The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-05


his head Ia bandaged, and every nerve In hi
countenancs Is twitching with the furiou
eagerness and curiosity of one whose oFgan
of sight, if he could only see with them
would ravenously devour the spectacle which
all the rest of that mighty multitude were t.
enjoy, and from which he alone was to be de
barred. Amid the immense murmur of &C
many human voices, we have to listen with
attention in order to catch distinctly what the
child says in his shrill treble tones.
/" Now mark you, good Cactus Piso, and you
Herod Agrippa, am as blind as stone, and
have brought you here in no other character
than as my eyes, my left and my right eye
| If single iota of what passes escapes me, may
all the Gods destroy You both, worse than any
Roman or Jew was ever destroyed before Has
| that beast of borse-Gf it was mine, I'd
tetber it by all four legs to the ground, and
make q squadron of cavalry back their horses
| against it, and kick it into shreds and little
I bits)-has that beast of horse come forth
yet 7"
"Net yet, orator." answered Piso. II see
that your father, the illustrions Germanicus
has not taken his place in the emperor's
pavilion he is riding about yonder in the
arena, and so is Tiberius Cesar. I dare say
they will prefer to remain on horseback; for
they can thus see quite as well, while the
scene continues to be enacted in this place
and if the Sejan horse should break away
through the opening in the amphitheatre op-
poste to us, they could follow and still assis!
at the issue, whereas we could not"
"But mant to see; I mast see; I'll get on
my pony too! All my sight! could not ride
blind! O., that accursed horse!'
"Then," said Piso, do you wish the youth to
conquer the horse, or the horse his rider 7"
The child yelled, and struck his forehead
furiously with his fists
ooh! if could only see! ought not to
have come! 1t is worse to be here, knowing
what is to happen, and having it all close
under my eyes, and not to see it, than if was
far away and without the temptations around
me. 1t is the hell of Tantalus cannot, can
not bear it," ..
After pause of impotent rage, ho asked
Piso was the crowd of spectators very large
at is the largest ever beheld," answered
Piso; ait would be impossible to count it, or
to guess the number"
"I wish every one present was stone blind
at this very moment" said the dear child.
"Thanks, orator, on the part of all here
present" answered Piso. r.,.ta
Understand me-only for the moment"
hastily returned Caligula; ~ would give them
their sight again, when recovered my own"
pause. "Or even when to-day's show was
over, perhaps"
While yet he spoke, the hum and murmur,
shich had been incessant, died rapidly away.
"What is it 7" asked Caligula. W,
"The Sejan horse is being led into the arena;
two men, as usual, hold two cavassons on OPP
posite sides. He is muzzled; two other grooms
are now slackeniug the muzzle, in order to get
the bit well back between his teeth, by pulling
up the reins which are under the muzzle, as
the horse opens his mouth.
"They have the bit properly placed now,
aud have quilted his head. Oh! what q
spring! 1t has jerked the further cavasson-
holder clean eff his feet o gods! he has lost
the cavasson, aud the other man must be de-
stroyed. No, bravo! the fellow has regained
the loop of his rein or thong, and hauls the
beast handsomely back I"
Chow can one man on either side," asked
Caligula, "hold himi I have seen two on
each side"
understand" replied Piso but before he
coulO .Ahish LIB SAPlan0tioh OE AcLiA1h1 vi
whatever it was designed to be, sudden and
impressive silence fell upon that vast assem-
bly,, and Piso stopped short.
"What has haapened now :" whispered thu
child.
"TIe rider has come FORTH" answered Piso
and is walking toward the horse from the
direction of the open space in front of us. By
Jupiter! splendid youth; it is not to be de
MED"
How is he dressed Has he his whip ant
spurs He will not need such helps, surmise.
"He has no spurs, and ho carries nothing il
his hands. He wears that foreign-lookinl
head.gear, the broad-rimmed petasus, as
shade, no doubt, against the level rays of tn
sunset; for see he is giving directions to tn
grooms, and they are contriving to bring tn
horse round with his head towards the west
All he thus faces the opening; 1 dare say b
It'll Hrr, 10 4ha ;rAo &l,o ..