登陆注册
5371300000076

第76章

THE door of Diomed's house stood open, and Medon, the old slave, sat at the bottom of the steps by which you ascended to the mansion. That luxurious mansion of the rich merchant of Pompeii is still to be seen just without the gates of the city, at the commencement of the Street of Tombs; it was a gay neighborhood, despite the dead. On the opposite side, but at some yards nearer the gate, was a spacious hostelry, at which those brought by business or by pleasure to Pompeii often stopped to refresh themselves. In the space before the entrance of the inn now stood wagons, and carts, and chariots, some just arrived, some just quitting, in all the bustle of an animated and popular resort of public entertainment. Before the door, some farmers, seated on a bench by a small circular table, were talking over their morning cups, on the affairs of their calling. On the side of the door itself was painted gaily and freshly the eternal sign of the chequers. By the roof of the inn stretched a terrace, on which some females, wives of the farmers above mentioned, were, some seated, some leaning over the railing, and conversing with their friends below. In a deep recess, at a little distance, was a covered seat, in which some two or three poorer travellers were resting themselves, and shaking the dust from their garments. On the other side stretched a wide space, originally the burial-ground of a more ancient race than the present denizens of Pompeii, and now converted into the Ustrinum, or place for the burning of the dead. Above this rose the terraces of a gay villa, half hid by trees. The tombs themselves, with their graceful and varied shapes, the flowers and the foliage that surrounded them, made no melancholy feature in the prospect. Hard by the gate of the city, in a small niche, stood the still form of the well-disciplined Roman sentry, the sun shining brightly on his polished crest, and the lance on which he leaned. The gate itself was divided into three arches, the centre one for vehicles, the others for the foot-passengers; and on either side rose the massive walls which girt the city, composed, patched, repaired at a thousand different epochs, according as war, time, or the earthquake had shattered that vain protection. At frequent intervals rose square towers, whose summits broke in picturesque rudeness the regular line of the wall, and contrasted well with the modern buildings gleaming whitely by.

The curving road, which in that direction leads from Pompeii to Herculaneum, wound out of sight amidst hanging vines, above which frowned the sullen majesty of Vesuvius.

'Hast thou heard the news, old Medon?' said a young woman, with a pitcher in her hand, as she paused by Diomed's door to gossip a moment with the slave, ere she repaired to the neighboring inn to fill the vessel, and coquet with the travellers.

'The news! what news?' said the slave, raising his eyes moodily from the ground.

'Why, there passed through the gate this morning, no doubt ere thou wert well awake, such a visitor to Pompeii!'

'Ay,' said the slave, indifferently.

'Yes, a present from the noble Pomponianus.'

'A present! I thought thou saidst a visitor?'

'It is both visitor and present. Know, O dull and stupid! that it is a most beautiful young tiger, for our approaching games in the amphitheatre. Hear you that, Medon? Oh, what pleasure! I declare I shall not sleep a wink till I see it; they say it has such a roar!'

'Poor fool!' said Medon, sadly and cynically.

'Fool me no fool, old churl! It is a pretty thing, a tiger, especially if we could but find somebody for him to eat. We have now a lion and a tiger;only consider that, Medon! and for want of two good criminals perhaps we shall be forced to see them eat each other. By-the-by, your son is a gladiator, a handsome man and a strong, can you not persuade him to fight the tiger? Do now, you would oblige me mightily; nay, you would be a benefactor to the whole town.'

'Vah! vah!' said the slave, with great asperity; 'think of thine own danger ere thou thus pratest of my poor boy's death.'

'My own danger!' said the girl, frightened and looking hastily around--'Avert the omen! let thy words fall on thine own head!' And the girl, as she spoke, touched a talisman suspended round her neck. '"Thine own danger!" what danger threatens me?'

'Had the earthquake but a few nights since no warning?' said Medon. 'Has it not a voice? Did it not say to us all, "Prepare for death; the end of all things is at hand?"'

'Bah, stuff!' said the young woman, settling the folds of her tunic. 'Now thou talkest as they say the Nazarenes talked--methinks thou art one of them. Well, I can prate with thee, grey croaker, no more: thou growest worse and worse--Vale! O Hercules, send us a man for the lion--and another for the tiger!'

Ho! ho! for the merry, merry show, With a forest of faces in every row!

Lo, the swordsmen, bold as the son of Alcmena, Sweep, side by side, o'er the hushed arena;Talk while you may--you will hold your breath When they meet in the grasp of the glowing death.

Tramp, tramp, how gaily they go!

Ho! ho! for the merry, merry show!

Chanting in a silver and clear voice this feminine ditty, and holding up her tunic from the dusty road, the young woman stepped lightly across to the crowded hostelry.

'My poor son!' said the slave, half aloud, 'is it for things like this thou art to be butchered? Oh! faith of Christ, I could worship thee in all sincerity, were it but for the horror which thou inspirest for these bloody lists.'

The old man's head sank dejectedly on his breast. He remained silent and absorbed, but every now and then with the corner of his sleeve he wiped his eyes. His heart was with his son; he did not see the figure that now approached from the gate with a quick step, and a somewhat fierce and reckless gait and carriage. He did not lift his eyes till the figure paused opposite the place where he sat, and with a soft voice addressed him by the name of:

'Father!'

'My boy! my Lydon! is it indeed thou?' said the old man, joyfully. 'Ah, thou wert present to my thoughts.'

同类推荐
  • The Brethren

    The Brethren

    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。
  • 脉症治方

    脉症治方

    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。
  • 吴礼部诗话

    吴礼部诗话

    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。
  • 唯识三十论要释

    唯识三十论要释

    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。
  • 襄公

    襄公

    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
  • 艺文

    艺文

    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。
  • 檀香引之木兰

    檀香引之木兰

    一缕奇香,引两世情缘,倘若三生河畔,四处难寻卿笑颜,五度回眸灯火阑珊,愿折六枝木兰花,永困于七层塔,长醉八梅香,不见九天!那年红梅映雪,貌似桃花,只一眼,便定终生是她!刹那芳华,兜兜转转,难解痴乱,你,究竟是缘是孽!信我,无论相距多远,相隔多少年,我都一定能找到你!
  • 老矿

    老矿

    随着一声炮响,浓烟席卷着尘土,飘散,飞扬,林海矿的井筒彻底塌了。天轮依然高高地挺立着,像头颅,像纪念碑,只是不再转动,时光仿佛停滞了,凝固了。不知是谁带的头,跪倒了,像一堵墙。紧接着,是一片。又一大片。
  • 人类异能爆炸时代

    人类异能爆炸时代

    人类因为突变进入异能爆炸时代,无数人觉醒出了异能,世界从此大乱,政权职能失效,各地异能者强权独立……异变能力垃圾到爆、只能悲催的靠吸食‘蔡氏企业生产的增强身体素质药液’才能勉强作为一名佣兵生存的井观天,因为意外回到了人类突变前,这一次他能够扭转他的凄惨命运吗?
  • 真的可以吃的糕点王妃

    真的可以吃的糕点王妃

    一块糕点会动的、会卖萌、会做饭的可爱的糕点王妃,闪亮出场糕点点:“你们好呀,我就是糕点点。”糕点点努力的转动着身体,屁股一扭一扭的,你没看错,她真的是块糕点,真的是快糕点呀。“抱歉最近胖了”糕点点她那黑线条的小脚支撑不住了,一屁股坐了下来。“看来最近是该给你减减肥了”欧阳圣凌笑咪咪的说道作者凭着最后一口气喊道:“欢迎大家来收看,甜萌剧,一定要来哟~~,超甜的”
  • 名侦探柯南之平成双煞

    名侦探柯南之平成双煞

    一位是高中生侦探,有平成年代的福尔摩斯美称的工藤新一,另一位则是日本东京警视厅总监的儿子宫岛探,有日本警察的救世主之称
  • 空院残月

    空院残月

    《空院残月》是“中国作家档案书系”之一种,收录了当代中国著名作家韩少功发表于各时期的中短篇作品。分为2000年后新作,处女作,成名作、代表作,影响或争议最大之作,文坛友人撰写的印象记,与作家、批评家的对话录,以及作家自己的小传、影集、手迹、著作目录等14个部分。
  • 神落之后

    神落之后

    慕容夕雪追上了寒小辰,抓住了他的手,正欲将他往回拉去,却只觉得自己身体里最后一点力气,也远离自己而去了。“她是为我而来的么?”寒小辰在渐渐模糊的眼前看到了慕容夕雪,在心里念了一句,忽然发觉,自己与慕容夕雪此刻正要落下去。慕容夕雪仿佛失去了知觉,闭上了眼,身子向旁边翻去,白皙的脸庞此刻看着,竟仿佛有了一丝欣慰的神色。
  • 异世荒野直播

    异世荒野直播

    我曾生活在巨树遮天的魔兽雨林,与安徒恩正面交锋,也曾穿越过尸气弥漫的腐烂之地,与死亡骑士并肩而行;我曾潜伏在烈焰升腾的熔火之城,偷取变形金刚的动力核心,也曾混迹在似真似幻的元素位面,骑着暴鲤龙周游世界;我叫凌默,是一名武神,此时正在深渊位面为您直播,看看我身后这岩浆荒原,老实说刺鼻的硫磺气息实在太糟糕了,但我……等等!前面有一只吸血魔兽!吸血魔兽体格健壮,营养丰富,只要去掉头,其他部分都可以食用,嘿嘿!嘿嘿嘿!以上是文艺版,下面是简洁版:直播路线:魔兽雨林(自然系魔兽为主),腐烂之地(死灵系),熔火之城(机械系),元素位面(幻想系),深渊位面(恶魔系),后续待定
  • 腹黑总裁二手妻

    腹黑总裁二手妻

    袁叶遭遇丈夫出轨沦落为弃妇。正当她改变心性时,富二代林沫出现。他们相遇相厌。袁叶爱上了林沫的好友时代医家的吴孝素,自己的两个闺蜜也卷入其中,让本来复杂的情感更加的纠葛,他们在友情,爱情面前该如何选择。