The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-17
A Day In the Ancient Coliseum.

A Day In the Ancient Coliseum.
The sun was rising in all his splendor,
gliding with his brightest beams the tenn
piles, triumphal arches and monuments
Of the seven-hilled city. Here its rays
flashed along the calm, placid surface of
the yellow Tiber, made more golden bv
their morning brightness. There they
lighted up the excited faces of a motley
crowd jostling and struggling with one
another, as in one continuous stream they
hurried on. Where? Yes whittier is
Komcs rabble Fastening, to-day? There
is no panic or fear among them theirs
is not the ror-stricken cry, "A IIanni-
bal at the gates /" but the excited, joyous
shout of those who are to have their
greatest wish gratied. Is it to welcome
the triumph OF Il Scipio who, fresh from
4 victory with vermillion cheeks and
cream-colored steeds, is now about to en-
ter the city, followed by the spoils OF
war? The streets are hung with gar
lands. but their faded freshness shows
that they were for yesterdays triumphal
entry-and besides, the throng are press
ing forward along the - Via Sacra,"
which leads not to the victors entrance
gate but to where, in all its solitary
grandeur, the mighty Coliseum stands,
its gloomy midnight rcpose already long
Weakened by the confused turmoil without
and the systematic preparations within.
This is what has stirred Rome to her in
most depths. Sports rivaling all before
are to be held here to-day in honor of a
victory over Rome's fercest enemies.
The news has penetrated to the remotest
corner OF the city, and this vast crowd
representing every nation of the world is
the result Of it, But let us for the pres
ent leave this mass to struggle tor the
best seats in the quarters allotted to
them, and let US follow one of the bright
est rays OF this mornings sun, where
through a narrow window it lights up
one of the dark stone cells of the Colise-
UNI, warming the hearts OF the occupants
as they kneel to pay their early alteration
to Him who has sent, as his messenger of
hope, this bright ray to cheer their
dropping spirits. How happy and con-
tented they are despite the desolate room
and the knowledge that the multitude,
whose shout they hear without, are wait
ing with Impotence to see and mock
their death. And who are these? They
are the last actors in to-day's sports.
On the opposite side of the arena and
within another cell, a youth, whose Draw
ny limbs and wild aspect marked him at
once a Gaul, is lying asleep on the cold
pavement. Here there Is no beam to
flood his cell with light, but 4 cool breeze
waited from his native hills wakes him,
recalling thoughts of his home where
aged parents wait in vain the return OF
their warrior son crowned with the lau-
rels of his first victory He stretches out
his hands in the longing desire for the
liberty which, to-day, a gladiator's sword
will wrest from him forever
But in the interior of the Coliseum the
plebeian quarters are already full, and
the patricians are now fast arriving.
Here comes a Roman consul, with his lie
tors, making the most of his power once
supreme, now but an empty title. There
Il Roman lady, attended by her maids,
enters to feast her eyes upon the bloody
scenes which will be enacted before her
to-day. In conspicuous place are seen
the senators, bastard representatives of
those who for ancient Rome nobv perish
ed at the hands Of the Gauls. There sit
the ElStal virgins, who by their delight in
the cruel cOmbatS make their humanity
missioner Every one is there, from the
noDlest to the meaneSt the poorest and
richest; no one would lose such a day
These represent Rome, the Rome of Ser
VluS Julius and the first consuls, the
proud rival and destroyer of Carthage,
the boast and glory of Cicero, the pride
OF the Agustan age, the mistress OF the
world but, now, what Romeo Forget
tul OF the ancient integrity and disciplined
1rugallty, which produced Fabricius, a
Fabus MaXimus, a Cato, she is like a
broad river which, at first mere rivulet.
starts from the side of a mountain and
bursting through all obstacles by its own
native strength, at last reaches the level
plain, where, corrupted by the foreign
streams which have augmented it, it
flows more and more sluggishly onward
losing its early purity and vigor till its
waters become foul and almost stagnant.
Such is the Rome which the crowded Col.
iseum presents to-day
But everything is now ready and await
ing the coming of the Emperor. At last
he enters. There is a sudden hush then
all at once the vast assembly rises to pay
him homage, and eighty thousand voices
ring out: "Joy to thee, master of all.
i4A'o "a Gil, htpPiIoG vi al lCJOGN 10
thee torevern The din subsidies, and the
signal to begin the sports is given.
There are three acts in to-day's drama.
over the first presides 1halia, the Muse
OF Comedy and though she makes her
audience laugh, still there is an ;mpa-
thence to get through with her anG to
hurry on to the second act. With varied
sports does the goddess try in vain to
rouse the slumberng humanity of Rome,
put at last discounted she leaves the arena,
While Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy.
takes her place amid shouts of applause.
he widest and fiercest animals are now
let loose upon one another. The whole
building resounds with the cries of the in
furlated beasts. Huge monsters making
the pavement shake with their heavy tread
rush at one another and meet a mutual
death. The fair wilderness of the arena is
changed to deed red The smell of the
carnage is mingled with the scent of spices
and perfumes waited from the furnac es
below the arena, because forsooth the
smell of blood is too much for the effeminate
Romans, though the shedding of it is so
agreeable sight. Finally the scene is
nnlshed, the last survivor, satiated with
blood, prowls around the arena and is let
loose from the Coliseum gates amid
shouts of a Triumph"
Ihe arena is cleared and its stained
purity is covered up with new LAYER of
White powdered stone, making it look like
untrodden snow. There is no need of ask
ing what the next scene is, since we know
who presides over it; murder in some torn
will be its leading characteristic. The
arena is now fast filling with men armed
in every variety of fashion. These are the
gladiators who are to be arfayed against
one another. Ills no mere sport, it's real
earnest; one of the two antagonists must
die. Rome cannot be satisfied with a mere
exhibition of skill; to suit her. death must
be the grand finale to all the sports.
The word is given. and the contests be-
gin, with changing fortune on all sides.
Blood flows like water and men fall one
after another, UNDECIDED and uncared for,
never again to furnish sport to their Ro-
p,rt %Lo,,. =,