The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, 31 January 1918, Page 3

The Storyteller

(By Cardinal Wiseman.)

PABIOLA; : OR, r ' ■ : THE CHURCH OF THE CATACOMBS

Part First—Peace CHAPTER I.—THE CHRISTIAN HOUSE. It is on an afternoon in September of the year 302 that we invite our reader to accompany us through the streets of Rome. The sun has declined, and is about two hours from his setting; the day is cloudless, and its heat has cooled, so that multitudes are issuing from their houses, and making their way towards Caesar’s gardens on one side, or Sallust’s on the other, to enjoy their evening walk, and learn the news of the, day. . But the part of the city to which we wish to conduct our friendly reader is that known by the name of the Campus Martins. It comprised the flat alluvial plain between the seven hills of older Rome and the Tiber. Before the close of the republican period, this field, once left bare for the athletic and warlike exercises of the people, had begun to be encroached upon by public buildings. Pompey had erected in it his theatre; soon after Agrippa raised the Pantheon and its adjoining baths. But gradually it became occupied by private dwellings; while the hills, in the early empire the aristocratic portion of the city, were seized upon for greater edifices. Thus * the Palatine, after Nero’s fire, became almost too small for the Imperial residence and its adjoining Circus Maximus. The Esquiline was usurped by Titus’s baths, built on the ruins of the Golden House, the Aventine by Caracalla’s ; and at the period of which we write, the Emperor Dioclesian was covering the space sufficient for many lordly dwellings by the erection of his Thermae on the Quirinal, not far from Sallust’s garden just alluded to. The particular spot in the Campus Martins to which we will direct our steps is one whose situation is so definite that we can accurately describe it to any one acquainted with the topography of ancient or modern Rome. In republican times there was a large square space in the Campus Martius, surrounded by boarding, and divided into pens, in which the Camilla, or meetings of the tribes of the people, were held, for giving their votes. This was called the Septa, or Ovile, from its resemblance to a sheepfold. Augustus carried out a plan, described by Cicero in a letter to Atticus, of transforming this homely contrivance into a magnificent and solid structure. The Septa Julia, as it was. thenceforth called, was a splendid portico of 1000 by 500 feet, supported by columns, and adorned with paintings. Its ruins are clearly traceable ; and it occupied the space now covered by the Doria and Verospi palaces (running thus along the present Corso), the Roman College, the Church of St. Ignatius, and the Oratory of the Caravita. The house to which we invite our reader is exactly opposite, and on the east side of this edifice, including in its area the present church of St. Marcellus, whence it extended back towards the foot of the Quirinal hill. It is thus found to cover, as noble Roman houses did, a considerable extent of ground. From the outside 'it presents but a blank and dead appearance. The walls are plain, without architectural ornament, not high, and scarcely broken by windows.; In the middle of one side of this , quadrangle is a door, in antis, that is, merely relieved by a tympanum or triangular cornice, resting, on two half columns. ’ Using our privilege as “artists of fiction,” of invisible übiquity, we will enter in with our friend, or “shadow,” as he would have been anciently called, Passing through the porch, on the pavement of which we read: with : pleasure, iin

otherwise. .'. But when my turn came to read my declamation, I found that my feelings had J nearly fatallybetrayed me. ; In the ■ warmth of£' my recitation, the" word : Christian ' escaped my lips instead of 'philo- v f sopher,' and 'faith' instead of /truth! 'j; At the first mistake, j I saw Cassianus start y at the second, I saw a ' tear glisten in his eye, as bending affectionately towards me, he said, in a whisper, 'Beware, my child, there are. sharp ears listening.' " • ? ; : "What, then," interrupted the mother, "is Cassianus a Christian ? I chose his school for you because it was in the highest repute for : learning and for morality ; and now indeed I thank God that I did so. But in these days of danger and apprehension we are obliged to live as strangers in our own land, scarcely knowing the faces of our brethren. Certainly,, had Cassianus proclaimed his faith, his school would soon have been deserted. But go on, my dear boy. Were his apprehensions well grounded ?" !•• • ■ v"l,fear so; for while the great body of my schoolfellows, not noticing these slips, vehemently applauded my hearty declamation, I saw the dark eyes of Corvinus bent scowlingly upon me, as he bit his lip in manifest anger." ": t "And who is he, my child, that was so displeased, and wherefore ?" "He is the oldest and strongest, but, unfortunately, the dullest boy in the 6chool. But this, you know, is not his fault. Only, I know not why, he seems ever to have had an ill-will and grudge against me, the cause of which I cannot understand "Did he say aught to you, or do?" "Yes, and was the cause of my delay. For when we went forth from school into the field by the river, he addressed me insultingly in the presence of our companions, and said, 'Come, Pancratius, this, I understand, is the last time we meet here (he laid a particular emphasis on the word); but I have a long score to demand payment of from you. You have loved to show your superiority in school over me and others older and better than yourself ; I saw your supercilious looks at me as you spouted your high-flown declamation to-day ; ay, and I caught expressions in it which you may live to rue, and that very soon for my father, you well know, is Prefect of the city" (the mother slightly started); "and something is preparing which may nearly concern you. Before you leave us, I must have my revenge. If you are worthy of your name, and it be not an empty word, let us fairly contend in more manly strife than that of the style and tables. Wrestle with me, or try the cestus against me. I burn to humble you as you deserve, before these witnesses of your insolent triumphs.' " The anxious mother bent eagerly forward as she listened, and scarcely breathed. "And what," she exclaimed, "did you answer, my dear son?" "I told him gently that he was quite mistaken; for never had I consciously done anything that could give pain to him or any of my school-fellows; nor did I ever dream of claiming superiority over them. "And as to what you propose,' I added, 'you know, Corvinus,. that I have always refused to indulge in personal combats, which, beginning in a cool trial of skill, end in an angry strife, hatred, and wish for revenge. How much less could I think of entering on them now, when you avow that you are anxious to begin them with those evil feelings which are usually their bad end ?' Our schoolmates had now formed a circle round us; and I clearly saw that they, were all against me, for they had hoped to enjoy some of the delights of their cruel games; I therefore cheerfully added, 'And now, my comrades, good-bye, and may all happiness attend you. I part from you, as I have lived with you, in peace.' ' Not so,' replied Corvinus, now purple in the face with fury; 'but—' " , . The boy's countenance became ~ crimsoned, his voice quivered, his body trembled, and, half-choked, he sobbed out, "I cannot go on; I dare not tell the rest!" "I entreat you, for God's sake, and j -for the love you bear your father's memory," said the mother, placing her hand upon her son's head, _ conceal nothing

~. from me. '■ I shall ■ never "again have rest'- if you tell *me not all. c : What further said or did.,Corvinus H The boy recovered himself by a .moment's pause •and a silent prayer, and then proceeded ■> ?%?£>■*s '& ...-. " 'Not so exclaimed Corvinus, 'not so do you depart, cowardly worshipper, of an ass's head ! You have concealed your abode; from us,": but I' will find you out; till then bear this token of my determined purpose to be revenged IV* So saying, he dealt me a furious blow upon the face, ; which '„ made me reel and stagger, while a shout jof savage delight broke forth from the boys around us." *' . ''';'' ■ He burst into tears, which'relieved him, and then went on. : -'-'''.- •"-'-'■ '■'-'■/■ **■-.; ' "' ■■■■'. v ; ■ "Oh, how I felt my blood boil at that moment; how my heart seemed bursting within me; and a voice appeared to whisper in my ear scornfully the name of 'coward!' It surely was an evil spirit. I felt that I was strong enoughmy rising anger made me —to seize my unjust assailant by the throat, and cast him gasping on the ground. I heard already the shout of applause that would have hailed my victory and turned the tables against him. It was the hardest struggle of my life never were flesh and blood so strong within me. O God ! may they never be again so tremendously powerful !" "And what did you do, then, my darling boy?" gasped forth the trembling matron. He replied, "My good angel conquered the demon at my side. I thought of my blessed Lord in the house of Caiaphas, surrounded by scoffing enemies, and stuck ignominiously on the cheek, yet meek and forgiving. Could I wish to be otherwise ? I stretched forth, my hand to Corvinus, and said, 'May God forgive you, as I freely and fully do; and may He bless you abundantly.' Cassianus came up at that moment, having seen all from a distance, and the youthful crowd quickly dispersed. I entreated him, by our common faith, now acknowledged between us, not to pursue Corvinus for what he had done and I otained his promise. And now, sweet mother," murmured the boy, in soft, gentle accents, into his parent's bosom, "do you not think I may call this a happy day?" (To be continued.)