New-York daily tribune., 1843-09-19

,f OF her crowded population. iho o
.,.dv are quite deserted, and English seems no
anger the language of the people. Last nghl
rss beautiful clear night, and 9 the iuil rouno
roon,, seemed sailing the heavens on purpose 10
~ how mysterious and solemn light she could
a,ow over the ruins of ancient Rome. Byron
.,,s the Coliseum should always be visited by
.onrght. as the glare of day is too strong iorlt.
soacting under his advice sailed forth at md
-;rbt n visit it. 1t is at least mile or mile
"a half from the centre of the city, and the
dark and deserted streets and Trajan's lonely CO.
H., that stood in the way, naturally put me IN
H. M mood to enjoy ramble through these old
MINIS. passed through the ruins OF the Bas-
IL, of Constantine, climbed over its fallen CO.
umns, and finally emerged into the open moon
frbt right before the Coliseum. It's high and
Uneven TOP stood against the blue sky, with the
D,,e and yellow light falling all over it, while the
arches opened like cavcrns beneath, and the
,ambering ivy glistened and rustled in the pass
mo night wind Here, said ! to myself, one can
r., once romance and dream with nothing but
be moonlight and the Coliseum to criticlse him.
But alas, my expectations were soon blasted, Tor
10 my surprise, as approached, saw a long line
of CARRIAGES drawn up under the arches. Other
neople knew the Coliseum looked we'll by moon
Grbt beside myself. was half inclined to turn
back, but finally concluded 10 enjoy it another
ray-by seeing how the fashionable world took
such scene After cropping through one OF the
arches, by whicha carriage stood, with the driver
hs! asleep on the box, stepped INTO the arena
and looked around me- Arch above arch seat
above seat, arose that vast alnphlthcatre, the
ruined corridors, the black cavernous arches, the
nst!ing ivy, the mysterious grandeur Of the whole,
and the sudden rush of centuries over the weak
and staggering memory, completely swept every
thing but the past from my vision felt AFRAID
where / stood could not wholly grasp the
scene--I seemed amid something awful, and yet
could hardly tell what. turned, and 10! | was
leaning over the lions den. | started, as if a
sudden roar had burst up around me- The next
moment it was all gone. The quiet moon was
sailing along the quiet sky--the night breeze
sighed mournfully by and nature was breathing
long and peacefully. A gay laugh dispersed the
whole, as fashionable couple passed near me,
speaking of some ones grand soirce. wander
ed around, meeting groups OF sauntering ldlers,
talking French Italian and German. a French
couple promenaded backward and forward acrosQ
the arena without once looking up to the MOON
hight ruin. They spoke low and earnestly, and
tlo;r H. IL
which always denotes an absorbed mind. | stood
for a long while in the shadow Of the ruins and
watched them. 1t was love scene in the Coli
scum, but the Coliseum itself was quite forgot
ten. The voice OF one man thrilled deeper In
lha, fair ones heart than thousand-tongued ruin
around her. Her heart was busy amid other
scenes. Under its magic power the Coliseum
vas buried and Rome forgotten, and a fabric
more beautiful than both, in their glory was
reared above them-a fairy fabric where love
dwelt and fate spun her golden thread Alas,
lsghed, as l turned away, there are more ruins
IN the world than the Coliseum, and more awful.
The saddest fragments are not those that meet
the eye, and the hight that memory hmgs over
buried hopes is lonelicr than moonlight here
This second dream was also dispelled by shout
above me, company, guided by man with a
torch, now emerged in view above me, and again
dropped through the corridors. Suddenly French
sElnear me exclaimed, as they again came on to
an arch and stood looking down upon US, "C'est
ues loh 2" "Oui, was the answer. C'est mag
nlhqne, and then laugh as clear and mrthiul
as ever rung from careless heart | wished
also to ascend the rum for the view, but kept de-
errlng it as it was necessary to have guide aud
torch to prevent one from yenturlng over weak
arches and tumbling down ruined flights Of steps
II was abomlnable TO be compelled to trct around
alter sleepy guide who was thinking the while
o. the paul each was to give him. 1t seemed
downright sacrilege, but | must do it or not go
al all So joined mixed party Of ladies and
gentlemen and commenced the ascent Just as
cne does an unpleasant duty. followed doggedy
he guide and torch awhile, when, seizing "a IA
Yotabe opportunity, lodged one side, threaded
ny way amid the darkness to the top of the
building, and clamberng over ruined parapct
lay down. determined TO take my own time TO
view the Coliseum. Ihe-hum drum guide did
not miss me, and | was left alone with the Coli
scum and the night. One by one the groups re-
a'sd, and heard with Joy the last carriage rat
teaway toward the city. Behind me stood the
ach of Constantine-on my left was the Palatine
bill, the Roman forum with its few remaining
columns aud the Capitol-beneath me was the
s'sna where thousands had been butchered to
make Roman holiday Up those very stone
ssps below me had passed hasty feet more than a
aoasana years ago. Right around me had been
s'e oustle and hum of the eager assembly. Be
lofe me, through that grand archway IN which