The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-29


him the way out Of the palace. They went
silent and thoughtful. In the impluvium they
found little crowd surrounding Augustus,
who had returned from his promenade to the
camp, aud who was throwing crumbs Of bread
among some pigeons near the central fountain,
Two ladies were Of the company, one OF
whom, ip advanced age, was evidently the
Empress Livia, but for whose influence and
management Germanicus-ceEtainly not her
| ungrateful son Tiberius-would have been the
next master of the world. The o.her lady,
who was past her PRIME had still abundant
vestiges of q beauty which must once have
been very remarkable.
She was painted red and plastered white,
with immense care, to look some fifteen years
younger than she truly was.
Her countenance betrayed to o good physi-
ognomist, at first glance, the horrible life she
| had led. Paulus, whose experience was little,
| and, although she fastened upon him flaming
glance, which she intended to be full both OF
condescension and fascination, thought that
he had seldom seen o woman either more re-
pulsive or more insanely naughty.
1t was Julia, the new and abhorred wife OF
Tiberius. Not long before, at the request of
Augustus, who was always planning to dispose
of Julia, Tiberius had given up for her the
only woman be ever loved, Agrippina Marcella
Tiberius so loved her, if it deserves to be
| termed love, that when, being thus deserted,
she took another husband (Asnius Galius,) he,
mad with jealousy, threw him into q dungeon
and kept him there till he died, as Seutonius
o nd Tacitus record.
"Ah, my Athenisn" said the emperor to
| Dionysius, placing hand affectionately on
| the youths shoulder, could you satisfy me
| that those splendid theories Of yours are more
than dreams and fances that really there is
one eternal, all-wise, and omnipotent spirit,
who made this universal frame of things, and
governs it as an absolute monarch; that he
made us that in us he made spirit, soul
ghost, q thinking principle, which will never
die and that I, who am going down to the
| tomb, am only to change my mode of existence;
that shall not wholly descend thither; that
an urn will not contain everything which will
remain Of me; and all this in q very different
sense from that which poor Horace meant I
| But why speak of it Has not Plato failed ~
"Plato," replied Dionysius, neither quite
failed nor is quite understood, illustrious EN-
peror. But you were saying, if could satisfy
you. Be pleased to finish. Grant could sat-
isfy you; what then ]"
Satisfy me that one eternal sovereign of the
universe lives, and that what now thinks in
me-" returned the emperor, while the courtly
group made circle, twill never cease to
think that what is now conscious within me
will be conscious forever; that now, in moro
than n mere poetical alluson to my fame-and
on the word of Augustus Caesar, there is no
reasonable request within the entire reach
and compass of my power which I will refuse
you"
And what sort of hearing, emperor" in
quired Dion, land under what circumstances,
and upon what conditions, will you be pleased
to give mef and when and whereof"
ain this palace, before the games end" re-
piled Augustus. The hearing shall form an
evenings entertainment for our whole circle
and attendance. You shall sustain your doc
trines, while our celebrated advocates and or
ators, Antistius Labio and Domitius Afer, who
disagree with them, know, shall oppose you.
Let me see The Casars, Tiberius and Ger
manicus, with their ladies, and our host Ma
murra and his family, and all our circle, shall
be present. Titus Livy, Lucius Varius, Velleius
Pateroulus, and the greatest orator Rome ever
produced, except Cicero" {the old man men
toned with watery eyes the Incompatible
genius to whose murder he had consented in
his youthful mean Quntus Haterius-shall
form = judicial jury. Haterius shall pro-
nounce the sentence. Dare you face such an
! ordeal"
az will accept it," replied the Athenian,
| blushing; " will accept the ordeal with fear
Daring is contracted with trembling; but, al,
though my daring trem bles, yet my trepidatior
| dares."
ooh! how enchantingw cried the august
| Julia !" we shall hear the eloquent Atheuian.'
and she clasped her hands and sent an unutter
able glance toward Dion, who saw it not.
at will be very interesting indeed" added
the aged empress.
Better for once than even the mighty com
edy of tho palace" said Lucius varius.
"Better than the gladiators, added Velleiu,
Paterculns.
can idea worthy of the time of Virgil anG
Mecenas," added Titus Livy.
worthy of Augustus's time," subjoinet
TibeEius, who was leaning against one of tn,
pillars which supported the gallery of the in,