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

with it at once. So muffled up, ho arrived at the camp towards
dusk The soldiers were taking their evening meal which con-
sists (if bread and cheese, and beer, a beverage, which tli'
mans prepare from barley and corn. Suddenly seeing something
approach that had the appearance of a bear, they started up,
rushed out upon him, and did not discover their mistake till he
had been severely beaten. He was dreadfully injured and I
doubt much if he will ever recover.
" But now, my dear mother, I must conclude; the cold prevents
me from writing more. What should lie nearer to my
heart, than to assure thec of my unbounded filial love I O
how
great is the distance between thee and me ? yet my mind, that
travels without the aid of bark or wing, is ever near thee. You
arc in the south, and I, in all probability, am on the northern
boundaries of the globe. The human race has only extended itself
as far as here. It may be possible, that after a few hundred
years, these forests may be cleared away, and cities be reflected
in the waters of the Danube; and that civilization will extend
from one end of the world to the other. For the present, I be-
lieve with our poets, that Delphi is the central point of the
earth, and that there mankind thinks and works longer and
therefore they are more cultivated. What a secret dear mother,
lies in this growth of nations, and what an answer our mind re-
ceives, when it returns to the cradle of our origin, and asks itself
as to the beginning and end of the world's history. But
where ami?
" I hope s few months will see me return rich in years, in ex-
perience and in the deeds of a brave soldier, to give a lasting
proof of my filial gratitude to "
thy loving heart. Farewell !
Such were the contents of the letter that Metella had lying be-
fore her on the table. She is dreaming, she starts, and shrinks
as it were from an invisible hand. She raises herself from her
couch and quickly gives a sign for Lydia to enter.
" Have you not just heard the angry screaming of an owl?"
said she, as Lydia approached. Lydia answered in the negative,
and added that she had been standing at the open casement of
her little apartment, listening to the playing waters of the foun-
tain, admiring the majestic silence and beauty of the night.
" I must have dreamed then that I neard an owl cry Do you
understand the interpretation of dreams? Perhaps as a Christian
you can explain to me the meaning of mine. Listen to me:
After having finished reading my son's letter, I sank into a soft
slumber. It appeared as if everything were dark around me. I
wished to go forward, but I was without alight, and I could not
find a road, because of the darkness. You were near me, and
were my only guide. Over my head I observed a light, which
gradually increased in brightness. This light proceeded from a
mountain, at its foot was a flight of marble steps, which appeared
to reach to the summit. I perceived at a great height a
magnificent garden, in which were an immense number of fe-
male forms, clothed in white, and they appeared to be in con-
stant motion. Far beyond these, I saw a most dignified being
clothed as a shepherd, and seated on a magnificent throne. His
appearance though imposing, had nothing in it to terrify. His
throne was so high, that the white-robed multitude appeared far
beneath him, while they with uplifted eyes gazed unceasingly on
his loving countenance. His garment changed suddenly to that
of a dazzling white, his heart was visible, round which were
rays far brighter than the sun, which cast streams of light upon
the worshipping multitude, who sank ever and anon upon their
knees before him, and looked like little lambs round their shepherd.
But what was most strange, at his feet I saw a youth who
resembled my son Lucius, and who beckoned me to join him, a
naked sword lay by his side, and he was reclining on his shield.
Then a longing desire seized me to climb the marble steps. I
pressed forward, but I felt as though my feet were bound to the
earth. You then conducted me to the steps; but as I approached,
a dragon, with eyes flashing fire and licking a deep
wound on his left side, prevented my ascending. Retreating
with horror, I perceived an owl perched on the protruding
branch of a decayed tree; it flapped its wings and si
angrily at me; my strength failed, I lay prostrate on the earth,
and awoke with the screaming of the owl still ringing In m;
cars."
" Now tell me what is the meaning of that magnificent bcin
and the heart surrounded with rays; and why did I see m,
Lucius reclining at the foot of that shepherd? "
Lydia did not dare to trust herself, in giving the signiflcatio
of this dream, and therefore answered. "My good mistress
pardon me if I do not feel myself capable of interpreting you
dream. I beg of you to request the explanation of it from thew
who are more capable than I am. According to your descrii
tion, it was, perhaps, the Son of God Himself, who has revealc<
to you His magnificence. He was designated while on earth a
the ' Good Shepherd' and his followers flocked round Him lik
lambs. Once they beheld Him on the summit of a mountain an
shiniuglike the sun. But I am quite unable to explain the er
tire vision. We have in Athens holy men, true disciples c
their Master, who know their Lord, and can tell you much o
Him. They will also be able to explain your dream correctly.
" Do you believe Lydia," said Metella," that the philosophei
Athenagoras, who became a Christian, and who formerly visile
me, would still
heathen?
consent to hold converse with, and advise
"
"
Dear mistress, as a Christian he is more at your service tha
ever."
"Then if you think so, send to-morrow early and invite him
He is certain to be found in Plato's Academy; I meet him ther
sometimes, standing at the tomb of the immortal philosopher. "
CHAPTER XI.
ATHENAGORA8.
Metella's desire for an it
Lydia was only too happy to convey
terview, to the renowned philosopher, who cheerfully an
promptly accepted the invitation, and at the appointed hour h
found himself seated by the side of the illustrious matron. Thi
learned man was as well read in polite literature, as in the East
ern and Grecian philosophy. He hung so ardently on Chrh
tianity, that some years later, he advocated the cause of th
Christians with the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. A philosophe
of the Eclectic School, he collected from all systems what agree
most with his ideas. He besought the Emperor to observe th
same clemency towards the Christians, he exercised towards th
religions of so many other nations under his sway. Metella corr
menced the conversation by assuring Athenagoras, that she di>
not belong to those who despised Christians, for she had ofte
heard from her deceased father, that the Christian doctrine mad
those who lived according to its dictates, moral and happy;* an
that lately she had an opportunity of becoming better acquaints
with it, and her esteem for it was increased. She said that on
of her slaves was a Christian, and she had often related to he
"
about the Founder of her religion. But yesterday, having ha
an extraordinary dream, which my slave would not undertake t
interpret, I availed myself of an assurance she made me, tha
you would solve its meaning. It appeared to me as though
saw a shepherd, who was at the same time a king, in the midst <
a host of beings clothed in white. I felt a holy awe before thi
shepherd, worshipped him in the distance, and felt that I love
him. O teach me to know him!" After having related to hit
her entire dream, she begged the philosopher to explain to lierii
meaning. After a moment's reflection he told her that 1
sidered her dream as a favor from God and one which ii
respect would carry that good with it, that from the present tini
forward, she would entertain a new interest for Christianity
From the details of her dream he took occasion to speak to ht
about Christ, who is truly the Shepherd of His flocks, and t
describe to her the happiness of the life to come.
" Do you know," said he, " that that king is the only :-
\iiic.iiM\vnsolii' 'v in writing to the Empror Antoninus J-IUMI
approbation of Clirintianil y.