Page:Anecdotescatechi00spiruoft.djvu/43

 found, and  where  consequently  they  perished  miserably. At length  a king  was  elected  who  was  far  more prudent than  all  his  predecessors  on  the  throne. He bribed some  of  the  people  to  tell  him  what  really became of  the  kings  who  were  deposed  at  the  end  of a year. On learning  what  was  the  fate  that  awaited him, he  took  care  to  send  a good  store  of  provisions with ships  and  armed  men  to  the  island. The year came to  an  end,  and  he  met  with  the  same  treatment as those  who  reigned  before  him: the  citizens  arrested him and  conveyed  him  by  force  to  the  island. But on landing  there,  he  found  all  that  he  had  sent  on beforehand; he  reembarked  on  the  vessels,  and  taking the  soldiers  with  him,  set  sail  for  the  place whence he  had  come. On arriving  he  put  to  death the men  who  had  arrested  and  banished  him,  and held uncontested  sway  over  the  land  for  many  years.

Those unfortunate  rulers  who  at  the  expiration  of their  year  of  regal  authority  perished  on  the  barren island, represent  those  individuals  who,  during  their lifetime, never  think  of  the  end  of  life,  but  only  of earthly  possessions  and  earthly  pleasures. When the relentless hand  of  death  removes  them  to  another world, their  destiny  is  eternal  misery. Now those persons who  during  their  lifetime  obey  the  precepts of religion  and  lay  up  a store  of  good  works  are  like the wise  king; when  death  comes  the  evil  enemy cannot harm  them,  and  after  death  fresh  joys  await them.

We ought  to  employ  our  time  in  good  works. The Roman Emperor  Titus  deserved  to  be  called  by  the