The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-03-12

! Roman TO his knee All were now on the tiptOe
of eXpectatlon-oud cries of "Slay the villain u
now hurst from The seats, and the sword of the
prisoner was raised high above the head of his en-
envy, to perform the wish Of the people Silence
deep and death-like, now prevailed the whole as
sembly ; the Gladiator stared his conqueror in the
face with sullen malignity the Emperor, pale AS
corpse, his eyes starting out of his sockets, look
ing down upon the pair unable to open his culver
ing lips-he gasped as if the last hope was severed.
"By heaven ~ at last he exclaimed TO Seneca
Shy heaven he shall not battlefront done,
slain by an gnoble Goth. BY Mars it is too bad -
and in order to arrest the attention of Maescus,
and save his favorite, in a loud voice exclaimed
"What no Majesticus -
AT the mention of his name, the Goth suddenly
turned toward the speaker, when the agile SeAtus
sprang to his feet, and with renewed vigor conin-
ucd the combat with much dcXerity us TO gain
the advantage in few passes, for the Golh not
expecting such Il movement, now acted entirely on
the defensive. The Emperor smiled mnliciousy
as he perceived the effect of his arlitce. The skill
of the Gladiator was now brought TO bear, and the
inequality of the combatants was clearly perceived
for the strokes of Majrslicus waxed fainter and
fainter, at every blow of his antagonist, who, en-
boldened by his success and confident of victory,
directed his blows with more skill and certainty.
" Cursed reachery ~ cried the Goth, as cover
ed with wounds and streaming with blood, he
nerved his arm TO the utmost, and summonlng his
remaining strength he aimed one desperate. blow il,
the breast of his opponent, who skiliully avoiding
the pass, at the same time he plunged his weapon,
TeHus CopHO, into the heart of his victim ! The
tumult in the gallery increased The Emperor
prepared hastily TO depart--a shrek, loud and
heurtrending, now hurst upon the ears of the spec
tators and a female, appearing at the entrance Of
the arena, explained at once the cause of the dis
turbance. She was beautiful in the eXtrcme-pale
aud marbc-like she stood like statue, regarding
the Gadialors, Her dress was Of ,spollcss white,
simple, but arranged with taste of extreme neat
ness, and her jet black hair hung in loose fesoons
nearly down to her feet. At last, recovering from
her petliiaclion--she rushed between the combat
ants just as Sextus had Withdrawn his fatal weap-
on, who, aiming to repeat his blow, to make death
more certain, dyel his blade dsGi@ in the blood Of
Innocence!
Father ~ murmured the dying girl as The red
blood stained her spOlless garments" father !
am d, ing bless me, ere die"
" liza my child it s--il is-my Mlna-tyrant
villain !-ha ha hi ~ exclaimed the dying
father, in voice of distracted agony, and stagger-
ing back, he fell on the arena eless corpse, en-
bracing, even in death, the inanimate form Of his
daughter The assembly again broke
forth in rcbeous cpilhels against the Emperor
and some were hastily approaching to put their
threats in execution, when Nero, warned by SEN
ecn of his danger, relreated amid the curses Of the
rabble, by back way to his palace.