fixed by spears,
were seen borne aloft as bloody standards of that murderous rout. The
mother and the other children, placed in a group in the midst of the
multitude, were made to march on, the savages themselves being divided
as to what should be their fate. Some cried out, 'To the Tiber!'--some,
'Crucify them beyond the walls!--others, 'Give 'em the pavements!' But
the voice of one more ingenious in cruelty than the rest prevailed.

'To the square by Hanno's with them!'

This proposition filled them with delight.

'To Hanno's! to Hanno's!' resounded on all sides. And away rushed the
infuriated mass to their evil sport.

'And who is Hanno?' I asked of one near me.

'Hanno? know you not Hanno? He is brother of Sosia the gladiator, and
breeds dogs for the theatres. You shall soon see what a brood he will
turn out. There is no such breeder in Rome as he.'

Sick at heart as I was, I still pressed on, resolved to know all that
Christian heroism could teach me. We were soon at the square, capable of
holding on its borders not only thousands but tens of thousands, to
which number it seemed as if the throng had now accumulated. Hanno's
extensive buildings and grounds were upon one side of the square, to
which the people now rushed, calling out for the great breeder to come
forth with his pack.

He was not slow in obeying the summons. He himself appeared,
accompanied, as on the day when Piso saw him on the Capitol Hill, by his
two dogs Nero and Sylla. After first stipulating with the ringleaders
for a sufficient remuneration, he proceeded to order the game. He was at
first for separating the victims, but they implored to be permitted to
suffer together, and so much mercy was shown them. They were then set
together in the centre of the square, while the multitude disposed
themselves in an immense circle around--the windows of the buildings and
the roofs of all the neighboring dwellings being also thronged with
those who both looked on and applauded. Before the hounds were let
loose, Hanno approached this little band, standing there in the midst
and clinging to one another, and asked them,

'If they had anything to say, or any message to deliver, for he would
faithfully perform what they might enjoin.'

The rest weeping, AElia answered, 'that she wished to say a few words to
the people who stood around.'

'Speak then,' replied Hanno, 'and you shall not be disturbed.'

She then turned toward the people, and said. 'I c