Chapter LXII
THE drama "Aureolus" was given usually in theatres or amphitheatres,so arranged that they could open and present as it were two separatestages. But after the spectacle in the gardens of Caesar the usual methodwas omitted; for in this case the problem was to let the greatest numberof people look at a slave who, in the drama, is devoured by a bear. Inthe theatres the role of the bear is played by an actor sewed up in askin, but this time the representation was to be real. This was a newidea of Tigellinus. At first Caesar refused to come, but changed his mindat persuasion of the favorite. Tigellinus explained that after what hadhappened in the gardens it was all the more his duty to appear beforethe people, and he guaranteed that the crucified slave would notinsult him as had Crispus. The people were somewhat sated and tired ofblood-spilling; hence a new distribution of lottery tickets and giftswas promised, as well as a feast, for the spectacle was to be in theevening, in a brilliantly lighted amphitheatre.
About dusk the whole amphitheatre was packed; the Augustians, withTigellinus at the head of them, came to a man,--not only for thespectacle itself, but to show their devotion to Caesar and their opinionof Chilo, of whom all Rome was then talking.
They whispered to one another that Caesar, when returning from thegardens, had fallen into a frenzy and could not sleep, that terrors andwonderful visions had attacked him; therefore he had announced on thefollowing morning his early journey to Achaea. But others denied this,declaring that he would be all the more pitiless to the Christians.Cowards, however, were not lacking, who foresaw that the accusationwhich Chilo had thrown into Caesar's face might have the worst resultpossible. In conclusion, there were those who through humanity beggedTigellinus to stop persecution.
"See whither ye are going," said Barcus Soranus. "Ye wished to allaypeople's anger and convince them that punishment was falling on theguilty; the result is just the opposite."
"True!" added Antistius Verus, "all whisper to one another now that theChristians were innocent. If that be cleverness, Chilo was right when hesaid that your brains could be held in a nutshell."
Tigellinus turned to them and said: "Barcus Soranus, people whisper alsoto one another that thy daughter Servilia secreted her Christian slavesfrom Caesar's justice; they say the same also of thy wife, Antistius."
"That is not true!" exclaimed Barcus, with alarm.
"Your divorced women wished to ruin my wife, whose virtue they envy,"said Antistius Verus, with no less alarm.
But others spoke of Chilo.
"What has happened to him?" asked Eprius Marcellus. "He delivered themhimself into the hands of Tigellinus; from a beggar he became rich;it was possible for him to live out his days in peace, have a splendidfuneral, and a tomb: but, no! All at once he preferred to loseeverything and destroy himself; he must, in truth, be a maniac."
"Not a maniac, but he has become a Christian," said Tigellinus.
"Impossible!" said Vitelius.
"Have I not said," put in Vestinius, "'Kill Christians if ye like;but believe me ye cannot war with their divinity. With it there is nojesting'? See what is taking place. I have not burned Rome; but if Caesarpermitted I would give a hecatomb at once to their divinity. And allshould do the same, for I repeat: With it there is no jesting! Remembermy words to you."
"And I said something else," added Petronius. "Tigellinus laughed when Isaid that they were arming, but I say more,--they are conquering."
"How is that? how is that?" inquired a number of voices.
"By Pollux, they are! For if such a man as Chilo could not resist them,who can? If ye think that after every spectacle the Christians do notincrease, become coppersmiths, or go to shaving beards, for then ye willknow better what people think, and what is happening in the city."
"He speaks pure truth, by the sacred peplus of Diana," cried Vestinius.
But Barcus turned to Petronius.
"What is thy conclusion?"
"I conclude where ye began,--there has been enough of bloodshed."
Tigellinus looked at him jeeringly,--"Ei!--a little more!"
"If thy head is not sufficient, thou hast another on thy cane," saidPetronius.
Further conversation was interrupted by the coming of Caesar, whooccupied his place in company with Pythagoras. Immediately after beganthe representation of "Aureolus," to which not much attention was paid,for the minds of the audience were fixed on Chilo. The spectators,familiar with blood and torture, were bored; they hissed, gave outshouts uncomplimentary to the court, and demanded the bear scene, whichfor them was the only thing of interest. Had it not been for giftsand the hope of seeing Chilo, the spectacle would not have held theaudience.
At last the looked-for moment came. Servants of the Circus brought infirst a wooden cross, so low that a bear standing on his hind feet mightreach the martyr's breast; then two men brought, or rather dragged in,Chilo, for as the bones in his legs were broken, he was unable to walkalone. They laid him down and nailed him to the wood so quickly that thecurious Augustians had not even a good look at him, and only after thecross had been fixed in the place prepared for it did all eyes turn tothe victim. But it was a rare person who could recognize in that nakedman the former Chilo. After the tortures which Tigellinus had commanded,there was not one drop of blood in his face, and only on his white beardwas evident a red trace left by blood after they had torn his tongueout. Through the transparent skin it was quite possible to see hisbones. He seemed far older also, almost decrepit. Formerly his eyescast glances ever filled with disquiet and ill-will, his watchful facereflected constant alarm and uncertainty; now his face had an expressionof pain, but it was as mild and calm as faces of the sleeping or thedead. Perhaps remembrance of that thief on the cross whom Christ hadforgiven lent him confidence; perhaps, also, he said in his soul to themerciful God,
"O Lord, I bit like a venomous worm; but all my life I was unfortunate.I was famishing from hunger, people trampled on me, beat me, jeered atme. I was poor and very unhappy, and now they put me to torture and nailme to a cross; but Thou, O Merciful, wilt not reject me in this hour!"Peace descended evidently into his crushed heart. No one laughed, forthere was in that crucified man something so calm, he seemed so old, sodefenceless, so weak, calling so much for pity with his lowliness, thateach one asked himself unconsciously how it was possible to tortureand nail to crosses men who would die soon in any case. The crowd wassilent. Among the Augustians Vestinius, bending to right and left,whispered in a terrified voice, "See how they die!" Others were lookingfor the bear, wishing the spectacle to end at the earliest.
The bear came into the arena at last, and, swaying from side to side ahead which hung low, he looked around from beneath his forehead, as ifthinking of something or seeking something. At last he saw the cross andthe naked body. He approached it, and stood on his hind legs; but aftera moment he dropped again on his fore-paws, and sitting under the crossbegan to growl, as if in his heart of a beast pity for that remnant of aman had made itself heard.
Cries were heard from Circus slaves urging on the bear, but the peoplewere silent.
Meanwhile Chilo raised his head with slow motion, and for a time movedhis eyes over the audience. At last his glance rested somewhere on thehighest rows of the amphitheatre; his breast moved with more life,and something happened which caused wonder and astonishment. That facebecame bright with a smile; a ray of light, as it were, encircled thatforehead; his eyes were uplifted before death, and after a while twogreat tears which had risen between the lids flowed slowly down hisface.
And he died.
At that same moment a resonant manly voice high up under the velariumexclaimed,--
"Peace to the martyrs!"
Deep silence reigned in the amphitheatre.
Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero Page 62
