before the grave: and there human selfishness takes its most revolting aspect; there life has not left one illusion, one affection: all is harsh, cold, revolting, and unnatural. The difference that began in the cradle continues to the tomb. The bare coffin, a few boards hastily nailed together, is flung into the earth; the service is hurried over, the ground trodden down, and the next day the children are playing upon the new grave, whose tenant is already forgotten. So much for the equality of human existence.
But the fête of to-day belonged to a different order of things. Luxury, aided by refinement, gave every grace to the external world, at least. Villas are, I believe, a delightful invention of the Romans, who set very seriously about enjoying the world they had conquered. Sir Robert's villa would have done honour to Lucullus, who has always appeared to me the most thoroughbred gentleman of antiquity. Alcibiades was a happy union of coxcomb and conqueror; but there was in him a want of that repose, and of that superb
