Fair play., 1920-05-01


from Nero's court and all its magniff
cence, fled even from the lover whom
she loved. But "f1nally he understood
this, which he and Petronius had not
understood, that the new religion, en-.
grated into the soul something un.
known to that world in which he lived,
and that Lygia, even If she loved him,
would not sacrifice any of her Chris.
tian truths for his sake, and that, II
pleasure existed for her, 1t was
pleasure different altogether from that
which he and Petronius and Caesars
court, and all Rome were pursuing.
Every other woman whom he knew
might become his mistress, but that
Christian would only become his VIC
tim. And when he thought of this, he
felt anger and burning pain, for he felt
that his anger was powerless. To
carry off Lygia seemed to him possi-
BILE; he was even sure that he could
do so, but he was equally sure that, in
view Of her religion. he himself, with
his bravery, was nothing, that his pow
er was nothing, and that through It he
could effect nothing. That Roman
military tribune, convinced that the
power Of the sword and the fist, which
had conquered the world, would COM
mand 1t forever, said for the first time
in his life that beyond that power
there might be something else; hence
he asked himself with amazement what
it was"
1t is definite and concrete way that
the author has chosen to show the
power of the new religion over human
lEes. Struggle as he would, backed
by birth, by wealth and all the beauty,
charm and allurements that wealth
could bring, by the ingenuity and wit
of Petronius, by the strong-arm meth
ods of Croton, champion bruiser OF
his time. even by the force of the
known world in Nero's sway, Vinicius
could accomplish nothing If all he
could win to himself was q mere un-
willing body, while soul and spirit
were beyond his grasp. And the mad
dening part to him was that he owed
all his troubles to the teachings of a
parcel Of Jewish fishermen or their
likes, or slaves or humble folk who
had never before entered into serious
consideration in the thoughts of pa
trician like himself. 1t was a long
struggle with him, and as the reader
follows the various people of the story
through their part in the action, he
gets an admirable picture Of Rome
Nero, tyrant, actor and artist, with all
his magnificence and all his debauch-
cries; the poor and humble In their
crowded quarters Of the great city;
the delight of all the senses in the life
led by Petronius; the lawless streets
Of Rome by night; the pursuit of Lygfa
by Vinicius and his hirelings. result
ing in the death Of his professional
bruiser Croton at the hands of the
faithful Ursus, and the disaster to
Vinicius which led to his nursing back
to health by the Christians; his meet
ing with Peter. and Paul; the gradual
opening of his eyes. physical and spir-
itual; his discovery Of Christians
everywhere, among the people, among
his own slaves, among soldiers and off,
GERS, even in the very court Of Nero.
And the growing worry and astonish.
ment of Petronius:
"'vinicius, thou art losing sense.
Judgment, moderation exclaimed Pc
tronius.
"T love only her in the world re-
spOnded Vinicius.
"'What Of thatT
"'This, that l wish no other love.
have no wish for your life, your
feasts, your shamelessness, your
crimes
"'What is taking place in thee? Arr
thou ChristianT
And then the great fire Of Rome,
set by Tigellinus that Nero might not
lack the experience Of Priam, who had
seen Troy burn; of rescuing Lygia
from the flames; the persecution Of the
Christians with the thought of throw
ing on them the rage of the people
at the burning of the city; the
singing out of Lygia by the hate OF
Poppaea because Vinicius had spurned
the empress proffered charms; the
final rescue by miracle Of strength
on the part Of the ever-faithful Ursus,
and the words Of Vinicius to Peter:
"'What thou commandest I will
do
"Love men as thy own brothers,
answered the apostle, for only with
love mayest thou serve Him."
Copyright. 1919. by the Post Publishing Co.
(The Boston PosD. Printed by permits
sion Of, and arrangement with. Little.