the strange meteors, which rushed almost incessantly athwart the sky. The
winds too had been all unchained in their fury, and went howling like
tormented spirits, over the terrified and trembling city.

It was said too, that the shades of the dead had arisen, and were seen
mingling in the streets with the living, scarcely more livid than the
half-dead spectators of portents so ominous. No rumour so absurd or
fanatical, but it found on that night, implicit credence. Some shouted in
the streets and open places, that the patricians and the knights were
arming their adherents for a promiscuous massacre of the people. Some,
that the gladiators had broken loose, and slain thousands of citizens
already! Some, that there was a Gallic tumult, and that the enemy would be
at the gates in the morning! Some that the Gods had judged Rome to
destruction!

And so they raved, and roared, and sometimes fought; and would have rioted
tremendously; for many of the commoner conspirators were abroad, ready to
take advantage of any casual incident to breed an affray; but that a
strong force of civil magistrates patrolled the streets with armed
attendants; and that, during the night several cohorts were brought in,
from the armies of Quintus Marcius Rex, and Quintus Metellus Creticus,
with all their armor and war weapons, in heavy marching order; and
occupied the Capitol, the Palatine, and the Janiculum, and all the other
prominent and commanding points of the city, with an array that set
opposition at defiance.

So great, however, were the apprehensions of many of the nobles, that Rome
was on the eve of a servile insurrection, that many of them armed their
freedmen, and imprisoned all their slaves; while others, the more generous
and milder, who thought they could rely on the attachment of their people,
weaponed their slaves themselves, and fortified their isolated dwellings
against the anticipated onslaught.

Thus passed that terrible and tempestuous night; the roar of the elements,
unchained as they were, and at their work of havoc, not sufficing to drown
the dissonant and angry cries of men, the clash of weapons, and the shrill
clamor of women; which made Rome more resemble the Pandemonium than the
metropolis of the world's most civilized and mightiest nation.

But now morning had come at length; and gradually, as the storm ceased,
and the heavens resumed their natural appearance, the terrors and the fury
of the multitude subsided; an