As the play goes on _Cleon_ passes through a spiritual crisis and becomes a Christian. Now this, we must remember, is the time of the most extreme persecutions of the Christians. _Cleon_ is brought to the supreme test that the followers of Christ were subjected to under the persecuting monarch _Nero_. An on-looker describes the scene, and tells us that _Cleon_ bore the ordeal with courage; he was steady and undismayed; he declared his fixed purpose, saying that he was willing to abide by whatever should come to him. The one who tells the story says that _Cleon_ would have fared better if he had given a fiery answer to the Emperor, for his very composure made _Nero_ mad and he stamped his foot as a signal to the slaves to bring in the torture. In the next scene _Cleon_ is led in by two soldiers. Though he is weak and faint from the torture he has endured, he insists upon standing on his feet. Harriet Beecher follows the historical tradition of _Nero’s_ character, in making him cause his friend _Cleon_ to suffer these frightful agonies. The unspeakable Emperor now apologizes for the severity of the torture, and assures _Cleon_ that he has only loving intentions toward him. He gives him permission to keep his religion if he will but consent to worship--privately! “Suppose you do call yourself a Christian,” he says, “why need you let everybody know it? Only be quiet about it and I will not interfere; worship in any way you will, only let it be--out of my sight.” _Cleon_ then asks the Emperor what he shall do if he is questioned about his faith. The Emperor suggests that he should under those circumstances make up some “smooth, decoying phrase” that would turn off the inquiry. _Cleon_ receives this proposal with the shock that shows the inner truth of his nature. He exclaims: My lord, I scarce may trust myself to answer, Since I have heard such degradation named. In place of open bold apostasy Thou dost propose an hourly, daily lie. _Cleon’s_ whole nature revolts against anything so base. He declares that it is his settled purpose while he lives to leave nothing undone or untried to win everybody to the reverence for Christ that he has learned to enjoy within himself. Thus he defies the Emperor and all the world.