Homo Sum -- Volume 02

im out into the air. The anchorites sat near each other on a low block of stone, which Hermas had made into a soft couch for his father by heaping up a high pile of fresh herbs

ch he has altered since I have been ill. It is not so very long since I last saw him by the broad lig

hrowing and thought to himself, "The Palaestra certainly sticks in his mind, and he has been

evertheless find happiness in being together. Stephanus and Paulus were silent, and yet a tacit inter

across the hilly coast-line, the silver clouds against the pure sky changed their hue to the tender blush of a newly opened rose, and the undulating shore floated in the translucent violet of the amethyst. There not a breath of air was stirring, not a sound broke the solemn stillness of the evening. Not till the sea was taking a darker and still darker hue, till the glow on the mountain peaks

e led back to his bed; while Paulus was spreading

rious marvels of the Most High, and I, in shameless idolatry, seemed to see before me the chariot of Helios with its glorious winged-horses, snorting fire as they

d killed, before the two men, exclaimed, "fine fellow, and he cost me no more than one arrow. I will light a fire

oked on a spit. Paulus declined to sup with them, for after he had scourged himsel

est is to come! In this flask I have some strengthening wine, and when it is empty it will be filled afresh." Stephanus took the wooden beaker that his son offered him,

luid, and then murmured, but without putting it to his lips, "That is not

ried Hermas, "and you kn

particularly goo

; but Stephanus asked in su

o anchorites could not perceive that Hermas reddened all over as he replied, "Sirona? The Ga

to know her?" a

" replied the lad, "and as s

you go there to-morrow

er husband too.

swered Hermas, "they call him the

ed. But Stephanus could not sleep, and when his friend approached him to give him some medicine, he said, "The wi

and said, "I owe no man a grudge and I love my neighbor. Great injuries have been done me, but I have f

lus, "and do not let evil t

f you had gone through such things as I hav

It was a Gaul that persuaded your wretched

hen the Gaul came to our house, a man as acrid as sour wine, but with a fluent tongue and sparkling eyes. How he entangled Glycera I know not, nor do I want to know; he shall atone for it in hell. For the poor lost woman I pray day and night. A spell was on her, and

g love! Now I will not speak another word, and you must take this drink that Petrus has sent for you." The se

prayed together, he gave him the jar which Hermas had

cine is good; I have slept well and dreamed sweetl

ed. Now let me go out in the air for a momen

d nights. At the same time he was consumed by a violent thirst, for neither food nor drink had touched his lips for the same length of time. His hands were beginning to tremble, but the weakness and pain that he experienced f

his questions; indeed it was easier to him to speak than to listen, for in his ears ther

forget to thank the Gau

s be thankful!" replied his

yesterday that love had stirred your heart too, and yet yo

d Paulus, staring at the q

incapable of controlling himself, snatched eagerly from his hand, and emptied with frantic thirst. The fiery liquor revived his failing strength, brought th

n, but he almost repented of his curiosity, for his friend

d; but you must not interrupt me, no not once. I am in a strange mood-perhaps it is the wine. I had not drunk any

through whose doorway the daylight poured, and began thus, while he gazed fixedly into vacancy, "What she was like?-who can

er beautiful hands were as white as her forehead-hands that moved as if they themselves were living and inspired creatures with a soul and language of their own. When she folded them devoutly to

oned dove-and loaded her with abusive language. She answered not a word, but large heavy tears flowed slowly over her pale cheeks and down on to her hands, which she kept crossed on her bosom. Grief an

ich Menander, the brother-in-law of the prefect-those prisons in which unde

drous sympathy for the hapless woman had taken possession of my soul; I felt as if she belonged to me, and I to her, and I believed in her, even when the turnkey had told me in coarse language that she had lived with a Roman at the old woman's, and had defrau

Christian boy who had come into the prison with his mother, and gave him the remainder. The child thanked he

wholly lost,' said I to myself, and I offe

any further, we were interrupted by the Christian prisoners, who crowded around the worthy Ammonius, who was exhorting and comforting them with edifying disc

priest, that he may baptize me, if he does not think me unworthy, for I am burdened with sins so heavily as no other woman can be.' Her large, sweet, childlike eyes filled again with big silent tears, and I spoke to her from my he

ought her before the judge, and so into prison. What an abyss of the deepest anguish of soul I could discover in this woman, who was worthy of a better lot! What is highest and best in a woman? Her love, her mother's heart, her honor; and Magdalen had squandere

ep contempt, for among the imprisoned Christians, there were too often lazy vagabond's, who had loudly confessed the Saviour only to be fed by the gifts of the brethren; there I had seen accursed criminals, who hoped by a martyr's death to win back the redemption that they had forfeited; there I had heard the woeful cries of the faint-hearted, who fe

han over ninety and nine that need no repentance,' strengthened her greatly, and she repented-yea and verily, she did. And for my part, God is my witness that not an impulse as from man to woman drew me t

f persecution, a few months before the pro

f-necked shall suffer death. For a long time much consideration had been shown to the prisoners, but now they were alarmed by having the edict read t

one spot. Neither my name nor hers was called, for I did not belong to the prisoners, and she had not been apprehended for the faith's sak

ur. The Roman, a worthy man, looked at her with a benevolent, but searching gaze. I do not find your name here,' he

t me my place among the believers, and write down,

ed out, 'Put down my name too, and write, that Menander, t

at the Lord might strengthen the courage of the others. An unutterably pure and lofty joy filled my soul, and I felt, as if we were out of the body floating on ambient clouds. Softly and calmly we refused to sacrifice, thanked the imperial official, who warned us kindly, and in the same hour and place we fell into the hands of the torturers. She gazed only up to heaven, and I only at her, but in the midst of the most frightful torments I saw before me the Saviour beckoning to me, sur

ing from her dear, white, blood-stained hand, and here under the rough sheepskin I have it

is companion, had sunk on his knees; he now dragged himself, all hot and trembling, to the side of the senseless man, tore the sheep's fell from his breast, and with hasty movement sought the ring; he found

ance restored him to conscious ness. Paulus did not refuse to take some food and drink, and in the cool of the evening, when he was r

Hermas, "how it is that from the firs

and it was with silent ecstasy that he received the assurance that the wife he had always loved, the

ulus that he should leave the Holy Mountain, and go with them to become their elder and ruler, Stephanus said, "Follow this high cal

y of seven days for reflection, and after wandering restlessly from one holy