click to read pdf file - The Preterist Archive

THE SPOLIARIUM 343
knowing her hapless love for Phlegon, she consented to
accompany her. It cost her a pang to leave her father on
that happy evening, but she knew that with him, no less than
with herself, the claims of charity were paramount, and all
the more towards those who seemed to need it most.
Could you find no better youth to love than one of so dire
'
a trade, Syra
? ' she gently asked the girl, as, with their heads
covered with shawls, they went in the deepening dusk down
the Via Sacra towards the amphitheatre.
'
It is not his fault, Junia. He hates it. His heart is
naturally pitiful. He was brought up in the midst of luxury
in the house of Pedanius, where he was a favourite. But
Pedanius is a wretch, and once he treated Phlegon so cruelly
that, in a fit of rage, the boy struck him. He might have
been crucified for it, or flung to the lampreys ; but, instead of
that, Pedanius made him take to this work in the amphitheatre.
How else could he live ? '
'
There are some lives worse than death,' said Junia.
which
'
'Well/ answered Syra ; many a time he has longed to stab
himself with his own sword ;
but ... he loves me.'
I did not mean that he should have killed himself,' said
'
Junia
;
none of us have a right to fling away the life
'
God gives us. I meant that it would be worth while facing o
any risk to escape doing wrong.'
'Nothing can be wrong which our masters make us do,'
answered Syra simply ;
and Junia could only sigh, for she
knew that this was an axiom with both slaves and their
masters.
By this time they had reached the outer door of the
spoliarium,and, in answer to a whispered watchword, Phlegon
admitted Syra, who promised to return very speedily, while
Junia waited for her outside.
A few moments only had elapsed when Syra sprang out of
the door agitated and breathless.
'
Oh, Junia !' she cried ;
I did it ! 1 did it !
'
'
'Did what?'
C
I have drunk some blood from a fresh wound, and I am
cured.'
'
'
Horrible ! said Junia, with a shudder, now for the first
time understanding what Syra had come for.
' '
Yes ;
it was horrible,' said the girl ;
but how could I help