The name of this young English lady was Lucilia Edgermond, daughter to the best friend of Lord Nelville’s father; but she was too young when Oswald quitted England for him to marry her, or even foresee, with certainty, what she would one day become.

Chapter ii.

Oswald and Corinne went first to the Pantheon, which is now called St Mary of the Rotunda.  In every part of Italy Catholicism has inherited something of Paganism, but the Pantheon is the only ancient Temple of Rome which is preserved entire, the only one where may be remarked in its ensemble the beauty of the architecture of the ancients, and the particular character of their worship.  Oswald and Corinne stopped in the square of the Pantheon to admire the portico of this Temple and the pillars that support it.

Corinne made Nelville observe that the Pantheon was constructed in such a manner as to appear greater than it was.  “The church of St Peter,” said she, “will produce quite a different effect upon you; you will believe it at first less stupendous than it is in reality.  This illusion, so favourable to the Pantheon, comes, as I am assured, from there being more space between the pillars, and the air playing freely around it; but principally from your not perceiving any of that detailed ornament with which St Peter’s is overladen.  It is thus that the ancient poets only designed large masses, and left the imagination of the hearer to fill up the intervals, and supply the developments; but we moderns in all things say too much.”

“This Temple,” continued Corinne, “was consecrated by Agrippa, the favourite of Augustus, to his friend, or rather to his master.  However, the master had the modesty to refuse the dedication of the Temple, and Agrippa was obliged to dedicate it to all the gods in Olympus, in order to take the place of Power, the god of the earth.  There was a car of bronze on the top of the Pantheon, on which were placed the statues of Augustus and of Agrippa.  On each side of the portico these same statues were placed in another form, and on the pediment of the Temple is still to be read:  ‘Consecrated by Agrippa.’  Augustus gave his name to the age in which he lived because he made that age an epoch of the human mind.  The masterpieces of every kind produced by his contemporaries form the rays of glory that encircle his head.  He knew how to honour the men of genius who cultivated letters, and he has found his recompense in posterity.”

“Let us enter the temple,” said Corinne.  “You see it remains uncovered, almost the same as it was formerly.  They say that this light, proceeding from the top, was the emblem of that God who was superior to all the other deities.  The Pagans have always been fond of symbolic images.  It seems, in effect, that this language is more fitting than speech to religion.  The rain often falls upon this marble court, but the rays of the sun also