"void the certain Penalty of Death, which "otherwise attends you. You, Zenobia, "shall spend the remainder of your Life,

where I, by the Advice of the most ho "nourable Senate, fhall think proper to place you. Your Jewels, your Silver, your Gold,

your finest Apparel, your Horfes, and your "Camels, you fhall refign to the Disposal of "the Romans, in order to preferve the Pal"myrenians from being divefted of all their "former Privileges."

Zenobia, not in the leaft affrighted by the Menace, nor foothed by the cruel Promise of

Life in Exile and Obfcurity, refolved by her Answer to convince Aurelian, that he fhould find the ftouteft Refistance from her, whom he thought to frighten into Compliance. This Answer was drawn up by Longinus in a Spirit peculiar to himself, and worthy of his Mistress.

Zenobia, Queen of the Eaft, to the Emperor Aurelian.

"Never was fuch an unreasonable Demand "proposed, or fuch rigorous Terms offered but yourself. Remember, Aurelian,

" by any,

"that

"that in War, whatever is done, fhould be "done by Valour. You imperiously com"mand me to furrender; but can you forget, "that Cleopatra chofe rather to die with the "Title of Queen, than to live in any infe"rior Dignity? We expect Succours from "Perfia; the Saracens are arming in our "Caufe; even the Syrian Banditti, have al"ready defeated your Army. Judge what

you are to expect from a Conjunction of "these Forces. You fhall be compelled to a"bate that Pride, with which, as if you were "abfolute Lord of the Universe, you com"mand me to become your Captive."

Aurelian, fays Vopifcus, had no fooner read this disdainful Letter, than he blushed (not so much with Shame, as) with Indignation. He redoubled his Efforts, invested the Town more closely than ever, and kept it in continual Alarms. No Art was left untried, which the Conduct of a General could fuggeft, or the Bravery of angry Soldiers could put in Execution. He intercepted the Aid, which was marching from Perfia to their Relief. He reduced the Saracen and Armenian Forces, either by Strength of Arms, or the Subtilty of Intrigues; till at length, the Palmyrenians, de

prived of all profpect of Relief, and worn out by continual Affaults from without, and by Famine within, were obliged to open the Gates and receive their Conqueror. The Queen and Longinus could not tamely stay to put on their Chains. Mounted on the swifteft Camels, they endeavoured to fly into Perfia, to make fresh head againft Aurelian, who, entering the City, was vexed to find his Victory imperfect, and Zenobia yet unfubdued. A Body of the fwifteft Horse was immediately dispatched in purfuit, who overtook and made them Prifoners as they were Zofimus. croffing the Euphrates. Aurelian, after he

had settled Palmyra, returned to Emifa, whi-
ther the Captives were carried after him. He
fat on his Tribunal to receive Zenobia, or
rather to infult her. The Roman Soldiers
throng around her, and demand her Death
with inceffant Shouts. Zenobia now was no
longer herself; the former Greatnefs of her
Spirit quite funk within her; fhe owned a
Mafter, and pleaded for her Life.
"Her
"Counsellors, fhe faid, were to be blamed,
"and not herself. What could a weak
"fhort-fighted Woman do, when befet by
"artful and ambitious Men, who made her
"fubfervient to all their Schemes? She ne-

❝ver had aimed at Empire, had they not ἐσ placed it before her Eyes in all its Allurements. The Letter which affronted Aure lian, was not her own; Longinus wrote it, "the Infolence was his." This was no fooner heard, than Aurelian, who was Soldier enough to conquer, but not Heroe enough to for give, poured all his Vengeance on the Head of Longinus. He was borne away to imme diate Execution, amidst the generous Cons dolence of those, who knew his Merit, and admired the inward Generofity of his Soul. He pity'd Zenobia, and comforted his Friends. He looked upon Death as a Bleffing, fince it rescued his Body from Slavery, and gave his Soul the moft defirable Freedom. "This "World, faid he with his expiring Breath, " is nothing but a Prison; happy therefore "he, who gets fooneft out of it, and gains his "Liberty."

The Writings of Longinus are numerous, some on philofophical, but the greatest part on critical Subjects. Dr. Pearce has collected the Titles of twenty-five Treatifes, none of which, except this on the Sublime, have escaped from the Depredations of Time and Barbarians. And even this is refcued as from * Wreck, damaged too much and fhatter'd

by the Storm. Yet on this little and imperfect Piece has the Fame of Longinus been founded and erected. The Learned and Judicious have beftowed extraordinary Commendation upon it. The golden Treatife is its general Title. It is one of thofe valuable Remnants of Antiquity, of which enough remains to engage our Admiration, and excite an earnest Regret for every Particle of it that has perished. It resembles thofe mutilated Statues, which are fometimes dug out of Ruins. Limbs are broke off, which it is not in the Power of any living Artist to replace, because the fine Proportion and delicate Finishing of the Trunk excludes all hope of equalling fuch mafterly Performances. From a conftant Inspection and close Study of fuch an antique Fragment at Rome, Michael Angelo learned to execute and to teach the Art of Sculpture; it was therefore called Michael Angelo's School. The fame use may be made of this imperfect Piece on the Sublime, fince it is a noble School for Critics, Poets, Orators, and Historians.

"The Sublime, fays Longinus, is an Image "reflected from the inward Greatnefs of the "Soul." The Remark is refined and juft; and who more deferying than he of its Ap

plication?