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160 DARKNESS AND DAWN
via, what thoughts strike you when you look round upon this
Palace and society
? Is there no such thing as virtue ? ' he
'
asked impetuously. The Eoinans used to honour it. Who
cares for virtue now, except one or two philosophers ? and
'
'
'
Speak on, Britannicus,' she said. Agrippina
is less our
enemy than she was. She has withdrawn her spies. We
are not worth the hatred of any one else. Of the slaves
who chiefly wait on me, most are faithful, and some are
Christians.'
'
You have guessed my meaning, Octavia. Of the men
and women around us, how very few there are, except
the Christians, who are pure and '
good. How comes it ?
'
Their strange faith sustains them.'
'
But does it not seem inconceivable that the gods or
that God, if there be but one, should have revealed the
truth to barbarian Jews ?'
'
I don't know, Britannicus. Who is the most virtuous
person you know I mean, excepting the Christians '
?
'
Have we met any except perhaps Persius and my
Titus ? and well, perhaps the most virtuous of all is that
little slave, Epictetus.'
'Yet Epictetus
is a Phrygian, and a slave, and deformed,
and lame. And as for the Jews, you know that your friend
Titus thinks them the most interesting people in the world :
and it is
whispered that some of the noblest ladies in
Koine Otho's wife among them have secretly embraced
Judaism.'
'
Poppaea does little credit to their religion
if all be true
that is said of her. But Pomponia
is a Christian, and
Claudia, the fairest maiden in Rome. Whether they hold
truth or falsehood I know not, but if religion has anything
to do with goodness there seems to be no religion like
theirs.'
'Britannicus,' she answered, 'like you, I am deeply
interested in all that Pomponia has told me ;
but I will
tell you what has struck me most. Nero, and Seneca, and
Agrippina, and all the rest of them, are full of misery and
despair, though they are rich, and praised, and powerful ;
but these Christians, on the other hand, are paupers, hated,
persecuted and yet happy. It is that which amazes me
most of all.'