lace, it may be mentioned that in the valuable "Vies des
Saints", Paris, 1701 (republished in 1739), where the whole legend
undergoes a very critical examination, the generally received date, A.D.
284, is considered erroneous. The reign of the emperor Numerianus (A.D.
283-284), in which it is alleged to have occurred, lasted but eight
months, during which period no persecution of the Christians is
recorded. The writer in the work just quoted (Adrien Baillet)
conjectures that the martyrdom of these saints took place in the reign
of Valerian, and not later than the month of August, 257, "s' il est
vray que le pape Saint Etienne qui mourut alois avoit donne ordre qu' on
recueillit les actes de leur martyre"--Les Vies des Saints, Paris, 1739,
t. vii. p. 385.

1. Los dos amantes del cielo: Crisanto y Daria. Comedias de Don Pedro
Calderon de la Barca. Por Don Juan Eugenio Hartzenbusch. Madrid, 1865,
tomo 3, p. 234.

2. It may be added to what Dr. Trench has so well said, that Calderon's
auto, "El arbol del mejor Fruto" (The Tree of the choicest Fruit), is
founded on the same sublime theme. It is translated into German by
Lorinser, under the title of "Der Baum der bessern Frucht", Breslau,
1861.

THE TWO LOVERS OF HEAVEN.

PERSONS.

NUMERIANUS, Emperor of Rome.
POLEMIUS, Chief Senator.
CHRYSANTHUS, his son.
CLAUDIUS, cousin of Chrysanthus.
AURELIUS, a Roman general.
CARPOPHORUS, a venerable priest.
ESCARPIN, servant of Chrysanthus.
DARIA,
CYNTHIA,
NISIDA,
CHLORIS,
} Priestesses of Diana.
Two spirits.
Angels.
Soldiers, servants, people, music, etc.

SCENE: Rome and its environs.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.--A Room in the house of Polemius at Rome.

Chrysanthus is seen seated near a writing table on which are several
books: he is reading a small volume with deep attention.

CHRYSANTHUS.
Ah! how shallow is my mind!
How confined! and how restricted![3]
Ah! how driftless are my words!
And my thoughts themselves how driftless!
Since I cannot comprehend,
Cannot pierce the secrets hidden
In this little book that I
Found by chance with others mingled.
I its meaning cannot reach,
Howsoe'er my mind I rivet,
Though to this, and this alone,
Many a day has now been given.
But I cannot therefore yield,
Must not own myself outwitted:--
No; a studious toil so great
Should not end in aught so little.
O'er this book my whole life long
Shall I brood until the riddle
Is mad