ACT FIFTH.

Julian.

Do you forget the mountain chain on the other side of the plains?

The Persian.

Sire, have you never heard of that strange defile among the mountains?

Julian.

Yes, yes, a chasm; “Ahriman’s Street” it is called. Is it true that it exists?

The Persian.

I rode through “Ahriman’s Street” two days ago.

Julian.

Nevita!

Nevita.

In truth sire, if it be so——

Julian.

Miraculous help in the hour of need——!

The Persian.

But if you would pass that way, oh mighty one, there is not a moment to be lost. The Persian army which had been assembled in the northern provinces, is now recalled to block the mountain passes.

Julian.

Know you that for certain?

The Persian.

Delay, and you will discover it for yourself.

Julian.

How many days will it take your countrymen to get there?

The Persian.

Four days, sire!

Julian.

Nevita, in three days we must be beyond the defiles!

Nevita.

[To thePersian.] Is it possible to reach the defiles in three days?

The Persian.

Yes, great warrior, it is possible, if you make use of this night as well.

Julian.

Let the camp be broken up! No time now for sleep, for rest! In four days—or five at the utmost—I must stand before Ctesiphon.—What are you thinking about! Ah, I know.

Nevita.

The fleet, sire!

Julian.

Yes, yes, yes, the fleet!

Nevita.

Should the Persian army reach the defiles a day later than we, they will—if they cannot injure you in any other way—turn westward against your ships——

Julian.

And seize a vast amount of booty, wherewith to continue the war——

Nevita.

If we could leave twenty thousand men with the ships, they would be safe——

Julian.

What are you thinking of! Twenty thousand? Well nigh a third of our fighting strength. Where would be the force with which I must strike the great blow? Divided, dispersed, frittered away. Not one man will I detach for such a purpose.

No, no, Nevita; but there may be a middle course——

Nevita.

[Recoiling.] My great Emperor—!

Julian.

The fleet must neither fall into the hands of the Persians, nor yet cost us men. There is a middle course, I tell you! Why do you falter? Why not speak it out?

Nevita.

[To thePersian.] Do you know whether the citizens of Ctesiphon have stores of corn and oil?

The Persian.

Ctesiphon overflows with supplies of all sorts.

Julian.

And when we have once taken the city, the whole rich country lies open to us.

The Persian.

The citizens will open their gates to you, sire. I am not the only one who hates King Sapor. They will rise against him and straightway submit to you, if you come upon them, unprepared and panic-stricken, with your whole united force.

Julian.

Yes; yes.

The Persian.

Burn the ships, sire!

Nevita.

Ah!

Julian.

His hate has eyes where your fidelity is blind, Nevita!

Nevita.

My fidelity saw, sire; but it shrank from what it saw.

Julian.

Are not these ships like fetters on our feet? We have provisions for four full days in the camp. It is well that the soldiers should not be too heavily laden. Of what use, then, are the ships? We have no more rivers to pass——

Nevita.

Sire, if it be indeed your will——

Julian.

My will,—my will? Oh, on an evening like this,—so angry and tempestuous,—why cannot a flash of lightning descend and——

Maximus.

[Entering hastily from the left.] Oh chosen son of Helios—hear me, hear me!

Julian.

Not now, my Maximus!

Maximus.

Nothing can be more pressing than this. Youmusthear me!

Julian.

Then in the name of fortune and wisdom, speak, my brother!

Maximus.

[Draws him apart, and says in a low voice.] You know how I have striven to search and spell out, both in books and through auguries, the issue of this campaign?

Julian.

I know that you have been unable to foretell anything.

Maximus.

The omens spoke and the writings confirmed them. But the answer which always came was so strange that I could not but think myself mistaken.

Julian.

But now——?

Maximus.

When we departed from Antioch, I wrote to Rome to consult the Sibylline Books——

Julian.

Yes, yes——!

Maximus.

This very moment the answer has arrived; a courier from the governor of Antioch brought it.

Julian.

Ah, Maximus,—and its purport——?

Maximus.

The same as that of the omens and the books; and now I dare interpret it. Rejoice, my brother,—in this war you are invulnerable.

Julian.

The oracle,—the oracle?

Maximus.

The Sibylline Books say: “Julian must beware of the Phrygian regions.”

Julian.

[Recoiling.] The Phrygian——? Ah, Maximus!

Maximus.

Why so pale, my brother?

Julian.

Tell me, dear teacher—how do you interpret this answer?

Maximus.

Is more than one interpretation possible? The Phrygian regions? What have you to do in Phrygia? In Phrygia—a remote province lying far behind you, where you need never set your foot.Nodanger threatens you, fortunate man—thatis the interpretation.

Julian.

This oracle has a twofold meaning. No danger threatens me in this war,—but from that distant region——

Nevita, Nevita!

Nevita.

Sire——!

Julian.

In Phrygia? Alexander writes of secret things preparing in Phrygia. It has been foretold that the Galilean is to come again——

Burn the ships, Nevita!

Nevita.

Sire, is this your firm and irrevocable will——?

Julian.

Burn them! No delay! Lurking dangers threaten us in the rear.

[To one of the captains.

Give close heed to this stranger. He is to be our guide. Refresh him with food and drink, and let him have thorough rest.

Jovian.

My Emperor, I implore you—build not too securely on the reports of a deserter like this.

Julian.

Aha—you seem perturbed, my Galilean councillor! All this is not quite to your mind. Perhaps you know more than you care to tell.

Go, Nevita,—and burn the ships!

[Nevitabows and goes out to the left. The captain leads the Persian away among the tents.

Julian.

Traitors in my own camp! Wait, wait,—I shall get to the bottom of these machinations.

The camp shall break up! Go, Jovian, see that the vanguard is afoot within an hour. The Persian knows the way. Go!

Jovian.

As you command, my august Emperor!

[He goes out to the right.

Maximus.

You would burn the fleet? Then surely you have great things in your mind.

Julian.

Tell me, would the Macedonian Alexander have ventured this?

Maximus.

Did Alexander know where the danger threatened?

Julian.

True, true!Iknow it. All the powers of victory are in league with me. Omens and signs yield up their mystic secrets to advance my empire.

Is it not said of the Galilean, that spirits came and ministered unto him?—To whom do the spirits now minister?

What would the Galilean say, were he present unseen among us?

Maximus.

He would say: the third empire is at hand.

Julian.

The third empire is here, Maximus! I feel that the Messiah of the earth lives in me. Thespirit has become flesh and the flesh spirit. All creation lies within my will and my power.

See, see,—there are the first sparks drifting aloft. The flames are licking up the cordage and the clustered masts.

[He shouts in the direction of the fire.

Spread; spread!

Maximus.

The wind anticipates your will. ’Tis rising to serve you.

Julian.

[Commanding with clenched hand.] Swell into a storm! More westerly! I command it!

Fromentinus.

[Enters from the right.] Most gracious Emperor,—suffer me to warn you. A dangerous disturbance has broken out in the camp.

Julian.

I will have no more disturbances. The army shall advance.

Fromentinus.

Yes, my Emperor,—but the refractory Galileans——

Julian.

The Galileans? What of them?

Fromentinus.

Before the tables where the paymasters were distributing the soldiers’ pay, your august image had been set up——

Julian.

It is always to be so for the future.

Fromentinus.

Every man was ordered, as he came forward, to cast a grain of incense into the braziers——

Julian.

Yes—well, well?

Fromentinus.

Many of the Galilean soldiers did so unthinkingly, but others refused——?

Julian.

What! they refused?

Fromentinus.

At first, sire; but when the paymasters told them that ’twas an old custom revived, in no wise pertaining to things divine——

Julian.

Aha! what then?

Fromentinus.

——they yielded and did as they were bidden.

Julian.

There you see; they yielded!

Fromentinus.

But afterward, sire, our own men laughed and mocked at them, and said, unthinkingly, that now they had best efface the sign of the cross and the fish which they are wont to imprint upon their arms; for now they had worshipped the divine Emperor.

Julian.

Yes, yes! And the Galileans?

Fromentinus.

They broke out into loud lamentations——; listen, listen, sire! It is impossible to bring them to reason.

[Wild cries are heard without, among the tents.

Julian.

The madmen! Rebellious to the last. They know not that their master’s power is broken.

[Christian soldiers come rushing in. Some beat their breasts; others tear their garments, with loud cries and weeping.

A Soldier.

Christ died for me, and I forsook him!

Another Soldier.

Smite me, oh wrathful Lord in heaven; for I have worshipped false gods!

The Soldier Agathon.

The devil on the throne has slain my soul! Woe, woe,woe!woe!

Other Soldiers.

[Tearing off the leaden seals which they wear round their necks.] We will not serve idols!

Others Again.

The Apostate is not our ruler! We will go home! home!

Julian.

Fromentinus, seize these madmen! Hew them down!

[Fromentinusand many of the bystanders are on the point of falling upon the Christian soldiers. At that moment a vivid glare spreads over the sky, and flames burst from the ships.

Officers and Soldiers.

[Terror-stricken.] The fleet is burning!

Julian.

Yes, the fleet is burning! And more than the fleet is burning. In that blazing, swirling pyre the crucified Galilean is burning to ashes; and the earthly Emperor is burning with the Galilean. But from the ashes shall arise—like that marvellous bird—the God of earth and the Emperor of the spirit in one, in one, in one!

Several Voices.

Madness has seized him!

Nevita.

[Entering from the left.] It is done.

Jovian.

[Approaching hastily from the camp.] Quench the fire! Out, out with it!

Julian.

Let it burn! Let it burn!

Ammian.

[From the camp.] Sire, you are betrayed. That Persian fugitive was a traitor——

Julian.

Man, you lie! Where is he?

Ammian.

Fled!

Jovian.

Vanished like a shadow——

Nevita.

Fled!

Jovian.

His guards protest that he disappeared almost under their very eyes.

Ammian.

His horse, too, is gone from its pen; the Persian must have fled over the plains.

Julian.

Quench the fire, Nevita!

Nevita.

Impossible, my Emperor!

Julian.

Put it out, I say. It shall be possible!

Nevita.

Nothing could be more impossible. All the cables are cut; the rest of the ships are all drifting down upon the burning wrecks.

Prince Hormisdas.

[Coming from among the tents.] Curses upon my countrymen! Oh sire, how could you give ear to that deceiver?

Cries from the Camp.

The fleet on fire! Cut off from home! Death before us!

The Soldier Agathon.

False god, false god,—bid the storm to cease! bid the flames die down!

Jovian.

The storm increases. The fire is like a rolling sea——

Maximus.

[Whispers.] Beware of the Phrygian regions.

Julian.

[Shouts to the army.] Let the fleet burn! Within seven days you shall burn Ctesiphon.

ACT FIFTH.

A barren, stony desert, without trees or grass. To the right, the Emperor’s tent. Afternoon.

Exhausted soldiers lie in knots on the plain. Detachments now and again pass by from left to right. Outside the tent are the philosophersPriscusandKytron, with several others of the Emperor’s suite, waiting in restless anxiety. The captain of the bodyguard,Anatolus, stands with soldiers before the opening of the tent.

Kytron.

Is is not incredible that this council of war should last so long?

Priscus.

Ay, truly; one would think there were only two courses to choose between: to advance or to retire.

Kytron.

’Tis utterly incomprehensible——

Tell me, good Anatolus, why, in the name of the gods, do we not advance?

Priscus.

Yes, why alarm us by halting here in the middle of the desert?

Anatolus.

See you the quivering air on the horizon, to the north, east, and south?

Kytron.

Of course, of course; that is the heat——

Anatolus.

It is the desert burning.

Priscus.

What say you? The desert burning?

Kytron.

Do not jest so unpleasantly, good Anatolus! Tell us,—what is it?

Anatolus.

The desert burning, I tell you. Out yonder, where the sand ceases, the Persians have set the grass on fire. We can make no progress till the ground cools.

Kytron.

Oh is not this appalling! What barbarians! To have recourse to such means——!

Priscus.

Then there is no choice left us. Without provisions, without water——; why do we not retreat?

Anatolus.

Over the Tigris and Euphrates?

Kytron.

And the fleet burnt! What way is this to conduct the war? Oh, why does not the Emperor think more of his friends! How shall I get home again?

Anatolus.

Like the rest of us, friend!

Kytron.

Like the rest? Like the rest! That is a fine way to talk. With you it is quite another matter. You are soldiers. ’Tis your calling to endure certain hardships to which I am not at all accustomed. I did not join the Emperor’s suite to go through all this. Here am I tortured with gnats and poisonous flies;—look at my hands!

Priscus.

Most certainly we did not come for this. We consented to accompany the army in order to compose panegyrics on the victories the Emperor intended to win. What has come of these victories? What has been achieved during the six toilsome weeks since the fleet was burnt? We have destroyed a few deserted towns of the sorriest kind. A few prisoners have been exhibited in the camp, whom the advance-guard are said to have taken—truly I know not in what battles! The prisoners, methought, looked more like poor kidnapped shepherds and peasants——

Kytron.

And to think of burning the fleet! Said I not from the first that it would be a source of disaster?

Anatolus.

I did not hear you say so.

Kytron.

What? Did I not say so? Oh Priscus, did you not hear me say it?

Priscus.

Truly, I do not know, friend; but I know that I myself in vain denounced that luckless measure. Indeed I may say that I opposed the whole campaign at this time of year. What rash haste! Where were the Emperor’s eyes? Is this the same hero who fought with such marvellous success upon the Rhine? One would think he had been struck with blindness or some spiritual disease.

Anatolus.

Hush, hush;—what talk is this?

Kytron.

’Twas indeed no fitting way for our Priscus to express himself. Yet I, too, cannot deny that I observe a deplorable lack of wisdom in many of the crowned philosopher’s recent proceedings. How precipitate to set up his busts in the camp, and claim worship as if he were a god! How imprudent so openly to scoff at that strange teacher from Nazareth, who undeniably possesses a peculiar power, which might have stood us in good stead in these perilous conjunctures.

Ah! here comes Nevita himself. Now we shall hear——

[Nevitacomes out of the tent. In the opening he turns and makes a sign to some one within. The physicianOribasesimmediately comes out.

Nevita.

[Drawing him aside.] Tell me openly, Oribases,—is there anything amiss with the Emperor’s mind?

Oribases.

What should make you think that, sir?

Nevita.

How else can I interpret his conduct?

Oribases.

Oh my beloved Emperor——!

Nevita.

Oribases, you must hide nothing from me.

Kytron.

[Drawing near.] Oh valiant general, if it be not indiscreet——

Nevita.

Presently, presently!

Oribases.

[ToNevita.] Do not fear, sir! No misfortune shall happen. Eutherius and I have promised each other to keep an eye upon him.

Nevita.

Ah, you do not mean to say that——?

Oribases.

Last night he had well nigh shortened his life. Fortunately Eutherius was at hand——; oh speak of it to no one!

Nevita.

Do not lose sight of him.

Priscus.

[Drawing near.] It would greatly relieve our minds to hear what the council of war——?

Nevita.

Pardon me; I have weighty matters to attend to.

[He goes out behind the tent.

At the same moment Jovian enters from the opening.

Jovian.

[Speaking into the tent.] It shall be done, my gracious Emperor!

Kytron.

Ah, most excellent Jovian! Well? Is the retreat decided on?

Jovian.

I would not counsel any one to call it a retreat.

[He goes out behind the tent.

Kytron.

Oh these soldiers! A philosopher’s peace of mind is nothing to them. Ah!

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