“Christ.”
“That is their god. Is he a mighty god?”
But Chilo answered with a question,—
“What kind of torches are to burn in the gardens? Hast thou heard what Cæsar said?”
“I heard, and I know. Those torches are called Sarmentitii and Semaxii. They are made by arraying men in painful tunics, steeped in pitch, and binding them to pillars, to which fire is set afterward. May their god not send misfortune on the city. Semaxii! that is a dreadful punishment!”
“I would rather see it, for there will not be blood,” answered Chilo. “Command a slave to hold the goblet to my mouth. I wish to drink, but I spill the wine; my hand trembles from age.”
Others also were speaking of the Christians. Old Domitius Afer reviled them.
“There is such a multitude of them,” said he, “that they might raise a civil war; and, remember, there were fears lest they might arm. But they die like sheep.”
“Let them try to die otherwise!” said Tigellinus.
To this Petronius answered, “Ye deceive yourselves. They are arming.”