Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-07-02

Aioors and Araos, and cured Philippians, we're
there, with tho beams of the southern sun burnt
in every various shade of swarthiness upon their
skins. Nor did our own remote island want her
representatives in the deadly procession, for
saw among the armed northumberland that not
altogether v thout some feelings of more pecu-
liar interest--two or three gaunt barbarians,
whose breast and shoulders bore uncouth marks
OF blue aud purple, so vivcl in the tints, that
thought many months could not have elapsed
since they must have been wandering in wild
freedom along the native ridges of some Silurian
or Caledonan forests AS they moved around
the arena some ofthese men were saluted by
the whole multitude with noisy acclamations, in
token, supposed, of the appreciation where
with the feats of some former festival had
deserved TO be remembered On the appearance
OF others, groans and Kisses were heard from
some parts of the amphtheatre, mixed with con-
tending cheers and huzzars from others of the
spectators. But by far the greater part were
suffered to pass on in silence this being in all
likelihood the first--alas who could tell wheth-
er 1T might not also be the last-day of their
sharing in that fearful exhibition!
Iheir masters paired them shortly, and i'm
succession they began 10 make proof of their ia
tai skill. AT first, Scythan was matched a.
galnst Scythan-Greek against Greek-Ethio-
plan against Ethiopian-Spaniard against Span-
lard and saw the sand dyed beneath their
feet with blood streaming from the wounds of
kindred hands But these combats, although
apundantly bloody and terrible, were regarded
only us prelr.ies TO the serious business of the
day, which consisted of duels between Euro
peans on the one side, and Africans on the other;
) wherein it was the well nigh intransrressible
wof the amphithcatre, that at least one out
OF every pair of combatants should die on the
arena before the eyes of the multitude. Instead
OF shrinking from the more desperate brutal.
ties of these latter conflicts, the almost certain
tyot their fatal termination seemed only TO
make the assembly gaze them with more in
tense curiosity, and more inhunan measure of
! delight. Methinks | feel as if il were but of
Yesterday, when, sicken cd with the protracted
terrors OF conflict that seemed, as fit were
never To have an end, although 10th the com
batants were already covered all over with hide
Gus gashes, at last bowed down my head and
casped my hands upon my eyes to save them
irom the torture OF gazing thereon farther and
had scarce done so, when Rubellia laid her
hand upon my elbow, whispering, "I.ook, look,
now look - in n voice of low, steady mpatience.
did look but not to the arena no it was up-
On the beautiful features ofthat womans face
3 that looked and truly it seemed to me as Il
> tHey presented spectacle almost as fearful
as that from which had just averted mine ewes.
, saw those rich lips parted asunder, and those
dark eyes extended in their sockets and those
, smooth cheeks sulfused with steadfast blush
and that lovely bosom swelled and GLOWING
and hated Rubela, as gazed, for knew no,
before how utterly beauty can be brutalized BY
the thorbbings of a cruel heart But looked
round to escape from the sight of her and
then the hundreds of females that saw with
their eyes fixed with equal earnestness on the
same spot OF horrors, taught me, even at the
moment, to think with more charity of that nj.
tilcss gaze OF one.
At that instant all we're silent, in the contem.
plation Oft breaihless strife ;insomuch that
groan, the first that had escaped from either OF
q the combatants, although low and reluctant, and
hall suppressed, sounded quite distinctly amidst
the dee5 hush Of the assembly and being con.
strained thereby to turn mine eyes once more
downwards, beheld that, at length, one OF the
two mad received the sword of his adversary
quite through his body, and sunk before him UP.
on the sand A beautiful young man was he
. that had received this harm, with fair hair
clustered in glossy ringlets upon his neck ant
=, lbrows but the sickness of his wound was al
: ready visible on his dropping eyelids, and hi,
lips were pale, as ifthe blood had rushed from
a them to the untimely outlet. Nevertheless. In,
Sc Moorish gladiator who had fought with him
IL had drawn forth again his weapon, and stood
70 there awaiting in silence the decision of the
!. multitude, whether at once to STAY the defence
less youth, or to assist in removing him from
d the arena, If perchance the blood might be stop
. ped flom flowing, and some hope of recover,
% even yet extended to him Hereupon Their,
3 arose, on the instant, loud voice of contention
s and 1T seemed to me as if the wounded man re-
=. garded the multitude with a proud, and witha
If contemPtuous glance, being aware, withou
n question, that he had executed all things so a.
!. to deserve their compassion : but aware, rnoreo
! yer, that even had that been freely vouchsafet
# to him, 1T was too late for any hope of safety
i But the cruelty of their faces, il NAV be. anc
i the Ioudness of their cries were sorrow to him
l. and filled his dying breast with oathnr
c whether or not the haughtiness of his counte
L nance had been observed by them with dis.
= pleasure, ] cannot say but so it was, that
s those who had cried out TO give him chance Of
ID recovery, were speedily silent, and the Enpc.
b ror looking round, and seeing all the thumbs
I: turned downwards Uor that is you know the
G signal for death,) was constrained TO give the
y sign and forthwith The young man receiving
d AGAIN with astruggIc, the sword of the Moor
b Into his gashod bosom, breaihcd forth his his life