The stick sank in
the earth up to its handle without meeting with any resistance.
"There must be a hollow under the ground," he said to himself. He
first thought of calling the workmen, but since it was better to
make the discovery himself, he took a mattock and spade and set to
work. By noon he had made a hole large enough to get through, but
since it was pitch-black inside, he first went to fetch a lantern.
Carrying this, he went down into the earth, and came into a vaulted
room. He went through five rooms and found no treasures, but in
the sixth he saw a sight that startled him.
Two enormous snakes had enfolded in the coils a bearded man of
heroic stature and his two boys.
One snake had already bitten the man in the right side, and the
other had bitten one of the boys in the left. The apparition was a
statue of Pentelic marble, and might therefore possess as much value
as a treasure. Signor de Fredis went at once to the Prefect of the
City, who followed him in company with the Aedile and some learned
antiquaries. The work of art was brought to the light, and
inspected. Its subject was seen to be the Trojan priest Laocoon,
against whom Apollo had sent two snakes because he had warned his
countrymen against receiving the dangerous Greek gift of the Trojan
horse, in which warriors lay concealed.
Pages:
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236