The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

THE NEMESIS : A TALE OF THE DAYS OF TRAJAN .

By BEO . A . ONEAI . HAVE , KM ., K . Gal ., Corresponding Member of the German Society , Leipzig ; Knight Templar , Scot . ; Author of "The History of the Knights Templars ;" " Vara Queer ; " " Gatherings in Wanderings ; " " Songs and Ballads ; " "Poemata- " "Legends of ' Edinburgh . ' 8 fc , § -c , Sfc ; Poet Laureate of the Ganongate , Kilwin ning ; P . M . St . Stephens ; P . P . Z . of St . Andrews , E . A

Chap . ; § 'c . ; Sfc . ( Concluded from page 386 . ) CHAPTER XXXV . THE CHKISTIANS TO THE LIONS . " Hence ; home , you idle creatures , get you home ;

Is this a holiday ? Avhat ! know you not , Being mechanical , yon ought not to walk Upon a labouring day without the sign Of your profession ?"—Shakespeare . " And here the buzz of eager nations ran , In murmured pity , or loud-roared applause ,

As man was slaughtered by his fellowrnan . "—Byron . The streets of Rome are full of crowds , all hastening to the Coliseum , for Trajan gives a grand display of fights . The citizens shudder with delight as they think on the banquet of blood

which awaits them , strong slaves to do battle with the wild beasts , swordsmen with the net bearers , gladiators with gladiators . " Oh , Jove , for a good place , " is their cry , for never in the recollection of the citizens had such a bloody feast been promised

them . But another attraction was offered , two Christians were to die , not of humble or obscure life , but Caius Fabius , the gallant soldier , the sweet poet , and Paulus their chieftain . They Avere doomed to die unless they recanted ancl worshipped Jove , but the Romans prayed to Jupiter to keep

them from recanting . They wished to have their eyesight glutted with blood , and they could not spare one victim . They forgot what Caius had done for the Emperor , for Rome , for themselves . But the citizens who sacrificed the Gracchi lived

again in their descendants , and the vulgar herd knew not gratitude or shame , as they shouted " the Christians to the lions /'' At one of the entrances to the galleries Lyons , Sennpronius , and Marcellus stood engaged in

earnest talk , for they waited the coming of Dentatus , who had gone to make a final attempt to win the Emperor ' s pardon for Paulus and Caius . Dentatus at length joined them , but it was evident he had been unsuccessful , from the gloom upon

his brow . " Now , by the gods of war ! " exclaimed Dentatus , "I shall never do a good turn to man again /'

" What is the Emperor ' s answer . ' ' " Listen . I went to him to make a last appeal . I pointed out the services which Caius had rendered Rome , and the innocent and blameless life of Paulus , ancl he told me , " these go for nothing ' ,

let them worship Jove and live . " Cassins and those infernal priests were at his side , and nodded approval , which roused my ire , and I gave them ancl the Emperor a piece of my mind , and ended

by saying that banishment from Rome was a sufficient punishment . Thereupon Cassius struck in furiously , but I closed his mouth by telling him to keep free from the wine cup , and live a chaster life in future , or Ave would have him thrown to the

lions for a Bacchanal . The Emperor looked undecided , and seeing this I reminded him how thrice Caius had saved his life in battle , and it would call down upon him the vengeance of the gods , were he to sacrifice his deliverer . " " Ah ! and what said he ?"

" Faith , the priests began to clamour so loudly that I took my leave , and here I am . " " I believe Trajan would let them go , if it were nob for Cassius . Well , let him look to it . I swear to revenge their deaths upon that vile priest . "

" And Ave are all with you , " and they kept their oath , lying upon the scent till they discovered the priest guilty of an offence against the state , which got him a pitch over the Tarpeian rock . The Coliseum Avas full from top to bottom , and ; ,

like a curtain , the walls were draped with human faces . Old men and young , painted hags and blooming damsels Avere there , all in eager expectation of the commencement of the entertainment .

Only the old comrades of the gallant Fabius wore sad faces , and Avoe betided the Roman who jostled them , a WOAV from the hilt of a sword was the gentle reply , which spoiled the countenance of the sight-seer , and his delight for the day .

" By Mars , " said old Dentatus , " had we but a centurion ' s band here Ave would carry off Caius in the face of the priests and Rome . It is not the first time the praetorians have given the law . But here comes the Emperor , how the mob howls like

sycophant slaves . Jove blast them . " The entrance of the Emperor was a signal for the commencement of the sports , gladiator after gladiator Avas despatched , the Avild beasts fought with the slaves , and were slain or sleAV . There was

no pity shown for the vanquished . Tender maidens pressed down the thumb , which doomed the unfortunates to death . And the sun mounts