"How like he is now, in his fury, to his cousin Constantius!"
Julian spoke to the crowd, and his voice appeared to himself even
strange and terrible--
"By the grace of the gods I am still Emperor! Galileans, obey! You may
mock at my beard and clothes, but not at the Roman law.... Remember, I
am punishing you for rebellion and not for religion. Chain that
rascal!"
With a shaking hand he pointed to Pamva, who was promptly seized by
two fair-haired Batavians.
"Thou liest, atheist!" shouted Pamva triumphantly. "You are punishing
us for our faith. Why do you not pardon me, as you did Maris the blind
Chalcedonian? Where is now your philosophy? Have the times changed?
Have you overshot your mark? Brothers, fear not the Roman Cæsar, but
the Almighty God!"
The crowd gave up all idea of flight. All were infected by the fever
of martyrdom. The Batavians and the Celts were startled by the sight
of a mob rushing joyfully on death. Even children threw themseves on
the swords and lances. Julian wished to stop the massacre. He was too
late; the bees were making for the honey. He could only exclaim, in
scorn and despair--
"Unhappy people! If life weighs on you, is it so difficult for you to
shorten it for yourselves?"