Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  Chapter XLVII

  THE Apostle's words put confidence in the souls of the Christians. Theend of the world seemed ever near to them, but they began to think thatthe day of judgment would not come immediately, that first they wouldsee the end of Nero's reign, which they looked on as the reign of Satan,and the punishment of God for Caesar's crimes, which were crying forvengeance. Strengthened in heart, they dispersed, after the prayer, totheir temporary dwellings, and even to the Trans-Tiber; for news hadcome that the fire, set there in a number of places, had, with thechange of wind, turned back toward the river, and, after devouring whatit could here and there, had ceased to extend.

  The Apostle, with Vinicius and Chilo, who followed him, left theexcavation also. The young tribune did not venture to interrupt hisprayers; hence he walked on in silence, merely imploring pity with hiseyes, and trembling from alarm. Many approached to kiss Peter's hands,and the hem of his mantle; mothers held out their children to him;some knelt in the dark, long passage, and, holding up tapers, beggeda blessing; others, going alongside, sang: so there was no chance forquestion or answer. Thus it was in the narrow passage. Only when theycame out to broader spaces, from which the burning city was in view, didthe Apostle bless them three times, and say, turning to Vinicius,--

  "Fear not. The hut of the quarryman is near; in it we shall find Linus,and Lygia, with her faithful servant. Christ, who predestined her tothee, has preserved her."

  Vinicius tottered, and placed his hand against the cliff. The road fromAntium, the events at the wall, the search for Lygia amidst burninghouses, sleeplessness, and his terrible alarm had exhausted him; and thenews that the dearest person in the world was near by, and that soonhe would see her, took the remnant of his strength from him. So greata weakness possessed him on a sudden that he dropped to the Apostle'sfeet, and, embracing his knees, remained thus, without power to say aword.

  "Not to me, not to me, but to Christ," said the Apostle, who warded offthanks and honor.

  "What a good God!" said the voice of Chilo from behind, "but what shallI do with the mules that are waiting down here?"

  "Rise and come with me," said Peter to the young man.

  Vinicius rose. By the light of the burning, tears were visible on hisface, which was pale from emotion. His lips moved, as if in prayer.

  "Let us go," said he.

  But Chilo repeated again: "Lord, what shall I do with the mules that arewaiting? Perhaps this worthy prophet prefers riding to walking."

  Vinicius did not know himself what to answer; but hearing from Peterthat the quarryman's hut was near by, he said,--

  "Take the mules to Macrinus."

  "Pardon me, lord, if I mention the house in Ameriola. In view of such anawful fire, it is easy to forget a thing so paltry."

  "Thou wilt get it."

  "O grandson of Numa Pompilius, I have always been sure, but now, whenthis magnanimous prophet also has heard the promise, I will not remindthee even of this, that thou hast promised me a vineyard. Pax vobiscum.I shall find thee, lord. Pax vobiscum."

  They answered, "And peace with thee."

  Then both turned to the right toward the hills. Along the road Viniciussaid,

  "Lord, wash me with the water of baptism, so that I may call myself areal confessor of Christ, for I love Him with all the power of my soul.Wash me quickly, for I am ready in heart. And what thou commandest Iwill do, but tell me, so that I may do it in addition."

  "Love men as thy own brothers," answered the Apostle, "for only withlove mayst thou serve Him."

  "Yes, I understand and feel that. When a child I believed in the Romangods, though I did not love them. But I so love Him the One God thatI would give my life for Him gladly." And he looked toward the sky,repeating with exaltation: "For He is one, for He alone is kind andmerciful; hence, let not only this city perish, but the whole world, Himalone will I confess and recognize."

  "And He will bless thee and thy house," concluded the Apostle.

  Meanwhile they turned into another ravine, at the end of which a faintlight was visible. Peter pointed to it and said,--

  "There is the hut of the quarryman who gave us a refuge when, on the wayfrom Ostrianum with the sick Linus, we could not go to the Trans-Tiber."

  After a while they arrived. The hut was rather a cave rounded Out inan indentation of the hill, and was faced outside with a wall made ofreeds. The door was closed, but through an opening, which served fora window, the interior was visible, lighted by a fire. Some dark giantfigure rose up to meet them, and inquired,--"Who are ye?"

  "Servants of Christ," answered Peter. "Peace be with thee, Ursus."

  Ursus bent to the Apostle's feet; then, recognizing Vinicius, seized hishand by the wrist, and raised it to his lips.

  "And thou, lord," said he. "Blessed be the name of the Lamb, for the joywhich thou wilt bring to Callina."

  He opened the door then, and entered. Linus was lying on a bundle ofstraw, with an emaciated face and a forehead as yellow as ivory. Nearthe fire sat Lygia with a string of small fish, intended evidently forsupper. Occupied in removing the fish from the string, and thinking thatit was Ursus who had entered, she did not raise her eyes. But Viniciusapproached, and, pronouncing her name, stretched his hand to her. Shesprang up quickly then; a flash of astonishment and delight shot acrossher face. Without a word, like a child who after days of fear and sorrowhad found father or mother, she threw herself into his open arms.

  He embraced her, pressed her to his bosom for some time with suchecstasy as if she had been saved by a miracle. Then, withdrawing hisarms, he took her temples between his hands, kissed her forehead and hereyes, embraced her again, repeated her name, bent to her knees, to herpalms, greeted her, did her homage, honored her. His delight had nobounds; neither had his love and happiness.

  At last he told her how he had rushed in from Antium; had searchedfor her at the walls, in the smoke at the house of Linus; how he hadsuffered and was terrified; how much he had endured before the Apostlehad shown him her retreat.

  "But now," said he, "that I have found thee, I will not leave thee nearfire and raging crowds. People are slaying one another under the walls,slaves are revolting and plundering. God alone knows what miseries mayfall yet on Rome. But I will save thee and all of you. Oh, my dear, letus go to Antium; we will take a ship there and sail to Sicily. My landis thy land, my houses are thy houses. Listen to me! In Sicily we shallfind Aulus. I will give thee back to Pomponia, and take thee from herhands afterward. But, O carissima, have no further fear of me. Christhas not washed me yet, but ask Peter if on the way hither I have nottold him my wish to be a real confessor of Christ, and begged himto baptize me, even in this hut of a quarryman. Believe, and let allbelieve me."

  Lygia heard these words with radiant face. The Christians formerly,because of Jewish persecutions, and then because of the fire anddisturbance caused by the disaster, lived in fear and uncertainty. Ajourney to quiet Sicily would put an end to all danger, and open a newepoch of happiness in their lives. If Vinicius had wished to take onlyLygia, she would have resisted the temptation surely, as she did notwish to leave Peter and Linus; but Vinicius said to them, "Come with me;my lands are your lands, my houses your houses." At this Lygia inclinedto kiss his hand, in sign of obedience, and said,--

  "Where thou art, Caius, there am I, Caia."

  Then confused that she had spoken words which by Roman custom wererepeated only at marriage, she blushed deeply, and stood in the lightof the fire, with drooping head, in doubt lest he might take them ill ofher. But in his face boundless homage alone was depicted. He turned thento Peter, and continued,--

  "Rome is burning at command of Caesar. In Antium he complained thathe had never seen a great fire. And if he has not hesitated at such acrime, think what may happen yet. Who knows that he may not bring introops, and command a slaughter? Who knows what proscriptions may come;who knows whether after the fire, civil war, murder, and famine may notcome?

  "Hide yourselves, therefore, and let
us hide Lygia. There ye can waittill the storm passes, and when it is over return to sow your grainanew."

  Outside, from the direction of the Vatican Field, as if to confirm hisfears, distant cries were heard full of rage and terror. At that momentthe quarryman entered, the master of the hut, and, shutting the doorhastily, he cried,--

  "People are killing one another near the Circus of Nero. Slaves andgladiators have attacked the citizens."

  "Do ye hear?" said Vinicius.

  "The measure is full," said the Apostle; "and disasters will come, likea boundless sea." Then he turned, and, pointing to Lygia, said, "Takethe maiden, whom God has predestined to thee, and save her, and letLinus, who is sick, and Ursus go with you."

  But Vinicius, who had come to love the Apostle with all the power of hisimpetuous soul, exclaimed: "I swear, my teacher, that I will not leavethee here to destruction."

  "The Lord bless thee for thy wish," answered Peter; "but hast thou notheard that Christ repeated thrice on the lake to me, 'Feed my lambs'?"

  Vinicius was silent.

  "If thou, to whom no one has confided care over me, sayest that thouwilt not leave me to destruction, how canst thou wish me to leave myflock in the day of disaster? When there was a storm on the lake, and wewere terrified in heart, He did not desert us; why should I, a servant,not follow my Master's example?"

  Then Linus raised his emaciated face and inquired,--

  "O viceregent of the Lord, why should I not follow thy example?"

  Vinicius began to pass his hand over his head, as if struggling withhimself or fighting with his thoughts; then, seizing Lygia by thehand, he said, in a voice in which the energy of a Roman soldier wasquivering,--

  "Hear me, Peter, Linus, and thou, Lygia! I spoke as my human reasondictated; but ye have another reason, which regards, not your owndanger, but the commands of the Redeemer. True, I did not understandthis, and I erred, for the beam is not taken from my eyes yet, and theformer nature is heard in me. But since I love Christ, and wish to beHis servant, though it is a question for me of something more than myown life, I kneel here before thee, and swear that I will accomplish thecommand of love, and will not leave my brethren in the day of trouble."

  Then he knelt, and enthusiasm possessed him; raising his hands and eyes,he cried: "Do I understand Thee, O Christ? Am I worthy of Thee?"

  His hands trembled; his eyes glistened with tears; his body trembledwith faith and love. Peter took an earthen vessel with water, and,bringing it near him, said with solemnity,--

  "Behold, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.Amen."

  Then a religious ecstasy seized all present. They thought that somelight from beyond this world had filled the hut, that they heard somesuperhuman music, that the cliffs had opened above their heads, thatchoirs of angels were floating down from heaven, and far up there theysaw a cross, and pierced hands blessing them.

  Meanwhile the shouts of fighting were heard outside, and the roar offlames in the burning city.