back upon the city-portal through which they had lately passed; and Rutilius asked the meaning of a projection on the gate, which presented the unattractive figure of a vast sow.

hardly tell

"Its object," replied his companion, "I can you. The Roman founders of this city placed it there; but whether as an insult to the former inhabitants of the place, or in connexion with their own superstition, I know not. They have certainly shewn, in many instances, that they took pleasure in testifying their contempt for what we consider sacred. I shewed you yesterday, how they had crowned the hill of Calvary; and the village of Bethlehem, by which we travel, where the Virginborn saw the light, they have in like manner devoted to the impure rites of Adonis.”

Rutilius was glad to learn the remarkable circumstances of the places by which they passed. At Bethlehem he made some pause; he saw the tomb of Rachel on the right hand, half way between it and Jerusalem; and his companion did not leave him till evening, when he rested near Mamre, where the patriarch Abraham had so long sojourned of this he saw a remarkable memorial a tree of great age, and near it a painting of three persons, the central one the most distinguished, to which the inhabitants of the adjoining country were accustomed to offer sacrifices. At this place, his companion told him, numbers of persons from all the adjoining regions were accustomed to assemble, as well with a reli

gious object, as for purposes of merchandise; and the figures were no doubt the remains of an ancient tradition respecting the supernatural visitants of the patriarch.

Rutilius, now left to himself, accomplished his journey to Joppa as speedily as he could, and thence took ship for Alexandria.

T

CHAPTER XV.

The Meeting with Marcellus. The Discovery.
The Confession.

And on his brest a bloody crosse he bore,

The dear remembrance of his dying Lord,

For whose sweet sake that glorious badge he wore,
And dead as living ever Him ador'd:

Upon his shield the like was also scor'd,

For soveraigne hope which in His helpe he had.
Right, faithful, true, he was in deed and word;
But of his cheere did seem too solemn sad;
Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad.

Faery Queen.

THOUGH the letter given by Zambda had contained but few particulars, yet Rutilius could not repress the conviction that it implied much more than it expressed. What could be the secret which his uncle designed to convey? During the leisure of his voyage his mind was actively engaged in scanning the different hypotheses which presented themselves to his imagination. Was it only his uncle's marriage to Flavia? Why should he, of all men, be summoned to attend it? Why had it been so long delayed? Did it connect itself with the apprehensions which the Christians began unceasingly to entertain from the well-known violence of Galerius ?

Such thoughts chased one another through his mind as he came in view of the lofty pillar which had lately been erected at Alexandria in honour of Dioclesian (now called Pompey's Pillar). At ano

ther moment, the sight of that ancient Nile, -on the banks of which Pythagoras and Plato had drunk in their secret learning, which had been famed in Grecian song from the days of Homer to those of Callimachus, would have had charms enough for his imagination. But his mind was now too completely engrossed to leave any scope to his imagination. Without thinking of the greatness of Alexandria, of the fame of its founder, or of the wealthy kings who had made it the seat of learning and art, he landed, and speedily found himself in the dwelling of Marcellus. The centurion was wrapped in deep thought, and Flavia was at his side, when Rutilius entered.

"You are just come in time," said the centurion to him: "I have been assured, on good evidence, that the catastrophe which I have been for some time expecting will take place to-morrow."

He was about to continue, but was interrupted by Flavia, who sank fainting into his arms, exclaiming only, in a faint voice, "My father!" Rutilius looked so surprised, that when she had recovered, and was able to leave the room, Marcellus could not refrain from saying: "So you had never known how near a relation I have to thank you for rescuing from bondage; and you are come in time to render her further service. If I perish, as there is reason to expect, in the persecution which will probably break out to-morrow, I must trust to your care for consigning her to the charge of her mother's kindred in Gaul. My marriage in that country I was bound,

by a promise to her uncle, to conceal: but I have lately heard that he, like his sister, has become a Christian, and if so, he will be anxious, by his kindness towards my niece, to atone for his persecution of her mother. To yourself also, if the report which I have heard respecting you be true, I would counsel a flight into the dominions of Constantius; for I believe that he will not share in the cruelties which, ere long, will probably be inflicted on the Christians. It is well that you have not been formally admitted into the emperor's service; for it will enable you to escape, at present, without compromising your new principles, and thus to act a second time as the guardian of my daughter."

The words of Marcellus threw light on so many circumstances heretofore inexplicable, that Rutilius stood for a time confounded, and could not muster words for a reply. Perhaps his uncle in part divined his feelings; for, as though to relieve him, he went on to state some further points which he wished to communicate. Their intercourse was long and confidential; and when Rutilius opened his own feelings, and told how strongly he was now inclined to the Christian faith, he found his uncle's confidence increase in a corresponding manner. At length he retired to rest; but it was only an hour or two before military music, and the sound of rejoicing, called him up again, to take part in the joyful celebration of the emperor's birth-day. He woke with a sudden start, and was some time before he could well recall the new circumstances which the preceding night had