The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

" A rare prize , this , " said Balbus , after they had iterchanged greetings pointing to the book ; Marcus has excelled himself . Did ' st thou ever ) 0 so fair a pen ? but precious gems , such as are ¦ mr poems , deserves the richest dress . "

" Nothing can be too rich for Trajan , " replied aius . " His TJlpian Library bids fair to be the i nest in Rome . He says truly , that victory gives eace , but books contentment ; and while victory opels the insolence of barbarians , books advance

te people in civilisation . " " He is a great man , " said Balbus . " And a great fosterer of our trade , " said Harms . " We have a hundred books on hand

' ipying for the Ulpiau . Look at this Virgil . Its -qual was never in Rome .. Is it not rarely written , J ncl these devices , are they not quaint ?" "It is excellent , but what books are the rest ?"

"Ah , ha ! " said the bibliopole , " every library n Rome has been searched for rare copies and rare works . Now who do you think has the finest library ?" " I am sure I know not . "

" I do not speak of the number- of books , but of their value : Your cousin Adrian—I called apon him shortly after his arrival from histravels , re-• questing to see his manuscripts . He has works in sill languages , and such a Homer ! The finest that

ever Athens produced . It is written on the finest 'Papyrus , in the loveliest characters and illumined with rich lettering , ancl full of illustrative drawings . One thousand pounds did not pay the expence . "

" I knew he had some rich works , but did not think they were so valuable . " " I shall show you one of his meanest—Liipo , go and bring me hither the Plato . " The slave brought it . " ' This is a real work of art , my slaves cannot

touch it , " said Marcus , reverentlyopening the tome . " I cannot have more than one of these in my shop at a time , what a loss there would be to the ¦ world , were this to be destroyed or damaged . " " But there are surely other copies in the

world ?" " Other copies , other trash , " said the bibliopole , angrily , " tell me when saw yon ever such papyrus , such illumining , such writing . Another copy , it is unequalled ?"

" I crave your pardon , Marcus , " said Caius , smiling , " you spoke of the material body , I of the . soul . "

" Body or soul , the book is unique . " " By the way , Marcus , " said Balbus , " I have some poems lying by me at present , which I think had better be put into shape . I shall send you some immediately . "

" Of what description are they ? Nothing , I hope , in the style of the ' Gentes Romae ? ' I doubt if such another work could be safely published . "

" Ah no , they are pastoral poems , satires and the such like . Quite innocent . A child might read them . " " Very good , I shall publish them , but on the understanding that I may expunge what I

please . ' ' " Agreed . Whether go you now , Caius ?" " To the palace , to present this work to the Emperor . '' " So far shall I make bold to accompany you , "

and saluting the bibliopole , who was lost in admiration of the Plato , they left the shop . " Is not Marcus a very bear , Caius ? He is as tender of the delicate reputation of his works , as a prude of her good name . "

"I honour him for it , " replied Caius , " written immorality lives , while spoken immorality dies with the generation . I admire the poet in Ovid , but I hate his principles . Cutting out the indelicacy from his pages , there is still sufficient left to

prove his claim to greatness . Perhaps more , for his licentiousness is only the gross earth enveloping the spirit , destroy that body and the soul rises at once to heaven . "

"I believe you are right , Gaius . My unfortunate ' Gentes Romae' was written in the cause of virtue , its theme was the ugliness of vice , and how could I show that but by example . Precept is good , example better . "

" True , but the past is past , and should be left in its funeral urn . " " I wish I had submitted the work to you before I committed it to the world , still it has had a great sale . "

" Doubtless , for one purchaser of c Virgils ' Eniad , ' Marcus has twenty for f Ovids' Art of Love . ' 'Tis the world . "

" A noble Greek , Murtius by name , at present living at Rome desires your acquaintanceship . " " Murtius ? " said Caius , musingly , " surely I know thj 3 name . I have heard [ it somewhere before . " " Likely , " said Balbus , an uncomfortable feeling