of nature, and bid him live for her sake. She had stood through all
the fearful scene, not like a Niobe in tears, but with hands clasped
and eyes upraised, as one who sees the invisible, and drinks in courage
from words inaudible to other ears than her own. She heard the king,
approached her young son, laid her hand on his shoulder, and gazed on
him with unutterable tenderness. Faith with her might conquer fear,
but could only deepen love. She conjured her child, by all that she
had done and suffered for him, firmly to believe, and to fear not.
'Show yourself worthy of your brethren,' she said, 'that, by the mercy
of God, I may receive you, together with your brothers, in the glory
which awaits us!' And the fair boy smiled in her face, and followed in
the glorious track of those who had suffered before him, praying for
his country as he died for his faith. Then, in cruelty which acted the
part of mercy, the mother--last of that heroic band--was re-united to
them by death. But I could not stay to look upon _that_ sacrifice,"
said Lycidas, with emotion; "I had seen enough, and more than enough!"

"And I have heard enough, and more than enough," muttered Pollux, on
whom the description of the scene given by Lycidas had inflicted keen
anguish, the anguish of shame and remorse.

"You pity the sufferers?" observed the Athenian.

"Pity--I envy!" was the thought to which the blanched lips of a
renegade dared not give utterance; Pollux but shook his head in reply.

"I would fain know more of the religion of the Hebrews," said Lycidas;
"I have heard marvellous stories--more sublime than any that our poets
have sung--of a Deity bringing this people out of Egypt, making a path
for them through the depths of the sea, reining back its foaming waves
as a rider his white-maned steed; giving to the thirsty--water from the
rock, to the hungry--bread from the skies, and scattering the foes of
Israel before them, as chaff is driven by the wind. I have heard of
the sun's fiery chariot arrested in its course by the voice of a man,
speaking with authority given to him by an inspiring Deity. Tell me
what is the name of the Hebrew's powerful God?"

Pollux pressed his lips closely together; he dared not utter the awful
name of Him whom he had denied. The courtier laid his hand on the
jewelled clasp which fastened his girdle; perhaps the movement was
accidental, perhaps he wished to direct the attention of his companion
to the fig