Etruscanprophecywhichsaith，"Whenthemountainopens，thecityshallfall——whenthesmokecrownstheHilloftheParchedFields，thereshallbewoeandweepinginthehearthsoftheChildrenoftheSea。"Dreadmaster，ereIleavethesewallsforsomemoredistantdwelling，Icometothee。Asthoulivest，knowIinmyheartthattheearthquakethatsixteenyearsagoshookthiscitytoitssolidbase，wasbuttheforerunnerofmoredeadlydoom。ThewallsofPompeiiarebuiltabovethefieldsoftheDead，andtheriversofthesleeplessHell。Bewarnedandfly！’
Theyhadplacedthemselvesattheonsetfacetoface，atthedistanceofmodernfencersfromeachother：buttheextremecautionwhichbothevincedatfirsthadpreventedanywarmthofengagement，andallowedthespectatorsfullleisuretointerestthemselvesinthebattlebetweenSporusandhisfoe。ButtheRomanswerenowheatedintofullandfierceencounter：theypushed——returned——advancedon——retreatedfromeachotherwithallthatcarefulyetscarcelyperceptiblecautionwhichcharacterizesmenwellexperiencedandequallymatched。Butatthismoment，Eumolpus，theeldergladiator，bythatdexterousback—strokewhichwasconsideredinthearenasodifficulttoavoid，hadwoundedNepimusintheside。Thepeopleshouted；
Lepidusturnedpale。
’Ho！’saidClodius，’thegameisnearlyover。IfEumolpusfightsnowthequietfight，theotherwillgraduallybleedhimselfaway。’
’But，thankthegods！hedoesnotfightthebackwardfight。See！——hepressesharduponNepimus。ByMars！butNepimushadhimthere！thehelmetrangagain！——Clodius，Ishallwin！’
’WhydoIeverbetbutatthedice？’groanedClodiustohimself；——orwhycannotonecogagladiator？’
’ASporus！——aSporus！’shoutedthepopulace，asNigerhavingnowsuddenlypaused，hadagaincasthisnet，andagainunsuccessfully。Hehadnotretreatedthistimewithsufficientagility——theswordofSporushadinflictedaseverewounduponhisrightleg；and，incapacitatedtofly，hewaspressedhardbythefierceswordsman。Hisgreatheightandlengthofarmstillcontinued，however，togivehimnodespicableadvantages；andsteadilykeepinghistridentatthefrontofhisfoe，herepelledhimsuccessfullyforseveralminutes。Sporusnowtried，bygreatrapidityofevolution，togetroundhisantagonist，whonecessarilymovedwithpainandslowness。Insodoing，helosthiscaution——headvancedtooneartothegiant——raisedhisarmtostrike，andreceivedthethreepointsofthefatalspearfullinhisbreast！Hesankonhisknee。Inamomentmore，thedeadlynetwascastoverhim，hestruggledagainstitsmeshesinvain；
again——again——againhewrithedmutelybeneaththefreshstrokesofthetrident——hisbloodflowedfastthroughthenetandredlyoverthesand。Heloweredhisarmsinacknowledgmentofdefeat。
Theconqueringretiariuswithdrewhisnet，andleaningonhisspear，lookedtotheaudiencefortheirjudgement。Slowly，too，atthesamemoment，thevanquishedgladiatorrolledhisdimanddespairingeyesaroundthetheatre。
Fromrowtorow，frombenchtobench，thereglareduponhimbutmercilessandunpityingeyes。
Hushedwastheroar——themurmur！Thesilencewasdread，foritwasnosympathy；notahand——no，notevenawoman’shand——gavethesignalofcharityandlife！Sporushadneverbeenpopularinthearena；and，lately，theinterestofthecombathadbeenexcitedonbehalfofthewoundedNiger。
Thepeoplewerewarmedintoblood——themimicfighthadceasedtocharm；theinteresthadmounteduptothedesireofsacrificeandthethirstofdeath！
Thegladiatorfeltthathisdoomwassealed：heutterednoprayer——nogroan。
Thepeoplegavethesignalofdeath！Indoggedbutagonizedsubmission，hebenthisnecktoreceivethefatalstroke。Andnow，asthespearoftheretiariuswasnotaweapontoinflictinstantandcertaindeath，therestalkedintothearenaagrimandfatalform，brandishingashort，sharpsword，andwithfeaturesutterlyconcealedbeneathitsvizor。Withslowandmeasuredsteps，thisdismalheadsmanapproachedthegladiator，stillkneeling——laidthelefthandonhishumbledcrest——drewtheedgeofthebladeacrosshisneck——turnedroundtotheassembly，lest，inthelastmoment，remorseshouldcomeuponthem；thedreadsignalcontinuedthesame：
thebladeglitteredbrightlyintheair——fell——andthegladiatorrolleduponthesand；hislimbsquivered——werestill——hewasacorpse。’
Hisbodywasdraggedatoncefromthearenathroughthegateofdeath，andthrownintothegloomydentermedtechnicallythespoliarium。Andereithadwellreachedthatdestination，thestrifebetweentheremainingcombatantswasdecided。TheswordofEumolpushadinflictedthedeath—wounduponthelessexperiencedcombatant。Anewvictimwasaddedtothereceptacleoftheslain。
Throughoutthatmightyassemblytherenowranauniversalmovement；thepeoplebreathedmorefreely，andresettledthemselvesintheirseats。A
gratefulshowerwascastovereveryrowfromtheconcealedconduits。Incoolandluxuriouspleasuretheytalkedoverthelatespectacleofblood。
Eumolpusremovedhishelmet，andwipedhisbrows；hisclose—curledhairandshortbeard，hisnobleRomanfeaturesandbrightdarkeyeattractedthegeneraladmiration。Hewasfresh，unwounded，unfatigued。
Theeditorpaused，andproclaimedaloudthat，asNiger’swounddisabledhimfromagainenteringthearena，LydonwastobethesuccessortotheslaughteredNepimus，andthenewcombatantofEumolpus。
’Yet，Lydon，’addedhe，’ifthouwouldstdeclinethecombatwithonesobraveandtried，thoumaysthavefulllibertytodoso。Eumolpusisnottheantagonistthatwasoriginallydecreedforthee。Thouknowestbesthowfarthoucanstcopewithhim。Ifthoufailest，thydoomishonorabledeath；ifthouconquerest，outofmyownpurseIwilldoublethestipulatedprize。’
Thepeopleshoutedapplause。Lydonstoodinthelists，hegazedaround；
highabovehebeheldthepaleface，thestrainingeyes，ofhisfather。Heturnedawayirresoluteforamoment。No！theconquestofthecestuswasnotsufficient——hehadnotyetwontheprizeofvictory——hisfatherwasstillaslave！
’Nobleaedile！’hereplied，inafirmanddeeptone，’Ishrinknotfromthiscombat。ForthehonourofPompeii，Idemandthatonetrainedbyitslong—celebratedlanistashalldobattlewiththisRoman。’
Thepeopleshoutedlouderthanbefore。
’FourtooneagainstLydon！’saidClodiustoLepidus。
’Iwouldnottaketwentytoone！Why，EumolpusisaveryAchilles，andthispoorfellowisbutatyro！’
EumolpusgazedhardonthefaceofLydon；hesmiled；yetthesmilewasfollowedbyaslightandscarceaudiblesigh——atouchofcompassionateemotion，whichcustomconqueredthemomenttheheartacknowledgedit。
Andnowboth，cladincompletearmor，thesworddrawn，thevizorclosed，thetwolastcombatantsofthearena（ereman，atleast，wasmatchedwithbeast），stoodopposedtoeachother。
Itwasjustatthistimethataletterwasdeliveredtotheproctorbyoneoftheattendantsofthearena；heremovedthecincture——glancedoveritforamoment——hiscountenancebetrayedsurpriseandembarrassment。Here—readtheletter，andthenmuttering——’Tush！itisimpossible！——themanmustbedrunk，eveninthemorning，todreamofsuchfollies！’——threwitcarelesslyaside，andgravelysettledhimselfoncemoreintheattitudeofattentiontothesports。
Theinterestofthepublicwaswoundupveryhigh。Eumolpushadatfirstwontheirfavor；butthegallantryofLydon，andhiswell—timedallusiontothehonourofthePompeianlanista，hadafterwardsgiventhelatterthepreferenceintheireyes。
’Holla，oldfellow！’saidMedon’sneighbortohim。’Yoursonishardlymatched；butneverfear，theeditorwillnotpermithimtobeslain——no，northepeopleneither；hehasbehavedtoobravelyforthat。Ha！thatwasahomethrust！——wellaverted，byPollux！Athimagain，Lydon！——theystoptobreathe。Whatartthoumuttering，oldboy’Prayers！’answeredMedon，withamorecalmandhopefulmienthanhehadyetmaintained。
’Prayers！——trifles！Thetimeforgodstocarryamanawayinacloudisgonenow。Ha！Jupiter！whatablow！Thyside——thyside！——takecareofthyside，Lydon！’
Therewasaconvulsivetremorthroughouttheassembly。AfierceblowfromEumolpus，fullonthecrest，hadbroughtLydontohisknee。
’Habet！——hehasit！’criedashrillfemalevoice；’hehasit！’Itwasthevoiceofthegirlwhohadsoanxiouslyanticipatedthesacrificeofsomecriminaltothebeasts。
’Besilent，child！’saidthewifeofPansa，haughtily。’Nonhabet！——heisnotwounded！’
’Iwishhewere，ifonlytospiteoldsurlyMedon，’mutteredthegirl。
MeanwhileLydon，whohadhithertodefendedhimselfwithgreatskillandvalor，begantogivewaybeforethevigorousassaultsofthepractisedRoman；hisarmgrewtired，hiseyedizzy，hebreathedhardandpainfully。
Thecombatantspausedagainforbreath。
’Youngman，’saidEumolpus，inalowvoice，’desist；Iwillwoundtheeslightly——thenlowerthyarms；thouhastpropitiatedtheeditorandthemob——thouwiltbehonorablysaved！’
’Andmyfatherstillenslaved！’groanedLydontohimself。’No！deathorhisfreedom。’
Atthatthought，andseeingthat，hisstrengthnotbeingequaltotheenduranceoftheRoman，everythingdependedonasuddenanddesperateeffort，hethrewhimselffiercelyonEumolpus；theRomanwarilyretreated——Lydonthrustagain——Eumolpusdrewhimselfaside——theswordgrazedhiscuirass——Lydon’sbreastwasexposed——theRomanplungedhisswordthroughthejointsofthearmor，notmeaning，however，toinflictadeepwound；
Lydon，weakandexhausted，fellforward，fellrightonthepoint：itpassedthroughandthrough，eventotheback。Eumolpusdrewforthhisblade；Lydonstillmadeanefforttoregainhisbalance——hisswordlefthisgrasp——hestruckmechanicallyatthegladiatorwithhisnakedhand，andfellprostrateonthearena。Withoneaccord，editorandassemblymadethesignalofmercy——theofficersofthearenaapproached——theytookoffthehelmetofthevanquished。Hestillbreathed；hiseyesrolledfiercelyonhisfoe；thesavagenesshehadacquiredinhiscallingglaredfromhisgaze，andlowereduponthebrowdarkenedalreadywiththeshadesofdeath；then，withaconvulsivegroan，withahalfstart，heliftedhiseyesabove。Theyrestednotonthefaceoftheeditornoronthepityingbrowsofhisrelentingjudges。Hesawthemnot；theywereasifthevastspacewasdesolateandbare；onepaleagonizingfacealonewasallherecognized——onecryofabrokenheartwasallthat，amidstthemurmursandtheshoutsofthepopulace，reachedhisear。Theferocityvanishedfromhisbrow；asoft，atenderexpressionofsanctifyingbutdespairingloveplayedoverhisfeatures——played——waned——darkened！Hisfacesuddenlybecamelockedandrigid，resumingitsformerfierceness。Hefellupontheearth。
’Looktohim，’saidtheaedile；’hehasdonehisduty！’
Theofficersdraggedhimofftothespoliarium。
’Atruetypeofglory，andofitsfate！’murmuredArbacestohimself，andhiseye，glancingroundtheamphitheatre，betrayedsomuchofdisdainandscorn，thatwhoeverencountereditfelthisbreathsuddenlyarrested，andhisemotionsfrozenintoonesensationofabasementandofawe。
Againrichperfumeswerewaftedaroundthetheatre；theattendantssprinkledfreshsandoverthearena。
’BringforththelionandGlaucustheAthenian，’saidtheeditor。
Andadeepandbreathlesshushofoverwroughtinterest，andintense（yet，strangetosay，notunpleasing）terrorlay，likeamightyandawfuldream，overtheassembly。
ChapterIII
SALLUSTANDNYDIA’SLETTER。
THRICEhadSallustawakenedfromhismorningsleep，andthrice，recollectingthathisfriendwasthatdaytoperish，hadheturnedhimselfwithadeepsighoncemoretocourtoblivion。Hissoleobjectinlifewastoavoidpain；andwherehecouldnotavoid，atleasttoforgetit。
Atlength，unableanylongertosteephisconsciousnessinslumber，heraisedhimselffromhisincumbentposture，anddiscoveredhisfavoritefreedmansittingbyhisbedsideasusual；forSallust，who，asIhavesaid，hadagentlemanliketasteforthepoliteletters，wasaccustomedtobereadtoforanhourorsoprevioustohisrisinginthemorning。
’Nobooksto—day！nomoreTibullus！nomorePindarforme！Pindar！alas，alas！theverynamerecallsthosegamestowhichourarenaisthesavagesuccessor。Hasitbegun——theamphitheatre？areitsritescommenced？’
’Longsince，OSallust！Didyounothearthetrumpetsandthetramplingfeet？’
’Ay，ay；butthegodsbethanked，Iwasdrowsy，andhadonlytoturnroundtofallasleepagain。’
’Thegladiatorsmusthavebeenlonginthering。’
’Thewretches！Noneofmypeoplehavegonetothespectacle？’
’Assuredlynot；yourordersweretoostrict。’
’Thatiswell——wouldthedaywereover！Whatisthatletteryonderonthetable？’
’That！Oh，theletterbroughttoyoulastnight，whenyouwere——too——too……’
’Drunktoreadit，Isuppose。Nomatter，itcannotbeofmuchimportance。’
’ShallIopenitforyou，Sallust，’
’Do：anythingtodivertmythoughts。PoorGlaucus！’
Thefreedmanopenedtheletter。’What！Greek？’saidhe：somelearnedlady，Isuppose。’Heglancedovertheletter，andforsomemomentstheirregularlinestracedbytheblindgirl’shandpuzzledhim。Suddenly，however，hiscountenanceexhibitedemotionandsurprise。’Goodgods！nobleSallust！whathavewedonenottoattendtothisbefore？Hearmeread！
’"Nydia，theslave，toSallust，thefriendofGlaucus！IamaprisonerinthehouseofArbaces。Hastentothepraetor！procuremyrelease，andweshallyetsaveGlaucusfromthelion。Thereisanotherprisonerwithinthesewalls，whosewitnesscanexoneratetheAthenianfromthechargeagainsthim——onewhosawthecrime——whocanprovethecriminalinavillainhithertounsuspected。Fly！hasten！quick！quick！Bringwithyouarmedmen，lestresistancebemade，andacunninganddexteroussmith；forthedungeonofmyfellow—prisoneristhickandstrong。Oh！bythyrighthandandthyfather’sashes，losenotamoment！"’
’GreatJove！’exclaimedSallust，starting，’andthisday——nay，withinthishour，perhaps，hedies。Whatistobedone？Iwillinstantlytothepraetor。’
’Nay；notso。Thepraetor（aswellasPansa，theeditorhimself）isthecreatureofthemob；andthemobwillnothearofdelay；theywillnotbebalkedintheverymomentofexpectation。Besides，thepublicityoftheappealwouldforewarnthecunningEgyptian。Itisevidentthathehassomeinterestintheseconcealments。No；fortunatelythyslavesareinthyhouse。’
’Iseizethymeaning，’interruptedSallust：’armtheslavesinstantly。Thestreetsareempty。WewillourselveshastentothehouseofArbaces，andreleasetheprisoners。Quick！quick！Whatho！Davusthere！Mygownandsandals，thepapyrusandareed。’Iwillwritetothepraetor，tobeseechhimtodelaythesentenceofGlaucus，forthat，withinanhour，wemayyetprovehiminnocent。So，so，thatiswell。Hastenwiththis，Davus，tothepraetor，attheamphitheatre。Seeitgiventohisownhand。Nowthen，Oyegods！whoseprovidenceEpicurusdenied，befriendme，andIwillcallEpicurusaliar！’
ChapterIV
THEAMPHITHEATREONCEMORE。
GLAUCUSandOlinthushadbeenplacedtogetherinthatgloomyandnarrowcellinwhichthecriminalsofthearenaawaitedtheirlastandfearfulstruggle。
Theireyes，oflateaccustomedtothedarkness，scannedthefacesofeachotherinthisawfulhour，andbythatdimlight，thepaleness，whichchasedawaythenaturalhuesfromeithercheek，assumedayetmoreashyandghastlywhiteness。Yettheirbrowswereerectanddauntless——theirlimbsdidnottremble——theirlipswerecompressedandrigid。Thereligionoftheone，theprideoftheother，theconsciousinnocenceofboth，and，itmaybe，thesupportderivedfromtheirmutualcompanionship，elevatedthevictimintothehero。
’Hark！hearestthouthatshoutTheyaregrowlingovertheirhumanblood，’
saidOlinthus。
’Ihear；myheartgrowssick；butthegodssupportme。’
’Thegods！Orashyoungman！inthishourrecognizeonlytheOneGod。
HaveInottaughttheeinthedungeon，weptforthee，prayedforthee？——inmyzealandinmyagony，haveInotthoughtmoreofthysalvationthanmyown？’
’Bravefriend！’answeredGlaucus，solemnly，’Ihavelistenedtotheewithawe，withwonder，andwithasecrettendencytowardsconviction。Hadourlivesbeenspared，Imightgraduallyhaveweanedmyselffromthetenetsofmyownfaith，andinclinedtothine；but，inthislasthouritwereacraventhing，andabase，toyieldtohastyterrorwhatshouldonlybetheresultoflengthenedmeditation。WereItoembracethycreed，andcastdownmyfather’sgods，shouldInotbebribedbythypromiseofheaven，orawedbythythreatsofhell？Olinthus，no！Thinkweofeachotherwithequalcharity——Ihonoringthysincerity——thoupityingmyblindnessormyobduratecourage。Ashavebeenmydeeds，suchwillbemyreward；andthePowerorPowersabovewillnotjudgeharshlyofhumanerror，whenitislinkedwithhonestyofpurposeandtruthofheart。Speakwenomoreofthis。Hush！
Dostthouhearthemdragyonheavybodythroughthepassage？Suchasthatclaywillbeourssoon。’
’OHeaven！OChrist！alreadyIbeholdye！’criedtheferventOlinthus，liftinguphishands；’Itremblenot——Irejoicethattheprison—houseshallbesoonbroken。’
Glaucusbowedhisheadinsilence。Hefeltthedistinctionbetweenhisfortitudeandthatofhisfellow—sufferer。Theheathendidnottremble；buttheChristianexulted。
Thedoorswunggratinglyback——thegleamofspearsshotalongthewalls。
’GlaucustheAthenian，thytimehascome，’saidaloudandclearvoice；’thelionawaitsthee。’
’Iamready，’saidtheAthenian。’Brotherandco—mate，onelastembrace！
Blessme——andfarewell！’
TheChristianopenedhisarms——heclaspedtheyoungheathentohisbreast——hekissedhisforeheadandcheek——hesobbedaloud——histearsflowedfastandhotoverthefeaturesofhisnewfriend。
’Oh！couldIhaveconvertedthee，Ihadnotwept。Oh！thatImightsaytothee，"WetwoshallsupthisnightinParadise！"’
’Itmaybesoyet，’answeredtheGreek，withatremulousvoice。’Theywhomdeathpartnot，maymeetyetbeyondthegrave：ontheearth——onthebeautiful，thebelovedearth，farewellforever！——Worthyofficer，Iattendyou。’
Glaucustorehimselfaway；andwhenhecameforthintotheair，itsbreath，which，thoughsunless，washotandarid，smotewitheringlyuponhim。Hisframe，notyetrestoredfromtheeffectsofthedeadlydraught，shrankandtrembled。Theofficerssupportedhim。
’Courage！’saidone；’thouartyoung，active，wellknit。Theygivetheeaweapon！despairnot，andthoumaystyetconquer。’
Glaucusdidnotreply；but，ashamedofhisinfirmity，hemadeadesperateandconvulsiveeffort，andregainedthefirmnessofhisnerves。Theyanointedhisbody，completelynaked，savebyacinctureroundtheloins，placedthestilus（vainweapon！）inhishand，andledhimintothearena。
AndnowwhentheGreeksawtheeyesofthousandsandtensofthousandsuponhim，henolongerfeltthathewasmortal。Allevidenceoffear——allfearitself——wasgone。Aredandhaughtyflushspreadoverthepalenessofhisfeatures——hetoweredalofttothefullofhisgloriousstature。Intheelasticbeautyofhislimbsandform，inhisintentbutunfrowningbrow，inthehighdisdain，andintheindomitablesoul，whichbreathedvisibly，whichspokeaudibly，fromhisattitude，hislip，hiseye——heseemedtheveryincarnation，vividandcorporeal，ofthevalorofhisland——ofthedivinityofitsworship——atonceaheroandagod！
Themurmurofhatredandhorrorathiscrime，whichhadgreetedhisentrance，diedintothesilenceofinvoluntaryadmirationandhalf—compassionaterespect；andwithaquickandconvulsivesigh，thatseemedtomovethewholemassoflifeasifitwereonebody，thegazeofthespectatorsturnedfromtheAtheniantoadarkuncouthobjectinthecentreofthearena。Itwasthegrateddenofthelion！
’ByVenus，howwarmitis！’saidFulvia；’yetthereisnosun。Wouldthatthosestupidsailorscouldhavefastenedupthatgapintheawning！’
’Oh！itiswarm，indeed。Iturnsick——Ifaint！’saidthewifeofPansa；
evenherexperiencedstoicismgivingwayatthestruggleabouttotakeplace。
Thelionhadbeenkeptwithoutfoodfortwenty—fourhours，andtheanimalhad，duringthewholemorning，testifiedasingularandrestlessuneasiness，whichthekeeperhadattributedtothepangsofhunger。Yetitsbearingseemedratherthatoffearthanofrage；itsroarwaspainfulanddistressed；ithungitshead——snuffedtheairthroughthebars——thenlaydown——startedagain——andagainuttereditswildandfar—resoundingcries。
Andnow，initsden，itlayutterlydumbandmute，withdistendednostrilsforcedhardagainstthegrating，anddisturbingwithaheavingbreath，thesandbelowonthearena。
Theeditor’slipquivered，andhischeekgrewpale；helookedanxiouslyaround——hesitated——delayed；thecrowdbecameimpatient。Slowlyhegavethesign；thekeeper，whowasbehindtheden，cautiouslyremovedthegrating，andthelionleapedforthwithamightyandgladroarofrelease。Thekeeperhastilyretreatedthroughthegratedpassageleadingfromthearena，andleftthelordoftheforest——andhisprey。
Glaucushadbenthislimbssoastogivehimselfthefirmestpostureattheexpectedrushofthelion，withhissmallandshiningweaponraisedonhigh，inthefainthopethatonewell—directedthrust（forheknewthatheshouldhavetimebutforone）mightpenetratethroughtheeyetothebrainofhisgrimfoe。
But，totheunutterableastonishmentofall，thebeastseemednotevenawareofthepresenceofthecriminal。
Atthefirstmomentofitsreleaseithaltedabruptlyinthearena，raiseditselfhalfonend，snuffingtheupwardairwithimpatientsighs；thensuddenlyitsprangforward，butnotontheAthenian。Athalf—speeditcircledroundandroundthespace，turningitsvastheadfromsidetosidewithananxiousandperturbedgaze，asifseekingonlysomeavenueofescape；onceortwiceitendeavoredtoleapuptheparapetthatdivideditfromtheaudience，and，onfailing，utteredratherabaffledhowlthanitsdeep—tonedandkinglyroar。Itevincednosign，eitherofwrathorhunger；
itstaildroopedalongthesand，insteadoflashingitsgauntsides；anditseye，thoughitwanderedattimestoGlaucus，rolledagainlistlesslyfromhim。Atlength，asiftiredofattemptingtoescape，itcreptwithamoanintoitscage，andoncemorelaiditselfdowntorest。
Thefirstsurpriseoftheassemblyattheapathyofthelionsoongrewconvertedintoresentmentatitscowardice；andthepopulacealreadymergedtheirpityforthefateofGlaucusintoangrycompassionfortheirowndisappointment。
Theeditorcalledtothekeeper。
’Howisthis？Takethegoad，prickhimforth，andthenclosethedooroftheden。’
Asthekeeper，withsomefear，butmoreastonishment，waspreparingtoobey，aloudcrywasheardatoneoftheentrancesofthearena；therewasaconfusion，abustle——voicesofremonstrancesuddenlybreakingforth，andsuddenlysilencedatthereply。Alleyesturnedinwonderattheinterruption，towardsthequarterofthedisturbance；thecrowdgaveway，andsuddenlySallustappearedonthesenatorialbenches，hishairdisheveled——breathless——heated——half—exhausted。Hecasthiseyeshastilyroundthering。’RemovetheAthenian，’hecried；’haste——heisinnocent！
ArrestArbacestheEgyptian——HEisthemurdererofApaecides！’
’Artthoumad，OSallust！’saidthepraetor，risingfromhisseat。’Whatmeansthisraving？’
’RemovetheAthenian！——Quick！orhisbloodbeonyourhead。Praetor，delay，andyouanswerwithyourownlifetotheemperor！Ibringwithmetheeye—witnesstothedeathofthepriestApaecides。Roomthere！——standback！——giveway！PeopleofPompeii，fixeveryeyeuponArbaces——therehesits！RoomthereforthepriestCalenus！’
Pale，haggard，freshfromthejawsoffamineandofdeath，hisfacefallen，hiseyesdullasavulture’s，hisbroadframegauntasaskeleton——CalenuswassupportedintotheveryrowinwhichArbacessat。Hisreleasershadgivenhimsparinglyoffood；butthechiefsustenancethatnervedhisfeeblelimbswasrevenge！
’ThepriestCalenus！——Calenus！’criedthemob。’Isithe？No——itisadeadman？’
’ItisthepriestCalenus，’saidthepraetor，gravely。’Whathastthoutosay？’
’ArbacesofEgyptisthemurdererofApaecides，thepriestofIsis；theseeyessawhimdealtheblow。Itisfromthedungeonintowhichheplungedme——itisfromthedarknessandhorrorofadeathbyfamine——thatthegodshaveraisedmetoproclaimhiscrime！ReleasetheAthenian——heisinnocent！’
’Itisforthis，then，thatthelionsparedhim。Amiracle！amiracle！’
criedPansa。
’Amiracle；amiracle！’shoutedthepeople；’removetheAthenian——Arbacestothelion！’
Andthatshoutechoedfromhilltovale——fromcoasttosea——’Arbacestothelion！’
Officers，removetheaccusedGlaucus——remove，butguardhimyet，’saidthepraetor。’Thegodslavishtheirwondersuponthisday。’
Asthepraetorgavethewordofrelease，therewasacryofjoy——afemalevoice——achild’svoice——anditwasofjoy！Itrangthroughtheheartoftheassemblywithelectricforce——it，wastouching，itwasholy，thatchild’svoice！Andthepopulaceechoeditbackwithsympathizingcongratulation！
’Silence！’saidthegravepraetor——’whoisthere？’
’Theblindgirl——Nydia，’answeredSallust；’itisherhandthathasraisedCalenusfromthegrave，anddeliveredGlaucusfromthelion。’
’Ofthishereafter，’saidthepraetor。’Calenus，priestofIsis，thouaccusestArbacesofthemurderofApaecides？’
’Ido。’
’Thoudidstbeholdthedeed？’
’Praetor——withtheseeyes……’
’Enoughatpresent——thedetailsmustbereservedformoresuitingtimeandplace。ArbacesofEgypt，thouhearestthechargeagainstthee——thouhastnotyetspoken——whathastthoutosay。
ThegazeofthecrowdhadbeenlongrivetedonArbaces：butnotuntiltheconfusionwhichhehadbetrayedatthefirstchargeofSallustandtheentranceofCalenushadsubsided。Attheshout，’Arbacestothelion！’hehadindeedtrembled，andthedarkbronzeofhischeekhadtakenapalerhue。
Buthehadsoonrecoveredhishaughtinessandself—control。Proudlyhereturnedtheangryglareofthecountlesseyesaroundhim；andreplyingnowtothequestionofthepraetor，hesaid，inthataccentsopeculiarlytranquilandcommanding，whichcharacterizedhistones：
’Praetor，thischargeissomadthatitscarcelydeservesreply。MyfirstaccuseristhenobleSallust——themostintimatefriendofGlaucus！mysecondisapriest；Ireverehisgarbandcalling——but，peopleofPompeii！yeknowsomewhatofthecharacterofCalenus——heisgripingandgold—thirstytoaproverb；thewitnessofsuchmenistobebought！Praetor，Iaminnocent！’
’Sallust，’saidthemagistrate，’wherefoundyouCalenus？’
’InthedungeonsofArbaces。’
’Egyptian，’saidthepraetor，frowning，’thoudidst，then，daretoimprisonapriestofthegods——andwherefore？’