eachery was his purpose, as, at the invitation of Primitius, he repaired next day to the catacomb of St. Calixtus. His was a susceptible, impressionable nat

ded, like an Eolian harp, to the breathings of the airs from heaven. It was, therefore, with strangely conflicting feelings, that he passed beneath the Capuan Gate, and along the Appian Way, toward the Villa Mar

ilding, such as may be seen in many parts of the Campagna to the present day. About the house were many stone chippings, and numerous slabs of marble. Under a sort of arbour, covered with

fossor?" asked the Greek,

le sir," replied the old man, with

on given him by the good presbyter, Primi

admission to these grounds," said Hilarus. "But you will first honour my

e continued, as Hilarus courteously led the way to the open door of the cottage. This was quite small, and had almost no furniture save some earthen pots for cooking

sarcophagus?" asked Isidor

now in Lat

e doctrines of Christ. She often comes to see how I get on with it, and to describe how she wishes it to be. See," said the old man, pointing to the side-(see above)-"the general idea is all her own, the details only are mine. These four groups exhibit four scenes in th

then paled and flushed, and said

oldiers, types of the Christian warriors, whose only place of safety is beneath the cross; while above are the wreath of victory, the doves of peace, and the sacred monogram, made up, I need not tell you, who are a

a number of slabs partly executed-some with the engraved outline of a dov

y. "I keep them ready to suit purchasers, and the

tor and Pollux, the "great twin brethren" of the Roman mythology, and the letters, "Dis

ut. They may be hundreds of years old, for aught I know. We just turn

k, pointing to one on which was rudely painted in black pigment, the

VgvStI

Augustus, th

to do better. Here now is one by my oldest son, of which I would not be ashamed myself;" and he pointe

AE THE

E ET INCOMPA

IVS O

INNOCE

, to his most inn

gracious and inc

"enter the catacomb. It is not well to make too sudden a

a vineyard under a blazing sun, that made the cool crypts exceedingly grateful. Descending the stairway, the guide took fr

labyrinth?" asked the Greek, feeling no small deg

ing these, the way may become as familiar as the streets of Rome. You may, perhaps, have heard of C?cilia, a blind girl, who acted as g

said Isidorus, deeply interested in s

re; and even some who are not like to have their epitaphs written in th

re," said the Greek, with something like a sn

t family of the poor. Indeed, most of them were slaves. That poor fellow was a martyr in the last persecution. I mind it well, though

way in the solemn stillness of this valley of the shadow of death. The sudden transition from the brilliant Italian sunlight to this sepulchral gloom, from the busy city of the living to this silent city of the dead, sm

ery and Chambers, Show

ir above. Almost like an apparition from the other world, in the strong, Rembrandt-like illumination in which he stood, looked the venerable Primitius, clothed in white, with silvery hair and flowing beard, and high, bare brow. As Isidorus glanced up the shaft, he saw the blue sky shining far above, and the waving of the lo

like rock "Welcome to these abodes of death; may they prove to thee the birthplace to eternal life;" an

e to impart But are these seemly surroundings for a man of your years and condition?-this rocky vault, this utter loneliness, and these crumbling relics of mortality?" and he shudde

e of kind friends my wants are all supplied. But your young blood and sensitive imagination, I perceive, shrink from these things to which, by l

pture-Sarcophagus of

From Catacomb Of

TNO

a repast he shared at the entrance of this very catacomb. "The wine," said the guide, "is necessary

rs resembling it the writer studied m

service in the Catacombs. They bear Christian symbols, inscribe