Lucius Author:James Marshall Subtitle: Or, the Roman Convert. to Which Is Added Giannetto's Courtship: Or, the Usage of Belmonte, a Drama; and Perolla; Or, the Revolt of Capua, a Tragedy General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1860 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missi... more »ng text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER II. Men scheme for worldly good by night and day, Wealth to acquire, and spacious fields are hent; And what's to them denied they would convey Unto their children, by a sure descent. Ahomtmous. In the last chapter, we gave a detailed account of the accident which had happened at the river Anio, and seen the interesting girl, to whom it had nearly proved fatal, safely housed; and it is now time to make the reader acquainted with the villa and family to which she has been conducted. The owner of this mansion was Priscus, father of Marcus, whose late conduct reflects so little credit on his moral courage and feeling. He was a wealthy Roman, possessing an extensive landed estate; and while the owner of a house of Patrician splendour in the city, he delighted to rusticate himself frequently, and for long periods. To this he was led by his habits and pursuits, for he was a studious man, and courted the leisure and quiet of the country as being favourable for reading and reflection. He was familiar with the writers of his own country, and with much of the literature of Greece -- an enthusiast in the cause of liberty, and dwelt with feelings of proud recollection on the stern virtues and self- denying patriotism of republican times, which, from small beginnings, had elevated Rome to the highest pitch of earthly power. The fervour of his imagination, aided by many strong and fond desires, produced such an influence on the judgment, that h...« less