The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

ments , they had the best seats , and if in thenwalks they casually lighted upon a malefactor led to execution , they had the power of delivering him from the hands of justice , but they had to make oath that their meeting Avas purely accidental ,

• and not brought about by collusion or design . On the other hand their punishments Avere of the severest character . Upon commission of any trifling fault they were scourged by the Pontifex Maximus , who had the charge of them , and most

cruelly if they permitted the sacred fire to go out . Vestals convicted of unchastity were buried alive , in the Campus Sceleratus . The sacred fire was kept in earthen vessels hanging in the air , Avhich the vestals tended with the utmost care , as the

fire was one of the most holy pledges of the city . Should it by any means have become extinguished , all public and private business was suspended , and a vacation proclaimed , till they had expiated the unhappy prodigy Avith incredible pains . Upon

the kalends of March , every year , although it AA'as not extinguished , they used to renew it with no other fire than that Avhich Avas produced by the rays of the sun . It Avas seldom that the fire Avent out .

Sometimes the vestals fell from the paths of virtue , and the very terrors of their fate seem to have formed an incentive to Roman seducers to work their ruin . One of the most terrible acts in the cruel life of Domitian was in executing a vestal

virgin accused of having broken her VOAV of charity . Thirty cases of condemned vestals are recorded , but it Avas generally the custom to alloAv them to commit suicide . Domitian hoAvever resolved to ¦ carry out the sentence in all its horrors , so as to

gain credit for holy austerity , he the most abandoned of voluptuaries . The crime AA'as never proved ; the accused Avas never confronted with her accuser . Domitian had prevailed upon a knight , under a promise of pardon , to confess to

the crime of seduction , a confession which he recalled Avhen the tyrant , regardless of his promise , gave him up to the sentence of the laAv , that of being scourged to death in the forum . Cornelia Maxiinilla , the senior vestal Avas the victim . The

unhappy Avoman Avas borne in a covered litter to the Colline gate ; a subterranean chamber Avas excavated ; bread , Avater , milk , oil , a burning lamp and a couch Avas laid in it ; as they Avere leading her to the place of execution , she called upon Vesta , and the rest of the deities to attest her innocence , and amongst other exclamations she

cried out : "Is it possible that Cassar can think me polluted . " As she was going down into the subterraneous cavern , her goAvn caught upon something in the way , upon Avhich turning back to disengage it , the executioner offered her his

hand , AA'hich she refused Avith some hoi'ror , as if she could not touch it Avithout impurity . She was buried alive , preserving to the last the appearance of a consummate chastity . Such a terrible fate mig ht have discouraged the

vestals from incurring it , but in the first year of Trajan's reign , one morning Sempronia the Vestal was not to be found in the temple , and the sacred fire committed to her charge , had gone out . The city was searched , but no trace of her could be

discovered , her brother Sempronius the Centurion , searching eueryAvhere for her , till at last years passing it Avas supposed she had fallen into the Tiber , or lost her life in some mysterious way . All the time however she had never quitted Rome , for Balbns had been the seducer , ancl in his house she had been concealed from the eyes of her

pursuers . A tall beautiful Roman she Avas , and one Avho seemed born to wield the destiny of nations . Shehad loved Balbus , and he had loved her , but time and remorse on her part , and satiety on his , had dissipated the affection which had made them incur

such a terrible risk . Sempronia too late found she had fallen a victim to a Avorthless voluptuary , AA'ho within a month had tired of her , and engaged in the pursuit of new victims . The gloss of nobility of mind which had captivated her soon

Avore off , and her seducer oftentimes reeled to her drenched AA'ith AA'ine . Disgust ensued , followed by tears and reproaches , which so Avorried Balbus , that on one occasion he struck her to the ground .

He was aghast at his unmanly deed , and attempted by renewed blandishments to Avin her forgiveness . She smiled once more upon him , but SAVore in her heart revenge . Balbus Avould have fain sent her out of Rome to a foreign land , but she

steadily refused all his offers . Safety lay in remaining in Rome , Avhile in another country she Avould assuredly be discovered by some Roman living there . Balbus Avas forced to acknoAvledge this truth , ancl much against his -will she remained

in his house . There Avas little chance of discovery there , his slaves were too faithful , and she never appeared in public , ancl kept to her own chamber when Balbus entertained company . When Balbus resolved upon marrying Lais , he