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appear to be remembered."" Per haps," replied her guest, they resemble..or remind me of scenes long since past-and who can remember the past without regret? But though you have the goodness to ask nothing, I am come to claim a reward."-The farmeress raised her eyes from the spiced bowl she was preparing for the first repast, and considered the speaker's countenance. If the lower part contained those strong lines and curves which students suppose to indicate the darker passions, his clear eye and ample forehead would have impressed the most unlearned observer with an idea of vigorous intellects and a rapid spirit. While she paused, the Belgian officer was equally attentive to her looks, but his glance was an inquisition and his smile a satire; for he secretly derided the vain coquetry which he thought expressed in her hesitation. And with Inore coldness than respect, he added, The premium I ask for a trifling and accidental service, is to remain a few days or weeks in this house-It suits my military duties, my love of rural manners, and my health, which a terrible disorder has laid waste."-His entertainer answered, with a kinder smile, "My father was a physician educated in Antwerp; he bequeathed me a book which contains the symptoms and remedies best ascertained; and I think your illness has a well-known name." -The Colonel, scowling contemptuously, bade his doctress proceed.→ "It is the malady of poets, philosophers, statesmen, and kings-the symp. toms are a leaden colour, a hollow eye, a sour smile, and a venomous wit-It is called wisdom, but its true name is nelancholy."-Struck by the boldness of this speech, Von Grumboldt forced a painful laugh, and desired to know the remedy. Old Finius of Antwerp," said she, closing the volume from which she had seemed to quote, "would have prescribed 600 herbs, the bone found in a stag's heart, a ring made from a wolf's hoof-or perhaps a cup of wine: but my father taught me another remedy, which I keep among my hoards - those which the robbers could not find.". Her guest, silenced by confused and sudden feelings, followed into the next apartment, where, supported by pillows in an easy chair, sat an aged man, whose pale grey eye and fixed features shewed the quiet imbecility of second childhood. But the deep seams in his

forehead, the knotted muscles about his lip, and the strong contraction of his dark eye-brows, also indicated what malignant passions had once been busy there. A boy and two infant girls were busied in wreathing his footstool with the forget-me-not, and other beautiful wild-flowers, so abundant in the fields near Waterloo." This unfortunate man," said Von Grumboldt's conductress, "was tempted by anxious fondness for his children to confuse his sister's fortune with his own, which vanished away as if the embezzled part had been a brand that consumed the whole. Those who aided bim to rob her are gone, and no one remembers him. When I feel the beginning of that distrustful, envious, peevish, and timorous spirit which the world calls melancholy, I look at this forlorn old man and those orphan children; and their gratitude makes my heart good." -The Colonel shuddered as he replied, "Is this human ruin an enlivening spectacle? And those orphans, whose dependence is the school of craft, envy, and avarice—is not their fate a motive rather than a medicine for melancholy ?"—" It might be," answered the matron, "if I held myself responsi ble for events, but I am satified with good intentions, and leave their success to another arbiter. Though this human vegetable is not conscious of my presence, and never soothed by any caresses-though those children may be unquiet, sordid, or deceitful, it is pleasure enough to love and deserve to be loved by them."-" Ah, madam!" said her guest, uncovering his head with an emotion of respect he had not felt before, you have said truly that gratitude makes the heart good, but ungrateful men have corrupted mine. The horrible weariness of life, the death of spirit which comes upon me every day, has no remedy. I have learned to hope, to esteem, and to cherish nothing

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but I remember every thing-and this terrible remembrance, this cruel experience of false and hollow hearts, convinces me that even your bounty is a melancholy illusion. It will nake one ungrateful and two discontented

it will leave you in a desolate oldage with no employment but to hate and regret."—" My good friend, I have not yet told you my father's most precious prescription. Many, perhaps, equalled him in science, a few in eloquence-but what a divine world would

this be if all resembled him in gentleness!-His only maxim was, "Forget evil"—and there is in these two words a talisman which assuages the heart, lightens the head, and composes all enmities. Was your frightful languor and despair present while you rescued me from robbery and assassination ?”— "No - because we cannot remember injuries while we are conferring benefits:-but benefits are forgotten !"— "Ah! now you shew me the gangrene of the wound-you have been misunderstood and insulted. Well, take Courage I have been charged with improvidence in my youth, because it was easier to trust than to suspect; and now I am called a miser by those who cannot know for whom I am amas sing a future competence."-" You seein poor, then, only to enrich others!" said the discontented man, sighing"but is it necessary to suffer this rustic and laborious servitude, with the ignominy of imputed avarice, for the benefit of alien children and an insensible man, whose wretchedness is his due punishment?"-" It is not necessary, perhaps," she replied, "but he is my brother, and was my enemy! I must pity and relieve his wretchedness, unless I endure the misery of hating him, which would be greater even than his. And the evil he caused me ceased when I forgot it."-Von Humboldt started, and examined her with wild and eager eyes, while she added, “This is my cure for melancholy :-I cannot give you the Antwerp physician's talisman, but the ring you received from me last night may have equal virtue. It is the only legacy I designed for a nephew noble enough to abstain from borrowed wealth, and to redeem his father's honour by retiring himself into poverty, though with such a bitter feeling of its disadvantages."

Neither the natural sang-froid of a Belgian, nor the acquired sternness of a veteran, could repress the soldier's tears, when he recognized his father's sister, so long lost and so deeply injured. This interview, this opportunity to offer an ample restitution of all that her bro ther had accumulated unjustly, completed his only wish and most sacred purpose, which had been baffled many years by the humble, seclusion she had chosen from generous motives. Thus having retrieved his father's name from blemish, he appeared again in Brussels among his former friends, who readily

Europ. Mag. Vol. LXXII. July 1817.

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VOLONEL V— instantly rushed forward, and wresting the dagger from the villain's hand, with one blow felled him to the earth. He then turned towards the prostrate female, whose horror and affright seemed to have anticipated the stab of the assassin; she lay to all appearance lifeless, and Colonel V had scarcely raised her from the ground, when a Spanish officer, who had the command of a neighbouring picquet, came to the spot: he challenged Colonel V who answered by requesting his assistance. The officer fired a pistol as a signal to his men, who in a few minutes obeyed the summons with torches. The Spaniard advancing towards the Lady, no sooner caught a glimpse of her features, than he started back, exclaiming—“ Good Heavens, Dona Miranda Fodeya, whence is this, why do I see you thus?"-At the sound of her name she uttered a piercing shriek; "Ah! save me, save me, Dou Alonzo; I am betrayed, I fly from the basest of men."-"Madam, you are now in safety," replied the Officer; "honor Col. V- or myself with your commands, and we will conduct you whithersoever you please." The Lady, looking around her with wildness, seemed for a moment struggling to collect her affrighted thoughts. "Are you sure Fam safe? Who are these men ?"The Officer satisfied her inquiry, aud repeated his assurances. With a trembling hesitation she permitted herself to be supported on his arm; and then addressed Colonel V. "To you, Sir, I am indebted for my life, and the preservation of my honor. My Cousin, Don Alonzo, will thank you more C

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effectually than my present terrors will allow me to do. He will take me to my father's house, and you, Sir, will ac company him, when I will relate to both the cause of my being thus compelled to trespass upon your attention." Colonel V most readily offered his services; and giving the assassin in charge to the picquet guard, with strict injunctions to keep him in close custody, he proceeded with the Spanish Officer to conduct Dona Fodeya towards Madrid. rived at her home, she threw herself into the arms of her mother, who, with a look of astonishment, and an emotion that almost choaked her utterance,"What is all this? Why is my daughter thus agitated? Speak, my child tell me, Don Alonzo, what has happened to your cousin." Alas! Madam, I know no more than what this Gentleman, an English Colonel, can bet ter explain I found him engaged in a contest with a man, whose companion he had killed before I happily came up to the spot where I beheld Dona Miranda apparently lifeless on the ground. It should seem that she had been pursued by these two villains, and this brave Englishman rescued her from their power." Colonel V then recounted to the mother that part of the adventure in which he had been engaged. The alarmed parent poured forth her grateful acknowledgments, and requested they would await the arrival of Don Emanuel Fodeya, her husband, who, she said. left his house this morning early, to communicate with the English General at head quarters. Scarcely had she uttered these words, when Don Emanuel rushed in with breathless haste. "Where is my daughter, my persecuted child-where is she-is she safe? O God of Heaven! I thank thee. Wretched old man that I am, forgive me, my child, forgive me; I am the cause of all thy sufferings."-Here he sunk down at the feet of his daughter, who still lay in the arms of her mother, overpowered by the conflicting feelings which assailed

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my family! Miserable wretch that I am; but my vengeance shall pursue the usurper; my eternal hatred devotes him and his cause to destruction. Look up, my beloved, look upon thy father, who has betrayed thee. Yes, it is on me alone your contempt should fall. 0, Sirs, if the blessings of a man who has outraged every feeling of parental duty, can be acceptable, take them as the deliverers of a daughter whom a father had consigned to misery unutterable; but you have preserved her from worse than death; for know that the vain and wicked ambition of a foolish and deceived old man had led him to trust the professions and promises of the usurper of his Monarch's throne; and the helpless child of his old age was to have been made the sacrifice, the victim which he had destined to be offered on the altar of his criminal hope of personal aggran dizement "--" What do I hear?" cried the mother of Dona Miranda., “No, no, I will not believe it; it is phrenzy; it is the raving of a disordered intellect; but see, my child recovers. Colonel V, forgive the seeming coldness with which you have been received; here is some horrible secret with which I am unacquainted-perhaps it were better developed to those who are alone concerned; suffer me to say, that we shall be most happy to be honoured by your presence to morrow: Don Alenzo, as one of the family, will see the propriety of my suggestion. Don Emanuel labours under some self-accusing impression, which I am sure you, Colonel V- cannot desire to increase by the shame which it must cost him to explain before a stranger. Cousin, you will have the goodness to bring the Colonel with you at an early hour of dinner, and it will afford me the highest satis. faction to reecive him as the most inestimable friend of our house." - Don Emanuel, while his wife was speaking, appeared lost in a vacancy of mind which evidently shewed he was insensible to what was passing. The storm of passion had subsided into a calm of por tentous silence which threatened the worst effects upon his intellect. And Col. V— ~, apprehensive of the consequences, entreated Don Alouzo to remain where he was, while he would find his way to his lodgings by himself. —" I will do myself the honour, Colonel, to see you to-morrow early," replied the Officer: "here is something more serious than I am aware of-it behoves me to

stop awhile where I am-my counsel may be required. Colonel, I wish you a good night. I shall return to my men before dawn, that 1 may examine the villain whom you gave in charge to them. Adieu, sir, for the present."-The Colonel withdrew, filled with the most disquieting conjectures upon what had passed He knew Don Emanuel to be a favourite with the infamous Godoy. He knew, also, that he had been in the confidence of Joseph Buonaparte, the Usurper of Ferdinand's throne; but he was unwilling to follow the progress of his suspicions created by the broken sentences of the wretched father. The daughter was of eminent beauty, to which the agitation of her mind had given a character of superior, influence, which had not failed of its impressive effect. He felt, also, something like gratification, of peculiar interest to his heart, at having been the fortunate means of her escape from an implication which, although he could not as yet fully comprehend, he was enabled to guess at as involving many extraordinary events."- Here, Miss Julia interrupted the narration of the tale. by reminding him, that the Colonel was already engaged to a Lady in England; "I hope, Mr. L-, he did not forget his first attachment. Thus far I am quite diposed to admire the Colonel as a brave and honourable man; but if he suffers his affections to stray from their faithfulness I shall detest him.”—“ My good young Lady!" replied the Lecturer, " you are to take into account the very peculiar circumstances of the adventure-A beautiful woman in the most perilous danger-This beautiful woman rescued from that danger by his valour-The grateful acknowledgments with which she hailed him as her deliverer-The energy given to the expression of her features, by the dignity of the manner in which she made these acknowledgments; and then the natural impulse which a generous heart always feels, to regard with affection the object to whom we are so happy as to render any material service, especially when that object is a young and lovely female, for Dona Miranda Fodeya was not yet nineteen."-" And pray, good Sir," rejoined Miss Julia, "were you informed that the Colonel's betrothed wife, the Barrister's daughter in England, was not young and lovely?"** In truth, madam, I cannot, assert that she was not," said Mr. L—;" but,

then, you know these affairs of knighterrantry do not so often occur in our soberminded country as they do in the more southern regious of the world; so that there is less seen here than there. of those kindling energies and warm sympathies which take the heart by surprise, and set fire to its whole train of combustible feelings"-" And blow up all fidelity, and honour, and truth, in the explosion; is it not so, Mr. L-"It may be so, Miss Julia," replied the Lecturer, "but you will please to. recollect that I had not yet given you any reason to presume, from the narrative, that our poor Colonel was so com-, pletely ignited, or that his heart was so inflammable.". -"Well," cried Mrs.

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"this business of a first love seems to have been made a great point among the grandfathers and grandmothers of the present generation of Damons and Musidoras; but, Heaven be praised, we have had the good sense to throw off such foolish shackles of romantic folly; and are at all events wiser, if we are not more loving, than our progenitors.”— -" and so, Madam," said Miss Julia, "because you are more knowing and less affectionate now a days, you would have it inferred that you are more worthy of respect and affection than the venerable ladies aud gentlemen whom you have upbraided with being so foolishly faithful, and so ridiculously romantic in honourable attachment.”—“Yes, to be sure,” said the City Curate, who seemed to think that Julia's observation held out to his hopes a sentiment of prospective promise, and therefore deserved support." Yes, to he sure, a young lady in the present enlightened period of society, if she is to take example from the matron fidelity of her elders among the sex, will be too wise, or think herself so, which perhaps is much the same as to the event, to bind herself by any pledge of constancy. when she cannot tell but the fashion may alter, and she may be compelled to break the vow of her first engagement, that she may be like other folks, as the saying is; for God knows, that the noralities of the heart are put off and on by the beaux and belles, married and unmarried, of our times, with as little concern of conscience, as the one feels in changing the tie of their cravats, or the other in graduating the height of their petticoats."-" Indeed, Sir! and is this your opinion of the influence of fashion upon, the heart?" exclaimed

Lady S, "I am bold enough to meet so high and mighty a censor of the upper world of society by telling you, that the tie of a cravat and the graduation of a petticoat, are matters of far more consistency, and higher import ance than the silly fancies of a couple of sighing turtles; who, because they think their responsive cooings, the only note which all the birds of the air should use, despise the excursive flights, and the unrestrained warblings of the lark, as loose and - wanton.”- "Ah! Lady S" quickly replied Miss Julia, what an unfortunate simile have you chosen to give a point to your sarcasm. High as the lark may soar, even till it is lost in ætherial expanse and sings at Heaven's gate, yet it remembers the lowly spot where its expecting mate awaits its return, and drops into the warm nest of its wedded love with a swifter wing than that which wafted it into the boundless fields of light.""Faith, Madam," retorted Lady S"all that is mighty pretty, and would enrich the imagination of some lovesick sonnetteer, but trust me, good young Lady, the bird would never return to its earthly home, if it could build another nest on the sun beam.""But Lady S, had it this facility, such a bird could never become a bird of Paradise."--" Ladies," said the Doctor of Divinity, "allow me to bring you down from the skies, which I hope in good time will be the abode of both, and give me leave to interpose a remark, that Paradise was the first seat of that hallowed love which the Creator sanctioned with his fiat as the pure bond of social union, and neither fashion nor folly, if I may so separate them, can find any privilege in his Divine law that warrants either contempt or violation of the celestial principle.' "Except," cried M," in the croak of the cuckoo, and of all the birds of the air this seems to be the most in fashion. I remember that the plumes of the bird of paradise were deemed the most elegant decoration for the headdress of our belles; and I have also seen the bandeau of many a careless mother among our female fashionables symbolically ornamented with those of the ostrich; but now "motley is your only wear," and the cuckow's pinion is adopted by many a married female as a feather in her cap."- "Aye, aye!" ejaculated the city Baronet, my worthy friend Alderman Wavey made a very

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good thing of one of these feathers, and I have been thinking they would not be a bad article for speculation.”—“ A very bad one, indeed, Sir B-" observed Lady S- "for the profits generally depend upon a very precarious contract, which I rather conceive would not very well suit your purpose, my good Sir.”— "If I could always insure such promis ing customers as your Ladyship," replied Sir B," I should not fear embarking in the business." The Reve rend Doctor, with much gravity, inclining his head forward, and placing his right hand upon his heart, begged to interpose a word or two in reference to the turn which the conversation bad taken. "Mith much deference, Miss Julia, I cannot but feel, and I venture to presume that the company in general have acknowledged the same sentiment, that your interruption of Mr. L.'s tale has unfortunately opened an access to much inconsiderate trifling upon the most solemn act of crimi nality that can stain the human heart with sinful perpetration. I commend your ingenuous warmth in advocating the first tender emotions of the purest passion that can ennoble our nature; but here I must crave your pardon, while I go so far as to assert that as yet no indication has been given of Colonel V's having even meditated that unworthy violation of his early compact of which you have prejudged him; and I cannot avoid trespassing so much upon Mr. M's metaphorical allusions to the borrowed plumage of the female head-dress, as to declare that he has adopted too light an image to characterise the enormities of conjugal infidelity and maternal neglect. Adultery is, indeed, the sin of the age, and the annals of our social life cast a glare of infamy upon the character of a British matron, to which I greatly fear not even the numerous bright examples of virtuous wives, by which we have the happiness to see the social path illumined, can sufficiently reconcile our charitable anxieties. Hideous as the crime is in itself, its evil consequences are still more appalling. It turns the most beautiful face into a Medusa's head, and strips the most lovely woman of all the enchantment of her charms, while it robs the domestic sphere of one of its most resplendent stars."" O, most superlative Sir, let me be allowed," cried Lady S, "to implore you will spare' the weaker vessels, and content yourself

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