Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 5).djvu/138

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caesar's apostasy.
[act iii.

Julian.

[Nodding slowly.] Seven days later Caesar's wife died in Bithynia. Constantina has always been his bad angel; therefore she had to be removed, in accordance with the change in the divine will. Three weeks after Constantina's death, the Emperor's emissary, the tribune Scudilo, came with a great retinue to Antioch, greeted Gallus Caesar with imperial honours, and invited him, in the Emperor's name, to visit the imperial camp at Rome.—Caesar's journey from province to province is now like a conqueror's progress. In Constantinople he has held races in the hippodrome, and the multitude loudly acclaimed him when he, though as yet but Caesar by title, stood forth after the manner of the earlier Emperors, and gave the crown to Corax, the winner in the race. Thus marvellously does God again exalt our house, which had sunk under sin and persecution.

Gregory.

Strange! In Athens other reports were abroad.

Julian.

I have certain information. The purple robe will soon be needed, Gregory! How, then, can I doubt as to the things which Maximus has foretold as near at hand for <g>me</g>? To-night the last veil falls. Here shall the great enigma be made manifest. Oh, stay with me, my brothers—stay with me through this night of anxiety and expectation! When Maximus comes you shall witness——

Basil.

Never!