Sabinus And His Dog
After the execution of Sabinus, the Roman general, who suffered death for
his attachment to the family of Germanicus, his body was exposed to the
public upon the precipice of the Gemoniae, as a warning to all who should
dare to befriend the house of Germanicus: no friend had courage to
approach the body; one only remained true--his faithful dog. For three
days the animal continued to watch the body; his pathetic howlings
awakened the sympathy of every heart. Food was brought him, which he was
kindly encouraged to eat; but on taking the bread, instead of obeying the
impulse of hunger, he fondly laid it on his master's mouth, and renewed
his lamentations; days thus passed, nor did he for a moment quit the body.
The body was at length thrown into the Tiber, and the generous creature,
still unwilling that it should perish, leaped into the water after it, and
clasping the corpse between its paws, vainly endeavoured to preserve it
from sinking.
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