Explore "The Last Days of Pompeii" by Edward Bulwer-lytton on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
NYDIA, assured by the account of Sosia, on his return home, and / satisfied that her letter was in the hands of Sallust, gave herself up / once more to hope. Sallust would surely lose no time in seeking the / praetor -- in coming to the house of the Egyptian -- in releasing her -- in / breaking the prison of Calenus. That very night Glaucus would be free. / Alas! the night passed -- the dawn broke; she heard nothing but the / hurried footsteps of the slaves along the hall and peristyle, and their / voices in preparation for the show. By-and-by, the commanding voice of / Arbaces broke on her ear -- a flourish of music rung out cheerily: the / long procession were sweeping to the amphitheatre to glut their eyes on / the death-pangs of the Athenian!
The procession of Arbaces moved along slowly, and with much solemnity / till now, arriving at the place where it was necessary for such as came / in litters or chariots to alight, Arbaces descended from his vehicle, / and proceeded to the entrance by which the more distinguished spectators / were admitted. His slaves, mingling with the humbler crowd, were / stationed by officers who received their tickets (not much unlike our / modern Opera ones), in places in the popularia (the seats apportioned to / the vulgar). And now, from the spot where Arbaces sat, his eyes scanned / the mighty and impatient crowd that filled the stupendous theatre.