The morning call., 1893-04-18
A ROMAN VIEW.
Poet Horace and His Friend CaiuS
Meet at the Coliseum.

sturdy Roman, pushing his way TO Tor
ward seat in the crowded Coliseum last
night
And where lore not. good Caius?" some
thing stiffly retoTted the citizen thus ac-
costed.
He was short. rather fat old man. with
broad-browed, ruddy face aud genial air.
which the plainness of h is tOga and an af-
fected severity could not altogether hide.
Has QGintus Horatius Flaccus, the dar-
ling OF Rome's bards, really condescended
to visit the popular feast after all his pre-
tended scOrn of such shows?'
Now the gods forbid, my Caius, that so
much as whisper of mine should seem to
depreciate the triumphant generosity of
Caesar. Out on theel scorn of the glorious
Circus MaXimus, when even now my patron
M@cenas by the imperial suggestus-"
flush, tusb, old hypocrtei Hast for
gotten, then. all thy declarations of yester-
night over thy bumpers of choice Falernian?
Didst thou not in most melodOus iamb:cs
swear that the company of Lydia and one
amphOra of rough Sabine wine at home
were preferable TO all the promised mag
nifeences of the Coliseum to-night?'
'Said | so, CRius? Nay, then, so it seemed
at the time in thy most excellent company,
but -"
"Ha, ha how went that verse Of thine
Persicos obi, puer, apparatus? You ha ted
all this modern atfectation of display"
"Ho, no! How was it thou pratedst-
Wherefore now render TO Jove the votive
sacrifice and stretch thy limbs, wearied
with a tedious war a tedious mar, mark
you. FlaccuS-"
Have done, have done, / prithee, friend
Caus. / will admit some little reluctance
at that leisure hour to mingle with these
warlike scenes, but now"
"Yes, but now thou siugest And let US,
both on common and festal DAYS amid the
fviF fC pf RaYaIng fhaP Wit pttr
wives and families, having first duly in
VOked the gods, celebrate after the manner
of our ancestors On, Flaccus, Flaccus,
methinks there is something Of the warrior
of Philippi in thee yet!'
NAY, but hush, Caus, do entreats thee.
A truce with thy sorry jestlng. Some one.
not understanding. might Overhear and take
thy words in earnest. And see. the benches
fill M"
finger. never before have l locked upon a
larger nor drawer company. Ali honor to
Caesar, who provides such costly spectacles
for the tickle peOplel'
Thou has spoken we'll. Would that some
of the stubborn barbarians who yet defy
ltome's supremacy might look but once
upon this inspiring scene"
"To-night Cesar comes in triumph, and
the pride Of ROme's chiyalry is here. See
there are the Gracchi, TarQuinius, Colat-
mus, the dandy Marius TOlumnus and the
oe1lle himself"
"Of a truth Rome must be deserted for
the Coliseum tonight" asserted the poet
gazing about him, recognizing and being
recognized on all sides.
How rich the decorations OF the private
boxes! How ably the new designs from
Athens have been blended in hue. ANA
deus Joullnus hath reason to be proud of
his success as imperial artist"
"Ay. and methinkS he must have lent
some hints toward the appareling of the
lad IA fnu it-a
hues, such daring combinations and novel
designs? Tyre and Cyprus itself must have
been ransacked for these dyes"
by Venus, poetl thine eye roves natur-
ally toward The section prescribed over by
the goddess of the seafoam."
"As motto to the torch, thou knowest,
Cains!
Hast thou not singed thine old wings
enough in such flames already, o evergreen
seryitOr of the tunRiul muses?'
Nay, seriously, my Caius do but glance
thither toward yOn cOign Of vantage cnnse-
Grated to the use OF the Lady Candida
Surely never did falrer vision delight the
stated eye of wOrld-worn mortal Gaze on
that form, that gloriously proud face. those
eyes-twln suns. But did she not smile
toward this quarter Caius?"
mot she. Sit thee down, old gallant.
and fatter not myself that the noble Cam
dida distinguishes thy bald poll among this
press Of sightseers. They say she comes
arenic hero, upon whom she has bestowed
the priceless pearl of her regard"
Lucky wight: sighed the poet. sinking
back in his seat.
Truly they are magnificent set of men
who daily risk limb and life itself in val0r's
name. Is it not time that the spectacle
cOmmencedP'
"See. there is Guilemus Greerus HarrI-
sonius, the maGister arena, arriving with
his friends! Now, speedily we shall have
aatit nrlr. Ra /,
And note, too, how the legiOuaries from
their lofty place, the plebs, the rich mer-
chants and their familes-eyen the court
and sacred family-greet with acclaim the
noble ROmani"
HE acknowledges the salutations with
quiet ease. Manifestly be is confident that
the show he has arranged will indicate all
his preparations. They say that never be-
fore has even Cesar"
MARX! he signals to the herald, and
Cesar himself Will now enter the arena in
lriumphaI processiOn!'
"NOw. by Apollo, Flaccus! but Won
herald, Ennius Martlnus, rides boldly! His
steed, too, is of equally high mette Me-
thinks this Gallo strain introduced by
Caesar adds fire TO our Apuleian chargers,
What thnkest thou?"
"Calabria, sayest thou? Ay and Phn-
nicia, Scythia and Ultima Thule itself! All
the nations of the world seem flocking to
this mighty Rome of ours" unused the poet
y
sweeping the vast precipices of expectant
faces on the tiers OF seats around the arena.
Thou art wandering in thy head, man!
Look upon the arena, l tell Thee. Here
comes the great Cesar himself, and the
heavens themselves are shaken with the
acclamatiOns, Ave, C;esarP But this
rhYmster Horatius listens not; his wits are
woOlgathering. It's ever so with these
alleged men of genius. l prefer something
more practical myself"
Shouts? Aye, Rome, thou mayest honor
thy Caesar, but in thy very pride turks thy
dangerP' continued tho Yates sacra, pur-
suing his own thoughts 40
Danger, man? Not so tell thee. Caesar
can control yon magnificent white team
with lightest word and see, each snowy
pride of Gaul Is led by picked Ethiopian
slave, his glossy skin shade darker than
that distinguishing the Numidian hordes.
Turn about, Horatius mine, and greet thy
CaSarW
This Marcia triumph do they call it
how APPLY it typifies the blindness of
Rome's arrogant supremacy. She leads the
world, It's true
THE senate, the senate, good Faccusl
See their stately mien aud testing air of
ease"
"What is the world to Rome? A prey. a
thing 10 conquer. Her senate itself knows
no ;law but TO Legitimate outrage; her
soldiers"
"a good legion, mark you'll How they
step together and yet swing, as it were, TO
the music. IT'S the Emperor's own body
guard and composed of heroes, every one.
But why should 1 trouble with this moon
struck poet? he listens not"
Sayest thou so, Caius mine; have then
been SO dsCouEeous? Nay, but pray thee
pardon me; this scene Of wonder might set