CHAPTER VII.
PERSECUTION IN THE OFFING.
Next morning, as Jucundus was dusting and polishing his statues and otherarticles of taste and devotion, supplying the gaps in their ranks, andgrouping a number of new ones which had come in from his workmen, Jubastrutted into the shop, and indulged himself from time to time in aninward laugh or snigger at the various specimens of idolatry which grinnedor frowned or frisked or languished on all sides of him.
"Don't sneer at that Anubis," said his uncle; "it is the work of thedivine Callista."
"That, I suppose, is why she brings into existence so many demons,"answered Juba; "nothing more can be done in the divine line; like thequeen who fell in love with a baboon."
"Now I come to think," retorted Jucundus, "that god of hers is somethinglike _you_. She must be in love with you, Juba."
The youth, as was usual with him, tossed his head with an air of loftydispleasure; at length he said, "And why should she not fall in love withme, pray?"
"Why, because you are too good or too bad to need her plastic hand. Shecould not make anything out of you. 'Non ex quovis ligno.' But she'd bedoing a good work if she wiled back your brother."
"_He_ does not want wiling any more than I," said Juba, "_I_ dare say!he's no Christian."
"What's that?" said his uncle, looking round at him in surprise; "Agelliusno Christian?"
"Not a bit of it," answered Juba; "rest assured. I taxed him with it onlylast night; let him alone, _he'll_ come round. He's too proud to change,that's all. Preach to him, entreat him, worry him, try to turn him, workat the bit, whip him, and he will turn restive, start aside, or run away;but let him have his head, pretend not to look, seem indifferent to thewhole matter, and he will quietly sit down in the midst of your imagesthere. Callista has an easy task; she'll bribe him to do what he wouldelse do for nothing."
"The very best news I have heard since your silly old father died," criedJucundus; "the very best--if true. Juba, I'll give you an handsome presentthe first sow your brother sacrifices to Ceres. Ha, ha, what fine fun tosee the young farmer over his cups at the Nundinae! Ha, ha, no Christian!bravo, Juba! ha, ha, I'll make you a present, I say, an Apollo to teachyou manners, or a Mercury to give you wit."
"It's quite true," said Juba; "he would not be thinking of Callista, if hewere thinking of his saints and angels."
"Ha, ha! to be sure!" returned Jucundus; "to be sure! yet why shouldn't heworship a handsome Greek girl as well as any of those mummies and death'sheads and bogies of his, which I should blush to put up here alongsideeven of Anubis, or a scarabaeus?"
"Mother thinks she is not altogether the girl you take her for," said hisnephew.
"No matter, no matter," answered Jucundus, "no matter at all; she may be aLais or Phryne for me; the surer to make a man of him."
"Why," said Juba, "mother thinks her head is turning in the opposite way.D'you see? Strange, isn't it?" he added, annoyed himself yet not unwillingto annoy his uncle.
"Hm!" exclaimed Jucundus, making a wry face and looking round at him, asif to say, "What on earth is going to turn up now?"
"To tell the truth," said Juba, gloomily, "I did once think of her myself.I don't see why I have not as much right to do so as Agellius, if Iplease. So I thought old mother might do something for me; and I asked herfor a charm or love potion, which would bring her from her brother down tothe forest yonder. Gurta took to it kindly, for she has a mortal hatred ofCallista, because of her good looks, though she won't say so, and becauseshe's a Greek! and she liked the notion of humbling the haughty minx. Soshe began one of the most tremendous spells," he shrieked out with alaugh, "one of the most tremendous spells in her whole budget. All andeverything in the most exact religious way: wine, milk, blood, meal, wax,old rags, gods, Numidian as well as Punic; such names; one must bebarbarian to boot, as well as witch, to pronounce them: a score of thingsthere were besides. And then to see the old woman, with her streaming greyhair, twinkling eyes, and grim look, twirl about as some flute girl at abanquet; it was enough to dance down, not only the moon, but the wholemilky way. But it did not dance down Callista; at which mother got savage,and protested that Callista was a Christian."
Jucundus looked much perplexed. "Medius fidius!" he said, "why, unless welook sharp, she will be converting him the wrong way;" and he began pacingup and down the small room.
Juba on his part began singing--
"Gurta the witch would have part in the jest; Though lame as a gull, by his highness possessed, She shouldered her crutch, and danced with the rest.
"Sporting and snorting, deep in the night, Their beards flashing fire, and their hoofs striking light, And their tails whisking round in the heat of their flight."
By this time Jucundus had recovered from the qualm which Juba'sintelligence had caused him, and he cried out, "Cease your rubbish; oldGurta's jealous; I know her spite; Christian is the most blackguard wordin her vocabulary, its Barbar for toad or adder. I see it all; no,Callista, the divine Callista, must take in hand this piece of wax, sing acharm, and mould him into a Vertumnus. She'll show herself the more potentwitch of the two. The new emperor too will help the incantation."
"What! something is coming?" asked Juba, with a grin.
"Coming, boy? yes, I warrant you," answered his uncle. "_We'll_ make themsqueak. If gentle means don't do, then we'll just throw in anotheringredient or two: an axe, or a wild cat, or a firebrand."
"Take care what you are about, if you deal with Agellius," said Juba."He's a sawney, but you must not drive him to bay. Don't threaten; keep tothe other line; he's weak-hearted."
"Only as a background to bring out the painting; the Muse singing, all inlight, relieved by sardix or sepia. It _must_ come; but perhaps Agelliuswill come first."
Callista : a Tale of the Third Century Page 9
