The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-02-26

bigotry of an hostile faith, he dstrused the Chris
tan, and doubted the truth of any intelligence he
might convey. AT length, after somo importantly
his request was granted. '"rhe Emperor is sleep
ing" said the Freedman. "When he awakes yol
shall be admitted to him.
| 1t was midnight ere Claudus entered the palace
but the sleep Epaphrodtus spoke of, was a broken
and fearful dream. The tyrant tossed upon his
couch, in vain seeking for that repose whose dreams
were mingled with the images of guilt. BY his
side stood The spirit of his mother, which hauted
the matricide in the hour of convivaliy not less
| than in the solitude of his chamber But the dark
ness of midnight, whose silence was eloquent with
the horrors of his guilt, lent to his dreams the
lures of a coward and excited fancy. Twas then
Agrippa rose to his mind, and as he shuddered at
the imprecatlons of his murdered MOTHER the air
resounded with the whips, and the gloom of his
chamber blazed with the torches ofthe Fures W no
followed her. He writhed upon his couch his
teeth CRASHED, the evered drops stood on his ach-
ing brow as the mag nary presence of the furles
typtied the retribution which awaited him after
death. The mimic part of Orestes he so frequent
ly played, rose before him. stained with maternal
blood, bound with serpents goaded by lashes, and
trembling beneath the curses of the wandering
shade. "Consciencc," says Tacus, "mav make a
truce with the guilty, but never lasting peace -
BY day or night, waking or sleeping, tho shade of
Agrippina with other victims of his cruelty stood
before him. His dreams were those Of the crook
back tyrant," aggravated by matricide.
"Back, back to thy llades, accursed shade" ex-
claimed the tyrant, sezing his sword, and convul-
*. ck.l ".
CONTEST thou for blood vengeance, my time is
not yet" His eyes gared, and the fingers of one
| hand dstended with terror, as with the other he
| thrust at the imaginary spectre Ola ha !" he
exclaimed with forced laugh, whose echo made
him start as it rolled through the vacant chamber
"What is it fear ? Observation-Disclosures ,
1t is, it is, myself My thoughts which burn night
and day. Ha who's there p
"The slave of Cesar and EpaphrodItus G nter
ing, ''of Him who rules the mistress ofthe world
he continued, bending the knee with the servlity
of an Eastern slave. "a Nazarene without Graves
an audience with thee His request he saws must
not be sighted"
"a Nsgarene - reiterated the tyrant, "what
doth he here and at midnight Perhaps "he con
tinued, musing, "he comes to beg the life of his
Brother Paul But no blood, blood, will have,
said he convulsively graspng his sword. "Why
should j, who have slain u Mother, fear the death
of a NazareneP His face grew ghastly, the sword
fell on the ground and as its echo smoe his ear
he flew TO his Freedman, and buried his face in his
bosom. Shield me from them they haunt, they
flash me. Oh my Epaphrodius, would that my
pile were lit His athletic frame rembled in the
embrace of his servant, till weak and supplied with
the horrors of his guilt he sank at his feet
"Speak, speak, Cesar" said the Freedman
kneeng and parting from his swollen temples the
hair cloted with perspration "Speak; shall adj
nit him ?"
"Not till they arc gone,'' said Nero, endeayoring
to rise.
"Who ?" said Epaphrodlus, looking round the
apartment dimly lit by single silver lamp
".fy Mother !" exclaimed the matricide, in
tone Of agony, which appalled, his attendant. The
tears flowed freely, but they were the offspring of
a coward mind which trembled at the images Il e.
voked from the sepuIchre of its guilt. They fow-
ed on the cheek, but melted not the heart either to
pitt repentance. He dashed them aside, and
looking hastily round, sprung from the ground as
in disdain OF the abect position he occupied at the
foot fhis slave. "Admt the Nazarene, - he said;
and, after pause, feeling the cowardce of guilt
and approaching Epaphroditus, and cycling him
sternly, "hnve guard upon the life if there be
treachery here, thou diest !; keep thyselr within
call, and leave thy ord with me-" The Freed |
man obeyed and withdrew. The eyes of Nero
followed him. as though he would scan his purpose
His sword was in his hand
Claudus and the Freedman entered after a few
on sign from the Emperor, the latter
withdrew.
" What woudst thou, Nazarepe ?" said Nero
hastily.
Claudus stood at the remote end of the apart.
ment, his face and figure in perfect obscurity. AMY
and throne are even now in the power of despis-
ed Nazarene." ....
"My life - reiterated Nero, as the word sound
ed with the voice of retrbution. " NV life and
in thy hand ! Fool! on thy life sport not
"Death is not theme for sport, returned Clau
lius d" the lamb gambols not before the wolf"
ella ! dost bait me to my face ?"
" Not H. replied the Christian, but thy con.
science F"
Tho tyrant started, and his sword fell 'tThou
irt even now in my power continued the Chris
ian, yet would not strike thee though the sword
" ere in my grasp. The Christian blesses even the
enemy that curses" Nero trembled as well before
he sublime doctrine of faith he prosecuted, as
he dignity of its disciple. "Thou tremblest, said
CIaudus. ., 1
''Tis with rage" replied the Ty-ant.
s'The Christian" continued the Nazarene, otrem-
)les before God alone.
''Out on thee, fool" shouted Nero, rage and ter
or heighthening his voice to shrek. " BY Ju.,
bitter, thou and thy faith shall be swept from
Rome"
".Man dare not do what God forbids,'' retorted
Caudius, his eye glowing, and his lip curling with
lisdain at the impotence ola monarch who mistook
lefance for power. The sublime sterness Of the
Christian awed the tyrant, and subdued his menac-
ng tone. ..
s'Christian," he sad after pause, "what of my
ife ?'' .-.....
''It is in danger" retorted Claudius ''The Dag
er is unsheatbed for thy destruction, even while
peak" A visible tremor through tho tyrant,
nd lettering to his couch, he sank upon it, 'C@,
ar, said Claudus, Withdrawing, "my task is done.
NY last words, IT they have not blessed have
ayed n M no |