The sun had scarcely risen half-way to the meridian when the head of the
sacrificial procession streamed forth from the Temple of Peace, in the
wide forum belonging to which its component parts had been collected and
arranged. Preceded by banners came the pontiffs of the sacred college,
walking under silken canopies to shield their persons from the sun's
burning rays. They were followed by the augurs in saffron and purple
togas, wearing on their heads the conical caps with spikes of
olive-wood, and carrying the litui--long staffs with golden crooks at
the ends [Note 1]. Then came the tubicini, or trumpeters, sounding
loudly on their curved instruments of bronze with shrill notes, and the
tubas, straight silver trumpets, hollowing them, with various ensigns
and insignia, emerged the chief flamens, wearing the laena and apex,
with wreaths of laurel. Now, after a profusion of banners, appeared a
chariot drawn by four white steeds, richly adorned with wreaths, bearing
along a magnificent statue of Jupiter Tonans [Note 2], with thunderbolts
in hand, followed by superb statues, larger than life, of Mars, Apollo,
Juno, Venus, and Minerva--the goddesses habited in robes either supplied
by pious matrons or from the properties of the temples. The car of
Juno, adorned with peacocks' feathers [Note 3], that of the Cytherean
Venus, with apple in hand, was drawn along, her car bearing imitations
of swans and doves, and ornamented with wreaths of myrtle and roses.
The car of Minerva followed, the goddess represented by a gigantic
statue, a sphinx in the middle of the helmet, supported on either side
by griffins, while standing on her car were huge dragons, cocks, and
owls, with branches of the olive-tree arranged upon it. All these cars
were drawn, not by horses, but by young patricians, who eagerly sought
the opportunity to perform so grateful a service to the deities they
worshipped. In a long line came other gods and goddesses, not seated in
cars, but placed on high platforms, carried by men, some appearing
singly and others in groups, representing the various actions for which
they were renowned. Between each god or goddess walked youths, swinging
censers, emitting as they moved them to and fro sweet odours grateful to
their divinities. The bearers of the almost countless images were, like
those who drew the chariots, mostly patricians, or young men of wealth
of plebeian family, who thus sought an easy mode of exhibiting their
piety.
Now came, preceded by lictors with their fasces, the vestal virgins,
seated in silver chariots drawn by milk-white steeds, followed closely
by another band of flamens, leading a long line of hostia (oxen to be
sacrificed), their horns richly gilded, their heads adorned with
wreaths, each animal led by a victimarius. So numerous were they, that
it appeared as if the line would never end; for Coecus had arranged to
offer up a whole hecatomb of victims.
Following the hostia came another band of trumpeters with numerous
banners, the ornaments at their summits glittering in the sun; with a
band of inferior priests, minor flamens, popos [Note 4], and other
attendants at the temples, chanting loudly in honour of their gods;
while next came large parties of citizens in festive dresses, eager to
show their affection for the long-established religion of their
ancestors; the whole followed by a body of troops, with their standards
unfurled, and other insignia held aloft. The procession, as seen from a
distance, had indeed the appearance of some enormous serpent with
shining scales, as, emerging from the precincts of the temple, it wound
its way along through the narrow streets, past the temples of Venus and
Rome, under the colossal statue of Nero, on the outside of which
scaffolding had been erected, affording accommodation to thousands of
spectators; then turning westward, under the arch of Titus, and between
the numerous temples which lined that portion of the Sacra Via, through
the Forum Romanum, under the arch of Severus; when, gaining the Capitol,
it proceeded direct towards the temple of Jupiter Optimus. Here the
head of the vast column, the pontiffs, the flamens, and the augurs, as
they arrived, gathered in due order under the porch,--the various
statues of the gods being ranged on either side, the vestal virgins
taking the post of honour awarded to them, while the people arranged
themselves so as to leave an open space round the numerous altars, which
stood prepared for the sacrifice of the victims. The animals, as they
came up held by the victimarii, were arranged in front of the altars;
when the flamens, having strewed their heads with roasted barley-meal,
the popos, stripped and girt ready, advanced with huge hammers in their
belts; then, at a signal from the chief pontiff, the fires were lighted,
and each of the performers having been previously sprinkled with
holy-water, the popos, holding up the heads of the animals, gave the
fatal blow which brought them to the ground; when, the deadly knives
being plunged into the victims' hearts, they were rapidly and skilfully
dismembered. The augurs, with due care, examined the intestines, which,
being placed on the altars, were now strewed with barley-meal; and as
the fires blazed up, wine was poured forth, and incense thrown upon
them; the trumpets the meantime sounding, and the choristers loudly
singing hymns in praise of Jupiter and the immortal gods. As the
incense rose in thick clouds towards the sky from the multitudes of
altars, the pontiff delivered a stirring oration to the people in praise
of the gods, exhorting them to continue firm to their worship. As the
pontiff ceased, the whole temple became filled with the sweet-scented
smoke of the incense, the drums sounded out their loudest notes, and as
the people shouted forth their vows to adhere to the ancient faith under
which Rome had become great and powerful, many declared that the gods
were seen to smile in approval of their piety.
When the procession first emerged from the temple, close to where Gaius
walked was seen a powerful Numidian slave, holding by the hand a young
and handsome boy. Every now and then Gaius glanced at the latter,
apparently to observe what so imposing a scene was producing on his
mind. The boy appeared to pay but little attention to the pageant; but
though he did not struggle, he walked as one who felt himself a captive,
and his eye ranged eagerly over the countenances of the spectators,
especially on those who stood far back in the crowd, as if he were
searching for some one with whom he desired to speak. He made but short
replies to the slave, who seemed to take pleasure in telling him the
names of the temples, and describing the attributes of those gods to
whom they were dedicated. At length, when the temple of Jupiter, on the
Capitoline Hill, was reached, and Gaius stood, with others of the
pontiffs, on the steps, the Numidian led the boy to a position behind
his master, where he could see all that was going forward. The victims
had been slain, and their entrails were still burning, when, at a sign
from Gaius, the Numidian brought forward the lad.
"This must have been an interesting sight for you, my dear Jovinian,"
said Gaius to his nephew; "let me see that you appreciate it. Come, you
shall have the privilege of taking part in the sacrifice. A flamen will
give you some incense: cast it on the altar; the act is a simple one,
and will prove a grateful offering to the Immortals."
"I would obey you, uncle, in all the things of life," answered Jovinian
firmly; "but understand that the God we Christians adore is a spirit,
and desires to be worshipped from the heart in spirit and in truth, and
that the offering of incense, even to Him, is offensive as it is vain;
much more so is it when burnt in honour of those who are no gods, but
the foolish imaginings of ignorant men; and I will not do what is
displeasing to Him, and would bitterly grieve the heart of my beloved
mother, could she see me."
"Boy! boy! how dare you use language such as this to me, a Roman
pontiff!" exclaimed Gaius, becoming angry; then, after a moment,
resuming his calm demeanour, he continued, "What folly is this, that you
should object to so trifling an act as that I wish you to perform!"
"No act, however trifling, if offensive to the true God, can be
performed without sin," answered Jovinian. "I am told that thousands
submitted to be torn to pieces, or crucified, or to be slain by
gladiators, in yonder Flavian amphitheatre, rather than act as you would
have me do."
"Remember, Jovinian, that I have the power to compel you to do as I
desire," said Gaius; "it is not for my own pleasure, but to satisfy the
scruples of my principal, and to prove that you are a true child of
ancient Rome."
"Uncle, I will not do this sinful thing," answered the boy, in a tone of
determination in which Gaius had never before heard him speak. "You may
order the Numidian to flog me, you may refuse me food, or have me put to
death with any tortures you can devise, but I tell you I possess a
strength beyond my own. It is that which God gives to those who trust
Him. He is omnipotent, and nothing human can withstand His power.
Therefore, I say again, you cannot compel me."
Gaius was astonished at the bold answer of his young relative, and was
afraid to press the point, lest the bystanders might overhear the
conversation. He accordingly judged it prudent to commit him again to
the care of the Numidian, directing the slave, as he valued his life,
not to let the boy escape. Meantime the augurs had been examining with
sagacious looks the entrails of the slain animals, and soon unanimously
announced with authoritative voices that the gods were pleased with the
liberal sacrifices offered to them, and that, undoubtedly, as long as
Rome itself should stand, their ancient faith would continue, in spite
of the assaults made on it by the Christians and other atheists. The
vast multitude shouted loudly at the announcement, their cries being
taken up by those who stood at the eastern brink of the Capitoline Hill,
and echoed by the masses who thronged the streets along the Forum even
to the Flavian Amphitheatre, where many remained to watch the return of
the procession to the spot whence it had set out. The carcases of the
beasts not consumed were distributed liberally among the families of the
inferior flamens and servitors at the temples, the begging priests
pushing eagerly forward to get a share of the flesh, of which there was
enough to supply large numbers of the people. Coecus, again marshalling
his forces, led the way from the temple, the various performers
following in due order. "This day's work, as I foretold would be the
case, has been a success, Gaius," he observed to the younger pontiff, as
with stately step they marched along through the Forum. "We must devise
others of a similar nature to amuse the populace, and use every effort
to win back those of the patricians who are showing indifference to the
worship of the gods. Provided we employ proper measures, they can be as
easily gulled as the ignorant multitude; but we must suit the bait to
the nature of the birds to be caught."
"I feel not so certain of success. Those who have once adopted the
principles of the Nazarenes are not likely to be won back again,"
answered Gaius. "I have lately had an example of the obstinacy of these
people; they are not to be influenced by persuasion or dread of
consequences. We know how they behaved in former ages; and even when
Diocletian found that they were dangerous to the state, and allowed them
to receive the punishment they deserved, they still persevered in
propagating their faith, unmoved by the dread of the fate awaiting them.
Then what can we expect now that the emperor patronises them, and, as
it is reported, actually professes to have become a Christian?"
"By Bacchus! then we must find another mode of acting," said Coecus.
"If we cannot destroy, we can corrupt their faith, and, depend on it,
success will attend our efforts."
Meantime young Jovinian, attended by the Numidian, had returned to his
uncle's abode. Gaius, taking the hint from Coecus, still hoped to win
over his nephew, for whom he entertained all the affection a man of his
nature was capable of feeling. Observing that the boy suffered from
confinement, he allowed him to take walks through the city, closely
attended by the Numidian Eros--who was charged, however, to keep a
strict watch on him, that he might be prevented from making his escape
or communicating with any of his mother's Christian friends.
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Note 1. Ever since borne by the bishops of the Roman Church.
Note 2. One day to appear in the edifice dedicated to Saint Peter, to
act the part of the apostle; the ignorant multitude being taught by the
modern flamens devoutly to kiss its toe.
Note 3. Still used in the papal processions.
Note 4. The popes were priests appointed to put the victims to death.