an army, and despatched messengers to the oracle of Apollo, to ascertain the fortune of the engagement. The god answered, "that the party whose chief fell by the sword of the enemy, should win the field." The Dorians, also, understanding the response of the oracle, strictly enjoined their soldiers to spare the life of Cosdras; but the king, disguising himself in the habit of a slave, cut his way into the heart of the hostile army. The enemy, perceiving the extreme audacity of a single man, armed only with a sabre, yet fighting valiantly and effectively in the very midst of them, turned all their attack upon the warrior, and with some difficulty slew him. Thus, by a remarkable effort of patriotism, he enabled his country to triumph over its enemies; and his death, on one side so fatal in its consequences, was bewailed not less by the adverse host, than by his own subjects.

APPLICATION.

My beloved, thus did our blessed Lord, by the pre-determined counsel of God, die to libe

As

rate mankind from their worst enemies. Cosdras changed his regal state for the humiliating garb of a servant, so did Christ put on mortality, and by his death triumphed over our demoniacal foes.

TALE XLH.

OF WANT OF CHARITY.

VALERIUS records, (40) that there once stood in the city of Rome a very lofty column, on which a certain person inscribed four letters, three times repeated. Three P's, three S's,

three R's, and three F's.

When the letters had attracted attention, he exclaimed,

" Woe,

woe, to the eternal city." The nobles, hearing what had been done, said to him, "Mas

ter, let us understand thy conceit." He an

swered, the meaning of the inscription is this: "Pater patriæ perditur." [The father of his country is lost.] Sapientia secum sustollitur." [Wisdom has departed with him.] "Ruunt reges Romæ." [The kings of Rome perish.] "Ferro, flamma, fame." [By the sword, by fire, by famine.] The event afterwards fully approved the veracity of the prediction.

APPLICATION.

My beloved, spiritually speaking, the father of his country is Charity, which is the result of love to God; when that is lost, wisdom also departs. Hence, the kings of the earth fall;, and the sword, fire, and dearth, devour mankind.

TALE XLIII.

OF CHRIST, WHO, BY HIS PASSION, DELIVERED US FROM HELL.

In the middle of Rome, there was once an immense chasm, which no human efforts could fill up. The gods being questioned relative to this extraordinary circumstance, made answer,

That unless a man could be found who would voluntarily commit himself to the gulf, it would remain unclosed for ever." Proclamations were sent forth, signifying that he who was willing to offer himself a sacrifice for the good of his country, should appear-but not a man ventured to declare himself, At length Marcus Aurelius (41) said, "If ye will permit me to live as I please during the space of one whole year, I will cheerfully surrender myself, at the end of it, to the yawning chasm." The

Romans assented with joy, and Aurelius indulged for that year in every wish of his heart. Then mounting a noble steed, he rode furiously into the abyss, which, with a dreadful crash, immediately closed over him.

APPLICATION.

My beloved, Rome is the world, in the centre of which, before the nativity of Christ, was the gulf of hell, yawning for our immortal souls. Christ plunged into it, and by so doing ransomed the human race.

TALE XLIV.

OF ENVY.

BEFORE Tiberius ascended the throne he was remarkable for his wisdom. His eloquence