conduct, and become worthy of his good for

tune.

The Romans had not, however, long to enjoy the favor and blessing of this magnanimous and gracious prince; he was taken from them at a moment when they would have sacrificed their lives for his preservation.

At the close of an exhibition of gladiators, Titus was taken ill; dejected amidst the applauses of the people, he took leave of the Romans, weeping bitterly, and predicting that he should never see them more. He went to the Sabine country; on his offering a sacrifice, the victim was imperfect and broke loose; the sky, though serene and clear, emitted vivid flashes of lightning, and loud peals of thunder filled the air; and it was declared that these alarming presages portended the death of Titus. On the first stage of his journey, his fever increased so much upon him, that he was obliged to be put into a litter, to be conveyed to the villa of the Flavii: he raised his expiring eyes to heaven, and with modest submission regretted the severity of his fate, which removed him, so young, from the world, and froin a people whom he so dearly loved, so highly valued, and whom he had endeavoured to render happy and flourishing; he added, there was no action of his life, except one, with which he had cause to

reproach himself. Which that was, this excellent prince never explained, nor could any of his friends ever surmise. He expired in the same villa in which his father had breathed his> last, upon the ides of September, two years, two months, and twenty days after his suc→ ceeding to the empire, and in the forty-first year of his age.

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As soon as the melancholy death of the excellent Titus was made known, every one lamented him as if it had been their own domestic sorrow, in bitter tears and loud bursts of grief. The senate, not waiting to be summoned by an edict, went in a body to the senatehouse, and throwing open the doors, they invited in the populace and the army; they then poured forth their praises, mingled with the deepest murmurs of despair. A general scene of misery appeared in Rome; the houses were closed, and the legions and prætorian bands threw down their arms.

The cruelties exercised by Titus towards the Jews, may be thought a blot in the benevolent features of the character of this excellent prince: he often solemnly protested, that it was not his intention, but the will of heaven, that the Jews should suffer such vast desolation; we must therefore recollect, that Titus was an instrument in the hands of providence, for the punish

ment of a wicked, infatuated people, possessed of the most perverse minds, and prone to every evil, and above all, that our blessed Saviour's commination was to be made evident, when he told his disciples, on their admiring the stately and magnificent buildings of the temple, “ Verily, I say unto you, there shall not be left here, one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down;" and that nothing might be wanting to verify our Lord's prediction, Turnus Rufus was commanded to plough up the very foundations of Jerusalem: what an awful demonstration of the power of Omnipotence!!

THE LIFE

OF

TITUS FLAVIUS DOMITIAN,

XIIth. CÆSAR.

TITUS FLAVIUS DOMITIAN, was born in the year of Rome 805, A. D. 51: eleven years after his brother Titus, and on the ninth of the calends of November: Vespasian being consul elect, and to enter, on his office on the succeeding month. ̧

Domitian, the youngest son of Titus Vespasian and Domatilla, was born in the sixth region of the city of Rome, in a small house in the Pomegranate Street, which was afterwards converted into a temple, and dedicated to the Flavii. To avoid the dangers which assailed him, while yet a youth, on the revolt of his father in the war with Vitellius, he fled for sanctuary to the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, with his uncle, Sabinus, and part of the forces of Vespasian, who were immediately on the spot, when the friends of Vitellius, as a last resource, rushed into the temple, and, with his assistance,

as we have seen, involved in flames that magnificent and sacred edifice.

In the general consternation, the young Domitian escaped, and secreted himself during the night, with the keeper of the images and statues. On the morrow, disguising himself in the costume of a priest of Isis, he was released with the college of that persuasion: with only one attendant, he crossed the Tiber, and gained admittance into the family of one of his fellow students, where he concealed himself with such privacy, that his pursuers were soon deprived of all hope of discovering him.

After the victory of his father over Vitellius, he appeared at Rome, and, young as he was, received distinguished homage, being saluted Cæsar by the Roman populace.

His father perceiving his proud and turbulent temper, which already led him to take place of his brother Titus, determined to keep him, with his preceptor at his studies in total retirement, and with greatest strictness.

To convince him of his subordinate situation in the empire, Vespasian commanded Titus to accompany him in his triumphal chariot, while Domitian followed in a common litter; and in the triumph they made for their Judaic victories. he accompanied them in the rear, but mounted on a beautiful white horse.