was a strong sympathy in his favor. He was young, and scarcely
accountable for his errors; he was also noble, the last of an ancient
family. But the law was inexorable, and he suffered its penalty. Cinna,
too, might have been overlooked. He was neither more nor less than a
madman. But so vehement is the zeal against Christians that even his
evident madness was no security whatever for him."

"I know it well. The Prince of Darkness struggles against the Church of
God, but it is founded on a rock, and the gates of hell cannot prevail
against it. Have I not seen the good, the pure, the noble, the holy, and
the innocent all suffer alike? Do I not know that there is no mercy for
the Christian? I knew it well long ago. I have always been prepared for
the consequences."

"Hear me, Marcellus. I have said that I asked but a small thing. This
religion which you prize so highly need not be given up. Keep it, if it
must be so. But make allowance for circumstances. Since the storm is
raging bow before it. Take the course of a wise man, not of a fanatic."

"What is it that you would have me to do?"

"It is this. In the course of a few years a change will take place.
Either the persecution will wear itself out, or a reaction will take
place, or the emperor may die and other rulers with different feelings
may succeed. It will then be safe to be a Christian. Then these people
who are now afflicted may come back from their hiding-places to occupy
their old places, and to rise to dignity and wealth. Remember this. Do
not therefore throw away a life which yet may be serviceable to the
state and happy to yourself. Cherish it for your own sake. Look about
you now. Consider all these things. Leave aside your religion for a
time, and return to that of the state. It need only be for a time. Thus
you may escape from present danger, and when happier times return you
may go back and be a Christian again."

"This is impossible, Lucullus. It is abhorrent to my soul. What, can I
thus be doubly a hypocrite? Would you ask me to perjure my immortal soul
to the world and to my God? Better to die at once by the severest
tortures that can be inflicted."

"You take such extreme views that I despair of saving you. Will you not
look at this subject rationally? It is not perjury, but policy; not
hypocrisy, but wisdom."

"God forbid that I should do this thing and sin against him!"

"Look further also. You will not only benefit yourself but others. The