"Look how he keeps at it! He really loves his gods!"
"By this right hand," remarked the other, "few people care for father
and mother as he cares for his gods!"
"You see," laughed a third, "how he puffs out his cheeks to kindle the
fire again!... Blow, blow!... It won't catch!... Your uncle
Constantine put _that_ fire out."
The flames jetted up, illumining the Emperor's face.
Dipping the holy water brush into a shallow cup, a silver patine used
to cover the chalice, he besprinkled the sacrificial water over the
heads of the crowd. Some grimaced, others started, at feeling the cold
drops on their faces.
When all the ceremonies were over, Julian remembered that he had
prepared a philosophical discourse for the people.
"Men," said he, "the god Dionysus is the beginning of your souls'
liberty. Dionysus breaks every chain that binds you; he mocks the
strong, sets free the slave...."
But he perceived such a dull stupidity upon every face, such an
expression of tedium and weariness, that the words died on his lips. A
mortal disgust for humanity arose in his heart. He made a sign to the
lance-bearers to come round him.
Grumbling and disappointed, the crowd dispersed.
"I'm going straight to church to get absolution. Do you think I shall
be forgiven?" said one of the Fauns, snatching off his own false beard
and horns with an angry gesture.
"It wasn't worth losing one's soul for that, eh?" observed with wrath
a lady of doubtful reputation.
"Nobody wants your soul, or would give three obols for it!"
"The cursed devils!" yelled a drunkard. "They didn't give us enough
wine to get the taste of it!"
In the sacristy of the temple the Emperor washed face and hands, took
off the splendid Dionysian dress, and put on again the simple white
tunic of the Pythagoreans. The sun was declining, and he waited the
fall of dusk to retrace his way to the palace unperceived.
Julian went into the sacred wood of Dionysus, where the silence was
broken only by the humming of bees and the tinkle of a brook. A sound
of steps made him turn round. It was his old friend, one of Maximus'
favourite pupils, the young Alexandrian doctor, Oribazius.
They walked on the narrow path side by side. The sun was shining
through large golden leaves of the vine.
"Look!" said Julian smiling. "Here great Pan is still alive!"