Then twelve slaves took their seats at a
covered table, while their masters served them. Julian, who, hidden
in the Opisthodom, had watched the whole ceremony, secretly
rejoiced, because by means of these ancient heathen rites he had
entirely defeated the Christians. In them, as he had intended, there
was a wordless expression of philanthropy and charity, and both
had existed from time immemorial.
Finally, the children were brought forward, and received as presents
dolls modelled of wax and clay. The illusion was complete, and the
Christians felt as though under an enchanter's spell. "The heathen
are Christians after all!" they exclaimed. "Why, then, strive and
quarrel, when we are one?"
There was an overflow of emotion, and the success of the experiment
was complete. That was the victory of the first day. When, on the
following day, the Christians wished to celebrate their Christmas
festival, it necessarily appeared a mere copy of that of the
heathen.
* * * * *
The Saturnalia lasted seven days, and Julian, intoxicated with his
success, resolved to introduce the whole of the ancient ceremonies
in all their terrible splendour. His philosophers warned him, but he
did not listen to them any more; he must have his hecatombs; a
hundred oxen adorned with garlands were to be slaughtered in the
open space before the Temple of Jupiter, as a sacrifice to the
ancient gods.
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