ife in
Ancient Athens," p. 73).

P. 28. _Who have discovered the Elixir of Immortality._--The belief in
this elixir was general in China about the seventh century, A.D., and many
emperors used great exertions to discover it. This fact forms the
groundwork of Leopold Schefer's novel, "Der Unsterblichkeitstrank," which
has furnished the conception, though not the incidents, of "The Potion of
Lao-Tsze."

P. 38. _So she took the sceptre, and reigned gloriously._--In A.D. 683,
the Dowager-Empress Woo How, upon her husband's death, caused her son to be
set aside, and ruled prosperously until her decease in 703. In our day we
have seen China virtually governed by female sovereigns.

P. 50. _Ananda the Miracle Worker._--This story was originally published
in Fraser's Magazine for August, 1872. A French translation appeared in the
_Revue Britannique_ for November, 1872. Buddha's prohibition to work
miracles rests, so far as the present writer's knowledge extends, on the
authority of Professor Max Mueller ("Lectures on the Science of
Religion"). It should be needless to observe that Ananda, "the St. John of
the Buddhist group," is not recorded to have contravened this or any other
of his master's precepts.

P. 66. _The City of Philosophers._--This story has been translated into
French by M. Sarrazin.

P. 68. _There to establish a philosophic commonwealth._--The petition was
actually preferred, and would have been granted but for the disordered
condition of the empire. Gallienus, though not the man to save a sinking
state, possessed the accomplishments which would have adorned an age of
peace and culture.

P. 82. _The sword doubled up; it had neither point nor edge._--Gallienus
was fond of such practical jocularity. "Quum quidam gemmas vitreas pro
veris vendiderat ejus uxori, atque illa, re prodita, vindicari vellet,
surripi quasi ad leonem venditorem jussit. Deinde e cavea caponem emittit,
mirantibusque cunctis rem tam ridiculam, per curionem dici jussit,
'Imposturam fecit et passus est': deinde negotiatorem dimisit" (Trebellius
in Gallieno, cap. xii.).

P. 100. _Hypati, anthypati, &c._--_Hypati_ and _anthypati_ denote consuls
and proconsuls, dignities of course merely titular at the court of
Constantinople. _Silentiarii_ were properly officers charged with
maintaining order at court; but this duty, which was perhaps performed by
deputy, seems to have been generally entrusted to persons of distinction.
The _protospathar