xistence to each other,
so will He give us back our beloved offspring." "Did I not tell you,"
returned he, "that wild beasts had devoured them?"

"True; but yesternight as I sat in the garden I overheard two young men
tell of their childhood, and whom I believe to be our sons. Ask them,
and they will tell you."

Messengers were immediately despatched for this purpose, and a few
questions convinced Eustacius of the full completion of his happiness.
They fell upon each other's neck and wept aloud. It was a joyful
occasion; the whole army shared the joy of their general. A splendid
victory ensued. Before their return the Emperor Trajan died, and was
succeeded by Adrian, more wicked even than his predecessor. However, he
received the conqueror and his family with great magnificence, and
sumptuously entertained them at his own table. But the day following the
emperor would have proceeded to the temple of his idols to sacrifice, in
consequence of the late victory, and desired his guests to accompany
him. "My lord," said Eustacius, "I worship the God of the Christians;
and Him only do I serve and propitiate with sacrifice."

Enraged at an opposition he had not contemplated, he placed the man who
had freed Rome from a foreign yoke, with his whole family, in the arena,
and let loose a ferocious lion upon them. But the lion, to the
astonishment of all, held down his head before them, as if in reverence.
On which the ungrateful emperor ordered a brazen ox to be fabricated,
and heated to the highest degree. In this his victims were cast alive;
but with prayer and supplication they commended themselves to the mercy
of God, and three days after, being taken out of the furnace in the
presence of the emperor, it appeared as if they had died tranquilly
in bed. Not a hair of their heads was scorched, nor was there the
smallest perceptible change, more than the easiest transition from life
occasions. The Christians buried their corpses in the most honourable
manner, and over them constructed an oratory. They perished in the first
year of Adrian, A.D. 120, in the kalends of November; or, as some write,
the 12th of the kalends of October.

IX.--DEAD ALEXANDER.

We read, that at the death of Alexander a golden sepulchre was
constructed, and that a number of philosophers assembled round it. One
said: "Yesterday, Alexander made a treasure of gold, and now gold makes
a treasure of him." Another observed: "Yesterday, the whole world w