existence of any future heir,-and consequently the death of her first and only Husband must be accomplished with expedition, otherwise Nature might claim her prerogative and adorn the Wife with the title of Parent, and thus place before the Nation, not only an heir to the Father's riches, but to the Throne itself. In the foregone manner most probably the envious King reasoned and reflected; and like the usurper of ancient Scotia when contemplating the acquisition of wealth and power, and when the virtuous means whereby they could only be accomplished, were about to leave the citadel of conscience, his resolution was

"If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well

It were done quickly."

Thus resolved, the Royal assassin instantly carried into effect, the demoniac murder of his Sister's newly married Husband. [B. c. 861.] It is in trials of adver sity that our natures are proved, and Woman at such a time stands pre-eminent,-she treads the steps of the fiery ordeal triumphantly :-though blinded by the blow of fate, still her after-resolution illumines her path, and proves to wondering Man, that the ploughshares of cruelty have been heated in vain! Never was this proved to a greater degree than by the Tyrian Princess. Scarcely had Acerbas been thus basely deprived of life, when secret intelligence of the deed was conveyed to the Wife,-as, also, the cause which led to it, and by whose authority the murder was committed. Terrible indeed must have been the triple-tongued

intelligence that conveyed to her the maddening truth, that one act had made her a widowed bride,—a fond Husband murdered, and her Sovereign and Brother that cruel Assassin! In the whole range of fiction, or poetry, there is not to be found a tragic incident, equal to this fact from the romance of History.

Rising superior to her fate, her resolution was instantly formed to defeat the deep-laid scheme of her unnatural Brother: she felt that the base mind which could encompass her Husband's death, and in that Husband the triune character of Prince, Brother, and High Priest of their ancient Gods,—would not scruple to sacrifice the Wife and Sister, but would rather accomplish it, if Nature had already ordained that she should become a posthumous Mother:-for Avarice being the motive which led to the murder, it would naturally lead to a further and a greater crime,-therefore, in self-defence, and to preserve her Brother from an increase of Sin, she resolved upon instant flight,— and for that purpose a Galley was forthwith furnished, and manned by her Countrymen. The faithful Tyrians, by her directions, succeeded in placing on board the entire treasure of her murdered Consort, together with her own wealth and jewels,-the Galley cleared the harbour in safety, and gained the open Sea without detection, thus defeating the entire Scheme of the Tyrant, who had for his present punishment, the assured conviction of his crime, the execration of his Country, and the loss of the very object for which the murder was accomplished. The perfection of retributive justice was here accomplished.

This royal assassination, and the flight of the Tyrian Princess, occurred in the seventh year of the Tyrant's reign. [B. C. 861.] These events were the immediate cause of the founding of the Kingdom of Carthage, which took place in the same year.

Upon the successful escape of the Royal and youthful Widow, she coasted along the Asiatic Shores, and reached those of Africa, and landed at Utica. There are several reasons for believing that Tyrians had already reached this spot, as some Historians have suggested. The following are the arguments here offered for such a conclusion: 1st. That the general name given to the country at this time was Cadmeia (i. e. Eastern), evidently derived from the word Cadmus, a name borne only (as stated in the previous pages) by the ancient Tyrian Chiefs. 2dly. The city, or town at which she first landed was Utica [i. e. ancient], and she named the Capital of her own founding, Carthage i. e. new city) apparently merely in contradistinction to the previous, or "ancient" city built by Tyrians. And 3dly. The fact of going at once to Utica, seems to indicate that her reception would be certain, and from no people could her sorrows meet with such sympathy as from her own countrymen. Upon her arrival, and her misfortunes being made known, it can easily be imagined that every Tyrian would swear fealty,-while her immense riches, that had been fatal in one respect, -now enabled her to purchase lands, and build a citadel and walls for future defence;-her own judgment, and the skill of her companions, instantly laid the

plans for an enlarged and successful commercial intercourse, which should outrival (as it did eventually) that enjoyed by her cruel Brother at Tyrus. In addition to these plans, she formed a scheme of Political action, which, as applied to the perfect government of a Nation, and which was consolidated at her death, Aristotle boldly stated to be, the most triumphant, and perfect, that had ever emanated from the human mind!

Thus the Tyrian Elizabeth founded the kingdom of Carthage, of which she was at once created Queen:— from this period she is generally named by Poets and Historians as Dido;-and Virgil, more than any other writer, has for ages led the student into error in regard to her true history.

So far as the chief events of Tyrus, or of founding Ancient America, may be concerned, the future fate of the Queen of Carthage has no connexion: but, it may be permitted for the pleasure of the writer (and he dare hope the reader also) to follow this devoted woman to her death.

It can readily be imagined that the Queen of Carthage, in her present position, both as regards her regality and widowhood, would not be without suitors for her hand in a second marriage. Many surrounding Princes approached her court to obtain that honour, but all were respectfully rejected, not only in fulfilment of her oath, but from her idolatrous devotion to the memory of her murdered bridegroom. These Royal suitors received the refusal with the respect due to her station, and

without any desire to inquire into the cause, or motive of her negative. There was one, however, who would not be satisfied with the simple denial,-but resolved that if she could not be won by the terms of peace, she should be conquered by the deeds of war;—even if, as at a later period, that war should be carried into Africa, though the Catonian sentence "Delenda est Carthago" should be the motto of his advancing banners.

This bold suitor was Jarbas, the powerful King of Getulia, who threatened to declare war against her new nation, if she persisted in refusing his solicitation of her widowed hand in marriage.

To violate her oath was impossible, it would have been a double perjury,-to the Gods and to the Dead: to have married in disregard of her oath, would have merged her own kingdom into that of her proposed husband's: if she suffered war to be made upon Carthage, her capital might be entirely destroyed,―her people enslaved, and herself the violated victim of the Conqueror. In this dire extremity, she desired time from Jarbas for full consideration of the alternative; and, also, that the manes of her departed husband might be appeased by a necessary sacrifice! The King of Getulia at once was softened, and instantly yielded to her reasonable request. The Queen, however, before she made the proposal, had formed her resolution. There was but one way to save her name and people,-to keep her oath inviolate,—and to prove the heroism of Woman's devotion:-it was indeed by a Sacrifice to