Our Author begins the second Part, by fhewing, that in antient Times the Kings, Princes, and well-regulated Common-wealths, had nothing, after Religion, fo much at heart, as to render the High-ways both fafe and agreeable to Travellers. Semiramis is faid to have been the first that took particular care of the Highways; and the Carthaginians the firft that paved them. Diodorus Siculus mentions a Bridge fix hundred and twenty five Feet long, and thirty broad, built by Semiramis over the Euphrates, for the Conveniency of Travellers'; and adds †, that the famous Obelifk, which was counted among the feven Wonders of the World, was erected by her as an Ornament to a Road fhe had made. Xerxes, if we give credit to the Greek Hiftorians, levelled Mountains, filled up Valleys, and laid Bridges over Arms of the Sea, to fhorten, and render more convenient the publick Roads. The Lacedemonians deemed it fo honourable a thing, to be charged with the Care of the High-roads, that they allowed no body, excepting their Kings, to meddle with them. At Athens, none but Men of the first Rank were employ'd to look after the Roads, provide the City with Water, and cause the Streets to be kept clean. King Solomon took particular Care, as Jofephus acquaints us §, of the High-ways; for he caufed all the Roads leading to Hierufalem, to be paved with a beau. tiful black Stone, and Chariots to be kept always ready, in the Cities that ftood on the Road, for the greater Convenience of Travellers, &c. In the fecond and third Chapters our Author treats of the Magiftrates who were charged with Dd 2 the Diodor. Sicul. Lib. 11. Bibl. c.8. + Id. ibid. c. xi. the Care of the High ways, and Streets among the Romans. It was the Office of the Cenfors to keep the High-ways in good repair; and of the Ediles Curules to look after the Streets. The Author fhews here, how punctual and exact these two Magiftrates were in the Discharge of their Duty. In the fourth Chapter he fets forth the Magnificence of the Romans, which in no other thing appeared greater, than in the vast Expences they were at to render the High-ways both convenient and agreeable. All the publick Roads were drawn in a ftrait Line, and moft beautifully paved with a fquare Stone. In Italy they were but thirty feet broad, having been made before Chariots were much in ufe; but in the Provinces, for the most part, three times broader. They were paved with fuch Art, and the Stones fo closely joined together, that to this day, that is, after two thoufand Years, in fome Places, there is fcarce room between them for the Edge of a Knife. Under the Pavement the Earth was dug up, as the Antiquaries have observed, and its room filled up with Gravel, to an extraordinary depth. This is what* Statius infinuates in the following Verfes on the Domitian Way: Hic primus labor inchoare fulco The Distances from one Place to another were carefully measured, and each Mile marked on a *State Lib. iv. Sylu. 3. vf. 40. Column Column fet up for that purpose near the Road. Thefe Columns were round or fquare, and about eight Feet high. Thefe Columns were erected, fays Quintilian † elegantly, becaufe exhaufti laboris noffe menfuram voluptati eft, & hortatur ad reliqua fortius exfequenda fcire, quantum fuperfit: nihil enim longum videri neceffe eft, in quo quid ultimum fit, certum eft. Befides the Columns, there were on all the High-ways certain ftone Steps, at fmall diftances, for the Conveniency of mounting on horfe-back. For the ufe of Stirrups was not introduced before the fourth Century of the Chriftian Era. S. Hierome is the firft that mentions them, faying, that certain Letters were delivered to him while he was on the point of departing, having already his Foot in the Stirrup to get up on horfe-back; accepi litteras, cum jumentum confcenfurus jam pedem babui in Biftapia. The following Epitaph, found at Rome, wherein mention is made of Stirrups, is by the Learned thought to be of the fourth Century: Dum virguncula Durmioniæ placere cuperem, cafu defiliens equo, pes bafit Stapia, tractus interii. In rem tuam mature propera. Vale. From the barbarous Word Stapia is, no doubt, derived the Italian word Staffa, fignifying a Stirrup. The three remaining Chapters of the fecond Part treat of the Quatuorviri, Duumviri, and other Magiftrates, who had the Infpection of the High-ways in Italy, as well as in the foreign Acquifitions. The Author begins the third Part, relating to the Laws touching the Safety of the Highways, by explaining an Edict of the Ediles Curules,related by Ulpianus,and Paulus, which forbids any one to keep near the High-way, wild Dd 3 Quintil. Lib. iv. Inft. Orat. c.5 Boars, Boars, Wolves, Bears, Lions, Panthers, or any other Animal whatsoever, which may hurt or frighten Travellers. By virtue of this Law, if any Perfon happened to be killed on the High-way by a wild Beaft, the Owner of it was to pay twenty thousand Sefterces. This Law was very neceffary at Rome, where the Men of Diftinction maintained fuch vaft Numbers of wild Beafts for the publick Sports. Scaurus, in his dilfhip, brought into the Theatre an hundred and fifty Leopards; Pompey five hundred and twenty *; Domitius Ahenobarbus an hundred Bears of Numidia +; Nafica and Lentulus forty Bears, and as many Elephants . In the Reign of the Emperor Trajan, fometimes a Thousand, and fometimes ten Thousand wild Beafts, if we believe Dio Caffius, were killed in the Circus on one Day. Petronius elegantly describes what pains the Romans took to catch, and bring fo many wild Beafts to Rome. Quæritur in fylvis Maurifera, & ultimus Ammon In the third Chapter the Author fhews, that the abovementioned Edict did not extend to the Dogs, which the Romans used to keep at their Gates, tied with a long Chain, and his Picture on the Wall with this Infcription, CAVE CAVE CANEM, Beware of the Dog. To this Cuftom, probably alluded the Words of S. Paul to the Philippians (Cap. iii. p. 2.) Bλérere To's Kúvas, Beware Plin. Hiftor. Natural. Lib. viii. c. 17. + Idem ib. Livius Lib. xliv. c. 18. | Petron. cap.119. Cap. 36. ་ 1 Beware of Dogs. The fourth Chapter treats of the Laws that have been enacted by divers Nations against the Owners of fuch Animals, as kill, wound, or occafion any Mischief in the Grounds of their Neighbours. The Laws of Solon and Plato command not only the Owner to be feverely punished; but moreover, the Animal itself, that sheds human Blood, to be put to death; which is agreeable to what we read in Genefis (c. 9. vf. 5.) And furely your Blood of your Lives will I require: at the band of every Beast, will I require it. In the remaining Part of this learned Work, the Author propofes and explains several antient Laws against Thieves, Robbers (fo called because they ftript the Travellers of their Robes, or Garments) Pirates, &c. He obferves how inquifitive, and troublefome to Travellers, were the Gatherers of Taxes, and Officers of the Cuftom-house, even in the Time of the Romans; and to this purpose tells us, that Theocritus being afked, which of all the wild Beafts were the moft fierce and cruel, answered; On the Mountains the Bears and Lions; in the Cities the Officers of the Cuftom-houfe. Πάντες τελῶνα, πάντες εἰσιν apwayes, fay the Greeks; and hence by Pluάρπαγες, tarch (in Lucullo) they are compared to the Harpies. Nonius describes them thus: Portitores funt Telonarii, fays he, qui portum obfidentes omnia fcifcitantur, ut ex eo vectigal accipiant. A very fevere Law was enacted (which our Author here explains,) to curb the Impudence and Temerity (as Ulpianus ftyles it) of these rapacious Animals. Befides the great variety of Eradition this learned Work contains, it will prove very useful, for the right understanding of feveral obfcure Paffages in the antient WriDd4 ters, |