POETRY.
FAME.
To ilie and leave behind -j,
Nought of surviving fainc, (
Of tho divine, creating mlntl
xTo trace no single name;
To know no deed, no word,
Onr memory to restore, ' .
But that when gone, there shall be heard
Of us no mention more, N
av mock not 'that thou Im.ir'ut mnmuli:
fy Friend! this is indeed to die.
But to live on and on,
Afno'ng the grcat'tho gba,
Eternal station to have won
'Mid the high brotherhood;
Deep in the hearts' of men
Enshrin'd 'to lie; .
To shine u beacon to the ken
Of far posterity:
Who would not days for ages gWcl
"Who would not die, sucA'lifo to Ilvo ?
AVhatidlo words are theirs,
Who bid us bound our powers
To passing, pleasures, present cfcres,
Brief as tho flcetinpr hours 1
So deemed not they I ween,
The great of other day's,
Whoso brows still wear the living green,
Whoso lamps still brightly blaze;
'So deemed nt'thcy,vh6. struck tho lyre
With Milton's truths, with H&mcr'afirc.
fro! from a fount divino
These restless longjng8t comer-1
Thishopo in hohor'd light 16'smrto
Abovo the cold dark tomb,
Oh! when from life I part,
Let mo not wholly die;
"Still with sweet song to charm the heart,
Or raise with musings high,
"Still fiVo in the rcrncnittar'd line
Oh! might this glorious meed be mine.
From tho New York Mirror
THE MUFFLED PRIEST.
Tho isles of the chapel, lately thronged
"with fnany worshippers, were silent:-
The sounds of prayer which had echoed
through the grained roof, were hushed.
Thcassciribly which had knelt in sdlcmn,
but erroneous, devotion, had disappeared;
'and the stone image the senseless object
of their adoration smiled grimly in the
gloomy loneliness; as his chisscllcd fca
lures displayed themselves in the temple
erected by superstitious wealth td Ills ser
ried.
But one individual remained, along robe
of sbmbre hue concealing his person who
leaned, as if in deep thought, against the
pedestal on whidh stood the deity. He
was the deity
Alongshadow was cast oil the fibor, and
instantly afterward a tall gaunt figure ap
peared at the door. A mantle of spotless
white overhung his shoulders, scarcely
concealing his broad and ample chest. The
directness of his carriage, the dignity of his
attitude, the fire of his eye, the boldnes of
his step, and the proud curl upon1 his lip,
proclaimed him to be a man of rank and
"ambition
A contemptuous sneer played upon his
countenance as he cast his eyes about the
sanctuary, ho glanced toward thd stem
deity itself, as its deformed features seemed
to assume an expression of indignation at
lhq,audacity of the intruder. The' stranger
thon turned toward the altar on which, in a
golden vaso richly studded with jewels,
! burned an offering of frankincense, emitting
a pale blue smoke which rose arid festoon
4 cd from pillar to pillar, disseminating its
perfume through the adjacent space. None
,'of these, however, seemed to produce cither
awo or respect in tho mind of the Roman;
for, striding past the shrine, he cried,
'Priest! dost sleep?"
The individual whom he addressed-
slowly turned his head, muttered, "'tis hoif'
mnn urawunr ms ruuu muru ciusuiv uuuul
. i ,i - i I. . i .
himr answered
; "No IsIccp not. The priest of this dc
ity is not-aa other men, he needs no sleep.'
'Cease this folly," cried the senator
impatiently! ""Well I know all tricks and
Jugglers or thy craft savo thy precious
' .... a ...
irasn 10 cose mo vulgar reserve uicicc-
. nn rVi ill rt fnra t.rltvf frrwiftt n- fK t'tr 1 1 1 1 V V
if stonel"
"Beware! rash man," returned the priest,-
,'how, in tho sanctity of his house, you
tita vntifroinw llinn -1(in
fill, j 41d bllQUUItUU . . .. t . MIUU llllltHV.I
tone may" possess power to strike terror to
ven thy stubborn heart."
Forbear this idle' talk," exclaimed the
.1
uicr.
' "Idle talk!" repeated the' priest, with
;ep solemnity 01 manner, "ODauraie as
tou art, this deity, through me, can dis-
ose what would make ttieo tremble!
"I would fain witness theskill ot which'
ou vauntest," daid the senator, in a more
riotls nUnricr, for lie' was unconsciously
bibinjf1 a portion of tho awe which per
iled tho place'.-
Thou shalt be gratified," rot'urnod the
pHBT;" mm I ji63T1llp tlioTniithlt'st
buried jii thine own bosom,-unknown by
others; if I disclose it to thec, doubt not.
that ho who presides here canrcad the hearts
of alt whblippro'ach lnm, whether to cor
ship or to scotT."
Proceed, proceed," encu tine other.
Twenty years since, Armenius, thou
Were a -general, tho commander of a le
gion
'Well dono for the omniscience of 'thy
god," cried the Roman jceringly, "My
niariy triumphs have chronicled the truth Of
'thy "remarks in tho archives of the republic.
s this thy wonder1!" .
'Interrupt me not," answered the priest
calmly; "when I 'finish, speak what words
thou'st mind till then, listen. Twenty
years sinco when tlibu Wert a general thou
hadst a friend ha! start'st thou now!
Twenty years sinco I too had a friend,
but I do not tremble. Thy friend loved
thee, served thee, and shared his all with
thee. Through his high influence, when
accused beford the senate, thou saved thy
name, thy hondr, and thy life. Although
thy junior, thou soughlest him foradviccj
and using it didst bind thy brow with lau
rels of victory. When surrounded by bar
barians, and the pilum, taken from one of
thine own band, was hurled at thec, his
buckler warded off tho well directed blow
but, "and his manner became iriorcim
pi'essivc his voice more melodious, "that
friend, alas ! loved an Italian girl, soft, pure,
arid lovely as the sky which arches over
her native landsee, thou start st again! did
I not tell thee I would make thee tremble?
Yes, he loved the girl not with the vile
feeling which tempted thee to ga'zc upon
her charms, and admire her for them alone.
His fondness was fdr herself, her rich an
gelic mind, more than even her dazzling
beauty. Treacherously thou strov st to
supplant him in her affections by the splen
dor of military rank, knowing, as he had
confided to thee, that their vows had been
exchanged. Thou found'st thy arts useless
and did'st chanse thy love to hatred. The
girl became thy friend's wife when thou,
falsely accusing him of crime, didst use thy
power to tear him from her arms sell him
into bondage confiscate his property and
strike his name from the list of citizens
His wife survived her miseries but a year,
while thou didst return to the capital loa
ded with the spoils of the enemy. Yet
with the red hot hand of guilt giaspingthy
conscience, and even now, proud and 6s
tentatious before the world, the god tells
me in thy chamber thou'rt a coward star
ting, in alarm, if the least noise breaks on
the midnight."
"Who art thou that dost know all this?'
cried the Roman, in evident alarm.
"I am the priest," answered the other
"of the deity who can unnerve even the
Roman senator!"
A paleness overspread the face of Ame
nious,, as he looked iirst on tlie graven
image and then on his oracle, hut; by a vio
lent exertion, resuming his wonted carelcas
ness of demeanor, ho said,
"Well, if it is so, let it rest though 'tis
all false, as thou hast said, yet here is a
purse; I present it to thy god or thec; I
suppose it's tho same' thing I will to-inor-
row add another. He may be all thou'st
represented hrmr, but I believe neither in
stocks nor in stones however, I have an
object; but Arst, priest canst thou keep a
secret?"
'Why ask, have I not formerly done so
for theel"
"Tis true! but this is of more ifrfpor
tance."
"So shall my Hps' be' surer guarded."
"Priest, I am rich!"
"Thy gift to me ha proved' it." '
"I am bountiful!"
"Yonder jewelled vase attests it."
"Well, then, I will trust thec; serve me
well and I will erect a sanctuary to thy
; deity the proudest in Rome."
"Affr ears are open and my heart
prepared to m6et thy words," said the
priest.- t
"'Tis this," continued AmortfdiisV "Tl
proud Augustus, our new censor, is about
to make himself pnnco of tho senate, and
I would thwart him. I have no lino of
rfobfe ancestors On whom to base niy
claims; it is superstition that must aid rac
that thou canst cfimmarid. Thy temple
is tho resort' of tho rich and the poor of the
city of tho high and the low; by thy aid
nnd that of yonder stone, my desires may
be accompHshod,if thou wilt, and I suc
ceed in my designs, I swear to keep my
p'roihfsol" : .
The priest Cbhsefifpilj wliffh' the two,
hanlf coiiate formic further
ancc of their scheme,' the aspiring senator
withdrew: while the priest, drawing aside
a veil, entcre'd an inner apartment, an'd
the shades of night cnvclojicd'thc capital o
the 'world.
Tho multitudious noises of tho gay mc-
liopolis had subsided the twilight had
passed away, and tho moon shone bright
ly in the cloudless firmament 'twas mid
night.
Each pillar reared its graceful capital
distinct in tho silvery flood which illumin
cd the earth with nearly the brilliancy of
sunshine, savo where its rays were caught
and reflected back by the palo marble
which roso in tasteful intercolumination,
rirodnd the princely 'mansion of Arme
nius.
One object oilly gave animation to the
scene, and even he appeared scarcely liv
ing, for in the darkness of a deep shadow
ho stood as if transfixed, and made no mo
tioh"; save nbw and then the hand, Which
was laid upon his breast', would contract,
as if with nervous action.
Another figure is added to the scene
she glides on tip-toe, and rapidly flies to
meet tho youth; she throws herself into
his arms his lips meet hers tho sudden
transport 'Of delight the impassioned cm
brace declares them to be lovers.
Stealing noiselessly into the deeper
shade of an adjacent Wall, they are con
cealcd from every eye save that of Him
who cannot look upon such love, so pure
so fervid, and so disinterested, but with
pity on the sad fate which .separated
them;
"Agricola; ldvc," wispcred tho maid,
"have I lingered too long from thee? thou
wilt forgive me; it was to avoid detection
that I tarried."
The youth seized her tapering fin
gers in his own and pressed them to his
Uosom:
"No, love'," he cried, pressing her
hands to his lips, and bathing them in the
sea of agony which was rushing from his
eyes. "No, alas, thou hadst not lingered
long enough: would that thou hadst never
come!"
"Say not s'd, Agricola. Wherefore
dost thou weep thus?" she inquired, sooth
ingly:
"Because," ho replied, "this is the last
time that we meet, Sylvia, and may I not
consecrate it by a tear as one of fond re
membrance?" '
"The last, Agricbki!" sobbed the tender
girl. "Oh name it not, wo never will part
again."
"Alas! what wouldst thou?"
"Live with thee; die with thec; Sylvia
would be thy wife."
"No, no!" exclaimed the youth, as
pang of grief darted through his soul, "no
Sylvia, it may riot be!"
"Then," said she reprovingly, "thmi
dost not ltivc me, or thou wouldst not cast
me off."
"Love you!" cried he, "it is that I love
well, too"
"Then why not listen to my prayer?"
"Alas! it is that I love too deeply."
"No," cried tho girl, "no, Agricola
didst thou love like me; like me, adore
thou wouldst cast aside these fears."
" Fears!" repeated tho youth, dropping
lus hand and flashing a fire from his eye.
which illuminated the space abtfu't them
"icars, oyivia: mou dost not Know me
to me fear is a stranger. 'Tis not that
which influences me; but recollect, girl
Agricola is a slave!"
The momentary sternness which he had
assumed did not, however, damp the ar
dour of tho girl: it seemed to render him
still dearer to her. She placed her fragile
arm about his manly ne.-k, and in a tone of
gentle reproach. Rebuko mo not my love,
she said, "thou knowest Agricolais a slave
Sylvia would share bondage with him.
Herlovo should make his slavery sweeter
fa"f than freedom."
"Desist, I pray thee," responded tho
youth, encircling hefr waist with his arm,
with respectful tenderness, and softening
his tone, "remembering your father is a Ro
man!" "I know it well," she an'swored, eagerly
"yet still I lovo theo?"
"I know it, Sylvia; alas, too well; but
were I to wed thec, it would draw his in
dignation on us both. For myself I care
not; but for thee tho gods know, sooner
would I give my head to the executioner
than those bright eyes should lower before
tho lrown ol sn angry father. Sylvia, it
must iip'lS?;" .ai?d rclasiig"; ItlKhaffllttt
agony', luT added; "let mo ..remain a slave,
though the . worthy daughter of a Ro
man." - , ..
'Cruel as thou art I still will lovo thec,
she whispered through iiis ears; "none but
'ice I livo or caro for. My latners
wrath I heed pot, so that I possess tliec; i
care "
'Hist.' said her lover, as ho carefully
leaned toward the spot they had just quit
ted, 'when last wo met 1 heard a noiso like
that which just struck upon mine ear
Sylvia, awayl'
'Never,' cried the girl, illicit witn love s
desperation, and clinging more closely to
him, "never, till thou'st promised, l win
die with thee Agricola, but will not loose
thec!"
A faint noiso resembling a foot-fall broke
on the silence. As Agricola strove to dis
engage himself from the virgin, who twined
her arms wildly about his neck.
'Begone, Sylvia I bc3ceeh!"
'Till you promise never!' she articulated,
nearly choaked with emotion.
Again the noiso was heard if they were
discovered ruin would befall the idol of his
heart, and he bo degraded by the lash. A
moment more; it would be loo late; he put
his lips to her 'car
I promise.'
In the next instant the light form of the
maid Was lost among the columns, and her
lover, looking hastily about saw the shad
ow, evidently that of a man, cast on the
pavement near him, but so instantaneous
was the disappearance that it had vanished
ere ho was fully aWarc of the reality. He
kneeled and placed his car on the stones, but
all was silent savo tho short beatings of
his heart;
The immoveable features of the pagan
idol wero dimly visible in the breaking day
that stole through the portico of his temple,
while equally inflexible; the priest sat at
its feet, his face hid in the ample folds of
his mantle, presenting only the undeftned
outlines of a man.
As the gray haze of morning yielded to
the strengthening tlawn, the senator, with
a deep frown settled on his brow, walked
in and saluted the priest who rose to re
ceive hint:
'Why here, and so early?" domanded the
latter. 'I could effect nothing in the short
pciiod since we parted yesterday."
"'Tis not for that I sought thee," an
swered the visitor.
"Then why this visit?" returned the
priest.
"For vengeance!"
"Thou shall have it," replied the priest,
gathering his robe about him."
"Thou knowest not what I mean, foolish
priest."
"Still thou shalt have vengeance;" and a
dry cough, like a death rattle, sounded in
the throat of the priest it might have been
a laugh.
"Silence," said the senator, sternly lay
ing his clenched hand upon the alter, "the
new made laws have deprived us of our
innate right to punish our slaves' with'dcatl
yet 1 have a slave must die!"
An invdofitary shudder passed over tins
heathen priest, but he pulled tis robo more
closely about him and the start passed un
observed. Am'emus continued.
"I have a niece, my brother's daughter.
Sho lives with mo, my adopted child.
I his slavo has dared to love her. I could
let that pass, but she, tho daughter of a
frecborn son of Rome, forgetting her birth,
returns his passion. I heard her swear it to
him at the last midnight That seals his
uoom, and the slave shall d'ro! Wero it
not that suspicion resting on mo might blight
my brilliant Hopes, tins hand had done tho
deed; but I am unused to tricks, I leave it
to thee; thy trado is craftiness, and thou
canst lull suspicion. That's but mv fee:
he said casting a bag of gold upon the altar,
"my reward shall make theo rich!"
'Tis well muttere'd1 tho piiest, 'how call-
est thou the slave?" "Agricola."
mi ii . .
i ne suuuon start and half word which
l.i
escapeu mo priest, caught tho other's atten
tion.
Why startest thou?' hn ilnmr.n.i-,1
'I started!' answered the priest, recover-
mrr htmofilf nml 1-..1 p .1
" w""i ""filing lortn an arm
much withered and shrunken, "because
this hand was novcr dipped fn blood."
"A wise priest," said tho senator, scorn
uuiy, -i see my object; well, he it so, and
ho throw another purso upon the alter.
'Thy words must bo my law; said tho
l-nuai inaiovtonc--l)ut, away! the pep
nlfi COmn tn u-nruliin
J plo come to worship.
TlftTTgriator 'etStTfeemclihitr .Me, ftn
the muffled face of-tho priest, ho drew hh
robe about him, and casting a disdainful
obk on the throng which now commenced
kneeling about the image, left tho chapel.
When tlie worsnippcre nati concluded
their dcvolicns they rclircd, nnd soon the
priest was left alone with one person itbo
still knelt at the altar. The priest having
carefully fastened tho doors, tho devotee
rose, and, casting aside the gray manlle
which disguised him, exhibited the fine
form of Agricola the slave.
Father," said he, "I crave thy blessings.
Thou hast been ever kirld to Agricola; but
he is poor, and all that ho can return ho
now presents to thee, ihc love that springs
from his heart."
"'Tis all I ask," cried the priest, casting
aside his mantle and embracing him, "the
love of tho good is the greatest treasure.
But, my son, thou hast failed in confidence
to mo, and dangers bc3et thy path ranged
thicker than tho pikes of the Macedonian."
Agricola blushed and sank his head upon
hitf Lrcast.
"It is true," he replied; "that I have not
told thee all but now
111II1U lb IlUb I1U A 1I!UV Ull, 111U
t:...i : ... ....... i i. n." .i.
youth glanced incredulously into his face, .
when the priest taking his hand, continu
ed, "yes all thou lovest thy master's a-
dopted daughter, artd sho returns thy love.
Is it not so?"
"Alas! alas! too rightly hast thou said,"
answered the young man despondingly.
"Say hot alas!" cried tho priest, his eyes
brightening with delight, "she shall be thy
wife!"
"My wife!" repeated Agricola, retiring
a few paces, regarding the other with aston
ishment, "and I a slave!"
"Fear not! if thou wouldst ho happy obey
me; At midnight fly hither with thy bride
and I will unite thec."
"But, remember," said the youth, tor
tured with many conflicting emotions, "tho
populace will slay tHce if thou dost tiiitte
a slave to a free-born girl!"
"Leave that to me. Obey my instruc
tions. Now away! return at midnight."
At the same hour as on tho previous
morning Armenius repeated his'visit, but
the priest met him at the altar, and, as ho
was about to speak, said in a bolder tollc
than he had hitherto need.
'The deity has again , spoken of thee!"
"Hast thou pdnts'lfcd the slave?" de
manded Armenius eagerly;
"First must I rclalc the words of tho god
I serve, then to my question?"
"Be speedy with thy fooleries!" said
Armenius haughtily, "I have weighty bd
siness lo-day, and a few moments to spare.
'Last night," said the priest, "the god
spoke to his servant, and said, the friend
Atticus, whom Armonius exiled, yet lives!
Start not, senator of Rome Aniens yet
lives and in disguise has returned to" Rome,
found proof of thy baseness, and received
honors from Augustus. He has learned,
too, that before her death hi, wife was de
livered of a child that thou didst scizo the
infant, and didst bring him up as thy slave,
that thou mightest feast thy hellish hale in
seeing the son of thy rival eat with thy
bondsmen."
"Hast thou ended!" aaked tho auditor
"I have," answered the priest.
"Then know thy god or thou speakest
false, for of a surity I know that Atticus is
long sinco dead. Now answer mo, hast
thou slain the slave?"
"To satisfy thyself how faithfully I havo
executed my commission," said tho priest,
"raise yonder veil and behold his body."
The senator strode fn his direction point
ed out, and drawing asido the curtain beheld
Agricola, with Sylvia in his arms. He re
coiled at first, bux in an instant exclaiming,
"Wretch thou hast deceived me!" un
sheathed a jewel-hilted dagger from beneath'
his robot and was bounding forward, when
tho priest caught his arm.
"Hold, murderer!" he cried "nor daro
to shed a freeman'u blood!"
"He is not free. He is mv slave," cried
I he senator, striving t0 fre0' ,imseif frorn
the priest, who held him with an iron grasp,
while ho exclaimed, '"Tis false he is my
son, then casting asido his robe, ho dis
covered his person decked in full senatoriar
costume, while he added, "and lam Aiti--eus,
a Roman Senntor," then wresting tho
dagger from his hand, ho throw him from
urn with gigantic strength, crying, ",y
treason has reached the ears of Aligns us.
Uuatds, scizo tho traitor!"
, As if by magic tho chapel filled with lc
g.onaries, wly, tearing his robes from the
cros fllon Armenius, conducted hi n ,o a
"o.ghbonng piison; while tho now senior
res ored to al his power and estates " with
s ,w twi-i- oi Augustus,