of his prowess.  The victor is the son of one of the Consuls and the hero of the piece; the heroine is the Vestal Virgin who crowns him with the garland.  The young victor becomes desperately enamored of the Vestale, and she appears also to feel an incipient flame.  After the games are over, the victor returns to his father’s house, and meeting there one of his friends, discloses to him his love for the Vestale and his idea of entering by stealth into the temple of Vesta, where his beloved was appointed to watch the sacred fire.  His friend endeavors, but in vain, to dissuade him from so rash an attempt, which can only end in the destruction, both of his beloved and himself.  All the remonstrances, however, of the friend are vain; and the hero fixed in his resolve watches for the opportunity, when it is the turn of his beloved to officiate in the temple of Vesta, and enters therein.  The Vestale is terrified and supplicates him to retire:  in vain; and after a long but ineffectual struggle she sinks into his arms at the foot of the altar.  Suddenly the sacred flame becomes extinguished; a noise is heard; the Vestals enter; the unfortunate fair is roused from her stupor by the noise of footsteps and has just time to oblige her lover to retire, which he reluctantly does, but not unperceived by the Vestals.  The Matron of the Vestals reproaches her with the crime she has committed and orders her to be placed in a dungeon.  She is brought out to be examined by the High Priest, found guilty and condemned by him to the usual punishment of the Vestals for a breach of their vow, viz., the being buried alive outside the gates of Rome.  The moment the sentence is pronounced a black veil is thrown over her.  The scene then changes to the place of execution; the funeral procession takes place; the vault is dug and a man stands by with a pitcher of water and loaf of bread, to deliver to her when she should descend.  The Consuls are present, attended by the Lictors and Aediles.  All the other vestals are present, of whom the culprit takes an affectionate leave and is about to descend into the vault.  Suddenly a noise of arms and shouts are heard.  It is her lover who having collected a few followers come rushing forward with arms in their hands to arrest the execution.  He forces his way into the presence of the Consuls, but the sight of his father inspires him with awe; he staggers back; at this moment a Lictor at the command of the other Consul plunges a spear into his breast.  The Vestal is hurried to the brink of the vault, into which she is forced to descend to the accompaniment of mournful music, while her dying lover vainly endeavours to crawl towards her.  The curtain falls.