Extract from a Poem of the late Rev. T. Moss. 



308 



antiquarians call a Panllieon. It forms 

 an oblong square, one of its narrowest 

 sides serving for an entrance. On the 

 ground-plot are three small chambers: 

 the middle one contains niches, wherein 

 have been placed the statues of Tiberius 

 and Livia, dug out of the soil. The 

 arms are wanting ; the drapery is beau- 

 tiful, and the execution elaborate ; 

 traces are visible of a red colour on the 

 vestments of Tiberius. His statue ap- 

 pears to have held a lance. 



The principal wall is decorated with 

 a painting, in pretty good preservation ; 

 it evidently refers to the history of Ro- 

 mulus and Remus, to whom the shep- 

 herdess Lupa gave suck; the shepherd, 

 standing by her, is contemplating the 

 children with complacency, while a 

 young she-wolf is couchant by them. 

 In a kind of corridor, leading to the 

 Pantheon, a little wall makes a separa- 

 tion, which appears to have been a ves- 

 try, wherein were suspended garments, 

 close to marble tablets, with ciphers 

 marked in the following manner and 

 order: — iix.ix.x.xl.iuv.iv.v.vi.iii.ti.i. 

 Above each tablet is a round hole, 

 wherein are vestiges of hooks or nails of 

 oxydated iron. All the tablets of the 

 building are ornamented with paintings; 

 they are mostly insulated figures, on a 

 ground of daik red, and separated by 

 landscapes, flowers, or other ornaments. 

 One of the small chambers represents 

 hunting-scenes, marine monsters, and 

 various animals. 



In front of the building is a court, 

 surrounded. by the portico, the bases of 

 the columns are of white marble. They 

 seem to have been just laid down ; the 

 columns, however, have not been disco- 

 vered. In the middle of the court there 

 still remain eight pedestals, which must 

 have supported a small rotunda, as in 

 the Temple of Serapis, at Pnzzoli. 

 Close to the entrance, the workmen 

 have discovered a little casket, gar- 

 nished with bronze, and containing 347 

 copper medals, 47 of silver, and 1 of 

 gold ; as also a silver ring ; but the wood 

 of the casket was completely reduced 

 to a coal. 



In another house, laid open by the 

 excavations of 182;}, a considerable 

 number of wine-vessels (amphora) 

 have been found ; one of which liad in- 

 scriptions on it, in small characters. A 

 house adjoining had been a soap-manu- 

 I'actory; or, at least, all the articles ne- 

 cessary for the fabrication were found 

 there ; as also a heaj) of chalk, of pecu- 

 liar whiteness and lustre. And, lastly, 

 6 



[May 1, 



a well has been found, a hundred palms 

 in depth, with fresh water, somewhat 

 stimulant, but which has not been yet 

 analysed. X. 



To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 



S(U, 



ACCORDING to my promise, I 

 now send you the conclusion of 

 a poem, entitled " the Imperfection of 

 Human Enjoyments," by tlie late Rev. 

 T. Moss. James Scott. 



Feb. 10, 1824. 



Thus are the choicest blessings of the world 

 Imperfect, 'till we rise above ihe stars ; 

 "Where instautaueoiis all the gull of life 

 Is cliang'd into iinmix'd immortal sweets ;, 

 Where pleasme is from feculence refiii'd, 

 And sublimated in the heaven of heavens. 

 Would we then have a foretaste of these 



joys? 

 Let us withdraw onr thoughts from the 



poor streams 

 Of earthly bliss, and fix them upon God, 

 The fountain of true happintss and peace. 

 Let virtue be her guide, and let her light 

 Be as a Sbechinali, or eastern star, 

 To lead us safe throufth all the labyrinths 

 That puzzle and perplex us on our road. 

 Then, whether plac'd on Lybia's parched 



sands, 

 Or near inhospitable Caucasus, 

 A thousand mingled charms, the antepast 

 Of still more glorious fruits in brighter 



skies. 

 Will greet our senses, and refresh our souls; 

 For innocence is Paradise below, 

 Where heaven displays a sunshine without 



clouds. 

 And Pleasure scatters roses without thorns. 



Would we have health, exempt from the 



rude shocks 

 And dire erosions of a mind deprav'd ? 

 'Tis the grand gift of Him whose powerful 



arm 

 Can bring us to the grave, and raise us up ; 

 Gift of transcendent value ! far beyond 

 Imagination's sums, not to be gain'd 

 By temperance and exercise alone, 

 Nor to be purchas'd by Golconda's gems; 

 But chiefly earn'd by rectitude of soul. 

 A soul iu health feels vigor in old age. 

 And, like the evergreen, with aspect calm 

 IMocks at the outrage of assailing snows; 

 For virtue is a nobler pectoral 

 Thau physic, with its highest claims, cau 



boast; 

 It will support us when our strength slrali 



fail, 

 And other comt'orts lend their aid in vain ; 

 It will dispel the horrors of despair, 

 Lift us above affliction's angry waves, 

 And, when arrested by Death's freezing 



hand, 

 W ill be our only armour of defence, 

 Our rock of safety, aud our tree of life. 



Would 



