their greatness of character, and notwithstanding so many families of our nation had lived among them with distinction, and had even been entertained as favorites in the very household of the Cæsars, were not ashamed to treat us with the like injustice, and continually reproach us with our origin and our laws. But the wickedness and injustice were not greater on their part, than were both the vanity and the baseness on mine, so manifest in my courting the favor and regard of those who, at the very same time, so openly despised the people from whom I sprung. As you shall soon learn, however, I was presently cured of a folly, which, I doubt not now, made me to be scorned by the very persons who seemed most to flatter me; for he can never be held as worthy of a real esteem, who appears to be ashamed of his own kindred.

Again I draw from my letters to my mother; for although my recollection is exact and vivid of those days and events, so that, as I think, I could set them down in order, applying to that source alone, yet in this the beginning of my history, I shall, I doubt not, more perfectly comply with your wishes, my kinsman of Rome, if I appear before you in the very form in which I painted myself in those remote days. It was thus, then, the second time, that I addressed myself to the blessed Naomi,

4*

II.

I SAID, my mother, that I would write again so soon as new events had happened. That necessity presented itself immediately upon my sending to you the letter which I last wrote, if those may be called new events which are to be witnessed, not so much in separate acts or occurrences, as in the ripening of the time toward

Such seems to me to Large numbers of the

some general and final issue. be the condition of Cæsarea. people indeed, both Jews and Greeks, are little concerned by this quarrel with the Governor, being wholly engrossed by the expected games, either preparing to attend them with every circumstance of display, or to receive into their dwellings as visitors during their continuance, the friends and kinsfolk who make it their five years' custom to assemble at Cæsarea at this great festival. But greater numbers, however, although together with the rest they look forward to the games with pleasure, and to the entertainment of both friends and strangers, are much more deeply engaged by the difficulties of which I have already given you some account. The games may occupy their hands, but other interests, hopes and fears are busy at their hearts. Especially is this the case with the Jewish portion of the population. No one would dream that less than an empire were at hazard, to judge by the demeanor of

this people. In truth they seem to me at all times a solemn tribe; and this feature of their general character is darkened to a gloom like that of night, by the present aspect of their affairs. Their motion through the street is slow and cautious, with eyes cast down, or talking with one another in low and secret tonesturning continually with sudden movement the head to this side and that, as if expecting instantly the blow of an assassin, or the insult of a Greek. I confess myself amused not a little as I watch them. But if this is so with the Jews generally-or rather with the more zealous portion of them-how much more is it true of so fierce a spirit as Philip. Not the dark Casca nor the lean Cassius ever carried in their eyes I what so threatened States with ruin and revolt. Although I cannot but judge his cause in the main a right one, yet can I not work up myself to his pitch of fury; but, on the contrary, do what in me lies, partly by reason, and partly by a lighter rhetoric, to soothe his almost disordered mind. My success has been much such as it would have been, had I essayed to stem the northern tide as it rushes in at the open mouth of the Port, making colossal Rome and Asia to tremble on their bases.

On the morning of the day which preceded the opening of the games, and which was to witness the hearing of the Jewish deputation before Pilate, the air being close and oppressive, I sought the cooler walks of the garden, and reaching the little arbor of which I have spoken, took out my tablets and wrote. I had been not long thus engrossed, when I was interrupted by the sudden entrance of Anna, with a countenance more than usually expressive of anxiety. She seated herself near me, say

ing, as she did so, "I have come seeking you, and am glad to have found you here, and yet I hardly know why I have come, and I fear lest I deprive you of time that you need for more important objects." I assured her that I was performing no duty of more importance than writing to my mother, and that her own name was the last from my pen; of what I had said concerning her I could not inform her; it was, however, no evil report, she might well believe. But what, I asked, was it which disturbed her, for her countenance spoke of some new alarm. "It is nothing new," she answered, "nor anything, I fear, in which you will think you can serve us, and I hardly can say why I apply to you-yet you have inspired us with a strange confidence, and we think that because you are from Rome, while still you are of our own race, you will judge of our affairs more justly than we can do, who are so near, that everything appears of perhaps an unnatural size and interest. In a word, my mother begs you, and I join her in the entreaty, to use whatever power you may possess, to moderate the zeal of Philip, and hold him back from aspiring to be a leader in these affairs. I, alas, can do nothing; for no sooner does he appear with that face of his, and his burning words, than I am straightway kindled with his ardor, and grow as hot as he." I told her, " that what she had now asked of me, I had already of my own mind attempted, but with no good effect whatever. Philip will take no counsellor to his bosom, beside his own impatient spirit, and Simon, who, good as he is, is mad as Philip himself."

"Mad! - Julian? Oh, not quite mad❞—

'My dear Anna, you cannot yourself bear the whole

truth."

"I will try—now say on-you must forgive me."

"Take, however, Anna, all that I would say, and not a part only. Philip is mad only in his impetuosity and haste; not wholly in the great purposes which he cherishes. I blame him not that he is restive, as a Jew, beneath Roman oppression, such as I now see it with my own eyes to be. I can, with him, scorn the base spirits who with new submissions are waiting to purchase the forbearance of the Governor. Were I a born Jew of Cæsarea, I would with Philip be a Jew in the full possession and enjoyment of my rights, or I would renounce together my faith and my country. A Jew with the name only, is one who with wonderful folly invites insult from the whole world, while from that which brings this universal contempt upon his head, he derives neither profit nor pleasure. In this, Anna, I speak the words of experience. I would not that Philip should be the fool that I have been. You will be glad to know, in respect to myself, that in the few days I have been here I have lived years, and that the demon who has so long possessed me is departing. I am become a Jew in feeling at least, as well as in name. Henceforward, if I am still to bear reproach, it shall not be for naught. Such at least is the resolve of to-day. You now cannot doubt that I am on Philip's side, that with him I would fight for the fair rights and the honored name."

"Ah! how I bless you," cried Anna with glowing cheeks, "for these words. You then think with Philip, that he is right."