CHAPTER XXIV.
THE EVE OF MARTYRDOM.
Far different was the scene presented by another spot not far distant--avaulted chamber beneath the stone seats of the Coliseum, whither thedestined Christian martyrs had been removed on the eve before the day oftheir triumph. As an act of grace, some coarse straw, the refuse of alion's lair, had been given them, and the relief to their fetter-crampedlimbs, stiffened with lying on a rough stone floor, was in itself anindescribable delight. But they had a deeper cause of joy. They werefound worthy to witness a good confession for Christ before C[ae]sar, likethe beloved Apostle Paul; and even as their Lord Himself before PontiusPilate. And now the day of their espousals to their Heavenly Bridegroomwas at hand.
The silvery-haired Demetrius, a holy calm beaming in his eyes, utteredwords of peace and comfort. The coarse black barley-bread and muddy winewhich had been given them lest death should cheat the mob of theirpromised delight on the morrow, the venerable priest had consecrated tothe Supper of the Lord--the last viaticum to strengthen their souls ontheir journey to the spirit world. Sitting at his feet, faint and wan,but with a look of utter content upon her face, was his daughterCallirho[e:], a heavenly smile flickering about her lips. With an undauntedcourage, a heroic resolve beaming from his eyes, stood Adauctus,waiting, like a valiant soldier at his post, the welcome word of thegreat Captain of his salvation: "Well done! good and faithful servant,enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
Ever and anon the deep-mouthed roar of a hungry lion rent the air, hisfierce bound shook the walls of his cage, and his hot breath camethrough the bars as he keenly sniffed the smell of human flesh. Butthough it caused at times a tremor of the quivering nerves of the wanand wasted girl, it shook not her unfaltering soul Listen to the holywords calmly spoken by the venerable Demetrius: "'_Non turbetur corvestrum_--Let not your heart be troubled. In my Father's house are manymansions. I go to prepare a place for you.' Yes, daughter. Yes, bravefriend; before another sun shall set we shall see the King in Hisbeauty, and the laud that is very far off. Mine aged eyes shall see,too, the beloved Rachel of my youth, to behold whom they have achedthese many years. And thou, child, shalt see the mother after whom thyheart hath yearned."
"If only, dear father, my brother Ezra were with us," whisperedCallirho[e:], "we soon would be an unbroken family in the city of the greatKing."
"God's will be done, my child," answered the patriarch. "He doeth allthings well. He could bid His angels fly swiftly, and shut the lions'mouths, or better still, convoy our spirits to the marriage supper ofthe Lamb--to the repose of Abraham's bosom. Your brother is a child ofthe covenant, an heir of the promises, the son of many prayers. God willcount him also in the day when He maketh up His jewels." Then, as ifgifted with the spirit of prophecy, he exclaimed: "Not always shall theservants of the Most High be persecuted unto death. But this verystructure, now dedicated to slaughter and cruelty, shall hereafter beconsecrated to the service of the true God"--a prediction which, afterlong centuries, has been literally fulfilled.
Thus in holy converse wore the hours away. And then through the rockyvaults of the Coliseum stole the sweet accents of their last eveninghymn before they should sing the song of Moses and the Lamb on high:--
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abideunder the shadow of the Almighty."
"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Himwill I trust."
"He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thyways."
"Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragonshalt thou trample under foot."
As this p[ae]an of triumph swelled into louder strain, the gladiators, awedby its strange power, paused amid their ribald jests, and even the lionhushed his hungry roar, and the tiger his angry growl.
Valeria, the Martyr of the Catacombs: A Tale of Early Christian Life in Rome Page 26
