CHAPTER VII
OBLATIONS
The house into which the widow lady and her daughter entered was that usedby the Christians of Nemausus as their church. A passage led into the_atrium_, a quadrangular court in the midst of the house into which mostof the rooms opened, and in the center of which was a small basin ofwater. On the marble breasting of this tank stood, in a heathen household,the altar to the _lares et penates_, the tutelary gods of the dwelling.This court was open above for the admission of light and air, and to allowthe smoke to escape. Originally this had been the central chamber of theRoman house, but eventually it became a court. It was the focus of familylife, and the altar in it represented the primitive family hearth in timesbefore civilization had developed the house out of the cabin.
Whoever entered a pagan household was expected, as token of respect, tostrew a few grains of incense on the ever-burning hearth, or to dip hisfingers in the water basin and flip a few drops over the images. But in aChristian household no such altar and images of gods were to be found. AChristian gave great offense by refusing to comply with the generallyreceived customs, and his disregard on this point of etiquette was held tobe as indicative of boorishness and lack of graceful courtesy, as would bethe conduct nowadays of a man who walked into a drawing-room wearing hishat.
Immediately opposite the entrance into the _atrium_, on the further sideof the tank, and beyond the altar to the _lares et penates_, elevatedabove the floor of the court by two or three white-marble steps, was asemicircular chamber, with elaborate mosaic floor, and the walls richlypainted. This was the _tablinum_. The paintings represented scenes fromheathen mythology in such houses as belonged to pagans, but in thedwelling of Baudillas, the deacon, the pictures that had originallydecorated it had been plastered over, and upon this coating green vineshad been somewhat rudely drawn, with birds of various descriptions playingamong the foliage and pecking at the grapes.
Around the wall were seats; and here, in a pagan house, the masterreceived his guests. His seat was at the extremity of the apse, and was ofwhite marble. When such a house was employed for Christian worship, theclergy occupied the seat against the wall and the bishop that of themaster in the center. In the chord of the apse above the steps stood thealtar, now no longer smoking nor dedicated to the _Lar pater_, but devotedto Him who is the Father of Spirits. But this altar was in itselfdifferent wholly from that which had stood by the water tank. Instead ofbeing a block of marble, with a hearth on top, it consisted of a table onthree, sometimes four, bronze legs, the slab sometimes of stone, moregenerally of wood.(1)
The _tablinum_ was shut off from the hall or court, except when used forthe reception of guests, by rich curtains running on rings upon a rod.These curtains were drawn back or forward during the celebration of theliturgy, and this has continued to form a portion of the furniture of anOriental church, whether Greek, Armenian, or Syrian.
In like manner the _tablinum_, with its conch-shape termination, gave thetype to the absidal chancel, so general everywhere except in England.
On the right side of the court was the _triclinium_ or dining-room, andthis was employed by the early Christians for their love-feasts.
Owing to the protection extended by law to the colleges or clubs, theChristians sought to screen themselves from persecution by representingthemselves as forming one of these clubs, and affecting their usages. Evenon their tombstones they so designated themselves, "Cultores Dei," andthey were able to carry on their worship under the appearance offrequenting guild meetings. One of the notable features of such secular orsemi-religious societies was the convivial supper for the members,attended by all. The Church adopted this supper, called it Agape, but ofcourse gave to it a special signification. It was made to be a symbol ofthat unity among Christians which was supposed to exist between allmembers. The supper was also a convenient means whereby the rich couldcontribute to the necessities of the poor, and was regarded as afulfilment of the Lord's command: "When thou makest a feast, call thepoor, the maimed, the lame, the blind."
Already, in the third century, the believers who belonged to the superiorclasses had withdrawn from them, and alleged as their excuse the command:"When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thybrethren, neither thy kinsman, nor thy rich neighbors." Their actualreason was, however, distaste for associating with such as belonged to thelower orders, and from being present at scenes that were not alwaysedifying.
The house of Baudillas had once been of consequence, and his family one ofposition; but that had been in the early days of the colony before theindigenous Gaulish nobility had been ousted from every place of authority,and the means for enriching themselves had been drawn away by the greed ofthe conquerors. The quarter of the town in which was his mansion haddeclined in respectability. Many of the houses of the old Volcian gentryhad been sold and converted into lodgings for artisans. In this case theancestral dwelling remained in the possession of the last representativeof the family, but it was out of repair, and the owner was poor.
"I hardly know what should be done," said Baudillas to himself, ratherthan to the ladies he was escorting. "The Church has been enjoined toassemble this afternoon for the Agape, and our bishop, Castor, is absentat this critical juncture. He has gone on a pastoral round, takingadvantage of the floods to visit, in boat, some of the outlying hamletsand villages where there are believers. It seems to me hardly prudent forus to assemble when there is such agitation of spirits. Ladies, allow myhouse-keeper--she was my nurse--to conduct you where you can repose afterthe fatigue and distress you have undergone. She will provide dry garmentsfor Perpetua, and hot water for her feet. The baths are the proper place,but it would be dangerous for her to adventure herself in public."
Baudillas paced the court in anxiety of mind. He did not know what courseto adopt. He was not a man of initiative. He was devoted to his duty anddischarged whatever he was commanded to do with punctilious nicety; but hewas thrown into helpless incapacity when undirected by a superior mind, ornot controlled by a dominant will.
It would be difficult to communicate with the brethren. He had but onemale servant, Pedo, who had a stiff hip-joint. He could not send him roundto give notice of a postponement, and Baudillas was not the man to takesuch a step without orders. Probably, said he to himself, the commotionwould abate before evening. There would be much feasting in the town thatafternoon. The Cultores Nemausi had their club dinner; and the families ofVolcian descent made it a point of honor to entertain on that day,dedicated to their Gallic founder and hero-god. It was precisely for thisreason that the Agape had been appointed to be celebrated on the first ofMarch. When all the lower town was holding debauch, the harmless reunionof the Christians would pass unregarded.
"What shall I do?" said the deacon. "Castor, our bishop, should not haveabsented himself at such a time, but then how could he have foreseen whathas taken place? I will take care that the ladies be provided withwhatever they may need, and then will sally forth and ascertain whattemper our fellow-citizens are in. We southerners blaze up like a fire ofstraw, and as soon does our flame expire. If I meet some of the brethren,I will consult with them what is to be done. As it is we have postponedthe Agape till set of sun, when we deemed that all the town would beindoors merry-making."
An hour later, a slave of the lady Quincta arrived to say that her housewas watched, and that the servants did not deem it advisable to leave withthe litter, lest some attempt should be made to track them to the housewhere their mistress was concealed, in which case the rabble might eventry to get possession of Perpetua.
Quincta was greatly alarmed at the tidings, and bade that the littershould on no account be sent. When those watching her door had beenwithdrawn, then a faithful slave was to announce the fact, and she and herdaughter would steal home afoot. Thus passed the time, with anxietycontracting the hearts of all. Quincta was a timid woman, Baudillas, asalready said, irresolute. In the afternoon, gifts
began to arrive for thelove-feast. Slaves brought hampers of bread, quails, field-fare stuffedwith truffles; brown pots containing honey were also deposited by them inthe passage. Others brought branches of dried raisins, apples, eggs,flasks of oil, and bouquets of spring flowers.(2)
Baudillas was relieved when the stream of oblations began to flow in, asit decided for him the matter of the Agape. It must take place--it couldnot be deferred, as some of the food sent was perishable.
A slave arrived laden with an _amphora_--a red earthenware bottle, pointedbelow, so that to maintain it upright it had to be planted in sand orashes. On the side was a seal with the sacred symbol, showing that itcontained wine set apart for religious usage.(3)
"Sir!" said the bearer, "happy is the man who tastes of this wine fromAmbrussum (near Lunel).(4) It is of the color of amber, it is old, andruns like oil. The heat of the Provence sun is gathered and stored in it,to break forth and glow in the veins, to mount into and fire the brain,and to make and kindle a furnace in the heart."
"It shall be used with discretion, Tarsius," said the deacon.
"By Bacchus!--I ask your pardon, deacon! Old habits are not easily laidaside. What was I saying? Oh--you remarked something about discretion. Formy part I consider that my master has exercised none in sending this toyour love-feast. Bah! it is casting pearls before swine to pour out thisprecious essence into the cups of such a beggarly, vagabond set asassemble here. The quality folk are becoming weary of these banquets andhold aloof."
"That is sadly true," observed Baudillas, "and the effect of thiswithdrawal is that it aggravates the difficulties of myself and mybrethren."
"The choice liquor is thrown away on such as you have as congregation. Howcan they relish the Ambrussian if they have not had their palates educatedto know good liquor from bad? On my faith as a Christian! were I masterinstead of slave, I would send you the wine of the year when Sosius Falcoand Julius Clarus were consuls--then the grapes mildewed in the bunch, andthe wine is naught but vinegar, no color, no bouquet, no substance.Gentlemen and slaves can't drink it. But I reckon that my master thinks tocondone his absence by sending one of his choicest flasks."
"You are somewhat free of tongue, Tarsius."
"I am a frank man though enslaved. Thoughts are free, and my tongue is notenchained. I shall attend the banquet this evening. The master andmistress remain at home that we, believing members of the family, may bepresent at the Agape. I will trouble you, when pouring out the Ambrussianwine, not to forget that I had to sweat under the flask, to your house."
"I think, Tarsius, I cannot do better than place the bottle under yourcharge. You know its value, and the force of the wine. Distribute as yousee fit."
"Aye; I know who will appreciate it, and who are unworthy of a drop. Iaccept the responsibility. You do wisely, deacon, in trusting me--a knowingone," and he slapped his breast and pursed up his mouth.
Then another servant appeared with a basket.
"Here, sir!" said he to the deacon. "I bring you honey-cakes. The ladyLampridia sends them. She is infirm and unable to leave her house, but shewould fain do something for the poor, the almoners of Christ. She sendsyou these and also garments that she has made for children. She desiresthat you will distribute them among such parents as have occasion forthem."
Next came a man of equestrian rank, and drew the deacon aside.
"Where is Castor?" he inquired in an agitated voice. "I cannot appear thisevening. The whole town is in effervescence. Inquisition may be made forus Christians. There will be a tumult. When they persecute you in onecity--fly to another! That is the divine command, and I shall obey it tothe letter. I have sent forward servants and mules--and shall escape withmy wife and children to my villa."
"The bishop is away. He will be back this evening. I have not known whatto do, whether or not to postpone the Agape to another day."
"No harm will come of it if you hold the feast. None will attend save thepoor and such as are on the books of the Church, the widows and those towhom a good meal is a boon. The authorities will not trouble themselvesabout the like of them. I don't relish the aspect of affairs, and shall beoff before the storm breaks." Then the knight added hastily, "Here ismoney, distribute it, and bid the recipients pray for me and mine, that noharm befall us."
Baudillas saw that the man was quaking with apprehension. "Verily," saidhe to himself, "It is a true saying, 'How hardly shall they that haveriches enter into the kingdom of Heaven.' I wonder now, whether I haveacted judiciously in entrusting that old Ambrussian to Tarsius? If thebishop had been here, I could have consulted him."
So a weak, but good man, may even do a thing fraught with greater mischiefthan can be done with evil intent by an adversary.