The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-11-04
so and Jove, the greatest and the best, preserve


thee ="
i As she spoke, clang of martial music wa. watt
ed to them on the light land wind which rising
with the sunthe barbarous horn, the clashing GYM
bal, the deep roll of the beaten ympanum, and the
jingle of the wild Egyptian systrum. The morning
mists rolled peacefully away before the enlivcning
influence of the oreeze and scattering as they
fecked the blue canopy with thousand feecy is
lets of snow-wht yapor. The bosom of the Lev
antine sea was scarcely ruffled by the balmy wind
not breaking, but sparkling with its cones of dia-
mond spray. The seagulls were abroad in hun
dreds, now tanning their broad wings aoft as they
poised themselves for their medtated swoop, now
darling from their height with rapidity that mock
ed the eye, plungng with lead-like dash into the
tiny waves, and bearing their nny prey far, far a
loof into the blue distance, the circling rpples
on The surface disturbed by their invasion had van
ished from the waters.
On the silvery sands-at scarcely miles distance
from the galley-the host of Ptolemy was seeing
moving downward to the verge in huge semicir-
Gle flashing with gilded arms, and scarlet turbans,
and embroidered garments, and all the bazoned
gorgeousness Of oriental warfare. Banners in null
titndes, that almost equalled the number Of the gilt
tering spear points marsalle beneath them, waved
in the wind surmounted by the uncouth Gods OF
that benighted peOplc-serpents OF gold and azure
the ibis and the loathsome crocodile, the ape,
the scarab and the mute and senseless fsh-had all
their Jeweiled images, all their ueVoteu WOfsHfppers
cloud of Numdian cavalry thronged the spacious
plains around the marshacd host-now the
nanks, now on the rear, and now in 'front.' wheeling
their literally unbrided horses, in mad evOlutions,
by voice and gesture only tossing their spears alof
or shooting their arrows, and gathering them again
from earth in full career.
The eye Of the warrior flashed with expression
it had not worn, since the Hover OF Rome fled be-
fore the veterans of Caesar.
is n host''-he almost shOufed-E host witb
which Roman might subdue an universe J"
"Aye"-murmured Cornelia at his elbow" aye !!
were it but host of Romans ~
"Tush," he replied, smiling again more joyously
than before" Thou silly trembler To that bar
barous body will we aflix a Latin head with Ca
to's good ten thousand and these dark-visaged myr
lads of the Ptoemies we will right speedily efface
the black spot of Pharalia" But, as he spoke
the memory of that dark day. and of the brave there
fostering in their blood, overcame him he broke
off abrubtly, and was silent
See !--cried the bov Scxtus springing forward
in youthful vivacity, " see, they send forth sk"
And in good truth barge was seen skimming
the waters under the united exertiOns of six brawny
rowers, but it scarcely such an one, or manned
by such crew. one high potentatc would send
to bear his greetings to equal. A long low skiff
of rough unpolishcd planks, well modelled enough,
and built for speed, but neither carved nor painted
much less adorned with the rich moudngs of gold
and ivory, which, in those sumptuous days, were
deemed appropriate, and almost indispensable APP
pendages to the pleasure boats of even private citi-
Zens
"A common fishers skf!'-Cornclia returned
with deep expression of scorn, but without farther
comment.
"And thcro''-cried Sextus perceiving that it
an intentional indignity-" and there upon the beach
stand the royal yachts, with their gay tackle, mo-
tionIcss Receive them not, my fathcr-lct me
call Fabus and Marullus hnher, with their pixies to
drivcdown the barbarans from our channels. Would
that had my Partbian quiver here, and that good
bow, the gift of Cassus BY Hercules, you swart-
faced ape that sits there in the stern, should rue
his insocnce !"
{, Peacc-Sextus It's the brave Achas. the
leader of the army; and there beside him, with the
emerald tiara, sits Phonus, the curator of the roy
al treasury ; and there, Theodotus of Samos, the
youthful kings prcccptor-but in strange trim they
come, by Hercules"
"All IIal--Pompeius'- the dark Copt,
who had been called Achillas All Hail The
Create
Health to Achillas;" :" was the dignified reply;
and to thee, too, Photinus; welcome Thcodotus"
"Thy slaves, Great Pompey, bear the greetings
of their king Ptolemy is most eager to behold hls
friend and benefactor! If it seem good to Pompey,
we will conduct him to the kings encampment ~
"Go not, my noble husband ; Go not, oh, go
not, if thou hast any love for thy Cornea If thou
wouldst live, go not If thou woudst the Capt.
tol again, and enter 1t in glory; go not with these
men, Cncius Pompey."
For moment, the philosopher was moved, the
hero bent. lie turned his eyes admiringly, with a
tender and somewhat melancholy gaze, upon the
noble features of the Roman matron; caressingly
he laid his hands upon her etty locks, braided in
simple plaits around the magnificent contour of her
brow, then drawing her close to his broad bosom,
he printed a calm and passioness kiss upon her
forehead
" Thou vert ever n most sweet suppliant, my own
Cornelia;" he said and it much irketh Pompey
IN aught to say thee nay! But before love, stands
glory, and before glory, Rome. Rome calls me,
and shall for thirty years her soldier; for thirty
years her minister of greatness: and shall neglect