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somewhat more of gentleness and equity. Plato's ex- pression of a city in high fever was never more applica- ble than to Kome at that time ; in its origin formed by daring and warlike spirits, whom bold and desperate ad- venture brought thither from every quarter, it had found in perpetual wars and incursions on its neighbors its after sustenance and means of growth, and in conflict with danger the source of new strength ; like piles, which the blows of the rammer serve to fix into the ground. Where- fore Numa, judging it no slight undertaking to mollify and bend to peace the presumptuous and stubborn spirits of this people, began to operate upon them with the sanc- tions of religion. He sacrificed often, and used proces- sions and religious dances, in which most commonly he officiated in person ; by such combinations of solemnity with refined and humanizing pleasures, seeking to win over and mitigate their fiery and warlike tempers. At times, also, he filled their imaginations with religious ter- rors, professing that strange apparitions had been seen, and dreadful voices heard ; thus subduing and humbling their minds by a sense of supernatural fears. This method which Numa used made it believed that he had been much conversant with Pythagoras ; for in the philosophy of the one, as in the policy of the other, man's relations to the deity occupy a great place. It is said, also, that the solemnity of his exterior garb and gestures was adopted by him from the same feeling with Pythago- ras. For it is said of Pythagoras, that he had taught an eagle to come at his call, and stoop down to him in its flight ; and that, as he passed among the people assembled at the Olympic games, he showed them his golden thigh ; besides many other strange and miraculous seeming prao . tices, on which Timon the Phliasian wrote the distich, — Who, of the glory of a juggler proud,

With solemn talk imposed upon the crowd.