The American patriot., 1855-03-14

rene. All around me was desert. Jerusalem
had vomited forth her indwellers through the
funeral gates that lead to the Germonise. An
air Of desolation and sadness enveloped me.
My guard had joined the cavalry, and the Cen
turion, to display shadow of power, was en-
deavoring to maintain order. l was lett alone
and my breaking heart admonished me, that
what was passing at that moment appertained
rather to the history Of the gods than to that
of man. Loud clamors were heard proceeding
from Golgotha, which borne on the winds ap-
peared to announce an agony such as never
had been heard by mortal car. Dark clouds
lowered over the pinnacle Of the Temple, and
their large ruptures settled over the city and
covered it as with veil. So dreadful were
the signs that were manifested, both in tho
heavens and on the earth, that Dionysius, the
Areopagite, is reported 10 have exclaimed !:
sEither the Author Of Nature is suffering, or
the Universe is falling apart" 1.5c ai .aii1u
| Towards the first hour of the night, threw
my mantle around me, and went down into the
city towards the gate of Golgotha. The sacri-
flee had been consumed. The crowd were
returning home; still agitated, it il true, but
gloomy, sad, taciturn and desperate. What
they had witnessed had struck them with ter
ror and remorsc also saw my little Roman
coport pass by mournfully, the standard bear
er having veiled his eagle in token of grief, and
overheard some of the soldiers murmuring
strange words which | did not comprehend
Others were recounting prodigies almost SINH
lar to those which had SO often smote the Ro.
mans with dismay by the will of the gods
Sometimes groups Of men and women would
halt; then, looking back towards Mount Cal
vary. would remain n,otionless, i'll the cxpccta.
ton Of witnessing some new prodigy. @
d returned to the Pretorium, sad and pcnsive
On ascending the stair, the steps Of which
were still stained with the blood Of the Naza
rene, perceived an old man in supplian'
posture, and behind him, several women IN
tears. He threw himself at my feet and wep
, bitterly 1t is painful to so see an old mar
weep. ''Father,' said to him mildly, ''wht
. are you, and what is your requcst?" II an
f Joseph, of Arimathca," replied he, and an
come to beg Of you, on my knees, the permis
sion to bury Jesus of Nazereth." "You
prayer is granted, said ! to him; and, at tin
same time, ordered Manlius to take som
soldiers with him, to superintend the interment
lest it might be profaned A few days after
t wards the sepulchre was found empty. TIL
disciples of Jesus publised all over the countr
that he had risen from the dead, as he ha
> foretold.
, A last duty remained for mo to perform,
5 was to communicate to Caesar the details
l that followed the fatal catastrophe, and ha
lust finished the communication when the da
e began to dawn.
, At that moment the sound of clarionplayin
a the air of Diana, struck my ear. Casting m
i eye towards the Cesarean gate, beheld
II troop Of soldiers, and heard at distance, othe
n triumphs sounding Caesars march. 1t WI
c the reinforcement that had been promised m
S two thousand chosen men, who, to haste
4 their arrival had marched all night, ut h'
Q then been decreed by the Fates," cried wrinl
f ing my hands, "that the great iniquity shou1
be accomplished-that, for the purpose
) averting the deeds of yesterday, troops shou
G arrive today! Cruel destiny, how thou sporte
!. with the affairs of mortals! Alas! it was b.
l. too true, what the Nazerene exclaimed wht
J. writhing on the cross: AU is consumm,ots