had led to victory, and the provinces they had saved from spoliation would acknowledge no other authority; and Gallienus, the son and successor of the captive emperor, in requital of their services, even associated the King of Palmyra with himself in the government of those extensive countries which his own feeble energies could not bind together. III. -BECOMES "QUEEN OF THE EAST." Odenathus had not long enjoyed these honors, when he was destroyed by assassination. His murderer assumed the title of emperor, and aspired to seize the crown. In this critical juncture, the vigorous character of Zenobia flashed out in acts of terrific justice. Grief for her dead companion softened no fibre of her regal will. She fell upon the usurper with electric retribution, and the head of the assassin withered in the winds of the desert. With rapid and calm decision of purpose, she summoned the most faithful of her people, and mounted the vacant throne amid their acclamations. None ventured to dispute the diadem so promptly and vigorously possessed, and she immediately assumed the government of Palmyra, Syria, and some adjacent countries, taking the title of "Queen of the East." Zenobia was not long in demonstrating her ability to rule over those rich provinces. She not only received the cheerful loyalty of her subjects, but won their enthusiastic admiration. The wisdom of her administration has elicited the praise of the most critical of historians. He affirms that, "instead of the little passions that so frequently perplex a female reign, the steady administration of Zenobia was guided by the most judicious maxims of policy. If it was expedient to pardon, she could calm her resentment; if it was necessary to punish, she could impose silence on the voice of pity. Her strict economy was accused of avarice; yet, on every proper occasion, she appeared magnificent and liberal. The neighboring States of Arabia, Armenia, and Persia dreaded her enmity, and solicited her alliance."* Meantime, the favor which the queen * Gibbon, "Decline and Fall." had secured in her own provinces had awakened the jealousy, and provoked the hostility, of Rome. Gallienus and the Roman Senate, as already related, had associated Odenathus in the government of the empire, in requital of services of which Zenobia had contributed a meritorious proportion. Those honors which her husband had worn, and of which she had justly partaken, they disdained to transmit to a woman's sceptre. They despised her sex, and disregarded her claims. It was natural they should. The representatives of a people "who married without love, or loved without delicacy or respect," it is not to be supposed that they could have appreciated the superior character of Zenobia. Vulgar, conceited, rapacious, and cruel tyrants, the founder of whose nationality they represented as having been nursed by a wolf, type of their martial and predatory character, and the descendants of those who had won their wives by the sword and retained them by brutal violence, — what sentiments could they hold in harmony with those of a refined and exalted woman? consistent A certain Roman censor, Metellus Numidicus, expressed the amiable opinion, in a public oration, "that, had kind Nature allowed us to exist without the help of women, we should be delivered from a very troublesome companion;" and this sentiment, which sounds to our ears like a cynic's jest, literally expressed the contemptuous estimate of woman which the noble Romans thought it manly to cherish. Gallienus and his subservient senators regarded it as an insufferable reproach to their masculine dignities, that a woman should control the fairest department of the empire, especially one whose beneficent genius, reflected upon a prosperous people, recalled the golden fame of Augustus, and revealed the degeneracy of his successors. So those bearded sons of Mars, with an army which had been better employed in beating back the Barbarians on the Danube and the Rhine, resolved to teach the Palmyrenean queen woman's difficult lesson, obedience. But Zenobia bravely maintained the rights of her crown and her sex. She responded to the disdain and hostility of Rome with a full measure of contempt and defiance. She promptly assembled an army to meet the invading enemy; defeated the Roman general, utterly dispersed his forces, and compelled him to fly ignominiously back into Europe. This victory was decisive for the term of five years. With respect to Zenobia, the rights of women were vindicated by that martial logic which alone seems to carry conviction to a brutal antagonist. The present emperor made no other attempt to subdue Zenobia; and his successor, Claudius, “acknowledged her merit, and was content that, while he pursued the Gothic War, she should assert the dignity of the empire in the East." IV. PATRON AND PHILOSOPHER. teresting to us chiefly for the reason that he represents the highest order of manhood that was attainable under heathenism. He was a favorable example of that intermediate class known as philosophers,-men who had outgrown the superstitions of the vulgar, but who had not reached the altitude of Christianity,thoughtful and speculative souls, who patiently held the lamp of reason to the problem of life, but had not the telescope of faith that pierces the measureless distances of space and time. He was one of the noblest of those who walked the world by the light of intellectual wisdom, and, faithful to their best powers and highest aspirations, did by nature the will of the unknown God. The man who, with no wiser teacher than Plato, whose birthday he reverently celebrates with a banquet, lives a blameless life, and dies with dignity and fortitude, is infinitely worthier of immortal fame than the paltry bigot who yields his faith to the Son of God only to violate his merciful and tolerant spirit. Thus released from the cares of war, Zenobia applied herself, with all the energy of a cultivated mind, and all the affection of a human heart, to consolidate and improve her dominions. Her court was usually held at Palmyra, which she labored to ornament with the graces of art, and to illumine with the light of learning. She assembled around her the noblest men of letters, liberally patronized their talents, and joined, with distinction, in their profoundest discussions. Many of those discussions must have borne reference to the Christian faith, whose bold claims and marvellous influence had attracted universal attention, and provoked the severest scrutiny. Missionaries of the new faith were sowing its fruitful seed in Palmyra. Tradition records that proselytes were made in the queen's palace; and Zenobia herself-jects that exalt human nature. resting her soul in the philosophy of Plato, midway between the heathen pantheism and the Christian revelationmust have caught some glimpse of the day-spring that was visiting the nations. The original purpose of Longinus had been limited to the education of Zenobia's children, and her instruction in the Greek language. But having insensibly won the friendship and confidence of the queen, he was intrusted with some of the responsibilities of her government; and thus, in the ultimate revulsion of her fortunes, he became the victim of her calamity. The greatest scholar of that age, and the most eloquent expounder of the Grecian philosophy, selected by the discriminating judgment of the queen, fixed his residence in Palmyra, and linked his fame and fate with her monarchy. Longinus, apart from his relation to Zenobia, is in There is, to my mind, a strong fascination in this image of Zenobia, nobly scorning all baser pleasures, and devoting her splendid abilities and resistless influence to the cause of learning, and to the obHow no bly does she contrast with her ancestor, Cleopatra ! The Egyptian queen had beauty, but its magnetic lustre blasted where it fell; she had power, but it wrought oppression; and wealth, but it ministered to vanity and crime. Zenobia had the elevated taste, the well-poised judgment, and the regal will that control the bounteous treasures of fortune, and dedicate them to sublime uses. Her esteem was graduated to the worth of the object. She had no lovers but Wisdom 106 A GRACEFUL COMPLIMENT TO A WIFE. and Excellence, and no masterly passions but those which refine and exalt the soul. In her palace reigned none of the license so common to an Eastern court and so apparently inseparable from the purlieus of royalty; but everything associated with her was marked by a delicacy based upon virtue, and by an etiquette that blossomed from affection. The most beautiful, powerful, and heroic woman of her age, she aspired to be the wisest and best-beloved sovereign; for she never forgot, amid the attractions of philosophy and the adornment of her favorite city, either her duties to her children or the claims of the remoter parts of her monarchy. To her own family she was a vigilant guardian and a judicious instructor; and to all her people she was a faithful friend and an irreproachable example. (To be continued.) A GRACEFUL COMPLIMENT TO A WIFE. THE following neat and beautiful reply was made by the late Daniel O'Connell, in response to a toast given in compliment to his wife, who was the object of his long and affectionate attachment. It was given at a political meeting. The English language could furnish nothing more touchingly tender and graceful: "There are some topics of so sacred and sweet a nature that they may be comprehended by those who are happy; but they cannot be possibly described by any human being. All that I shall do is to thank you in the name of her who was the disinterested choice of my early youth; who was the ever cheerful companion of my manly years; and who is the sweetest solace of that sear and yellow leaf' age at which I have arrived. In her name I thank you, and this you may readily believe; for experience, I think, will show to us all that men cannot battle and struggle with malignant enemies, unless his nest is warm and comfortable, unless the honey of human life is commended by a hand that he loves." A BOY ought to be like a cat, so that, tumble him into the world anyway, he will strike upon his feet. THE HENRIAD. THE HENRIAD. [From the French.] By Rev. C. F. LeFevre. CANTO I. Argument. Henry III., in union with Henry of Bourbon, King of Navarre, against the League, having already begun the blockade of Paris, sends, secretly, Henry of Bourbon, to ask succor of Elizabeth, Queen of England. The hero meets with a tempest. He puts in to the Island of Jersey, where an old Catholic predicts his change of religion and his advent to the throne. A description of England and its government. THE man I sing, by birth and arms who gained The throne of France, and rightful monarch reigned; By adverse fate, who learned to govern well, Let kings thy voice with due attention heed; A suffering people, and the fault of kings. Mixed her wild accents with thy sterner lore, As yet Valois reigned; but feeble and vain,' same; Valois reigned not at all, or reigned only in name. 'Twas no longer that prince for valor renowned, A hero from youth, and with victory crowned, Whose progress the kingdoms of Europe alarmed, Who the dungeons which threatened his country disarmed, When the North, in amaze at the virtues displayed, At his feet in submission their diadems laid; 3 Great as a second, first in rank a mean thing, And the warrior intrepid becomes a weak king. Raised to a throne, by pleasure enervate, There those beroes were seen, bold champions of France, The head that is crowned sustains not the weight; Lately severed by sects, wedded now by vengeance. tained; While Valois was plunged in this shameful re- In gaining all hearts, he their confidence gained; While Henry marched on with sure steps to the throne, Seeking war now for folly, and glory for shame. The paths which he trod to himself were un On the ramparts of Paris the two kings appear. Rome takes the alarm; Spain trembles with fear; And Europe, concerned in the strife that befalls, Has her eyes fixed intent on her ill-fated walls. Now Discord in Paris is raging amain, Exciting to combat the League and Mayenne known. Louis lent him his aid from th' empyrean height; But the arm that assisted withheld from his sight, Lest victory, rendered by such aid secure, Should lessen the danger, and his glory obscure. With the people and churches, from whose lofty At the foot of the ramparts both armies ad dome She calls upon Spain with her armies to come. Who in misery finds her appropriate food, Tears the heart which her flame all unhallowed has fired, And visits in vengeance the crimes she inspired. Near those flowery banks, where the Seine from its source, Leaving Paris behind, seeks the west in its course, Retreats when the pure with the lovely unites, Where art now holds triumph, and nature delights, vanced, My insult is yours; for the League in its hate Of my rights as a prince, and despising all troth, Joins your fortunes to mine, and contends with us both. Paris disowns me, her allegiance lays down; She repudiates you as the heir to the crown, There, with armies assembled, King Valois then For when death bears me hence, it is very well stood, known, And the fields, now so fertile, were deluged with The law, merit, birth, will place you on the blood. throne, And would wrest from your grasp, which such Ignores, and still fearful await an attack. A feeling so potent no professions can cover, While London and Paris have rivalled each other; But since such gross insults have tarnished my fame, I own no more subjects, no country I claim. Let your name plead my cause, and succor obtain. The conquest of foes on your valor depends; He said; and the hero who felt for his fame, Lest the glory of conquest another should claim, From this field on this mission was loath to depart. His name can suffice for the contest alone, Now Neastria he passes. From his circle of friends, His confidant Mornay his footsteps attends. While his church and his country he equally served. The censor of courtiers, still his friendship they courted; To Rome a sworn foe, her respect he extorted. Dieppe to the view a safe harbor unfolds; And fair southern breezes are graciously sent. The face of the sky, and presage the near storm The winds are unchained, and with furious He thought of those scenes still so dear to his That the storm should thus frustrate his cherheart, ished design. When, firm in the cause, without aid or in- With less noble purpose, thus Cæsar of yore, trigue, 8 With Conde alone, he had daunted the League; From the field of his glory reluctant retired. For absolute sway, sought the Grecian shore; The fate of the world and of Rome he thus gave To the winds, and embarked on the treacherous wave; The chances of freedom he fearlessly tried, But HE who our destiny shapes in all lands, Grasps the winds in his fist, holds the sea in his hands; |