Page:Dialogue between the Roman Emperor Hadrian and Epictetus the Philosopher.pdf/4

1857] boy; blushes in a girl; a fury in a woman; ardor in a young man; a joke in old age; a crime in a seducer. Hadrian. What is God? Epictetus. He who holds all things in His hands. Hadrian. What is sacrifice? Epictetus. A drink-offering. Hadrian. What is without society? Epictetus. A kingdom. Hadrian. What is a kingdom? Epictetus. A part of the government of gods. Hadrian. What is Caesar? Epictetus. The head of public light. Hadrian. What is the Senate? Epictetus. The ornament of the city, and the splendor of its citizens. Hadrian. What is a soldier? Epictetus. The wall of the Empire; the glorious servant and defender of the country; the index of power. Hadrian. What is Rome? Epictetus. The fountain of the Empire of the world; mother of nations.

This quaint dialogue is the concluding article in the book. Alciatus had it from an unknown author, hid away for ages. The book is given to the American Institute by Alanson Nash, Esq., of New-York, one of the Members of the Institute, on condition of their publishing, in their Annual Transactions, the account and drawings of the Liburna, and of the ships freighted with wheat from Egypt, and the female tribute-bearers of Africa.



This wind blows fresh from out the west, The leaves are green and wavy, For June the maples sweet has drest So bonnily and bravely. The herds come lowing to the fold, For day is in the gloaming: Unloose, O Care! thy canker hold. And with the airs be roaming!

All Nature smiles: she may rejoice: O'er me the clouds seem lying; A sombre sadness breaks my voice And turns my song to sighing. Oh! were I like yon guileless thrush, Without a theme for sorrow! Peace comes with evening round his bush, And gladness with his morrow.

He has, dear bird! no buried past, Its restless ghosts surviving, With voices like the desert blast Around the lost uprising. With prophet ken he may not view The Future's page of sorrow; Peace falls with evening and the dew, And gladness wakes her morrow.

Gill, (Mass.,) June 14, 1857.