ed in pitch,
burned at once with a bright flame which, increasing every instant,
withered the ivy, and rising embraced the feet of the victims. The
people were silent; the gardens resounded with one immense groan and
with cries of pain. Some victims, however, raising their faces toward
the starry sky, began to sing, praising Christ. The people listened.
But the hardest hearts were filled with terror when, on smaller pillars,
children cried with shrill voices, "Mamma! Mamma!" A shiver ran through
even spectators who were drunk when they saw little heads and innocent
faces distorted with pain, or children fainting in the smoke which began
to stifle them. But the flames rose, and seized new crowns of roses and
ivy every instant. The main and side alleys were illuminated; the groups
of trees, the lawns, and the flowery squares were illuminated; the water
in pools and ponds was gleaming, the trembling leaves on the trees had
grown rose-colored, and all was as visible as in daylight. When the odor
of burnt bodies filled the gardens, slaves sprinkled between the pillars
myrrh and aloes prepared purposely. In the crowds were heard here and
there shouts,--whether of sympathy or delight and joy, it was unknown;
and they increased every moment with the fire, which embraced the
pillars, climbed to the breasts of the victims, shrivelled with burning
breath the hair on their heads, threw veils over their blackened faces,
and then shot up higher, as if showing the victory and triumph of that
power which had given command to rouse it.

At the very beginning of the spectacle Caesar had appeared among the
people in a magnificent quadriga of the Circus, drawn by four white
steeds. He was dressed as a charioteer in the color of the Greens,--the
court party and his. After him followed other chariots filled with
courtiers in brilliant array, senators, priests, bacchantes, naked
and crowned, holding pitchers of wine, and partly drunk, uttering wild
shouts. At the side of these were musicians dressed as fauns and satyrs,
who played on citharas, formingas, flutes, and horns. In other chariots
advanced matrons and maidens of Rome, drunk also and half naked. Around
the quadriga ran men who shook thyrses ornamented with ribbons; others
beat drums; others scattered flowers.

All that brilliant throng moved forward, shouting, "Evoe!" on the widest
road of the garden, amidst smoke and processions of people. Caesar,
keeping near him Tigellinus and al