The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

before the emperor and thus , while dividing the popular attention with , heralded the approach of the great Trajan . Trajan sat in his car of state , his features indicating indifference ancl ennui , rather than pride

at his triumph . In fact , Trajan had too practical a mind to care much for the external pomp of power ; he loved better to enjoy the quiet reality . His eyes were oftener fixed upon the gallant Caius who rode before him , ancl upon his valiant army

who brought up the rear , than upon the gaping and bellowing crowd . Men who have faced the thunders of death in the battle field , care little for the admiring shouts of a crowd . Thus , Avhen the offerings had been made at the Capitol , and Trajan had returned to his palace , he said laughingly to Caius :

" To please the Romans , I have heartily tired myself . What sayest thou , my Cains ?" "I would sooner face the Dacians than the yells of a Roman mob . There was always rest with the barbarians after a meetinc ?; but I doubt if Ave

can say as much for the populace . " " They are children , my Caius , " said the Emperor , tapping him on the shoulder , " but Ave must exercise a strong parental hand to keep them in order . " ( To be continued ) .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

MASONIC TOMB IS CVPEUS . Attached to the Greek Cathedral Church and Shrine of St . Lazarus , at Larnaka in Cyprus , is a graveyard railed off , in which are several English tombs . Opposite the gateway is that of Michael De Vezin , descended of a Hugenot family , horn in Englandand Esquire of the Body of the Kingand

, , H . M . Consul in Cyprus , who died in 1792 . He was married to a lady named Pfeilz . The inscription is in Latin , headed by a coat-of-arms , and having at the bottom a square and compasses laid on a cushion , the whole well cut . The emblems were such as I have seen on Masonic tombs of the last century .

The whole Avas iu good . order or I Avouid have provided for its repair . It is evident that Mr . De Yezin was proud of his rank , which I take to be that of W . M . Perhaps some brother may find out of what lodge he was Master . —HCTE CEAKKE .

Larnaka , Cyprus , 31 st August , 1866 . THE PBEVAEICATIOIVS OF ALCIBIADES . In ~ So . 3-16 , page 135 , of the FREEMASONS' MAG-A-¦ ZESTE it is said that "it was a capital crime to divulge the mysteries of Ceres , and an indictable offence to perform the ceremonies incident thereto in any but the buildings specially consecrated for thafc purpose ;

that Alcibiades had to escape by immediate flight the Avrath of the people , called forth by his having held a priA-ate lodge in his OAVU house , & c . " May I ask what historical evidence there exists in support of these statements ?—ENQUIEEK . [ The facts here alluded to are well known to every one acquainted Avith the history of ancient Hellas iu

general , and of the Pelopennesian war in particular . The foot-note to the passage in question contains some quotations forming very sound " historical evidence . " The mysteries of Eleusis have been frequently mentioned in these Notes and Queries . See the communications on pages 349 , 369 , 391 , and 487 ,

vol . siv . of the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE . The following additional quotation from Plutarch ' s " Life of Alcibiades" Avill fully bear out the statement respecting Alcibiades' transgressions . It is the commencement of Chapter XIX ., ancl runs thus : — In the meantime Androcles , the demagogue , produced several

of Alcibiailes' servants and housemates as witnesses * in support of tlie indictment charging tlie latter ancl his friends with having reproduced the mysterious signs and mocked the mysteries themselves while under the influence of wine ( fivcrrripiav itap' olvov axo . ai / iija-sis ) . It was stated that a certain Theodores had personated tlie herald ( iriipvQ , Polytion , the torch-bearer ( Sioovxos ) and Alcibiades himself , the Grand Prophet ( iepo < p &<;) , while other boon companions of bis performed the part of the

initiated (/ . IVO-TGI ) . All this was contained in the accusation preferred by Thessalos , Ciinon's son , charging Alcibiades Avitli the profanation of the divine rites ( aatPtiv jrepi rS > Bed ) . The people having in this manner become incensed and highly exasperated by Androcles , who was the most violent enemy oi Alcibiades , tho latter Avas involved in serious trouble .

The following passage from Grote ' s ( the present Vice-Chancellor of the University of London ) " History of Greece , " * vol . vii ., p . 282 , although it cannot be saicl to form any " historical evidence , " g ives a very clear precis of the subject , aud may not be thought out of place here : — Among all the ceremonies of Attic reliionthere was none

g , more profoundly or universally reverenced than the mysteries of Eleusis—origin \\\ -j enjoined by the Goddess Dewietev herself , in her visit to that place , to Eninolpus and the other Eleusinian patriarch , ancl transmitted as a precious hereditary privilege in their families . Celebrated annually in tlie month of August and September under the special care of r . lie lSnsilens or second Archon , these mysteries were attended by vast crowds from Athens as well as from other parts of Greece , presenting to tlie

eye a solemn raid imposing spectacle , and striking the imagination still more powerfully by the special initiation which they conferred , under pledge of secrecy , upon pious and predisposed communicants . Even the divulgation in words to the uninitiated , of that which was exhibited to the eye and ear of the assembly in the interior of the Eleusinian Temple , was accounted highly criminal : much more the actual mimicry of these ceremonies for the amusement of a convivial party . Moreoverthe

, individuals who held the great sacred offices at Eleusis , the Hierophant , the Daducli ( torch bearer ) , and the Koryx or herald , which were transmitted , by inheritance in the Eumolpidie ancl other great families of antiquity and importance , were personally insulted by such proceedings , and vindicated their own dignity at the same time that they invoiced punishment on the offenders iu the name of Demeter and Tersephone . The most

appalling legends were current among the Athenian public , and repeated on proper occasions even by the Hierophant himself , respecting the divine judgments which always overtook such impious men .

TEMPLARS AND MERCHANDISE . The fifth item in an enactment of a convention of Burrows , held at Stirling , in 1405 , is as follows : — " Na Templair sail intromit Avith any merchandise or