The night is quite cold. Even my bones can feel the chill of this February night. I don’t know what hour it is. Judging from the little glimpse from my barred window, it must be three hours past midnight.
The morning is hours
away and before I go to face my death, I need to see her just one last time. Julia,
the daughter of the jailer Asterius will know about it for sure. Asterius
thinks highly of me; so does Julia. If not for that herbal potion from my
medicine bag, she would have died of high fever.
I’m no hero only a priest who became one to
give praise to the Lord. But in the reign of the mighty Claudius, I dared to
marry off young couples who loved each other. I defied an emperor who wanted all
men to join armies and not to settle down in life. I think God will forgive me
for what I have done for I know what it is to be in love.
When she came to see
me after her recovery, it seemed like Julia’s eyes had stars in them. She
brought sweet pomegranates for me. I am sure this must have been the forbidden
fruit that once tempted Adam and Eve. After that I haven’t slept a wink for her
eyes have haunted me with their bright-eyed despair.
Despite the
sleepless nights, I don’t feel tired at all. The only thing that is before me
is her lovely face. Nothing else. The young ones keep on throwing notes and
flowers at my window. Here and there, I have seen her hand too. In the eyes of
the world, I am a sinner for marrying off young lovers. But here, on the last
day of my life, I regret the fact that I met my Julia too late. It is already
dawn and I must write a farewell note to her and seal it with my purple
amethyst ring:
My Julia,
My love, from the day I saw you smile,
From the very day you came to see me;
Don’t cry for me when I am gone away
For the merciful god will bring us together.
This letter I seal with my amethyst ring
For what you meant to me in these hours,
How dawn has come with your bright face
And taken away the strife of long years.
How I long to hold your hand in mine,
Or say one word expecting your smile,
How late have I come to know you dear
I regret on this last day of my life.
Our loyal hearts will sing in heaven
Though not in this life but eternal.
My love, from the day I saw you smile,
From the very day you came to see me;
Don’t cry for me when I am gone away
For the merciful god will bring us together.
This letter I seal with my amethyst ring
For what you meant to me in these hours,
How dawn has come with your bright face
And taken away the strife of long years.
How I long to hold your hand in mine,
Or say one word expecting your smile,
How late have I come to know you dear
I regret on this last day of my life.
Our loyal hearts will sing in heaven
Though not in this life but eternal.
To be continued...
