more powerful than they. These two parties formed a conspiracy to kill him.

8. The two chief conspirators were Brutus and Cassius. Brutus loved Cæsar, and was beloved by him; still he felt bound to sacrifice his friend, that his country might be free. Cassius formed the same resolution; but it was chiefly because he was envious of Caesar's greatness. Sixty others were engaged in the plot. Most conspirators endeavour to do their work in secresy and at midnight; but it was resolved that the blood of Cæsar should be shed in broad daylight, and in the great hall of the senatehouse.

QUESTIONS. 1. What did the Romans do after Cæsar's victory? 2. What of Caesar's statue ? -3. What did this great conqueror now desire? What did he do to obtain his wish? 4. Describe the feast.- -5. State of the Romans. -6. What did they like to see?-7. By whom was a conspiracy formed to kill Cæsar?-8. Who were Brutus and Cassius? Why did they each determine to kill Cæsar? How was the conspiracy carried on?

CHAPTER LXXV. EUROPE continued.

of Julius Cæsar.

-Assassination

1. On the appointed morning, Cæsar set forth from his mansion, surrounded by a great throng of flatterers and false friends. As he came down the steps of the portal, Artemidorus, a soothsayer, pressed through the crowd, and put a paper into his hand, containing an account of the whole plot, and if Cæsar had read it, he would have saved his life; but he gave it to one of his secretaries, and walked onward.

2. As Cæsar passed through the streets of Rome, he looked round at the crowd of obsequious senators, and listened to the shouts of the multitude. He felt that he was the most exalted man in the world; but his heart was not at ease; for he also felt that he had enslaved his country.

3. The proud procession ascended the steps of the senate-house, and passed into the hall. Along the sides of this hall were ranged the statues of many famous Romans, and among them stood the marble image of Pompey, whose bloody head had been brought to Cæsar. Just as Cæsar was passing in front of Pompey's statue, Metellus Cimber, one of the conspirators, presented a petition to him, and knelt down, as if to urge his prayer, at the same time taking hold of his robe. This was the signal for the attack.

4. Casca, who was behind Cæsar, drew a dagger, and stabbed him in the shoulder. "Wretch! what doest thou?" cried Cæsar, snatching the weapon. The other conspirators now rushed upon him; but he defended himself with the valour that he had shown in a hundred battles.

5. Brutus then pressed forward, and struck him with his dagger; and when Cæsar saw that the hand of Brutus was raised against his life, he made no more resistance. "And thou, too, Brutus !" he said, with one reproachful look; then covering his head with his mantle, that his enemies might not behold the death-pang in his face, he fell down at the pedestal of Pompey's statue, and expired, having received twenty-three wounds.

6. The conspirators dipped their weapons in the blood that flowed upon the pavement. Brutus raised his dagger aloft, and addressing himself to Cicero, the illustrious orator and patriot, who was present as a senator, exclaimed,— Rejoice, father of our country, for Rome is free!"

7. But the Romans were too degenerate to wish for their ancient liberties; and as they merely exchanged one tyrant for another, Cæsar was sacrificed in vain.

QUESTIONS. 1. Describe Cæsar's departure from his house. What happened as he came down the steps? -2. What did he see on looking around him? How did he feel? -3. To what place did the procession march? What were ranged around the

hall? What happened as Cæsar was passing the statue of Pompey? -4. Who first stabbed him? How did he defend himself ?5. Who gave Cæsar a blow? How did he receive it? -6. Describe his death. What did Brutus and the conspirators now do? -7. Why did Cæsar die in vain ?

CHAPTER LXXVI. EUROPE continued.Consequences of Caesar's Death.

1. THE death of Cæsar took place forty-four years before the Christian era. The affairs of Rome were thrown into great confusion by it, and Cæsar's friends found little difficulty in persuading the people that he had been unjustly slain.

2. Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators, were compelled to flee from the city. Three men then usurped the government, and were called triumvirs, or the triumvirate. Their names were Mark Antony, Lepidus, and Octavius; the latter was Cæsar's nephew, and had been his adopted son.

3. The triumvirate resolved to secure themselves in power, by murdering all who were opposed to them. They made a list of three hundred senators, and more than two thousand others, and offered rewards for killing them, and exulted when the heads of their victims were laid at their feet.

4. One of these cruel men presented the head of his own brother to his colleagues, and another brought his uncle's head. Neither friend, relative, nor patriot, was spared, if he was suspected of being opposed to the triumvirate.

5. In the mean time, Brutus and Cassius had collected an army of a hundred thousand men in Greece. Mark Antony and Octavius marched against them; and a battle was fought at Philippi. Brutus and Cassius were defeated, and both committed suicide.

6. The triumvirate had now got all the power into their

own hands, but they soon quarrelled among themselves. Lepidus was turned out of office, and banished; Mark Antony and Octavius then made war upon one another, like Marius and Sylla, and Pompey and Cæsar.

7. The good fortune of Octavius gave him the victory, and Antony killed himself with his own sword, as I have related in the history of Egypt. Octavius had no longer any rivals, and was now sole master of Rome and its dominions; he assumed the title of emperor, to which he added Augustus Cæsar, and by these names he is best known.

8. In addition to several other titles, the senate gave him that of Pater Patriæ, or Father of his Country. This was merely a piece of flattery; yet there were now so few good men in Rome, that perhaps Octavius made a better use of his power than many others would have done.

9. His reign from this time was peaceable and quiet, and offers few events that need be recorded in this brief history. Virgil, Horace, Ovid, and other celebrated poets, lived at this time, and were patronized by the emperor, and in their works consists the great glory of his reign.

10. Octavius, or, as he is usually called, Augustus Cæsar, reigned forty-one years, and died at the age of seventy-six, in the year 14 after the birth of Christ. It was this emperor who "commanded all the world to be taxed," in consequence of which Joseph and the Virgin Mary repaired to Bethlehem, where our blessed Lord and Saviour was born.

QUESTIONS. 1. In what year did Cæsar's death take place? What of Rome? The friends of Cæsar ?- 2. Who were obliged to fly from the city? By whom was Rome now governed? Who was Octavius ? 3. What did the triumvirate do ?- 4. What acts of cruelty did they commit ?- 5. Where now were Brutus and Cassius? Who opposed them? At what place was the battle fought? Fate of Brutus and Cassius ?- 6. What of the triumvirate?- -7. Which of the triumvirs triumphed? What became of Antony? By what name did Octavius call himself?— 8. What title did the senate give him?9. Describe the reign of Augustus. -10. How long did he reign? In what year did he die ?

CHAPTER LXXVII. EUROPE continued.- -About the great power and extent of the Roman Empire in the time of Augustus.

1. As the Roman empire was now at its greatest height of wealth and splendour, I shall try to give you some idea of its extent and power, and then, having told you a little more of its history, I shall say something about the manners and customs of the ancient Romans.

2. In the time of Augustus, the Roman empire embraced all the nations of Europe, except a few northern tribes, who still maintained their independence. It included England, France, Spain, Germany, all the states of Italy, Greece, the country now occupied by Turkey in Europe, beside many other nations.

3. In Asia, it embraced most of the countries between Asia Minor on the west, and India on the east; of course, it included Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, and many other

countries.

4. It included the whole northern portion of Africa, from Mauritania, now Morocco, on the west, to Ethiopia on the east. This was the whole of Africa known to the

ancients.

5. It seems wonderful that one country should be able to hold in subjection so many nations. This was done by placing Roman governors over the various countries; the governors being sustained by a strong body of Roman soldiers.

6. During this period the arts of architecture, sculpture, painting, and many others, were carried to great perfection, in all parts of the empire. The cities and towns were adorned with costly temples and palaces of marble, with beautiful statues and valuable paintings. The splendour and magnificence of many of these cities, at this period, was indeed wonderful.

7. In the countries which they conquered, the Romans