The Wards of Plotinus

Front matter

VOL. III. A By MES. JOHN HUNT THREli VOLUMES.— VOL. Ill STRAHAN AND COMPANY LIMITED U, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON [All rights reserved] CONTENTS OF VOL. III. CHAP. PAGE i. The Inauguration of the New Societi- . 1 ii. Acatia's Death .... .17 m. The Burial of Acatia 39 iv. Decius Emperor .... .59 v. Quintilia's Conversion 78 vi. A Blow to Lela 90 vn. The Sophist in a New Mood . . . 108 viii. The Arrest of Fabian 124 ix. The First Victim 14H x. Calvus Again 170 xi. A Purpose Frustrated 188 xn. The Day of Trial 203 xm. The Trial of Balus 220 xiv. Iope's Repentance 235 xv. The Fate of Iope 255 xvi. The Force of Truth 267 xvn. To the Lions 278 xviii. Lela 295 xix. The Hermit . . • 305 xx. Looking for a City

Chapter I. The Inauguration Of The New Society

,OME months had elapsed since i Plotinus propounded Jiis scheme for the regeneration of society. He had never ceased to think of it, but there had been various obstacles in the way of any effort at its realization. It was his intention to commence the experiment with his wards, but the absence of lope at Baiæ, the increasing weakness of Acatia, the visit of the children of Sulpitius to some relatives in Campania, and the relapse of Laberius into the company of the Sophists, separated VOL. III. b them and caused a delay. Now, however, the opportunity so ardently desired by the philosopher appeared to have arrived. The absent had returned, the lost had been found, and Plotinus resolved to lose no more time in carrying out his design. He hastened to the house of Paulinus and in formed his wards that he had something to say which concerned them all, and was of great importance to their future lives.

" Let us hear thee speak in the garden, 0 guardian," pleaded Acatia, "that I may not interrupt thee by my weakness, for I can scarcely breathe to-day." Plotinus looked at her with pity in his eyes. It was evident that she would take no part in his grand project. But perhaps, knowing it, her spirit would watch the enterprise and assist to ensure its success. He turned thoughtfully and passed out into the shady garden towards a favourite arbour. Then danced forth lope, with the laughing orphans clinging about her, catching at her garments and imploring her to run races, followed by Acatia, her slight form rather carried than supported by the encircling arms of Laberius and Quintilia. " 0 flowers," said she, as she looked down upon the blossoms blooming profusely around, " I come to take my farewell of you.

They placed her upon a marble bench under the spreading vine which formed the arbour, with her head on the shoulder of Laberius. lope and the orphans nestled at her feet, and Quintilia stood like the guardian angel of the group with her finger upon her lip. Then spoke Plotinus. He told his wards of his design to establish a city on new principles, from which all vice was to be banished, and in which morality and piety were to be the great objects of life. He was to enter upon the great work that day, and his children were to consider themselves as the beginning of a kingdom of righteousness which would yet be mighty against the evil that was in the world. He instructed them how they were to live, and promised that they should all have exercises suited to their capacities, and such as they most needed.

When he had ended speaking he seemed for a few moments to be transported from the world. His face shone with a strange brightness, as if illumined by light from heaven. It was that glowing season in the early summer when to the devout soul nature has most of God. Plotinus looked up as from a dream, and fixed his eyes on the setting sun. To him at that moment it was more than ever the symbol and memorial of that One whom no eye could behold, no intellect comprehend, the in effably pure and good. He then spoke of the joy he had before his descent into matter, and the many struggles he had undergone to be delivered from its bonds. His spirit, he said, often in ecstatic moments had draughts of the bliss of reunion with God, but he longed for the fulness of satis faction, the complete return into the ocean of Deity.

And what he sought for himself he sought for all men, and he would now pray for success to the new efforts begun that day for the regeneration of men. Then rising from his seat he lifted his eyes to the sun and said : — " 0 glorious image of the invisible God, thyself a god, thou hast proceeded from the unknown Brightness, and art contending with the darkness of matter. Another day of thy mighty warfare is closing, and thou departest like a victorious warrior, with thy garments dyed in blood. Not this earth only, but the whole universe, rejoices in thy might, and daily praises thee for thy victories over the realms of darkness. This day have I made a new endeavour to be a fellow-worker with thee. Accept my homage, hear my prayer, restore harmony to the world, awake the souls that are asleep in the Hades of matter, — imprisoned in the cavern of a polluted body.

Illumine their darkness, and fill them with that light which proceeds from the fountain of light. The god within me aspires to the perfection of brightness. Let the wings of my soul expand, let me breathe a freer air, and leave behind the boisterous waves by which I am tempest tossed on the troubled sea of matter. I have been torn from thy bosom, 0 divine sun, abode of life and light. Every day I y strive to draw nearer to thee, impatient of tarrying longer in the dark region of this corporeal life. Like an exile in a distant land, I look towards thee, and have a glimpse of my native home. With a heavy heart and a mournful step I walk this earth. It is not my rest. Once I held fellowship wTith the celestial gods, and with a Bac chanalian joy my soul danced around thy glorious orb. 0 thou resplendent image of that Being who is above all being, the source and fountain of life and the soul of the universe, deliver me from the limitations of the flesh.

Take me back to the country from which I am exiled, where no sorrow can trouble me, no change come upon me, but where among the gods I, too, shall be a god." WThen this prayer was uttered Plotinus rose, bade his wards return to the house, and walked into the deepest shade of the garden with a slow and solemn step. The shadows of the twilight were now gathering fast, a gentle breeze shook the rustling leaves of the trees, and a melodious bird was singing to rest the wearied day. The philosopher, overpowered by emotion, en tered into converse with the Spirit of Nature. He talked audibly to himself, uttering ejacu lations and disjointed sentences. "At this moment," he exclaimed, "I feel the presence of the Unseen but Ever Near. He is in the soft wind that makes music among the leaves. He is in the fragrance that ascends from these flowers.

He glows in that glorious depart ing sun. He breathes the breath of this balmy air. All the voices of nature are the voice of God. His life is the life of the world. Men are misled by their senses. They take matter for a substance, and, blinded by multiplicity, they do not see the all-embracing Unity. The visible world is but the varied forms of the All-Life. Each is linked to each, but only the purified eye can look beneath the surface and see the universal harmony. The stone is kindred to the clay, the clay to the mould, the mould to the flower, the flower to the insect, the insect to flesh and fowl and four-footed beasts. One soul animates all, and is ever energizing towards a higher life. The world is in progress from matter to soul, from soul to spirit, and from spirit to God. That which came forth from the One, to the One returns.

As the river flows to the ocean, and the nearer it approaches the more like it it becomes, so visible nature, starting apparently from the soulless, pro gresses in life and intelligence, till in man it becomes conscious of its divine origin, its exile in this life, and the certainty of its return to God." It. was a mixed company with which Plotinus began his experiment, but the world is also mixed. He had a fair specimen of the material on which he was to work. The physician was perfectly in credulous, as well he might be from the standpoint of a practical man of the world. But Plotinus must be numbered with the men of faith, who out of weakness were made strong. It was a divine work on which he was entering. He was on the side of the good, and he believed in its final triumph, though he did not see the difficulties in his way from the complex nature of human life and human emotions.

All great reformers are one-sided. If they looked calmly at all the difficulties before them they would never act. If they weighed each objection their zeal would become cold during the process of weighing. The world's greatest benefactors have been enthusiastic men whose schemes seemed impracticable, and who have been derided as dreamers or madmen. But even when their schemes have failed, their end has been attained, or they have contributed something to its attainment. It was the childlike simplicity of Plotinus that made him great. The atmosphere in which he breathed was above the world, and there fore he was able to benefit the world. The day after the inauguration of the new society, Paulinus the physician was called to attend some cases of fever in the Diverticulum Boarium, a wretched alley between the Tiber and the Velabrum.

The summons had been sent by Fabian, and when he arrived the aged bishop met him at the door of one of the infected houses, accompanied by one of his deacons, who carried nourishment for the sick. " Salve, 0 Fabian ! " exclaimed Paulinus, as he approached the venerable man. "You put your hand early to the plough." "Is there not need?" replied Fabian. " The work is heavy and the labourers are few. Never were worse cases of fever than in this diverticulumf "We must treat it as we do the Jews," said the physician, laughing, — " stamp it out." " I know not how this can be done," said the bishop thoughtfully, "while the people live in such dwellings as these ; they are the very nurseries of fever." As he spoke, some squalid children rolled over each other in the mud, and the sound of their merry laughter rang through the alley.

The physician regarded them with a smile. "At all events," said he, "there is health. Observe these robust faces, and hear the music produced by these strong lungs." "It is marvellous," said Fabian, "how these children live, and how strong they are ; but I suppose it is only those who are born with good constitutions that live at all." " Nature always chooses," answered Paulinus. " She works to fulfil an ideal, and sends forth her material in rich abund ance, but she cares nothing for single lives. All is sacrificed to accomplish her ends." " But many would be saved if cared for," said Fabian. " There is a fearful waste of life in Rome. We must build hospitals, and make provisions for the poor in sickness." " And save those whom Nature does not design for life," said Paulinus ; " and the effect of their preservation will be the deterioration of the race.

The rich preserve their weaklings when the world would be better without them, and you would do the same for the poor." " And does not humanity itself," said Fabian, " teach us to care for all human life, to do all we can to preserve it ? and in preserving it are we not benefiting ourselves ? But what can we do while the city has such plague-spots as this alley ? And what pros pect is there for morality while these dens are the abodes of human beings?" " Let Nature have her own way," said Paulinus. " She knows what is best for every one of us. If she cared as much for morality as you and Plotinus do, there would be plenty of it, but her delights are not in that region. You cannot compel her to a behaviour which is foreign to her disposition. All schemes for such an object will be sure to fail."

"I think not so," replied Fabian. "We can turn a wood into a garden without destroying its beauty." " Well, well," answered Paulinus, " I say nothing against your efforts. Reformation is required, and it is only to be attained by such enthusiastic and sanguine souls as you, 0 Fabian ; and our good philosopher Plotinus hath already made his first step. Yesterday he called his wards together and united them into a society which is to be the beginning of the new creation. He contemplates no thing less than the entire renovation of the whole world. Laberius is to be cured of his follies by a course of geometry and dialectics, lope is to have her levity removed by study ing the science of numbers and harmony as expounded by Pythagoras, and Quintilia is to read lectures on Plato to the young Sulpitians while she attends upon the sick Acatia.

Then they are all to live together acrording to laws, and to think about nothing but goodness and grace and gravity. Never theless, Aulus Camillus is to continue his visits to his betrothed ; and — and — what the result will be we must leave Plotinus to dis cover when he awakes from his dream." The physician disappeared within one of the houses as he uttered the last sentiment, and Fabian, half-amused, half-pleased with what he had heard, proceeded on his errands of mercy. Three days afterwards Paulinus said to Plotinus : — " Philosopher, I am sorry to interfere with your arrangements, but Acatia grows weaker. She stands on the threshold of Hades and cannot be disturbed. lope and the children of Sulpitius must be sent to Laurentum under the care of Valaria."

Chapter II

ACATIA's DEATH. W$jffirffi DARK shadow was over the house C»|yV^ of Paulinus, — the shadow of the angei 0f death. He stood on the threshold and beckoned Acatia to come forth, and they that were with her bowed them selves and wept, for they lamented her departure to the land of shadows. To them it appeared as if she were about to sink into an unfathomable abyss which engulfed all that they loved most, but she smiled, for she saw what they could not see, because their eyes were blinded by their ignorance of eternal life. Looking across the dark valley she beheld the portals of heaven, and therein vol. in. c a lamp hung, which cast a shining bridge over the danger. "I am content," she said. "I am not afraid to die. I know in whom I have believed, and He will guide me safely to the kingdom of God."

But her brother and sister were not comforted. Quintilia mourned continually in her heart, uttering no word, heaving no sigh, as she moved hither and thither in attendance upon the sick ; while Laberius was like one bereft of his senses. Only at intervals would Paulinus permit him to approach the couch of the dying maiden. But as the danger increased, and the old physician saw that there was no hope, he ceased to interpose his objections, and Laberius sat almost constantly at the side of his sister. For him alone she was troubled. She knew that Quintilia was coming every day nearer and nearer to the truth, and she felt Acatia s Death. 19 that those glimpses of its beauty which her own tranquil and hopeful departure would be certain to afford were only needed to assure its acceptance. But when she thought of Laberius, — the fickle, doubting priest of Jupiter, her only brother, her well-beloved brother, — there was bitterness in her cup ; the tears sprang into her eyes, and she would pray earnestly for the healing of the waters of Marah.

Acatia reposed in the lightest of slumbers, and her face shone with a celestial bright ness ; her lips moved as if she talked with messengers from another world. Laberius, sitting by her side, felt a strange awe as he gazed upon her countenance. Never before had he been so impressed with the sense of the presence of something divine. His whole past life seemed to start up like a spectre before him, and he loathed the sight. It had been the life of a man out of harmony with himself, and now he felt the power of that harmony which prevails in the spiritual world. Acatia suddenly but quietly awoke, and her gaze fell upon Laberius with his head resting upon his hands. She touched him softly, and he started from his reverie like a watcher abruptly aroused from sleep. " What dost thou desire ? " he inquired in a hurried and suppressed voice.

" Take my hand," she answered, with a smile ; and when he had done so she looked at him and said : — " 0 Laberius, I have been pleading for you with Gabriel, the chief of the angels that are before the throne of God. He came to tell me of my speedy departure from this life, and my admission among the host of the redeemed. I rejoice greatly at the in telligence, but over the brightness of my joy there came a cloud. I remembered thee Acalia's Death. 21 my brother, Laberius, — I remembered that thou wert still a heathen, — a priest of Jupiter, — one whose life was according to the course of this world, in the lusts of the flesh and the vanity of the mind, and I besought Gabriel that thou mightest have the prayers and intercessions of the saints and the cheru bim for thy redemption. Fervently I made my petition, with many words and many tears, for the desire of my heart is to have thee numbered with the just."

Laberius buried his head in the coverlid which was spread over his sister, and hid the tears which he could not prevent. Acatia, aware of the emotion which she had awakened, paused for a moment, and strengthened herself to say more by an in ward prayer. Then pressing the hand which caressed hers with a fervency which startled the young priest, she exclaimed in a loud, clear voice : — " 0 brother, the only true rest is in Christ. When we but touch the hem of His garment we are made whole. You see me weak in body, but as the outward man decays the inward man is daily renewed. Were you to die you would lose all, for you are capable of no pleasures but those of sense ; and so, while to you death would be the most awful calamity that could befall you, to me it is but the fuller enjoyment of a life already begun."

" Sister," answered Laberius, trying to compose himself, " it is indeed, in my judgment, the worst evil that can happen to any one to go down to the shades in the very morning of life ; — to look no more on this beautiful world, to be in darkness when the sun is gladdening the earth, to lie in the charnel-house when our friends are rejoicing in their festive hours. 0 Acatia, it is too awful. I shudder, I start back appalled at the prospect." Acatia s Death. 23 " Because," said Acatia, " you do not see the light beyond. Death has no terrors to them whose eyes have been opened. They see that he is no enemy, but a real friend, delivering the spirit from the earthly taber nacle, and bringing it into a house which is eternal in the heavens. I cannot say that I have no regrets at parting from my friends, and, many as the sorrows of life have been, it has still had its joys.

But I only go before. The sorrows of parting are necessary, yet they have their compensations. Laberius, you will never understand life till you learn that there is nothing to fear in death." Laberius could say no more. His heart was too heavy. Emotions of all kinds pressed upon him. He left the sick-room and returned to his own chamber. Next day he had to perform the sacrifices in the temple. He ascended the Capitoline with slow steps, and would have been glad if some brother priest had relieved him of duties which had never been more distaste ful than they were that day. After perform ing them in haste and in the most perfunc tory manner, he returned to the house of Paulinus, striving by the way to banish the melancholy which brooded over his soul. In vain ; his sister's illness, his past life, the uncertainty of a future existence, and the certainty that even should there be one such as that in which Acatia believed he had no part in it, all united to disturb the repose of his mind.

Plotinus sat by the couch of Acatia, but she knew it not. He watched her tranquil sleep, and wondered at the smiles which stole over her countenance — indications of the sweet visions and revelations which she saw in her slumber. The entrance of Laberius, noiselessly as it was made, disturbed the dying maiden. She opened her eyes, bright with the light which precedes the mist of death, and looked around, regarding each of her friends with a wistful, tender scrutiny. "Ah! " she said, "I am glad to have you here. Abide with me, I pray you, until the coming of the messenger. He will be with us soon — soon. An angel told me in my sleep. To-night I shall be in Paradise." Quintilia shivered, and a sob shook the frame of Laberius. The philosopher bent over Acatia and kissed her brow. "Thou art happy, 0 little one?" he whispered.

"How I envy thee!" "Yes," she answered, "happy, and without pain." "The body forgets its infirmities, over come by the transports of the spirit," murmured Plotinus. Then entered the physician, and Acatia greeted him with a flush of pleasure. The tears started into the eyes of Paulinus when he saw the condition of his patient, but he turned his face away from her gaze, and affected to rally her on her improved appeearance. " Red in thy cheeks ! " he exclaimed. " Roses, by sweet Hebe ! It is long since we saw them there. Surely you have taken a new lease of life, 0 Acatia. Before many months we shall have thee calling us weaklings." Acatia smiled, and shook her head. " 0 physician," said she, "you think you understand the body, but even that will be a mystery till you know more of the soul. I know that I am to die before many hours have passed.

The apparent restoration of my physical strength is merely the joy of the spirit in the prospect of its release. The house is falling to pieces, but the inhabitant is making unusual efforts to keep it together until the time comes for its departure." Paulinus made no answer, he had none to make ; but if he had had one there would have been no time. Acatia, exhausted by speaking, began to cough violently. When the paroxysm was over she was too feeble to say more. Breathing a desire to see Fabian, she turned her head upon her pillow and showed a disposition to sleep. Meanwhile the sun set, and an armada of sombre clouds arising in the east floated majestically across the horizon towards the still illumined west; the mysterious twilight, stealing from her recess, spread a veil athwart the city, bade her attendant shadows keep a guard over every object, and hushed all nature to sleep.

" Quintilia." The low, clear voice of the dying maiden broke the long silence which had been kept by her watchers, with a mysterious music. The guardian sister, the thoughtful philosopher, the wearied physician, the noiseless yet restless Laberius, were severally startled, and each rose to approach the couch and inquire what was desired. But Quintilia alone asked the question. She pressed her lips upon the damp, cold brow of Acatia, and whispered in her ear. " Hath Fabian arrived? " said Acatia. " Not yet, beloved ; but we have sent for him, he cannot be long." "Laberius." Laberius took the fragile hand which was stretched forth feebly to meet his, and embraced it with tears. The dying maiden smiled. " Thou lovest me, 0 my brother," said she. "Thou art loth to part with me ; but be comforted, the parting is not for ever.

If thou seekest the truth ardently, diligently, thou shalt find it in Christ, and then thou shalt come into His kingdom, whither I go. Cast down your idols. The true God, as Plotinus hath often said, "Is not graven in marble, Is not beheld ; His abode is not known, Unknown is His name in heaven ; He doth not manifest His form, Vain are all representations." He is the God whom Plotinus seeks, whom the Christians know. Doubt it not, but commend thyself unto Him, and He will make thee feel in thy heart that this is true. I feel it, and a peace — a hope that passeth all understanding — possesseth my soul." Laberius wept. Acatia passed her fingers lightly through his hair. "Do' not despair," said she tenderly. " The way is dark and difficult for one like thee, but Quintilia will lead thee." "How can that be?" replied Quintilia mournfully.

"There is still a mist before my eyes." Acatia looked at her with a radiant smile. " Sister," said she, " is not the mist more transparent? I have watched it, and I am sure there is not so much gloom. When the portals of heaven are opened to admit me, the light that floateth therefrom shall disperse all thy remaining doubt." She spoke with an accent of certainty which impressed all who heard her. "May it be so," murmured Quintilia, as she administered the cordial which she had been preparing. "And thou wilt not forget lope when thou art safe on the Rock of Ages," said Acatia, as she returned the empty cup, "nor any of our friends? Thou wilt seek to guide them all out of the depths of sin unto the shore of eternal life." Acatia's Death. 31 "Fear not," answered Quintilia. "If I find the light I will not fail to make it evident to others.

I will hold it aloft for all the world to see." " I know it ! I feel it ! " exclaimed Acatia. " 0 Quintilia, what a joyful re union we shall have in the land of the redeemed ! " She gasped for breath, but she appeared to be unconscious of her painful respiration. Pointing upwards, she fixed her eyes upon space, and gazed as though she had a glimpse of the celestial city. A smile, an expression of expectation, of longing, in describably sweet, made her face shine, and her cheeks were flushed with the strength of the emotion which stirred within her bosom. Paulinus, who had been observing his patient with attention from a seat behind the others, now rose, and approached her couch. "You talk too much, 0 little one," he said, in a gentle voice of reproval. " Rest . > now. Acatia shook her head.

" I can rest no more on earth," said she softly. " Mine hour is come, and I must speak while I u may. Paulinus said no more ; he retreated hastily to the dark corner. Not able to suppress the emotion which he felt, he determined to conceal it. Calmly the philosopher stepped into the place vacated by the physician, and stood looking down upon Acatia. There was no sorrow in his face, for he felt none. He thought the situation of his ward was an enviable one. She was about to cast off the burden of the flesh and to repose in the bosom of the Divine. How gladly would he have exchanged places with her ! He smiled as he contemplated her bright face — bright with the reflection of the light in her soul. " Hast thou no last words for me, 0 favoured Acatia?" he asked in a low pleasant voice. "Beloved guardian," she answered, "fare well for a brief while.

Thou that teachest man to be like Christ must needs find Christ in God's own time." Plotinus shook his head, and the smile upon his countenance faded away. " Thou canst not understand, 0 innocent ! " he said. As he spoke the aged Fabian entered the chamber attended by Balus, who carried a cup and a covered patina. Acatia clasped her hands together joyfully as soon as she saw them. " Now is the last desire of my heart fulfilled," she exclaimed. Then she requested to have her head raised as high as it was VOL. III. D possible, and Quintilia piled cushion upon cushion behind her until she sat upright, with her beautiful hair streaming about her like a golden veil. Thus she was to take the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Gently motioning her friends to stand aside, she called unto Fabian in a clear voice : — "0 servant of the Lord, draw near and support me through the valley of the shadow of death with thy comfortable words."