BOOK X.

Troubles at Rome. - Happiness of Numa. -Leo asks of his father, for his friend, the hand of his sister Anna.-Zoroaster refuses. Numa's speech. - Leo expostulates with his father. -Zoroaster consents to the marriage. — Numa is ready for the wedding. Unexpected arrival of the Roman ambassadors. - They describe the misfortunes of Rome, the pestilence which desolates it, the death of Romulus, and Numa's election. Numa refuses the crown. - Anna's speech to make him accept it.Numa is inflexible.

MEANWHILE all was consternation and trouble at Rome. The Sabines, in despair at the loss of Tatius and the exile of Numa, rendered obedience with horror to the assassin of their king. The frightful death of Tatia, which they attributed to Hersilia, had rendered this princess the object of their execration. The Sabines, more opposed than ever to the Romans, not concealing the jealousy and hatred which they bore against them, were ready at any moment for bloodshed. Enmity and suspicion reigned in every family; and but for the peaceful counsels of Metius, civil war would have desolated the city.

Romulus, a prey to that dark fury which in criminals is called remorse, to keep his people in bounds, imposed new taxes upon them, caused the blood of nobles to flow, and reigned by terror alone.

Hersilia, too worthy a scion of her father's stock, cherished only the poisons of jealousy and rage. Not doubting but some mistress possessed the heart of Numa, she sent every day secret emissaries to try and discover this

rival, to bring news of her lover, to threaten with the arms of her father any king who might give him an asylum, and to purchase his head of any one who might deliver it.

During all this time, Numa, concealed in the fastnesses of the Apennines, and among faithful friends, was rejoicing at the gratitude of Zoroaster and Leo. He shared their transports; he saw the happy Zoroaster embrace his long lost son. 66 "O my dear son," said the old man, "you are restored to me. I see you again- I am not deceived. The first day on which you entered my cabin, my heart flew to you with an irresistible attraction; this heart first recognized you. How I delight to contemplate you! How noble you are! Come then, and press me to your bosom; you owe me all the caresses which I have lost from your infancy to this time."

Leo could only respond to his father's affection with tears. Camilla listened in silence. Leo took Camilla's hand, and presented it to Zoroaster. "My father," said he, "here is my friend, the sovereign of my soul. For a long time we have been separated; we are at last united. But however ardent our love might have been to each other, if I could have foreseen that I should again look upon the face of my father, be assured that we should have waited the moment that your hand should unite us. Pardon us our happiness, and add to it your confirmation."

Camilla then fell on her knees before the old man, and with palpitating heart and eyes turned to the ground, she waited with solicitude to hear him call her his daughter. She had never before such a wish to appear beautiful, even in the eyes of Leo; her silence seemed to say to the old man, ‘My features are of little consequence, but my heart is worthy of you.'

My daughter," said Zoroaster, as he lifted her up, "my felicity exceeds all my pains. I lost but one child; on this happy day I find two."

Saying this, he embraced the beautiful Camilla, and Leo's relation of his adventures closed the tender scene. The lively interest with which this recital inspires Zoroaster and his daughter, adds to the sentiment which nature has implanted in their hearts.

Numa partakes of the common joy. Since Anna is the sister of Leo, she appears to Numa more beautiful. Every day he sees in her new virtues, and is constantly talking of her to his friend. But the name of friend, so dear to him, no longer appears to him sufficiently expressive.

At length, Numa, convalescent, goes forth to breathe the morning air; he chooses the places where Anna conducts her flocks, and becomes a shepherd, that he may be with her. While Camilla and her spouse are gone to the chase for Zoroaster, Numa relates to their sister the history of his life. He hears with delight the reflections and counsels of Anna. He is astonished to find such reason, such sagacity, in one of her tender years, and every day he acquires from her more prudence and virtue. He gathers reeds, which he unites with wax, and from which he produces instrumental melodies. With this simple pipe, he accompanies the sweet voice of the shepherdess. He repeats again and again the songs and hymns which she teaches him. He does not think of love; his sentiments are more tranquil, more delicious.

Soon as the morning appears, Numa goes forth to meet Anna. He feels no transports or extravagant joy; still he wants to see her. He is not agitated in her presence; but he is not happy unless he is near her. Removed from

Anna, he has no thoughts, no existence; like the sunflower, which falls languishing and withered during the absence of the source of light; but as soon as Apollo shines forth in his chariot, Clytia raises her drooping head, and turns it towards the star of day, still following him in his course, without ceasing to look upon him, till he is again merged in the bosom of Tethys.*

Gratitude

The modest Anna, who finds nothing in her own heart, or in that of Numa, which can alarm her, yields to the sentiment which attracts her. She cherishes her liberator, the hero who has saved her father's life. imposes a duty upon her, while the virtues of Numa make this duty a pleasure. Anna delights to converse with the pupil of Tullus on the wonders of creation, the revolution of the planets; of the customs of various nations, their governments, forms of religion-all different, but all agreeing in morality. Every sect, attached to its own dogmas, explains or defends them. Divided in their worship, they are reunited in their duties; their souls are in agreement while their reason is disputing; and Numa, who cannot but admire the profound wisdom of Anna, feels daily an increasing regard for her.

Leo is the first to observe this mutual attachment, and he ardently wishes to see his friend a brother. "Do you

"It is not while beauty and youth are thine own,
And thy cheeks unprofaned by a tear,

That the fervor and faith of a soul can be known,
To which time will but make thee more dear.
O, the heart that has truly loved never forgets,
But as truly loves on to the close,

As the sun-flower turns on her god, when he sets,
The same look which she turned when he rose."

love my sister?" said he to Numa; "tell me frankly.” Numa blushed and was troubled. " Why do you blush ? said Leo: "the gods have given us love to solace our pains and reward our virtues. If your heart is disengaged from the unworthy ties of Hersilia, if you cherish Anna as much as Leo cherishes you, I will obtain the consent of my father for you. Tell me in confidence," said Leo.

"My friend," said Numa, "the name of Hersilia makes me tremble, but Anna assures me. The sentiment which your sister inspires is not at all like that which made me so wretched. I see Anna every day. I cannot leave her, but never have I thought of proposing marriage to her. Still I feel certain, that if happiness can be found on earth, it is in reserve for your sister's husband." He said. Leo embraced him, took him by the hand, and brought him to Zoroaster. Leo had no doubt of his father's consent. He asked of him Anna for his friend, his liberator for him of all men whom he loved most. But what was his surprise and chagrin, when Zoroaster, after listening to him, with a stern look, replied in these words:

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My son, I love Numa; I owe him my life; I shall bless the day when I can requite him; but my daughter belongs to the Magi. I am the head of this religion, and the law which we announce forbids all alliance with idolaters. You know I have sacrificed, for this law, honors, riches, repose, every thing which conflicted with it. Would you allow that, at the end of my life, at the moment when I am about to receive the reward for such sacrifices, I should lose it, by transgressing the precepts which I have taught?

"You have taught ingratitude then," replied Leo, in an animated voice.