Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-09
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OR, THE THRACIAN WRESTLER.
DY HERMAN II. HEATH.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE SENATE

Long before Maximin had arrived at
the capitol, that august place was filled
with all the patrician mobiles whose pa
trlotism had not been crushed into supple
ness by imperial dictation, and fear of
Carracalla. 1t was terror-strickcn as
semblagc-Senators, who gave laws to
the Roman world, gathered together IN
nights deepest, darkest ho,ur, Bulnc with
dishevellcd locks, and others pale with
anxiety: some with only the loose Ro-
man sklrtcoverng them some their togas
carelessly thrown over their shoulders,
and had met together at an unexpected
signal, and aroused, too, for the most
part, from the slumbcrs of the COUCH II
was spectacle for the frail pencil Of the
artist, but not for the humble pen of the
writer. J.. .t.d v.f. -.r -
AT ilrSt, however, ere many were come
together, little bands of Senators were TO
be seen scattered here and there about
that vast Senate hall then, as the num-
bers increased, those little bands were
enlarged, untils finally, all became as
simulated, and looked terror-stricken,
sorrowful mass. All knew some Most
portentous cause it must have been that
called them thus to nocturnal legislation ::
while none seemed precisely to know
what the occasion was. True, Planta-
MUS was there, and so was AnrIius Vic
tor. and Papinian but they only declared
it to be an important cause, prcferring to
await Maximin's arrival before divulging
its nature, that he might, before the
Senate, lay the horrid schemes and plots
against his life, and the virtue of his wife.
But, as we have seen, instead of repair
ing direct to the Senate house, to meet
the Senators as they arrived, he had di-
verted his steps towards the camp of the
Pr4torians, during which time he had
encountered his lieutenant, Licinius, with
whom he spent tsOme time: and then again,
when turned towards the Senate, his
meeting with Macenius, and assassinat-
ing him, all these prevented Maximin' s
presence in the Senate when most he
should have been there. ...
At length the troubled Senate became
composed, and silence sat deathly in that
expansive hall. Then rose Plantanius,
and with majestic stride, approaching the
statue of Augustus, he fell at its base,
and kissed its feet. A low murmer, of
grief, arose from the Senate, when Plan
tanius rising, turned towards his pccrs,
and thus addressed them.
Senators and Romans: There was a
time when such a scene as this lighted up
the Roman world in flames. Look on
this statue of the gOd-like Augustus.
What think you he would say, could he
now see the weight of guilt and oppres-
sion of Rome. Dost behold! Even this
dumb statue almost weeps blood, as
did that of Pompey bleed when great
Caesar fell" -
''Senators let us not disgrace ourselves
now by uttering smoolh-toned words; but
let them fall harshly and strong, as they
have resounded hitherto within this ven
Grated walls.
:. Senators, these enduring monuments,
and statues, these pillars and yon dome,
all look upon you now as they did upon
your fathers, when tyrany oppressed
them, under Tyberius, and Nero, and
Caligula. Remember now, that Rome is
again a slave, and her children, and her
empire is but as dust in Carracalla' S
hands. H"
Senators and fathers, are We then
awake, and do We see the black cloud that
o erhangs our Roman world, and our re-
noWned Roman name? If so arise, and
be what Brutus was, what Cicero was,
and save our empire. If Caesar fell by
hands like Brutus' and Casca's, for his
tyranny, tbes,I why should not a tyrant
such as Carracalla die hv hands like ourS