The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1828-07-17
MISCELLANY.
A THRILLING sxETCH.

Slathel; Story of tho Past, the present &
the Future.
This is a work Of very peculiar character
It is, in fact, the autobiography Of the Wan
dcring Jew, and contains a history Of the
troubles, insurrections, massacres, persecu-
tions, &c. which supervcned in Judea, mme'
dately after the death Of Christ. Mr.. Croly
has succeeded worry well in depicting the
Jewish character and warfare; and has enter
cd with considerable felicity into what is pro
babe would be tho feelings Of such being as
tho fnpious and miserable wanderer whose
history he writes. The following are es.
tracts
"a portal Of the arena opened, and the com
batant, with a mantle thrown over his face and
figure, was led in, surrounded by the soldlerv
The lion roared, and rampcd against the bar.
OF his den at the sight. The guard put q
sword and buckler into the hands of the Chris
tian and he was left alone. He drew tit
mantle from his face, and bent a slow am
iirm look round the amphitheatre. His fin.
countcnance and lofty bearing raised an unr
vcrsal sound of admiration iIo might have
stood for an Apollo encountering the Python
His eye at last turned on mine. Gould be
iievo my senses Constantius was before me
"All my rancour vanished. An hour past !
could have struck tho betrayer to tho heart; ]
could have called on the severest vengeance
of man and heaven to smite the destroyer ol
my child But, to see HIM hopolessly doomed,
the man whom | had honored for his noble
qualities, whom had even loved, whose crime
was at the worst but the crime of giving way
Go tho strongest temptation that can bewider
the heart of man to see this noble creature
ilung to tho savage beast, dying in tortures,
torn piecemeal before my eyes, and this mise
ry wrought by me. | would have obtested
earth and heaven to save him. But my tongue
claaved to tho roof OF my mouth. NV limbs
refused to stir. | would have thrown mys Sc, {
at the feet of Nero but sat like man Of
stone, ,--palc, paralyzcd--the beating of my
pulses stopt--my eyes alone alive.
"The gate of the den was thrown back, and
the hon rushed in with roar, and bound
that bore him half across the arena. | saw
the sword glitter in the air; when il waved a
gain, it VIZ. covered with blood. A howl told
that the blow had been driven home. The Ii.
on, one Of the largest from Numda, and made
furious by thirst and hunger, an animal OF
prodi igious power, crouchcd for an instant as i,
TO make sure Of his prey, crept few PAGES
onward, and sprung at the victims throat
He was mot by second wound, but his i'm
pulse was irresistible, aud Constantius was
fling upon the ground A cry Of natural hor
ror rang round the anphitheatrc The strug
Gle was now for instant life or death. They
rolled ovor each other ; the lion reared on il.
hind feet, and, with gnsshing teeth and dis
tended talons, plunged on the man, again they
rose together. Anxiety was now at its wild
est height. The sword swung round the
Champions head in bloody circles They fel
again, covered with gore and dust The hant
of ofCcnstantius had grasped the lions name
and the furious bounds of the monster coult
not loose the hold but his strength was cvi
GENTLY giving way he still struck terrible
blows, but each was weaker than the one be
fore; Till, collecting his whole force for a las
effort, he dsrtcd one mighty blow into NE Ii
on's throat, and sank. The savage yelled an,
epouting out blood, flcd bowling round the a
rcna. But the hand still graspej tho man,
and his conqucror was dragged whirling thro
ebc dust at his heels. A universal outcry nov
arose TO save him, il ho were not already dead
But the lion, though bleeding from aver,
vein, was still too terrible and all shrunk from
tbs hazard At length the grasp gave way
and the body lay msbonlsss upon The ground