Historical Miniatures Part 24

"Pallas!" he roared, "Rome is burning!"

The slave remained speechless from fright.

"Pallas! Are you deaf?"

No answer.

"Pallas! Are you dumb? They say down there that I have fired the town, but I have not. Run out in the streets and spread about the report that the Christians have done it."

"No, I will not!" answered the slave.

Nero believed that his ears had deceived him.

"Do you not know," he said, "that the Christians are magicians, and live like rats in the catacombs, and that all Rome is undermined by them? I have thought of making the Tiber flow in to drown them, or of opening the walls of the cloacas and submerging the catacombs in filth. Their Sibylline books have prophesied the fall of Rome, though they use the name 'Babylon.' See, now the Capitol takes fire. Pallas, run out, and say the Christians have done it."

"That I will not do," answered Pallas loud and clearly, "because it is not true."

"This time my ears have not deceived me," roared the Emperor rising.

"You will not go into the town; then go in through the grating-door and play with my lions."

He opened the door, and pushed Pallas into the fore-court of the lions.

"Alexander!" said Pallas, "I have prayed you to be firm and courageous!"

"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the latter day He shall raise me from the earth."

"What is that you are saying?" said the Emperor, and pulled a cord, which opened the second door to the lions.

"Alexander, go out into the town, and spread the report that the Christians have set Rome on fire."

"No," answered Alexander, "for I am a Christian."

"What is a Christian?"

"G.o.d so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

"Will you not perish? Have I not the power to destroy you?"

"You have no power over me, except it be given from above."

"He does not fear death. Lentulus! bring fire here; I will set fire to your clothes, that we may see if you can burn, I will set your hair, your beard, your nails on fire; but we will first soak you in oil and naphtha, in pitch and sulphur. Then we will see whether you have an everlasting life. Lentulus!"

Lentulus rushed in: "Emperor! The city is in an uproar! Fly!"

"Must I fly? First bring fire!"

"Spain has revolted, and chosen Galba as Emperor."

"Galba! Eheu! fugaces, Postume ... Galba! Well, then, let us fly, but whither?"

"Through the catacombs, sire."

"No! the Christians live there, and they will kill me."

"They kill no one," said Alexander.

"Not even their enemies?"

"They pray for their enemies."

"Then they are mad! All the better!"

The Christians were a.s.sembled in one of the crypts of the catacombs.

"The Capitol is burning; that is the heathen's Zion," said Alexander.

"The Lord of Hosts avenges his destroyed Jerusalem."

"Say not 'avenges,' say 'punishes.'"

"Someone is coming down the pa.s.sage."

"Is it a brother?"

"No, he makes no obeisance before the cross."

"Then it is an executioner."

The Emperor appeared in rags, dirty, with a handkerchief tied round his forehead. As he approached the Christians, whom in their white cloaks he took for Greeks, he became quiet and resolved to bargain with them.

"Are you Greeks?"

"Here is neither Jew nor Greek, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but all are brothers in Christ! Welcome, brother!"

"It is the Wild Beast," said Alexander.

The Emperor now recognised his escaped slave, and in his terror fell on his knees.

"Kill me not! I am a poor stone-cutter, who has lost his way. Show me the way out, whether right or left."

"Do you know me?" asked Alexander.

"Alexander!" answered the Emperor.

"He whom you wished to burn. It is I!"

"Mercy! Kill me not!"