THE PERPLEXITY OF CARNION.
Amidst the laughter and the babel of voices, Carnion's quick ear caught
the magic word--Lion!
Turning round into his former place, "Is there a lion coming at last,
my father?" he asked eagerly, while his dark eyes sparkled with emotion.
"Yes, my son."
"I am very sorry that Tharsos has gone," remarked the boy, looking at
the vomitory (opening) of the staircase.
"He had, he was--rather, he preferred to go; perhaps it is better,"
said Titanus with a troubled absent look.
"What kind of lion is coming father?" enquired Carnion, his chief
interest being in that direction.
"A great lion from Libya, my son, a beast fierce and hungry."
"And with what beasts is it going to fight? Will they be wild-boars,
or bears, or tigers, or elephants? How I should love to see a big
battle among them all! Tell me, father, what are the beasts to be."
And the beautiful boy fairly shook with excitement.
The father did not speak for a moment. His brows lowered over large
brown eyes, a crimson wave of shame and anger swept over his handsome
face, followed by a subduing wave of pity, and then he spoke in a tone
that surprised the ardent boy.
"Carnion," said he, "there is little likelihood that the lion will have
anything to fight with."
"Why not, father?" asked the boy, feeling quite disappointed. "Will it
only go round the arena and roar?"
"Were that all, my son, I should be exceedingly glad."
The boy was perplexed:--"What dost thou mean, father?"
"I mean, my son, that the lion is to find its prey in the form of a
defenceless virtuous woman!"
The boy was amazed and his eyes were piercing. "My father," said he
tremulously, "is it the lady Tharsos spoke of?"
"Yes, Carnion."
"Oh father, how cruel!" exclaimed the boy in great distress. "Will
nobody fight for her and save her?"
"If any man be found bold enough to face the most formidable brute that
ever sprang into the arena--that, and that only may save her," answered
Titanus. "But the conditions are hard, so hard that I may say the case
is well-nigh hopeless, and the man that would undertake it would either
be a fool, impelled by inordinate greed, or filled with god-like
self-sacrifice. Neither shield, nor spear, nor sword--nothing but a
bronze dagger is to be allowed her defender, should one come forward,
and he is to be naked but for a slight girdle around his loins."
"Is there no man compelled to fight, oh father?"
"No one, my son. The defence is voluntary. Both Demonicus and
Telassar volunteered; the former is dead, and I fear the latter will
back out. Who else would venture, I know not."
"Father," said the boy, in a trembling tone, yet with a ring of purpose
in it, "wilt thou permit my absence for a little time?"
"Certainly, my son: it was in my mouth to bid thee look into the street
for a little time; or if thy desire be to speak a word with mother thou
mayest, but tell my name to the _designator_ (seat-attendant).
'Titanus' is enough."
Carnion disappeared.