_ THE Apostle's words put confidence in the souls of the Christians.
The end of the world seemed ever near to them, but they began to
think that the day of judgment would not come immediately, that
first they would see the end of Nero's reign, which they looked on
as the reign of Satan, and the punishment of God for Caesar's
crimes, which were crying for vengeance. Strengthened in heart,
they dispersed, after the prayer, to their temporary dwellings, and
even to the Trans-Tiber; for news had come that the fire, set there
in a number of places, had, with the change of wind, turned back
toward the river, and, after devouring what it could here and there,
had ceased to extend.
The Apostle, with Vinicius and Chilo, who followed him, left the
excavation also. The young tribune did not venture to interrupt his
prayers; hence he walked on in silence, merely imploring pity with
his eyes, and trembling from alarm. Many approached to kiss
Peter's hands, and the hem of his mantle; mothers held out their
children to him; some knelt in the dark, long passage, and, holding
up tapers, begged a blessing; others, going alongside, sang: so
there was no chance for question or answer. Thus it was in the
narrow passage. Only when they came out to broader spaces, from
which the burning city was in view, did the Apostle bless them
three times, and say, turning to Vinicius, --
"Fear not. The hut of the quarryman is near; in it we shall find
Linus, and Lygia, with her faithful servant. Christ, who predestined
her to thee, has preserved her."
Vinicius tottered, and placed his hand against the cliff. The road
from Antium, the events at the wall, the search for Lygia amidst
burning houses, sleeplessness, and his terrible alarm had exhausted
him; and the news that the dearest person in the world was near by,
and that soon he would see her, took the remnant of his strength
from him. So great a weakness possessed him on a sudden that he
dropped to the Apostle's feet, and, embracing his knees, remained
thus, without power to say a word.
"Not to me, not to me, but to Christ," said the Apostle, who warded
off thanks and honor.
"What a good God!" said the voice of Chilo from behind, "but
what
shall I do with the mules that are waiting down here?"
"Rise and come with me," said Peter to the young man.
Vinicius rose. By the light of the burning, tears were visible on his
face, which was pale from emotion. His lips moved, as if in prayer.
"Let us go," said he.
But Chilo repeated again: "Lord, what shall I do with the mules
that
are waiting? Perhaps this worthy prophet prefers riding to
walking."
Vinicius did not know himself what to answer; but hearing from
Peter that the quarryman's hut was near by, he said, --
"Take the mules to Macrinus."
"Pardon me, lord, if I mention the house in Ameriola. In view of
such an awful fire, it is easy to forget a thing so paltry."
"Thou wilt get it."
"O grandson of Numa Pompilius, I have always been sure, but
now, when this magnaninious prophet also has heard the promise,
I will not remind thee even of this, that thou hast promised me a
vineyard. Fax vobiscum. I shall find thee, lord. Fax vobiscurn."
They answered, "And peace with thee."
Then both turned to the right toward the hills. Along the road
Vinicius said,--
"Lord, wash me with the water of baptism, so that I may call
myself a real confessor of Christ, for I love Him with all the power
of my soul. Wash me quickly, for I am ready in heart. And what
thou commandest I will do, but tell me, so that I may do it in
addition."
"Love men as thy own brothers," answered the Apostle, "for only
with love mayst thou serve Him."
"Yes, I understand and feel that. When a child I believed in the
Roman gods, though I did not love them. But I so love Him the
One God that I would give my life for Him gladly." And he looked
toward the sky, repeating with exaltation: "For He is one, for He
alone is kind and merciful; hence, let not only this city perish, but
the whole world, Him alone will I confess and recognize."
"And He will bless thee and thy house," concluded the Apostle.
Meanwhile they turned into another ravine, at the end of which a
faint light was visible. Peter pointed to it and said, --
"There is the hut of the quarryman who gave us a refuge when, on
the way from Ostrianum with the sick Linus, we could not go to
the Trans-Tiber."
After a while they arrived. The hut was rather a cave rounded Out
in an indentation of the hill, and was faced outside with a wall
made of reeds. The door was closed, but through an opening,
which served for a window, the interior was visible, lighted by a
fire. Some dark giant figure rose up to meet them, and inquired, --
"Who are ye?"
"Servants of Christ," answered Peter. "Peace be with thee, Ursus."
Ursus bent to the Apostle's feet; then, recognizing Vinicius, seized
his hand by the wrist, and raised it to his lips.
"And thou, lord," said he. "Blessed be the name of the Lamb, for
the joy which thou wilt bring to Callina."
He opened the door rhaen, and entered. Linus was lying on a
bundle of straw, with an emaciated face and a forehead as yellow
as ivory Near the fire sat Lygia with a string of small fish, intended
evidently for supper. Occupied in removing the fish from the
string, and thuiiking that it was Ursus who had entered, she did not
raise her eyes. But Vinicius approached, and, pronouncing her
name, stretched his hand to her. She sprang up quickly then; a
flash of astonishment and delight shot across her face. Without a
word, like a child who after days of fear and sorrow had found
father or mother, she threw herself into his open arms.
He embraced her, pressed her to his bosom for some time with
such ecstasy as if she had been saved by a miracle. Then,
withdrawing his arms, he took her temples between his hands,
kissed her forehead and her eyes, embraced her again, repeated her
name, bent to her knees, to her palms, greeted her, did her homage,
honored her. His delight had no bounds; neither had his love and
happiness.
At last he told her how he had rushed in from Antium; had
searched for her at the walls, in the smoke at the house of Linus;
how he had suffered and was terrified; how much he had endured
before the Apostle had shown him her retreat.
"But now," said he, "that I have found thee, I will not leave thee
near fire and raging crowds. People are slaying one another under
the walls, slaves are revolting and plundering. God alone knows
what miseries may fall yet on Rome. But I will save thee and all of
you. Oh, my dear, let us go to Antium; we will take a ship there
and sail to Sicily. My land is thy land, my houses are thy houses.
Listen to me! In Sicily we shall find Aulus. I will give thee back to
Pomponia, and take thee from her hands afterward. But, O
carissima, have no further fear of me. Christ has not washed me
yet, but ask Peter if on the way hither I have not told him my wish
to be a real confessor of Christ, and begged him to baptize me,
even in this hut of a quarryman. Believe, and let all believe me."
Lygia heard these words with radiant face. The Christians
formerly, because of Jewish persecutions, and then because of the
fire and disturbance caused by the disaster, lived in fear and
uncertainty. A journey to quiet Sicily would put an end to all
danger, and open a new epoch of happiness in their lives. If
Vinicius had wished to take only Lygia, she would have resisted
the temptation surely, as she did not wish to leave Peter and Linus;
but Vinicius said to them, "Come with me; my lands are your
lands, my houses your houses." At this Lygia inclined to kiss his
hand, in sign of obedience, and said, --
"Where thou art, Caius, there am I, Caia."
Then confused that she had spoken words which by Roman custom
were repeated only at marriage, she blushed deeply, and stood in
the light of the fire, with drooping head, in doubt lest he might
take them ill of her. But in his face boundless homage alone was
depicted. He turned then to Peter, and continued, --
"Rome is burning at command of Caesar. In Antium he
complained that he had never seen a great fire. And if he has not
hesitated at such a crime, think what may happen yet. Who knows
that he may not bring in troops, and command a slaughter? Who
knows what proscriptions may come; who knows whether after the
fire, civil war, murder, and famine may not come?
Hide yourselves, therefore, and let us hide Lygia. There ye can
wait till the storm passes, and when it is over return to sow your
grain anew."
Outside, from the direction of the Vatican Field, as if to confirm
his fears, distant cries were heard full of rage and terror. At that
moment the quarryman entered, the master of the hut, and,
shutting the door hastily, he cried, --
"People are killing one another near the Circus of Nero. Slaves and
gladiators have attacked the citizens."
"Do ye hear?" said Vinicius.
"The measure is full," said the Apostle; "and disasters will come,
like a boundless sea." Then he turned, and, pointing to Lygia, said,
"Take the maiden, whom God has predestined to thee, and save
her, and let Linus, who is sick, and Ursus go with you."
But Vinicius, who had come to love the Apostle with all the power
of his impetuous soul, exclaimed: "I swear, my teacher, that I will
not leave thee here to destruction."
"The Lord bless thee for thy wish," answered Peter; "but hast thou
not heard that Christ rcpcatcd thricc on the lake to me, 'Feed my
lambs'?"
Vinicius was silent.
"If thou, to whom no one has confided care over me, sayest that
thou wilt not leave me to destruction, how canst thou wish me to
leave my flock in the day of disaster? When there was a storm on
the lake, and we were terrified in heart, He did not desert us; why
should I, a servant, not follow my Master's example?"
Then Linus raised his emaciated face and inquired, --
"O vicegerent of the Lord, why should I not follow thy example?"
Vinicius began to pass his hand over his head, as if struggling with
himself or fighting with his thoughts; then, seizing Lygia by the
hand, he said, in a voice in which the energy of a Roman soldier
was quivering, --
"Hear me, Peter, Linus, and thou, Lygia! I spoke as my human
reason dictated; but ye have another reason, which regards, not
your own danger, but the commands of the Redeemer. True, I did
not understand this, and I erred, for the beam is not taken from my
eyes yet, and the former nature is heard in me. But since I love
Christ, and wish to be His servant, though it is a question for me of
something more than my own life, I kneel here before thee, and
swear that I will accomplish the command of love, and will not
leave my brethren in the day of trouble."
Then he knelt, and enthusiasm possessed him; raising his hands
and eyes, he cried: "Do I understand Thee, O Christ? Am I worthy
of Thee?"
His hands trembled; his eyes glistened with tears; his body
trembled with faith and love. Peter took an earthen vessel with
water, and, bringing it near him, said with solemnity, --
"Behold, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost. Amen."
Then a religious ecstasy seized all present. They thought that some
light from beyond this world had filled the hut, that they heard
some superhuman music, that the cliffs had opened above their
heads, that choirs of angels were floating down from heaven, and
far up there they saw a cross, and pierced hands blessing them.
Meanwhile the shouts of fighting were heard outside, and the roar
of flames in the burning city. _