| |
Translated by W. E. Aytoun
SIX young men of Cæsar’s household | |
| Fled before their master’s anger; | |
| As a god he claimed their worship, | |
| Though a sorry god was he. | |
| For an insect, ever buzzing, | 5 |
| Still annoyed him at the banquet, | |
| Still disturbed his rest and pleasure. | |
| All the chasing of his servants | |
| Could not drive away the torment. | |
| Ever round the head of Cæsar | 10 |
| Did the angry creature hover, | |
| Threatening with its poisoned sting: | |
| Still it flew, and swiftly circling | |
| Made confusion at the table, | |
| Messenger of Baalzebub, | 15 |
| The infernal Lord of flies. | |
| |
| “Ha!”—so spake the youths together,— | |
| “He a god that fears an insect! | |
| Can a god be thus molested? | |
| Does a god, like wretched mortals, | 20 |
| Feast and revel at the banquet? | |
| Nay! to Him, the one, the only, | |
| Who the sun and moon created, | |
| Who hath made the stars in glory, | |
| Shall we henceforth bend the knee!” | 25 |
| |
| So they spake, and left the palace, | |
| Left it in their trim apparel; | |
| By a shepherd led, they hastened | |
| To a cave was in the mountain, | |
| And they all went gliding in. | 30 |
| And the shepherd’s dog came after, | |
| Though they strove to drive him from them; | |
| Thrust himself toward his master, | |
| Licked their hands in dumb entreaty, | |
| That he might remain their fellow; | 35 |
| And lay down with them to sleep. | |
| |
| But the wrath of Cæsar kindled, | |
| When he knew that they had left him; | |
| All his former love departed, | |
| All his thought was vengeance only. | 40 |
| Out in quest he sent his people, | |
| Traced them to the mountain-hollow. | |
| Not to fire nor sword he doomed them; | |
| But he bade great stones be lifted | |
| To the entrance of the cavern; | 45 |
| Saw it fastened up with mortar; | |
| And so left them in their tomb. | |
| |
| But the youths lay calmly sleeping; | |
| And the angel, their protector, | |
| Spake before the throne of glory: | 50 |
| “I have watched beside the sleepers, | |
| Made them turn in slumber ever, | |
| That the damps of yonder cavern | |
| Should not cramp their youthful limbs; | |
| And the rocks around I ’ve opened, | 55 |
| That the sun at rising, setting, | |
| May give freshness to their cheeks. | |
| So they lie in rest and quiet, | |
| In the bliss of happy dreams.” | |
| So they lay; and still, beside them, | 60 |
| Lay the dog in peaceful slumber, | |
| Never whimpering in his sleep. | |
| |
| Years came on, and years departed; | |
| Till at last the young men wakened; | |
| And the wall, so strongly fastened, | 65 |
| Now had fallen into ruin, | |
| Crumbled by the touch of ages. | |
| Then Iamblichus, the youngest, | |
| And the goodliest of them all, | |
| Seeing that the shepherd trembled, | 70 |
| Said, “I pray you now, my brothers, | |
| Let me go to seek provision; | |
| I have gold, my life I ’ll venture, | |
| Tarry till I bring you bread.” | |
| Ephesus, that noble city, | 75 |
| Then, for many a year, had yielded | |
| To the faith of the Redeemer, | |
| Jesus. (Glory to his name!) | |
| |
| And he ran unto the city; | |
| At the gate were many warders, | 80 |
| Arméd men on tower and turret, | |
| But he passed them all unchallenged; | |
| To the nearest baker’s went he, | |
| And in haste demanded bread. | |
| |
| “Ha! young rogue,” exclaimed the baker, | 85 |
| “Surely thou hast found a treasure; | |
| That old piece of gold betrays thee! | |
| Give me, or I shall denounce thee, | |
| Half the treasure thou hast found.” | |
| |
| And Iamblichus denied it; | 90 |
| But the baker would not listen, | |
| Brawling till the watch came forward. | |
| To the king they both were taken; | |
| And the monarch, like the baker, | |
| But a higher right asserting, | 95 |
| Claimed to share the treasure too. | |
| |
| But at last the wondrous story, | |
| Which the young man told the monarch, | |
| Proved itself by many tokens. | |
| Lord was he of that same palace, | 100 |
| Whither he was brought for judgment; | |
| For he showed to them a pillar, | |
| In the which a stone when loosened | |
| Led unto a treasure chamber, | |
| Heaped with gold and costly jewels. | 105 |
| Straightway came in haste his kindred, | |
| All his clan came thronging round him, | |
| Eager to advance their claim; | |
| Each was nearer than the other. | |
| And Iamblichus, the blooming, | 110 |
| Young in face and form and feature, | |
| Stood an ancestor among them. | |
| All bewildered heard he legends | |
| Of his son and of his grandsons, | |
| Fathers of the men before him. | 115 |
| So amazed he stood and listened, | |
| Patriarch in his early manhood; | |
| While the crowd around him gathered, | |
| Stalwart men, and mighty captains, | |
| Him, the youngest, to acknowledge | 120 |
| As the founder of their race! | |
| And one token with another | |
| Made assurance doubly certain; | |
| None could doubt the wondrous story | |
| Of himself and of his comrades. | 125 |
| |
| Shortly, to the cave returning, | |
| King and people all go with him, | |
| And they saw him enter in. | |
| But no more to king or people | |
| Did the Chosen reappear. | 130 |
| For the seven, who long had tarried,— | |
| Nay, but they were Eight in number, | |
| For the faithful dog was with them,— | |
| Thenceforth from the world were sundered. | |
| The most blessed angel Gabriel, | 135 |
| By the will of God Almighty, | |
| Walling up the cave forever, | |
| Led them unto Paradise. | |
| |
