Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/63

ST. MARY 61 As Boon as it was ligbt, he went with his request to Magnus, who told him he could never become a magician be- cause he had received Christian baptism. Anthemius said he would renounce his baptism and the name oS Christian. Magnus then said he would not be able to keep the rules of the Magi, and that if he did not do so, he would get into a miserable state from which there would be no escape. But seeing his great persistence, the wizard handed him a small letter and gave him these direc- tions: Take this letter and go out of the city, fasting, at nightfall, and stand on the bridge. There, an immense crowd will pass over about midnight, making a frightful noise, with their prince sitting in a car, but take care that you feel no fear and sustain no injury, however slight, while you are carrying my letter ; hold it up on high that it may be seen. Then if they ask you, ' What are you doing here at this hour?' say, 'The Lord Magnus sends me to my Lord the Prince, to bring him this letter.' But beware that you do not feel afraid or make the sign of the cross or call upon Christ." Anthemius took the letter, and when it was dark he went out of the town and stood on the bridge, holding the paper up in his hand. At midnight a great troop of horsemen arrived with the prince in a chariot in the midst of them. When the foremost came to Anthemius, they said, '^ Who is this standing here ? " He answered, " My Lord Magnus sends me to carry this letter to the Prince." So they took the letter and gave it to the prince, who was sitting in his chariot. He read it, wrote a few words in it, and ordered it to be given back to Anthemius to give to his friend the magician. Next morning Anthemius took the letter to Magnus, who said. "Would you like to Imow what he says? Just what I told you he would say. 'This man is a Christian. I never will admit one of them unless he will renounce his religion, according to our customs.'" "Master," replied Anthemius, "I have already abjured, and I now abjure again the name and faith of the Christians and their baptism." Then the wizard wrote a new letter and gave it to Anthemius to take to the same place the next night. He went to the bridge at night, and again the crowd of people came, and when they saw him they said, " What have you come back for ? " He replied that Magnus had sent him with another letter. The prince read the letter and wrote an answer, which Anthemius took next day to the ma- gician. "Do you know what he says now ? " said Magnus ; " I told him that you had renounced your Christianity and your baptism before me, but he says he will not admit you unless he has your renunciation written by your own hand." Then the wretched An- themius said, '^ I am ready to write it," and he sat down and wrote — "I, Anthemius, abjure Christ and His faith. I abjure also His baptism, and the cross and the name of Christian, and I promise never to make the sign of the cross, or to call on the name of Christ." While he was writing he was bathed in perspiration from head to foot and his under-garment was wet. Never- theless ho went on writing, and when he had finished the paper he gave it to Magnus to read. Magnus said, "It is well. Go back now, for he will admit yon; and when he has done so, say reverently to him, *I pray you, O my Lord, to give me some spirits who shall be at my beck and call,' and he will give you as many as you please. I forewarn you, however, not to accept more than one or two, for if jou have more, they will give you no rest, con- stantly troubling you, night and day, to supply them with employment." Anthemius went back and met the procession as before, and the one who walked first called out to the prince, " Magnus has sent this man back again with orders." The prince bade him come near ; and he went, full of misery and grief, and gave him his profession of abjuration. When the prince had read it, he lifted up his hands and began to call out, " Christ Jesus, behold thy late disciple, Anthemius, hath cursed Thee in writing I I am not the author