which fell like dew upon the softened hearts of their countrymen. At the

head of this assembly was a ponderous, dark-looking man, whose malign eye

surveyed with gloating delight the stern looks of his followers. They had

hitherto been inactive, but now, perceiving themselves to be forgotten in

the universal jubilee, they advanced with threatening gestures: our friends

had, as it were in wanton contention, attacked each other; they wanted but

to be told that their cause was one, for it to become so: their mutual

anger had been a fire of straw, compared to the slow-burning hatred they

both entertained for these seceders, who seized a portion of the world to

come, there to entrench and incastellate themselves, and to issue with

fearful sally, and appalling denunciations, on the mere common children of

the earth. The first advance of the little army of the elect reawakened

their rage; they grasped their arms, and waited but their leader's signal

to commence the attack, when the clear tones of Adrian's voice were heard,

commanding them to fall back; with confused murmur and hurried retreat, as

the wave ebbs clamorously from the sands it lately covered, our friends

obeyed. Adrian rode singly into the space between the opposing bands; he

approached the hostile leader, as requesting him to imitate his example,

but his look was not obeyed, and the chief advanced, followed by his whole

troop. There were many women among them, who seemed more eager and

resolute

than their male companions. They pressed round their leader, as if to

shield him, while they loudly bestowed on him every sacred denomination and

epithet of worship. Adrian met them half way; they halted: "What," he said,

"do you seek? Do you require any thing of us that we refuse to give, and

that you are forced to acquire by arms and warfare?"

500

The Last Man