CHAPTER IX.
THE PERSECUTION.
"Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise."
The persecution raged with greater fury. In the few weeks that passedsince Marcellus had lived here, great numbers had sought refuge in thisretreat. Never before had so many congregated here. Generally theauthorities had been content with the more conspicuous Christians, andthe fugitives to the Catacombs were consequently composed of this class;it was a severe persecution indeed which embraced all, and suchindiscriminate rage had been shown only under a few emperors. But nowthere was no distinction of class or station. The humblest follower aswell as the highest teacher was hurried away to death.
Until this time the communication with the city was comparatively easy,for the poor Christians above ground never neglected those below orforgot their wants. Provisions and assistance of of all kinds werereadily obtained. But now the very ones on whom the fugitives relied forhelp were themselves driven out, to share their fate and become thepartakers instead of the bestowers of charity.
Still their situation was not desperate. There were many left in Romewho loved them and assisted them, although they were not Christians. Inevery great movement there will be an immense class composed ofneutrals, who either from interest or indifference remain unmoved. Thesepeople will invariably join the strongest side, and where dangerthreatens will evade it by any concessions. Such was the condition oflarge numbers in Rome. They had friends and relatives among theChristians whom they loved, and for whom they felt sympathy. They werealways ready to assist them, but had too much regard for their ownsafety to cast in their lot with them. They attended the temples andassisted at the worship of the heathen gods as before, and werenominally adherents of the old superstition. Upon these now theChristians were forced to depend for the necessaries of life.
The expeditions to the city were now accompanied with greater danger,and only the boldest dared to venture. Such, however, was the contemptof danger and death with which they were inspired that there was neverany scarcity of men for this perilous duty.
To this task Marcellus offered himself, glad that he could in any way dogood to his brethren. His fearlessness and acuteness, which had formerlyraised him so high as a soldier, now made him conspicuous for success inthis new pursuit.
Numbers were destroyed every day. Their bodies were sought for andcarried away by the Christians for purposes of burial. This was not verydifficult to accomplish, since it relieved the authorities of thetrouble of burning or burying the corpses.
One day tidings came to the community beneath the Appian Way that two oftheir number had been captured and put to death. Marcellus and anotherChristian went forth to obtain their bodies. The boy Pollio also wentwith them, to be useful in case of need. It was dusk when they enteredthe city gate, and darkness came rapidly on. Soon, however, the moonarose and illumined the scene.
They threaded their way through the dark streets, and at length came tothe Coliseum, the place of martyrdom for so many of their companions.Its dark form towered up grandly before them, vast and gloomy and sternas the imperial power that reared it. Crowds of keepers and guards andgladiators were within the iron gates, where the vaulted passage wayswere illuminated with the glare of torches.
The keepers knew their errand, and rudely ordered them to follow. Theyled them on till they came to the arena. Here lay a number of bodies,the last of those who had been slain that day. They were fearfullymangled; some indeed were scarcely distinguishable as human beings.After a long search they found the two whom they sought. Their bodieswere then placed in large sacks, in which they prepared to carry themaway. Marcellus looked in upon the scene. All around him rose themassive walls, ascending by many terraces back to the outer circle. Itsblack form seemed to shut him in with a barrier which he could not pass.
"How long will it be," he thought, "before I too shall take my placehere and lay down my life for my Saviour? When that time comes shall Ibe true? Lord Jesus, in that hour sustain me!"
The moon had not yet risen high enough to shine into the arena. Withinit was dark and forbidding. The search had been made with torchesobtained from the keepers.
At this moment Marcellus heard a deep voice from some of the vaultsbehind them. Its tones rang out upon the night air with startlingdistinctness, and were heard high above the rude clamor of the keepers:
"Now is come salvation and strength, And the kingdom of our God, And the power of his Christ; For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, Which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, And by the word of his testimony, And they loved not their lives unto the death."
"Who is that?" said Marcellus.
"Do not notice him," said his companion. "It is Brother Cinna. Hisgriefs have made him mad. His only son was burned at the stake at thebeginning of the persecution, and since then he has gone about the citydenouncing woe. Hitherto they have let him alone; but now at last theyhave seized him."
"And is he a prisoner here?"
"He is."
Again the voice of Cinna arose, fearfully, menacingly, and terribly,
"How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not avenge our blood on themthat dwell upon the earth?"
"This, then, is the man that I heard in the Capitol?"
"Yes. He has been all through the city, and even in the palace, utteringhis cry."
"Let us go."
They took their sacks and started for the gates. After a short delaythey were allowed to pass. As they went out they heard the voice ofCinna in the distance:
"Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, And is become the habitation of devils, And the hold of every foul spirit, And the cage of every unclean and hateful bird: Come ye out of her, my people!"
None of them spoke until they had reached a safe distance from theColiseum.
"I felt afraid," said Marcellus, "that we should be kept in there."
"Your fears were reasonable," said the other. "Any sudden whim of thekeeper might be our doom. But this we must be prepared for. In timeslike this we must be ready to meet death at any moment. What says ourLord? 'Be ye also ready.' We must be able to say when the time comes, 'Iam now ready to be offered.'"
"Yes," said Marcellus, "our Lord has told us what we will have: 'In thisworld ye shall have tribulation--"
"And he says also, 'Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. Where Iam, there ye shall be also.'"
"Through him," said Marcellus, "we can come off more than conquerorsover death. The afflictions of this present time are not worthy to becompared to the glory that shall be revealed to us."
Thus they solaced themselves with the promises of that blessed Word oflife which in all ages and under all circumstances can give suchheavenly consolation. Bearing their burdens, they finally reached theirdestination in safety, thankful that they had been preserved.
A few days afterward Marcellus went up for provisions. This time he wasalone. He went to the house of a man who was friendly to them and hadbeen of much assistance. It was outside of the walls, in the suburbnearest the Appian Way.
After obtaining the requisite supply, he began to inquire after thenews. "The news is bad for you," said the man. "One of the Pretorianofficers was recently converted to Christianity, and the emperor isenraged. He has appointed another to the office which he held, and hassent him after the Christians. They are catching some every day. No manis too poor to be seized in these days."
"Ah! Do you know the name of this Pretorian officer who is seeking theChristians?"
"Lucullus."
"Lucullus!" cried Marcellus. "How strange!"
"He is said to be a man of great skill and energy."
"I have heard of him. This is indeed bad news for the Christians."
"The conversion of the other Pretorian officer has greatly enraged theemperor. A price is now set upon his head. If you chance to see him orto be i
n his way, friend, you had better let him know. They say he is inthe Catacombs."
"He must be there. There is no other place of safety."
"These are indeed terrible times. You have need to be cautious."
"They cannot kill me more than once," said Marcellus.
"Ah! you Christians have wonderful fortitude. I admire your bravery; yetstill I think you might conform outwardly to the emperor's decree. Whyshould you rush so madly upon death?"
"Our Redeemer died for us. We are ready to die for him. And since hedied for his people, we also are willing to imitate him and lay down ourlives for our brethren."
"You are wonderful people," said the man, raising his hands.
Marcellus now bade him farewell, and departed with his load. The newswhich he had just heard filled his mind.
"So Lucullus has taken my place," thought he. "I wonder if he has turnedagainst me? Does he now think of me as his friend Marcellus, or only asa Christian? I may soon find out. It would be strange indeed if I shouldfall into his hands; and yet if I am captured it will probably be by him.
"Yet it is his duty as a soldier, and why should I complain? If he isappointed to that office he can do nothing else than obey. As a soldierhe can only treat me as an enemy of the state. He may pity or love me inhis heart, yet he must not shrink from his duty.
"If a price is put on my head they will redouble their efforts for me.My time I believe is at hand. Let me be prepared to meet it."
With such thoughts as these, he walked down the Appian Way. He waswrapped up in his own meditations, and did not see a crowd of peoplethat had gathered at a corner of a street until he was among them. Thenhe suddenly found himself stopped.
"Ho, friend!" cried a rude voice, "not so fast. Who are you, and whereare you going?"
"Away," cried Marcellus in a tone of command natural to one who hadruled over men; and he motioned the man aside.
The crowd were awe-struck by his authoritative tone and imperiousmanner, but their spokesman showed more courage.
"Tell us who you are, or you shall not pass."
"Fellow," cried Marcellus, "stand aside! Do you not know me? I am aPretorian."
At that dreaded name the crowd quickly opened, and Marcellus passedthrough it. But scarcely had he moved five paces away than a voiceexclaimed:
"Seize him! It is the Christian, Marcellus!"
A shout arose from the crowd. Marcellus needed no further warning.Dropping his load, he started off down a side street toward the Tiber.The whole crowd pursued. It was a race for life, and death. ButMarcellus had been trained to every athletic sport, and increased thedistance between himself and his pursuers. At last he reached the Tiber,and leaping in, he swam to the opposite side.
The pursuers reached the river's brink, but followed no further.