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


All this rushed with his blood-shall he EXPIRE.
And unayenged Arise, !c Golls, and glut your irc
Byron
twas midnight The Emperor had long since
retired to his apartment. He lay upon his couch,
wrapped in irregular sunbers, and annoyed by I'M
welcome dreams. :" LA hn Ia ~ exclaimed
he, in his sleep, 4" see, she dies !--ha, is she his
daughter Then, am avcnged-now let slave
learn how to ,hwart Cusnr--what! blood Yes!
blood-a Cusar's blood No-b!ood Of the hated
Goth !"
The roars of the lumult, occasioned by the en-
ragged people. were now waited 10 the ears of the
nurdcrer--the monarch of Romc-who, awaken
ing and springng from his couch, hastily put on his
nrnor, and stood in the centre of the apartment,
the very picture of terror and dismay.
"Iln, Nndicus slave !-ha dost thou sleep
when a Caesar calls J" cried the terrified Nero.
81 await your commands" answered tall
YOUTH entering the apartment of the Emperor
lie was young man Just ripcning into manhood,
dressed in the garb of the common slave, but his
prominent features and the dark cluster of curl
rlngets, which hung in rich prolusion round hi.
shoulders, proclaimed him to have been born of no.
bier parenagc. Having made his obeisancc to the
Emperor, he retired towards the window which,
ovcrooks the principal street IN front OF the palace
and had the Emperor observed more closely, he
might have seen him clutch iranlcaIly dagger,
which was but partially concealed IN his BOSOM
"Scc'st thou anything 7" asked Nero, in voice
rendered scarcely audible by fear " sees thou
anything for the sake of Rome, what means this
uproar :"
A smile Of triumph lighted up the pale features
of the youth as he formed TO the Emperor, and said
-" Fly, sir ny there is 10 time TO spare lis
VndcN, the Gaul fly, sir fly followed by
the people and the prrrorian guards, he approach
es the palace-ny. sir fly :" exclaimed again and
again the youth inpeiuousIy.
" Fly? slave fly from whom Caesar fly
by the Gods if thou darest utter that word a
gain I'll ceave thee in two ~
The noise increased now 10 a icn-od degree
The Emperor ircmblcd--the shouts Of the mol
could now be distinctly hcurd-nearer and nearer
they approached the window. /" Iio, the Nrant
down with the want" exclaimed the Gaul from
without. rs he cndcayorcd 10 force an entrance in
To the palace. Alarmed for his immediate safety
Nero approached the slave, and aleclloniely lay
ing his hand on his shoulder. said, in a voice as
mild as fear would permit" Nindcns dost thou
love thy master !"
"Dost doubt thy slave, sire - answered the
youth cmphnically
I" By heaven, do not but see the whole o
Rome is against me- The PrHiorian band and
bUTThus, ana AT, are uhSIhlc'ul ih"po NV
nom, slave and command a Caesar hereafter
Nav. he quick" reiterated Nero, rs the tumnIi III
creased, or twill he too late. Say slave, can 81
thou not help is there no assistance hast thou
no safety -
al have ~ muitercd Nndlcus.
Z" What,"
"This,' whispered the slave through his clench-
ed teeth, drawing from his bosom the hidden dag
dagger
"What mcanest thou, slave !" asked Nero, In
an alarmed voice.
"To save my master ~ was the cold response
=. Say, sire, dost recolecl the Goth--thc Glada-
tor Z"
"Well, wha, Of him, boy'''
" lie was -
"What,"
AMY father ~
"Ile - exclaimed the Emperor, " and the CIR
was -
"My sister ~ answered the youth wildly.
"Ea 80 cried Nero, "dost thou threaten me
slave, OT.h>iynin or III strike thee dead at my
feet !, Threaten a Crsar' BY heaven, It's peril
DIV complete-oh save me ! know what | say