CHAPTER XI
PALANQUINS
With the exception of the bishop, Marcianus, and a few others, allassembled at the Agape were struck with the liveliest terror. Theyentertained no doubt but that the sound that shook the walls was provokedby the outrage on the image of the tutelary god, following on the rescueof the victim allotted to him.
The pagan inhabitants of Nemausus were roused to exasperation. Thepriesthood would employ every available means to work this resentment to aparoxysm, and the result would be riot and murder, perhaps an organizedpersecution.
It must be understood that although the Roman State recognized otherreligions than the established paganism, as that of the Jews, and allowedthe votaries freedom of worship, yet Christianity was not of this number.It was in itself illegal, and any magistrate, at his option, in any placeand at any time, might put the laws in force against the members of theChurch. Not only so, but any envious, bigoted, or resentful person mightcompel a magistrate to take cognizance of the presence of Christians inthe district under his jurisdiction, and require him to capitally convictthose brought before him.
The system in the Roman Commonwealth for the maintenance of order was thatevery man was empowered to act as spy upon and delate another. Any manmight accuse his neighbor, his brother, before the court; and if he couldprove his charge, the magistrate had no option--he must sentence.Consequently the Christians depended for their safety on the favor oftheir fellow-citizens, on their own abstention from giving offence.
The sole protection against false accusations in the Roman Commonwealthlay in the penalties to which an accuser was subject should he fail toestablish his charge. But as on conviction a portion of the estate of theguilty person was handed over to the accuser, there was an inducement todelation.
Under the Julian and Claudian Caesars the system had worked terribly. Anentire class of men made denunciation their trade. They grew rich on thespoils of their victims, they spared none, and the judges themselves livedin fear of them. The evil became so intolerable that measures were takento accentuate the risk to the accusers. If the Christians were not oftenerdenounced, the reason was that in the event of one lapsing, and throughterror or pain abjuring Christ, then immediately the tables were turned,and the accuser was placed in danger of his life.
When an Emperor issued an edict against the Christians he enacted no newlaw; he merely required that the existing laws should be put in forceagainst them, and all risk to delators was removed in that no delation wasexacted. On such an occasion every citizen and householder was required toappear before the court and offer a few grains of incense on an altar tothe genius of the empire or of the prince. Should any one refuse to dothis, then he was convicted of high treason and delivered over to theexecutioner to be either tortured or put to death off-hand. When themagistrate deemed it important to obtain a recantation, then he hadrecourse to the rack, iron hooks, torches, thumbscrews as means of forcingthe prisoner through pain to abjure Christ.
The Christians in Nemausus had lived in complete tranquillity. There hadbeen no persecution. They had multiplied.
The peace enjoyed by the Church had been to it of a mixed advantage. Manyhad been included whose conversion was due to questionable motives. Somehad joined through sincere conviction; more from conviction seasoned withexpectation of advantage. The poor had soon learned that a very rich andabundant stream of charity flowed in the Church, that in it the sick andfeeble were cared for and their necessities were supplied, whereas in theestablished paganism no regard was paid to the needy and suffering. Amongthe higher classes there were adherents who attached themselves to theChurch rather because they disbelieved in heathenism than that they heldto the Gospel. Some accepted the truth with the head, but their heartsremained untouched.
None had given freer expression to his conviction that there were weak-kneed and unworthy members than Marcianus the deacon. He had remonstratedwith the bishop, he had scolded, repelled, but without effect. And now hehad taken a daring step, the consequence of which would be that themembers of the community would indeed be put to the test whether they werefor Christ or Mammon. The conviction that a time of trial was come brokeon the community like a thundercloud, and produced a panic. Many doubtedtheir constancy, all shrank from being brought to a trial of their faith.The congregation in the house of Baudillas, when it had recovered from thefirst shock, resolved itself into groups agitated by various passions.Some launched into recrimination against Marcianus, who had brought theminto jeopardy; some consulted in whispers how to escape the danger; a fewfell into complete stupefaction of mind, unable to decide on any course.Others, again, abandoned themselves to despair and shrieked forthhysterical lamentations. Some crowded around Castor, clung to his garmentsand entreated him to save them. Others endeavored to escape from a placeand association that would compromise them, by the back entrance to theservants' portion of the house.
A few, a very few maintained their composure, and extending their armsfell to prayer.
Baudillas hurried from one party to another uttering words of reassurance,but his face was blanched, his voice quivered, and he was obviouslyemploying formal expressions that conveyed no strength to his own heart.Marcianus, with folded arms, looked at him scornfully, and as he passed,said, "The bishop should not have ordained such an unstable and quakingbeing as thyself to serve in the sacred ministry."
"Ah, brother," sighed Baudillas, "it is with me as with Peter. The spirittruly is willing, but the flesh is weak."
"That was spoken of him," answered Marcianus, "before Pentecost and theoutpouring of the spirit of strength. Such timidity, such feebleness areunworthy of a Christian."
"Pray for me that my faith fail not," said Baudillas, and passed on. Byaction he deadened his fears. Now came in Pedo, the old servant of thehouse, who had been sent forth to reconnoiter. His report was notreassuring. The mob was sweeping through the streets, and insisting onevery household producing an image at its doors and placing a light beforeit. There were fuglemen who directed the crowd, which had been dividedinto bands to perambulate every division of the town and make inquisitionof every house. The mob had begun by breaking into such dwellings as werenot protected by an image, and wrecking them. But after one or two of suchacts of violence, the magistrates had interfered, and although theysuffered the people to assemble before the houses and to clamor for theproduction of an image and a light, yet they sent _vigiles_ (_i.e._, thewatch) to guard such dwellings as remained undecorated. When the master ofthe house refused obedience to the mandate of the mob, then an officerordered him to open the door, and he summoned him to appear next day incourt and there do sacrifice. By this means the mob was satisfied andpassed on without violence.
But as the crowd marched down the streets it arrested every man and womanthat was encountered, and insisted on their swearing by the gods andblaspheming Christ.
Castor ordered the congregation to depart by twos and by threes, to takeside alleys, and to avoid the main thoroughfares. This was possible, asthe _posticum_, a back door, communicated with a mean street that had thecity wall for one side.
"My sons and daughters in Christ," said the bishop with composure,"remember that greater is He that is with us than those that be againstus. When the servant of Elisha feared, then the Lord opened his eyes thathe might behold the angels with chariots and horses of fire prepared todefend His servant. Avoid danger, but if it cannot be avoided stand firm.Remember His words, 'He that confesseth me before men, him will I alsoconfess before my Father which is in heaven.'"
As soon as all had departed, but not till then, did Castor leave.Marcianus turned with a sneer to his fellow-deacon and said, "Fly! youhave full license from the bishop; and he sets the example himself."
"I must tarry in my own house," answered Baudillas. "I have the ladiesQuincta and Perpetua under my protection. They cannot return to their homeuntil they be fetched."
"So! they lean on a broken reed s
uch as thee!"
"Alack! they have none other to trust to."
"The mob is descending our street," cried the slave, Pedo, limping in.
"What are we to do?" asked Quincta trembling. "If they discover me and mydaughter here we are undone. They will tear her from my arms."
The deacon Baudillas clasped his hands to his head. Then his slave said:"Master, Tarsius is at the door with litters and bearers. He saith he hathbeen sent for the lady Perpetua."
"And for me?" asked Quincta eagerly.
"And for thee also, lady. It is said that guards are observing thy houseand that, therefore, thy slaves cannot venture hither. Therefore, so saysTarsius, his master, the wool-merchant, Julius Largus, hath sent hislitters and porters."
"But his house will be visited!"
"The bearers have instructions as to what shall be done."
"This is strange," said Quincta. "I did not suppose that Largus Litomaruswould have shown such consideration. We are not acquainted--indeed webelong to different classes----"
"Yet are ye one in Christ," said the deacon. "Call in Tarsius, he shallexplain the matter. But let him be speedy or the rabble will be on us."
"They are at the head of the street," said the slave, "and visit the doorof Terentius Cominius."
"He believes."
"And he has set out a figure of the Good Shepherd before his door with alamp. The crowd regards it as a Mercury and has cheered and gone on to thenext door."
Tarsius, thoroughly recovered from his intoxication, was now admitted. Helooked none in the face, and stumbled through his tale. Julius LargusLitomarus had bidden him offer his litters; there were curtains closingthem, and his servants would convey the ladies to a place of security.
Quincta was too frightened, too impatient to be off, to question the man,nor was the deacon more nice in inquiry, for he also was in a condition ofnervous unrest.
The shouts of the mob could be heard.
"I do not wholly trust this man," said Baudillas. "He was expelled formisconduct. Yet, what can we do? Time presses! Hark!--in a brief space therabble will be here. Next house is a common lodging and will not detainthem. Would that Marcianus had remained. He could have advised us. Madam,act as you think best."
"The mob is on the move," said Pedo. "They have been satisfied at thehouse of Dulcius Liber, and now Septimus Philadelphus is bringing outhalf-a-dozen gods. Master--there is not a moment to be lost."
"Let us fly--quick!" gasped Quincta.
She plucked her daughter's arm, and fairly dragged her along the passageout of the house.
In the street they saw a flare. The rabble, held in control by somedirecting spirit, was furnished with torches. It was roaring outside ahouse, impatient because no statue was produced, and proceeded to throwstones and batter the door.
"That house is empty," whispered Pedo. "The master was bankrupt andeverything sold. There is not a person in it."
Quincta mounted the _lectica_ or palanquin that was offered, withoutlooking whether her daughter were safe, and allowed the bearers, nay urgedthem, to start at a trot.
Tarsius remained behind. He handed Perpetua into the second closed litter,then gave the word, and ran beside it, holding the curtains together withone hand.
Baudillas trembling for himself was now left alone.