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FRAGMENTS OF A PRISONER'S DIARY
stition in the place of the old pagan prejudice. Encouragement to the holy institution was expected to be recompensated in after-life. Having had drunk of the worldly to the bitter dregs, the degenerate Roman aristocracy liked the sensation of the novel practice which would guarantee them a more splendorous life in the Kingdom of Heaven. The scnsuousness of paganism had been under Christian censure. The institution of vestal virgins dedicated to the gods was narrow, because the number of thc holy objects of sensuousness was limited. The progeny of Numa had established a monopoly of the privilege. The new institution, indeed, flourished under the frowning sign of asceticism, but did not place any limit upon the number of the consecrated virgins. These holy sisters could not always refuse their graces, not of course from themselves but as the merited gift of God, to the devout Senators who had made such magnificent sacrifice to promote and patronise the angelic institution of monasticism. Portly matrons tasted a novel ecstasy by playing devout Magdalens to the imitations of the Saviour who came to bless them in the tempting persons of sturdy peasant youths from Egypt or Syria. Some fair scions of the degenerate aristocracy sought the morbid pleasure of mortifying their flesh having been sorely disappointed by the limitedness of earthly enjoyment. Since there was nothing more to taste of life, they sacrificed but 246
