The Last Days of Pompeii, by English writer and politician Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton, takes place in 1st century Rome. It tells the story of Glaucus, a young Greek in love with Ione, a beautiful and intelligent Greek set to marry him. Ione was left orphan in her childhood; the Egyptian sorcerer and high Isis priest Arbaces was her tutor and tries to seduce her repeatedly. Arbaces murdered his pupil and Ione’s brother Apaecides after the latter’s conversion to Christianity. As a consequence, Arbaces framed the young Glaucus for the crime, as a way to get rid of him and reach Ione. However, another Isis priest Calenus witnessed the crime, but Arbaces, after promising him a large sum for his silence, imprisoned him in a dungeon, leaving him to die. Glaucus was imprisoned too and there met Olinthus, an early Christian, who was also sentenced for his beliefs. According to ancient custom, Glaucus was to be devoured by lions for his alleged crime, but, unbeknownst to everyone, the priest Calenus had escaped and chaos ensued. This selection from Chapter IV of Part V details the encounter of Glaucus with Arbaces and the lion in the amphitheater. I transcribed it in Anniversary Gregg for the blog.
Attachment: glaucus-and-arbaces-in-the-amphitheater.pdf