Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

228 THE FORMATION OF CHRISTENDOMby a dream, Apollonius proceeded to Rome, and thishe did at the moment when Nero was banishing thephilosophers. The peril was so great that at AriciaApollonius was met by a fugitive philosopher, whowarned him not to go on. And here out of his thirty-four companions all but eight deserted him. Withthe rest he entered Rome. And he remained therea considerable time, publicly practising and teachingphilosophy in spite of Nero, and visiting the temples,which the Consul Telesinus, attracted and subdued byhis conversation, authorised him to do. In vain didTigellinus attempt to daunt him ; the evil minister ofNero was quelled in spite of himself the divineknowledge of the philosopher, and not wishing to contendwith God, " Go," he said, " where thou wilt, forthou art too great to be subject to me." That he hadreason to say this appears from what follows. A girldied on the eve of her marriage, and the intendedbridegroom followed the bier weeping, and all Romewept with him, for she was of a consular family. NowApollonius happening to meet the funeral procession," Set down," said he," the bier, for I will dry up the tearswhich you are shedding for the maid." Upon whicl ihe asked her name. Now the spectators thought hewas going to pronounce a funeral oration over her.ut all he did was to touch her, and uttering somethingin a low tone of voice wakened the maid fromthat seeming death. She immediately began to speak,and returned to her father's house, as Alcestis of oldwhen recalled to life by Hercules. When the relationsoffered Apollonius 150,000 drachmae, he added thisto her dowry. " Now whether he found in her aspark of life, which those who attended her did notsee, or whether, when the soul had departed, he