Duller and duller, hoarser and hoarser, more and more painful grew the groan of the bull as it mingled with the loud breathing of the giant. The head of the beast turned more and more, and from 5 his jaws crept forth a long, foaming tongue. 10 15 A moment more, and to the ears of spectators sitting nearer came, as it were, the crack of breaking bones; then the beast rolled on the earth with his neck twisted in death. The giant removed in an instant the ropes from the horns of the bull, and, raising the maiden, he stood for a moment as if only half conscious; then he raised his eyes and looked at the spectators. The amphitheater had gone wild. The walls of the building were trembling from the roar of tens of thousands of people. Everywhere were heard cries for mercy, passionate and persistent, which soon turned into one unbroken thunder. The giant had become dear to those 20 people enamored of physical strength; he was the first personage in Rome. He looked around awhile; then approached Cæsar's podium and, holding the body of the maiden on his outstretched arms, raised his eyes 25 with entreaty, as if to say: "Have mercy on her! Save the maiden. I did that for her sake." Pity burst forth suddenly like a flame. The people had had blood, death, and torture in sufficiency. Voices choked with tears began to entreat mercy for both. Now Vinicius started up from his seat, sprang 5 over the barrier which separated the front places from the arena, and, running to Lygia, covered her body with his toga. Then he tore apart the tunic on his breast, laid bare the scars left by wounds received in the Armenian war, and stretched out 10 his hands to the audience. At this the enthusiasm of the multitude passed everything seen in a circus before. Voices calling for mercy grew simply terrible. People not only took the part of the athlete, but arose in defense 15 of the soldier, the maiden, their love. Thousands of spectators turned to Cæsar with flashes of anger in their eyes and with clenched fists. But Nero hesitated. Now rage began to possess the multitude. Dust 20 rose from beneath the stamping feet and filled the amphitheater. In the midst of shouts were heard cries: "Matricide! Incendiary!" Nero was alarmed. He looked once more at Subrius Flavius, at 25 Scevinus the centurion, a relative of the senator, at the soldiers; and seeing everywhere frowning brows, angry faces, and eyes fixed on him, he gave the sign for mercy. amphitheater: a building, circus: an inclosure for shows. generally circular in form, made to hold large crowds. - strophes : verses. - podium: a wall from the top of which seats begin in an amphitheater. —vestals: young women whose business it was to keep the sacred fire always burning. — Hercules: a fabled demigod of wonderful strength. - aurochs: a large animal like the American buffalo, or bison. - toga: the long outer garment worn by Romans. Theseus: a legendary hero of Greece who slew the Minotaur. the sign for mercy: given in various ways. The signal to kill was to turn the thumbs down. From Quo Vadis. Translated from the Polish original by Jeremiah Curtin. Little, Brown & Co., Publishers. SONG OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE SIDNEY LANIER Out of the hills of Habersham, Down the valleys of Hall, I hurry amain to reach the plain, With a lover's pain to attend the plain Far from the hills of Habersham, All down the hills of Habersham, All through the valleys of Hall, The ferns and the fondling grass said Stay, Here in the valleys of Hall. High o'er the hills of Habersham, Veiling the valleys of Hall, The hickory told me manifold The chestnut, the oak, the walnut, the pine, Deep shades of the hills of Habersham, And oft in the hills of Habersham, The white quartz shone, and the smooth 5 10 15 20 |