were stronger than a woman's. Of this the entire elevation was fifty-five cubits. 4. But while such was the actual magnitude of these three towers, their site added much to their apparent dimensions. For the ancient wall in which they stood was itself built on a lofty hill; and higher still rose up in front, to the height of thirty cubits, a kind of crest of the hill; on this the towers rested, and thus acquired a much greater altitude. Admirable, likewise, was the magnitude of the stones; for these towers were not constructed of ordinary blocks, nor of stones such as might be carried by men, but of white marble, cut; and the length of each block was twenty cubits, its breadth ten, and its depth five. So accurately were they joined one upon another, that each tower seemed a single rock that jutted up naturally, and had subsequently been polished all round by the hands of the artificer into its angular form; so totally imperceptible on all sides was the fitting of the joints. To these towers, which lay northward, was attached on the inner side the royal residence, which exceeded all description. The magnificence of the work, and the skill displayed in its construction, could not be surpassed. It was completely enclosed within a wall thirty cubits high, and ornamented towers were distributed around it at equal distances, with spacious apartments, each capable of containing couches for a hundred guests. In these the diversity of the stones were not to be expressed; for, whatever was rare in every country, was there collected in abundance. Admirable, also, were their roofs, both for the length of the beams, and for the splendor of their decorations. The number of apartments, moreover, and the variety of devices around them, were infinite; nor was any article of furniture wanting in any of them, the greater proportion of it in each being in silver and gold. All around were many cloistered courts opening into one another, and the columns in each different. Such parts of these as were open to the air were everywhere clothed with verdure. There were besides various groves with long walks through them, lined by deep conduits; and in many places ponds studded with bronze figures, through which the water was discharged; and around the streams were numerous cots for tame doves. But, indeed, adequately to describe the place is impossible; and the recollection stings me to the heart, recalling as it does the ravages of the brigand fires. For it was not the Romans who consigned it to the flames, but this was done, as we have before related, by the conspirators within the city at an early stage of the revolt. The conflagration began at the Antonia, passed onward to the palace, and consumed the roofs of the three towers. MOSES THE LAWGIVER (From the Preface to the "Antiquities") ONE who will all events succeed well, even NE who will peruse this history may principally and to an incredible degree, and the reward of felicity is proposed by God: but then it is to those that follow his will, and do not venture to break his excellent laws; and that so far as men any way apostatize from the accurate observation of them, what was practicable before becomes impracticable; whatsoever they set about as a good thing is converted into an incurable calamity. And now I exhort all those who peruse these books to apply their minds to God: and to examine the mind of our legislator, whether he hath not understood his nature in a manner worthy of him; and hath not ever ascribed to him such operations as become his power; and hath not preserved his own writings from those in decent fables which others have framed, although by the great distance of time when he lived he might have securely forged such lies,-for he lived two thousand years ago, at which vast distance of ages the poets themselves have not been so hardy as to fix even the generations of their gods, much less the actions of their men or their own laws. As I proceed, therefore, I shall accurately describe what is contained in our records, in the order of time that belongs to them, without adding anything to what is therein contained, or taking away anything therefrom. But because almost all our constitution depends on the wisdom of Moses our legislator, I cannot avoid saying somewhat concerning him beforehand, though I shall do it briefly; I mean, because otherwise those that read my books may wonder how it comes to pass that my discourse, which promises an account of laws and historical facts, contains so much of philosophy. The reader is therefore to know that Moses deemed it exceeding necessary that he who would conduct his own life well, and give laws to others, in the first place should consider the Divine nature; and upon the contemplation of God's operations, should thereby imitate the best of all patterns, so far as it is possible for human nature to do, and to endeavor to follow after it; neither could the legislator himself have a right mind without such a contemplation; nor would anything he should write tend to the promotion of virtue in his readers: I mean, unless they be taught first of all that God is the father and Lord of all things, and sees all things; and that hence he bestows a happy life upon those that follow him, but plunges such as do not walk in the paths of virtue into inevitable miseries. Now, when Moses was desirous to teach this lesson to his countrymen, he did not begin the establishment of his laws after the same manner that other legislators did, I mean, upon contracts and other rights between one man and another, but by raising their minds upward to regard God and his creation of the world; and by persuading them that we men are the most excellent of the creatures of God upon earth. Now, when once he had brought them to submit to religion, he easily persuaded them to submit in all other things; for as to other legislators, they followed fables, and by their discourses transferred the most reproachful of human vices unto the gods, and so afforded wicked men the most plausible excuses for their crimes; but as for our legislator, when he had once demonstrated that God was possessed of perfect virtue, he supposed men also ought to strive after the participation of it; and on those who did not so think and so believe he inflicted the severest punishments. I exhort, therefore, my readers to examine this whole undertaking in that view; for thereby it will appear to them that there is nothing therein disagreeable either to the majesty of God, or to his love for mankind:. for all things have here a reference to the nature of the universe; while our legislator speaks some things wisely but enigmatically, and others under a decent allegory, but still explains such things as require a direct explication, plainly and expressly. JOHN KEATS JOHN KEATS, one of the most famous of British poets, was born at London, England, in 1795; died at Rome, in 1821. He left school at fifteen and took up the study of surgery, but he soon decided that he had chosen the wrong field and decided to devote his life to writing. His first poems, the "Epistles," appeared in 1817. Shortly after ill health compelled him to leave England and he went to Italy. The warmer climate prolonged his life for two years only. Among his best pieces are: "Hyperion," "Isabella," and "The Eve of St. Agnes." MY ODE TO A NIGHTINGALE Y heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains Of beechen green, and shadows numberless, O, for a draught of vintage! that hath been Dance, and Provençal song, and sunburnt mirth! |