The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-22

Like all popular proverbs" replied the
steward, with q bow of the deepest reverence
to the young Athenian philosopher, it has
some value my lord, and q real foundation,
although Tiberius has determined to confnte
it by practical proof. You must have heard,
most illustrious senator of Athens, that
during the civil wars which preceded the
summer-day stiffness of this glorious reign of
Augustus, no one ever appeared in battlefield
or festive chow SO splendidly mounted as the
knight Cneius Sejus, whose name has attached
itself to the race.
ellis horse, which was of enormous proper
tons, like the beast You have just beheld,
would try to throw You first and would try to
eat you afterward. Few could ride him : and
then his plan was simple. Those whom he
threw he would beat to death with his paws,
and then tear them to pieces with his teeth.
Moreover, if he could not dislodge his rider
from the ephippia by honest plunging and fair
play, he would writhe his neck like a serpent
indeed, the square front, large eyes and supple
neck remind one of a serpent; he would twist
his head back, say, all white and dazzling,
with the ears laid close, the lips drawn away,
and the glitter Of his teeth displayed, and,
Selling the knee-cap or the shin-bone, would
tear it off, and bring down the best horseman
that ever bestrode Bucephalus. What usu-
ally followed was frightful to behold for,
once rider was dismounted, the shoulder has
been seen to come away between the brute's
teeth, with knots and tresses of tendons drip
ping blood like tendrils, and the ferocious
horse has been known with bis great fat grind
ers to crush the skull of the fallen person, and
lap up the brairs-as you would crack q nut
after which, he paws the PROSTATE figure till
it no longer resembles the form of man. But
the present horse Sejanus, which you have
just beheld, excels all in strength, beauty and
ferocity; he belongs to my master Tiberus."
"Ah gods !" exclaimed poor Benigna; this
is the description of demon rather than of a
| beast"
Dionysius and Paulus exchanged one sgnif-
can't glance, aud the former said, What be-
came of the first possessor, who yields his
name to SO unexampled breed of horses
What became of the knight Sejusf"
ga whisper had transpired, ilIastrious sir, y
replied the steward, that this unhappy man
had fed the brute upon human flesh. Mark
Antony, who coveted possession of the horse,
brought some accusation, but not this, against
the knight, who was eventually put to death
but Dolabella, the former Lieutenant of Julius
|
sand sesterces to Sejus for the animal; there.
fore Antony killed the knight for nothing, and
failed to get Sejanus-at least he failed that
time. Dolabella, however, did not prosper
he almost Immediately afterward murdered
himself. Cassius thereupon became the next
master of the Sejan horse, aud Cassius roda
him at the fatal battle of Philippi. losing
which, Cassius in his turn, after that resolut<
fashion of which all have heard, put an
end to his own existence"
| "To one form of it," observed Donysius.
"This time" continued the magistrate, bow
ing, Mark Antony had his wayne became
at last the lord of the Sejan horse, but like
wise he, in his turn, was doomed to exemplify
the brute's ominous reputation; for Antony, q
you know, killed himself little subsequently
at Alexandria. The horse had four proprietor
in very short period, and in immediate sue
oession, the first of whom was cruelty slain
and the three others slew themselves. Hence
noble sir, the proverb."
By this time the magister had told his tale
the street outside had become empty and allen
and the parties within the chamber had thol
, oughly mastered and understood the horribl
truth which underlay the case of the slav
Claudus, and this new instance of Tiberius
wrath and vengeance.
Ito be continued)