CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
THE JOURNEY--THE FIRST INTRODUCTION OF MONASTERIES INTO ITALY.
Jovinian had settled to proceed by land instead of going by sea toGenoa, as Severus had done. Amulius and several other persons in Romewished to make him the bearer of letters to various Christian friendsresiding in different parts on the northern road. As no public means ofconveyance existed in those days, it was customary to send epistleseither by the hand of special messengers or by those travellersproceeding in the desired direction. Jovinian would thus enjoy thebenefits of finding a house to rest at, and a kind greeting at many ofhis stages. At some places he would, however, have to stop at aroadside inn, or at the hut of a peasant. His attendant, Largus, rodealongside him, leading a mule which carried their baggage, among whichwere books for his own use and others to be presented to Severus.
Neither Jovinian nor Largus carried arms. Any attempt to defendthemselves against robbers would be useless, for should such make anattack on them, they would do so in overwhelming numbers; while bearsand wolves were not likely to be met with in the regions through whichthey were to pass.
The road for the first part of the way was tolerably level, so that goodprogress was made. Etruria, with its ancient temples and shrines of thegods, to the worship of whom the people still tenaciously clung, wastraversed. Then, after crossing the Amis--near the town of Pise, wherea day was spent with Christian friends--a more mountainous region wasentered near Luca. Now the road led along the sides of the loftyApennines, towards Liguria. Jovinian had relieved his mind bydelivering most of his letters, and as from a height he had ascended hebeheld the Cottian Alps, their lofty peaks capped with snow, heanticipated a happy termination to his journey. But he had still manyrugged mountain passes to traverse. The day was drawing to a close, andneither he nor Largus were certain where they would find shelter for thenight. Rugged and precipitous rocks rose up on the right hand, while onthe left yawned deep chasms, unfathomable to the eye. The stones, asthey slipped beneath the horses' feet, went bounding down until thesound died away in the depths below. To proceed faster than they weregoing was impossible without the risk of falling over the precipices,but the path was descending; and at last a gorge was reached, the sidesso lofty that it appeared as if the sun could never penetrate to thebottom.
"Surely no human beings can fix their habitations in such a spot asthis, and we shall have to pass the night under the blue vault ofheaven," observed Jovinian.
"We must push on, and find our way out of it before darkness sets in,"answered Largus.
Just as he spoke some figures were seen descending from the heightsabove, leaping from rock to rock. They made their way towards thetravellers.
"Who can they be?" asked Jovinian.
"I do not like their looks; if they are honest I shall be very muchsurprised," said Largus.
The two travellers did not attempt to alter their pace, seeing that theycould not escape by flight. No shafts were aimed at them, and in ashort time they found themselves surrounded by a party of armed men,with unkempt hair, long beards, and soil-stained garments, which showedthe wild life they were accustomed to lead.
"Who are you, and where are you going?" asked the leader of therobbers--for such it was very evident they were. He drew a dagger as hespoke, and held it ready to strike Jovinian.
"We are simple travellers, carrying but few articles which you woulddeem of value--our necessary garments and some books," answeredJovinian.
"And what about your money?" asked the robber, laughing; "that is ofmore consequence to us than the articles you mention; however, we willnot stop here. You must spend a night with us. You cannot reach anyhuman abode before dark, and we will take the opportunity of lookinginto these matters."
Jovinian and Largus could only comply, and, attended by the robbers,they proceeded in the direction in which they were before going. Theywere soon out of the gorge, and entered a region even more wild andbarren than the one they had left.
Black rocks lay scattered about, amid which a rapid stream hissed androared along through a narrow bed. Further off, on the other side of abroad valley, rose precipitous cliffs, rent by the convulsions ofNature, which had formed dark gorges between them. In some places themouths of gloomy caverns could be distinguished in the sides of thecliffs--fit abodes for wild beasts, or lawless men such as those intowhose power the travellers had fallen. Towards one of these caves therobbers were conducting their captives, when suddenly from behind a rocka person started forth, whom Jovinian, from his strange appearance, tookto be a madman or some being possessed of an evil spirit, driven fromthe haunts of men. If is dress, of coarse texture, stained with dirt,hung in rags and tatters about him, exposing a hair garment, worn nexthis skin. His person was emaciated in the extreme, his hair cut close,his head and neck sprinkled with ashes. He waved about him a staff,which he carried in his hand.
"What are ye about, ye men of violence?" he exclaimed, pointing hisstaff at the robbers. "Begone! fly! or be prepared for the vengeance ofone who knows how to protect the innocent!"
The robbers drew back, trembling with fear; and as the recluse--for suchhe was--continued waving his staff, they took fairly to flight, and leftJovinian and Largus to pursue their way with their mules and baggage.
Jovinian, as he now observed the strange being to whom he was so muchindebted, was reminded of those heathen eremites of whom he had read aslong existing in the far East, who, by self-imposed tortures, abstinencefrom the society of their kind, and long prayers, hoped to merit ablissful immortality among the shadows of the blessed. Wishing to thankthe recluse for the services just rendered, he rode towards him.
"You are, I judge by your appearance and bearing, Christians, and assuch are welcome to rest during the coming night in my abode, for youcan reach no other shelter before nightfall," said the recluse, withoutlistening to Jovinian's thanks. "Or, should you be moved by the holylife led by me and my companions, you shall be at liberty to take upyour residence with us."
Jovinian thought it wise to make no reply to the last part of hisinvitation, but gladly accepted the shelter offered him.
"Follow me, then," said the recluse; and, making use of his staff tosupport his steps, he strode on over the rough ground before thetravellers towards one of the gorges which opened out at some distancebefore them, mounting the steep sides of the hill at a pace with whichthe horses could hardly keep up. He stopped before a wooden porch builtof logs, at the entrance of a cavern.
"Your steeds will find grass at the bottom of the gorge, and water at arill which trickles out of the mountain-side; here no one will molestthem--even those bold outlaws dare not approach my abode," said therecluse, as he signed to Jovinian and Largus to dismount. Fortunatelythe travellers had brought provisions, or they would have fared but illon the lentils and water which constituted the food of the recluse.Bringing water from a neighbouring rill in a large bowl, their hostinsisted on washing the travellers' feet--although not until they saw itwould cause offence longer to refuse did they permit him to perform thisact of humiliation.
As the shades of evening drew on, a voice was suddenly heard chanting ahymn from the opposite side of the gulf. It was echoed by anotherfurther up, until nearly a dozen voices had joined in the solemnstrains.
"They are my brethren who have come here to dwell, and devote themselvesto calm contemplation, fasting, prayers, and penance," said the recluse."You shall be made known to them to-morrow, and hear the words ofheavenly wisdom taught from their lips."
Jovinian and Largus made their beds by the aid of their saddles andhorse-cloths in the outer porch, and were glad that they were notinvited to enter the interior of the cavern. It appeared dirty in theextreme.
Mephitic odours pervaded the air. At the further end was a rough crossformed of wood, in front of which two palms were burning. They sawtheir host prostrate himself before it, and lie at full length with hisarms stretched out for a long period; but he did not invite them to
joinin his devotions. He then rose and closed the intermediate door, so asto shut himself out from their view. Occasionally, during the night,they heard the sound of a lash, while groans and cries issued from thecell. Suddenly, as they were just dropping off to sleep, they werearoused by a voice from within: "Begone, Mercury--I know thee well, andthy ever-changing form; licentious messenger of uncleanness, thou canstnot deceive me; and thou, mighty Jove, ended is thy reign, thythunderbolts fall harmlessly, thy lightnings cannot strike me." Thus,one after the other, the heathen gods were addressed as if they werepresent endeavouring to win back the anchorite to their worship.
At daybreak next morning their host roused up his guests, and invitedthem to join him in prayer. So extravagant were the expressions heuttered that Jovinian could with difficulty retain a due composure.
While they were breaking their fast, the recluse, who refused to eat,recounted to them numbers of miracles which he affirmed that he hadperformed, but which Jovinian was convinced--were he not purposelyimposing upon them--were the hallucinations of a disordered brain.Jovinian could not fail to observe in his unhappy host a vain-gloriousexaltation of self, and a spirit of pride combined with a falsehumility, which the system of asceticism was so calculated to foster.He saw, too, that this vain attempt to merit the favour of God arosefrom utter ignorance of God's loving and merciful character, that it setat nought Christ's finished work--His blood which cleanseth from allsin,--and was directly opposed to all the teaching of the Gospel.
His host afterwards entreated Jovinian to remain a few days, that hemight learn more of the mode of life; and practices of himself and hisassociates.
"Before I can join you I must consult the holy volume which is my ruleof faith, and ascertain whether your practices are in accordance withits precepts," answered Jovinian. "I have not so learnt Christ, and Icannot believe that He who spent His ministry on earth in going aboutdoing good among human beings would have His followers spend their liveswhere they can be of no use to any one."
The pale brow of the anchorite flushed as he heard the young man speak."Come, you may think better of my proposal; but I will now take you tovisit my associates."
The tour which Jovinian made among the other huts rather strengthenedthan altered his first impression. The inmates, he observed, wereprofoundly ignorant of Christian truth; a self-righteous ignoring of therighteousness of Christ prevailed universally among them. Some hadprobably been mad when they resorted to their present mode of life, andothers had produced madness by their self-inflicted tortures orabstinence from proper nourishment. When he spoke to them he found thatthey were far from living in brotherly love: jealousy and ill-willprevailed, while several, asserting their superior sanctity, accused theothers of being guilty of all sorts of horrible crimes.
Such was the commencement in Italy of the anchorite or monkish system,which had long existed in the East, and which soon spread over thewestern part of Christendom.
Jovinian returned to the hut; and, desiring Largus to saddle the horseswithout delay, bade farewell to their host.
"You will come back and join us?" said the anchorite, not at all awareof the impression made on Jovinian's mind.
"Not until I find that the system you are pursuing is according to God'sway, and that I can thereby promote His honour and glory," was theanswer.
"Alas, alas!" exclaimed the anchorite, as Jovinian and his attendantrode off; "you will never gain heaven if you thus refuse our way ofseeking it."
Jovinian made no reply; arguments were useless with one who appearedlittle better than a madman.