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5. It is true that a few men, generals, senators, consuls, and governors, might have lived in splendor, and enjoyed wealth and fame. Some of the Roman soldiers, too, might have led lives of adventure, gratifying to bold and restless spirits.

6. But how much suffering, sorrow, and despair must there have been among the millions of wounded men; among the millions who were bereaved of their friends; among the millions who were stripped of their fortunes; among the millions who were reduced to slavery.

7. The simple truth is, that the policy of Rome was wholly selfish. The Roman people, like the Greeks, Persians, Egyptians, and other ancient nations, had some notions of virtue, and occasionally displayed noble and generous qualities.

8. Yet, like all these nations, they were destitute of true morality; that morality which Christ has taught in a single sentence: Do to another as you would have another do to you. Like most other ancient nations, Rome was destitute of that true religion which teaches mankind, that all power founded in injustice must perish.

9. Splendid as the Roman empire was, it was destitute of real glory. Its splendor was acquired by robbery, and its fame, though it might dazzle a heathen, will be regarded as a false renown by the Christian.

10. In closing this chapter, it is proper to state a remarkable fact, that no heathen nation or country has ever existed, where the people were generally lovers of justice, truth, and charity. Public opinion in all heathen countries, ancient and modern, has been found to be an unsafe guide; it is only in Christian countries, where the laws of truth and morality are established on the basis of the Bible, that the national faith can be trusted.

11. Such as it was, the power of Rome was destined to speedy decay. For a time after Augustus, the empire maintained its sway, and the magnificence of Rome continued. The luxury of the wealthy citizens even increased, and refinement in many respects was carried to a higher pitch than ever.

12. But the whole fabric was based upon violence, selfishness, and wrong; and thus, as we shall see, in a few centuries imperial Rome was divided among a host of ruthless invaders.

5. What classes may have been benefited by these wars? Who suffered from them? 7. What of Rome and her citizens? 8. Were the people either truly moral or religious? 9. What of the splendor of Rome? 10. What may be said of heathen nations? Christian nations? 11. State of Rome after the death of Augustus? 12. What was the final fate of Rome?

CHAPTER LXXX.-EUROPE-CONTINUED.

Rome under the Emperors.

1. THE Roman empire had now reached the height of its power, pomp, and splendor; but its decline had already commenced, because the people and their rulers were both corrupt. It was like a great tree with wide-spreading branches, but rotten at its trunk.

2. In the course of about three hundred and fifty years after the death of Augustus Cæsar, there were thirty-six emperors of Rome; but I can mention only a few of them. They lived in great luxury and splendor, but they were generally such wicked persons that it would have been better for the world if they had never lived.

3. The next emperor to Augustus Cæsar was Ti-be'-ri-us. He was a frightful-looking object, being bald and covered with sores, and his disposition was far more hideous than his aspect. This gloomy tyrant suspected everybody of plotting against his life.

4. He put so many people to death, that their dead bodies were piled in heaps in the public places. He once sentenced a poor woman to die merely for lamenting the death of her son. At last, he fell into a swoon, and his guards smothered him with his bed-clothes.

5. His successor was Ca-lig'-u-la, who wished that the whole Roman people had but one head, that he might chop it off at a single blow. He also was murdered by his guards, and was succeeded by Clau'-di-us, an idiot. Claudius was poisoned by his own wife.

6. Nero was the next emperor. His whole reign was a scene of bloodshed. He murdered his mother and his wife. He set Rome on fire, merely for the pleasure of seeing it blaze. While the city was in flames, he sat on the top of a lofty tower, playing on a harp. Finally, he was dethroned, and condemned to be beaten to death with rods. To escape this torture, he killed himself.

7. The two next emperors were Gal'-ba and O'-tho. The first was killed by his soldiers, and the second committed suicide. The next was Vi-tel'-li-us. This monster delighted in visiting fields of battle, and snuffing up the odor of the dead bodies.

8. When the Romans grew weary of Vitellius, they put a rope round his neck and dragged him into the most public part of the city. There they bespattered him with mud, and then killed him in a most cruel manner. His head was put on a lance, and his body

thrown into the Tiber.

CHAP. LXXX.-1. To what can you compare the Roman empire? 2. How many perors reigned after Augustus? What of them? 3. Give an account of Tiberius Describe Caligula. 6. What of Nero? 7. What of Galba and Otho? Vitellius?

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9. But I am weary, my dear young readers! My old heart grows sick and sad while I speak to you of these evil and miserable men. Forget what I have told you. Forget that such monsters have ever existed in the world.

10. Or, if you must remember them, remember too that their frightful crimes resulted from the possession of more power than mortal man ought to possess. And, above all, remember, that if these tyrants were the scourges of their people, it was because the people had not virtue enough to be free.

CHAPTER LXXXI.-EUROPE-CONTINUED.

Fall of the Western Empire of the Romans.

1. Yet the pagans considered some of their emperors good men. such were Ves-pa'-si-an, Ti'-tus, An-to-ni'-nus, Mar'-cus, Au-re'-lius, Alexander Se-ve'-rus, Au-re'-li-an, and Di-o-cle'-ti-an. But these good men would doubtless have been better if their evil fortune had not made them emperors.

10. What may you remember of the reigns of these monsters ? CHAP. LXXXI.-1. What good emperors were there?

2. The first emperor who became a convert to Christianity was Con'-stan-tine the Great. He began to reign in the year 306 after the Christian era. By him the seat of government was transferred from Rome to Con-stan-ti-no'-ple.

3. The religion of Christ was planted in various parts of the Roman empire by the apostles, but the first Christians were much persecuted. Some were whipped, many were imprisoned, and thousands were murdered.

4. Still their numbers increased. At length, the emperor Constantine ordered that the persecutions should cease, and he himself became a convert to Christianity. This took place in 311.

5. It is said that Constantine was one day riding at the head of his army, when he saw a splendid cross in the heavens, upon which was written, "Conquer by this sign." It is supposed that this vision persuaded the emperor of the truth of the Christian religion, and induced him to adopt it as the religion of the state.

6. From this period, Christianity flourished for a considerable time. The mythology of Greece and Rome, which had been extended throughout the Roman empire, gave way before it. Many of the temples were converted into churches, and the people who had been accustomed to bow down before the statues of Jupiter and other imaginary gods, knelt in humiliation at the foot of the cross.

7. In the year 364 after the birth of Christ, the Roman dominions were divided into the Eastern and Western empires. The capital of the Eastern empire, sometimes called the Greek empire, was Constantinople, formerly By-zan'-ti-um. The fate of this will be briefly related in the history of the Turks.

8. The capital of the Western empire was Rome. But this imperial city was no longer powerful enough to defend itself against the nations which it had formerly conquered. It was ravaged by hordes of barbarians from the north of Europe, consisting of Huns, Goths, Vandals, &c.

9. Of these rude tribes I shall speak more particularly hereafter. It is sufficient for the present to say that they were bold warriors, and chose rather to obtain wealth by plundering the rich inhabitants of Italy, than by the cultivation of their own more sterile soil.

2. What of Constantine? When did he begin to reign? Where was the seat of government placed by Constantine? 3. What of the religion of Christ? First Christians? Persecutions? 4. What did Constantine do? 5. What is said to have happened to Constantine? 6. What of Christianity from this period? Mythology of Greece and Rome? Temples? People? 7. What took place 364 A. C.? What was the capital of the Eastern empire? The former name of Constantinople? the Eastern empire sometimes called? 8. Capital of the Western empire? it ravaged and laid waste? 9. What of the northern barbarians?

What was
How was

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10. One of the first and fiercest of these northern invaders was Al-a-ric, king of the Goths, who led a large army against Rome, and threatened the destruction of the city. The inhabitants were very different from the ancient Romans, and being overawed by the daring freebooter, promised him large sums of money. But this promise not being fulfilled, Alaric took the city and gave it up to plunder.

11. For six days imperial Rome was a scene of pillage and murder. Thousands of the citizens were slain, and a large portion of the place was reduced to ashes. This occurred in the year 410.

12. After a while, Alaric retired; but about the year 445, At'ti-la, leader of the Huns, threatened to follow the example which Alaric bad set. But in the midst of his projects he died, and Rome, for a time, was saved.

13. In the year 476, the whole Western empire, with Rome itself, was entirely subjugated by O-do'-a-cer, the leader of another northern tribe, called the Her'-u-li; and it remained under this dominion for many years.

14. In the year 537, these barbarians were driven from Rome. This triumph was effected by Bel-i-sa'-ri-us, an illustrious commander in the service of the emperor of the East. The Eastern and Western empires were then reunited, but only for a short period. Italy, as well as Rome, from this time frequently changed hands, being sometimes under the sway of northern kings, and sometimes under the Greek emperors.

CHAPTER LXXXII.-EUROPE-CONTINUED.

Progress of the Decline of Rome.

1. In the tenth century, the emperor of Germany claimed Italy as part of his dominions. Several cities resisted his authority. When the emperor, whose name was Otho, heard of it, he invaded Italy, and went to Rome.

2. He took possession of the palace, and prepared a magnificent feast. All the great men of Rome were invited. The emperor sat at the head of the table, on a splendid throne. The guests seated themselves, expecting to be feasted with luxuries.

10. What of Alaric? What occurred in 410? 12. What happened about the year 445? 13. What of Odoacer? 14. What happened in 537? Who was Belisarius? What did he do? What of the Eastern and Western empires? What of Italy,

Rome?

CHAP. LXXXII.-1. What of the emperor of Germany?