flattery. That is the chain that can bind them to the earth, however they carry their heads in the clouds. We were talking of all the fine things that Homer has put into the girdle of Venus. Well, Flattery fell to our share, and I think it is a fair equivalent for the whole bunch of them."

CHAPTER II.

SUCH talk passed between myself and the somewhat irritated Centurion, as we proceeded with slow steps down the descent from the gardens of Trajan, and on towards the vicinity of Licinius' house. But as we advanced into the more peopled region of the city, we found the streets full of crowds and clamour, insomuch, that we had some difficulty in walking together, and that such quiet discourse as had occupied us could no longer be carried on. The evening was one of the most lovely I had ever seen, and the moon was shedding a soft and yellow light upon the lofty towers and trees, and upon all that long perspec

tive of pillars and porticos, with which those proud Roman streets were, for the most part, lined on either side. Yet many groups of citizens were seen running to and fro with torches in their hands; while many more were stationary in great and impenetrable crowds, which, although there was much noise of merriment, and many songs and shouts of laughter among them, had the air, as it seemed to us, of being detained in expectation of some show or spectacle, yet more attractive than their present sources of amusement.

And accordingly we had not jostled on much farther, ere there arose behind us a peal, apparently at a considerable distance, of what seemed to me to be martial music, which the multitude around no sooner heard, than their noise and acclamation became more violent than ever. Ever and anon, nevertheless, they hushed themselves for an instant, as if to ascertain the

progress of those who sounded the instruments; and

then the more near they seemed to have

come towards them, the more jubilant again and triumphant was the renewal of their outcries. Sabinus expressed at first some little displeasure, in having our return impeded after this fashion, and began to look about him, in case any inferior or offshooting street might furnish us an opportunity of making our escape from these vociferous multitudes. But ere the sound of the approaching music had once or twice reached his ear, he became satisfied that all this was quite in vain.

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By my faith," said he, " I believe it is some troop of the Galli-yes, yes-I cannot be mistaken-there is the cymbalthere again is the shrill echo of the Phrygian horn, which to me sounds always as if the breath could not come without agony through its twisted folds-and-ay-there can be no doubt about it now, there is the hoarse big drum, by which they design to set forth the roaring of Cybele's lions. Well, we shall be able to distinguish the squeak of the beardless priests themselves by and

by. We must e'en be content, Valerius, and remain here till the torches pass us; for the deeper we might advance into the city to-night, you may be sure we should find ourselves only so much the worse. I think these fellows might satisfy themselves with their Hilaria.”

"That I believe," said I, "is their great feast at the vernal equinox, when they wash the lions and chariot of the goddess in the Tiber."

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Yes," quoth he; " and I promise you it is a grand sight after its fashion; for they spare no expence, and they generally show lions such as the Amphitheatre cannot exhibit once in ten years. The last time I was present, there were four tawny monsters yoked abreast to drag the great rumbling brazen-chariot of the goddess; but how grand soever the sight of them was, you may guess there remained not many to face it in the streets. Windows, however-balconies, and so forth-all were crowded; and by Jove, to hear the growl