Part 15 (2/2)
”Do you know the nature of your crime?”
”I am guilty of no crime,” said Pollio. ”My religion teaches me to fear G.o.d and honor the emperor. I have obeyed every just law, and am not a traitor.”
”To be a Christian is to be a traitor.”
”I am a Christian, but I am not a traitor.”
”The law of the state forbids you to be a Christian under pain of death.
If you are a Christian you must die.”
”I am a Christian,” repeated Pollio firmly.
”Then you must die.”
”Be it so.”
”Boy, do you know what it is to suffer death?”
”I have seen much of death during the last few months. I have always expected to lay down my life for my religion when my turn should come.”
”Boy, you are young. We pity your tender age and inexperience. You have been trained so peculiarly that you are scarcely responsible for your present folly. For all this we are willing to make allowance. This religion which infatuates you is foolishness. You believe that a poor Jew, who was executed a few hundred years ago, is a G.o.d. Can anything be more absurd than this! Our religion is the religion of the state. It has enough in itself to satisfy the minds of young and old, ignorant and learned. Leave your foolish superst.i.tion and turn to our wiser and older religion.”
”I cannot.”
”You are the last of a n.o.ble family. The state recognizes the worth and the n.o.bility of the Servilii. Your ancestors lived in pomp and wealth and power. You are a poor miserable boy and a prisoner. Be wise, Pollio.
Think of the glory of your forefathers and throw aside the miserable obstacle that keeps you away from all their ill.u.s.trious fame.”
”I cannot.”
”You have lived a miserable outcast. The poorest beggar in Rome fares better than you. His food is obtained with less labor and less humiliation. His shelter is in the light of day. Above all he is safe.
His life is his own. He need not live in hourly fear of justice. But you have had to drag out a wretched existence in want and danger and darkness. What has your boasted religion given you? What has this deified Jew done for you? Nothing, worse than nothing. Turn, then, from this deceiver. Wealth and comfort and friends and the honors of the state and the favor of the emperor will all be yours.”
”I cannot.”
”Your father was a loyal subject and a brave soldier. He died in battle for his country. He left you an infant, the heir of all his honors, and the last prop of his house. Little did he think of the treacherous influences that surrounded you to lead you astray. Your mother's mind, weakened by sorrow, surrendered to the insidious wiles of false teachers, and she again ignorantly wrought your ruin. Had your n.o.ble father lived you would now have been the hope of his ancient line; your mother, too, would have followed the faith of her ill.u.s.trious ancestors.
Do you value your father's memory? Has he no claims on your filial duty?
Do you think it no sin to heap dishonor on the proud name that you bear and throw so foul a blot upon the unsullied fame handed down to you from your fathers? Away with this delusion that blinds you. By your father's memory, by the honor of your family, turn from your present course.”
”I can do them no dishonor. My religion is pure and holy. I can die, but I cannot be false to my Saviour.”
”You see that we are merciful to you. Your name and your inexperience excites our pity. Were you but a common prisoner we would offer you in short words the choice between retraction or death. But we are willing to reason with you, for we do not wish to see a n.o.ble family become extinct through the ignorance or obstinacy of a degenerate heir.”
”I thank you for your consideration,” said Pollio; ”but your arguments have no weight with me beside the higher claims of my religion.”
”Rash and thoughtless boy! There is another argument which you will find more powerful. The wrath of the emperor is terrible.”
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