Piney Woods planter. (Liberty, Mi. [i.e. Miss.]) 1838-1840, 1839-07-20

him to introduce Hypatia to his fellow.
student; which he did with all the gal,
city of man who found himself equally
happy in friendship and love. But
this was an interview fatal to the fu-
ture peace of both; for Septimius nc
sooner saw her, but he was smitten with
an involuntary passion; and, though he
used every effort to suppress desires, at
once SO imprudent and unjust, the emo.
tons ofhis mind in short time be.
came so strong, that they brought on a
fever, which the physicians judged in
durable.
During this illness, Alexander watch
cd him with all the anxiety of fondness,
and brought his mistress to joinin those
amiabble offices of friendship. The
sagacity Of the, physicians, by these
means, soon discovered that the cause
Of their patients disorder was love;
and Alexander, being appraised oftheir
discovery, at length extorted a confes-
sion from the reluctant dying lover.
1t would but delay the narrative to
describe the conflict between love and
Friendship in the breast of Alexander ON
this occasion; it is enough to say, that
the Athenians were Mt that time arri-
we'd at such refinement in morals, that
every virtue was carried to excess. In
short, forgetful ofhis own fell city, he
gave up his intended bride, in all her
charms, to the young Roman. They
were married privately by his conni-
vance, and this unlooked-for change Of
fortune wrought as unexpected a
change in the constitution Of the now
happy Septimius. In a few days he
was perfectly recovered, and set out
with his fair partner for Rome. Here,
by an exertion ofthose talents which
he was SO cminently possessed of Sep
highest f,es ddignii tie q the state, and was
constituted the city-judge, or pretor.
In the mean time, Alexander not only
felt the pain of being separated from
his friend and his mistress, but prose-
cution was also commenced against
him, by the relations Of lIypatia, for
having basely given up his bride, as
was suggested, for money. His inno-
cence Of the crime laid TO his charge,
and even his eloquencc in his own de-
fence, were not able to withstand the
influence Of powerful party. lie
was cast, and condemned to pay an
enormous fine. However, being una
BILE to raise so large sum at the time
appointed, his possessions were conts-
| Gated. he himself was stripped OF the
habit of freedom, exposed as a slave in
the market-place, and sold to the high
est bidder.
A merchant Of Thrace becoming his
purchaser, Alexander, with some other
companions of distress, was carried IN
to that region of desolation and sterlll-
| ty. His stated employment was to
follow the herds of an imperious mas
ter, and his success in hunting was all
that was allowed him to supply his pre-
carious subsistence. Every morning
/ walked him to renewal Of famine OF
toll, and every change Of season served
but to aggravatc his unsheltered dis
trcss. After some years OF bondage.
however, an opportunity of escaping
offered he embraced it with ardour; sc
That, travelling by night, and lodging
in caverns by day, to shorten lone
story. he at last arriyedin Rome. The
same day in which Alexander arrived
Septimius sat administering justice il
1 the forum, whittier our wanderer came
expecting to be Instantly known, ant
, publicly acknowledged, by his former
4 friend. Here he stood the whole day
amongst the crowd, watching the eyes
ofthe Judge, and expecting to be ta
ken notice Of; but he was SO much al
4 tered by long succession ofhardshps
that he continued unnoticed among tho
rest; and, in the evening, when he wa
going no to the prator, hewa brutal
n " rcpuIsed by the attending lictors
The attention of the poor is general.
, driven from one ungrateful object t
. another; for night coming on, he nov
! found himself under necessity of seek
ing place to lie in, and yet knew no
where to apply. All emaciated an
n rags. as he was none Of the citizen
would harbour so much wretchedness
, and sleeping'in the streets might be at
j tended with interruption or danger;il
ohort, he was obliged to take up hi
: lodgings in one of the tombs withou
, the city. the usual retreat Of guilt, pov
/ erty, and despair. In this mansion Q