Italy; while the conquest of all the nations around the Mediterranean did not cost them above half that time!

Plutarch has written an entire treatise upon the • Fortune of the Romans." In this treatise, Virtue and Fortune are said to have contended, to which of them the power of the Romans should be attributed and the dispute is decided in favour of the latter. Fortune, according to his representation, having abandoned the Persians and Assyrians, flew swiftly into Macedonia. She afterward changed her course, traversed Syria and Egypt, and thence visited Carthage; when at length quitting Africa, she came into Italy, crossed the Tiber, and advanced to the Palatine Hill. There she laid aside her wings, put off her sandals, and threw away her globe, as if resolved to fix her habitation at that place. The kings of Rome, who succeeded Numa, admired and revered her as the chief guardian and protectress of their city; ὡς πρωτοπόλιν και τιθήνην και φερεπολιν της Ῥωμης.

The first temple erected to Virtue was the work of Scipio Numantinus; while many splendid edifices were consecrated to Fortune, in the most early periods of the state. Several Roman coins, now extant, have on the reverse the figure of Fortune seated, with the inscription-FORTUNE MANENTI. See a fine passage, in the treatise of Plutarch above-quoted, on

the Genius of the Romans: Ο ̔Ρωμαίων μέγας δαίμων, κ. τ. λ. *

VI. Shall practise.

Shall perform great exploits. The splendid actions of the Romans have commanded the admiration of all ages. So long as the volume of history is read, they will be viewed with astonishment. By a felicity peculiar to themselves, they are the only people recorded, in whom the odium of their cruelties is extinguished by the brilliance of their achievements.

Another explication has been suggested; upon which, however, we do not lay much stress. When it is predicated of this nation, that it shall 'perform great works,' the expression may be regarded, as denoting a nation abounding with illustrious monuments of art: literally, shall labour, shall work. In this sense the word wy is used Ruth, ii. 9, Nehem. iv. 17, Hag. ii. 4; πo:7get, LXX. and Theodot.† If this interpretation be admitted, it aptly quadrates with the character of the Romans, who certainly were distinguished by the

* Plutarch. Op. II. 324.

+лш-propriè elaboravit quid, incumbendo in illud totâ vi tum animi tum corporis. Robertson.This word is used in a variety of senses, in the Scriptures. It is sometimes taken in a religious sense, like the word facere. Thus it may be interpreted in Daniel xi. 39, according to Mr. Mede, He shall do; i. e. religious service, to the images of saints together with Christ.

The

variety and magnificence of their works; works, that even to this day render Rome equally the delight and the wonder of travellers. Their temples, their amphitheatres, their forums, their arches, their naval trophies (columnæ rostratæ), their aqueducts, their roads, their porticos, their statues, their sepulchres, the prison built by Tullus Hostilius and enlarged by Ancus Martius*, the coliseum, the baths of Dioclesian, Caracalla, and Antoninus, the septizonium of Severus, and the superb pillar of Trajan-all these, and many others of a similar character, exhibited the most astonishing proofs of national industry and taste.

VII. And shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

And thus fulfil the direful imprecation of the Jews, when they urged Pontius Pilate to hasten

The words ETTOεi, emoσey, fecit, are generally used by artists, to specify the execution of their works. Thus, Omotas emotes is an inscription in Leo Agostino, Pl. ii. No. 10.-The passage in Horace,

......invicti membra Glyconis,

was inexplicable, till the words ei гλvи were discovered upon a statue of Hercules still extant.-Praxiteles fecit puberem Apollinem. Plin. xxxiv. 8.-Alcamenes fecit marmorea. Id. ib.-And frequent are the following ancient inscriptions:-F. L. P. S. fecit lubentissimè, &c.; F. L. M. fecit libens

meritò.

* It is still to be seen at Rome, and is called 'Il Carcere Mamertino.' See Descrizzione di Roma Antica, 1697.

the death of Jesus Christ: His blood be on us, and on our children!

VIII. And through his policy, also, he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand.

In the

E per lo suo senno (sc. astutia, ed arti) la fraude prosperera in man suat. The word, which in our English version is rendered craft,' is always to be understood in a bad sense, and implies every species of fraud and injustice. republic of Rome, frequent jealousies subsisted between the Patricians and the Plebeians. The latter beheld with an invidious eye the pride, and affluence, and luxury of the former. The severities exercised against debtors, and the proposal of the Agrarian Law, were sources of continual embarrassments. To divert the attention of the multitude, what deceptions were not practised!

False rumours were dispersed, in order to repress the rage of sedition, and to soften the clamours of resentment. Recourse was frequently had to that weak and wicked policy, which delights in simulation and dissimulation;

* Matt. xxvii. 25. If the reader is desirous of seeing a complete illustration of this and other prophecies relative to the destruction of the mighty and the holy people by the Romans, let him peruse Archbishop Newcome's Observations on our Lord's Conduct as a divine Instructor.'

+ Diodati.

which scruples not to infringe solemn engagements, and which greedily embraces every temporary expedient, attentive only to the exigencies and dangers of the present moment. The secession of the people to the Sacred Mountain originated from the violation of the promises made to them by the senate. In general, these artifices were not unsuccessful: the fortune of the Great City prevailed; internal peace and quiet were established; and the parade of victories and triumphs dazzled the eyes, and silenced the com plaints of the oppressed and deluded people *.

It can scarcely indeed admit a doubt, that this strong lineament, of causing craft (or fraud) to prosper, peculiarly belongs to the character of the Romans, if we consider those scenes of injustice, which were exhibited by them toward the conquered nations.

When Rome once extended her empire beyond Italy, the states in subjection to her were no longer governed with equity and mildness. Her distant provinces were administered by Prætors and Proconsuls, who, being entrusted at once with the legislative, judiciary, and executive powers, became absolute despots. Hence, ac

*Of the insincerity, artifice, and injustice of the Patricians, in their conduct toward the Plebeians, see Hooke's Roman History passim; Anc. Univ. Hist. XI. 296, 428,-xii. 74, 404; Montague's Reflexions on the Rise and Fall of the Ancient Republics, p. 260, 261; and Cic. de Off. 1, 2.