Perpetua. A Tale of Nimes in A.D. 213

by S. Baring-Gould

  CHAPTER VIII

  THE VOICE AT MIDNIGHT

  As soon as dusk began to veil the sky, Christians in parties of three andfour came to the house of Baudillas. They belonged for the most part tothe lowest classes. None were admitted till they had given the pass-word.

  An _ostiarius_ or porter kept the door, and as each tapped, he said inGreek: "Beloved, let us love one another." Whereupon the applicant foradmission replied in the same tongue, "For love is of God."

  Owing to the Greek element in the province, large at Massilia, Arelate andNarbo, but not less considerable at Nemausus, the Hellenic tongue, thoughnot generally spoken, was more or less comprehended by all in the towns.The Scriptures were read in Greek; there was, as yet, no Italic version,and the prayers were recited, sometimes in Greek, sometimes in Latin. Inpreaching, the bishops and presbyters employed the vernacular--this was aconglomerate of many tongues and was in incessant decomposition, flux, andrecomposition. It was different in every town, and varied from year toyear.

  In the sub-apostolic church it was customary for a banquet to be held incommemoration of the Paschal Supper, early in the afternoon, lasting allnight, previous to the celebration of the new Eucharistic rite, which tookplace at dawn. The night was spent in hymn singing, in discourses, and inprayer.

  But even in the Apostolic age, as we learn from St. Paul's first Epistleto the Corinthians, great abuses had manifested themselves, and veryspeedily a change was made. The Agape was dissociated from the Eucharistand was relegated to the evening after the celebration of the Sacrament.It was not abolished altogether, because it was a symbol of unity, andbecause, when under control, it was unobjectionable. Moreover, as alreadyintimated, it served a convenient purpose to the Christians by makingtheir meetings resemble those of the benefit clubs that were under legalprotection.

  It may be conjectured that where the bulk of the members were newlyconverted, and were ignorant, there would speedily manifest itself amongthem a tendency to revert to their pagan customs, and a revolt against therestraints of Christian sobriety. And this actually took place, causingmuch embarrassment to the clergy, and giving some handle to the heathen toderide these meetings as scenes of gross disorder.

  No sooner did persecution cease, and the reason for holding love-feasts nolonger held, than they were everywhere put down and by the end of thefourth century had absolutely ceased.

  In the third century Tertullian, in his "Apology" addressed to theheathen, gave a rose-colored description of the institution; but in his"Treatise on Fasting" addressed to the faithful, he was constrained toadmit that it was a nursery of abuses. But this, indeed, common sense anda knowledge of human nature would lead us to suspect.

  We are prone to imagine that the first ages of the Church saw only saintswithin the fold, and sinners without. But we have only to read thewritings of the early Fathers to see that this was not the case. If weconsider our mission stations at the present day, and consult ourevangelists among the heathen, we shall discover that the newly convertedon entering the Church, bring with them much of their past: theirprejudices, their superstitions, their ignorance, and their passions. Themost vigilant care has to be exercised in watching against relapse in theindividual, and deterioration of the general tone. The converts in thefirst ages were not made of other flesh and blood than those nowintroduced into the sheepfold, and the difficulties now encountered bymissionaries beset the first pastors of Christ fifteen and sixteen hundredyears ago.

  In an honest attempt to portray the condition of the Church at the openingof the third century, we must describe things as they were, and not as weshould wish them to have been.

  The _atrium_ or courtyard was not lighted; there was sufficientillumination from above. The curtains of the _tablinum_ were close drawn,as the reception chamber was not to be put in requisition that night. The_triclinium_ or dining-room that received light through the doorway onlywould have been dark had not a lamp or two been kindled there.

  About thirty persons were present, male and female, but no children. Somewere slaves from believing households; there were a few freedmen. Somewere poor artisans, weavers, bakers, and men who sold charcoal, a porter,and a besom-maker.

  Quincta and Perpetua were the highest in social position of those present.A second deacon, named Marcianus, was there, a handsome man, peremptory inmanner, quick in movement; in every point a contrast with his timid,hesitating brother in the ministry.

  The bishop had not arrived when the Agape began, and the blessing wasspoken by an aged and feeble presbyter. The tables were spread withviands, and the deacons and deaconesses ministered to those who reclinedat them. There was not room for all in the dining-chamber, and a table andcouches had been spread in the court for such as could not be accommodatedwithin.

  The proceedings were marked by the strictest propriety, the eating anddrinking were in moderation, conversation was edifying, and generalharmony prevailed. During the meal, a knocking was heard at the outergate, and when the porter asked the name of the applicant for admission,the password was given, and he was admitted.

  All rose to receive Castor, the bishop.

  "Recline again, my friends," said he. "I have come from the house ofFlavillus, the timber merchant on the _stagna_; his wife's mother hasendured that which is human. She sleeps, and her spirit is with the Lord.I have been delayed. I was doing the work of my Master. One, a stranger tothe faith, questioned me, and I tarried to converse with him, and discloseto his dark mind some ray of light. If the supper be ended, I will offerthanks."

  Then, standing at one of the tables, he made prayer to God, and thankedHim who had caused the corn to spring out of the earth, and had gatheredthe many grains into one bread; who had watered the vine from heaven, andhad flushed the several grapes with generous juice, uniting the many intoone bunch.

  The thanksgiving ended, lights were introduced in considerable numbers.There is no twilight in southern climes; when night falls, it fallsdarkly. Now all who had eaten went to the _impluvium_, dipped their hands,and washed their lips, then wiped them on towels held by the deaconesses.

  The tables were quickly removed, and the benches ranged in the_triclinium_, so as to accommodate all.

  No sooner was the whole congregation assembled, than the president,Castor, invited all such as had a psalm, an interpretation, a vision, oran edifying narrative, to relate or recite it.

  Then up started a little man, who held a lyre.

  "Sir," said he, "I have composed a poem in honor of Andeolus, the martyrof Gentibus."

  He struck a chord on his instrument, and sang. The composition was devoidof poetry, the meter halting, the Latin full of provincialisms, and theplace of poetic imagery was filled with extravagances of expression. Whenhe had concluded, he perhaps inadvertently wound up with the words,"Generous audience, grant me your applause!"--the usual method ofconclusion on the stage.

  And the request met with favor--hands were clapped.

  Then Bishop Castor rose, and with a grave face, said:

  "We have listened to Lartius Garrulus with interest and with edification.It is well to glorify the memories of the holy ones who have witnessed agood confession, who have fought the fight, and have shed their blood as atestimony. But a poet in treating of such subjects, should restrain histoo exuberant fancy, and not assert as facts matters of mere conjecture,nor should he use expressions that, though perhaps endurable in poetry,cannot be addressed to the martyrs in sober prose. The ignorant are tooready to employ words without considering their meaning with nicety, andto quote poets as licensing them to do that which their pastors wouldforbid."

  "But," said the deacon Marcianus, "what if this be uttered byinspiration?"

  "The Spirit of God," answered Castor, "never inspires the mind to importinto religion anything that is not true." Turning round, he said: "I callon Turgellius to interpret a portion of the Epistle of the Blessed Paul,the Apostle to the Romans, translating it into the vulgar
tongue, as therebe those present who comprehend Greek with difficulty."

  This done, one rose, and said:

  "Sir, suffer me to disclose a revelation. I was asleep on my bed, threenights agone, and I had a dream, or vision, from on high. I beheld a snow-white flock pasturing on a mountain; there was abundance of herbage, andthe sky was serene. The shepherd stood regarding them, leaning on hisstaff, and the watch-dog slept at his feet in the grass. Then, suddenly,the heavens became obscured, lightning flashed, thunder rolled: the flockwas terrified and scattered. Thereupon came wolves, leaping among thesheep, and rending them; and I beheld now that some which I had taken tobe sheep, cast their skins, and disclosed themselves to be raveningbeasts. What may be signified by the vision, I know not, but I greatlyfear that it portends an evil time to the Church."

  "That is like enough," said Baudillas, "after what has occurred this day.If the bishop has not heard, I will relate all to him in order."

  "I have been informed of everything," said Castor.

  "It is well that there should be a sifting of the wheat from the chaff,"said Marcianus. "Too long have we had wolves masquerading among us clothedin sheepskins. See!" He threw back his mantle, and extended his hand. "Onmy way hither, I passed by the fountain of Nemausus, and none were there.Then my soul was wrath within me at the idolatry and worship of devilsthat goes on in the temple and about the basin. So I took up a stone, andI climbed upon the pedestal, and I beat till I had broken this off." Thenhe rolled an alabaster sculptured head on the floor. With a contemptuouskick, he sent it spinning. "This is their god Nemausus. A deacon ofChrist's Church, with a bit of stone, is able to break his neck, and carryoff his head!" Then he laughed. But none laughed in response.

  A thrill of dismay ran through the assembly.

  A woman fell into hysterics and screamed. Some called out that sheprophesied, others that she spake with tongues. Baudillas appeased theexcitement. "The tongue she speaks," said he, "is the Ligurian of theCebennae, and all she says is that she wishes she were safe with herchildren in the mountains, and had never come into the town. Now, indeed,it seems that the evil days foreseen by Pantilius Narbo will come on theChurch. The people might forget that the god was robbed of his victim, butnot that his image has been defaced."

  "Well done, I say!" shouted a man, thrusting himself forward. His face wasinflamed and his eyes dazed. "I--I, Tarsius the slave, and Marcianus, thedeacon, are the only Christians with any pluck about us. Cowards that yeall are, quaking at the moment of danger--hares, ye are, hares afraid ofthe whistling of the wind in the grass. I--I----"

  "Remove that man," said the bishop. "He has been drinking."

  "I--I drinking. I have supped the precious Ambrussian wine, too good forthe rag-tag. Dost think I would pour out to him who binds brooms? Or toher--a washerwoman from the mountains? Ambrussian wine for such asappreciate good things--gold as amber, thick as oil, sweet as honey."

  "Remove him," said the bishop firmly.

  Hands were laid on the fellow.

  Then turning to Marcianus, Castor said sternly, "You have actedinconsiderately and wrongly, against the decrees of the Fathers."

  "Aye!--of men who were timorous, and forbade others doing that from whichthey shrank themselves. I have not so learned Christ."

  "Thou thyself mayest be strong," said Castor, "but thine act will bringthe tempest upon the Church, and it will fall upon the weak and young."

  "Such as cannot stand against the storm are good for naught," saidMarcianus. "But the storm is none of my brewing. It had arisen before Iintervened. The escape of the lady Perpetua from the fountain--that was thebeginning, I have but added the final stroke."

  "Thou hast acted very wrongly," said the bishop. "May God, the God of allcomfort, strengthen us to stand in the evil day. In very truth, the powersof darkness will combine against the Church. The lightnings will indeedflash, the sheep be scattered, and those revealed whom we have esteemed tobe true disciples of Christ, but who are far from Him in heart. Many thatare first shall be last, and the last first. It is ever so in the Kingdomof Christ--hark!"

  Suddenly a strange, a terrible sound was heard--a loud, hoarse note, like ablast blown through a triton's shell, but far louder; it seemed to pass inthe air over the house, and set the tiles quivering. Every wall vibratedto it, and every heart thrilled as well. Men rushed into the _atrium_ andlooked up at the night sky. Stars twinkled. Nothing extraordinary wasvisible. But those who looked expected to see some fire-breathing monsterflying athwart the dark, heavenly vault, braying; and others again criedout that this was the trumpet of the archangel, and that the end of allthings was come.

  Then said Marcianus, "It is the voice of the devil Nemausus! He has thusshouted before."