CHAPTER EIGHT.
RELICS.
Several days passed by. The small company in this remote portion ofthose vast galleries waited anxiously for news from the upper world.They had themselves no fear of discovery; for treachery alone, whichthey had no cause to dread, could betray their retreat. Other parts,however, of that underground labyrinth were frequently visited by largenumbers of Christians from the city; and that he might converse withthem, Severus, accompanied by Jovinian, guided by an aged fossor,traversed the galleries in various directions. What he saw and heardcaused him deep grief as he passed by the groups he here and there foundassembled. Some had come to visit the tombs of relatives or friendsslain during the Diocletian persecutions, or who had died in later days.They were standing with arms outstretched, and open palms. Severalwere praying aloud. Severus stopped to listen.
"Cease, friend, cease, I entreat you!" he exclaimed. "Is it possiblethat you, a Christian, can be addressing the spirit of a departedbrother? Have you so learnt Christ? Know you not that His ear is everopen to our prayers; that His heart beats in sympathy with all indistress; and that you are dishonouring Him by attempting to employ anyother mediator between God the Father and ourselves than our one solegreat High-priest, the risen Saviour of the world!"
Some to whom Severus spoke stared without answering; others defended thepractice, which had lately, copied from the heathens, been creeping inamong professing Christians; a few only listened respectfully to thearguments the presbyter brought against it.
Severus and his companions passed on till they reached some vaults, orrather enlargements of the galleries. Here numerous persons wereassembled, employed in eating and drinking before the tombs containedwithin the walls. They were holding love-feasts in commemoration oftheir departed friends; but already the simplicity of the custom hadbeen changed, as was shown by the flushed brows of several of therevellers; while some, more abstemious, were kneeling or prostrate onthe ground, offering up prayers to the dead martyrs.
Severus, before passing on, warned them of their sin and folly. "Ofoolish people, whence have you derived these revellings, this custom ofpraying to the dead? Surely from the idolaters by whom you aresurrounded!" he exclaimed. "Instead of being lights shining in themidst of a dark world, you have become as the blind leaders of theblind. Beware, lest the light you have be altogether taken away!"
Guided by the aged fossor, he and his companions made their way to thoseparts where in the days of the earlier persecutions the bodies of thefew martyrs which had been rescued by their friends had been deposited.Great was the astonishment of Severus to find several persons withpickaxes and spades engaged in breaking open the tombs, and placing themouldering remains in metal and wooden boxes.
"Why are you thus disturbing the bodies of the departed saints?" heexclaimed, as he stopped among them. "Could you not allow them to resttill summoned to rise by the trump of the archangel? Whither are youabout to convey them? How do you intend to dispose of them?"
No one at first replied to those questions.
At length one, who appeared to be a deacon or exorcist, advancing,answered, "We have been assured that the bones of martyrs can curediseases of all sorts, and work many other miracles; and as few can comehere to benefit by them, we are about to convey the sacred relics toshrines where all may visit them; and some we would send to foreignlands, where they may assist in spreading the blessed Gospel."
"Say rather, O foolish men, where they may tend to confirm the heathenin their ignorance. The very idea is taken from the idolaters, whoworship blocks and stones, or any objects presented to them by theirfalse priests. Could, even in their lifetime, these departed saintshave cured any of the maladies which flesh is heir to? Then much lesscan their poor rotting bones, which ere long will be dust. With whichof those bones, with which of those particles of dust, will theirspirits be pleased to dwell, in order to impart such healing power? Oh,folly unspeakable! to think that the saints of God have further concernwith the frail tenement they have shaken off! They are with Christ, towhom alone let me urge you to address your prayers. His arm is notshortened; His love is not lessened. As he healed the sick when hewalked on earth, so can He cure if He thinks fit those who apply toHim."
Much more Severus said; and he was continuing to address the people,some of whom were moved by his arguments, when a cry was raised thatsoldiers were in the galleries. Presently the ruddy glare of torcheswas seen in the far distance.
"Hasten this way," cried the fossor, who suspected that, whatever theobject of the soldiers' visit, those he had in charge might be placed indanger. Severus and Jovinian followed him, as he rapidly retreated in adirection opposite to that in which the lights were seen. Loud shoutswere heard echoing through the galleries. It was evident that thesoldiers were in pursuit of some one. The sounds drew nearer. Thefossor ran as fast as his aged limbs would allow; his companionssupporting him. Numerous long passages were traversed.
"The soldiers have a guide with them, or they would not venture thusfar," said the fossor; "but we may still escape them."
As he spoke he led the way through a narrow opening. Severus followed;Jovinian was about to do so, but he turned for a moment to ascertain thedistance their pursuers still were from them. He then passed throughthe opening, but the light from the fossor's lantern was not visible, hefeared to cry out, lest his voice might betray him. He groped his wayforward with outstretched arms. He felt convinced that of two passageshe had taken the wrong one. He turned to retrace his steps. In a fewseconds a bright light flashed in his eyes, and he found himself in thehands, of several Roman soldiers, who roughly demanded what had becomeof his companions.
When Jovinian and Eros made their escape from the college Gaius wasabsent, and was not expected to return till the next morning. Of thisthe Numidian was aware, and had taken advantage of the occasion.
On the return of the pontiff, somewhat later in the day than usual, whenhe inquired for his nephew, he was told by a slave, afraid of speakingthe truth, that Jovinian had gone forth to walk with Eros, and had notyet come back. Supposing that they had simply taken advantage of thepermission he had granted, he took no further trouble about the matter,but, throwing himself on a couch, called for a cup of Falernian toquench his thirst. He was about to order a second when Coecus entered.A frown was on his brow, and his countenance wore a moody aspect. Hesat down opposite to Gaius, who, looking up, observed, "If aughttroubles you, follow my example, and quaff a cup or two of this generouswine. Nothing so effectually dissipates the mists which are apt togather at times round our brains and obscure the vision."
Coecus turned his eyes away with an expression of contempt from hisconvivial companion, and muttered something inaudible. "I have amplecause for anger and annoyance," he said, at length. "What think you?This pestiferous doctrine of the Nazarenes has found its way even intothe temple of Vesta. On entering unexpectedly, as it proved, to visitour fair charges, I found the vestal Coelia, who ought to have beenattending to the sacred fire, so absorbed in reading a book that theflames were almost extinguished. She started on seeing me, andendeavoured to conceal the roll; but I snatched it from her, and as Iglanced my eye over the pages, great was my astonishment and indignationto discover that it was not the production of one of our poets, which Imight have pardoned her for reading, but a portion of what the Nazarenescall their Scriptures! I cast it on the altar, and, as it wasconsuming, I watched the expression of grief which overspread hercountenance, as if she were beholding the destruction of some preciousobject. I demanded whence she had obtained the roll, but she stubbornlyrefused to inform me. I threatened her with condign punishment; but,folding her arms on her bosom, she claimed her right as a Roman maidento peruse a work approved of by Augustus. `As a vestal, sworn to obeythe rules of your order, you have no right to read what may shake yourconfidence in the great goddess to whom your life is dedicated,' Ianswered. Much more I said, using persuasions and threats to learn howshe ha
d obtained the roll, and whether others in the temple had imbibedany of these Christian doctrines. Vain, however, were all my efforts.I did not expect to find one so young and gentle so determined. Ireminded her that she might be condemned for breaking her vows, and ofthe fearful punishment which would follow. She smiled, as if she daredmy power. While we were speaking the sacred fire went out. She seemedin no way appalled, but handing me two pieces of wood from a felixarbour, suggested that I should at once re-light it. As in duty bound Ishould have scourged her for her neglect, but her youth and beautyforbade such a proceeding, especially as I had been partly the cause ofthe catastrophe. I followed her advice, and the flame soon burned upagain brightly. Reminding her of the double punishment she hadincurred, I sent another vestal to take her place, and delivered herover to the charge of the Vestalis Maxima, with strict injunctions tothe venerable dame to keep a strict watch over her movements, and toreport to me all she says, and with whom she holds communication. Wemust afford her liberty, or it will be difficult to convict her. It isa question for consideration whether we should assert the supremacy ofour ancient laws, and make an example of the vestal Coelia--there willbe no difficulty in proving that she has broken her vows--or whether thetime has arrived for assuming the masks we have designed, and at oncedeclaring ourselves convinced of the truth of the Christian doctrine."
"I dread the task we should impose on ourselves if we turn Christians,and would therefore defer the day as long as possible," answered Gaius,stretching himself on his couch.
"In that case the vestal Coelia must die," said Coecus, in a calm tone."We can have no half measures. If we do not swim with the tide, we muststamp out this creed at once."
"No easy matter, considering, as I understand, that it has existedwell-nigh three hundred years, in spite of all the efforts made todestroy it, since a certain Paul, a man of no mean ability, visited ourcity on several occasions," observed Gaius. "Had our fathers known inthose days to what this doctrine was tending, they would have nipped itin the bud, and we should have been saved a vast amount of trouble."
"It is useless regretting the past," said Coecus; "we must keep our eyessteadily fixed on the future. But, I repeat, that I have no hope ofdestroying the name of Christian."