The daily crescent., 1850-06-03
NEW ORLEANS:
MONDAY MORNTNG. JUNE Q, 1850

/
ROMAN NIGHTS; or the Tombs Of the scipios.
We have been presented by Mr. Ball, the pub
Usher, and also by Morgan, with beautiful edition
of translation of the celebrated work of Count
Alexandra verri, called the " Motif Romane, -
| (Roman Nights with notes and annoations by Mr..
billiards, of Alabama. The original is an Italian
classic, and so far as we have had time to compare
it with the translation, we can safely say that it
has been faithfully and even elegantly rendered.
The original, among the best models of Italian
prose, is now before us.
The author was profoundly versed in ancient
learning, and an enthusiastic admirer of the great
men Of Rome, On the discovery, during the last
century, Of what were supposed to be the tombs of
the Scipios, he hurries from Milan to Rome, in
order to visit the excavation and take view of
the ashes of those illustrious Romans While pros
eculing his investigations the torch which guided
him IN the vault is extinguished, and he then is
brought face to face with all the celebrated heroes
and heranes of Roman Story. Such ia the ma
chinery of the work. Brutus is brought into the
presence of Cesar, and vindicaies the great saer-
flee Of the ldes Of March, and Cesar in his turn,
excuses his usurpation Of arbitrary force by a
striking and eloquent recital of the corruption and
violence of the age. and the unfitness of the
Romans of his day TO enjoy the freedom which
marked the earlier periods Of the Republic. We
know not where conld be found a more lively and
graphic account Of the most remarkable crisis in
Roman history than in these cooquies of the dead.
You see before you the dignifed form of Cicero,
and the luxurious Mark Anthony still The slave of
Cleopatra. Each speaks for himself, and speaks
as we suppose he would, from our knowledge Of
~ t,f. IL
figured in the annals Of that extraordinary people
are brought before the reader, as it were a magic
phantom, and we know Of no work which so
powerfully tends 10 revive our memory Of those re-
markabe events, or which gives so distinct and
striking delneation of characters. We listen to
their discussions and their narration of occur
rences with the most lively interest, and live over
again those days Of our youth which were devoted
to the study of Roman history in the pictured pages
Of Sallust and of Livg. We have not time to add
more, than to commend this interesting work
from the American press, to The reading public
We cannot, however, forbear quoting passage
eminenlly striking, in which the venerable shade
of Cornea leads forward those of her Two sons
| tthe GracchD who fell in popular tumult, while
| engaged in advocating the cause Of the people,
cat this moment" says the author, "a matron
| manly youths, bold and frank of aspect. Romans,
she cried, behold the first martyrs OF oppression
| behold your i-rewarded defenders. None ever
suffered more by attachment TO your cause, and
no mother presumes 10 boast Of having given birth
| 10 more patriotic citizens. Her two sons then
| address the crowd of spectres. Afterwards comes
forward the shade OF Scipio 4Emilianus and after
speaking of his foul assassination, endeayors
| 70 ascertain who had committed the atrociOus act.
| COtnelia, who had ill then kept silence thus ad.
I hon,
been torn from life when thou hads for more than
half d century been sated with the favors of for
| tune and glory, conceive the sorrow of ny SONS.
whose virtues were already the admiration OF
| Rome, the delight Of the people, aud the terror OF
| their OpressOrs- conceive, i say, their grief at
/ being removed from existence in the vigor of lie
| and n the dawn of their bright prospects, as il
their presence had been baneful to their country.
| All Italy wept their death ] only refused to weep,
and proudly excelled that had given birth to those
| generous victims Any other sentiment would
| have been unworthy of the mother of the Gracchi
/ Of the daughter of Scpio the Great MY only re-
/ gret was, that / had no other children to offer to
| the State, and who might perhaps, more success.
fully oppose the wrath Of the Patrcans, the sira
| tagems Of the Senate and the inacton of the
| nobes know not, Emilianus, who was guilty
| If their death. ! only know that, having been
| adopted by my brother, thou vast the leader oi
| the enemies of my son Caius; only know that a
reward in gold, equal to the weight of the head oil
| Caius, was promised to whoever would hiring it,
| severed from The trunk and that the Patrician
SeFtemulus before Offering TO the Consul Lucius
| Opmius, poured into it melted lead, to obtain a
| richer recompense. Then, Romans, to your eter-
nal shame, the head of one who was less my sOr
| than the son Of Rome, was weighed in the hal
ance with the golden salary of fraud and atroeity'
DeBow's Commercial Review for June has beer
received from Morgan. This excellent ionrna
improves with every number. Mr. DeBow ha
struggled and overcome all difficulties attending
new enterprise; and now in the day of prosperity
he does not forget that the same industry, which
| achieved the reputation of his work Is necessar,