in the part she was about to act.....or too confident in the successful operation of her charms,....which she had set off to the most fascinating advantage ....to notice my countenance.

Nothing could be more artfully....or more temptingly......arranged......than her whole appearance.

She half reclined upon a sopha magnificently embroidered........and richly spangled with pearls and variegated precious stones.......There was an easy negligence in her dress, calculated to describe a contempt for studied elegance......while it was......in reality..... the very refinement of art.

Her robe was of a make and color correspondent with the dignity of her character.......and its full and graceful drapery gave majesty to her person.... Yet it purposely disclosed enough to catch the eye, and fire the imagination

......Her arms were still beautifully

round........and the delicacy of their complexion was most advantageously displayed by means of a diamond loop, which fastened the wide sleeve of her tunic upon her shoulder.

I know not how the connection was preserved;......but as she emphatically waved her hand to give energy to expression......accident partly exposed a bosom, the charms of which would have removed every prudent scruple any other heart than mine.

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She appeared confused at this preconcerted discomposure.......looked at me.......and blushed......She sought to remove the temptation, but without changing her posture........This exertion somehow uncovered her right leg.......it was a most seducing apology for any wanderings of the heart.

The perfect indifference with which I observed these attractions, assisted

my observation.........I felt my cheeks burn.......the glow was more lasting than that which had flushed the Priestess.......it produced an evident confusion.......and this the lady interpreted in her own favor.

My embarrassment she supposed timidity....a respectful sort of struggle between awe and desire.....which...... while it convinced her of the impression I had imbibed.......argued a want of further encouragement to embolden my panting wishes.

She recollected I had the reputation of reading the poets with expressive truth....She therefore took up a Homer ........assuring me he was her favorite author, and pressing me to oblige her with a specimen of my talents......... Then carelessly turning the leaves, as if indifferent to which passage she led........she gave me the book, opened at that part, where Juno....vested with

the girdle of Venus.......... describes so voluptuously to Jupiter the remembrance of their first embraces.

Charmed with the poetic fire of the divine poet.....she found a pretence.... in her admiration........for turning the conversation on the almighty powers of love.......She descanted most feelingly on the subject,.........and called those savages, whose stubborn hearts were proof against the all-bewitching. deity.

I agreed as to the resistless influence of the God.....but condemned the poets for the too sensual imagery they introduced in their fables.

I expatiated on the beauties of Platonic love.......the love which teems with intellectual raptures......expands the spiritual qualities of the soul....... and fills the mind with every sublime and virtuous contemplation.

The Priestess was mute during my

rhapsody.....It was certainly very unnatural that I should launch out in praise of intellectual love, while so lovely a bosom tacitly upbraided my cold......unfeeling...... reasoning.

She saw my enthusiasın was at its height, and despaired of bringing me .......for the evening at least......to a rational way of thinking.

I was dismissed.......but not before she had assured me.........though in ambiguous terms......that she had her private motives for distinguishing me more than the other servants of Apollo .....hinted that she was well acquainted with my father..........whom I did not know ;......and might......probably...... soon trust me with the secret.....that she was........in fact........my relation, and the regards, which might appear to me extraordinary, sprang from Our family connection.

This artifice succeeded'fully....I now