CHAPTER XI.
THE OFFER.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
It was evening in the Pretorian camp. Lucullus was in his room seated bya lamp which threw a bright light around. He was roused by a knock atthe door. At once rising, he opened it. A man entered and advancedsilently to the middle of the room. He then disencumbered himself of thefolds of a large mantle in which he was dressed and faced Lucullus.
"Marcellus!" cried the other in amazement, and springing forward heembraced his visitor with every mark of joy.
"Dear friend," said he, "to what happy chance do I owe this meeting? Iwas just thinking of you and wondering when we should meet again."
"Our meetings, I fear," said Marcellus sadly "will not be very frequentnow. I make this one at the risk of my life."
"True," said Lucullus, participating in the sadness of the other. "Youare pursued, and there is a price on your head. Yet here you are as safeas you ever were in those happy days before this madness seized you. O,Marcellus why can they not return again?"
"I cannot change my nature nor undo what is done. Moreover, Lucullus,although my lot may appear to you a hard one, I never was so happy."
"Happy!" cried the other in deep surprise.
"Yes, Lucullus, though afflicted I am not cast down; though persecuted Iam not in despair."
"The persecution of the emperor is no slight matter."
"I know it well. I see my brethren fall before it every day. Every daythe circle that surrounds me is lessened. Friends leave me and neverappear again. Companions go up to the city, but when they return theyare carried back dead to be deposited in their graves."
"And yet you say you can be happy?"
"Yes, Lucullus, I have a peace that the world knows nothing of; a peacethat cometh from above, that passeth all understanding."
"I know, Marcellus, that you are too brave to fear death; but I neverknew that you had sufficient fortitude to endure calmly all that I knowyou must now suffer. Your courage is superhuman, or rather it is thecourage of madness."
"It comes from above, Lucullus. Once I was incapable of feeling it, butnow old things have passed away and all has become new. Sustained bythis new power, I can endure the utmost evils that can be dealt upon me.I expect nothing but suffering in life, and know that I shall die inagony; yet the thought can not overcome the strong faith that iswithin me."
"It pains me," said Lucullus sadly, "to see you so determined. If I sawthe slightest sign of wavering in you I would hope that time mightchange or modify your feelings. But you seem to me to be fixedunalterably in your new course."
"God grant that I may remain steadfast unto the end!" said Marcellusfervently. "But it is not of my feelings that I came to speak. I come,Lucullus, to ask your assistance, to claim your sympathy and help. Youpromised me once to show me your friendship if I needed it. I come nowto claim it."
"All that is in my power is yours already, Marcellus. Tell what you want."
"You have a prisoner."
"Yes, many."
"This is a boy."
"I believe my men captured a boy a short time since."
"This boy is too insignificant to merit capture. He is beneath the wrathof the emperor. He is yet in your power. I come, Lucullus, to implorehis delivery."
"Alas, Marcellus, what is it that you ask? Have you forgotten thediscipline of the Roman army, or the military oath? Do you not know thatif I did this I would violate that oath and make myself a traitor? Ifyou asked me to fall upon my sword I would do it more readily than this."
"I have not forgotten the military oath or the discipline of the camp,Lucullus. I thought that this lad, being scarcely more than a child,might not be considered a prisoner. Do the commands of the emperorextend to children?"
"He makes no distinction of age. Have you not seen children as young asthis lad suffer death in the Coliseum?"
"Alas I have," said Marcellus, as his thoughts reverted to those younggirls whose death-song once struck so painfully and so sweetly upon hisheart. "This young boy, then, must also suffer?"
"Yes," said Lucullus, "unless he abjures Christianity."
"And that he will never do."
"Then he will rush upon his fate. The law does this, not I, Marcellus. Iam but the instrument. Do not blame me."
"I do not blame you. I know well how strongly you are bound toobedience. If you hold your office you must perform its duties. Yet letme make another proposal. Surrender of prisoners is not allowed, but anexchange is lawful."
"Yes."
"If I could tell you of a prisoner far more important than this boy, youwould exchange, would you not?"
"But you have taken none of us prisoners?"
"No, but we have power over our own people. And there are some among uson whose heads the emperor has placed a large reward. For the capture ofthese a hundred lads like this boy would be gladly given."
"Is it then a custom among Christians to betray one another?" askedLucullus in surprise.
"No, but sometimes one Christian will offer his own life to save that ofanother."
"Impossible!"
"It is so in this instance."
"Who is it that is offered for this boy?"
"I Marcellus!"
At this astounding declaration Lucullus started back.
"You!" he cried.
"Yes, I myself."
"You are jesting. It is impossible."
"I am serious. It is for this that I have already exposed my life incoming to you. I have shown the interest that I take in him by thisgreat risk. I will explain.
"This boy Pollio is the last of an ancient and noble Roman family. He isthe only son of his mother. His father died in battle. He belongs to theServilii."
"The Servilii! Is his mother the Lady Caecilia?"
"Yes. She is a refugee in the Catacombs. Her whole life and love iswrapped up in this boy. Every day she lets him go up into the city, adangerous adventure, and in his absence she suffers indescribable agony.Yet she is afraid to keep him there always for fear that the damp airwhich is so fatal to children may cut him off. So she exposes him towhat she thinks is a smaller danger.
"This boy you have a prisoner. That mother has heard of it, and now lieshovering between life and death. If you destroy him she too will die,and one of the noblest and purest spirits in Rome will be no more.
"For these reasons I come to offer myself in exchange. What am I? I amalone in the world. No life is wrapped up in mine. No one depends on mefor the present and the future. I fear not death. It may as well comenow as at any other time. It must come sooner or later, and I wouldrather give my life as a ransom for a friend than lay it down uselessly.
"For these reasons, Lucullus, I implore you, by the sacred ties offriendship, by your pity, by your promise to me, give me your assistancenow and take my life in exchange for him."
Lucullus rose to his feet and paced the room in great agitation.
"Why, O Marcellus," he cried at last, "do you try me so terribly?"
"My proposal is easy to receive."
"You forget that your life is precious to me."
"But think of this young lad."
"I pity him deeply. But do you think I can receive your life as a forfeit?"
"It is forfeited already, and will be surrendered sooner or later. Ipray you let it be yielded up while it may be of service."
"You shall not die as long as I can prevent it. Your life is not yetforfeited. By the immortal gods, it will be long before you take yourplace in the arena."
"No one can save me when once I am taken. You might try your utmost.What could you do to save one on whom the emperor's wrath is falling?"
"I might do much to avert it. You do not know what might be done. Buteven if I could do nothing, still I would not listen to this proposal now."
"If I went to the emperor himself he would grant my prayer."
"He would take you prisoner at once and put
both of you to death."
"I could send a messenger with my proposal."
"The message would never reach him; or at least not until it would betoo late."
"There is then no hope?" said Marcellus mournfully.
"None."
"And you absolutely refuse to grant my request?"
"Alas, Marcellus, how can I be guilty of the death of my friend? Youhave no mercy on me. Forgive me if I refuse so unreasonable a proposal."
"The will of the Lord be done," said Marcellus. "I must hasten back.Alas! how can I carry with me this message of despair?"
The two friends embraced in silence, and Marcellus departed, leavingLucullus overcome with amazement at this proposal.
Marcellus returned to the Catacombs in safety. The brethren there whoknew of his errand received him again with mournful joy. The ladyCaecilia still lay in a kind of stupor, only half conscious ofsurrounding events. At times her mind would wander, and in her deliriumshe would talk of happy scenes in her early life.
But the life which she had led in the Catacombs, the alternating hopeand fear, joy and sorrow, the ever present anxiety, and the oppressiveair of the place itself, had overcome both mind and body. Her delicatenature sank beneath the fury of such an ordeal, and this last heavy blowcompleted her prostration. She could not rally from its effects.
That night they watched around her couch. Every hour she grew feebler,and life was slowly but surely passing away. From that descent untodeath not even the restoration of her son could have saved her.
But though earthly thoughts had left her and earthly feelings had grownfaint, the one master passion of her later years held undiminished powerover her. Her lips murmured still the sacred words which had so longbeen her support and consolation. The name of her darling boy wasbreathed from her lips though his present danger was forgotten; but itwas the blessed name of Jesus that was uttered with the deepest fervor.
At length the end came. Starting from a long period of stillness, hereyes opened wide, a flush passed over her wan and emaciated face and sheuttered a faint cry, "Come, Lord Jesus!" With the cry life went out, andthe pure spirit of the lady Caecilia had returned unto God who gave it.