Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-11-07
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
From Saiafhiei.
THRILLING SKETCH.

| portai u the Arena opened, and the CON
batant with mantle thrown over his face an,
figure, was let in the surroundery. fhe lion roar
ed aud ramped against the bars Of his den at tn,
sight. The guard put sword and buckler int,
the hands OF the Christian, and he was left alone
He drew the mantle from his face. and bent SLOW
aud firm look around the ampitheatre. HE fine
cOuntenance and lofty bearing raised universe
shout Of admiration. He might have stood for
an Apollo encountering the Python. His eve al
last turned ON mine. Could believe my SEN
1 ses? COnstantius was before me.
| I" All my rancOur vanished. An hour past
could have struck the be,rayer to the heart:
could have called on the severest vengeance OF
man and heaven to smte the destroyer of my
child. But to see hun hopelessIy doomed, the
man whom had honured for his noble qualities,
whom had even loved, whose crime was at the
worst but the crime OF giving way to the strong.
est temptation that can bewilder the heart of man
to see this nobe creature flung to the savage
beast. dying in tortures, torn piecemea before
my eyes, and his misery wrought by me, would
have o6tes,.d earth aad heaven to save him. But
my tongue cleaved to the roof Of nv mouth. -
NJ, limbs refused to STIR. would have thrown
myself at the feet of Mere; but sat like man
of stone-pale-paralyZed --the beating Of my
pulses stopI-my eyes alone alive.
.. The gate of the den vas thrown back, and
the lion rushed in with roar and bound that
bare him half across the Arena. saw the sword
in the air, when 1t waved again it was covered
with blood. A howl told the blow had been dri.
ven home. The hon, one of rhe largest from
NumetIa, and made furious BY thirst an hunger,
an animal of prodigious power, crouched tor an
instant. as if to make sure of his prev, crept a
few PAGES onward, and srpung at the vicllm's
throat.
tie was met by a second wound, but his i'm
pulse VAS irresistible. A cry OF natural horror
rang round the amphltheare, The struggle was
now for an instant life or death They rolled
Nsseslr saSh other; tie lion reared upon his hind
Ions. plunget on the man; again they rose '"yc'
ther. Anxiety was now at its widest heiSht
The sword now swung round the champion neau
in bloody circles. They fell again covered WIN
blood and dust. The hand OF Constan'us hau
srasped the lions name, and the furious oounus
Of the monster could not loose the hold; but his
s,rsn,tb was evidently giving way; he sun
s,,url terr;b,e blows, but each was weaker than
,Ls one before; till collecting his whole iorce Tor
, lac. cfor,. he darted one mighty bio" INTO the
Iou,s throat. aud sunk. The savage Yelled ana
snn,,;po out blood, fled bowling round the arena
But the hand still! grasped the name, anu nis con.
nneror was dragged whirling through the dust at
h;a bpeJs A universal Outcry now arose 10 sa'e
hin, If he were not already dead. But the Hon.
,hnroh bleeding from every vein, was stun 100
,a,r;5Is and ali shrunk from the hazard. Al
~, ,he GRASP gave way, and the body lay
upon the ground.
:. What happened for some moments alter, l
, nat There was a struggle at the portal;
f.mae forced her way through the guard rush
oh in alone, and flung herself upon me V'ct''h'
The sight Of a new prey reused the ,'0n; ne 'o'e
! h,Ih az ol N
the around with his talcns; he lashed MS s''ea"',
,na side with his tail; he lifted up his name, anu
hared his fanss But his approaching was no
In.er with bound; he dreaded me s"oru' anu
came snufing the blood ON the sand anu s'ea''
inc round the body in circuits sun o,'hi''''u''s'
I'The confusion IN the vast assemo'aSe wa: ~"
Vic, innumerable called for aid -
49,, s..raamed and tainted, men burs' int
;nJ;,nan, clamors at this prolonged cruelty Even
. ~" SasJ be.r,s of the populace, accustomed a.
80. 80 IN the sacrifices of life, were reused u
honss, curses. The guards srasped their arms
anJ waited but for SIGN FROM the emperor Du
Nero gave no Sign :. ,,,s 6,
81 iooked upon the woman's lace; IL was Cd
,o,st I sp.aps upon NV feet. | called OH ne
s. called ON her by every feeling OF natur
n Az from that place OF death, 10 ro"e - ~:
arms. To think Of the agonIes OF all thaI 'oNeu ~.
:. She had raised the head OF Cons'an''os .,
hsr kpee. and was wiping the pale VisaSe WIZ
her hair, At the sound Of my voice she looke a
nm and calmly casting back the locks .ro" n ".
fnrrs..,a. fixed her eyes upon me. s"e su
Lnsl,. nne hand supported the head WIZ" III
",hor che nointed 10 it, as her only answef'
saa;n a,lnred her. There was the SILENCE
death among the thousands around me. . aI
aa.hed into her eye-her cheek oor"eu-s"
: waved her hand with an air Of superb sorrow :.
81 am come to die she uttered IN i"''
J, tune. This bleeding body was my husband AND :,
i. nave no father. The world contains to me o.
the CLAW in my arms Yet, and she kissed ~
asby lips before her. yet my Constantius II W
- save that father, that your generous heart U
fled the peril of this hour 1t was to redeem "a, ~
from the hand Of evil, that you aoanuoneu ~
ouiet homes--yes. cruel father. here lies ihe q
Bile being that threw open your dungeon, 'hat =
YOU safe through the contiagration. that 10 'he "a
moment Of his liberty. only thought how he mig :
preserve and protect you Tears ., q, shs m
or in foods from her eyes, But sa'o Sne' !"