Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from The Yale Literary Magazine, Vol. 18: February 1853
The same vandalic spirit has rudely torn from their niches the sculp tures of the Parthenon. They now decorate the British Museum instead Of the Temple Of Minerva. But Greece has fallen. She stands no longer on the proud preeminence Of Marathon and Salamis. Hence the ravagers Of the works Of Phidias go unwhipt of justice.
Thus the Coliseum Of May is very unlike to the Coliseum of impe rial Rome. Arches have been shattered, and columns have fallen. Vast apertures are made in the stately pile. The dove builds her nest, where once the successful gladiator raised the shrill cry of hoc habet. The grass grows tall upon the arena, which once drank the blood of beasts and Of men. Eternal silence has succeeded the acclamations of a hun dred thousand Romans. A hermit of wild eye and strange demeanor, tenants the solitude. His spectral figure is Often seen gliding along in the deep gloom of the night. Shelley saw this Odd personage there, and has introduced him into the affecting story of a blind Old man and his daughter. The father asks his child whither they have come. The hermit hears the interrogatory, and rebukes him for ignorance. Wretch ed Old man! Know you not that these are the ruins of the Coliseum? His subsequent knowledge of the father's blindness caused the rebuke to goad his own sensitive soul.
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