The Nemesis : A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

himself upon Adrian's breast , and as he embraced him , Avhispered in his ear , " my brother , thanks . " An instant A'isible emotion , and then it Avas gone . Recovering himself , and picking up his hunting spear , he called off the dogs , and cried : " Up , my

comrades , the day drives on , Ave shall find another boar not far off . Come Adrian , " and Avith Avilcl shouts , the hunters leaving a slaA * e iu charge of the dead boar , dashed off , Avhile Adrian and Cains slowly folloAved .

Caius Avas astonished at Adrian ' s conduct , who he never considered possessed the nerve which he had so signally displayed on this occasion . Still more Avas he astonished at the sudden change in the conduct of Lycus towards him , for

Lycus was famed for his abhorrence of all bookish men and ^ scholars . Turning to Adrian , Caius said : —

" Thou art calm . Dost thou feel no pride in this brave act of thine ?" "In taking aivay the life of a boar ?" " Nay , in saving the life of Lycus from the bark of Charon . What is a boar ' s death to that ?"

"Hum , I do not know . A boar may be a good son , an affectionate father , a faithful husband . In that case I may have been guilty of takingaAvay a good life : for how ICIIOAV Ave that boars have not immortal spirits ? Are the fables of the

constellations nothiug ? HOAV can Ave tell but that Pythagoras was right , and that man in after life may take on the form of beasts . What superiorit y does man possess over them ? Is it because he uses- them , or hunts them down that he claims

superior excellence . So might the philosopher have done , Avhen the tyrant caused him to be brayed in a mortar . " Beat , " cried the sage , "beat upon my bag , but thou canst not harm my soul , " and Avhen the tyrant threatened him

with the deprivation of his tongue , bit it through and spat it at him Avith a sublime contempt of mind for matter .

"The mind gOA ems the body , the spirit is greater than the flesh . " " Thou art Avrong , my Caius , in nine tenths of the human race the spirit is ruled by the flesh . Take the drunkard , the glutton , the debauchee ,

Avhat spirit governs them ? None , it is the flesh . The combat of Aviso men has never been with spiritual desires , for these must be good and true , the spirit being a j > art of the umversal spirit , but the combat has been Avith the flesh and Avorldly hists . Conquer the flesh , and then as the clouds

leave the sky pure and serene , Avhen the wind scatters them , and the sun shines them down , so do these lusts leave the soul pure . No mists can encircle the soul , except those which spring from the flesh . "

" You argue therefore ?" " I argue that there is no reason Avhy the beasts of the field may not be greater than Ave are . The elephant beggars man in strength , the horse in SAviftness , even the little fox can foil him by its

craft . Can man fly , and track those boundless realms of air , or can he dive into the ocean deeps , and make the treasures of the sea his own ? The

bird and fish , each in its element , is mightier than man in his , for he falls a prey to the savage eagle , the jointed snake , and the rushing shark . " " Your words aie wild , Adrian . " "So are my thoughts , so are my aspirations ,

Caius . I thirst to know the rule and guide of life , and Avho is master of that grisly shade , before whose bloAV all fall—the monarch ancl the serf : the conqneror and the captive ; the husband and Avife , even love and hate . He comes unknown ,

thus terrible . He speaks not , breathes not , heeds not challenge . He boldly enters in at guarded doors . He smites the sentinel upon his post , the lover in the embrace of his mistress . He smiles at crowns , gold cannot buy from him a truce . He

is over all , rules all , kills all ; but Avho , or what , or whence he comes , Ave do not knoAv . And this it is that makes me long for him , this makes me watch the dying lips of men to hear their fears

describe his presence , yet my Avatchis ever m vain . I hear no rustling cloak , no rattle of the sword drawn from the sheath , no footstep ; but a shade comes over the face , a heavy long drawn sigh , an echoing groan , and death has swept his victim from

the earth . But who can master death ?" " Jupiter . " " So teach our priests , my Caius , who do give to each man a god , yet cannot prove to my satisfaction Avho reigns over all ; for even the great

Jupiter has fettered powers , ancl must SAvear by Styx to bind his oath . YVhy have Ave croAvcls of altars , if so be Jupiter kings it iu heaven—Ave need but one ! The Avind is mighty , lashing seas to foam , hurling doAvn the oaken groves , and

blowing out the mightiest conflagrations . What is the wind ? who sends it ? Avhat is fire ? These things puzzle me even more than the stars , for stars may after all be but earths shmg up in heaven , and Ave be to them as fair and brilliant a 3 they