Latest / Last Days of Pompeii / 034 - Book 4 Chapter VI
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- 0:00Speaker 1: Book four, Chapter six of Last Days of Pompeii. This
- 0:04Speaker 1: is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the
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- 0:13Speaker 1: LibriVox dot org. Last Days of Pompeii by Edward G.
- 0:18Speaker 1: Bulwer Lytton Book four, Chapter six, A reunion of different actors.
- 0:25Speaker 1: Streams that flowed, apparently apart rush into one gulf. Impatient
- 0:31Speaker 1: to learn whether the foul drug had yet been administered
- 0:34Speaker 1: by Julia to his hated rival, and with what effect,
- 0:38Speaker 1: Arbassis resolved as the evening came on to seek her
- 0:42Speaker 1: house and satisfy his suspense. It was customary, as I
- 0:46Speaker 1: have before said, for men at that time, to carry
- 0:49Speaker 1: abroad with them the tablets and the stylus attached to
- 0:52Speaker 1: their girdle, and with the girdle they were put off
- 0:56Speaker 1: when at home. In fact, under the appearance of a
- 0:59Speaker 1: literary inn instrument, the Romans carried about with them in
- 1:02Speaker 1: that same stylus, a very sharp and formidable weapon. It
- 1:07Speaker 1: was with his stylus that Cassius stabbed Caesar in the
- 1:10Speaker 1: Senate House, taking then his girdle and his cloak. Arbasses
- 1:15Speaker 1: left his house supporting his steps, which were still somewhat feeble,
- 1:20Speaker 1: though hope in vengeance had conspired greatly with his own
- 1:23Speaker 1: medical science, which was profound, to restore his natural strength.
- 1:27Speaker 1: By his long staff, Arbasses took his way to the
- 1:31Speaker 1: villa of diomed and beautiful as the moonlight of the south.
- 1:36Speaker 1: In those climes, the night so quickly glides into the
- 1:39Speaker 1: day that twilight scarcely makes a bridge between them. One
- 1:43Speaker 1: moment of darker purple in the sky of a thousand
- 1:47Speaker 1: rose hues in the water of shade, half victorious over light,
- 1:51Speaker 1: and then burst forth at once the countless stars. The
- 1:55Speaker 1: moon is up. Night has resumed her rain. Brightly, then
- 2:00Speaker 1: and softly bright fell the moonbeams over the antique grove
- 2:04Speaker 1: consecrated to Sybelli. The stately trees, whose date went beyond tradition,
- 2:09Speaker 1: cast their long shadows over the soil, while through the
- 2:13Speaker 1: openings in their boughs the stars shone, still infrequent. The
- 2:18Speaker 1: whiteness of the SMaL sachellum in the center of the grove,
- 2:21Speaker 1: amidst the dark foliage, had in it something abrupt and startling.
- 2:25Speaker 1: It recalled at once the purpose to which the wood
- 2:28Speaker 1: was consecrated. Its holiness and solemnity. With a swift and
- 2:33Speaker 1: stealthy pace, Calanus, gliding under the shade of the trees,
- 2:37Speaker 1: reached the chapel, and, gently putting back the boughs that
- 2:41Speaker 1: completely closed around its rear, settled himself in its concealment,
- 2:46Speaker 1: a concealment so complete that, with the fane in front
- 2:49Speaker 1: and the trees behind, that no unsuspicious passenger could possibly
- 2:53Speaker 1: have detected him. Again, all was apparently solitary in the
- 2:58Speaker 1: grove afar off, U heard faintly the voices of some
- 3:01Speaker 1: noisy revelers, or the music that played cheerily to the
- 3:05Speaker 1: groups that, then, as now in those climates, during the
- 3:08Speaker 1: nights of summer, lingered in the streets and enjoyed in
- 3:12Speaker 1: the fresh air and the liquid moonlight a milder day.
- 3:17Speaker 1: From the height on which the grove was placed, you
- 3:19Speaker 1: saw through the intervals of the trees, the broad and
- 3:22Speaker 1: purple sea rippling in the distance, the white villas of
- 3:26Speaker 1: Staviier in the curving shore, and the dim luctiarian hills
- 3:30Speaker 1: mingling with the delicious sky. Presently, the tall figure of Arbasees,
- 3:35Speaker 1: in his way to the House of Diamed, entered the
- 3:38Speaker 1: extreme end of the grove, and at the same instant Apisides,
- 3:43Speaker 1: also bound to his appointment with olynthus crossed the Egyptian's path.
- 3:49Speaker 1: Hm Apasides said Arabass, recognizing the priest at a glance.
- 3:55Speaker 1: When last we met, you were my foe. I have
- 3:58Speaker 1: wished since then to see you, for I would have
- 4:01Speaker 1: you still my pupil and my friend. A Pasides started
- 4:06Speaker 1: at the voice of the Egyptian, and halting, abruptly gazed
- 4:09Speaker 1: upon him with a countenance full of contending, bitter and
- 4:13Speaker 1: scornful emotions. Villain and impostor, said he at length. Thou
- 4:18Speaker 1: hast recovered then from the jaws of the grave, But
- 4:22Speaker 1: think not again to weave around me, thy guilty meshes
- 4:26Speaker 1: b Retiarius. I am armed against thee Hush, said Arbasees,
- 4:31Speaker 1: in a very low voice. But his pride, which in
- 4:34Speaker 1: that DESCENTI of kings was great, betrayed the wound it
- 4:37Speaker 1: received from the insulting epithets of the priest in the
- 4:40Speaker 1: quiver of his lip and the flush of his tawny brow.
- 4:44Speaker 1: Hush more low, thou mayest be overheard. And if other
- 4:48Speaker 1: ears than mine had drunk those sounds, why dost thou threaten.
- 4:54Speaker 1: What if the whole city had heard me, The manes
- 4:58Speaker 1: of my ancestors could not have suffered me to forgive THEE.
- 5:01Speaker 1: But behold and hear me. Thou art enraged that I
- 5:04Speaker 1: would have offered violence to thy sister. Nay, peace peace.
- 5:09Speaker 1: But one instant I pray THEE. Thou art right. It
- 5:13Speaker 1: was the frenzy of passion and of jealousy. I have
- 5:16Speaker 1: repented bitterly of my madness. Forgive me, I, who never
- 5:20Speaker 1: implored pardon of living man, beseech THEE now to forgive me. Nay,
- 5:26Speaker 1: I will atone THEE insult, I ask thy sister in marriage.
- 5:30Speaker 1: Start not consider what is the alliance of yon holiday
- 5:34Speaker 1: Greek compared to mine wealth unbounded birth, that, in its
- 5:38Speaker 1: far antiquity leaves your Greek and Roman names the things
- 5:42Speaker 1: of yesterday science. But that thou knowest give me, thy sister,
- 5:47Speaker 1: and my whole life shall atone a moment's error Egyptian.
- 5:52Speaker 1: Were even I to consent, my sister loathes the very
- 5:55Speaker 1: air thou breathest. But I have my own wrongs to forgive.
- 6:00Speaker 1: I may pardon THEE that thou hast made me a
- 6:02Speaker 1: tool to thy deceits, but never that thou hast seduced
- 6:06Speaker 1: me to become thee, a better of thy vices, a
- 6:09Speaker 1: polluted and a perjured man. Tremble. Even now I prepare
- 6:13Speaker 1: thee hour in which thou and thy false gods shall
- 6:16Speaker 1: be unveiled. Thy leude and circean life shall be dragged
- 6:21Speaker 1: to day, thy mumming oracles disclosed. The fane of the
- 6:25Speaker 1: idle Isis shall be a byword and a scorn, the
- 6:29Speaker 1: name of Arbasees a mark for the hisses of execration. Tremble.
- 6:35Speaker 1: The flush on the Egyptian's brow was succeeded by a
- 6:38Speaker 1: livid paleness. He looked behind before around to feel assured
- 6:44Speaker 1: that none were by, and then he fixed his dark
- 6:47Speaker 1: and dilating eye on the priest with such a gaze
- 6:50Speaker 1: of wrath and menace that one, perhaps less supported than
- 6:53Speaker 1: Apysides by a fervent daring of a divine zeal, could
- 6:57Speaker 1: not have faced with unflinching look that lowe worrying aspect
- 7:01Speaker 1: as it was. However, the young convert met it unmoved,
- 7:05Speaker 1: and returned it with an eye of proud defiance. Apisides,
- 7:10Speaker 1: said the Egyptian in a tremulous and inward tone. Beware
- 7:15Speaker 1: what is it? Thou wouldst meditate? Speakest thou reflect, pause
- 7:19Speaker 1: before thou repliest from the hasty influences of Wrath, as
- 7:24Speaker 1: yet divining no unsettled purpose, or from some fixed design.
- 7:29Speaker 1: I speak from the inspiration of the True God, whose
- 7:32Speaker 1: servant I now am, answered the Christian boldly, and in
- 7:37Speaker 1: the knowledge that, by his grace human courage has already
- 7:40Speaker 1: fixed the date of thy hypocrisy and thy demons worship
- 7:45Speaker 1: ere thrice the sun has donned. Thou wilt know all
- 7:49Speaker 1: dark sorcerer tremble, and farewell all the fierce and lurid
- 7:54Speaker 1: passions which he inherited from his nation and his clime
- 7:57Speaker 1: at all times, but ill concealed beneath the blandness of
- 8:00Speaker 1: craft and the coldness of philosophy, were released in the
- 8:04Speaker 1: breast of the Egyptian. Rapidly one thought chased another. He
- 8:09Speaker 1: saw before him an absolute barrier to even a lawful
- 8:12Speaker 1: alliance with Ione, the fellow champion of Glaucus in the
- 8:16Speaker 1: struggle which had baffled his designs, the reviler of his name,
- 8:21Speaker 1: the threatened desecrator of the goddess. He served while he
- 8:24Speaker 1: disbelieved the avowed and approaching revealer of his own impostures
- 8:29Speaker 1: and vices, his love, his repute, nay, his very life,
- 8:34Speaker 1: might be in danger. The day and hour seemed even
- 8:37Speaker 1: to have been fixed for some design against him. He
- 8:40Speaker 1: knew by the words of the convert that Apisides had
- 8:43Speaker 1: adopted the Christian faith. He knew the indomitable zeal which
- 8:47Speaker 1: led on the proselytes of that creed. Such was his enemy.
- 8:52Speaker 1: He grasped his stylus. That enemy was in his power.
- 8:56Speaker 1: They were now before the chapel. One hasty glance once
- 9:00Speaker 1: more he cast around. He saw none near silence and
- 9:04Speaker 1: solitude alike tempted him die. Then, in thy rashness, he
- 9:09Speaker 1: muttered away, obstacle to my rushing fates. And just as
- 9:14Speaker 1: the young Christian had turned to depart, Arbases raised his
- 9:17Speaker 1: hand high over the left shoulder of Upisides and plunged
- 9:21Speaker 1: his sharp weapon twice into his breast. Upisides fell to
- 9:26Speaker 1: the ground, pierced to the heart. He fell mute, without
- 9:29Speaker 1: even a groan, at the very base of the sacred chapel.
- 9:34Speaker 1: Arbases gazed upon him for a moment with a fierce
- 9:37Speaker 1: animal joy of conquest over a foe, but presently the
- 9:41Speaker 1: full sense of the danger to which he was exposed
- 9:44Speaker 1: flashed upon him. He wiped his weapon carefully in the
- 9:47Speaker 1: long grass, and with the very garments of his victim,
- 9:51Speaker 1: drew his cloak around him, and was about to depart
- 9:54Speaker 1: when he saw coming up the path right before him,
- 9:57Speaker 1: the figure of a young man, whose depths reeled and
- 10:00Speaker 1: vacillated strangely as he advanced. The quiet moonlight streamed full
- 10:05Speaker 1: upon his face, which seemed, by the whitening ray, colorless
- 10:09Speaker 1: as marble. The Egyptian recognized the face and form of Glaucus.
- 10:14Speaker 1: The unfortunate and benighted Greek, was chanting a disconnected and
- 10:18Speaker 1: mad song composed from snatches of hymns and sacred odes,
- 10:23Speaker 1: all jarringly woven together. Ha, thought the Egyptian, instantaneously divining
- 10:29Speaker 1: his state and its terrible cause. So then the hell,
- 10:33Speaker 1: draft works and destiny hath sent thee hither to crush
- 10:37Speaker 1: two of my foes at once quickly. Even ere this
- 10:41Speaker 1: thought occurred to him, he had withdrawn on one side
- 10:44Speaker 1: of the chapel and concealed himself amongst the bows. From
- 10:49Speaker 1: that lurking place, he watched as a tiger in his lair.
- 10:52Speaker 1: The advance of his second victim. He noted the wandering
- 10:56Speaker 1: and restless fire in the bright and beautiful eyes of
- 10:59Speaker 1: the Athenian, the convulsions that distorted his statue like features,
- 11:03Speaker 1: and writhed his hueless lip. He saw that the Greek
- 11:07Speaker 1: was utterly deprived of reason. Nevertheless, as Glaucus came up
- 11:11Speaker 1: to the dead body of Apasides, from which the dark
- 11:14Speaker 1: red stream flowed slowly over the grass, so strange and
- 11:18Speaker 1: ghastly a spectacle could not fail to arrest him. Benighted
- 11:22Speaker 1: and erring as was his glimmering sense, he paused, placed
- 11:27Speaker 1: his hand to his brow as if to collect himself,
- 11:30Speaker 1: and then saying, what Ho and Dimian sleepest thou so soundly?
- 11:35Speaker 1: What hast the moon said to thee Thou makest me jealous?
- 11:38Speaker 1: It is time to wake? He stooped down with the
- 11:41Speaker 1: intention of lifting up the body, forgetting, feeling not his
- 11:46Speaker 1: own debility, The Egyptian sprung from his hiding place, and
- 11:50Speaker 1: as the Greek bent, struck him forcibly to the ground
- 11:54Speaker 1: over the very body of the Christian. Then, raising his
- 11:57Speaker 1: powerful voice to its highest pitch, he shouted, Ho, citizens oh,
- 12:02Speaker 1: help me run hither hither a murder, a murder before
- 12:07Speaker 1: you're very fane, help or the murderer escapes. As he spoke,
- 12:13Speaker 1: he placed his foot on the breast of Glaucus, in
- 12:15Speaker 1: idle and superfluous precaution for the potion operating with the fall.
- 12:20Speaker 1: The Greek lay there, motionless and insensible save that now
- 12:24Speaker 1: and then his lips gave vent to some vague and
- 12:27Speaker 1: raving sounds. As he there stood awaiting the coming of those,
- 12:31Speaker 1: his voice still continued to summons, perhaps some remorse, some
- 12:35Speaker 1: compunctuous visitings, For despite his crimes, he was human, haunted
- 12:40Speaker 1: the breast of the Egyptian, the defenseless state of Glaucus.
- 12:44Speaker 1: His wandering words, his shattered reason, smote him even more
- 12:48Speaker 1: than the death of Apisides. And he said, half audibly
- 12:52Speaker 1: to himself, poor clay, poor human reason, where is the soul? Now?
- 12:57Speaker 1: I could spare thee O, my rival rival never more,
- 13:02Speaker 1: but destiny must be obeyed. My safety demands thy sacrifice.
- 13:07Speaker 1: With that, as if to drown compunction, he shouted yet
- 13:11Speaker 1: more loudly, and drawing from the girdle of Glaucus the
- 13:14Speaker 1: stylus it contained, he steeped it in the blood of
- 13:17Speaker 1: the murdered man, and laid it beside the corpse, and
- 13:21Speaker 1: now fast and breathless. Several of the citizens came thronging
- 13:25Speaker 1: to the place, some with torches which the moon rendered unnecessary,
- 13:29Speaker 1: but which flared red and tremulously against the darkness of
- 13:32Speaker 1: the trees. They surrounded the spot. Lift up yon corpse,
- 13:37Speaker 1: said the Egyptian, and guard well the murderer. They raised
- 13:42Speaker 1: the body, And great was their horror and scared indignation
- 13:45Speaker 1: to discover in that lifeless clay a priest of the
- 13:48Speaker 1: adored and venerable isis? But still greater perhaps was their
- 13:53Speaker 1: surprise when they found the accused in the brilliant and
- 13:56Speaker 1: admired Athenian Glaucus, cried the bystanders with one accord. Is
- 14:02Speaker 1: it even credible? I would sooner, whispered one man to
- 14:06Speaker 1: his neighbor, believe it to be the Egyptian himself. Here
- 14:11Speaker 1: a centurion thrust himself into the gathering crowd with an
- 14:14Speaker 1: air of authority. How blood spilt? Who the murderer? The
- 14:19Speaker 1: bystanders pointed to Glaucus. He by mars, he has rather
- 14:24Speaker 1: the air of being the victim who accuses him? Ay,
- 14:29Speaker 1: said Arbass, drawing himself up haughtily, and the jewels which
- 14:33Speaker 1: adorned his dress flashing in the eyes of the soldier,
- 14:36Speaker 1: instantly convinced that worthy warrior of the witness's respectability. Pardon
- 14:42Speaker 1: me your name, said he Arbasees. It is well known me,
- 14:47Speaker 1: thinks in Pompeii. Passing through the grove, I beheld before
- 14:51Speaker 1: me the Greek and the priest in earnest conversation. I
- 14:54Speaker 1: was struck by the reeling motions of the first, his
- 14:57Speaker 1: violent gestures and the loudness of his bo He seemed
- 15:01Speaker 1: to me either drunk or mad. Suddenly I saw him
- 15:04Speaker 1: raise his stylus. I darted forward, too late to arrest
- 15:08Speaker 1: the blow. He had twice stabbed his victim, and was
- 15:12Speaker 1: bending over him, when in my horror and indignation I
- 15:15Speaker 1: struck the murderer to the ground. He fell without a struggle,
- 15:20Speaker 1: which makes me yet more suspect that he was not
- 15:22Speaker 1: altogether in his senses when the crime was perpetrated. For
- 15:27Speaker 1: recently recovered from a severe illness, my blow was comparatively feeble,
- 15:32Speaker 1: and the frame of Glaucus, as you see, is strong
- 15:34Speaker 1: and youthful. His eyes are open now, his lips move,
- 15:39Speaker 1: said the soldier, speak prisoner, What sayest thou to the charge?
- 15:44Speaker 1: The charge ha ha, Why it was merely done when
- 15:49Speaker 1: the old hag set her serpent at me, and Hakati
- 15:52Speaker 1: stood by, laughing from ear to ear. What could I do?
- 15:55Speaker 1: But I am ill, I faint. The serpent's fiery tongue
- 15:59Speaker 1: hath bitten me. Bear me to bed, and send for
- 16:02Speaker 1: your physician. Old Aesculapius himself will attend me if you
- 16:06Speaker 1: let him know that I am Greek. Oh, mercy, mercy,
- 16:10Speaker 1: I'd burn, marrow in brain, I'd burn. And with a
- 16:14Speaker 1: thrilling and fierce groan, the Athenian fell back in the
- 16:17Speaker 1: arms of the bystanders. He raves, said the officer compassionately,
- 16:23Speaker 1: and in his delirium, he has struck the priest. Hath
- 16:27Speaker 1: any one present seen him to day? I said? One
- 16:31Speaker 1: of the spectators beheld him in the morning. He passed
- 16:34Speaker 1: my shop and accosted me. He seemed well insane as
- 16:38Speaker 1: the stoutest of us. And I saw him half an
- 16:42Speaker 1: hour ago, said another, passing up the streets, muttering to
- 16:46Speaker 1: himself with strange gestures. And just as the Egyptian has
- 16:49Speaker 1: described a corroboration of the witnesses, it must be too true.
- 16:55Speaker 1: He must at all events to the prat a pity,
- 16:58Speaker 1: so young and so rich. But the crime is dreadful.
- 17:02Speaker 1: A priest of isis in his very robes too, and
- 17:05Speaker 1: at the base itself of our most ancient chapel. At
- 17:09Speaker 1: these words, the crowd were reminded, more forcibly than in
- 17:12Speaker 1: their excitement and curiosity they had yet been, of the
- 17:16Speaker 1: heinousness of the sacrilege. They shuddered in pious horror. No
- 17:21Speaker 1: wonder the earth has quaked, said one, when it held
- 17:25Speaker 1: such a monster away with him to prison. Away, cried
- 17:29Speaker 1: they all, and one solitary voice was heard, shrilly and
- 17:33Speaker 1: joyously above the rest. The beasts will not want a
- 17:36Speaker 1: gladiator now, ho ho for the merry, merry show. It
- 17:41Speaker 1: was the voice of the young woman whose conversation with
- 17:44Speaker 1: Medon has been repeated. True, True, it chances in season
- 17:49Speaker 1: for the games, cried several And at that thought all
- 17:52Speaker 1: pity for the accused seemed vanished, his youth, his beauty,
- 17:57Speaker 1: but fitted him better for the purpose of the arena.
- 18:01Speaker 1: Bring hither some planx or if at hand a litter
- 18:04Speaker 1: to bear the dead, said Arbaces. A priest of isis
- 18:08Speaker 1: ought scarcely to be carried to his temple by vulgar hands,
- 18:11Speaker 1: like a butchered gladiator. At this the bystanders reverently laid
- 18:16Speaker 1: the corpse of Apisides on the ground, with the face upwards,
- 18:20Speaker 1: and some of them went in search of some contrivance
- 18:23Speaker 1: to bear the body untouched by the profane. It was
- 18:27Speaker 1: just at that time that the crowd gave way to
- 18:29Speaker 1: right and left as a sturdy form forced itself through
- 18:33Speaker 1: and Olynthus the Christian stood immediately confronting the Egyptian, but
- 18:38Speaker 1: his eyes at first only rested with inexpressible grief and
- 18:41Speaker 1: horror on that gory's side and upturned face, on which
- 18:45Speaker 1: the agony of violent death yet lingered murdered. He said,
- 18:51Speaker 1: is it thy zeal that has brought thee to this?
- 18:53Speaker 1: Have they detected thy noble purpose and by death prevented
- 18:57Speaker 1: their own shame? He turned his head abruptly, and his
- 19:01Speaker 1: eyes fell full on the solemn features of the Egyptian.
- 19:05Speaker 1: As he looked, you might see in his face, and
- 19:07Speaker 1: even in the slight shiver of his frame, the repugnance
- 19:11Speaker 1: and aversion which the Christian felt for one whom he
- 19:14Speaker 1: knew to be so dangerous and so criminal. It was
- 19:18Speaker 1: indeed the gaze of the bird upon the basilisk, so
- 19:21Speaker 1: silent was it and so prolonged. But shaking off the
- 19:25Speaker 1: sudden chill that had crept over him, olynthus extended his
- 19:28Speaker 1: right arm towards ar Bases and said, in a deep
- 19:31Speaker 1: and loud voice, murder hath been done upon this corpse?
- 19:35Speaker 1: Where is the murderer? Stand forth, Egyptian, For as the
- 19:39Speaker 1: Lord liveth I believe thou art the man. An anxious
- 19:43Speaker 1: and perturbed change might for one moment be detected on
- 19:46Speaker 1: the dusky features of ar Bassees, but it gave way
- 19:50Speaker 1: to the frowning expression of indignation and scorn. As aught
- 19:54Speaker 1: and arrested by the suddenness and vehemence of the charge,
- 19:57Speaker 1: the spectators pressed nearer and nearer upon the two more
- 20:00Speaker 1: prominent actors. I know, said Arbases proudly, who is my accuser?
- 20:07Speaker 1: And I guess wherefore he thus arraigns me men and citizens.
- 20:11Speaker 1: I know this man for the most bitter of the Nazarenes,
- 20:14Speaker 1: if that or Christians be their proper name. What marvel that,
- 20:19Speaker 1: in his malignity he dares to accuse even an Egyptian
- 20:22Speaker 1: of the murder of a priest of Egypt. I know him,
- 20:26Speaker 1: I know the dog shouted several voices. It is Olynthus
- 20:30Speaker 1: the Christian, or rather the atheist, he denies the gods. Peace, brethren,
- 20:37Speaker 1: said Olynthus with dignity and hear me. This murdered priest
- 20:41Speaker 1: of Isis, before his death, embraced the Christian faith. He
- 20:45Speaker 1: revealed to me the dark sins, the sorceries of yan Egyptian,
- 20:49Speaker 1: the mummeries and delusions of the fane of Isis. He
- 20:53Speaker 1: was about to declare them publicly. He a stranger, unoffending,
- 20:58Speaker 1: without enemies, who should shed his blood, but one of
- 21:01Speaker 1: those who feared his witness, who might fear that testimony?
- 21:05Speaker 1: The most arbasees the Egyptian. You hear him, said Arbases.
- 21:11Speaker 1: You hear him he blasphemes. Ask him if he believes
- 21:15Speaker 1: in Isis? Do I believe in an evil demon? Returned
- 21:19Speaker 1: Olynthus boldly, A groan and shudder passed through the assembly.
- 21:24Speaker 1: Nothing daunted. Were prepared at every time for peril, and
- 21:27Speaker 1: in the present excitement, losing all prudence. The Christian continued back, idolaters,
- 21:34Speaker 1: this clay is not for your vain and polluting rites.
- 21:37Speaker 1: It is to us to the followers of Christ, that
- 21:40Speaker 1: the last office is due to a Christian belong. I
- 21:43Speaker 1: claim this dust in the name of the Great Creator,
- 21:46Speaker 1: who has recalled the Spirit with so solemn and commanding
- 21:50Speaker 1: a voice and aspect. The Christians spoke these words that
- 21:54Speaker 1: even the crowd forbore to utter aloud, the execration of
- 21:58Speaker 1: fear and hatred, which in their hearts they conceived. And never,
- 22:02Speaker 1: perhaps since Lucifer and the archangel contended for the body
- 22:06Speaker 1: of the Mighty Lawgiver, was there a more striking subject
- 22:09Speaker 1: for the painter's genius than that scene exhibited. The dark trees,
- 22:14Speaker 1: the stately fane, the moon full on the corpse of
- 22:17Speaker 1: the deceased, the torches tossing wildly to and fro in
- 22:21Speaker 1: the rear, the various faces of the motley audience, the
- 22:24Speaker 1: insensible form of the Athenian supported in the distance and
- 22:29Speaker 1: in the foreground, and above all the forms of Arbaces
- 22:32Speaker 1: and the Christian, the first drawn to its full height,
- 22:36Speaker 1: far taller than the herd, around his arms folded, his
- 22:39Speaker 1: brow knit, his eyes fixed, his lips slightly curled in
- 22:43Speaker 1: defiance and disdain. The last bearing on the brow worn
- 22:47Speaker 1: and furrowed, the Majesty of an equal command, the features
- 22:52Speaker 1: stern yet frank, the aspect bold. He had opened, the
- 22:56Speaker 1: quiet dignity of the whole form, impressed with an ineffable
- 22:59Speaker 1: earnest business, hushed as it were, in a solemn sympathy
- 23:03Speaker 1: with the Ah he himself had created, his left hand
- 23:07Speaker 1: pointing to the corpse, his right hand raised to heaven.
- 23:11Speaker 1: The centurion pressed forward again. In the first place, hast thou, olynthus,
- 23:17Speaker 1: or whatever be thy name, any proof of the charge
- 23:20Speaker 1: thou hast made against Arbasses, beyond thy vague suspicions. Olynthus
- 23:25Speaker 1: remained silent. The Egyptian laughed contemptuously. Dost thou claim the
- 23:30Speaker 1: body of a priest of Isis as one of the
- 23:32Speaker 1: Nazarene or Christian sect? I do swear then, by Yon
- 23:38Speaker 1: fame Yon statue of Sibelli, by yon most ancient sacellum
- 23:42Speaker 1: in Pompeii, that the dead man embraced your faith, vain man,
- 23:47Speaker 1: I disown your idols, I abhor your temples. How can
- 23:50Speaker 1: I swear by Sabelli? Then away away with the atheist.
- 23:55Speaker 1: Away The earth will swallow us if we suffer these
- 23:58Speaker 1: blasphemers in a sacred grove. Away with him, to death
- 24:03Speaker 1: to the beasts, added a female voice in the center
- 24:06Speaker 1: of the crowd. We shall have a one apiece now
- 24:09Speaker 1: for the lion and tiger. If o nazarene, thou disbelievest
- 24:13Speaker 1: inside belly, which of our gods dost thou own? Resumed
- 24:17Speaker 1: the soldier, unmoved by the cries around none hark to him. Hark,
- 24:24Speaker 1: cried the crowd, Oh, vain and blind, continued the Christian,
- 24:28Speaker 1: raising his voice. Can you believe in images of wood
- 24:31Speaker 1: and stone? Do you imagine that they have eyes to see,
- 24:35Speaker 1: or ears to hear, or hands to help? Ye? Is
- 24:38Speaker 1: yon mute thing carved by man's art? A goddess hath
- 24:42Speaker 1: it made mankind alas by mankind? Was it made? Lo
- 24:47Speaker 1: convince yourself of its nothingness, of your folly. And as
- 24:51Speaker 1: he spoke, he strode across to the fane, and ere
- 24:54Speaker 1: any of the bystanders were aware of his purpose. He,
- 24:58Speaker 1: in his compassion or his zeal, struck the statue of
- 25:01Speaker 1: wood from its pedestal. See, cried he. Your goddess cannot
- 25:06Speaker 1: avenge herself? Is this a thing to worship? Further words
- 25:11Speaker 1: were denied to him, so gross and daring, a sacrilege
- 25:15Speaker 1: of one too, of the most sacred of their places
- 25:17Speaker 1: of worship, filled even the most lukewarm with rage and horror.
- 25:21Speaker 1: With one accord, the crowd rushed upon him, seized, and
- 25:25Speaker 1: but for the interference of the centurion, they would have
- 25:28Speaker 1: torn him to pieces. Peace, said the soldier authoritatively, refer
- 25:34Speaker 1: we this insolent blasphemer to the proper tribunal. Time has
- 25:38Speaker 1: been already wasted. Bear we both the culprits to the magistrates.
- 25:43Speaker 1: Place the body of the priest on the litter, carry
- 25:46Speaker 1: it to his own home. At this moment, a priest
- 25:49Speaker 1: of Isis stepped forward. I claim these remains according to
- 25:54Speaker 1: the custom of the priesthood. The flaman be obeyed, said
- 25:58Speaker 1: the centurion. How is the murderer insensible or asleep? Were
- 26:04Speaker 1: his crimes less, I would pity him on arvasses. As
- 26:09Speaker 1: he turned met the eye of that priest of Isis.
- 26:12Speaker 1: It was Calanus, And something there was in that glance
- 26:16Speaker 1: so significant and sinister, that the Egyptian muttered to himself
- 26:21Speaker 1: could he have witnessed the deed? A girl darted from
- 26:25Speaker 1: the crowd and gazed hard on the face of Olynthus
- 26:28Speaker 1: by Jupiter, a stout knave, I say, we shall have
- 26:32Speaker 1: a man for the tiger. Now one for each beast,
- 26:36Speaker 1: Ho shouted the mob, a man for the lion, and
- 26:39Speaker 1: another for the tiger. What luck i o paiian and
- 26:45Speaker 1: of Book four, Chapter six,