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Updated: July 19, 2025
"The guards would consent to her flight; all the more will they let us bear her out as a corpse," said Vinicius. "There is a man, it is true," said Nazarius, "who burns with red-hot iron to see if the bodies which we carry out are dead. But he will take even a few sestertia not to touch the face of the dead with iron. For one aureus he will touch the coffin, not the body."
But once in the quarry, they felt safe; and by the light of a torch ignited by Nazarius they began to consult, in a low voice, how to save the life of the Apostle who was so dear to them. "Lord," said Vinicius, "let Nazarius guide thee at daybreak to the Alban Hills. There I will find thee, and we will take thee to Antium, where a ship is ready to take us to Naples and Sicily.
"Praise be to Christ, who has power to restore her to me," said Vinicius. He conducted Nazarius to the library, and after a while Petronius came in to hear their conversation. "Sickness saved her from shame, for executioners are timid," said the youth. "Ursus and Glaucus the physician watch over her night and day." "Are the guards the same?" "They are, and she is in their chamber.
We will place in the coffin a long bag of sand, which ye will provide." Vinicius, while hearing these words, was as pale as linen; but he listened with such attention that he seemed to divine at a glance what Nazarius had to say. "Will they carry out other bodies from the prison?" inquired Petronius. "About twenty died last night, and before evening more will be dead," said the youth.
"Lord," said Nazarius, "that is a man of superhuman strength; he can break gratings and follow her. There is one window above a steep, high rock where no guard is placed. I will take Ursus a rope; the rest he will do himself."
But before they had reached it in the darkness, the voice of Nazarius was heard, full of pain, "Lord, they took her with Ursus to the Esquiline prison. We are carrying another body! They removed her before midnight." Petronius, when he had returned home, was gloomy as a storm, and did not even try to console Vinicius.
In the midst of them sat the Apostle; at his knees, on a low footstool, was Lygia; farther on, Glaucus, Crispus, Miriam, and at the edge, on one side Ursus, on the other Miriam's son Nazarius, a youth with a handsome face, and long, dark hair reaching down to his shoulders.
I will take her from the coffin myself." "Once she is in my house at Corioli, I answer for her," said Niger. Conversation stopped here. Niger returned to his men at the inn. Nazarius took a purse of gold under his tunic and went to the prison. For Vinicius began a day filled with alarm, excitement, disquiet, and hope. "The undertaking ought to succeed, for it is well planned," said Petronius.
When he heard Lygia's thanks, he grew terribly pale; and when Nazarius went out to get water for the birds, he said, "Lygia, canst thou endure that he should give thee gifts? Dost thou not know that the Greeks call people of his nation Jewish dogs?" "I do not know what the Greeks call them; but I know that Nazarius is a Christian and my brother."
This day has confirmed me still more in my plan." "May Christ reward thee." "Thou wilt see." Thus conversing, they stopped at the door of the villa and descended from the litter. At that moment a dark figure approached them, and asked, "Is the noble Vinicius here?" "He is," answered the tribune. "What is thy wish?" "I am Nazarius, the son of Miriam.
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