Creative Writing Page
Creative Writing Page
This is a piece of creative writing. The thoughts, statements and characters are inspired by historical research, but are not necessarily part of the historical reccord.
The Burning of the Christians
Scean 1
The year is 303 on our calender. The first sceane takes place at dinner. Diocletian, his friends and family are lying around the u-shaped table eating ham, beef, and grapes.
"Diocletian, how was your day?" said his wife Prisca as she dug into the grapes.
"Oh, it was quite dull. All day I sit around with Maximianus trying to think of something to do that is new. We have every thing we want, the finest togas, a happy public, tons of money; why am I not happy any more? Am I still not complete? For the last two years we have done little new other than controling the people and making them happy. I would like to do something for myself as well as for my people." said Diocletian.
"We have thought up serval new statues of the Gods and memorials, but that does nothing but bore us." said Maximianus as he took a slab of ham.
"Prisca, do you have any ideas onwhat to do?" said Diocletian.
"Oh, sorry Dio, I wasn't listening to what you were saying. I was talking to Valeria. Could you say it again?" said Prisca.
"Dumb Christians", thought Diocletian.
"I said, do you have any ideas for something new and pleasing to us?" said Diocletian, grumpy and annoyed.
"Oh...... I really don't know Diocleatian; it's a tough question." she replied.
"Ahh, what's the point? Ever since the Tetrarchy and the wars, there has been nothing to do," said Diocletian as he finished up his meal.
"Well that was a good meal." said Diocletian as he took down his last piece of ham.
"I am going to bed, for I have had a long day." he said.
"Good night Dio, see you in the morning." Prisca replied.
Soon after, the rest of Diocletian's friends and family finished dinner.
Sceane 2
The second sceane takes place in the morning with Diocletian and his fellow workers in the Tetrarchy. They are trying to think of new plans that will give Diocletian something to do, happily.
"Diocletian, what do you think of trying to make the army smaller, making fifty provinces instead of a hundred? Those kinds of tasks in the army, " said one of men.
"Why tha'ts one of the dumbest ideas I've heard. Making the army smaller will only bring the fools closer to each other, causing them to act with less care. Where were you when we changed the army into a hundred provinces? Besides, the army no longer excites me." said Diocletian angered by his Tetarachy's idiocy.
"Well what is it then that does interest you!? We have been trying to think of things that please you for a while now, and everything we say is rejected," said the infuruated because of his response.
"How dare you talk to me with such tone! If you intend on living any longer, you should keep quiet." said Diocletian with great anger.
"Sorry sir, he is just a new helper of the Caesars. He is also a Christian." said one of Diocletian's note takers.
"Oh, he's Christian. Yes my wife is also Christian and she tends to act dumb and not listen either. They are nothing like us proud Romans," said Diocletian, annoyed but not surprised.
"Be nice if they would all just burn," said Diocletian talking into his beard.
Then Diocletian stood up with great trust and boldness, but then slouched when he thought about the people in the room.
"Wait.... but no. I could not do such a thing," he said.
"What could you not do, Diocletian? If it gives you great pleasure then go with it." said David, the Christian .
"Fine, then if you say that I sould go with my first instict, you shall burn." said Diocletian with a smirk.
"But... but you cannot do such a thing. What would you accomplish?" said the Tatarachy with grief.
"I will receive happiness and something that I sould have done a long time ago. This will make the city of Rome a better place," he said with pride.
Sceane 3
This sceane takes place mostly inside the mind of Diocletian after he has gotten out of the meeting. It also takes place from the end of the meeting to after he gets back home.
I love it. After all these years of messed up price edicts and economy fixers, I have finally come up with an idea that cannot fail and will make me and my people happy. Although I will have to get rid of Prisca and Valeria, they are a sacrifice that has to be made. It's like in war; there has to be casulties in order to win. Either way, that whore has never listened to me. She is always talking to Valeria instead of listening to my dicisions at dinner. She deserves to burn with the rest of those dirty Christians.
"I've done it! I've thought of the ultimate decision in my term as emperor! They will all burn and that will be the end of them! No more of those stupid people roaming my city of Romans! This great city was made for us, not for those insolent fools!!!" he yelled like a madman as he walked through to his home.
"I can't believe that I didn't think of this earlier! Why is it that I let those rats roam this great city for all this time without even thinking of burning them? They are stupid and heartless and no one likes them. I still to this day ponder why I decided to love Prisca. Probaly because she brainwashed me. I have been brainwashed like all of the other Romans into thinking that they should live in our righteous society.
"They will all DIE!!!!" he yelled out in anger as he entered his home.
"What is wrong? Who has angered you Dio? Who are going burn? Prisca asked confused.
"You, for brainwashing me and the Roman people. You all work for Hades!!" he said.
"What have I ever done to you Diocletian? And what group do I belong to?!" Prisca asked, concerned for her well being.
"You and all of your Christian people! You have all lived in Rome too long! Rome is for those that warship the Olypian Gods, not your monotheistic foolishness. You will all burn!!!" he said, infuriated by his false belief that the Christians had brainwashed him and his people.
" B.. but isn't there something that I could do, I mean we could do!? We have never done anything wrong!" She replied in a hurry.
"Here you Christians go, giving us your lies. You have been near us for too long. There is nothing you can do but burn for your crimes!" he replied yelling.
Prisca then fell weeping in fear as Diocletian stomped through into his room to write the four decrees to eliminate all Christians in Rome.
Scean 4
This sceane takes place a couple days later as Diocletian reads his decrees to the Roman people.
"So, what do you all think people? Do you think that they should burn now or never!? We have been brainwashed for years into thinking that they deserve to live. Now, go get those that are Christians and we shall have them burnt for their crimes!!!" Diocletian yelled proudly to his people.
Then, as the people dispersed Diocletian rejoiced with his friends on a job not done, but done well so far. He had finally gotten something done that he was happy about.
Ahh, he thought. I have almost gotten rid of the vermine that crawls beneath our feet, infecting us with their thoughts. When the day begins tomorrow, Romans will be without the Christians all because of me.
Sceane 5
This sceane takes place where the Christians are up on the crosses and are about to be lit on fire
"It is all almost over; all Christians are to burn, and because of myself," he thought. "My life is now fullfilled." Once this is all over, I'm going to go home and look for a new home, preferably on a coast.
Then, in a short second, all the Christians went from rare to the begining of well done. The moans quickly changed to screams as they started the slow process of burning.
The screams filled the air for all to hear, but there was not one in the crowd watching that seemed to care. Instead, smiles grew on faces commonly filled with frouws.
Diocletian stood with all the rest looking on but a smile filled his face that was diffrent from the others. He was witnessing his own daughter and wife being burned.
I can't believe this. It all seems too good. I have made a city change from a city, to a monumental city of on Romans in all but a few days. I have completed what had to be completed for the good of all Romans.