with hasty words I reproached Lucius. Oh why, thou fair deceiver, alluring my simple mind with pleasing wiles, why hast thou exposed me to the danger of an ignominious punishment, fearful even to the boldest heart. But he gently reassured me, and informed me that by a subterranean aqueduct used for water in the time of the Tarquins, and which was then dry and unknown to the people, he had found his way; that guided by all-powerful love he had discovered its entrance on the side of the Palatine Hill amongst grass and shrubbery; and that after penetrating its most secret recesses he had found a propitious and unlooked for issue to the daring impulses of love. The tradition concerning this passage was most cautiously preserved by some aged men by reason of the many dangers presented by this path to the Vestal Cloister; by which means other lovers had preceded him. But the uncertainty of the story, and the difficulty of the undertaking had buried its history in silence. He, however, determined to encounter even death itself to be near me again for one moment; he would have penetrated not only the most gloomy passages, but would have descended the steepest abyss with a light heart. Then kneeling submissively, he embraced my feet and bathed my hand with tears. Alas! forgetful of myself, I besought him to withdraw from this dangerous conference; though the pain of the separation was ever before me; added to which I was solicitous to learn his past adventures, his present mode of life, the domestic events, and the customs and varied discipline of the institution: whilst between the desire of hearing the various incidents that transpired beyond our walls, and the fatal fascination attending our stolen meeting, the night passed away fraught with the burden of delight. Already we heard the warbling of the birds among the dewy leaves, and the gentle breeze announcing the approach of dawn, surrounded with her rosy splendors, till we, overcome by an unfortunate oblivion, discovered one of the vestals already arisen, solicitous to continue her vigilant ministry. Alas for the tyrannical empire of this discipline! She, pale with horror, and trembling at the profanation of the sacred dwelling, awaited the expiating thunderbolts of avenging Jove. Soon the rest of the sisterhood tumultuously joined her, and with fear and trembling, with one accord called for the sovereign pontiff, whilst the

temple resounded with fearful execrations; but as a valiant lover Lucius came forward and threatened not to leave this artifice unavenged; then laying aside his anger, he tried to persuade the vestals, who were stupefied with terror, to bury this sad adventure in oblivion, and not publish it to the multitude; thereby injuring the fame of the august palace, and exposing it to the derision of plebeians. Then invoking the gods as witnesses, he promised to return by the same way, or by any other which might be deemed more suitable; and never again disturb our holy temple with his presence, nor reveal one word in relation to the sad event. But they, overcome by the profanity of their rites, remained in silence; each one covering her face with her veil. Lucius' eyes were large and blue, while his light hair lay in disorder on a forehead white as snow; the rosy tinge of his cheeks became still deeper, and his voice was soft and musical. Ah, why did those eloquent lips fail to persuade! The high priest now came forward to witness a fearful crime, meriting the most rigorous expiation. At a sign from this severe old man, the lictors who followed him, appeared, and with menacing attitudes surrounded Lucius, who, as haughty towards them as he had been submissive to the females, preserved a countenance undismayed amid the fearful scene. At this dreadful moment I was taken forever from the presence of him I loved; from the quiet shade and tender herbage surrounding the temple, and from these too fleeting and wild delights. I was thrust by the lictors into a prison with a stone seat and a bed of straw, and no light but that of a little lamp; when, most annoying, the fierce guards entered to torment me with their presence. Thence I was taken to the still more terrible presence of the High Priest, who was seated on a lofty throne in the superb palace, ornamented with the sacerdotal insignia. In a stern and measured voice, and without one feeling of commiseration, he interrogated her who stood in chains before him, respecting the events of the morning. But I, unhappy girl, did not deplore my own misfortunes so much as the unknown destiny of Lucius, who, already, in my mind, I imagined condemned to an ignominious punishment; and, emboldened by these agonizing suspicions, and with tears and supplications that would have moved any other heart, I besought the priest to reveal to me his unknown fate. But he, like the senseless marble, heard with

out emotion my passionate exclamations; and after remaining for some time in silence, he in a harsh voice interrupted me." Unblushing and profane girl be silent, for thy unlawful request excites the thunderbolts of Jove; and threatening Olympus already trembles with sudden revenge.' Thus saying, he rose from the gilt seat, and left the palace, accompanied by the followers of this fearful pageantry; while the cruel executors of his sentence drew still tighter the chains already rusted with my tears. They then placed me in a seat covered on all sides, that the pitying multitude might not hear my groans. But this tyrannical precaution to smother my sighs was useless; for oppressed with suffocation and more dead than alive, I wanted breath to utter the slightest complaint. Here, to this horrid dungeon, I was shortly conveyed; in this subterranean prison I was buried alive, to suffer, in lingering agony, a thousand deaths. And there stood the avenging priest, who covered me with a black veil-mournful token of my approaching fate, and laying his hand on my beating bosom, thrust me from him; after which the lictors loosed my chains. But a prey to the pangs of despair, even then I was not free. The sad rite was finished according to customary usage; by lighting a lamp and leaving me a little oil to feed its flame, straw to lie upon, and bread, water and milk to support life for a short time. They then left me, and closed the opening of the cell, as of a tomb, with solid marble. Even now I hear the muffled sound that fell on my ear at that awful moment, as one stone was piled upon another, as I conjectured that my loudest cries might not be heard. It was then, a sudden darkness veiled my eyes, and my trembling limbs sunk upon the floor. Oh that I could then have died. But, recovering my wandering senses, who can tell my imprecations against this barbarous punishment, the tyrannical ministry, and the vain watching of the sacred fire, the complaints of outraged nature and violated oaths; but the air filled with my cries was the sole witness of my misery. Echo them again, oh thou abyss of the dead; cell of my agonies, cave inaccessible to compassion; tomb of living despair! that if there remain in you any sense of human misfortune, you may console the desolate one. For what other comfort does misery require, than to have the history of its woes listened to with commiseration? and what thought more aggravating than not to have nor

me.

ever hope for the presence of a human being to hear the groans of utter despair? But my physical strength becoming less in proportion to the impetuosity of my feelings, life was gradually ebbing away. Why did not the compassion of the lictors leave me poison or a dagger? But as nature prompts even the most wretched to sustain life; and seeing by the pale flame of the waning lamp the food near by destined to prolong my agony, I moistened my throat with water, for it was parched with the effects of grief. I then renewed the exhausted lamp. For however desirous of descending the abyss of Tartarus, I still feared to remain in this tomb without light; when a sudden desperation seized I arose from the vile earth, bathed in vain with my tears, and with a deliberation which I now look back upon with pleasure, I dashed my forehead against the wall with all my remaining strength, and fell to the earth. Eternal darkness veiled my eyes, and my soul, burning with inextinguishable flame, fled from its worn out tenement. I know not how many days I lingered in the tomb, for the moments of grief are tedious, and without the light of the sun the hours pass unnoticed. But oh, if there are any among you who are laid in this eternal waste, who have ever met with the loved being for whom I descended here, tell me, I implore you, what was his fate, and relate the manner of his death!" While the weeping girl was thus complaining, she wiped her tearful eyes with her veil, and there was on her fair countenance such an expression of tender compassion, that it infused the same emotion into the bosoms of her hearers. Whilst the air was resounding with profound lamentations, there came forth a a phantom from the crowd, who, turning towards the young vestal, said, since you desire, oh unhappy girl, to hear his history, I, who lived at that time, will acquaint you with it, mournful as it is." She, removing the veil which concealed her sad features, replied: "Tell me all you know : for though it be of the most cruel misfortunes, it cannot make me more wretched than I already am." The shade replied: No sooner had the priest seen your sad prison closed, than the adventurous youth was dragged to the public square, where the priest, with his own hands-inexorable ministers of celestial ire-beat him with rods till he expired beneath his blows." On hearing this, Floronia, with tottering steps, turned away, while the breeze of the night played among the

folds of her veil and in her dishevelled hair. And I, who had listened to her sad tale, not only with compassion but indignation, boldly exclaimed: "Oh, fearful rites! oh ignominious punishment, not to those unfortunates, but to you. Truly it was an arrogance worthy of a Roman which induced you to look upon all other nations as barbarians, whilst you were more savage and ferocious yourselves!" Then Marcus Brutus threw the folds of his toga over his head, in sorrow concealing his features. Augustus smiled bitterly; Cæsar regarded me without anger; and Tully said to me, "You see we were more fortunate than we were de

serving."

SONNET.

TO ONE WHO HAD SHOWN KINDNESS TO THE WRITER DURING SICKNESS.

Mary, accept this grateful verse of mine;

For thou hast, with unconscious art, revived

Thoughts which too long had slumbered, but which lived
Fervent and full, in days of auld lang syne.

Dost ask me how, or why? This faltering line

Shall tell thee all. My boyish thought received

Its richest gems from that exhaustless mine,

A sister's love. Time hath no power to chill
The fond remembrance of the cherished past:

It warmly glows within my bosom still:

It ever will, while life and memory last.
Forgive the hope, presumptuous though it be,
That I have found a sister's love in thee.

H. A. R.