St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-07-15
NUMBER 80.

owing 10 incense that stole Shbtly out
of the lighted lamps, and the wine
was rapidly coursing in their veins.
After having poured out libation
to Bacchus, and recrowned his locks
atresh, Eumolpus spoke to one who
was reclining near to him.
Come, my brave Cretan," pledge
me health to all. All, here's the true
philosophy of life, where all its fears
and its doubts resolve themselves into
; but one sentiment"
" And what is that ?" asked Status.
the poet, with an eye that was begin-
ming to swim somewhat mistily.
Ho, ho |" laughed the Cretan.
holding up his goblet, "a poet, and
not know that !"
Truly" answered Status, "the
philosophy of life, with its doubts and
its fears, sounds well enough over the
bowl, but when examined, these arc
but so many words"
"it is what Epicurus has pronounced"
broke in Eumolpus "the present and
its enJoyments, and the future for
itself ~
And how are we to reconcile this
truest of all creeds, since the divine
institutes Of Bacchus, with the teach
lngs OF these Nazarenes ?" demanded
handsome Arcadian from the banks
of the fowery Alpheus. "Those
gloomy vestibules beyond death and
the tomb, leading to other than the
Elysian fields, through which they say
the souls wander to Judgment to come,
have made the very augurs shudder.
Pan, they say, is dead, and the great
cry ran from Hellas through the world"
Nay, the oracles have been dumb
since they were questioned as to the
awful forebodings which doom the fire.
mountain to destroy the city," and the
speaker turned pale as his hand relaxed
on his chased beaker.
What, alarmed at mere words !"
cried Eumolpus, with daring laugh.
Don't heed these Cynics that, with
Luez, would prefer pain to pleasure,
and cherish asceticism to the sacrifice
of enjoyment The old mountain will
ripen our vineyards for us, do not fear;
and as for the city, it is safe, Cereus
and all, for some sport when the Con-
sui casts them to the lions Ho, there
more music-and, friends, Try this
fresh wine, cooled near the SHOWS of
Etna." And again music arose, and
Sicilian wine was borne about by
slaves, and again the feast renewed.
What s asliciGSs %las fsuiss f tS,s and soI, Oh,
sighed a youth of most etieminate ap-
pearance, as he reclined languidly
back upon his couch.
"fm glad thou likest it, Nauplius,.
said his host, gayly.
But" exclaimed Nauplius, "to
whose starry eyes shall | devote this
cup! Canst thou not name some
bright Eoan, some dreamy Circe to
claim our li5ations ?"
"-\ye," shouted Eumolpus, with q
strange fire in his flashing eyes "To
the daughter of the tribune Medon--
to the blushing, the divine Theseis.
Give me another ehaptet, slave, rll
crown my locks afresh, nhonor of the
name"
The goblets clanked and rang, as
the toast went round in the midst of "a
triumphant and thrilling burst Of mel
ody
The lovely Theseis " sighed the
Aristippian, oh, Venus how beauti-
full she is" and he leaned back, with
halfclosed eyes, to dream over tho
ideal thus summoned.
what glorious eyes she hath !"
added second.
i" Her cheeks shame the autumn
peaches," continued third.
" Her mouth is like an open rose
odorous and dewey" said fourth.
"And her wit is as keen as a Par
THAN DART remarked fifth.
" She smiled upon Eumolpus at the
theatre the other day." said parasite,
casting a glance upon the dashing
prodigal.
81 beheld Labeo, accompanied by
Hessas, descend at the villa Of the
tribune" said one who had come in
later. "l hear that they are be-
trothed."
"Hah !" cried Eumolpus, his faco
fiercely darkening, "thcn by the in
fernal gods, tits time to strike tho
blow-nay, do not heed me, friends"
he hurriedly added, seeing the sur
prise his words caused, and then he
excused himself on the plea of long
attachment, and even Of former en-
couragement, and skillfully changing
the subject, he led the discourse into
another channel, and for another hour
the revelers remained with him.
The guests had gone, and Eumol-
pus sat moodily alone. The lights
were waning, and his eye wandered
over the vacant seats, and ever and
anon he swept away a dark cloud
gathering on his brows. Suddenly he
started as a dusky figure glided in
) and stood before him, clad in the wild
and striking garb peculiar to those
who followed the sea. On his swarthy
l face was an expression Of mingled
, daring, hardihood, and ferocity, indi
, eating life of violence. He was, in
+ fact, a free-trader, pirate, a wretch
! ready for any atrocity. Eumolpus
t had known him before to-day,
e +" Well," said Eumolpus, iaconically.
!. "Well, noble Eumolpus, have my
d score of fellows in hiding, and tho
G galley is at hand. The tribune hath
n gone to Gaeta, and only the patrician,
Il Labeo, is left with Theseis, save tho
S slaves at tho villa. and they go for
II naught.' o,
"Well, well, but how then?" de-
), manded Eumolpus, with impaticnce |;
5 but we cannot storm the villa--how
h then ?"
;. "Labeo will, doubtless, we wander
c ing with the maiden in the laurel
: grove of the tribune's garden on tho
' Sarnus there is some festal by the
e shore, and she may be drawn away"
t 81 Leave a dozen men on board, aud
c moor the galley under the cork trees