The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-11-23
Misrellanaons.
THE VIRGIN OF vEsTA.
ny AUGUSTUS DuGANSE.

The Tiber was cleaning in the light o.
/ its Illuminated banks. Far down the PaTa
tine Hill, from the Imperial Palace, fash Cd
forth long line OF radiance upon the va
Saera. And across the clear water, ftoi1
The marble court Of Apollo's Temple. came
the evening chaun, Of the priests, and The
sound Of music, as II their God had struck
his sculp,ured harp.
The temple OF Ves,a, alone, upon the
southern slope Of the hill, was lit by the
rich moon.beams, lha, clothed with rich
lustre its marble poriico, and glitiering
through the thick foliage OF the sacred oaks
which embosomed it.
Naught burned there bu, the pure FIRE Of
the altar, around which, now a circle OF
white robed virgins bent in their evening
prisons.
And now the mystic rite is ended, and the
solemn chant Of the ves,al train, as they
slowly retired through the dim isles, sounds
family in the distance. One is leh-,he
virgin, who through the still night, shall
watch, the sacred altar-fame, and offer to
the spo,less goddess prayer from her iav-
ori,e shrine. Why gazes she so fixedly al
the departed sisters' Why casts she an
anxious glance around the lonely court
A shadow stole across the marble pave
ment, and the figure Of man stood forth
in the moonlight. The maiden few ,o
meet him.
AMY brother thou art here o, how
happy"
"Hist; they seek my life !n said the
young man casting an anxious glance
around.
any brother! wha, meanest lhou!"
Germanicus is slain !" said the brother
in sl;hed voice.
The maiden gazed into The youths face
as il she could fain read there the contra
diction Of his words; but she saw thai
his features were deadly pale. "Ah, my
brolher." she murmured, "it is not SO
say not that our benefac,or is"
"Tis true-even at The banquet. Isiood
beside him-I held his cup. Sejanus, the
,yran, filed from his own, and my masie,
fell dead a, my feet escaped, but the
slaves Of Sejanus follow me-"
"And him-Germanicu is no more, y
cried the sister.
"Ay, Livia-poisoned by The wretch wht
aims a, the imperial purple! Germanicu,
is dead, Livia. But hark they come
hear the tramp Of their feet wilhin-"
"They will not harm thee here, my
brother-,hey dare not tear thee from the
shrine Of vesia ="
"And what is vesta 10 Sejanusp cried
a voice as band OF soldiers entered IN.
temple gate. "D.as the slave away ',i'
the emperor's will"
"Beware !" cried Livia, as snatching
torch from the altar, she sprang TO her broth
er's side. Beware ere the insulted god
dess shall avenge her shrine! Back, back
lay not your hands on him who claims tn
aid Of Vesia."
The sister stood by the brothers, side, lik'
the very goddess whom she served. Th
rude and supers,ii,ous soldiers irembled be
fore the blaze Of the virgins eyes. Bu
their leaders voice aroused them.
"Ha!" cried he, twill ye be baked b,
a woman p and he grasped the maidsn'
arm.
The sword Of the brother circled over III
soldiers head. and the brigh, blade hun,
on his iron helmet. But ere the blow coul
be repeated, lights cleaned along the col
ridors, and the high ptiesies, broke III
silence.
"whai means" said she, "ihis clash Q
steel, why is the shrine Of Ves,a violated
Is Rome so sunk in crime that the temple q
her gods are not revered! Speak, Liviu
why are those bold men here ?"
"A stranger soush, the protection Of ou
altar. He is the freedman Of Germanicus
whom they have murdered. These me-
would drag him TO cruel death. o, saw
him, he is my brother!" And the spir