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BASILIDES.
“Many things are related of this virgin (Potaminca) in
suffering for faith in Christ. . . . She was at last, with her
mother Marcella, committed to the flames. Immediately
thereupon receiving the sentence of condemnation, she was
led away to die by Basilides, one of the officers in the army.
But when the multitude attempted to assault and insult her
with abusive language, he by keeping off restrained their
insolence, exhibiting the greatest compassion and kindness
to her. Perceiving the man's sympathy, she exhorts him
to be of good cheer, for after that she was gone she would
intercede for him with her Lord. . . . Not long after
Basilides plainly professed himself to be a Christian.”
—Eusebius.
“In vain unto this oath
Ye urge me, O my fellow-soldiers; lo!
I swear not by the gods nor Cæsar! So
These lips of mine are sealed unto a troth
More firm and sure, they may not now unsay
Their steadfast pledge. “Thou art a Christian?” “Yea.
Ye urge me, O my fellow-soldiers; lo!
I swear not by the gods nor Cæsar! So
These lips of mine are sealed unto a troth
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Their steadfast pledge. “Thou art a Christian?” “Yea.
“A Christian, yea! and evermore Amen!
No more Basilides! Such name I bore
But yesterday—a man with other men
Who bowed the knee to all that men adore;
Who lied, who sued, sung, flattered, jested, swore
By Cæsar and the Gods; a soldier proud
To track the crimson tunic through the fray,
And raise the loud a-la-la! in the crowd
Of slaves the foremost slave! These things away
Are past for ever. Yea! a Christian? Yea!
No more Basilides! Such name I bore
But yesterday—a man with other men
Who bowed the knee to all that men adore;
Who lied, who sued, sung, flattered, jested, swore
By Cæsar and the Gods; a soldier proud
To track the crimson tunic through the fray,
And raise the loud a-la-la! in the crowd
Of slaves the foremost slave! These things away
Are past for ever. Yea! a Christian? Yea!
“Three times to me at dead
Of night she came, with solemn stillness round.
White robed I saw her stand with roses crowned,
And in her hand were roses white and red.
Of night she came, with solemn stillness round.
White robed I saw her stand with roses crowned,
And in her hand were roses white and red.
“She called me by my name,—
‘Look up, Basilides! Dost mind thee now
Of her, by thee and by thy soldiers led
From prison unto death? Dost mind thee how
Thou spakest to her then? Of words she said
Dost mind thee? I am come to quit that vow.
‘For what did then await me, were it sword
Or shame, I knew not. If the burning mesh,
Death by the lion's hated paw, abhorred
Embrace,—then shrank my spirit, shrank my flesh;
I heard of many wheels the grind and roll,
Of many beasts I felt the sudden spring,
From countless eyes athirst to drink my soul
I, turning, met the unrelenting glare
Of the blue sword-gleam round me, met the stare
Of the blue distant heaven unpitying;
Then in thine eye one moment seeking mine
I pity read, and gentlest tenderness;
What words thou spakest then in my distress
I heard not, but my hands I felt in thine
One moment caught and held amid the press—
‘Look up,’ she said, ‘Basilides, behold
These hands of mine! their grasp is laid on thee
For evermore! I quit thee not, be bold,’
She spake again, ‘for soon shalt thou be free.
‘Look up, Basilides! Dost mind thee now
Of her, by thee and by thy soldiers led
From prison unto death? Dost mind thee how
Thou spakest to her then? Of words she said
Dost mind thee? I am come to quit that vow.
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Or shame, I knew not. If the burning mesh,
Death by the lion's hated paw, abhorred
Embrace,—then shrank my spirit, shrank my flesh;
I heard of many wheels the grind and roll,
Of many beasts I felt the sudden spring,
From countless eyes athirst to drink my soul
I, turning, met the unrelenting glare
Of the blue sword-gleam round me, met the stare
Of the blue distant heaven unpitying;
Then in thine eye one moment seeking mine
I pity read, and gentlest tenderness;
What words thou spakest then in my distress
I heard not, but my hands I felt in thine
One moment caught and held amid the press—
‘Look up,’ she said, ‘Basilides, behold
These hands of mine! their grasp is laid on thee
For evermore! I quit thee not, be bold,’
She spake again, ‘for soon shalt thou be free.
“‘A Pagan art thou, drunk
With many spells? a slave art thou within
The dark Ergastulum each night shut in?
By day the thrall of legion-masters, sunk
In sense, fast bound unto the earth by sin?
Care not for these thy fetters, nor thy stains
Regard; a Mighty One for thee hath striven:
Strong is he, pitiful, to him thy chains
Are reeds; the past is past, effaced, forgiven,
Thine is the God by fire that answereth.
His feet within the furnace glow and move,
His eyes are flame that kindle flame, his breath
Lights up the stream of fire unquenchable
That unconsumed, consumeth; who can dwell
With everlasting burnings? They who love.’
With many spells? a slave art thou within
The dark Ergastulum each night shut in?
By day the thrall of legion-masters, sunk
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Care not for these thy fetters, nor thy stains
Regard; a Mighty One for thee hath striven:
Strong is he, pitiful, to him thy chains
Are reeds; the past is past, effaced, forgiven,
Thine is the God by fire that answereth.
His feet within the furnace glow and move,
His eyes are flame that kindle flame, his breath
Lights up the stream of fire unquenchable
That unconsumed, consumeth; who can dwell
With everlasting burnings? They who love.’
“Her words like seeds of flame
Lie in my heart. Basilides no more
Am I, and yet Basilides the same
But yesterday who flattered, jested, swore
By Cæsar and the Gods. Gods! now I name
One God whom I adore, and Him obey,
One God in heaven who lives, on earth who died,
And lo! He liveth! Him the crucified
Who lives for evermore! A Christian, yea!”
Lie in my heart. Basilides no more
Am I, and yet Basilides the same
But yesterday who flattered, jested, swore
By Cæsar and the Gods. Gods! now I name
One God whom I adore, and Him obey,
One God in heaven who lives, on earth who died,
And lo! He liveth! Him the crucified
Who lives for evermore! A Christian, yea!”
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