Fabiola : or, The church of the catacombs - Digital Repository Services

Seraphica was again alone; she reflected on the words: " Which
of us shall first be taken hence? " but the answer gave her no
y. Casting her eyes on the lovely fruit which her mother
; brought, she took a pomegranate, and on dividing it, she
uvertd in the center some pieces of prold- they were evidently
I'tfd there for Seraphica, that she might therewith soften the
rt of her savage, jailer. She tasted the fruit but could not eat,
for she was unable to swallow.
The jailer detained Charitana at the door of the prison.
"
Well,
it seems you have forgotten the promise you made before I al-
lowed you to enter. Did you not speak of a magnificent diamond
that you were to .give me? Come, where is the precious
stoue? '
" You are right," replied Charitana, " I promised you a gift of
more value than this terrestrial globe, were it composed of diamond.
This treasure is the mystery of Faith, and those who pos-
sess it, become a free people yes, become kings and princes.
I will impart to thee those mysteries."
"
How, fool? Will you take upon you the part of Apollo who
once stuck upon the Phrygian king a pair of long ears? You
want to make a Midas of me! No no, you must be the cheated
one, not I. Do you hear the noises coming from the slave Market?
those are the cries of the Christians undergoing the lash.
Thou, fool, art also a Christian, and one of the worst. I overheard
distinctly your conversation in the dungeon, and this very
evening I shall hear the gold and silver I shall receive for your
detection jingling in my pocket.' He then thrust the unhappy
one into a cell, and slammed the door with such violence, that
the noise echoed like thunder along the corridors.
CHAPTER II.
THE EARTHQUAKE.
AFTER the conquest of Asia Minor by the Romans, Smyrna,
one of her most celebrated cities, was obliged to pay her share
of the yearly tribute imposed on the province, in wool, carpets,
mohair, tapestry, nut-galls, and above all, gold dust from the
rivers Hermos and Paktolos, and whatever luxuries the extrava-
gant Romans could desire, in Asiatic perfumes and cosmetics,
which were brought to the harbor, and shipped for Rome, as
were also slaves in great numbers.
Notwithstanding this heavy tax upon the people, trade flour-
ished, and the population became so numerous, that the shady
gardens and capacious quays, which surrounded the lovely bay,
could scarcely accommodate the various classes of the inhabitants,
who thronged there, for their evening promenade, to enjoy the
cool sea-breezes.
Here also might be seen the Roman Proconsul, Statius Quadratus,
attended by his body-guard. It was to him the merit
was due, that the tribute flowed in so
freely.
Quadratus turned aside from the crowd, and walked towards
the shore, when he met Asmenes, a priest of Isis, who had been
educated in Egypt, for the service ef that goddess. He bowed
to the Proconsul, who said to him: "Well, Egyptian naturalist,
tell me whence comes this oppressive heat, at this unusual
season of the year?"
"A difficult question, replied Asmenes, "although in the
calends of November, we have a heat, which seldom occurs in
the height of summer. I did suppose the evening would have
become cool, but it seems just as if the heat increases in the
same degree as the sun recedes. I wonder whether the Christians,
who fare but badly in the market, have not used some
mysterious means against the sun !"
"What do you mean?' 1
said Quadratus.
'It is said," replied Asmenes, "that the Thessalonians are masters
in necromancy, and that there are more soothsayers and
magicians amongst them, than amongst any other people. But
for my own part, I think that the greatest are to be found amongst
the Christians. It is beyond doubt, that at the death of their
great Prophet, the sun withdrew his light for three hours; and
L T D J A .
it is also related that in by-gone times, the sun stood still in
the heavens for three days. It was only this Spring, when
Polycarp was before your tribunal, a mysterious von.'
spoke to him, which was distinctly heard by all pv>
But thanks, a thousand thanks to you noble Proconsul, who
have granted our petitions, and well rid Smyrna of that sorry
scoundrel. Ha! look at them bound in the ship yonder! O
may Isis grant thee for this, health, happiness, and prosperity! "
Both advanced a little further up the walk, which led to the
shore. Several caravans returning from Arabia, and laden with
its treasures, passed them on their way to the city, there to
deliver them on the coming market-day, and to reload with other
wares, to sell again in their own country.
Quadratus was a man of mean education, and very superstitious;
he continued to dwell upon the witchcraft, which according
to the priest of Isis, lay in the hands of the Christians; and
as the heat increased, his anxiety became the more intense.
At last he stood still, and looking towards the West said "Do
you see that strange appearance?" convulsively seizing the
priest's arm. "Look at that unusual red, covering the heavens!
It cannot possibly be the reflection of the setting sun, which appears
yonder on Argos. What are the gods about to send us? "
Asmenes looked in silence on the spectacle. Deeper still became
the glowing red, the higher it rose in the heavens, till it
ended in a deep violet hue.
On the extreme verge of the horizon, a pale yellow gleam extended
along the North, West and South, until it approached
the East.where it was scarcely visible ; and little bluish vapors
rose from the sea, which became larger as they ascended. The
temperature then changed into that of a rough, sharp harvest
season; small clouds danced, spectre-like, here and there, upon
the surface of the water, and rising in the air passed over the
city, and spread themselves on the neighboring hills.
" Do I deceive myself," said the Proconsul, "or are we actu-
ally in a thick fog? I feel fearfully cold too. Let us hasten
home, I fear the worst, either pestilence, or war, or a gem-ml devastation." "It is the departure of the Christians," said
Asmenes, " they are preparing all this for us; I have expected
nothing less, than that their departure would be connected with
some such display. Thus, when in old times, they fled out of
Egypt from King Pharaoh, they did similar things, and even
divided the Red Sea, so that they passed through, as if on dry
land; while Pharaoh and his whole army found death in attempt-
ing to follow them. And it is very possible that their departure
now, will also be accompanied with bad consequences."
With this apprehension, they separated, the priest to his dwel-
ling, and the Proconsul to the palace, for consolation from Herod,
the Irenarch.
A number of dark Smyrnians were passing along the streets,
some seeking the open air, others the harbor; for the oldest inhabitants
understood the signs, and remembered that they were
always followed by a greater or lesser convulsion of the earth.
Quadratus, accompanied by his body-guard, then hastened
home. His palace formed a wing of the citadel, which was so
elevated, that one could scarcely fear any danger. He durst not
trust himself in the open air, for he dreaded the unusual excitement
called forth amongst the greater portion of the inhabitants,
by his cruel persecution of the Christians. No sooner had he
arrived at fhe citadel, than he ran anxiously through all the
apartments, and looked out at the starry heavens, first through one
window, and then through another. He, who has so often
proudly rocked himself in his Sella, and laughed as he looked on,
while the combatants in the Arena are torn to pieces by lions,
or the condemned Christians cast to wild beasts, has now become
a trembling coward, as soon as he sees his own life in jeopardy.
Herod showed more courage. He preferred to watch the operations
of nature. When all was silent and motionless, he
mounted his steed, and rode with some friends to a beautiful
valley outside the city, which to the present day is called the
"Valley of Paradise."
As Polycarp entered the Amphitheatre, a voice was heard from Heaven
"Take courajjc PolycarpI"