“In the Zodiac,” interrupted Priscus; “I believe also, we all live in
Zodiacs, and there justice has no place.”
A sudden murmur of voices was heard from the camp. Julian mounted a heap
of stones to see what was the matter. The whole of the north-east side
of Mars’ Hill was covered with soldiers, and below in the valley were
to be seen tents and camp-fires. These thousands belonged to all the
nations of the world. They comprised Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, Negroes,
Hebrews, Persians, Afghans, Scythians, Germans, Britons, and Gauls. But
now they were in movement and swarming, as gnats do when they dance.
“What is the excitement about?” asked Julian.
A little bell from the chapel of St. Denis sounded the Angelus, and the
Christians fell on their knees, while the heathen remained standing
or continued their occupations. The Christians considered themselves
disturbed, and so did the heathen.
“This religion,” said Julian, “which should unite all, only divides
them. If the Church Councils, instead of formulating new creeds, had
done away with all forms, and proclaimed free worship with praise and
adoration of the Highest, all peoples would have bent the knee before
the Nameless, but look at the Christians! Since the law is on their
side, they have the upper hand, and therefore compel the heathen to
adore their Galilaean! But I will not help them. I can hold nations
together, but not professors of creeds. Let us go into the town. I will
not mix in the matter.”
Some Christian tribunes approached Julian, with the evident purpose of
complaining, but he waved them off.
* * * * *
Julian had entered Lutetia on foot, accompanied by his philosophers. He
had not allowed himself to be escorted by generals or other officers,
because he did not trust them.
He found the new town to be a miniature of the Rome of the Caesars. It
is true that huts with straw roofs formed the nucleus of it, but there
were also several temples and chapels, a prefecture, a forum, and an
amphitheatre. The forum or market-place was surrounded by colonnades,
in which tradesmen and money-changers’ had opened their shops. One
side--the shortest--of it was occupied by the prefecture, in which the
Aedile and Quaestor lived.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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