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84 DARKNESS AND DAWN
The officer touched his ear with the recogiiised formula.
'
Eemember, you will be my witness in this case.'
The student was arrested, but his father got him off by a
large secret bribe to the police arid to the silversmiths. The
crowd dispersed, and Pudens and Titus, without waiting to
watch the issue of the affair, turned their steps towards the
Vicus Apollinis, which led to the Palace.
Soon afterwards they heard footsteps behind them, and,
turning round, saw the youth whom they had rescued.
'
What more do you want '
?
eager, appealing look.
is not that '
enough ?
'
said Pudens, in answer to his
I have got you out of your trouble ;
'I am weak, and hungry, and a stranger,' said the youth,
humbly.
'
He wants money,' whispered Titus, and drawing a denarius
from the breast of his toga, he put
it into his hand.
But, kneeling down, the stranger seized the hem of the
scarlet sagum which Pudens happened to be wearing, and
kissing it, exclaimed, ' Oh, sir, take me into your household !
I will do anything
!
'
'Who are you?'
'My name is Ouesimus.'
'
A good name, and of good omen. 1 What are you ? You
look like a slave. Not a runaway slave, I '
hope ?
as to
'
No sir,' said Onesimus, to whom a lie came as easy
'
I lived at Colossse. I was kidnapped by a
most of his race.
slave-dealer, but I escaped.'
'
'
back to Colossse ?
And you want to go
'
No sir. I am left an orphan. I want to earn my living
here.'
'
'
Take him,' said Titus.
extra slave, and I like his looks.'
You have plenty of room for an
But Pudens hesitated.
' '
'
A Phrygian slave ! he said ;
why even proverbs warn me
against him.' He '
quoted two, sotto voce, to Titus Worst of
the Mysians,' used of persons despicably bad and ' More
;
cowardly than a Phrygian hare.'
'
Well,' said Titus,
'
I will give you proverb for proverb ;
" Phrygians are improved by scourging." ' 2
s, 'profitable.' St. Paul plays on the meaning of the name in
Philemon, 10, 11.
2 Cic. Pro
'
Ftacco, 27 Phrygium : plagis solere fieri meliorem.'