Chapter 24

Phocion.

Aha!—my friend Eunapius in full court dress!

Eunapius.

Shame on you for mocking a poor man.

Phocion.

Call you that mockery? I thought it was the highest distinction.

Eunapius.

You may say so indeed. ’Tis now the height of distinction to go in rags, especially if they have lain long enough in the gutter.

Phocion.

How will all this end, think you?

Eunapius.

What should I care? I know how it has ended with me, and that is enough.

Phocion.

Are you no longer in the Emperor’s service?

Eunapius.

What should the Emperor Julian want with a barber? Think you he has his hair cut, or his beard trimmed? He does not even comb them. But how goes it with you? You do not look much better off.

Phocion.

Alas, Eunapius, purple-dyeing has had its day.

Eunapius.

Right, right; now we dye only the backs of the Christians. But what is that you are toiling with?

Phocion.

A bundle of willow bark. I am to dye fools’ cloaks for the philosophers.

[A detachment of soldiers enters from the right; they range themselves beside the statue of Cybele.

Phocion.

[To one of the men beside the stone basin.] What does this mean?

The Man.

The statue is to be fed once more.

Phocion.

Will the Emperor sacrifice here this evening?

Another Man.

Does he not sacrifice both morning and evening—sometimes here, sometimes there?

A Woman.

Tis hard on us poor folk that the new Emperor is so much in love with the gods.

Another Woman.

Nay, Dione, say not so. Ought we not all to love the gods?

The First Woman.

Maybe, maybe; but ’tis hard on us none the less——

One of the Men.

[Points to the right.] Look—there he comes.

TheEmperor Julianadvances in priestly attire, with a sacrificial knife. Many philosophers, priests, and servants surround him, along with his guard. After them comes a crowd of people, some mocking, some indignant.

One of the Newcomers.

There stands the goddess. Now you shall see sport.

An Older Man.

Do you call that sport? How many hungry mouths could be fed with what is wasted here?

Julian.

[Approaching the statue.] Oh, this sight! It fills my heart with rapture and my eyes with tears of sorrow.

Yes, I must indeed weep, when I remember that this awe-inspiring goddess’s statue, overthrown by impious and audacious hands, has lain so long as if in a sleep of oblivion—and that, moreover, in a place I loathe to mention.

[Suppressed laughter among the listeners.Julianturns angrily.

But I feel no less rapture when I remember that to me it was vouchsafed to rescue the Divine Mother from so unworthy a situation.

May I not well be enraptured by this thought?—Men say of me, that I have won a few victories over the barbarians, and praise me for them. For my part, I set more value on what I am doingfor the gods; for to them we owe all our strength and all our care.

[To those by the stone basin.

It pleases me, however, to find that there are some in this stiff-necked city who are not deaf to my exhortations, but have come forth with seemly piety—and, I doubt not, have brought with them suitable offerings.

[He goes up to the Old Priest.

What do I see? One solitary old man! Where are your brethren of the temple?

The Old Priest.

Sire, they are all dead but I.

Julian.

All dead! The road laid irreverently close to the sanctuary. The venerable grove hewn down——

Old man—where are the sacrificial offerings?

The Old Priest.

[Pointing to the basket.] Here, sire!

Julian.

Yes, yes; but the rest?

The Old Priest.

This is all.

[He opens the basket.

Julian.

A goose! And this goose is all?

The Old Priest.

Yes, sire!

Julian.

And what pious man have we to thank for so generous an offering?

The Old Priest.

I brought it with me myself. Oh, sire, be not wroth; this one was all I had.

[Laughter and mutterings among the bystanders.

Suppressed Voices.

’Tis enough. A goose is more than enough.

Julian.

Oh Antioch—you put my patience to a hard test!

A Man in the Crowd.

Bread first, offerings afterwards!

Phocion.

[Nudging him in the side.] Well said; well said!

Another Man.

Give the citizens food; the gods may do as best they can.

A third Man.

We were better off under Chi and Kappa!

Julian.

Oh you shameless brawlers, with your Chi and Kappa! Think you I do not know whom you mean by Chi and Kappa? Ho-ho, I know very well. ’Tis a by-word among you. You mean Christ and Constantius. But their dominion is past, and I shall soon find means of subduing the frowardnessand ingratitude you display both towards the gods and towards me. You are offended because I allot the gods their due offerings. You mock at my modest attire and my untrimmed beard. This beard is a very thorn in your eyes! You call it, irreverently, a goat’s beard. But I tell you, oh fools, it is a wise man’s beard. I am not ashamed to let you know that this beard harbours vermin, as willow copses harbour game—and yet this despised beard is more honourable to me than your smooth-shaven chins to you!

Eunapius.

[Half aloud.] What foolishness; most unreasonable!

Julian.

But think you I will leave your mockeries unanswered? No, no, you will find yourselves mistaken. Only wait; you shall hear from me sooner than you think. I am at this moment preparing a treatise, entitled “The Beard-Hater.” And would you know against whom it is directed? It is directed against you, citizens of Antioch—against you, whom I describe in it as “those ignorant hounds.” You will find in it my reasons for many things that now seem strange to you in my behaviour.

Fromentinus.

[Entering from the right.] Great Emperor, I bring you good news. Cyrillus has already given way——

Julian.

Ah, I thought so.

Fromentinus.

Typhon did his work bravely. The prisoner was stripped, tied by the wrists, and slung to the rafters, so that the tips of his toes barely touched the floor; then Typhon scourged him from behind with a lash of ox sinews that circled his body round to the breast.

Julian.

Oh how wicked to force us to use such means!

Fromentinus.

Lest he should die under our hands, we had at last to release the obstinate wretch. He remained for a time quite still, and seemed to reflect; then suddenly he demanded to be brought before the Emperor.

Julian.

This pleases me. And you are having him brought hither?

Fromentinus.

Yes, sire—here they come with him.

A detachment of soldiers enters, conductingCyrillus.

Julian.

Ah, my good Cyrillus,—you are not quite so overweening as you were, I see.

Cyrillus.

Have you read in the entrails of some beast or bird what I have to say to you?

Julian.

Methinks there needs no divination to foresee that you have come to your senses, that yourenounce your delusions concerning the Galilean’s power, and that you acknowledge both the Emperor and our gods to be greater than he.

Cyrillus.

Imagine no such thing. Your gods are powerless; and if you cling to these graven images, that can neither hear nor see, you yourself will soon be as powerless as they.

Julian.

Cyrillus—is this what you have to say?

Cyrillus.

No; I come to thank you. Hitherto I have dreaded you and your tortures. But in the hour of agony I won the victory of the spirit over all that is corruptible. Yes, Emperor, while your hirelings thought I was hanging in torment from the prison roof,—I lay, happy as a child, in my Saviour’s arms; and when your executioners seemed to be flaying my body with stripes, the Lord passed his healing hand over the wounds, took away the crown of thorns, and placed on my brow the crown of life.

Therefore I thank you; no mortal has ever done me so great a service as you.

And lest you should think I fear you for the future, see——

[He throws back his cloak, tears open his wounds and casts pieces of flesh at the Emperor’s feet.

—see—see—gorge yourself with the blood you thirst after! But as for me, know that I thirst after Jesus Christ alone.

[Shrieks of horror are heard among the crowd.

Many Voices.

This will bring disaster on us all!

Julian.

[Who has recoiled.] Hold the madman, lest he lay hands on us!

[The soldiers surroundCyrillusand drag him to the water basin; at the same moment the voices of singing women are heard to the right.

Julian.

Look there, Fromentinus—what strange company is that——?

Fromentinus.

My gracious Emperor, ’tis the psalm-singers——

Julian.

Ah, that band of raving women——

Fromentinus.

The governor Alexander has taken from them some writings which they hold sacred. They are going out of the city to weep at the graves of the Christians.

Julian.

[With clenched hands.] Defiance; defiance—from men and women alike!

[OldPublia, and many other women, come along the road.

Publia.[Sings.

Publia.

[Sings.

Their gods are of marble, and silver and gold.They shall crumble to mould.

Their gods are of marble, and silver and gold.

They shall crumble to mould.

Chorus of Women.

To mould; to mould!

Publia.

They murder our brothers; our children they smite.Soar up, doves of song, and pray God to requite!

They murder our brothers; our children they smite.

Soar up, doves of song, and pray God to requite!

Chorus of Women.

Pray God to requite!

Publia.

[Catching sight ofJulian.] There he stands! Woe to the miscreant who has burnt the word of the Lord! Think you you can burn the word of the Lord with fire? I will tell you where it burns.

[She wrests a knife from one of the sacrificing priests, cuts open her breast and probes into the wound.

Here the word burns. You may burn our books; but the word shall burn in the hearts of men until the uttermost end of time!

[She casts the knife from her.

The Women.[Sing with growing ecstasy.

The Women.

[Sing with growing ecstasy.

Let writings be burnt, and let bodies be slain;The word shall remain—The word shall remain!

Let writings be burnt, and let bodies be slain;

The word shall remain—

The word shall remain!

[They takePubliainto their midst and go out towards the country.

The People by the Fountain.

Woe to us; the Galileans’ God is the strongest!

Other Voices.

What avail all our gods against this one?

Others again.

No offering! No worship! ’Twill incense the terribleoneagainst us.

Julian.

Oh fools! You fear to incense a man long dead,—a false prophet—you shall have proof of it. He is a liar, I say! Wait but a little longer. Every day, every hour, may bring tidings from Jerusalem——

Jovian, much travel-stained, enters hastily, with a fewfollowers, from the right.

Jovian, much travel-stained, enters hastily, with a few

followers, from the right.

Jovian.

Most gracious Emperor, pardon your servant for seeking you here.

Julian.

[With a cry of joy.] Jovian! Oh welcome news-bearer!

Jovian.

I come direct from Judea. I learned at the palace that you were here——

Julian.

Oh, ever-praiseworthy gods,—yon setting sun shall not go down upon the lie. How far have you progressed? Speak, my Jovian!

Jovian.

[With a glance at the crowd.] Sire, shall I tell all?

Julian.

All, all—from first to last!

Jovian.

I arrived at Jerusalem with the architects and soldiers, and the two thousand workmen. We went to work at once to clear the ground. Mighty remnants of the walls remained. They fell before our pickaxes and crowbars so easily that it seemed as though some unseen power were helping us to efface them——

Julian.

You see! What did I tell you!

Jovian.

In the meantime immense heaps of mortar were being brought together for the new building. Then, without any warning, there arose a whirlwind, which spread the lime like a cloud over the whole region.

Julian.

Go on; go on!

Jovian.

The same night the earth shook repeatedly.

Voices in the Crowd.

Hear that! The earth shook.

Julian.

Go on, I say!

Jovian.

We were nothing daunted by this strange event. But when we had dug so deep into the ground as to open the subterranean vaults, and the stone-hewers went down to work by torchlight——

Julian.

Jovian,—what then?

Jovian.

Sire, a terrible, a monstrous stream of fire burst out of the caverns. A thundering noise shook the whole city. The vaults burst asunder; hundreds of workmen were killed in them, and the few who escaped fled with lacerated limbs.

Whispering Voices.

The Galileans’ God!

Julian.

Can I believe all this? Did you see it?

Jovian.

With my own eyes. We began anew. Sire, in the presence of many thousands—awestruck, kneeling, exulting, praying—the same wonder was twice repeated.

Julian.

[Pale and trembling.] And then——? In one word,—what has the Emperor achieved in Jerusalem?

Jovian.

The Emperor has fulfilled the Galilean’s prophecy.

Julian.

Fulfilled——?

Jovian.

Through you is the saying accomplished: “Not one stone shall remain upon another.”

Men and Women.

The Galilean has overcome the Emperor! The Galilean is greater than Julian!

Julian.

[To the priest of Cybele.] You may go home, old man! And take your goose with you. We will have no sacrifice this evening.

[He turns to the crowd.

I heard some say the Galilean had conquered. It may appear so; but I tell you it is a delusion. Oh senseless clods; oh contemptible dolts,—believe me, it will not be long before the tables are turned! I will——; I will——! Ah, only wait! I am already collecting material for a treatise against the Galilean. It is to be in seven chapters; and when his followers have readthat,—and when “The Beard-Hater,” too——

Give me your arm, Fromentinus! This defiance has wearied me.

[To the guard, as he passes the fountain.

Set Cyrillus free!

[He returns with his retinue to the city.

The Crowd at the Fountain.

[Shouting after him with scornful laughter.] There goes the altar-butcher?—There goes the ragged bear!—There goes the ape with the long arms!

Moonlight. Among the ruins of the temple of Apollo.

TheEmperor JulianandMaximus the Mystic, both in robes, appear among the overthrown columns.

Maximus.

Whither, my brother?

Julian.

Where it is loneliest.

Maximus.

But here—in this desolation? Among these rubbish-heaps——?

Julian.

Is not the whole earth a rubbish-heap?

Maximus.

Yet you have shown that what has fallen can be restored.

Julian.

Mocker! In Athens I saw how a cobbler had made himself a little workshop in the temple of Theseus. In Rome, I hear, a corner of the Basilica Julia is used for a bullock-stable. Call youthatrestoration?

Maximus.

Why not? Does not everything happen little by little? What is a whole but the sum of all the parts?

Julian.

Foolish wisdom!

[He points to the overturned statue of Apollo.

See this noseless face. See this splintered elbow,—these shattered loins. Does the sum of all these deformities restore to us the divine perfection of bygone beauty?

Maximus.

How know you that that bygone beauty was beautiful—in itself—apart from the spectator’s idea?

Julian.

Ah, Maximus, that is just the question. Whatexistsin itself? After to-day I know of nothing.

[He kicks the head of Apollo.

Have you ever been mightier, in yourself?

Strange, Maximus, that there should dwell such strength in delusion. Look at those Galileans. And look at me in the old days, when I thought it possible to build up again the fallen world of beauty.

Maximus.

Friend—if delusion be a necessity to you, return to the Galileans. They will receive you with open arms.

Julian.

You know well that that is impossible. Emperor and Galilean! How reconcile that contradiction?

Yes, this Jesus Christ is the greatest rebel that ever lived. What was Brutus—what was Cassius, compared withhim? They murdered only the man Julius Caesar; but he murders all that is called Caesar or Augustus. Is peace conceivable between the Galilean and the Emperor? Is there room for the two of them together upon the earth? For he lives on the earth, Maximus,—the Galilean lives, I say, however thoroughly both Jews and Romans imagined that they had killed him; he lives in the rebellious minds of men; he lives in their scorn and defiance of all visible authority.

“Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,—and to God the things that are God’s!” Never has mouth of man uttered a craftier saying than that. What lies behind it? What, and how much, belongs to the Emperor? That saying is nothing but a bludgeon wherewith to strike the crown from off the Emperor’s head.

Maximus.

Yet the great Constantine knew how to compound matters with the Galilean—and your predecessor too.

Julian.

Yes, could one only be as easily satisfied as they! But call you that ruling the empire of the world? Constantine widened the boundaries of his dominion, but did he not fix narrow boundaries to his spirit and his will? You rate that man too high when you call him “the great.” Of my predecessor I will not speak; he was more slave than Emperor, and I cannot be contented with the name alone.

No, no, a truce is not to be thought of in this contest. And yet—to have to give way! Oh, Maximus, after these defeats I cannot retain the crown—yet neither can I renounce it.

You, Maximus, who can interpret omens whose mystic meaning is hidden from all others—you who can read the volume of the eternal stars,—can you foretell the issue of this struggle?

Maximus.

Yes, my brother, I can foretell the issue.

Julian.

Can you? Then tell me—! Who shall conquer? The Emperor or the Galilean?

Maximus.

Both the Emperor and the Galilean shall succumb.

Julian.

Succumb——? Both——?

Maximus.

Both. Whether in our times or in hundreds of years, I know not; but so it shall be when the right man comes.

Julian.

And who is the right man?

Maximus.

He who shall swallow up both Emperor and Galilean.

Julian.

You solve the riddle by a still darker riddle.

Maximus.

Hear me, brother and friend of truth! I say you shall both succumb—but not that you shall perish.

Does not the child succumb in the youth, and the youth in the man? Yet neither child nor youth perishes.

Oh, my best-loved pupil—have you forgotten all our discourse in Ephesus about the three empires?

Julian.

Ah Maximus, years have passed since then. Speak!

Maximus.

You know I have never approved the course you have taken as Emperor. You have striven to make the youth a child again. The empire of the flesh is swallowed up in the empire of the spirit. But the empire of the spirit is not final, any more than the youth is. You have striven to hinder the growth of the youth,—to hinder him from becoming a man. Oh fool, who have drawn your sword against that which is to be—against the third empire, in which the twin-natured shall reign!

Julian.

And he——?

Maximus.

The Jews have a name for him. They call him Messiah, and they await him.

Julian.

[Slowly and thoughtfully.] Messiah?—Neither Emperor nor Redeemer?

Maximus.

Both in one, and one in both.

Julian.

Emperor-God—God-Emperor. Emperor in the kingdom of the spirit,—and God in that of the flesh.

Maximus.

Thatis the third empire, Julian!

Julian.

Yes, Maximus,thatis the third empire.

Maximus.

In that empire shall the present watchword of revolt be realised.

Julian.

“Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,—and to God the things that are God’s.” Yes, yes, then the Emperor is in God, and God in the Emperor.—Ah, dreams, dreams,—who shall break the Galilean’s power?

Maximus.

Wherein lies the Galilean’s power?

Julian.

I have brooded over that question in vain.

Maximus.

Is it not somewhere written: “Thou shalt have none other gods but me”?

Julian.

Yes—yes—yes!

Maximus.

The Seer of Nazareth did not preach this god or that; he said: “God is I;—I am God.”

Julian.

Ay, this thing without me——! ’Tis that which makes the Emperor powerless.

The third empire? The Messiah? Not the Jews’ Messiah, but the Messiah of the two empires, the spirit and the world——?

Back to Index Next