reproach myself through life at having been an obstacle to the happiness of two nations, and taking from them the most beautiful present which heaven could give to earth -a good king. This thought would destroy my peace, and perhaps might change the tender love with which you have inspired me. Numa, it is for you to say enough. I know my duties and yours; if you refuse to be useful to men, it is I who will punish you."

Such was the speech of Anna. Zoroaster and Leo joined with her; Camilla only took Numa's part. Metius and the Roman ambassadors fell on their knees before him, and reiterated every thing that could persuade his judgment or move his feeling heart. It was in vain; Numa stood immovable as a rock in the ocean, against which the waves are dashing. He opposed, with mildness, a determined will to their prayers and reasons, and ended with embracing Metius. "My father," said he, "if you love me, speak to me no further of a throne which I dread more than a tomb. I would live in this valley, I would die in this cabin. I am born free; let me enjoy the natural right which every man has of choosing an asylum where he can peacefully spend his days. I hope that this request is no offence to the immortals. But if this be my misfortune, I should still prefer to supplicate them, to strive to appease them for the rest of my life, rather than gird on a diadem which I fear and hate. After this, Metius you can judge whether your arguments are in vain. They grieve me; deliver me from them. Come, repose in my cabin, not by your king, but by your friend; tomorrow, with the rising sun, you will return and tell the Romans, that if they still love Numa, they will prove it by leaving him in his happy obscurity."

Saying this, he left the cabin of Zoroaster. Anna recalled him in vain: for the first time, Numa gave no heed to her voice. The ambassadors retired with sad hearts, to pass the night in the new cabin. Camilla, after long contending with Anna, and taking part for Numa, repaired to rest with her dear Leo. Zoroaster and his daughter remained together, to carry into effect an important project.

17*

BOOK XI.

The shade of Tatius appears to Numa. - Flight of Anna and her father. Despair of Numa.— He yields obedience to the gods, and decides to reign. - Leo goes in search of his sister.- Arrival of Numa in Rome. of his people. -First acts of Numa. He repairs to the grove of Egeria. — Conversation with this nymph on the choice of ministers, war, politics, social order, laws, and religion. Government of Numa.

NUMA retired to the solitude of his cabin, but could find no rest. All that he had said to Anna passed in review before his mind. "She threatens to renounce me, if, on her account, I forget my duties to my nation and resist the will of the gods. What a frightful calamity! to displease at once the gods and my dear Anna. But if I accept the crown, can I signalize the first days of my reign by my marriage with one of the Magi? My purpose would be to reign with religion, and I should commence by placing on my throne an enemy of my creed. My people would look upon this with horror. Notwithstanding the virtues of Anna, public hatred would be her portion. No, I will never expose her to this. I can never sacrifice my love to the vain hope of properly ruling Rome. To this time I have lived and been sacrificed to others; 'tis time to live for myself.”

In the midst of these reflections, the chagrin of afflicting his own people, and the fear of offending the gods, shook the resolutions of Numa. Agitated by contrary sentiments, carried forward by his love, and backward by his piety, he remains uncertain what to resolve. Like a

tree nearly cut off by the axeman, and ready to incline either way with the slightest force, but whose fall threatens equally on all sides.

Aurora, in her opal chariot, had gilded the portals of day ere Numa gave himself to sleep. No sooner had he yielded to this sweet comforter, than appeared to him the shade of an old man, covered with bloody garments. Numa, seized with terror, felt his hair rise; but he recognized Tatius, and his fear vanished. "O my father! O my king!" said he; "what has called you from Elysium? Why this bloody robe, which points too plainly at the crime of Romulus? What do you order? Speak, invincible and dear shade, and Numa swears to obey."

"March to Rome," said the shade in a stern voice; "the gods order you to reign. 'Tis to announce to you their decrees that I have left my dark abodes. I have not yet come to the fields of Elysium. Minos, before rewarding the little good I have done, is punishing me for the evil I have suffered to be done by others. I must remain in Tartarus * till the time that the Romans are the happiest nation upon earth. Numa, be thou my liberator."

Saying these words, the shade disappeared. Numa stretches forth his hands to retain him, but he embraces nothing but a light breath which was lost in darkness.

Numa awoke, covered with cold sweat. He fell on his knees and worshipped the immortals, offering libations

* I am thy father's spirit,

Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night,
And for the day, confin'd too fast in fires,
Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature
Are burnt and purg'd away.

Hamlet, Act I Scene V.

of wine in a brazen vessel. After this, he runs for Anna, to dissipate the trouble which agitates him.

But in vain does he look and call for her; Anna makes him no reply. Alarmed at the silence, Numa enters the room where Zoroaster slept, and finds his bed unoccupied. A tablet is before him; Numa seizes it, and reads these words: :

"ANNA TO NUMA.

"I leave you; you will see me no more.

were

So long as

I am with you, you will refuse a throne which God gives you for the happiness of two nations, (and this sacrifice I can never accept,) or you will ascend that throne with Anna at your side, and thus displease your people. For your interest and glory I must fly from you, Numa; yes, must leave you this day—the very day on which we My tears have moistened these tablets. Adieu, Numa, go and reign in peace; be happy if you can, but do not forget your Anna. Remember that in my obscure asylum I shall constantly be thinking of you; I shall hear, I hope, blessings upon your name, and then shall I rejoice at having purchased with my misfortune the glory which you will enjoy the happiness of your people, and the certainty of ever living in your heart."

Numa read the letter twice without being able to shed a tear; surprise and grief overwhelmed him. He did not weep, he did not complain, but looked upon the tablets with a dry and wandering eye. Like the bird which returns to bring to its little ones their nourishment, and finds her nest taken away; she stands motionless upon a branch, and unconsciously drops from her beak the food, still looking steadfastly upon the place where were her dear young.