This Forum no longer presents us with any trace of that famous Tribune, from which the Roman people were governed by eloquence.  Three pillars remain of a temple, raised by Augustus in honour of Jupiter Tonans, when the thunderbolt fell at his feet without striking him, and an arch which the senate raised to Septimus Severus in reward of his exploits.  The names of his two sons, Caracalla and Geta, were inscribed on the fronton of the arch; but when Caracalla had assassinated Geta he caused his name to be erased, and some traces of the cancelled letters are still to be seen.  At some distance is a temple to Faustina, a monument of the blind weakness of Marcus Aurelius; a temple to Venus which, in the time of the republic, was consecrated to Pallas—­and farther on, the ruins of a temple dedicated to the Sun and Moon, built by the Emperor Adrian, who was jealous of Apollodorus, the famous Grecian architect, and put him to death for having found fault with the proportions of his edifice.

On the other side of the square we behold the ruins of some monuments consecrated to nobler and purer aims.  The pillars of a temple which is believed to have been that of Jupiter Stator, who prevented the Romans from ever flying before their enemies.  A pillar remaining of the Temple of Jupiter Guardian, placed, we are told, not far from the abyss into which Curtius precipitated himself.  Pillars also of a temple, raised, some say, to Concord, others to Victory.  Perhaps these two ideas are confounded by conquering nations, who probably think no real peace can exist till they have subdued the universe!  At the extremity of Mount Palatine is a beautiful triumphal arch, dedicated to Titus, for the conquest of Jerusalem.  We are informed that the Jews who are at Rome never pass under this arch, and a little path is shewn which they take to avoid it.  It is to be wished, for the honour of the Jews, that this anecdote may be true; long recollections suit long misfortunes.

Not far from thence is the arch of Constantine, embellished with some bas-reliefs taken away from the forum of Trajan, by the Christians, who wished to adorn the monument consecrated to the founder of repose; so they called Constantine.  The arts at this epoch were already on the decline, and they stripped the past to honour new exploits.  These triumphal gates, which are seen at Rome, give perpetuity as much as man can give it, to the honours paid to glory.  There was a place upon their summits destined for flute and trumpet players, in order that the victor when passing might be intoxicated at the same time by music and praise, and taste at the same moment all the most exalted emotions.