Vergilius: A Tale of the Coming of Christ

unded the great monument, immense and beautiful beyond any in the knowledge of men. It signalized a remarkable state of things-the world was at peace. More than seven centuries before

of peace wrought in fruits and bees and birds and blossoms. Here was a mighty plant flowering twice a year and

the emperor that day

e addressed

when peace should reign among the nations of the earth. Well, give me an army for a hundred years, good people, and then I may voice the will of the gods that iron be used no more to plough its

ng slowly, moves the great procession of mankind. But so it befell; the very right hand of Jupiter

with Augustus. They rode

subtle emperor-a sceptic in religion, a cynic in philosophy, a rake in private life, and a

ing to do," said

plate of Jupiter," said Augustus. "Honor and peace are good things-do not forget that, my young friend. Give the words to yo

e leave-taking;"

r-it will roll away the stone of regret. Buy a fool, my young frie

wer of wood to the crowned king, but

a wise man," said

aftily-"twenty thousand denarii, and dear at that. They wil

his cunning eyes upon

ok were a hint to the young man that he should prepare himself with all diligence for an active career in the senate. The youth understood

laudia. The emperor, putting his hand out of the

an-new arms, a beautiful corselet, a girdle of the look of knitted gold-for the Roman wore a girdle in Judea-articles of apparel su

ake a fine toga," s

r surveyed

ht and then you will see its

rd master," s

ps to show the fineness of our togas? I

ar sides of the city. It signified that the emper

to the litter and they sat down again, fa

man remarked, as they went on, "I

e, good father,"

or have you not youth a

ol

a gentleness to make one regret that he lived not in a better time; for, perhaps

en I sleep, even, they press upon me. I am weary-but if

o madness, pressed a glance into the very soul of the young man. T

will profit you-there is so little com

young knight his first lesson. It was nearing its end now

knew my destinatio

. Learn to know things that are not t