew, his countenance exhibiting no sign of anger.The officer, having formally delivered his charge into the hands ofGaius, retired, and the uncle and nephew were left alone.
"And so you would have deserted me, your only relative, and followed thefortunes 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 faithI abhor; and although I have now been brought back, I shall be still, Itrust, withheld from following your counsels."
"Ah! that is a matter which troubles me. I am thankful I did notsucceed," exclaimed Gaius, in the same tone as before; "I have seen thatthe system of idolatry is rotten, since the emperor and oth
er good menhave deserted it; and I wish to be instructed in the doctrines of thefaith you hold."
Jovinian was struck, as he well might be, with astonishment at hearingthis, although he did not express his feelings. As he gazed steadily atthe countenance of Gaius, he thought that he detected a twinkle in hiseye which much belied his assertion. "I would thankfully be the meansof bringing you to a knowledge of the truth," he said at length, "butGod alone can enlighten your mind."
"Well, well, all I require you to do is to instruct me in the articlesof your belief, and in the forms of your worship, and I may hope in afew weeks to make a very respectable appearance as a Christian; and ifyou prove an intelligent tutor I will allow you all the liberty you maydesire. You can visit our relative, the presbyter Amulius, or any otherfriend you may desire to see, and report to them the progress I ammaking."
"What, my uncle, are you really serious in your wish to become aChristian?" asked Jovinian, who had not forgotten the discussion he hadoverheard among the pontiffs, although he felt it would not be prudentto let his uncle know that he had been an eavesdropper on the occasion.
"Of course I am," answered Gaius. "Surely the religion which theemperor adopts must be one we must all desire to follow."
Jovinian sighed; he knew the truth too well to be deceived by hisuncle's remark, and he felt that, even should Gaius have some faint wishto become a Christian, he was very far as yet from the kingdom ofheaven. 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 ofChristianity. He judged it wise not to complain of being dragged awayfrom his friends--supposing his uncle had a legal power to act as he haddone--and he hoped when his services were no longer required that heshould be allowed to rejoin Severus.