The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-01-02


and whirled as a vortex rolling along like
living waves from the portals of the Pre-
torium even unto Mount Zion with howl
ing screams, shrieks and voclferatlons,
such as were never heard in sedltlons OF
Panonia, Or in the tumult of the Forum
BY degrees the day darkened ike .
winter twilight, such as had been at the
death of the great Julius Caesar. It was
likewise towards the ides of March. I
the continued Governor Of rebellious
province, was leaning against column
Of my hassalic, contemplating athwart the
dreary gloom these fiends of Tartarns
dragging to execution the innocent Naza-
rene.
All around me was desert; Jerusalem
had yomited for th her indwellers through
the funeral gate that leads to the Gemon-.
lea. An air Of desolation and sadness
cnvelopcd me. My guards had Joined.
the cavalry, and the centurion, to dis
play a shadow of power, was en-
deavoring to maintain order. was
left alone, and my breaking heart admon-
ished 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 Col
gotha which borne on the winds, appeared
to announce agony such as never had
| been heard by mortal ear. Dark clouds
| lowered over the pinnacle of the Temple,
aud large ruptures settled over the city
and covered it as with veil. So dread
| ful were the signs that were manifested,
| both in the heavens and on the earth,
| that Dionysius the Areopagite, is reported
| to have exclaimed, "Either the Author of
Nature as suffering, or the Universe is fall
any apart.
| Toward the first hour Of the night I
threw my mantle around me, and went
| down into the city toward the gates of
| Golgotha. The sacrifice was consumated.
/ The crowd was returning home still agi-
tated, it is true, but gloomy, taciturn and
desperate What they had Witnessed
| had struck them with terror and remorse-
T also saw my little Roman cohort pass
by mournfully, the standard bearer having
veiled his eagle in token of grief, and I
overheard some of the soldiers murmur-
ing strange words, which I did not COM
prehend. Others were Iecounting prodi-
gies almost similar to those which had
so often smote the Romans with dismay
by the will of the gods. Sometimes
| groups of men and women would halt,
then looking backward toward Mount
Cavalry would remain motionless, in ex-
pectation of witnessing some new prodigy.
/ returned to the Pretorium, sad and
pensivc. On ascending the stairs, the
steps of which were still stained with the
blood of the Nazarine, perceived an old
man in suppliant posture, and behind
him several women, in tears. He threw
himself at my feet and wept bitterly. 1t
is painful to see an old man weep.
"Father," said to him mildly, "who are
you, and what is your request" 81 am
Joseph of Arimathea," replied he, "and
am come to beg of you upon my knees,
the permission to bury Jesus of Naza-
re.h." ssYour payer is granted" said to
him, and at the the same time ordered
Manlius to take some soldiers with him,
to superintend the interment lest it should
be profaned. A few days after the se-
pulchre was found empty. The disciples
of Jesus published all over the country
that Jesus had risen from the dead, as
he had foretold.
A last duty remained Cor me to per-
form it was to communicate to Caesar
the details of this deplorable event. I
did it on the same night that followed
the fatal catastrophe, and had just fin
ished the communication when day began
| to dawn.
At that moment the sound of clarions,
playing the air of Diana, struck my car
Casting my eye towards the sCsesarean
gate, beheld a troop Of soldiers, and heard
at distance, other trumpcts sounding
Caesar's march. It was the reinforce
ment that had been promised me-two
thousand chosen men-who, to hasten
their arrival, had marched all night.
st has then been decrced by the Fates,' =
cried I wringing my hands, "that the
great iniquity should be accomplished
that for the purpose of averting the
deeds of yesterday, troops SHOULD ar
rive to-day! Cruel destiny, how thou
sportest with the affairs Of mortals! II
was but too true, what the Nazarene ex-
claimed, when writhings on the cross
'tAH as consunanaated."