The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-11-23
I" Lead her lhilher 70

concealed BY dark mantle. and her flow
ing hair was bound beneath close cap
She advanced towards Tiberious.
"Slave let her not approach"
"Nay," cried the maiden, "fear me mol" T"
and letting fall her mantle and removing
from her head its covering, she stood before
Tiberious.
II was as IL an angel stood within that den
ofinfamy. Tiberius started from his couch,
never before had vision such as this broken
upon The eyes Of the sensualist. He mo.
toned 10 his satellites, as they retired.
"Wha, seekes, thou, maldsn," he asked
in low silvery tone as he could well as
sumo.
Livia paused. Il was with trembling
h..ri ihnf she had en,ered the rnlncr "f'hs
!. iyrant. Many and fearful accounts had she
heard Of his violence and untrammeed
/ passions, and she recalled them all during
the swifl passage across The sea, in The bar
que Of Veslas temple. But the thought Of
her captive brother gave a high and holy
fsrvor 10 the love Of The meek vestal.
"Mighty emperorW she cried, sinking
at the feet Of Tiberious-"I implore thy
mercy for my brother ~
"Thy brother-who is he 7"
"The freedman OF Germanicus, whom
Sejanus-"
At tha, name smile played upon the
lip Oflhe emperor, il was dark and singu-
lar smile, like the gleam Of the serpenrs
eye ere II strikes.
"Rise, gentle lady" said Tiberious; and
taking her hand, he gazed upon her
lovely counienance. The modes, eyes OF
the veslal fell before his keen glance but
she trembled no,-she was thinking Of her
brother.
A curious and searching glance was that
Of Tiberius. Sand hast thou no fear ~ he
asked. "Didst thou not know that Tiber-
ius is called ,yrani! Darest thou 10 brave
him 7"
al would brave anything" said Livia,
for my brother"
"But thou art beautiful Hast thou no,
heard wild tales Of the crimes Of Tiberius
Dos, thou no, fear hou art in my power"
His eyes fell again with scTutinizing
glance upon the maiden's face.
She looked up into his counienance fear
lessly, uustingly. Her eye fell not before
the gaze OF Rome's imperial master. She
,rembled not.
"Mighiy emperor, The gods protect The
innocent. Vesta will not forsake her ser
vani.' She spoke with free and holy
confidence. Tiberius was awed--ho bent
before the power Of viruo.
Suddenly he seized her hand: Why
loves; thou thy brolherl' he asked.
I" He love;h me-he is generous, good
and noble" Tiberius released her hand,
and stamping his foot, the slave re-appeared
Lead the maiden forth, and SEQ her cot'r
leously attended"
The slave looked inquirinsly 10 his mas
ter, as !. for further instructions. Tiberius
returned 10 his couch.
"But my brother, mighty emperor, my
brother w
Z" He lovelh thee-he is generous, good
and noble Let that content thee !"
Livia was led forth, and Tiberius moved
painfully to the balcony.
The bright moonlight, flashed upon The
wave; il lii the rocks and The foam ,ha
dashed over them; il tgli,tered on the arms
Of the sentinels that paced the palace ram
5 parts, and it tell on The brow Of the monarch
: Of the land, aud il made il more ghas'ly.
, "He is generous, good, and noble-thu
\ she said," murmured Tiberius 10 HIMSELF
"Ho p then he cried aloud, bring fortl
3 the wine, and bid Sempronius hilher"
. The freedman Of Germanicus slept in hi
dungeon. In dreams he wandered on tn
brigh, shores OF the Danube. Thusneld
9 and his mother rose 10 his view. Then h
r beheld that molher stretched beside hi
t ialher's corpse-no lish, was in her eye
. she was dead. He gazed fearfully upon he
n lace-it was Lisia's. He started with
sudden cry from his slumbers.
A form ben, over him, and the freedman
. recognized The. face Of Sejanus. "Ha, ty
rant!' he cried, starting to his feet, tho
. here 7"
"Peace, slave, and listen Woulds
. thou have wealth and honor !"
' "What meanes, thou!" cried the younI
German.
"Lis,en 10 mel admire thy :earles
spirit young freedman and | would saw
your life, and raise thee 10 honor Tho
hast been faithfalio Germanicus: so iho'
wilt be to me.
, "To his murderer" murmured the freed
= man.
"It Is false he was not murdered" /" sal
4, Seianus-" Bu, speak wilt thou live"
"lf | may live in honor!" said Herman
"Thou shall, have riches and honor, sal
Sejanus, 4" one thing only require"