Part 9 (2/2)

”I have brought you the sentence of the general. You are degraded from office. You are put under arrest as a Christian. To-morrow you will be seized and handed over to punishment. But many hours are yet before you, and I may still have the mournful satisfaction of a.s.sisting you to escape. Fly then at once. Hasten, for there is no time to lose. There is only one place in the world where you can be secure from the vengeance of Caesar.”

Marcellus heard in silence. Slowly he took off his splendid arms and laid them down, sadly he unfastened his gorgeous armor which he had worn so proudly. He stood in his simple tunic before his friend.

”Lucullus, again I say that I can never forget your faithful friends.h.i.+p.

Would we were flying together, that your prayers might ascend with mine to Him whom I serve. But enough, I will go. Farewell.”

”Farewell, Marcellus. We may never meet in life again. If you are ever in want or peril you know on whom you can rely.”

The two young men embraced, and Marcellus hastily took his departure.

He walked out of the camp and onward until he reached the Forum. All around him were stately marble temples and columns and monuments. There the arch of t.i.tus spanned the Via Sacra; there the imperial palace reared its gigantic form on high, rich in stately architecture, in glorious adornments of precious marbles, and glowing in golden decorations. On one side the lofty walls of the Coliseum arose; beyond, the stupendous dome of the Temple of Peace; and on the other the Capitoline Hill upraised its historic summit, crowned with a cl.u.s.ter of stately temples that stood out in sharp relief against the sky.

To this he directed his steps, and ascended the steep declivity up to the top of the hill. From the summit he looked around upon the scene.

The place itself was a s.p.a.cious square paved with marble, and surrounded with lordly temples. On one side was the Campus Martius bounded afar onward to the Mediterranean. On every other side the city spread its unequaled extent, crowding to the narrow walls, and over-leaping them to throw out its radiating streets far away on every side into the country.

Temples and columns and monuments reared their lofty heads. Innumerable statues filled the streets with a population of sculptured forms, fountains dashed into the air, chariots rolled through the streets, the legions of Rome marched to and fro in military array, and on every side surged the restless tide of life in the Imperial city.

Far away the plain extended, dotted with countless villages and houses and palaces, rich in luxuriant verdure, the dwelling-place of peace and plenty. On one side arose the blue outline of the Apennines, crowned with snow; on the other the dark waves of the Mediterranean washed the far distant sh.o.r.e.

Suddenly Marcellus was startled by a shout. He turned. An old man in scant clothing, with emaciated face and frenzied gesticulation, was shouting out a strain of fearful denunciation. His wild glance and fierce manner showed that he was partly insane.

”'Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, And is become the habitation of devils, And the hold of every foul spirit, And a cage of every unclean and hateful bird; For G.o.d hath remembered her iniquities.

Reward her even as she rewarded you, And double unto her double according to her works.

How much hath she glorified herself and lived deliciously, Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, Death, and mourning, and famine; And she shall be utterly burned with fire; For strong is the Lord G.o.d who judgeth her.

The kings of the earth Shall bewail and lament, Seeing the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for fear of her torment, Crying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, That mighty city Babylon, For in one hour is thy judgment come.

The merchants of the earth, Standing afar off for fear of her torment, Shall weep and wail.

Crying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, That was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet.

And decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls.

For in one hour so great riches is come to naught!

And every s.h.i.+pmaster, and the company in s.h.i.+ps, And sailors and traders by sea, Shall cry when they see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for fear of her torment.

'What city is like unto that great city!'

And casting dust on their head they shall cry, Weeping and wailing, Alas, alas, that great city, Wherein were made rich all that had s.h.i.+ps at sea, For in one hour is she brought to naught.

Rejoice over her thou heaven!

And ye holy apostles and prophets, For G.o.d hath avenged you on her!”

A vast crowd collected around him in amazement, but scarcely had he ceased when some soldiers appeared and led him away.

”Doubtless it is some poor Christian whose brain has been turned by suffering,” thought Marcellus. As the man was led away he still shouted out his terrific denunciations, and a great crowd followed, yelling and deriding. Soon the noise died away in the distance.

”There is no time to lose. I must go,” said Marcellus; and he turned away.

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