Virgilia; or, Out of the Lion's Mouth

Virgilia, a young Roman woman, embraces the Christian faith and refuses to perform the customary pagan rites, provoking conflict in her household. Her parents, Aurelius and Claudia, weigh social remedies including a wealthy suitor, while an elderly artisan and other figures—gladiators, converts, and temple attendants—populate scenes of public spectacle and ritual. The narrative alternates between vivid public ceremonies and intimate domestic debates, exploring tensions between conscience and social obligation, the cost of religious dissent, and the symbolic resonance of rites, festivals, and personal bonds.