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

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will be time to change the Tow? Until then I'll conduct myself
right well."
Metella laughed at this acknowledgment, and ordered a calendar
to be brought, that she might see what festival was to be ex-
pected in Autumn. She found that the festival of the siege of
Troy would be celebrated on the 15th of October. "That is for
a seeond Achilles, just the very day," added the mother jestingly.
" On that day you shall become a recruit."
" On the 15th of October," exclaimed Lucius' " that will be an
important day! True, there are several weeks till then, but the
15th of October will be a magnificent day! That will be a day of
rejoicing! "
"
So said the fiery youth. Now I must hasten to
Quintus. Farewell, my own dear mother, farewell," and in a
moment he was out of sight.
Metella studied how she could make this festival, called Tiro-
cinium, sufficiently important,
that it would leave an indelible
impression on the mind of her son; and she resolved on asking
the Proconsul to make his address of exhortation for the occa-
sion, most impressive and affecting. She next remembered all
the friends she would have to invite, not one of whom she dared
to forget.
The Tirocinium of the ancients, was a festival which made a
deep impression on every youth. It was intended to celebrate
the transition from youth to manhood. In a solemn public ad-
dress, they were exhorted to fulfil the duties of thoroughly good
citizens. The great deeds of their ancestors were set before them ;
and if their forefathers were not renowned, they were reminded
of the virtues of their nation. When it happened that some cit
izen was brought to justice on account of a misdemeanor, the
judge took care to remind him forcibly of the resolutions and
promises he had made at his Tirocinium.
We shall now see how the young Lucius celebrated this feast.
A number of the noblest youths of Athens were summoned to
appear before the Proconsul. All Metella's friends and relations
were already assembled in the palace, but the lady of the
house and her son, for whom the feast was given, were not yet
visible, for they were still in the Lararium or temple of the
household gods; where Lucius might be seen standing with outstretched
arms, in fervent supplication, imploring a blessing on
his future life. During a solemn prayer dictated to him by a
priest, he vowed to the gods to treasure virtue above all things,
and to hate vice. Then full of awe, he touched the knees of the
statue, turned himself round to the right, and remained again
standing before the divinity. His mother prayed by his side in
silence. She wrote down on a waxen tablet, a promise to the
divinity, that if her son lived to return from the wars, she would
offer to the gods the spring produce of all the herds on her estates.
Her prayer ended, the wine offerings commenced. The
fire burned on the small marble altar; the youth seized a golden
cup, and tilling it with wine from the sacrificial vessel, cast a
portion into the flames, the remainder he poured at the feet of
the divinity. He then placed a cake upon the altar, and whilst
it was burning, he strewed the choicest incense from Arabia on
the flames, which diffused a delightful perfume through the
whole sanctuary.
The mother then advanced towards her son, and took from hit
neck the golden amulet, placed there by his father at his birth,
and which was meant to keep him in constant remembrance of
filial obedience, and to serva as a preventive against danger and
certain diseases. Metella placed it as an offering at the feet
of the divinity. Lucius still dressed in his Prsetexta with a
cheerful countenance, left the Temple, and joined his friends,
who were anxiously awaiting him. After having received con-
gratulations on all sides, and covered with a thousand blessings,
lie was numerously attended on his way to the Proconsul's.
At this period the Athenians BO longer held their usual assem
blies, as at the time of the Republic, outside on the Pnyxhill,
rich in historical memories, and which was celebrated by the renowned
orators, but in the theatre of Dionysius,* where many
To thi day the high and beautifully flushed orators' stone, upon which men
i
I. ar- \vell a-- ;i u'rt .if number of Auiphitheatriral Ptone
.t ti. In' *ri-n on the I'nyxhill. The Forum in Rome scarcely affords
more interest, than this place of assembly of the people of Athuii-.
LTD I A.
youths were now assembled awaiting the Proconsul, to rec< ivo
the Tot/a I'irili*. At last he appeared and seated himself, when
one youth after another accompanied by his friends,
towards him, laid down his Pne'cxta, and received
advanced
from his
hands the Togu Virilis, which was of white, bordered with purple.
The Proconsul exhorted each one separately on the signification
of doffing the
"
Toga. The purple stripes of the boy's Toga,
said he to them, have always reminded you, during your boyhood,
that you were to lead such a life, that when you became
men, you might deserve to wear the purple bordered Toga, as a
sign of higher service in the state. You must also never forget
that you are the descendants of those renowned Greeks, who de-
livered their native country from the hands of the Persians."
After the duties of a citizen had been impressed on the minds of
the youths by a most eloquent address, they were then surrounded
by their friends, who vied with each other in offering them their
congratulations. Lucius with his friends, ascended the heights
of the Acropolis, there to recommend himself to the protection
of Pallas. The Cella of the Temple was open, and they devoutly
approached the Prostyhon, the so called Sanctorum, the vaulted
roof of which was painted blue, and studded with stars; this
was a portion of the temple set apart for the most solemn rites
of their worship. Here stood in all her imposing splendor, and
elevated to a considerable height, the ancient and renowned
statue of Pallas, covered with immeasurable quantities of gold
and ivory. The devoutly inclined, prayed before her with great
fervor, while the less devout feasted their eyes on the magnificent
statue, the master-piece of the celebrated Phidias, and then
on the elaborately chased golden lamp, that hung belore tne
goddess.*
Lucius on his way home, looked every now and then with put
ticular complacency on his Toga Virilis, and smiled upon his
friends for approbation, who gravely assured him. that lie had
already quite the appearance of a citizen, which he was loo modest
to acknowledge, but did really think so.
"A beautiful feast" said he to them, as he descended the
superb marble steps of the Temple, "but there is one thing I
felt keenly as I invoked the goddess, protectress of Greece. The
Greek youths must submit to be invested by a Roman magistrate,
fight under the Nobles of Rome, and accept an Emperor, who
looks upon Greece as a province, and calls her Acacia.
" It was otherwise informer times! O that it were still so.
If my grandfather were now living, he would speak to-day at
table, of nothing but the Field Generals of ancient Hellene.
How would my mother rejoice, if she were to see the ancient
Hellenes arise! That was the reason, without doubt, that she
looked so sorrowful to-day, when we parted with her, previous
to our entering the theatre of Dionysius."
But these serious thoughts quickly vanished, for Melella met
nnd welcomed them cheerfully; and after a repeated exhortation
to the son of her heart, she ordered the attendants to announce
that the feast was prepared. The guests presented Lucius with
many rich gifts, after which they sat down to table, where nothing
failed in either delicacies or amusement. There were jesters,
jucglers, and musicians, each contributing his mite to the general
hilarity. Here might be seen the difference between Crecian
and Roman enjoyment. The Greeks found the noise ami
jesting incompatible with the customs of their nation; whilst
the Romans, poorer in their intellect than in their sensual
appetite, found in this amusement, and in feasting the highest
entertainment. Many of them would have been perfectly con-
tented, to use Lucian's words, to eat undisturbed a sucking pig
and sweet cakes, and in place of learned conversation, sink their
head heavy with wine, upon the cup they were holding.
From this time forward Lucius attached himself to distinguished
men, who were well versed in the art of war, and who
* Piiusanitis, the disciple of Herodus Atticus, in his description of Greece i. 86.
says: Kalimiachus completed n golden lamp for the goddess, wmcn contained
Miflicicnion for a year, although the lamp burned nay and night. I'lie w.ckwas
nude of p.pai:sli flax, which has I he quality of not bems consumed hy fin Over
the lamp arose a l.ronze palm winch reached the vaulted ceiling, atir;,,
unoke upwards and then dispersed it.