The Death of the Gods

by Dmitry Sergeyevich Merezhkovsky

  V

  In one of the halls of his palace at Constantinople Julian was busywith affairs of state.

  Between the porphyry columns on the terrace, looking out on theBosphorus, lay a sparkling view of the pale blue sea. The youngEmperor was seated at a round marble table, covered with papyri androlls of parchment. Silentiaries of the palace stooped over the table,scribbling audibly with reed-pens. Some had a sleepy expression, notbeing accustomed to get up at such an early hour. Standing a littlealoof, behind the colonnade, two men were exchanging observations in alow voice. These were Hekobolis and Julius Mauricus, an official withan intelligent, bilious countenance. This elegant Court sceptic,amidst general superstition, was one of the last admirers of Lucian,the satirist of Samos, author of stinging dialogues, in which herailed so pitilessly at all the idols of Olympus and Golgotha, everytradition of Greece and Rome. Julian was dictating a document to thechief priest of Galicia, Arsacius--

  "Do not allow the sacrificial priests to frequent the theatre, todrink in taverns, or follow low trades. Respect the obedient, punishthe unfaithful. In every town cause guest-houses to be built forpilgrims, who should therein find ample charity. Not only forHellenist pilgrims, but for all, to whatever profession of faith theymay belong. We ordain to be distributed in Galicia thirty thousandmeasures of wheat, a hundred and twenty thousand gallons of wine.Distribute a fifth part amongst the poor living near the temple, therest amongst pilgrims and the sick. It is shameful that the Hellenistsstarve, when the Jews have not a beggar amongst them and the Galileansfeed both their own poor and ours. They act like those who enticechildren with sweetmeats, beginning by hospitality, inviting to feastsof brotherly love. Little by little they finish by fasts,flagellations, madness, deaths of martyrs, and the horror of hell.Such are the customary means of those enemies of the human race whocall themselves Christians and brothers. Combat them by charity, givenin the name of the eternal Olympian gods. Announce in all cities andvillages that such is my heartfelt will. If I learn that you haveacted according to my decree, my favour shall be with you. Explain tothe citizens that I hold myself in readiness to come to their help atany moment in all circumstances. But if they desire to obtain myfavours, let them bow before Dindymene, the great Cybele, mother ofthe gods, and let them give glory unto her throughout all peoples,throughout all time."

  He wrote the concluding words with his own hand.

  Breakfast was served--bread, cheese, fresh olives, and a light whitewine. Julian ate and drank without ceasing work. But suddenly heturned and pointing to the golden plate of olives, asked his favouriteslave, who had been brought by him from Gaul, and invariably servedhim at table--

  "Why this gold plate? Where is the other in earthenware?"

  "Pardon, sire!... it is broken."

  "Broken to pieces?"

  "No--at the edge only...."

  "Bring it here."

  The slave ran to get the plate in question.

  "It can be used for a long time yet," said Julian.

  He smiled.

  "My friends, I have long observed that the broken outlasts the new. Iconfess I have a fancy for cracked things. They have the charm of oldfriends!... I fear novelty and hate change," and he laughed heartilyat himself. "You see what philosophy lies in a broken plate!"

  Julius Mauricus twitched Hekobolis by the sleeve--

  "Did you hear? That's his character! He keeps his cracked plates andexpiring gods; and that is how a world's destiny is decided!"

  Julian had become completely absorbed in edicts and laws for reform.

  In every city in the Empire it was his wish to found schools,lectureships, debating-halls; special forms of prayer, and philosophicsermons, refuges for the upright, and for those who desired to devotethemselves to philanthropic meditation.

  "What?" whispered Mauricus to Hekobolis. "Monasteries in honour ofAphrodite and Apollo? A new horror!"

  "Yes, my friend, with the aid of the gods we shall accomplish it all,"concluded the Emperor. "The Galileans want to convince the world thatthey have a monopoly of brotherly love, although it belongs to allphilosophers, whatever be the gods they revere. My task in the worldis to preach a new love; a love free and glad as the very sky of theOlympians!"

  Julian glanced round those present, but on the faces of hisdignitaries did not find what he sought. Deputations from theChristian professors of rhetoric and philosophy at this moment enteredthe hall. An edict forbidding Christian teachers to give instructionin classical eloquence had recently appeared. The Christiangrammarians had therefore to renounce their faith or quit theirschools.

  Scroll in hand, one of these teachers approached the Emperor. He was alittle thin man with a confused manner, bearing a strong likeness to aparrot. Two raw and awkward pupils accompanied him.

  "Beloved of the gods, have pity on us!"

  Julian interrupted--

  "What's your name?"

  "Papirian, a Roman citizen."

  "Well, understand, my dear Papirian, I bear no grudge against you ...on the contrary, remain Galilean...."

  The old man fell at the Emperor's feet and kissed them.

  "Forty years have I been teaching grammar.... I know Homer and Hesiodbetter than anyone else...."

  "What do you want..." asked Augustus sternly.

  "Sir, I have six children!... Don't rob me of my last crust!... Mypupils like me; ask them if I teach anything harmful!"

  Emotion prevented Papirian from continuing his speech, and he pointedto his pupils, who, not knowing where to put their hands, stoodtogether staring and blushing.

  "No, my friends," said the Emperor gently but firmly. "The law isjust. To my mind it is absurd that Christian teachers, in explainingHomer, should expound away the gods of whom Homer sang. If you believethat our wise men composed mere fables on the subject of our gods, youshould go to your churches, and expound Matthew and Luke!... Andnote, Galileans, all is done in your own interest...."

  One of the rhetoricians muttered--

  "In our interest! We shall starve!"

  "Do you not fear profanation by what is worse than starvation--lyingwisdom? You say 'Blessed are the poor in spirit,' Be, then, poor inspirit!... Perhaps you imagine that I am ignorant of your teaching? Iknow it better than you do! I see in the Galilean commandments depthsyou have never dreamed of!... But let each take his own path. Leave usour frivolous learning and philosophy, our poor literary knowledge.What have these poisoned streams to do with you? Yours is a higherwisdom! We own the earthly kingdom, and you ... the Kingdom of Heaven.That's no small thing for humble folk like you!... Dialectic and logicleads to freethinking or heresies? Be then, in good sooth, simple aschildren. The ignorance of the fishermen of Capernaum is above all thePlatonic dialogues, is it not? All the wisdom of the Galileans issummed in the word 'Believe'! Ah, rhetoricians, if you were trueChristians you would bless our edict. At this moment, it is not yoursouls, but your bodies which rebel; your bodies, which find sweetnessin sinfulness. That is all I have to say to you, and I hope that youwill learn to agree with me, and that you will find that the RomanEmperor is more anxious for your souls' salvation than you areyourselves!"

  Julian calmly threaded his way through the crowd of unhappyrhetoricians, contented with his speech, but Papirian, still kneeling,tore his hair--

  "Why, Queen of Heaven, dost thou suffer such things to be?" and thetwo scholars, seeing their master's distress, with clumsy fistsbrushed the tears from their eyes.