Nonna: A Story of the Days of Julian the Apostate

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Chapter I

He that is weary, let him sit My soul would stir.

George Herbert.

HE rising beams of the sun shone through a soft haze upon the sea of Marmora one August morning in the year A.D. 358. The sea rippled peacefully upon the shores, and surged against the sides of a galley which was cleaving its way towards the entrance of the Astacenian Gulf, which is now known as the Bay of Izmid.

Above, below. Nature seemed at peace, simply rejoicing in the display of every beauty; the dreamy haze rose higher, fading before the strengthening sunlight, and as it did so, a brilliant rainbow appeared spanning the entrance to the gulf, which the galley had now reached. With the earliest beams of dawn the owner of the galley had made his appearance upon deck. He was a tall man, apparently a little over

A sixty years of age ; his face was keen, eager, and earnest, well browned by exposure to sun and storm ; a pair of clear, truthful, brown eyes beamed with vigorous life, while his beard and hair were thickly sprinkled with the snows of advancing age.

The name of the owner of the galley was Bassaces Gallus, who was now retmning, at the urgent request of his children, to spend at least a few months with them in his native city of Nicomedia,

Gallus was busily engaged in an argument with his steersman, when a lady and her husband approached him, and stood listening with amused interest to a debate upon the habits and proper home of a certain marine animal which had been captured by one of the sailors in the dawning day.

" I tell you, man, that I was bom by this Gulf, that I rowed a boat of my own upon it day and night, when I was sixteen years of age ; and do you suppose that such a creature as that could have existed in these seas without my knowledge ? Do you take me for an ox-eyed Boeotian ? "

" Nay, nay, master. You take one up too sharp," was the reply. " I said that Servius caught the creature in this sea ; and it seems to stand to reason that if it was there this morning, it must have had a father and a grandfather there before it." Gallus was so deeply engaged in examining the subject of this discussion, that when he did at last notice his daughter and her husband, it was not with a very affectionate greeting.

AN AUGURY. 11

" Oh ! you are there, Lannus, are you \ well, look at this, and tell me whether you ever saw any creature ot this genus in these seas before ? I tell you, lad (the lad was at least fifty years of age), it is new, new. Those blessed old augurs would predict all sorts of good or ill fortune from this if we only had them here. As to Fortune, I know well that, to a Christian, there is but one fortune ; yet, you may call it a sailor's superstition if you will, this questioning desire to know why I am thus welcomed back to my own home by a new-born native of her seas. Look carefully, Lannus ; you have been living among us for twenty years, and should know. It is new, is it not ? "

" I never saw it before," was the reply.

" Let me be your augur, dear father," said the lady. " This is but a native of our own deeper seas, which remained hidden while you were seeking novelties in other lands, but now ventures to appear, and promise that there are still some treasures awaiting your discovery, and your affection, even in your own native seas and shores."

'* Ah ! my Anthusa, there would be no true men in the world were all the women like you. If your dear mother had but had as little spirit of adventure as you, or as much love for a quiet life, I should have died long ago of an apoplexy, brought on by luxurious idleness."

These words were quickly spoken, but their sting was drawn by the affectionate kiss upon the brow, with which they were accompanied; and very soon all thoughts were absorbed in adminrion of the rainbow bridge, under which they seemed ever about to pass, yet which advanced before them in brilliant supernatural beauty, until at length it appeared as a halo of glory over the city of Nicomedia, which greeted their expectant eyes at the head of the Gul£ Then the commander of the rowers striking his ivory mallet to hasten their movements, the men raised their voices in a soft musical chant, while, bending to their task with renewed vigour, their oars clove the water, and the galley shot forward with incredible speed until the city appeared clearly in view.

*' Nestling beneath, and adorning the ascents of two hills; stretching forth its promontories, with its arms it embraced the sea ; it then ascended the hill by four colonnades, extending its whole length. Its public buildings were splendid ; its private, contiguous, rising from the lowest parts to the citadel, like the branches of a cypress. One house above another watered by rivulets, and surrounded by gardens. Its council chambers, its schools of orators, the multitude of its temples, the magnificence of its baths, and the commodiousness of its harbour, — ^I have seen but cannot describe. One showed to his companions the palace glittering over the bay, another the theatre embellishing the whole city, others various other rays darted from various objects. Which surpassed, it was difficult to determine. Revering it as a sacred image, we proceeded on our way to Chalcedon. It was necessary to turn, till the nature of the road deprived

TENDER MEMORIES. 13

us of the sight. This seemed like the cessation of a feast"

This description of the city, which had been his Alma Mater, was penned by Libanius very shortly after the galley of Gallus reached the harbour; and the affectionate admiration of the renowned rhetorician was felt by every one on board that galley.

The heart of the grey-headed, vigorous old man was filled with affectionate remembrances, as he recognised each well-remembered object And tender memories surged in upon his soul, of those friends whose smiles had once welcomed him to his home, but whom he should never see again. The beloved wife, whose tomb was encircled by those of the martyrs and apostles of ancient Rome ; the wise and kind father, whose mausoleum was visible even now upon the slope of that vine-clad hill ; the friends of his boyhood, who had shared in every early adventure, were any still remaining to sympathise with the results of his eager search after truth?

While thus the thoughts of the old man were returning to the past, and gaining, through their association with the dead, some strengthening communion with the invisible future, the younger father and mother were absorbed in the present, and straining eager eyes towards the shore, where a handsome chariot, with led horses, attended by numerous slaves, engaged all their attenion.

" Yes, she is there. I felt sure they would see our

I

U NONNA.

flag, and that my children would come to meet us,'** said Anthusa. " Dear father, will you not join us ; you have not seen our Nonna for seven years.'*

The old man roused himself from his reverie, as a youth about twenty years of age, with his sister, closely veiled, followed by their slaves, sprang upon deck. There was no check upon the natural emotions in this meeting. Parents and children met in affectionate embrace I The veil of the young maiden was flung aside so soon as she touched the deck ; and when she turned to greet her grandfather, she stood before him a radiant embodiment of the purest beauty.

Nonna was seventeen years of age, tall, with much of her grandfather's nervous figure, and strangely earnest, impassioned expression of face, but the complexion of the young maiden was like the faint roseflush of a sea-shell) her eyes were of deep violet blue; and, instead of the quick, jerky movements of her sailor grandfather, every movement seemed impelled by a loving soul, at ease with itself and all the world.

For one moment Gallus looked at the bright vision which stood before him, then, taking her face between both hands, he imprinted a long kiss upon it. " All, you young temptress, have you come to bind your chains round your old grandfather, and fasten him to the shore, like some worn-out old hulk?"

" Not if you will take me with you upon your next voyage, dear grandfather," was the reply.

AT HOME. 15

*•' I only wish, dear fatlier," said Anthusa, " that you may help us all to bind our Nonna to the land. She is always longing to fly away with the sea birds, and is far wilder in her flights than Diogenes."

Gallus turned now from Nonna to her brother, and was again struck, as he bad been ten years ago, by the wonderful likeness between Diogenes aji4 his grandfather, whose name he bore. Then the whole party gladly left the galley, and soon arrived at their house — a handsome structure, built of white marble, in the ancient Grecian style, standing in thie midst of spacious pleasure grounds, upon the slope of the hill, and commanding a view of the city below and the wide gulf beyond.

Before Nonna proceeded to her own chamber to disrobe, she spent a long hour with her mother in full, confidential talk. Anthusa had been two months away, visiting some friends, who lived upon the slope of Mount Hymettus. She had gone witii her husband, Caius Lannus Varro, not only to refresh themselves among old friends, but also that they might be sure to be upon the spot when their father's galley touched at the Piraeus, since they had but little faith in his promise to return to Nicomedia for a short time. They knew, from long experience, that, if he met with any kindred spirit who brought news of a fresh incursion of the Isaurians, or of any fresh discoveries by the Alexandrian sages, he would feel no compunction in sending a letter of excuse to his children, instead of giving them his own presencie.

Fortunately, his children had arrived just in time to capture Gallus, and to return with him. Now, Anthusa was full of desire to have all the home news from Nonna, and kept her by her side, until tiie return of the younger children from school, when the elder sister reluctantly retired.

I have said that Nonna was beautiful ; and if a perfect outline of features, a delicate, yet healthy, complexion, a well set head upon a graceful figure, constitute beauty — all these gifts Nonna possessed. But she had one other grace — the fruit of a Christian life, seldom seen where there are so many natural adornments. It was impossible to be in the society of Nonna for five minutes, without seeing that she was utterly unconscious of any special claim upon your admiration ; and now, when she submitted herself to the hands of her tire-woman, no thought of the impression she had made upon her grandfather entered into her mind. From her window she saw her father, with Diogenes and her little brother John, walking through the grounds, and pointing out all their improvements to the watchful eyes of the old man.

When her toilet was completed, Nonna dismissed her attendant, and, sitting upon a low stool by the window, watched the party below, catching at intervals the sound of their joyous laughter, or sometimes an exclamation of vehement surprise from Gallus. At length the party disappeared from view, and still she sat looking out far away into the western sky, los-

NONNA'S THANKSGIVING, 17

ing at length all sense of the visible in the thoughts which surged in from the still more glorious invisible.

" Ah ! how glorious all Nature appears to-day ; the sea looks calmer, the sky more densely sapphire than I ever saw it before ; the very leaves of the trees seem to be hushed into a strange, peaceful quiet Is it my own heart which sheds its happiness upon all around it? Is it because I rejoice so much in the return of my father and mother, and in again seeing ray noble grandfather, and also in dear Adrian's letter, *laat I imagine the sea, the sky, and the very trees are rejoicipg with me in quiet content. ' No ! it is not imagination ; there really is a strange, holy stillness in the air to-day; and I thank Thee, O Thou most loving, most merciful, and bountiful Father, that Thou hast made everything so good, so beautiful. I do not think that I could be happier in heaven. It is said that * Eye has not seen, nor ear hearci, ^^e glory of heaven, and sometimes I have felt it to be true ; but to-day, all upon earth is so beautiful, so happy, that I am content. I do not think I shall ever long with such passionate longing now for the glories and the peace of heaven. I feel like St Peter upon the Holy Mount : * Lord, it is good to be here.' My tabernacle is already built beneath this glowing sky, amid this perfumed air, whose holy breath is wafting the incense of love and praise to its Creator. Beautiful earth, beautiful sea, beautiful sky ! and O, Thou great Maker of all this beauty, receive my worship, and my love.

and continue Thy blessing of Peace upon all our hearts, I beseech Thee."

" Nonna, Nonna," said a childish voice at the door ; " hasten, for dinner is prepared."

" Come in," answered Nonna.

The door opened, and a girl of ten years of age entered. Lydia was a marked contrast to her eldest sister. Sallow-complexioned, with large black eyes and dark hair, there was a weary, pained expression upon the face of the child, which at first sight seemed the token of a discontented temper; but upon closer examination, the observer saw clearly that it was the result of ill health, and that the expression of those dark eyes was as simple, as loving, as that of Nonna's.

" Ah, my Lydia, is it not good to have our mother with us again," said the elder sister, as she nestled the younger one to her side.

"Almost too good, Nonna," was tlie reply. "I cannot help feeling to-day that we are almost too happy for earth."

" Just what I was feeling, darling. Our mother must have brought some secret elixir from Athens, such as our ancestors used to fable was stored near Eleusis."

" Yes, we are happy ; but there are plenty of people who are not so," replied the child, gravely ; " and what a pity it does seem that we cannot give some of our happiness away. When I was coming from school with Livia, some poor women were crying bitterly by the roadside ; they said that their wells had run quite dry, and they knew not what to do for water."

CHEERFUL GIVING. 19

"Well, child, and what did you do?" inquired Nonna, quickly.

"Oh! I told them to buy some water from the water-carriers, and gave them my gold piece to divide amongst them.'*

" My own little Lydia, I needed not to ask what you had done, for I might have known that you would have begged help from others if you had none to give of your own. Dear sister, you have given some of your happiness away already to-day, while I have been hoarding mine in selfish dreams ! God has sent me no beggar to-day that I might give to Him in His suffering poor."

"Oh! yes; but He has, Nonna," said the child, eagerly. " He sent me ; I am your beggar ; I am poor, because I have no strong health like others, and I am a beggar for your love. When I am near you, I am happy and good. I am rested from my aching pain in your arms. I love to look into your face ; and, dear Nonna, perhaps it is wicked to say so, but although I am so happy in having father and mother back again, I am still happier in resting upon your knee. You have given some of your happiness away since I came into your room."

Nonna laughed a sweet musical laugh.

" If I have given away to you, Lydia, I am not any poorer; but what about your gold piece, that has gone for ever^ unless you will let me share your happiness."

" Oh ! dear, no," said the child, earnestly ; " money i was all I had to give ; and I shall have more, now that father has returned ; but, Nonna, we must not linger, must we ? "

It was a happy family party which met that day at dinner. The young people, one and all, rejoicing in the return of their parents ; the parents rejoicing in the rest of their own home ; and the grandfather, not at all insensible to the affectionate homage paid to him on all sides, but making his own quiet observations upon the four new subjects of interest presented to him in his grandchildren.

When dinner was over, the whole party passed into the open air, and some time was spent in the Tennis Court. Then, as the sun sank lower, Gallus and his children left the younger ones to their play, and seated themselves under the shadow of a beautiful plane tree, where they had a full view of the distant harbour. Lydia, who had taken possession of her grandfather's hand, went with them; and when, after some time, Diogenes and Nonna joined the party, Gallus was speaking to the child, who was looking up into his face with wondering admiration.

" I ought to have had little Lydia widi me on board ship. She would be strong as an Amazon, after a voyage with me. You should have been in Rome with me, Lydia, when the Emperor triumphed, and then you would have seen him riding in a golden chariot, glittering with precious stones; and you would have seen also how very different an Emperor

TABLE-TALK. 21

is from any other mortal; how he never turns his head to the right or to the left; how he never raises a hand to his face, nor, between you and me, Lydia, was he ever known to use a handkerchief in public."

" Not all Emperors, if you please, dear father ; only Constantius."

"Silence, young mother, if you please, and allow me to impart information in my own fashion. I was speaking to Lydia."

" Was the triumph very splendid ? " asked the child.

" So splendid, that my eyes ached ^dth the glitter of armour, of silver, of gold, and of jewels ; and my ears ached with the sounds which some people called music. There were great dragons, carried upon golden spears by the guards who walked before the imperial chariot; and these dragons were made of some curious tissue; perhaps, also, there was machinery inside; at any rate, when these standards were uplifted in the air, the dragons displayed their horrible tails, and opened wide their horrible jaws, and hissed out, oh ! such horrible noises, that I shut my ears ; but, then, Lydia, your poor old grandfather was not bom in the purple, and therefore was incapable of feeling that sublime pleasure which Emperors feel in being surrounded by the horrible hissing of horrible dragons."

" I wish I had been there," said Lydia, earnestly.

" I am sure that I do, with all my heart ; but I am afraid that I heard our good mother say something about bedtime, did I not ? '*

When Lydia had left the party, the conversation assumed a deeper tone, turning at first upon the great topic of the day — the demand of Sapor, the Persian King, for the restoration to Persia of the provinces conquered under Diocletian and Galerius. Again, the subject changed, and Gallus told of his journey into Gaul, where he had been received courteously by the young Caesar Julian at his court in Paris.

" Is it certainly true that Julian has apostatised ? *' asked Lannus Varro.

" Not openly. He dares not sacrifice openly while Constantius is Augustus; but secretly he has most assuredly renounced every obligation of Christianity ; and there is no doubt that he was initiated into the Eleusinian mysteries during his stay at Athens."

" Dear grandfather, how can it be possible for one who has known Christianity, ever to forsake it?" asked Nonna.

" Julian never knew it, my child ; his reason was instructed in its law; his mind became acquainted with its history ; but the love of Christ — ^that gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation, was as unknown, is as unknown to Julian, as it was to the great philosopher Plato. It is impossible to really receive Christ but in humility; and unfortunately for poor Julian, he has not prayed to receive the Spirit of Christ But enough of Emperors and

■NoKKA, page a J.

PROMETHEUS, 23

Caesars ; I have been hearing that Nonna sings like some ancient muse. Charm away my memories ot earth and her rulers by some sweet melody."

" I will bring your lyre," said Diogenes, and Nonna sat in thoughtful silence until her brother placed her lyre in her hand.

The thoughts which her grandfather threw from him, in such simple faith upon the great Ruler of the universe, were not so easily driven from Nonna's ardent mind. Christianity was an affection rather than a faith in her young soul ; and although deeply sensitive to the many beauties of her ancestor's philosophy and faith, she had been wisely taught by a large-hearted father ; and Lannus Varro had not failed in his efforts to kindle in his daughter's mind the Christian enthusiasm which filled his own.

Nonna's mind was filled with the impression produced by her grandfather's words, and when at length, after a simple prelude, her voice burst forth into impassioned song, she felt that she was rather expressing her own feelings than obeying her grandfather's wish \ yet she could not restrain the words :

'' Faith inspiring, glorious legends, Speak from ancient History's page Tales of heroes, strong and mighty, Marching through a mystic age.

While they pass in long procession,

One alone, above the throng, Fills my heart with loving pity,

Nerves my feeble tongue to Song.

Still I see Him, bound and bleeding, With the vulture on his side,

Quivering through the lengthening ages On the lonely mountain side.

Not for sins of lawless rapine, Not for selfish greed, or pride,

But for winning fire for mortals Panting on the mountain side.

Prometheus ! wondrous story.

Glorious legend of the past.

In prophetic action telling Of the Eternal, First, and Last

Deathless story, yet thy glory

Fades before the Christian's Light ;

Ours a willing victim leaving Heaven, His home, His glory bright

Ours a God who gave full freely His Belov'd for weary years.

Felt each throb of human anguish, Till men were the Immortal's peers.

Might I but win fire from heaven.

Fire to light a darkening world,

1 would suffer, gladly suffer

Vain the wish 1 true light from heaven Shining clearly from above.

Stills each throb of wild ambition, Bids me trust in faith and love. "

G ALIUS REFLECTS. 25

The song ceased, but its words rang ia the ears of Galliis, long after the wearied Noima had retired to rest

Chapter II

** Why shouldst thou here look for perpetual good At every loss, 'gainst heaven's face repinmg f Do but behold where glorious cities stood,

With gilded tops, and silver turrets shining. There now the hart, fearless of greyhound, feeds ; The loving pelican in fancy breeds ; There screeching satyrs fill the people's empty stedes."

Phineas Fletcher.

HE mansion of Caius Lannus Varro stood upon the slope of the Nicomedian hill, within extensive grounds, which were cultivated with all the perfection of Greek art In a country for which Nature has done so much, Art is little needed, save in pruning the redundancy of growth, and in directing the wayward flights of colouring and form. The view from the mansion to the sea was kept perfectly open, but flowers of rich and varied hue were imbedded in the verdant slope ; and through the opened windows the perfume of violets and hyacinths, of roses and myrtle, of clematis and jasmine,^

LIBERIA. 27

of lilac and laburnum, were wafted in sweet clouds. In the orchards, the varying seasons brought the citrons, lemons, and oranges ; the vine, the fig, and the pomegranate ; the cherry, the plum, and the apricot, to full perfection, among a hundred other refreshing and exquisite fruits.

Behind, and on each side of the house, deep shrubberies of laurel, myrtle, and arbutus were guarded by the larger growth of splendid forest trees, which fully sheltered the grounds from the inquisitive gaze of neighbours or passers-by. Among these shrubberies, the bright hoopoe flitted, the starlings and swallows built their nests in hidden comers, and the stork, with her infant family, listened attentively to the vesper song of the numerous nightingales.

The family mansion of Bassaces Gallus stood still nearer the harbour ; but when, to his great joy, his only daughter married the eldest son of Caius Varro, Gallus let his mansion in the city ; and when not out upon some voyage of discovery, consented to consider his son-in-law's house as his own.

On the 23d of August, a.d. 358, Gallus rose early, and, leaving the house, went toward the town. When he reached the gate which led to the city, he was surprised to see Nonna walking before him, followed by a female attendant.

** Is my Nonna such an early riser ?" said the old man, afifectionately saluting her.

" Not always, grandfather ; but last night I was restless and longed to have a good walk, an^ feel the sea breeze before the air was heated by the sun. I shall be with you all by breakfast."

" Send your woman back, and come with me. You shall be my cicerone and nomenclator in one, for I am afraid that I am losing my old easy memory of faces and places."

" Oh ! thank you, grandfather," said the young girl, eagerly. Then turning, she said, kindly : " You will be glad to be released from your charge, Paula ; and if you are not yet thoroughly awake, go back to bed again ; I ought not to have aroused you so early. And now, grandfather, I must show you one of my mother's improvements ; it lies but a very short distance from the road, and I will not detain you many minutes."

Nonna led her grandfather up a by-path through the outer range of the shrubberies, and they soon reached six small wooden cottages, cleanly painted, and surrounded by small patches of garden-ground."

" Well, are these built for your dolls, Nonna, or for Lydia's poultry preserves ? "

" They are built for six families of ransomed slaves, grandfather ; and there are six men, six women, and thirty children living happily in those cottages now."

" Do you mean, Nonna, that your mother built these cottages, and supports these people, at her own expense ?"

" Yes, grandfather. Their support costs little, for they help our own people in cultivating the grounds ; and we have far more produce from this estate than it is possible for us to consume. Very fe\Y of the fami

PRIMITIVE SLA VERY. 29

lies stay long, for as soon as an artisan or labourer has found employment for his free labour, he goes, and makes way for another. The cottages are always well filled, and my mother allows me to instruct, or rather, to help her to instruct, those who wish to learn to read the holy Gospels for themselves."

"Just like your mother, Nonna; and she is but like her own mother," added the old man, with a sigh. Then he continued, more cheerfully: "These are pretty little places, and, I am very sure, were needed ; but now, while we walk towards the city, tell me how your mother came to think of this plan."

" Theodore, our good presbyter, often spoke, both in church and out of it, of the sufferings of those slaves, who had been exposed to die when their masters believed them to be dying. They were often ransomed by the Church, as you know, grandfather ; but if they are young, and do recover, they very frequently find it most difficult to gain employment as free men ; and while they are waiting for work, they, with their wives and families, may very easily die of starvation, for the funds of our Church are not nearly large enough to support all. My mother thought, therefore, that if she could only help six families, continuously, it would do some good, and I am sure that it has done ; for as soon as one family is provided for, at least two or three others are waiting to take its place."