gathered some roses, possibly the product of one thrown away by some desperate soul, as he cast from him the last blossom of life. Who can contradict me?

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We returned to the Capitol: it was once only accessible by three separate ascents from the Forum; the first, the Via sacra," which bore the car of the Conqueror to the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, and the step of the outcast to the asylum of the destitute. Connected with the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, were the Temples of Minerva and Juno. This great edifice was surrounded by a triple row of pillars, and here the Conqueror offered his bleeding victims in thanksgiving for his triumphs. Close to the Tarpeian was the citadel, and, on the same side, the Temple of Jupiter Ferretius.

Crossing by the Senatorial Palace, we approached the celebrated

FORUM ROMANUM,

from whence the Roman people were governed by eloquence from whence the rays of genius were sent forth, which penetrated our northern gloom; but we see no longer the illustrious tribunal. Our eye rested on three pillars of Corinthian order, exquisitely finished, fluted, and of white marble; they are all that remain of the Temple of Jupiter Tonans. It was erected by Augustus, on his return from Spain, where, travelling by night, one of his servants was killed by his side with lightning. At a right angle with these are eight pillars of oriental granite, dedicated to Fortune. There is one more single pillar; it was erected to Phocas: from its style and inscription, might not this pillar be an object of worship, a symbol of the presence of Phocas? It is said by the erudite, that the Forum

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ARCH OF SEPTIMUS SEVERUS.

Romanum remained, in his days, the most distinguished place in Rome. We are told that, on his elevation to the throne in the sixth century, he sent the image of himself and wife Leontia, to be worshipped at Rome, and that they were received with much respect by Pope Gregory; notwithstanding which Phocas took from him the title of universal bishop, and the prelate of the East assumed it.

It was in this forum, where we now stand, that this Gregory was walking when he saw the poor barbarous Britons exposed to sale. Even in the midst of his darkness, he had the light of mercy; he sent a mission to instruct them. Has such a thought ever entered the breast of Leo XII., as he sees the beautiful daughters of England flirting in St. Peter's?

The boundary of the Forum may be traced to the arch of Septimius Severus, raised by the Roman people to him and his sons, for the victory gained over the Parthians, and other oriental nations. It is of Pentelican marble, of three arches, ornamented with eight fluted columns.

Our eye continually wandered to the three fine pillars of the temple of "Jupiter Tonans." I thought the capitals more beautiful than those I have seen elsewhere. The temple is said to have been erected on the site of the place destined to receive strangers and foreign ambassadors, even from the time of Pyrrhus.

Beyond these pillars, towards the Velabro, (the little valley between the Palatine and Capitoline,) we were directed to the few remains of the Curia, where that senate was convened which struck the barbarians as the assembly of the Gods. It was rebuilt by Augustus, and named "Curia Julia." The remaining walls are seen as part of the house of a carpenter. Beyond is the church of St.

THE TRIBUNAL.

Theodore, once the famous temple of Vesta.

91.

The Vestal

virgins here preserved the sacred fire and the Palladium ; and close to this temple was the boundary of the Forum Romanum towards the Tiber.

In the midst of the Forum, and before the Curia, was the Tribunal. It was from this tribunal, turning their eyes towards the Capitoline, that the orators inflamed the ardour of the people ;-it was from thence that Cicero harangued, and that the cause of the guilty was so often pleaded.

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We are told that the Romans, having taken Antium, the chief town of the Volsci, stole from their vessels the brazen prows called rostra, and with these they ornamented their tribunal, hence called Rostra."

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On the eastern side of the Forum, on the Capitoline, was the basilica of Æmilius, near which Virginius killed his child. To the south is the temple of Antoninus and Faustina; and between this and the site of the Grecostatis was the arch of Fabius, the conqueror of the Allobroges. This arch formed the limit of the forum on that side; and thence issued the Via Sacra,”—that “via sacra” which had seen the victims conducted to death, at the peace of Romulus and Tatius; and was continued by the succeeding governments through the Coliseum, and passed by the temple of Venus and Rome, through the basilica of Constantine, and the arch of Fabius. You must now attend me up the Sacred Way-not a victim crowned for the sacrifice, but a traveller, as Æneas.

"A stranger, casting round my curious eyes,
New objects viewing still, with new surprise ;
With greedy joy inquiring various things,
And acts and monuments of ancient kings.”

Trees now border the way. Cast your eye on the left

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ARCH OF DOMITIAN.

it is the portico of the temple erected to Antoninus and Faustina-Gods, as you are told on the entablature. The fine columns are of Cipollino marble (so called from the resemblance which its shading bears to a leek): this marble was formerly called "lapis Carystius." The circular temple beyond is that of Romulus and Remus (the pavement, laid down in it by Augustus, is now on the wall of the staircase of the Capitol, and is the plan of ancient Rome). You observe those prodigious arches of brick; they are part of the basilica of Constantine: when I saw them by moonlight, with a noble breadth of light and shade, and with all those gigantic columns strewing the earth like the fallen giants of the "olden time," the effect was magnificent. The arch on the right is that of Titus. The voice of the sceptic has nothing to say of him with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. "But the very stones do

speak."

Who could have foretold that Domitian, that cruel persecutor of Christians, should erect an arch which should confirm, for ages, the veracity of that God whom they worshipped! but God brings to nought the wisdom of men.

We are told that this arch of triumph was erected by Domitian, and the Roman people, in honour of Titus for his conquest of Jerusalem. On the interior are two fine bas-reliefs. On the one, Titus is represented borne on a triumphal car, which Rome, under the figure of a woman, conducts; whilst Victory crowns the conqueror. On the opposite side is represented the triumphal pomp, with the Jewish spoils:-first, the prisoners; then the table of shew bread, with the sacred vessels; the silver trumpets; the candlestick with seven branches; the ark of the covenant

SPOILS OF JERUSALEM.

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which the Roman soldiers (crowned with the wreath of victory) bear on their shoulders. Whilst gazing, the mind recals the sound of that voice from Mount Nebo, which declared to the stiff-necked Jews, "When ye shall do evil in the sight of the Lord, he shall scatter you among the nations; and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you." Titus saw not the hand leading his captives. But let us hear the faithful transcript of the threat, from the testimony of Josephus, one of that very people:-" But for the spoils taken in the temple of Jerusalem, they made the greatest figure of all: that is, the golden table, of the weight of many talents; the candlestick, also, that was made of gold-its lamps, seven in number, represented the dignity of the number seven among the Jews; and, the last of all, was carried the law of the Jews. Titus laid up in the Temple of Peace those golden vessels that were taken in the temple of Jerusalem, as ensigns of his glory. But he gave orders that they should lay up the law, and the veils of the holy place, in the royal palace itself, and keep them."

It is said that the Goths plundered the spoils from the royal palace, and God will yet send for his people. Yes, they are still here-the captive Jews; they are fastened up every night in a quarter of the town called "Ghetto degli Ebraei;" but the promise is still theirs, and their habitation an appointed one. And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people, as a dew from the Lord; as the shower upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of man." Thus saith the Lord of hosts :-" Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country. And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and