登陆注册
5371300000155

第155章

The editor's lip quivered, and his cheek grew pale; he looked anxiously around--hesitated--delayed; the crowd became impatient. Slowly he gave the sign; the keeper, who was behind the den, cautiously removed the grating, and the lion leaped forth with a mighty and glad roar of release. The keeper hastily retreated through the grated passage leading from the arena, and left the lord of the forest--and his prey.

Glaucus had bent his limbs so as to give himself the firmest posture at the expected rush of the lion, with his small and shining weapon raised on high, in the faint hope that one well-directed thrust (for he knew that he should have time but for one) might penetrate through the eye to the brain of his grim foe.

But, to the unutterable astonishment of all, the beast seemed not even aware of the presence of the criminal.

At the first moment of its release it halted abruptly in the arena, raised itself half on end, snuffing the upward air with impatient sighs; then suddenly it sprang forward, but not on the Athenian. At half-speed it circled round and round the space, turning its vast head from side to side with an anxious and perturbed gaze, as if seeking only some avenue of escape; once or twice it endeavored to leap up the parapet that divided it from the audience, and, on failing, uttered rather a baffled howl than its deep-toned and kingly roar. It evinced no sign, either of wrath or hunger;its tail drooped along the sand, instead of lashing its gaunt sides; and its eye, though it wandered at times to Glaucus, rolled again listlessly from him. At length, as if tired of attempting to escape, it crept with a moan into its cage, and once more laid itself down to rest.

The first surprise of the assembly at the apathy of the lion soon grew converted into resentment at its cowardice; and the populace already merged their pity for the fate of Glaucus into angry compassion for their own disappointment.

The editor called to the keeper.

'How is this? Take the goad, prick him forth, and then close the door of the den.'

As the keeper, with some fear, but more astonishment, was preparing to obey, a loud cry was heard at one of the entrances of the arena; there was a confusion, a bustle--voices of remonstrance suddenly breaking forth, and suddenly silenced at the reply. All eyes turned in wonder at the interruption, towards the quarter of the disturbance; the crowd gave way, and suddenly Sallust appeared on the senatorial benches, his hair disheveled--breathless--heated--half-exhausted. He cast his eyes hastily round the ring. 'Remove the Athenian,' he cried; 'haste--he is innocent!

Arrest Arbaces the Egyptian--HE is the murderer of Apaecides!'

'Art thou mad, O Sallust!' said the praetor, rising from his seat. 'What means this raving?'

'Remove the Athenian!--Quick! or his blood be on your head. Praetor, delay, and you answer with your own life to the emperor! I bring with me the eye-witness to the death of the priest Apaecides. Room there!--stand back!--give way! People of Pompeii, fix every eye upon Arbaces--there he sits! Room there for the priest Calenus!'

Pale, haggard, fresh from the jaws of famine and of death, his face fallen, his eyes dull as a vulture's, his broad frame gaunt as a skeleton--Calenus was supported into the very row in which Arbaces sat. His releasers had given him sparingly of food; but the chief sustenance that nerved his feeble limbs was revenge!

'The priest Calenus!--Calenus!' cried the mob. 'Is it he? No--it is a dead man?'

'It is the priest Calenus,' said the praetor, gravely. 'What hast thou to say?'

'Arbaces of Egypt is the murderer of Apaecides, the priest of Isis; these eyes saw him deal the blow. It is from the dungeon into which he plunged me--it is from the darkness and horror of a death by famine--that the gods have raised me to proclaim his crime! Release the Athenian--he is innocent!'

'It is for this, then, that the lion spared him. A miracle! a miracle!' cried Pansa.

'A miracle; a miracle!' shouted the people; 'remove the Athenian--Arbaces to the lion!'

And that shout echoed from hill to vale--from coast to sea--'Arbaces to the lion!'

Officers, remove the accused Glaucus--remove, but guard him yet,' said the praetor. 'The gods lavish their wonders upon this day.'

As the praetor gave the word of release, there was a cry of joy--a female voice--a child's voice--and it was of joy! It rang through the heart of the assembly with electric force--it, was touching, it was holy, that child's voice! And the populace echoed it back with sympathizing congratulation!

'Silence!' said the grave praetor--'who is there?'

'The blind girl--Nydia,' answered Sallust; 'it is her hand that has raised Calenus from the grave, and delivered Glaucus from the lion.'

'Of this hereafter,' said the praetor. 'Calenus, priest of Isis, thou accusest Arbaces of the murder of Apaecides?'

'I do.'

'Thou didst behold the deed?'

'Praetor--with these eyes...'

'Enough at present--the details must be reserved for more suiting time and place. Arbaces of Egypt, thou hearest the charge against thee--thou hast not yet spoken--what hast thou to say.

The gaze of the crowd had been long riveted on Arbaces: but not until the confusion which he had betrayed at the first charge of Sallust and the entrance of Calenus had subsided. At the shout, 'Arbaces to the lion!' he had indeed trembled, and the dark bronze of his cheek had taken a paler hue.

But he had soon recovered his haughtiness and self-control. Proudly he returned the angry glare of the countless eyes around him; and replying now to the question of the praetor, he said, in that accent so peculiarly tranquil and commanding, which characterized his tones:

同类推荐
  • 类边长安志

    类边长安志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Colonel Chabert

    Colonel Chabert

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 国初群雄事略

    国初群雄事略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上上清禳灾延寿宝忏

    太上上清禳灾延寿宝忏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 痴人福

    痴人福

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 海洋馆漫游:航海家档案馆

    海洋馆漫游:航海家档案馆

    放眼全球,世界上最发达的国家都是海洋大国,经济最活跃的地区都在沿海地区。在当今国际社会,开发海洋、拓展生存和发展空间,已成为世界沿海各国的发展方向和潮流。海洋是一个富饶而未充分开发的自然资源宝库。海洋自然资源包括海域(海洋空间)资源、海洋生物资源、海洋能源、海洋矿产资源、海洋旅游资源、海水资源等。这一切都等待着我们去发现、去开采。青少年认真学习海洋知识,不仅能为未来开发海洋及早储备知识,还能海洋研究事业做出应有的贡献。
  • 和情敌一起穿越:并蒂宫花

    和情敌一起穿越:并蒂宫花

    她们本是情敌,却在同一时间穿越,成了一奶同胞的亲姐妹,沦落在宫廷的最下层,相依为命!勾心斗角,争夺恩宠,尔虞我诈,当她们被迫一步一步踏入宫廷斗争的漩涡,爱情也悄然降临。一面是皇恩浩荡、荣华富贵,一面是海誓山盟、世俗阻隔,亲情、友情、爱情,都面临着极大的考验,到底该何去何从?
  • 我们都是突然长大的

    我们都是突然长大的

    豆瓣最受读者喜爱的人气作者艾小玛,治愈无数心灵的励志随笔集,暖萌上市!总有一些伤痛让那些男孩女孩一夜长大。《我们都是突然长大的》用清新机智的笔调,为读者提供有趣又实用的人生建议,并和读者分享了温暖美好的人生故事。在这些故事里,我们可以读到那些长夜的无助和寂寞,那些因爱而生的伤痛,看到每一个人从成长到成熟的蜕变痕迹。正如作者艾小玛所说的,“每一年回头看看,就是觉得人生不一样了,就是觉得过去的自己太幼稚了。或许所谓成长,就是在自我反思的一刹那,突然之间产生了”。一次流泪,一场挫败,一些疼痛,一段漫长的自我治愈,我们每个人都是这样突然长大的。"
  • 影子先生在隔壁

    影子先生在隔壁

    初次来到华夏,佐忆就被一位怪阿姨给劫走了,家里还住着一位大冰块,一言不合就甩脸色,行行行,你是老大你说了算,后来大冰块一改前非,整天怼天怼地宠媳妇,一言不合就耍赖皮。#“厉程……”谁能告诉他,这货在干什么呢?“一一,怎么了?”“你在干什么?”“暖床呀,怎么,没看见吗?”“……”“一一~”“……”厉大少爷一脸郁闷,被媳妇嫌弃了,怎么破?“一一,你是不是不爱我了,你是不是有外遇了,嘤嘤嘤~”“……”说好的高冷呢?!这傻比谁呀!佐忆将自己埋入被中,躺尸。#欢迎入坑
  • The Landlord At Lions Head

    The Landlord At Lions Head

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 花间载酒醉千年

    花间载酒醉千年

    他,生而为仙,却只爱做人,但为了他,不得不同他一起来到了那大小方诸山,入了那修仙的学堂,默默的守候着他,护他一生周全。他,只只凡间一小小地仙,却一心想要入了那九重天,当那高高在上的上仙。都说神仙好,容颜永不老。那日他遭同性爱人抛弃,却又怕他将二人断袖的事情公之于众,于是便将他一把推入那飞鸟不过,鸿毛不浮的弱水之中。临时之际,在刺骨寒冷的冰水之中,有一女声在他耳畔呢喃,“想要我救你吗?想要有再来一次的机会,去报复那负心汉吗?”他毫不犹豫的道,“要!”待他醒来之际,已入魔界,原本的花容月貌早已被人用刀划的面目全非,他想哭,却早已没了眼泪,他想要叫,却已然失了声!
  • 上清太霄隐书元真洞飞二景经

    上清太霄隐书元真洞飞二景经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 奸臣上位手扎:与凰为盟

    奸臣上位手扎:与凰为盟

    一场变故,沈家全族尽被处死。作为沈家出嫁女的母亲被送佛堂。顾华采亦因“养病”为由而被送离上京。生活艰苦?被人欺凌?与猪狗为伍?这些都没什么,她只想好好活着。然而——前有心思歹毒的继母。后有深藏不露的父亲。外带一堆别有用心的姐姐妹妹。顾五小姐表示:我也很无奈。
  • 幕尔如兮

    幕尔如兮

    “你叫什么名字?”“幕尔”“啊?木耳?小哥哥你肯定很喜欢吃木耳吧?所以取的这个名字。”小姑娘笑眯眯的问。“不喜欢,我的幕是落幕的幕,尔是尔若的尔。”男孩黑着脸答。“夏如兮,为我失去你的眼睛,你后悔吗?”“不告诉你。”女子的眼睛茫然一片,但笑起来像月牙一般。“我告诉你,我后悔了。”女子举着一把枪,对着男子。“是吗?不过你现在后悔也逃不开我了,大不了我把你眼睛重新废了。囚禁在我身边。”“你真狠,我为你失去过一次了,你又想让我因为你失去第二次吗?那是不可能的。”
  • 极皇

    极皇

    皇图霸业专属成空,是沉浮还是再度崛起。一代万界至尊黯然陨落,心怀晴天皇道的他会怎样再度凌绝万皇之巅,一切尽在皇道内。