I will only add, that it is hardly probable that "the Roman Traitor" would ever have been finished had it not been for the strenuous advice of a friend, in whose opinion I have the [pg 6]utmost confidence, Mr. Benjamin, to whom some of the early chapters were casually shown, two or three years ago, and who almost insisted on my completing it.

It is most fitting, therefore, that it should be, as it is, introduced to the world under his auspices; since but for his favourable judgment, and for a feeling on my own part that to fail in such an attempt would be scarce a failure, while success would be success indeed, it would probably have never seen the light of day!

With these few remarks, I submit the Roman Traitor to the candid judgment of my friends and the public, somewhat emboldened by the uniform kindness and encouragement which I have hitherto met; and with some hope that I may be allowed at some future day, to lay another romance of the most famous, before the citizens of the youngest republic.

The Cedars

[pg 7]

CONTENTS

VOLUME I.

CHAPTER PAGE
I.The Men[9]
II.The Measures[25]
III.The Lovers[37]
IV.The Consul[51]
V.The Campus[69]
VI.The False Love[89]
VII.The Oath[108]
VIII.The True Love[121]
IX.The Ambush[137]
X.The Wanton[146]
XI.The Release[166]
XII.The Forge[183]
XIII.The Disclosure[197]
XIV.The Warnings[209]
XV.The Confession[223]
XVI.The Senate[235]

VOLUME II.