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has been borne in tumult to the great portico of the temple of the Sun, where, with the ceremonies prescribed for the occasion, he has been crowned king of Palmyra and of the East.

6

I

While these things were in progress-the new king entering upon his authority, and the government forming itself-Gracchus chose and acted his part. 'There little safety,' he said, for me now, But were I fear, anywhere-but least of all here. secure of life, Palmyra is now to be a desecrated and polluted place, and I would fain depart from it. I could not remain in it, though covered with honour, to see Antiochus in the seat of Zenobia, and Critias in the chair of Longinus. I must go, as I respect myself and as I desire life. Antiochus will bear me no good will, and no sooner will he have become easy in his seat and secure in his power, than he will begin the work for which his nature alone fits him, of cold-blooded revenge, cruelty, and lust. indeed that his reign will end before that day shall arrive but it may not-and it will be best for me and for you, my children, to remove from his sight. If he sees us not, he may forget us.

I trust

We all gladly assented to the plan which he then proposed. It was to withdraw privately as possible to one of his estates in the neighbourhood of the city, and there await the unfolding of the scenes that remained yet to be enacted. carried into effect.

The plan was at once The estate to which we retreated was about four Roman miles from the walls, situated upon an eminence, and overlooking the city and the surrounding plains. Soon as the shadows of the evening of the first day of the reign of Antiochus had fallen, we departed from Palmyra, and within an

ho

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an

d

P

nd ourselves upon a spot as wild and secluded had been within the bosom of a wilderness. ding consists of a square tower of stone, large y, built originally for purposes of war and but now long occupied by those who have the peaceful labours of husbandry. The s of the region, the solitariness of the place, k and frowning aspect of the impregnable had pleased the fancy of both Gracchus and and it has been used by them as an occaretreat at those times when, wearied of the and sight of life, they have needed repose. ves are all that are required to constitute a ent household.

A

e, Curtius, notwithstanding the troubled aspect times, have we passed a few days of no modenjoyment. Had there been no other, it would been enough to sit and witness the happiness of rnius and Fausta. But there have been and ther sources of satisfaction, as you will not doubt. ave now leisure to converse at such length as lease upon a thousand subjects which interest us ed upon the rocks at nightfall, or upon the lofty ements of the tower, or at hot noon reclinin ath the shade of the terebinth or palm, we hav ed once again the calm delights we experienced Queen's mountain palace. In this manner hav heard from Calpurnius accounts every way in ctive and entertaining of his life while in Persia the character and acts of Sapor; of the conditi hat empire, and its wide-spread population. N ng seems to have escaped his notice and investig n. At these times and places too do I amuse a lighten the circle around me by reading such p

tions of your letters and of Portia's as relate to mat-
ters generally interesting-and thus too do we discuss
the times, and speculate upon the events with which
the future labours in relation to Palmyra.

In the mean time, we learn that the city is given up
Antiochus himself possessing
to festivity and excess.
immense riches, is devoting these, and whatever the
treasury of the kingdom places within his reach, to
the entertainment of the people with shows and
games after the Roman fashion, and seems really to
have deluded the mass of the people so far as to have
convinced them that their ancient prosperity has re-
turned, and that he is the father of their country, a
second Odenatus. He has succeeded in giving to his
betrayal of the Queen the character and merit of a
patriotic act, at least with the creatures who uphold
him-and there are no praises so false and gross that
they are not heaped upon him, and imposed upon
people in proclamations and edicts.
and where is it that they are not the greater part ?—
stand by, wonder, and believe. They cannot pene-
trate the wickedness of the game that has been played
before them, and by the arts of the king and his
minions have already been converted into friends and
supporters.

the

The ignorant

The defence of the city is not, we understand, wholly neglected; but having before their eyes some fear of retribution, troops are again levied and organised, and the walls beginning to be put into a state of preparation. But this is all of secondary interest,

and is postponed to any object of more immediate

and sensual gratification.

But there are large numbers of the late Queen's truest friends, who with Gracchus look on in grief,

and t

from

the

Cou

also

to

fas

ce

even, at the order of things that has arisen, esying with him a speedy end to it, either ior and domestic revolution, or a return of an armies, accompanied in either case of a wide-spread destruction, have with him tly withdrawn from the city, and fled either neighbouring territory, or retreated to the s of the rural districts. Gracchus has not warn all whom he knows and chiefly esteems angers to be apprehended, and urge upon duty of a timely escape.

ngers have arrived from Antiochus to Gracith whom they have held long and earnest ce, the object of which has been to induce eturn to the city, and resume his place at the the senate, the king well knowing that no is would so much strengthen his power as to to number Gracchus among his friends. But us has not so much as wavered in his purpose aloof from Antiochus and all concern with airs. His contempt and abhorrence of the ould not however, he says, prevent his serving ntry, were he not persuaded that in so short a violence of some sort from without or within prostrate king and government in the dust.

as only a few days after the messengers from chus had paid their visit to Gracchus, that as we seated upon a shaded rock, not far from the listening to Fausta as she read to us, we were ed by the sudden irruption of Milo upon our ion, breathless, except that he could just ex, The Romans! the Romans!" As he could and his speech, he said, that the Roman army

250

could plainly be discerned from the higher points of
the land, rapidly approaching the city, of which we
might satisfy ourselves by ascending the tower.'

'Gods! can it be possible,' exclaimed Gracchus, 'that Aurelian can himself have returned? He must have been well on his way to the Hellespont ere the conspiracy broke out.'

I can easily believe it,' I replied, as we hastened toward the old tower, from what I have known and witnessed of the promptness and miraculous celerity

of his movements.'

As we came out upon the battlements of the tower, not a doubt remained that it was indeed the Romans pouring in again like a flood upon the plains of the now devoted city. Far as the eye could reach to the west, clouds of dust indicated the line of the Roman march, while the van was already within a mile of the very gates. The roads leading to the capital, in every direction, seemed covered with those who, at the last moment, ere the gates were shut, had rushed forth and were flying to escape the impending desolation. All bore the appearance of a city taken by surprise and utterly unprepared; as we doubted not was the case from what we had observed of its actual state, and from the suddenness of Aurelian's return and approach.

'Now,' said Fausta, 'I can believe that the last days of Palmyra have arrived. It is impossible that Antiochus can sustain the siege against what will now be the tenfold fury of Aurelian and his enraged

soldiers.'

A very few days will suffice for its reduction, if long before it be not again betrayed into the power

of the assailants.