Calendar: 1870-1871 Page 497

GENERAL LITERATURE AND SCIENCE 497 daunts -&atm Composition Translate into Latin prose Nero had his social hours and the temper to enjoy them His smile was attractive he could flatter and charm he had com- anions and favourites possibly friends and lovers But the genius of Domitiau was always solitary and morose he seems to have had no personal intimacies his humour when be chose to unbend was caustic and saturnine Shrewd enough to take an accurate measure of the sycophants around him he enjoyed grim satisfaction in playing on their fears If vou only talked with him on the state of the weather your life was at stake savs the satirist and you felt that it was at stake In the depth of his dissimulation he was an imitator of Tiberius whom he pro- fessed to make his model both in his measures and his demeanour but the amusement he derived from dissembling with his victims was all his own Of the feats he performed in disguising his cruel intentions from the wretches he was about to sacrifice some ghastly stories were circulated which suffice at least to show the estimate commonly formed of him Translate into Latin Hexameters And once there was way to that good land For in mid-earth wondrous Tree there grew By which the adventurer might with foot and hand From branch to branch his upward course pursue An easy path if what were said be true Albeit tbe ascent was long and when the height Was gain'd that blissful region was in view Wherein the traveller safely might alight And roam abroad at will and take his free delight Ο happy time when ingress thus was given To the upper world and at their pleasure they Whose hearts were strong might pass from Earth to Heaven By llieir own act and choice In evil day