and those sixteen centuries since. Then you were con sumed to ashes by those who hated you; but now we are only done brown by our dear five hundred friends.'" Passing a room in which there were but two persons seated on a sofa in earnest colloquy

"Come," said Perpetua, "let us join Sulpicius Severus and St. Hedwiges, both dear friends of mine." So saying, she led Mrs. Jay into the room and presented her. "Do not let us interrupt your conversation, which we come to share," said Perpetua.

"With pleasure, Perpetua," said Severus. "I was telling St. Hedwiges of my interview with St. John Chrysostom; and was about to tell her what he said, speaking of my life of St. Martin, and of his own works and mine in favor of Christian asceticism and celibacy. The remark I was about to repeat to St. Hedwiges as you came up was this-that Chrysostom in reviewing all that had followed his own labors in this direction, and which were to follow for centuries to come, unless God should interpose and consume the world by the brightness of his coming; with intense feeling said: 'I feel, Severus, as if I could adopt the language of Paul, and wish myself accursed from Christ, rather than have inflicted all this weight of misery which has rested and will rest upon misguided youthful hearts.' He added: 'God's infinitude of mercy is alone equal to the forgiveness of such as have corrupted the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ, and whose lives and labors are to be

regarded as a curse rather than a blessing to the world. Ministers of the grace and mercy of God we have fastened heavy chains of a cruel bondage upon those whom Christ has made free. What height. and depth of wretchedness has followed your labors and mine!' exclaimed Chrysostom."

He

These remarks at once interested Mrs. Jay, who could not but express her astonishment that the great men of the early church could so soon forget the Saviour, and substitute for his righteousness the idols of celibacy and alms-giving. In reply to this, Severus showed by what slow steps the great doctrine of salvation by faith became corrupted and changed. He traced the rise of asceticism to Hindostan, far into the depths of antiquity. spoke as follows: "Monachism did not take its rise in the church. It is not a Christian institution. In the laws of Menu, written fifteen centuries before the Christian era, the following directions are given how to become a saint. The words of Menu are: 'Let a man seclude himself from the world, and gain the favor of the gods, by fasting, subduing the lusts and mortifying the serses. Let him crawl backwards and forwards on his belly; or let him stand all day on his toes. Let him remain always sitting or always standing: only at sunrise, noon and sunset, let him go to the water and bathe.' In this last direction the Fakirs of India far surpassed our early monks; for the Hindoos associated holiness

*Cited by Ruffin, in his "Fathers of the Desert," vol. i. p. 24.

with personal cleanliness, but not so the saints of our age. St. Athanasius, in his Life of St. Anthony the Monk, speaking of his mortification of the flesh, in a tone of high commendation, says: 'St. Anthony wore inside a hair shirt; outside a skin. These he kept on to the end of his days. He never washed the dirt from his body. He would not even wash his feet, nor let them touch water when he could help it.'"*

This subject thus introduced was made the topic of an hour's talk, in which St. Hedwiges shared largely. It was to Mrs. Jay a novelty to listen to a discussion of this sort, by those who could say with Eneas, "All which I saw, and part of which I was.”

As it was getting late, Perpetua and Mrs. Jay rose, and thanking Sulpicius and St. Hedwiges for their kind courtesy, they took leave.

* Ruffin, vol. 1. p. 877.

CHAPTER IX.

The Feast of Fruits and Flowers-Mrs. Jay introduced to Dante and Beatrice→ Perpetua and Mrs. Jay meet Laurens and Peter Schlemihl on the Lawn-They are joined by Faustinus and Calliste-Laurens gives an Account of a Meeting of Savans in a Distant World for the Advancement of Knowledge-Description of the Academy-They go to the Section of Metaphysicians-Peter Schlemihl gives an Account of his Experiences-Calliste is surprised to hear Peter speak of his Seven Senses-Peter's Explanation-Gives his Views of the DiscussionsLaurens resumes his Narrative-Mrs. Jay's Story of a Learned Lady of the East-The Search for the Absolute-Sir William Hamilton and Plato compared -The Jews had no Philosophy-Faustinus gives his Views-Laurens finishes the Narrative of his Visit-Perpetua defends the Metaphysicians-They go to the Temple to hear Beethoven's new Anthem-The Scene described-St. Cecilia and Beethoven.

EARLY the next morning the palace was all astir, eagerly crowding into the great temple to listen to the new oratorio composed by Mozart, called "The Crucifixion.” It was performed at sunrise, in order that the intenso sadness it inspired might be dispersed during the day of sunshine.

At the feast of fruits ana flowers which followed, and which was not unworthy Raphael's entertainment, Perpetua and Mrs. Jay had taken their seats together, when two of the Redeemed, a lady and gentleman, whose air

and bearing rivetted the attention of Mrs. Jay, took seats opposite. They bowed to Perpetua, and addressing her, spoke of the eloquence of Mozart's music. They had discoursed together some time, greatly to Mrs. Jay's satisfaction, when Perpetua, recollecting herself, turning to Mrs. Jay, said: "Pardon me, dear Mrs. Jay, I have failed to present to you two persons with whom I am sure you are somewhat acquainted already. This is Dante, my beloved friend, and this is Beatrice, his friend and mine."

They kindly welcomed Mrs. Jay to the circle of the blessed, and both manifested their interest in the native land of Mrs. Jay, with which they showed themselves acquainted, by asking her many questions concerning the progress of the Gospel of Christ. That subject was always first in the souls of the Redeemed.

A literary lady, who sat next Perpetua, sought to enlist the attention of Dante, telling him of her recent visit to Italy, England and New England, and of the wide popularity of his "Divina Commedia," of which she had seen very many translations in the languages of Europe. "Indeed," she said, "I knew one lady of high standing who always travelled with a pocket edition of the original, and yet she could not even read modern Italian writers." *

Dante replied, "I assure you, madam, I had rather

This remarkable expression of admiration of Dante is a fact; the lady thus mpressing upon the unlearned a belief of her eminent scholarship.