The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-10-14

buried IN thine own bosom, unknown by
others; if disclose it to thee, doubt not
that he who presides here can read the hearts
Of all who approach him, whether to cor
ship or to scof."
proceed, proceed" cried Tire other.
"Twenty years since, Armenius, thou
were general, the commander of le-
gion---"
"Well done for the omniscience of thy
god," cried the Roman jeeringly, "My
many triumphs have chronicled the truth Of
thy remarks in the archives of the republic.
Is this thy wonder!"
"Interrupt me not" answered the priest
calmly; ''when finish, speak what words
thou'st mind-till then, listen.--Twenty
years since when thou vert a general thou
hadst friend--ha! startst thou now!-
Twenty years since / too had friend,
but do not remble. Thy friend loved
thee, served thee, and shared his all with
thee. Through his high influence, when
accused before the senate, thou saved thy
name, thy honor, and thy life. Although
thy junior, thou soughtest him for advice,
and using it didst bind thy brow with lau-
rels of victory. When surrounded by bar
barians, and the plum, taken from one of
thine own band, was hurled at thee, his
buckler warded of the well directed blow
but" and his manner became more inn
pressive=-his voice more melodious, 'that
friend, alas loved an Italian girl, soft, pure,
and lovely as the sky which arches over
her native land-see, thou start'st again! did
Yes, he loved the girl not with the vile
feeling which tempted thee to gaze upon
her charms, and admire her for them alone.
His fondness was for herself, her rich an
gelic mind, more than even her dazzling
beauty y.--Treacherously thou strov'st to
supplant him in her affections by the splen-
dor of military rank, knowing, as he had
confded to thee, that their vows had been
exchanged. Thou found'st thy arts useless
and did'st change thy love to hatred.-The
girl became thy friends wife when thou,
falsely accusing him of crime, didst use thy
power to tear him from her arms-sell him
into bondage-confscate his property; and
strike his name from the list of citizens.
His wife survived her miseries but year,
while thou didst return to the capital loa-
ded with the spoils of the enemy. Yet
with the red hot hand of guilt grasping thy
conscience, and even now, proud and os-
tentatious before the world, the god tells
me in thy chamber thou'rt coward-star-
ting, in alarm, if the least noise breaks on
the midnight"
"Who art thou that dost know all this!"
cried the Roman, in evident alarm.
81 am the priest" answered the other,
"of the deity who can unnerye even the
Roman senatof!"
A paleness overspread the face of Ame-
nous, as he looked first on the craven
image and then on his oracle, butt by vio-
lent exertion, resuming his wonted careless
ness of demeanor, he said,
"Well, ifitis so, let it rest--though It's
all false, as thou hast said, yet here is a
purse; present it to thy god or thee; |
suppose it's the same thing-I will to-mor-
row add another. He may be all thou'st
represented him, but believe neither in
stocks nor in stones-however, | have an
object; but first, priest canst thou keep 4
secret"
why ask, have not formerly done so
for thee?"
s'Tis true! but this is of more irnpor-
tance."
$50 shall my lips be surer guarded"
"Priest, am rich!''
"Thy giftto me has proved it,"
81 am bountiful!'
"Yonder jewelled vase attests it,"
"Well, then, will trust thee; serve me
well and | will erect sanctuary to thy
deity the proudest in Rome"
"My ears are open and my heart
prepared to meet thy words,' said the
priest'
'Tis this" continued Ameniods. "The