He paused from his restless motions,
listened attentively, then repeated a line from Homer--
Ippon m' ochupodon amphi chtupos ouata ballei
(The resounding tread of swift-footed horses reverberates upon my ears);--
then under some momentary impulse of courage, gained perhaps by figuring
to himself the bloody populace rioting upon his mangled body, yet even
then needing the auxiliary hand and vicarious courage of his private
secretary, the feeble-hearted prince stabbed himself in the throat. The
wound, however, was not such as to cause instant death. He was still
breathing, and not quite speechless, when the centurion who commanded the
party entered the closet; and to this officer, who uttered a few hollow
words of encouragement, he was still able to make a brief reply. But in
the very effort of speaking he expired, and with an expression of horror
impressed upon his stiffened features, which communicated a sympathetic
horror to all beholders.
Such was the too memorable tragedy which closed for ever the brilliant
line of the Julian family, and translated the august title of Caesar from
its original purpose as a proper name to that of an official designation.
Pages:
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142