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VOL. 11.
[For the Banner of the South.]
Old Memories.
Sing that sweet melody again,
I heard it once in happier hours,
It falls upon my weary brain
Like breath of summer flowers.
It brings before my pensive mind,
The hallowed scenes of other years,
When life was one long day of joy,
Bright—unalloyed with tears.
The blooming hawthorn scents the air,
The lark’s loud song is in the sky,
And gathTing sweets from balmy flowers,
The bee hums merry by.
Again I hear my Mary’s voice,
Her matchless form I see once more,
Again her witching glance of love
Enchants me as of yore.
Her small white hand is clasped in mine,
Her fragrant breath is on my cheek, .
Wrapt in a trance of thrilling joy,
Our hearts too full to speak.
Oh ! could such ecstacy but last,
Such scenes of ravishing delight,
Who would exchange this earth of ours,
For other worlds, though bright.
The song is hushed, its echoes die,
Like fairy music in the air,
Out of its shell, so full of joy,
I wake to grief and care.
Augusta, Go. S.
[Written for the Banner of the South.]
6RENNUS—THE BARBARIAN,
A Tale of Rome in the Duys
of Paganism.
BY RUTH FAIRFAX.
[concluded.]
Nyda lingered not longer than was
absolutely necessary, but still Brennus
was there before her, impatiently await
ing the promised dress. The broad
mantle flung over his own dress and a
change of shoes was all that was necessa
ry to hide the peculiarity of his dress,
and, as the shades of evening deepened,
Brennus followed Nyda down the moun
tain path.
“ Should you not succeed, return to
me; if you are pursued, fly thither, I can
conceal you,' 7 said Nyda, as Brennus
turned his face toward Clusium.
‘ Pray to the Gods for 1110,” were the
last words of Brennus.
The strong athletic young warrior felt
scarcely any fatigue from his long walk
as he entered the streets of Clusium.
He soon found the small temple dedicated
to \ esta, and for two days hung around
the doors, yet not one word could he hear
about the idol of his heart. On the
third day, t’was whispered among those
who worshipped in the temple, that some
of the virgins were to be sent £to Borne,
m obedience to the command of the Pon
tilex, who this year was the father of the
young Boman whom we have found at
Clusium, Lucius Fabius. Brennus lis
tened intently, but to bis anger and con
tusion, two young nobles entered the
temple, and the conversation among the
gossips ceased.
“ Lucius, thou hast hurried me with
out cause,’ said the smaller of the two
men.
ihe name immediately arrested the
attention of Brennus, who, bending over
"tie cf the gossips, asked in a whisper :
“ How is your youDg noble named V ’
“ Lucius Fabius,” answered the person
addressed, with a stare of astonishment.
Turning on his heel, Brennus left the
temple, and stood in the outer court. In
a low minutes, Lucius and Caius came
forth. Brennus threw his foot forward,
Lucius stumbled over it, but did not fall,
for Ca.us caught his arm.
' Slave !" cried Lucius furiously.
Slave in thv face !” answered Bren-
nus scornfully. Instantly Lucius drew
his short sword from his belt.
“Be not so rash, Lucius; see’st thou
not that the man is a stranger, and
knows thee not,” said the more cautious
and humane Caius.
“’Tis Lucius Fabius, the son of the
Roman Pontifex, if I mistake not,” said
Brennus coldly.
“ See he knows me ! Slave, thou shalt
die !” and blind with rage, Lucius rushed
upon his foe. Brennus was not armed,
yet even so he was a full match for the
young Roman. With one sweep of his
powerful arm he laid Lucius at his feet,
and stood over him, with a smile of con
tempt flitting around his lips. Not long
did our brave Brennus enjoy his triumph,
in a moment his arms were seized and
bound with heavy thongs. The Gallic
warrior, a stranger and alone, stood
bound among a group of young nobles
who were thirsting for his blood. Cruel
men they were, who promised themselves
rare sport with the stranger.
“We will take him to the Governor!”
cried one.
“ No ! no ! we will not let him out of
our hands!” said another, violently pull
ing at the long golden locks of Brennus.
“For every hair of my head that falls
to the ground, one of thy number shall
fall also !” said Brennus in an impressive
tone.
For an instant, a deathlike silence per
vaded the group, but, Caius, burning
with the desire to avenge his friend,
grasped the hair of Brennus, and threw
a handful of the golden strands into
the air.
“ Let us oil fall then !” he cried; 1
am not afraid of thee, oh ! stranger,
and thy words fall on frozen ears ! To
you, my friends, I look for aid to avenge
my friend, Lucius Fabius !”
“A Roman!” said a voice in the
crowd.
“Yes! and a noble Roman!” cried
Caius; “ who is it that dares to murmur
at a Roman ?”
No one answered.
“Let us take him to the Governor!”
said the same person who had before
advocated this course.
“No! no!” cried fifty voices, as if
they had been but one.
“ Close the gate and give him a
sword!” said Caius. '
“ We dare not profane the court of
the temple thus,” said an old man,
trying to reach the side of Brennus.
His words were thrown away, for already
the gates were closed and the thongs cut
from the bands of Brennus.
“ It shall not be !” exclaimed the old
man. “ Rash young men, forbear!
Little do any of thee think what thou
art doing. Thou wilt call down upon
thyselves the anger of the gods! For
bear ! forbear ! I pray thee, forbear !”
Yet, still the young men heeded him
not. A sword was offered to Brennus,
but the old man held back his out
stretched hand.
“Do not take it, young man ! Seest
thou not these cruel eyes that look upon
thee ? Knowest thou not that there is
no hope of escape ? They seek to mur
der thee ! If thou shouldst conquer
one, two, a dozen, there would still be no
hope, for here are fifty others ! If they
will murder thee, here in the very court
of the temple, let them strike an unarmed
man—let them do a coward’s deed in
a coward’s way !”
“ Thou art right, most noble Aruns !”
said Brennus, bending low before the old
man. “I will not seek to defend myself;
let them strike !”
“ Behold ! He knows us all, though
tous he is a stranger!” said Caius; “give
no heed to his words, most noble youths!
Stand back, and with my own hand I
will shower his life-blood upon these
stones !”
“ Thou wilt not do this foul wrong !”
exclaimed Aruns. “ A stranger, and un
armed ! Oh! forbear, noble Caius, nor
stain thy hand with bis blood! Thou
A/IJG-TJST.A, GcJ O., SEPTEMBER 25, 1869.
canst not! thou shalt not harm him!
The gods themselves will interpose to
prevent thee ?”
“ Let thy gods help him, then !” and
Caius rushed upon Brennus.
“ Forbear!” cried a sweet silvery
voice.
The sword fell from the hand of Caius.
Coming from the door of
were three of the virgins of Yesta. Their
long white garments swept the ground in
loose folds, a narrow fillet of gold bound
their hair back from the brow, and their
hands were full of flowers. Brennus
could scarcely suppress a cry of delight
as his eyes rested upon the face of Yir
gilia, for she it was who cried “forbear !”
The fair maiden gave no token that
she knew him, and he held his peace.
“What wouldst thou do, men of Clusi
um ? Sully the pure temple of Yesta
with blood! Release the stranger !
Why hesitate, Caius ? We, servants of
Yesta, have the right to release any pris
oner we meet on our way from the tem
ple. Release then the stranger, and let
him g© forth !”
They could not deny her right, the
gates were opened, and slowly parting to
the right and left, they allowed Brennus
to leave the court.
Lucius had only been stunned by the
blow, and now sat on one of the stone
benches, leaning against his friend.
“ Thou hast me again, Aruns,”
said Lucius, in a husky voice; “beware
how thou dost attempt it a third time !”
“ Thy words are mysteries, Lucius. I
know not thy meaning,” said Aruns.
“ Know this, then: ’twas I who robbed
thee of thy daughter; aye, look at her!
there she stands, clad in the robes of
Yesta ! Thou hast lost her, and ’twas I
who put her here !” said Jiucius, in a ma
licious tone
“ I demand, then, that thou return her
to me !” said Aruns, fiercely.
Lucius laughed scornfully.
“Go, old man; go to thy home; I
have had my revenge. Go home, olj
man; I laugh thee to scorn !”
“ Thou dost laugh ! ’Tis well; may
the gods reward thee according to thy
deserts,” said Aruns, in a solemn tone.
“ Thou knowest thy duty, my father!”
said Yirgilia, in a meaning tone.
• “And will do it!” replied Aruns, going
out of the gate, while Yirgilia returned
into the temple.
“ W hat meant she !” asked Lucius.
“ I know not, but my heart feels
heavy,” said Caius; “thou shouldst not
have laughed at the old man’s grief,
Lucius!”
“ 110 ! woman, as thou art, thou’st not
the heart of a chicken !” cried Lucius.
But, let us not linger with these, but
follow Aruns as he leaves the gate of the
temple. He looked hastily up the street,
hoping to see Brennus, but he had dis
appeared.
“ Saw ye the young warrior who came
forth just now ?” he asked of his slaves,
who were awaitiug him without.
“ Yes, my lord, the stranger hath gone
with fleet steps 01 " he way that leads to
wards our own houc.”
“ Hasten, then, good Coqui, bring
hither my lectica, we will turn our faces
homeward.” * .
Quick to obey he wishes of their kind
master, the slave.: soon Lad his convey
ance ready, and in a very few moments
they commenced their journey. They
had not more than left the noise of the
city behind them when Brennus stood in
their way.
“ Thanks to thee, noble Aruns ; thou
hast been kind to a stranger.”
“ Come, walk by my side, young man;
I like thy fearless look,” said Aruns.
“ But looks lu and been lost in death if
thou badst not interfered,” answered
Brennus.
“But, tell if’, how then didst thou
know my name A said Aruns.
“ I have her i of thee, and I knew
by thy kind wo is that it could be no
other than the g od Aruns wh > spoke.”
“ Tell me,then, who thou art?” said
Aruns, eagerty.
“ As thou seest —a stranger !”
“ But, thy name ? How art thou
called ?”
“ Brennus.”
“ Brennus !” echoed Aruns, starting,
from his seat; “where heard I that name
before ? Where dost thou come, noble
Brennus ?”
“From Gallia!” answered Brennus,
proudly.
“ A Gaul ! a.” Aruns paused.
“ A barbarian !” said Brennus.
“ Nay ; I said not so!” exclaimed
Aruns.
“ Bat thou didst think it,” inteirupted
Brennus. “ And if 1 did, it does not
hurt thee, Brennus; nor do I feel as if
thou wert my enemy,” said Aruns eagerly.
“ Thy enemy! Brennus the enemy
of Arus ! The gods forbid ! I am thy
friend, thy servant, thy slave; ’tis for
Aruns to command and Brennus to obey.
What wouldst thou, Aruns? Speak !
What is the wish nearest thy heart?
Thou didst see how Yesta herself sent her
virgins forth to save me. Speak, then,
and tell me thy wish.”
“ Oh! my daughter,” cried Aruns, ex
cited by the enthusiastic manner of
Brennus, “if thou couldst but restore to
me my daughter.” *
“Thou shalt have her !” said Brennus.
“Nay, do not mock me, young man;
thou hast not the power,” said Aruns,
sadly.
“Mock Never! What, mock
the father of Yirgilia, the sweet maiden,
who but now saved my life ? I have a
heart, Aruns, barbarian as lain,” said
Brennus.
“Surely, thou art a child of the gods,”
said Aruns, looking at his handsome com
panion; “surely thou art—how else
couldst thou be here alone ?”
“I am no child of the gods,” answered
Brennus, smiling; “I am only a strong
young warrior, who will devote his life
to the service of Aruns and \ irgilia. Say
but to me, ‘Brennus, my son, bring to
me my daughter/ and thou shalt have
her !”
“ Oh ! Brennus, my son, bring my
child to me, and no reward that thou
canst demand will be too great to give
thee !” said Aruns, clasping his hands.
“ ’Tis well,” answered Brennus, placing
the hands of Aruns on his bowed head ;
“thou shalt have her; I swear it.”
CHAPTER IV.
Aruns was left alone in his grand old
house. Brennus had hastily departed,
with his last words imparting consolation
to the almost broken-hearted father.
The days passed wearily away, and the
eyes of Aruns and his slaves were almost
tired with gazing up the mountain, for
the form of Brennus met not their eyes.
Their hearts were growing sick with hope
deferred, and fear again brooded over
them. Still the time passed on; forty
times the sun rose and set. Aruns was
in despair. During all this time, he had
not been idle; appeal after appeal .had
been made to those who held the power,
for the restoration of his child. Twice
had lie bsen to Clusium, and once to
Rome. In vain—all in vain; those hearts
of marble were not to be softened by a
parent’s tears ; and now the faint hope
that Brennus may yet return, is all that
is left to him. On the sixtieth day after
the departure of Brennus, Aruns, with
his slaves, stood without his door, gazing
with the intense longing of despair upon
the spot where he had last seen the
Gallic warrior. Suddenly Nyda utters a
scream of delight.
“What is it, my child ?” cried Aruns. j
“ I see a form moving on die mountain I
side, tell me is it he? my eyes are old,
thine are young. What see you Nyda?”
“ It is Brennus that I see, but wbat
means be ! Look, my master, he climbs
the huge rock that stands in the path
way; his armor glitters in the sunlight
like a sheet of gold. Look, Coqui! is it
his hair that glows so brightly, or hath
the gods crowned him with sunlight ?”
“ Neither, young maiden,” answered
the man addressed; ’tis his helmet that
glitters so, and I take it ’tis of gold.”
“Behold! He is not alone,” ex
claimed Nyda; “six others—see you
them, my master ?—are going up after
him. He holds a staff in his hand.
See, Coqui, he waves it aloft ! The
gods defend us ! Who are those com
ing over the mountain ?”
As she spoke, the .clash of arms
filled the air, and the mountain side
was covered with a living verdure—
an armed host. To these Brennus re
sumed speaking, though he was too far
off for his words to be heard by Aruns.
“ Oh! child, what a fearful mistake
you have made; these are enemies that
are pouring down the mountain side ;
our friend Brennus is not there/’ said
Aruns, in an agitated tone.
“ But, see! the warrior is coming
down. Look, master, how he bounds
along the mountain path. Is it not
Brennus? Ah! my master, I have seen
him thus too often not to know him
now.” *
“ How sayest thou, girl? Thou’st
seen him often.? Thou dost not know
what thou wouldst say; but, you arc
right, ’tis indeed Brennus, but he comes
not alone.”
“See! the six are with him, but the
armed warriors remain upon the moun
tain side, said Nyda, exultingly. “Ah!
said I not that Brennus was a noble in
his own land ? Behold ! he commands
an armed host.”
“But what will he do with them? why
comes he here ?” asked Aruns, in u
trembling tone.
“Ask him,” answered Nyda, moving
aside as Brennus sprang to the side ot
Aruns, and then kelt before him, placing
the old man’s hand on his head in token
of submission.
“Thou hast come, Breunus. I have
waited until my heart grew sick,” said
Aruns.
“ I have come to redeem my promise.
Behold, said Brennus! waving his hand
toward the mountain.
“ And what wilt thou do with those
warriors
“March to the gates of Clusium, and
demand thy daughter!” said Brennus.
“And who art thou that canst thus
bring armed men to do thy bidding,”
said Aruns, gazing with feelings of awe
upon the noble form, clad in shining ar
mor, that stood so proudly before him.
“I am Brennus, the Barbarian, King of
the Gauls,” said our boro, with an air of
conscious power.
“King of the Gauls !” echoed Aruns ;
“and hast thou, most noble Brennus.
come hither with thy armed warriors to
restore my child to me ?”
“ Such is my purpose, noble Aruns.”
“ And what reward can 1 give to a
King ?” asked Aruns in a low voice.
“ Thou canst give me thy child, when
the times comes that I can prove my.-eif
worthy of her,” answered Brennus, with
a proud smile.
“ Thou sayest well, oh! Brennus, ’ said
Aruns; “my child is indeed agift worthy
the acceptance of a king. But, listen to
me, young warrior, I will not lorce the
inclination of my child; if thou canst win
her heart, Brennus shall be my son.”
“Then call the blessing of the gods
upon me, for I have already won the
heart of Virgilia, as Nyda here can tell
thee,” said Brennus.
“Thy words are mysterious/’ answered
Aruns; “yet I see by Nyda’s smiling
lips that she knows thee well. Thou shalt
have my child, Brennus, if thou canst
rescue her.”
“Leave that to me,” said Brennus, and
placing a silver trumpet to his lips, h
called his warriors to the valley.
CHAPTER Y.
King Jlrennus and his barbarians laid
seige to the Etruscan city of Clusiu m.
ISTo. 28/
