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

pies of our Lord had suffered. She would oust a look through
her open window at the Areopagus, where, St. Paul once stood
mid preached to the Athenians the " Unknown God," und say to
herself: " What did not St. Paul suffer? Four times he suffered
stripes, three times he was whipped with rods, onee he was
stoned, and at last ended his life by the sword: and shall I feel
oppressed, when I receive an injurious word? Ought I not to
tread joyfully in the blood-stained footsteps of my Redeemer,
who was condemned by the Jews as a blasphemer, and by the
Romans as a rebel against the authority of the State? Therefore,
poor heart, seek thy consolation, not from the lips of thy fellow
creatures, but from the sufferings of "
thy Creator and Redeemer!
In this reflection she found continued peace. Thus has the sight
of our crucified Lord through centuries, comforted the oppressed
and raised their courage: and as the dove, when chased by the
eagle, saves herself in the crevice of a rock, so the persecuted
heart flies from the calumny of the world, and seeks
comfort in the sacred wounds of her dear Redeemer.
peace and
Months had w-
passed ay, and Metella could discover no fault
in Lydia. not even that she had become less friendly. When the
old Selina, one day sought again to rouse the suspicion of her
mistress against Lydia, by saying that her silence was a proof of
her guilt. Metella lost all patience: " I know," said she "your
venomous sting, and know also what to think of you. Quilt
tries to defend itself, but innocence prefers to be silent."
Metella was perfectly, convinced, from that moment, that
there was no truth in the vile accusations against Lydia, and
came to the conclusion, that just as her Christian slave was
calumniated in her own house, so Christianity was calumniated
in the world; and as she bore all these accusations with equanimity,
nay even with cheerfulness, she won the increased affection
of her mistress, who thought that Christianity was best
known by the life of a good Christian; and the pagan esteemed
it so much the more, the more beautiful the, virtues were, that
she saw practiced by her Lydian slave.
A few weeks later, Metella visited one of her friends, and
saw, to her great astonishment, the silver mirror she had given
as a present to her slave, lying on a small table. With an impatient
curiosity, she sought to discover how her friend had ob-
tained it. She said that it was brought to her by a certain per-
son called Aspasia, and offered for sale.
So, thought she angrily to herself, my slave is really then
in connection with this wretch!
"
O, I beg of you let the girl
be sent for who sold it you! She will tell us how the mirror
came into her possession." A slave returned in a few minutes
with Aspasia, who related that a Christian girl made her a present
of the mirror, on the condition that she would, without delay,
enter upon a previously intended "
marriage This, and
the petition of a Christain maiden quite unknown to me, that I
would change my course of life, not a little surprised me, and
I shed a flood of tears. Then I vowed to the gods to reform
my life, and what I have vowed, that I will conscientiously
keep."'
Metella listened to this declaration, and felt abashed that even
for a moment, she had suspected her virtuous attendant, who
had borne so much in silence. She returned home, firmly resolved
never to utter a sentence of what she had just heard. She ac-
knowledged herself conquered by the virtues of a slave, for she
could not believe herself capable of practising such greatness of
soul. Yes, she even doubted if in all the heathen philosophy, a
solitary example could be brought forward, to compete with
the modest virtue of her Lydia, and was at a loss to know
which most to admire, the delicate purity and patience, or the
strength of character displayed in observing a profound silence
in the midst of her persecutions. The last quality, bearing
wrongs patiently, appeared to her without doubt, Lydia's
the pearl of
virtues.
How beautiful is chastity, when she lifts her clear eye to
Heaven and feeds on the contemplation of her God! How admirable
is meekness, that rewards hatred and contempt with
prayers and charity. But it is not to be denied, thftt doubly to
;, > A 19
.
be appreciated, as the queen of virtues, is silent innocence
crowned with the thorns of calumny.
A few weeks after, while Lydia was reading, one evening, to
her mistress, the sounds of music reached their ears; they found
Unit it proceeded from the bridal purty, which was just ]>
under the window where they were sitting. Both stood up to
see it more distinctly, Metella leaning on the shoulder of her slave.
The bride suddenly stopped and drew aside her veil: it was
Aspasia, who cast a look at Metella's palace, and perceiving her
benefactress, waved her hand; then dashing a tear of gratitude
from her eye, she covered her face again with her veil, and
passed on.
Metella thought she recognized in the features of the bride, the
girl for whom Lydia had so nobly suffered, and turning, quickly
perceived by her slave's countenance, that she had conjectured
rightly. Fearing to be questioned, and unable to disguise the joy
of an approving conscience, Lydia asked permission to retire.
She sought the solitude of her chamber, and kneeling before her
cross, offered up a fervent prayer for Aspasia's perseverance in a
virtuous life, and in gratiude to God, for having made her the
humble instrument of drawing a soul from vice.
CHAPTER X.
KEW8 FROM THB SKAT OP WAB,
The termination of the war with the Parthians, A. D. 166,
brought with it a lamentable evil. The soldiers returning from
the East, carried with them the plague, and infected all the
provinces through which they passed. Even distant Gaul suffered
under this pestilential devastation, and it was so dreadful
in Italy ; that in several parts, as contemporary writers relate, agriculture
was abandoned, and famine had set in. In Rome, the
dead bodies were conveyed out of the city in immense numbers,
and interred at the public expense. Athens also, and the whole
of Greece experienced the horrors of this evil, in greater or
lesser visitations which returned for several years together.
The cases of death this summer, were so numerous, that
Metella determined at once to remove from Athens to one of her
estates in the country.
Previous to her departure, letters from the seat of war were
brought by carrier-pigeons to Aquileia, where they were detained
and copied, as the delivery was doubtful. The orignals were
kept, and the copies attached to the pinions of these peaceful
messengers, which were allowed to continue their journey to
Rome or Athens, laden with the tidings of war.
By this means, Metella received intelligence from Lucius. Sit-
ting one calm evening at her open window, occupied only with
the thoughts of her absent son, she heard a gentle fluttering, and
raising her eyes, she beheld the faithful little courier waiting to
be relieved of its burden. With the letter in her possession, she
retired to her apartment, to enjoy it undisturbed, where we shall
leave her for a time.
The sun had sunk to rest, and night was closing in, as Lydia
in her little chamber finished her task of writing. While the leaves
were drying, she advanced towards her lightly-curtained window,
to meditation.
opened it, and gnve herself up
All around is still, save the slight rustling caused by the wav-
ing of the palms, with their long and graceful branches, bending
till they kissed the earth, and bounding back again upon the
bosom of the jealous breeze. In the court-vestibule are heard
the soft murmurs of the gurgling fountain. High in the wide,
is seated
expanse of Heaven, Night, the silent widow of the Day,
on her throne. Her face is hidden by a veil of stars, and hei
sable mantle hnn.es in graceful folds upon her darling universe.
She illumines softly with her lamp, the moon, her plague- infected
client, and bedews her with her widow's tears.
To return to Metella, who having finished* her letter, leaned
her head carelessly on a cushion and began to reilect ou il
tents. At length she closed her weary eyes, and sank into a
gentle slumber. Tlie letter which lay beside her, commenced