give a specimen from the French, which are livelier than our own. It
is necessary to premise to the reader, that my versions being in prose
will probably lose much of that quaint expression and vulgar _naivete_
which prevail through the originals, written in octo-syllabic verses.

One of these Mysteries has for its subject the election of an apostle to
supply the place of the traitor Judas. A dignity so awful is conferred
in the meanest manner; it is done by drawing straws, of which he who
gets the longest becomes the apostle. Louis Chocquet was a favourite
composer of these religious performances: when he attempts the
pathetic, he has constantly recourse to devils; but, as these characters
are sustained with little propriety, his pathos succeeds in raising a
laugh. In the following dialogue Annas and Caiaphas are introduced
conversing about St. Peter and St. John:----

ANNAS.
I remember them once very honest people. They have often brought
their fish to my house to sell.

CAIAPHAS.
Is this true?

ANNAS.
By God, it is true; my servants remember them very well. To live
more at their ease they have left off business; or perhaps they were in
want of customers. Since that time they have followed Jesus, that
wicked heretic, who has taught them magic; the fellow understands
necromancy, and is the greatest magician alive, as far as Rome itself.

St. John, attacked by the satellites of Domitian, amongst whom the
author has placed Longinus and Patroclus, gives regular answers to their
insulting interrogatories. Some of these I shall transcribe; but leave
to the reader's conjectures the replies of the Saint, which are not
difficult to anticipate.

PARTHEMIA.

You tell us strange things, to say there is but one God in three
persons.

LONGINUS.

Is it any where said that we must believe your old prophets (with
whom your memory seems overburdened) to be more perfect than our
gods?

PATHOCLUS. You must be very cunning to maintain impossibilities.
Now listen to me: Is it possible that a virgin can bring forth a
child without ceasing to be a virgin?

DOMITIAN.

Will you not change these foolish sentiments? Would you pervert us?
Will you not convert yourself? Lords! you perceive now very clearly
what an obstinate fellow this is! Therefore let him be stripped and
put into a great caldron of boiling oil