Valeria

en found in their own proper persons, it would have been at the peril of their lives. After fifteen long centuries have passed, we may explore without let or hindrance the most private

We may thread the secret corridors and galleries connecting

secrets of the toilet-the rouge pots and vases for cosmetics and unguents, the silver mirrors, fibulas or brooches, armlet

imbing plants and rare exotics, look out into a garden where snowy marble statues are relieved against the dark green of the cypress and ilex. Around the room are busts and effigies of the Imperial household or of historical characters. There is, however, a conspicuous absence of the mythological figures, whose exquisite execution does not atone for their sensuous conception, which, rescued from the debris of ancient civilization, crowd all the Art-galleries of Europe. That this is not the result of accident but of design is seen by an occasional empty pedestal or niche. Distributed at intervals are couches and tables of costly woods, inlaid with i

us C?sar. The object of envy of all the women of Borne, she lived to become within a few short years the object of their profoundest comm

my hair and bind it with this fillet," and she held out a gold-embroidered ribban

low sweet voice, and with an Attic purity of accent. "As one of you

t caressingly with a plumy fan of ostrich feathers which s

said the slave, affectionately kissing h

he banquet given to-day. But I have a greater pleasure than the banquet can bestow. I give thee this day thy freedom. Thou art no more a slave, but the freedwoman of the Empre

self on the marble pavement and was kissing the sandaled feet of the be

claimed Valeria. "A

ining through a shower; "not that I tire of thy service; I wish never to leave it. But I rej

. "If I thought I should, I would almost regret thy manumission; for believe me, C

d most envied lady in all Rome! Nay, now thou laughest at me; but be

tell me, pray, why thou speakest in that proud

r in bondage to any man,"-and the fair face of the girl was suffused with

re spot in thy memory. Perchance I ma

. But from thee I can have no secrets, if you ca

ild. My steward bought thee in the sla

air. "My father was a Hebrew merchant, a dealer in precious stones, well esteemed in his nation. He lived

rom the pagan goddess,"

ought he had better let him die, for he converted him to the hated Christian faith. Persecuted by his kinsmen, he came to Antioch with my brother and myself, that he might join the great and flourishing Christian Church in that city.[9] While on a trading voyage to Smyrna, in which we

ee little help. 'Tis strange how my heart went out toward thee when thou wert first brought so tristfu

God of our fathers, by whom kings rule and pri

ans. What a pity that there should be such bitter hate on the par

how Jesus of Nazareth fulfils all the types and prophecies of their own Scriptures

difficult task. Ask me freely anything that I can do. As my freedwoman, you will, of cour

sage, Valeria Callirho?, fervently kissed the outstretc

many Christian converts, both Prisca and Valeria, in the Imperial palace. Diocletian and his truculent son-in-law, Galerius, were bigoted pagans, and the mother of the latter was a fanatical worshipper of the goddess Cybele. The spread of Christianity even within the precincts of the palace provoked her implacable resentment, and she urged on her son to active persecution. A council was therefore held in the palace at Nicomedia, a joint edict for the extirpation of Christianity was decreed, and the magnificent Christia

TNO

he emperors-in the walls are even the lead water-pipes, stamped with the maker's name; and the innumerable ancient relics in the m

her objects being glass vases through whose transparent sides are seen exquisitely painte

time, that Church num