Virgilia or, Out of the Lion's Mouth

ere, for his step-mother's illness and the quiet condition of her mind during her convalescence, gave rise to the hope that

he Forum, he had come into personal contact with several of the Christians, finding them to be men and women of

o children, a boy and girl, a little older than Martius and Virgilia, and the lawyer, while saying nothing, had noticed that his son was not averse to lingering in the office wh

ars. She occupied a villa about two miles from the city gates, where there were immense vineyards, festooned between mulberry trees. The vines were now hung with great purple clusters of grapes, promises of luscious fruits a little later,

dent in his father's office, going with him daily at nine o'clock and returning at two for the family dinner. Now, he resumed his studies for the legal profession, and once m

although, partly from regard to prevailing sentiment, partly because of his bu

ding in front of the temple dedicated to his worship, Aurelius bowed profoundly, and muttered

ering on the desert, from which he had been so rudely carried away. It was not strange that Alyrus, a barbarian, should bear in his heart a bitter hatred for the Romans and all that belonged to them. A slave, he was, and Sahira, too, but they loathed their bonds. It did not occur to Alyrus to be grateful that when they were placed on a platform down yonder at the lower end of the Forum, to be sold to the highest bidder, Aurelius Lucanus, who had bought him

ly person who observe

piter, coming out of th

wn comments. He knew

y, but not the yo

been very profound in his reverence to the god, al

ung man?" inqui

y master, Aur

d t

way enable the pagans to hunt down the hated, despised followers of that Christus who had made them so much trouble, was worth following up. The priests knew that there were thousands of men in Rome who had no

art a

is master and son, now approaching

s thy c

seas, your

eyes on the questioner. In t

er does not bow

N

s, I know, a faithful follower of

esentation of jurisprudence, brought from Greece, was in front of the slave and the pr

t to those days when hundreds of horsemen acknowledged him chief, and date-palms waved their feathery arms over his tent; h

, is a Christian," he replied, an

be trusted. I am interested in these Christians. I would hear more. Come to me tomorrow, at the Temple, after sundown. There is a

arch between two tall columns and gazed down at the bronze li

was heard, which drove t

via, widow of Aureus Cantus, Senat

The embroidered curtains were tightly drawn, so that the passerby could not look in, but so curious were they to see the lady whose name was familiar to all, owing to the

aside and revealed cheeks of cream and rose, eyes inherited from some northern hero, of dee

lius Lucanus. Two attendants, who had walked behind the chair all the way from the Villa to guard their mistress and her

ny. He bowed to Hermione, who threw back he

t down side by side on an ivory and ebony bench in the window. High above them was Caesar's Palace, white and glistening in the September s

" she said, while she twirled in her

year, He

to see Rome? Was it so

ou couldst forget thy

art yearned for Rome. There is no place like her in all

olor flooding her cheek was in tint like that of a wondrous rose he had seen on the Isle of Cyprus, where his ship had touched in

Hermione followed the religion of her father or her mother. They had never talked on these matters. Christians, wh

us, began, carelessly, to scribble on it, as if he had not noticed

Then her breath came quickly and her face glowed. He was drawing, in

she said: "I, too,

g of hands, as Martius loo

ent away because I learned to believe in Christ. My step-mother would not have me at home. She hates the Christians, and my

thy step-mother satisfied

n the attitude she takes. I must wait. And in the meantime, I am preparing to be a lawyer, like my fat

not!" she

smiled

t, too," h

lness was Virgilia's declaration that she, too, has adopted the Christian faith. Where she heard about i

Senate about the constantly increasing number of Christians in Ro

o His name,"

itness for our faith before very long. My mother has been warned but feels no f

in time of need. We

n his strong one. They were destined to be firm, true friends, th

via

," she said, "w

ver bell on his desk, and A

ady Octavia's c

or van

u will not be at all anxious about

g. My children are counting much on the festivities for the Vendemmia. Can you not come at that time, you and Claudia, with your

he motion of the chair so soon. But I will tell her of your gentle bi

ossed Octa

w days before from a Christian high in the service of the Emperor, rang in her e

tius and Virgilia to represent u

will send a messen

Martius stood watching them as the four tall bearers carried them away, followed by two stalwart men. It had been a marvel to certain circles of Roman society that Octavia

at there were other reasons, Octavia followed Christus, and the Christians did not own slaves. But they