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

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eyes when she saw the young Christian speaking with a votary
of Aphrodite. It was old Selina.
Her astonishment was still more increased on meeting the
same party, some days later close to the Charon gate.* Aspa-
sia's position, had so touched the heart of the zealous Lydia,
that she turned over in her mind, day and night, how she could
in any way assist the strayed sheep, and snatch her from the
errors of her ways, or at least help to the sum necessary for her
marriage. It occurred to her that the silver mirror was of more
value than her pay for three years' servitude, and that at
that moment, she could not dispose of it better than for the
salvation of an immortal soul. Then she thought of her absent
mother, and of the possibility, lhat the mirror might release her
from her chains. But the trust she placed in Divine Providence,
gave her confidence for the future, and decided her on parting
with her mirror for the present emergency. Religion also suggested
to her, that her love for an unhappy erring soul
not be inferior to that which she bore for her own mother.
must
According
to her resolution, the following evening, she carried her
valuable mirror concealed under her cloak one Eye alone witnessed
the act, an Eye that knew and appreciated her intention.
What a touching impression did not this present make! How expressively,
and with what child-like simplicity did not the donor
assure the receiver, that the mirror was not stolen, and how of-
ten did she entreat her to say nothing of the matter ! Aspasia
had not wept for years till then. She gave the promise to have
her present converted into money, and to change her way of
life immediately There was now a sort of friendship cultivated
between two souls, who, in word and work were without doubt
widely different, but still resembled each other in tenderness of
feeling.
After this act, a heavenly cheerfulness played in Lydia's eyes,
and an interior happiness, the cause of which she imparted to
none. In this silent enjoyment of her heart, she performed the
daily duties of her state, at one time writing, and at another reading
for her mistress, but while these occupations were going
on she knew little of the judgment that was passing on in the
house.
Selina had been long -waiting for a favorable opportunity, to
impart to her mistress in secret, an affair which as she said herself,
not only threatened the reputation of the domestics, but
also that of her mistress. This opportunity at length presented
itself.
" Not many days ago, noble lady,' so began Selina, " I was nn
eye-witness to a detestable affair. Your wisdom will scarcely
believe it possible, that one of your domestics has rewarded your
goodness with the most shameful ingratitude. Others have labored
for nearly half a century, to gain your favor, and have
scarcely once received a present, while that black-eyed Asiatic,
who is scarcely two years in your service, has the most valuable
articles from your gracious hand. Young Lydia is just what we
always suspected her to be. She had the courage to attach herself
to a doctrine, which not only permits vice, but commands
* Charon BO called because It led to the place of execution.
it. These broods of hungry Christians assemble together in tin-
which drew them together. The one had the intention to destroy
the other to save. A few evenings later, Lydia and Aspasia
were actually seen at the corner of a street engaged in
deep conversation. , Lydia was not a severe judge of morals, for
she knew that the human heart, even if under the pestilence of
temptation, it has lost blossom after blossom, still receives an
impulse from God to bud anew, and like the barren fig-tree,
which stood by the wayside, was not to be cut down immediately.
She quickly discovered the untainted and redeeming qualities of
the erring girl, and joined the better she advised, to the good already
there. Several times she expressed a wish to hasten as
much as possible, the marriage she had in view. Aspasia was
touched with such rare kindness, and although she had no idea
of becoming better, this language, which she heard for the first
time, was to her heart, as refreshing as the nightly dew to a
scorched heath.
During this conversation, holes of the rocks, they sent themselves on the bones of their
slaughtered children, and devour their flesh. That the magpies
sometimes steal money
one of Metella's slaves passed by
without their observing her, and she could scarcely believe her
is well known, and I'll not enquire what
money purchased the sheets of parchment, which were written on
not long since for a birth-day gift. Her secret depravity of life,
I have at last discovered, thanks to the gods! Not long since.
I saw her with a certain Aspasia, who is well known in Athens
as the finest berry on the Upas-tree of vice and later on, in the
evening I met them again speaking confidentially with each
other in the open square. What she whispered in that girl's
ear, who is not ashamed to po through the market laughing and
dressed in her suspicious-looking gay costume, is easily to be
guessed at. Night increases the suspicion, and to this most
suspicious person, by whom we shall all lose our reputation you
make presents, and distinguish her above all your other slaves."
Metella at once perceived Selina's malice, and calmly replied:
" '
Sophocles says: Silence is the ommeut of woman.'
"Where did you see Lydia? "
"At the end of the Hermos street, noble lady, at that place
near Stoa's pillars, where stands Lucian's magnificent dwelling."
"Do you really believe," said Metella, " that Christians commit
the worst crimes, like our (Edipusr "
" O yes! but with this difference, that (Edipus did not know
what he was doing, while the Christians premeditately commit
all sorts of crimes, and are forced to it by their priests. Before
you, Lydia knows very well how to conduct herself, hut let her
have the ring of Qyges, which is known to make one invisible,
and then, she will give herself up to all sorts of wickedness."
"One solitary cause of suspicion, is not sufficient. Selina, to
punish the accused. If she be really guilty, it will quickly be
discovered, then she can be scourged, and if that does not do,
she can be put to death."
The last expression pleased Selina so much, that she ended
this conversation by a lengthened encomium on Metella s severe
sense of justice. As Selina herself was doubtful whether she
should be able to detect Lydia again in the company of Aspasia.
she ordered every slave in the house to have a sharp eye upon
her. For this purpose, she related to them, all that she saw
with her own eyes at Adrian's Stoa, and begged them to tell at
the moment, if they ever discovered her with Aspasia. The
good Ophne was zealously occupied in trying to persuade Selma,
that there was not an atom of injustice or wrong in the matter
But in order that Lydia should be able to defend herself, she informed
her of the reports that were in circulation about her.
When Lydia received the information, she expressed herself in
gentle terms, as tollows: " I must remind Selina not to spread
false reports concerning me; "but for the rest she remained as
quiet as before, and gave all to understand, that she did not bear
the slightest revengeful feeling nor even a dislike towards her
" Sensitiveness," she used to say, " belongs only to little minds,
A good sword and a pliable heart, will bear bending without
breaking, but an untempered blade snaps when used in battle.
To me the saying is as precious as gold :
'
Act well, and suffer
"
blame." It is possible," she added to herself, " that it was a
ridiculous notion of mine to loosen the bands of a sinner; if
Polycarp had met this sinner, she would scarcely have deceived
him.* Possibly he would have called her in his short way, the
first-born of Satan. Perhaps she is so. and that I have greatly
deceived myself. But there are errors which tend more to the
honor of man than to his shame; Yes 'more precious than wisdom
and honor is a little foolishness for a short time.'t Therefore
I shall be able to bear my error in this case."
Nevertheless she began sometimes to think the language of
"
despondency You have lost your country, your mother, your
master, your freedom," would she say" One thing only remained
of your temporal goods your reputation and this
seems also to have vanished." But she would quickly reproach
herself for this language, and call to mind how much the disci-
St. Polycarp one day met the heretic Mamon. who nsked him if he knew hi*.
" Yen," said Polycarp, " You are the first-born of Stttan."
tKcrles. x. 1.