CHAPTER XIII
AD FINES
Perpetua was carried along at a swinging trot in the closed litter, tillthe end of the street had been reached, and then, after a corner had beenturned, the bearers relaxed their pace. It was too dark for her to seewhat were the buildings past which she was taken, even had she withdrawnthe curtains that shut in the litter; but to withdraw these curtains wouldhave required her to exert some force, as they were held together in thegrasp of Tarsius, running and striding at the side. But, indeed, she didnot suppose it necessary to observe the direction in which she was beingconveyed. She had accepted in good faith the assurance that the _lectica_had been sent by the rich Christian wool merchant, Largus Litomarus, andhad acquiesced in her mother's readiness to accept the offer, without ashadow of suspicion.
God had delivered her from a watery death, and she regarded the gift asone to be respected; her life thus granted her was not to be wilfullythrown away or unnecessarily jeopardized. Unless she escaped from thehouse of the deacon, she would fall into the hands of the rabble, and thiswas a prospect more terrifying than any other. If called upon again towitness a good confession, she would do so, God helping her, but she wasglad to be spared the ordeal.
It was not till the porters halted, and knocked at a door, and she haddescended from the palanquin, that some suspicion crossed her mind thatall was not right. She looked about her, and inquired for her mother. Thenone whom she had not hitherto noticed drew nigh, bowing, and said: "Lady,your youthful and still beautiful mother will be here presently. Theslaves who carry her have gone about another way so as to divert attentionfrom your priceless self, should any of the mob have set off in pursuit."
The tone of the address surprised the girl. Her mother was not young, andalthough in her eyes that mother was lovely, yet Quincta was not usuallyapproached with expressions of admiration for her beauty.
Again Perpetua accepted what was said, as the reason given was plausible,and entered the house. The first thing she observed, by the torch glare,was a statue of Apollo. She was surprised, and inquired, hesitatingly, "Isthis the house of Julius Largus Litomarus?"
"Admirable is your ladyship's perspicuity. Even in the dark those more-than-Argus eyes discern the truth. The worthy citizen Largus belongs tothe sect. He is menaced as well as other excellent citizens by theunreasoning and irrational vulgar. He has therefore instructed that youshould be conveyed to the dwelling of a friend, only deploring that itshould be unworthy of your presence."
"May I ask your name, sir?"
"Septimus Callipodius, at your service."
"I do not remember to have heard the name, but," she added with courtesy,"that is due to my ignorance as a young girl, or to my defective memory."
"It is a name that has not deserved to be harbored in the treasury of sucha mind."
The girl was uneasy. The fulsome compliment and the obsequious bow of thespeaker were not merely repugnant to her good taste, but filled her withvague misgivings. It was true that exaggeration and flattery in addresswere common enough at the period, but not among Christians, who abstainedfrom such extravagance. The mode of speaking adopted by Callipodiusstamped him as not being one of the faithful.
"I will summon a female slave to attend on your ladyship," said he; "andshe will conduct you to the women's apartments. Ask for whatever youdesire. The entire contents of the house are at your disposal."
"I prefer to remain here in the court till my mother shall arrive."
"Alas! adorable lady! it is possible that you may have to endure herabsence for some time. Owing to the disturbed condition of the streets, itis to be feared that her carriage has been stopped; it is not unlikelythat she may have been compelled to take refuge elsewhere; but, under nocircumstances short of being absolutely prevented from joining you, willshe fail to meet you to-morrow in the villa Ad Fines."
"Whose villa?"
"The villa to which, for security, you and your mother the Lady Quinctaare to be conveyed till the disturbances are over, and the excitement inmen's minds has abated. By Hercules! one might say that the drama of thequest of Proserpine by Ceres were being rehearsed, were it not that thedaughter is seeking the mother as well as the latter her incomparablechild."
"I cannot go to Ad Fines without her."
"Lady, in all humility, as unworthy to advise you in anything, I wouldventure to suggest that your safety depends on accepting the means ofescape that are offered. The high priestess has declared that nothing willsatisfy the incensed god but that you should be surrendered to her, andwhat mercy you would be likely to encounter at her hands, after what hastaken place, your penetrating mind will readily perceive. Such being thecase, I dare recommend that you snatch at the opportunity offered, fly thecity and hide in the villa of a friend who will die rather than surrenderyou. None will suspect that you are there."
"What friend? Largus Litomarus is scarcely to be termed an acquaintance ofmy mother."
"Danger draws close all generous ties," said Callipodius.
"But my mother?"
"Your mother, gifted with vast prudence, may have judged that her presencealong with you would increase the danger to yourself. I do not say so. Butit may so happen that her absence at this moment may be due to her goodjudgment. On the other hand, it may also have chanced, as I alreadyintimated, that her litter has been stayed, and she has been constrainedto sacrifice."
"That she will never do."
"In that case, I shudder at the consequences. But why suppose the worst?She has been delayed. And now, lady, suffer me to withdraw--it is aneclipse of my light to be beyond the radiance of your eyes. I depart,however, animated by the conviction, and winging my steps, that I go toperform your dearest wish--to obtain information relative to your ladymother, and to learn when and where she will rejoin you. Be ready to startat dawn--as soon as the city gates are opened, and that will be in anotherhour."
Then Perpetua resigned herself to the female servants, who led her intothe inner and more private portions of the house, reached by means of apassage called "the Jaws" (_fauces_).
Perpetua was aware that she was in a difficult situation, one in which shewas unable to know how she was placed, and from which she could notextricate herself. She was young and inexperienced, and, on the whole,inclined to trust what she was told.
In pagan Rome, it was not customary for girls to be allowed the libertythat alone could give them self-confidence. Perhaps the condition of thatevil world was such that this would not have been possible. When thefoulest vice flaunted in public without a blush, when even religiondemoralized, then a Roman parent held that the only security for theinnocence of a daughter lay in keeping her closely guarded from everycorrupting sight and sound. She was separated from her brothers and fromall men; she associated with her mother and with female slaves only. Shewas hardly allowed in the street or road, except in a litter with curtainsclose drawn, unless it were at some religious festival or public ceremony,when she was attended by her relatives and not allowed out of their sight.
This was due not merely to the fact that evil was rampant, but also to theconviction in the hearts of parents that innocence could be preserved onlyby ignorance. They were unable to supply a child with any moral principle,to give it any law for the government of life, which would plant the bestguardian of virtue within, in the heart.
Augustus, knowing of no divine law, elevated sentimental admiration forthe simplicity of the ancients into a principle--only to discover that itwas inadequate to bear the strain put on it; that the young failed tocomprehend why they should control their passions and deny themselvespleasures out of antiquarian pedantry. Marcus Aurelius had sought inphilosophy a law that would keep life pure and noble, but his son Commoduscast philosophy to the winds as a bubble blown by the breath of man, andbecame a monster of vice. Public opinion was an unstable guide. It didworse than fluctuate, it sank. Much was tolerated under the Empire thatwas abhorrent to the conscienc
e under the Republic. It allowed to-day whatit had condemned yesterday. It was a nose of wax molded by the viciousgoverning classes, accommodated to their license.
Although a Christian maiden was supplied with that which the most exaltedphilosophy could not furnish--a revealed moral code, descending from theCreator of man for the governance of man, yet Christian parents could notexpose their children to contamination of mind by allowing them the widefreedom given at this day to an English or American girl. Moreover, thecustoms of social life had to be complied with, and could not be brokenthrough. Christian girls were accordingly still under some restraint, werekept dependent on their parents, and were not allowed those opportunitiesfor free action which alone develop individuality and give independence ofcharacter. Nevertheless, in times of persecution, when many of thesemaidens thus closely watched were brought to the proof of their faith,they proved as strong as men--so mighty was the grace of God, so stubbornwas faith.
Although Perpetua was greatly exhausted by the strain to which she hadbeen exposed during the day, she could not rest when left to herself in aquiet room, so alarmed was she at the absence of her mother.
An hour passed, then a second. Finally, steps sounded in the corridorbefore her chamber, and she knew that she must rise from the couch onwhich she had cast herself and continue her flight.
A slave presented herself to inform Perpetua that Callipodius had returnedwith the tidings that her mother was unable at once to rejoin her, thatshe was well and safe, and had preceded her to Ad Fines; that she desiredher daughter to follow with the utmost expedition, and that she wasimpatient to embrace her. The slave woman added that the streets were nowquiet, the city gates were open, and that the litter was at the door inreadiness.
"I will follow you with all speed. Leave me to myself."
Then, when the slave had withdrawn, Perpetua hastily arranged her ruffledhair, extended her arms, and turning to the east, invoked the protectionof the God who had promised, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
On descending to the _atrium_, Perpetua knelt by the water-tank and bathedher face and neck. Then she mounted the litter that awaited her outsidethe house. The bearers at once started at a run, nor did they desist tillthey had passed through the city gate on the road that led to the mountainrange of the Cebennae. This was no military way, but it led into thepleasant country where the citizens of Nemausus and some of the richmerchants of Narbo had their summer quarters.
The gray dawn had appeared. Market people from the country were cominginto the town with their produce in baskets and carts.
The bearers jogged along till the road ascended with sufficient rapidityto make them short of breath. The morning was cold. A streak of light layin the east, and the wind blew fresh from the same quarter. The colorlesswhite dawn overflowed the plain of the Rhodanus, thickly strewn witholives, whose gray foliage was much of the same tint as the sky overhead.To the south and southeast the olive plantations were broken by tracts ofwater, some permanent lagoons, others due to recent inundations. To theright, straight as an arrow, white as snow, ran the high road from Italyto Spain, that crossed the Rhodanus at Ugernum, the modern Beaucaire, andcame from Italy by Tegulata, the scene of the victory of Marius over theCimbri, and by Aquae Sextiae and its hot springs.
The journey was long; the light grew. Presently the sun rose and flushedall with light and heat. The chill that had penetrated to the marrow ofthe drowsy girl gave way. She had refused food before starting; now, whenthe bearers halted at a little wayside tavern for refreshment and rest,she accepted some cakes and spiced wine from the fresh open-faced hostesswith kindly eyes and a pleasant smile, and felt her spirits revive. Wasshe not to rejoin her dear mother? Had she not escaped with her life fromextreme peril? Was she not going to a place where she would be free frompursuit?
She continued her journey with a less anxious heart. The scenery improved,the heights were wooded, there were juniper bushes, here and there tuftsof pale helebore.
Then the litter was borne on to a terrace before a mass of limestone cragand forest that rose in the rear. A slave came to the side of thepalanquin and drew back the curtain. Perpetua saw a bright pretty villa,with pillars before it forming a peristyle. On the terrace was a fountainplashing in a basin.
"Lady," said the slave, "this is Ad Fines. The master salutes you humbly,and requests that you will enter."
"The master? What master?"
"AEmilius Lentulus Varo."