Page:The Dial (Volume 75).djvu/87

Rh : Probus.


 * Julius' servant.

Is the news false?


 * It is true inasmuch as I am waiting for the voice of God bidding me to Rome.

But he has bidden thee to Rome.


 * From the beginning of my life I foresaw this journey, and I foresee it still—whether this year or the next, I am not sure. But two years hence I shall be far from Rome, in Spain, for whosoever foresees his life beyond the day he lives in, foresees his death; as the arm ends in the hand, life ends in death; and my death will come to pass in a rocky plain, with these words upon my lips: Jesus, whom on earth I knew always in the spiritual body, I come to thee, to thy kingdom, to my salvation, to life everlasting in thy love that I have earned in many tribulations; and forget not these, dear Lord, but take thy faithful servant in thine arms and bear him into thy house, made not with hands, but in the eternity of the heavens.

(Paul stands lost in the vision, and those around him in wonderment. He staggers, and Timothy supports him.)


 * Fill a goblet, Probus.

(Probus pours out a goblet of wine and hands it to Paul, who drinks.)

(sniffing the wine): The wine is Chian, and all the Gods are in Chian—a heavenly wine! I drink to their health. (He drinks.)

If thy Gods be immortal, why drink to their health?


 * New Gods replace the old at the will of men. Men cast their eyes heavenward and cried: Let there be Gods! and there were Gods, beautiful Gods, living on ambrosia and nectar, though what nectar can they have that surpasses Chian?


 * But Gods are not men.


 * Has not a God been born of woman—But thou must excuse me, Lady, till I get this hamper on my shoulders. (Timothy comes to his help. To Timothy.) Give me the basket. (Timothy hands him the basket. He turns to Paul.) Hast any message for Julius, who will come to the feast that I've laid if he can spare time from the prisoners now going on board?