be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." His arm thrice rose and fell as he pronounced this triple blessing. Each time, he spoke the name of Jehovah in a different accent; and, each time, in the elevation of his hands, he extended the three middle fingers of his right hand in so conspicuous a manner, as to exhibit a manifest emblem of the three Hypostases. When he had concluded his benediction, he took the book of the law written in pure Hebrew, and unrolling it till he came to that part describing the Exodus from Egypt, he read a sentence in a low voice to his interpreter, who immediately proclaimed it aloud in the mixed dialect commonly spoken; and, in this way they continued instructing the people for some time; the one reading, the other interpreting. Song and Song and prayer then succeeded, when he again blessed the congre

gation, and they departed from the Temple.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE following morning was the tenth of the month. The city bleated like the plain, for all the unblemished lambs of the flocks were being driven into it, and received into the houses in preparation for the passover. It was usual to keep them in some of the principal chambers, that they might remain constantly in sight of the family, to remind them of the solemn festival they were so soon to commemorate. The pascal lamb, which was to be slain in Laadon's house, was tied to the handle of one of the large water-jars standing in the room, where the supper was to be celebrated. The animal, who was used to be fostered by man, and was ignorant of its approaching fate, betrayed no uneasiness at the situation assigned it; but after remaining contentedly there for some hours, it suddenly showed the most evident tokens of alarm and dis

tress. Its piteous bleatings and supplicatory looks were noticed by the family; who, fearing it was ill, and if so, not fit to be offered as a sacrifice, they sent it to the shepherd to be changed for another. Another came and succeeded to the post the first had occupied. This also soon began to show equal marks of terror. A careful investigation of the room then took place, and near that part where the water-jars stood, a serpent's head was discovered forcing its way through an aperture in the wainscot. Laadon drew his sword and attempted to strike it off, but the reptile withdrew into its retreat and vanished from sight. Laadon, however, did not like such an inmate, and immediately sent for Artemas the charmer, who lived in the suburbs of the city, near the potter's field. Artemas quickly appeared with a basket and bag in one hand, and a dulcimer in the other; and said, if it was not the deaf adder, he should soon be able to draw the reptile from its lurking-place. Some of the party were going to withdraw before he began his operations, but he begged them to

remain and witness the wonderful power of harmony over these creatures. Curiosity prevailed over fear, and they complied with this request. He first enjoined the most perfect silence, and then taking his dulcimer, began to play a soft and wild kind of melody, accompanying it with his voice. He had not done this long before the serpent was seen to dart its head out of the crevice; and after remaining for a few minutes in a listening attitude, gradually drew forth its shuddering length of form and advanced on the floor towards Artemas. Its crest, or hood, was curiously speckled with black and white, and the various spots on its body brightened and dilated with still increasing beauty, as it seemed to feed on sound, and with half erected form, followed the music with a graceful undulating motion, and kept the most perfect time. When Artemas thought he had sufficiently exhibited himself and the serpent, he made a sudden pause, and the creature dropped down as if deprived of sense. He did not leave it time to recover itself, but immediately seizing

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upon it, tied it up in the bag. He was then going to open his basket and show his dancing snakes, which, he said, would come and go as he played on his dulcimer or ceased from playing, and would twine themselves round him without doing him any injury. But every one was quite satisfied with what they had already seen, and he departed with his new prey.

On the morning of the passover, Laadon set out with his friends towards Bethany, a village situated at the foot of the Mount of Olives. He went to meet some relations and conduct them to his house, and Sephora to make some inquiries after her old friend Arbalio, who had not been heard of since he went up to the feast the year before. They must necessarily go through much of the city in their way thither; and when they came opposite to the iron gates of the prison, their course was impeded by the unusual concourse that was gathered before it, and extended from thence to the judgment hall, and in attempting to force their way 'through the crowd, they got so entangled in