The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-11-04
BYRON.

For the first time had the plains of Thcssaly ring
to the war cries of two Roman armies, mingled in
civil strife for the first time, had they rocked to
heaven with the unnatural evidence of kindred
slaughter; destined they again to minister
unto the fall of liberty. Carnage, uncxamplcd since
ths days Of the one-eyed Carthaginian, since the
nmbuscadcs Of Thrasymcne, of the pitched field of
Gamma, had fallen on the masters of the world.
From this day forth, the annals of the easlc-quecn
were to be stamped with different records from
this dayor, were the nations to be let loose against
her; and dcadcr yet, the hands, which had sub
ducd this universe, were to he turned against her
vitas from this day forth was the thirsty earth, at
short and oft repeated intervals to drink the blood
of Rome in fearful retribution.
The bodies of fifteen thousand citiZcns-the
veterans of twenty battles, the sons of nursed
in the very lap Of v.tory, numbered the marshes of
Pharsaa while twice tho number bowed in dcs-
perac submission before the footstool of a native
conqueror. Nor was it mcrcenarcs alone,
Gaulish hOrscmcn the infantry of Spain, or even
on the private lcgonarics, that the havoc had fall
len with the most unsparing hand. Two hundred
senators lay there, preorans, consulars, stiff IN their
curdled blood men, who had bravcd the chilling
cold of the ransalpn winter unsubducd and fearless,
who had marched undaunted through the scorching
deserts of Numidia, who had brcathcd unenervated
the luxurious atmosphere of Syria-men, who had
rendered the name of Rome supreme to the farthcst
limits of the habitabc world-lay there unnaturally
stricken down and in private quarrel. And he,
the conqucror of Mithrdates, the spoiler of the
east the destroyer of the pirates, the dosolater of
the pirates, the desolater of Jerusalem-IIc who
while yet hoy, had been surnamed the GREAT, by
one yet loftier than himself in that vain cminenco
which men Gull grcatncss--IIc who for thirty years
had striven, now in the field now in the forum, at
one time with his country at another with his
country's foes, but still in unvaryiug of
victory, in one eternal tide of fortune-Pompey had
fallen,
While there was yet hope, he had battlcd like
a soldier-like man. Till he heard the fatal
mandate" Facem feri, miles, ,"-thundercd from
the lips Of the great captain and saw it fearfully
backed by the headlong valor of his lcgionarcs- -
the his chosen cavalry, the pride Of the cques-
trian order, the flower Of Romes young chivalry
swept away like chaf before the of the Gallo
veterans-tl he had striven, he had hoped.
Night FELL and he was hopcess.--Alonc he had
mounted his horse, and galoped from the theatre Of
his disgrace, he scarce knew whittier. The moon
brightly he quilted the postern gate of his
encnmpment; the deep ,,shout of the legions, and
the din Of arms, they scaled the feeSIy guarded
rampant, ringing in his ears, and goadug his sou
to madness. A score Of horseman joined him OF
his rout, weary, like HIMSELF and many wounded
ere midnight, he had reached Larissa, but he knew
too well the course of Roman clcmcncy to loiter
even without the gates. The moon set as he en-.
tered the widest defles Of the range of Ossa, ye
he tarricd not: the morning found him painful,
journeying down the windngs of the silver Pcneus
through the laurel thickets, and beneath the lime
stone crags Of Tempe; night--thc second since he
was leader already in his confidence victorious
saw him outstretched upon the wretched pallet of
fishers hut, tossing in his fevered slumbers Will,
his few attendants fitted with hasty zeal the fracil,
shallop that was to bear him on the morrow bcyonc
the mcrces Of the conqueror
The sun went up from the waters, but no human
eye beheld him, Tor the northwest had driven tn,
vapors Gar to seaward, and the heavens were shrou
ded to the zenith with dark and threatening clouds
the waves Of the Thermaic gulf were already cap.
ped with white, and the distant sails, that might b,
seen on the horizon, were skimming their broker
ridges with unusual velocity tho very sea fowl
conscious of the coming storm, beating u,
against the wind with hoarse and paintive clamors
~ tssy sought the security of the shore. Bm ,o
Poupey and his fugitive companions, the wildcs
tempest that was brewed In the stormy west
would have been preferred to the wonted can.. IN,