Rollo in Rome

Coli

me, and perhaps, indeed, of all the

ith seats rising one above another on all sides, and a large arena in the centre. There was no roof. Th

e were real combats, in which either the men or the beasts were actually killed. The thousands of people that sat upon the seats all around,

distant countries, and the wild beasts were lions, tigers, and bears, that

wild beasts. They sent them for the express purpose of amusing the Roman people with them, by making them fight in these great amphitheatres. There was suc

On every side were tall columns, broken and decayed, and immense arches standing meaningless and alone, and mounds of ancient masonry, with weeds and flowers waving in the air on the top of them. There were no houses, or scarcely any, in this

seum, where there was a passage way leading

They then, after gazing upward a moment at the vast pile of arches upon ar

walking to and fro at the entrance. He, however, said nothing

arches, until they reached the arena. There was a broad gravel walk passing across the arena from end to end, an

e above another to a vast height, on which the seats for the spectators had been placed. Mr. George and Rollo advanced

ous place it w

deed," said

the lions and the tigers?" asked Rol

said Mr

ere the seats of the specta

. George, "on

were originally of marble, and people have stripped it all away, and le

ip the marble off

George. "Half of the modern palaces of Rome are built

eorge!" exc

it down," said Mr. George, "a

WN FROM TH

, flat stone, which seemed to have been an ancient step. They were over-shadowed where they sat by piers and arches,

nd steps to go up. And all around the arena, on the sides, at equal distances, the

o be seen, but instead of them there were various parties of well-dressed visitors walking a

ng one above another, tier after tier, to a great height, with the ruins of galleries, corridors, and vaulted pa

all the seats, uncle

replied Mr. George, "or some other valuable mate

sitors coming into view far up am

e away up there, as high as the third or fourth story. How

ppose that, in the way of climbing, yo

usting his opera glass to his eyes, in order to

a gentleman, and two ladies, and a little

," said Mr. Geor

don't believe that any thing grows out

n the gardens or fields, and are in the way; but when they grow

und him," said Rollo, "and is giving them to the ladies,

way as souvenirs of the Coliseu

white stone in her

f marble that she has pi

white stone," said Rollo, "an

he Coliseum," said Mr. George. "A botanist once made a comple

," said

in," said

n," sai

s more, not less,

," said

said Mr.

," sai

d Mr. George, "and then you

hundred?" ex

alogue of four hundred and twenty plants, all

lo; "I don't think that can

n sitting, and began to examine the masses of old ruined masonry near him

ry thing, uncle G

lant. Every different kind of sprig, or little w

the conclusion that the guide book-which was the authority on which Mr.

d remained quietly in his seat, and had occ

I give it up. I have no doubt that there are hun

tever is stated in this book

uncle George," said Rollo, "w

he Coliseum was begun about A. D.

eighteen hundred ye

r it was finished, they had a sort of inauguration of it,

three months

ration. During this time about five thousand wild

a right before

said Mr

f the lions, and tigers, and leopards, and other ferocious wild beasts, growling, snarling, and tumbling over each

hundred years; and during this time a great many Christians were sent i

oman empire became Christian; and then the go

do with the Coliseu

Mr. George; "but at last, when wars broke out, and Rom

llent fortress," said Rollo, "only th

and arrows, spears, javelins, and such sort of weapons, so that they did not re

to build palaces with; and how, at a later period, there was a plan formed for converting the vast structure into a manufactory; and how, in connection with this plan, immense numbers of shops were fitted up in the arcades and arches below,-and how the plan finally failed, after having cost the pope who undertook it ever so many thousand Roman dollars; how, after this, it remained for many c

y the rubbish at last," said Mr. Ge

ted Rollo; "how cam

always take with their armies a corps of philosophers, artists, and men of science, who

d they came he

book, and rose from his s

large that it covers

s?" repea

t long. That is monstrous for such a building; but then t

astern is bigger

r. George, "but she is

dered, is the greatest work,

m is a most wonderful structure, no doubt; but the building of an iron ship like the Great Eastern, to be propelled by steam against all the storms and tempests of

ollo, "the Coliseum m

at then the whole world should relapse into barbarism, and remain so for a thousand years, and afterwards there should come a revival of science and civilization, and peop

aid Rollo, "if they und

e, all of iron, could have been made, and launched, and then navigated all over the world just by the

ollo, "what curious br

n the construction of the building, were very flat. They were a great deal longer and a great deal wider than our bricks, and were yet n

ts of the walls, and for forming the arches. But the stones with which the brick masonry had been

mped upon it. It was evident that the letters had been stamped upon the cla

llo; "look at those letters!

eorge; and so saying he proceeded

ck," he said, "when it was soft. Perhaps

if all the bricks are

hich had a side exposed to view; but though he found some which contain

said Rollo. "I mean to get a stone and knoc

. George; "th

much. And besides, I want to get a piece of a brick

f what?" aske

f the Coliseu

ill do. They don't want to have the Coliseum

't?" ask

," said Mr. Geo

years, and carrying off all the beautiful marbles, and columns, and statues, to build their palaces with,

ver persisted in desiring to do any thing which

you suppose we can get up into the u

where," said Mr. George. "We will rambl

rridors, which were built in the thickness of the walls. There were several of these corridors side by side, each going entirely round the arena. They were surmounted by stupe

HE LOWER

lo, on emerging again into the arena, came to a wooden gate at the foot of a broad

ateway and the flight of steps beyond it, "this

George, "only it

hold of it, but found, as Mr. Ge

the custodian,"

a key in his hand. When the man came near, he looked at Mr. George a

re," said

ad unlocked it, and Mr. George and Rollo had passed throug

re," said

up the stairs, while the man, having