The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-11-23
,ha, upheld her giving way. she sank lrem'
bling nj The feet of the priesiess.

ess oi Nesta pfotecis her So''"S'
Advance 7" said the centurion
"Pluck him even from the al'ars' foo'.-
Think ye ,ha, the vengeance Of the gods i
moro terrible than the wrath OF Sejanus
Advance upon the slave"
The soldiers, accustomed to obey, hes'
,aied no longer. Throwing themselves 10
gelher upon the freedman, who gnspine
his sword had awaited the result Of The in
reference Of The pries,ess, they wrc'sed The
weapon from his grasp, and dragged hun
from the temple court. W..
Livia lay souseless n, the foot OF ihe aI'ar
Blu, the high priesess needed her moi. He'
own proud heart was swelled at the thought
Of her insul,ed goddess. The sanctuary. .slo'
lated sacrilege al the very altar! "Trem'
Dle," she cried, as the corslels Of the reHeal'
ing soldiers flashed in the blaze that stream.
ed from the imperial palace-"Trem
Sejanus f! thy iaio is sealed. Whom The
gods would destroy, they 6ls, make mad ~
Sejauus recliued at the banquet, Riva
OF his master in dissimulation he knew no"
10 preserve in public an aus,erily that sf
iec,ually hid the grossness Of his sensmlily
He was at the pitch Of his subordinate pow
or, Of Tiberius, sunk in The ener'atine
pleasures Of his Caprnan palace had ppar
emily resigned all care Of government, in' q
the hands Of his iavorile. The word Sejan
US was law in Rome.
Yet his ambition still looked higher, and
already the imperial crown seemed within
his grasp. The children Of the elder Ger.
manicus were banished. Drusus had drunk
the poison ofhis host. Wha, was nov 10
preven, the attainment Of his vast ambition
the empire Of Rome'
A messenger appeared.
"Thc freedman OF Germanicus is talen.'
"To the dungeon with him Ye,aay-
guard him hilher !"
Herman sptered between The soldiers who
advanced towards Sejanus. Bu,ihe cautious
,y:an, stayed their approach.
"And thinkes, thou, ,yranl, slay a, the
banquet 7" cried the bold freedman.
Ha, slave ate we braved la worthy
club Of Thy master thou art. Melhinks re-
belliOn hath grown bold f! where found "
him ln
" In the temple Of vesla he had laker
sanctuary"
Sanctuary! 'lis well. Rome has ye
to learn that Sejanus is her master. IIat
l,e papersp
:" He has destroyed them"
Hap cried Sejanus, : bear him 10 iht
dungeon. The torture shall bo thine OF
The morrow, o, fearless despiser Of yran,s =
The pries,ess and Livia both knel, a, III,
the altar! Together they hung the sacret
2arIands upon the shrine-,ogelher watch
ed the holy fire. Suddenly the virgin
paused-she threw herselfa, the feet Of tn,
prisstess.
"Can We save him 7" she murmured-
" my brother-my only bro,her!"
Livia !" said the calm voice of In
priestess, al knew not thou hadsl brother
Where dwelt he when Germanicus consign
ed you 10 my care I"
"He was his freedman-we were ono
the children Of his enemy, for our father
sister was Thusnelda, the wife Of the boil
Anninus. AT tha, darI: defeat, when Varu
sunk before the power Of the German lead
er, my father fell. Thusnelda succored u,
till she herself became captive, and tho
the generOns hand Of Germanicus preserve
the offspring Of his foe. Herman becam
his freedman, and !, at my own desire
(which may our goddess prosper !! becam
the child OF vesla. Thou has, heard m
slory.n
"Poor child !" said the priesless. "H
is thine only brother, and now in the powt
Of Sejanus. But harken, Livia, would,
thou brave danger 10 save thy brothers. life
"G'adly, gladly" murmurei The virgi
her eyes lighting up with joy, what woul
| no, brave The Is my BROTHER"
"Then l will instruct thee" said III
priestess, "lislen."
The brow of the vestal pries'ess was {
white as the marble pillar on which oh
leaned, and her dark eye flashed in III
altar FIRE, as she sazed upon the young gir
{" TL.- ..--' g. e. r:l-.!--," .i.. said.
"To the dreadful iyrant r'
Even so, Livia, even 10 the iyrant, ar
10 his unholy palace Of CaprG. But fel
not, the mantle Of the goddess shall cove
thee, and her power shall cover thy hear
Thou mayest seek the dreadful isle uniea
ing. Myself and the virgins Of yesta wi
pray for thee"
al will 60" said Livia.
"Feares, thou 10 ask Thy bfother's life {
Tiberius I-Fearest thou to tell him of ou
al,ar's sacrilegei"
"I fear no, !" said Livia. "Our god
dess will protect me-"
She knelt with the priestess before ,h
shrine oil yesta. Her crossed hands resie
on her bosom, and her mild trusting eye
were turned towards heaven. al fear not,
she said.
TibHious reclined on his couch in hi
palace Of CapG. Around Of sensuality ha
enervaied him. His meagrs frame, ,ha
seemed the inpersonation Of death, to,se
res,lessly from side 10 side; and his bish
eyes sho, uneasy and farlive slances frou
beneath their shaggy brows. His scare
and bloated counienance worked fearfully
for the ,yrant reinorsc was mishiier Ina
himself. He staried-a step approached
"a lady Graves 10 enter " said the shv
who appeared.