Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-11-02
The Burning of Rome,

time, we reproduce the narrative of the
historian Tacitus concerning the conAa-
grafton which occurred at Rome, A.
ID. "a:
There followed dreadful disaster
whether fortuitously, or by the wicked
continuance of the prince, (Nero), is not
determined for both are asserted by his
torians-but of all tho calamities which
ever bcfcl this city from the rage of fire,
this was the most terrible and severe. 1t
broke out III that part Of the Circus
which is contiguous to Mounts Palatiue
and CWIius where by reason of shops
in which were kept such goods rs minis
ter ailmcnt to fire, the moment it com
mcncod il acquired great strength, and
being accelerated by the wind, it spread
at once through the whole extent of the
Circus; for neither were the houses
secured by enclosures nor the temples
enyironed with walls; nor was there any
other obstacle to intercept its progress
but the flames spreading every way I'M
petuOusIy invaded first the lower regions
Of the city, then mounted to the higher;
then again ravaging the lower, it bahied
every effort to cXtinguish it, by the
rapidity Of its destructive course, and
from the liability of the conAagration in
consequence Of the narrow and intricate
alleys, and the irregularity Of the streets
in ancient Rome. Add to this wailmgs
of terrified women, the intrm condition
Of the aged, and the helplessness Of child
hood such as strovc to provide for
themselves, and those who labored to
assist others; these dragging the feeble,
those waiting for them some hwrying
others lingering altogether created
scene Of universal confusion and embar-
rassment, and while they looked back
upon the danger in the rear they often
found themselves beset before and Oh
their sides or il they had escaped into
the quarters adjoining, these, too, were
aheady seized by the devourmg flames !;
even the parts which they believed re-
mote and exempt were found to be in the
same distress. At last, not knowing
what to shup or where to seek sanctuary,
they crowded the streets and lay along
the open fields. Some from the loss Of
! tn'ii WHY """''"i'''' 'Nch tilc Llc"LlS vi
thelt uHlly SuStehilnce, others from
aihic'lon lor thclr relations, whom they
had not been able to snatch from the
flames, suffered themselves to perish in
them, though they had opportunity for
escape Neither dared any man attempt
to check the fire. so repeated were the
menacrS OF many VINO lorpade 10 eHtlh-
| gUlSh II, ana because oIlerS openly tllteW
ireoFailGS with l9lo dccI"ratlohS that
tii'y hi'l one VINO a'ltholIAed them
whether they did 1t that they might
PNah"2r Will 'le less restraint or IN con-
sequence OF orders gwen Nero VINO
was wa Ill ,il' J"hcL"rrrSojoul1m8 4T Ahtlam'
'llo no' [Vt,'iii u t'te Guy .'ii lhe HrG up
plo@cheo lInI quarter Oh ms mouse when
connected the palace WIN the gardens
o. MVceH&S nor coH'a II, however DC
prevented from aeVoutlhg the mouse ana
lE'iace' in" everything nioGh"' but lof
'ip, lGiiel ol thc people tilIS ue''ltute
0na uilleh li0ll ,iiel' evenings ne
/ opened 'he Ileid Oh MARS ana tne moilu
lhehl"i ounces efecteu ny ASflPi@'' anu
even MS own SNt'"hS' lie likewise
reared temporary houses l"i the reception c.
vi tiit iorioEii lA"i'HUue, "iiu from '"tin
ana 'Ae iiel@npoIll'B cues were utou8hI
up Ihe river houSeho!d heceSSarlcS, ana
the ptlce OF gram was reduced 10 t!iiee
Se"t'F'E? ti'o measure. All Oh W'lr1l
pfoceedilGS' though OF q popular chRfao-
Ter, were thrown away, heca'lSe fumoi
ilad become lhiNGl'ally current, 'llat NJ
Tue very ll'he |heh uiG cry was IN
names, Nero, gong on the stHSe OF ms
private theatre, sang the "DeSlHuctioh
OF Troy. a'simuaIlng the present DIS
a$tGr 20 that catastrophe ol ahcieht tlmrS
AT length on the SIXTH day the coni'a-
9Muoni:"nS stayed ut the loot OF ES4ulie,
ny pmlilh8 down an immense quantity OF
buildings, SO mat M open space and rs
II were, Eolu ar, might check the raging
element ny bFeaAln% the coh'lnNity' bat
ere tne CONSERVATISM had SuoS!ded me
pre- broke ont aiteSh, with no little VIo,
lence, but IN regions more spacious, and
therefore with less destruction OF human
life, but more extensive havoc was made
OF the temples and portlcos dedicated to
amusement. Nero seemed to
aim at the Slory Of building new city,
and calling 1t by his own name for
Is l'i"ta' io''l ,, were SUI S'liluln8 eh'lre
!LIG re, were l'Nlile'' TI'n tir slounI' "I''
III 'lle seven o'hrt5 Iiltte reLti"lil['' onlN
mere "lu 'hprS It" remnants Vi HOUSES ~
SII"'tofe'' "'',' il'il consumed ~ NrLe
no very easy '"SN 70 recount Ilit l, 'llprl
OF tenement" ana temples winch were
Lost' hUt 'hg following most most Vehefaol'
l'f Ih't4ulty, ana S9nctity' were -, coz d!
SumedTthat dedicated by SerVl'lS 1ulli,
US 10 the moon the Tempe ana @re"EI
9!'"f cohSgCfoEeq ny Ey'huer' lhe AL ,i
Hian' 10 H'It'lieS WINE present. 'ne
chapel vowed by hom,lluS 10 ?4piler
Statoi the palace OF Numa, WIN the
M Al