Graham's Magazine, Vol. XIX, No. 1, July 1841Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XIX, No. 1, July 1841
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
he saw not the procession nor the pomp, nor knew that they but
marshalled him to death.
Behind this lamentable group stalked, two and two, with their dread
implements (the rod-bound axes,) ready and glittering coldly in the sun,
the lictors; and behind these, on foot, and in his toga all unadorned
and simple, the consul colleague of the triumphant chief; and after him
the senate, renowned, grave and wise—stately, sublime assemblage! Then,
with the din of martial music, and the loud clash of brazen armor, their
helmets all enwreathed with branches of the bay tree, their banners and
their eagles entwined and over-canopied with laurel, on swept the
conquering army; each legion, with its horse, its skirmishers, its
engines, its legate and his tribunes on their proud chargers, and its
centurions marching at the head each of his manipule, rolled on—row
after row of brass, solid, compact, immovable—a vast machine of men,
with but one voice, one stride, one motion for ten thousand human
beings. “Io Triumphe! Io Pæan! Ho! for the godlike General! Ho! for the
conquering army!” Such was the pomp of Marius, but so closed not the
line of the procession, for every soul of Rome’s vast population swelled
it for miles in length; old tottering grandsires, men in the prime of
manhood, youths in the flush of spring-time, boys, children, infants at
the breast, matrons and brides and maidens—all ranks, all classes, all
conditions—the proud, luxurious patrician, the turbulent democracy,
mechanics from the suburbs and farmers from the colonies, and slaves and
freedmen, all thronged exultingly the via Sacra, all swelled the shout
for Marius.
And now they reached the capitol, and the great leader slowly descended
from his car, and, led by pontifex and priest, mounted the hundred steps
of brass, and stood before the temple of Jupiter Capitoline, the
guardian god of the great city. Then louder pealed the trumpets and the
hymns, and incense smoked up to the skies, veiling the very temple, in
its dense wreaths of snow, from those who gazed up thither from the
Forum. The prayers were prayed, the offerings tendered to the god, the
victims slaughtered, the supplication and thanksgiving ended. Then, in
the temple of the god, the Senate and the Consuls feasted, and the lord
of that high feast was Caius Marius. Wine flowed and golden goblets
clanged, and there was merriment and revelry and joy.
And where was he—Jugurtha?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account