foftering shelter of his cloak-a groan, re-echoing thro' a diftant cavern, apparently the laft ftruggle of departing mortality, terror ftruck the pilgrim-he ftrove to fly-his fenfes felt benumbed-and fainting he funk on the clay-cold ftone.

The fury of the elemental war fubfided. -A warrior, of noble deportment, with a countenance delineating marks of penfive melancholy, paffed the mouth of the cavern-a numerous retinue attended him-he faw, and pitied the helpless fituation of the suffering unfortunate, and ordered the vaffals to raise his drooping head-this mandate was inftantly obeyed, and fhortly after they entered the nighty portals of the princely houfe of Alwyne.

Generous chieftain,' exclaimed the pilgrim, recovering from his fwoon, accept the humble prayer of thy grateful fervant, for thy fafetymay the angel of fecurity draw the curtains of thy bed-may no forrow mantle on thy brownor the arrows of malevolence be shot against thee may thy journey thro' this probationary fcene, yield to thee the luxury of content, nor thy wanderings be chequered by misfortunethe fmile of confcious rectitude play upon thy lips-may the remainder of thy days pafs in domestic harmony--and cheering hope light thee to the manfions of thy forefathers.'

may

The gathering domeftics joined in the prayer; but the warrior of Northumbria feemed loft in thought.

Hard is the task impofed upon me,' added the ftranger, I muft unfold a tale-a tale of complicated forrow, and matchlefs depravity-reafon, Sir Knight, urges a private interview-feek not to deny my boon-it concerns you alone-your humanity, noble chieftain, has added a few hours to the winter of my days -gratitude prompts me to a difcovery of events, that but I dare no more-alone, and I fhall give a plain recital.'

-

Pilgrim,' replied the warrior, you have excited curiofity-iny attendants are as friends -faithful to my interefts, my fortunes, and my welfare-and I dare truft them-in the dread hour of battle I have learnt their fidelity -and in the calm tide of peace, their fond attachment-fear not to fpeak before them.'

The pilgrim paused a moment, and gazed around him- God of my forefathers, he cried, 'why did I forfake the paths of honour-like this virtuous man I might have lived refpected and renowned ! -a tear forced its way down his venerable cheek-he haftily brufhed it off, as though afhamed of weaknefs, and proceeded -I admire the fincerity of attachment in your followers-but, the ftory of my life, is no com

mon one--it is in league, fir, with your own, therefore grant my requeft, elfe I clofe my lips filence pardon me-a fad variety of wos I have to unfold.'

C

Pilgrim,' replied the chieftain, I fhall comply with your earneft folicitation for a private interview. Some fhort time hence expect me.- Edric, (addreffing one of his attendants) lead the ftranger to the black marble hall-ufe him kindly, and cheer his drooping spirits with refreshment,'

The pilgrim bowed..

6

My doors' replied the knight, are ever open to the poor and friendless, nor is the tale of forrow heard in vain-the verieft wretch placed on the loweft fpoke of fortune's wheel here finds a welcome, nor does my well-tried friends greet with kinder warmth, the mighty chieftain, who bafks in proud profperity, and boafts his ancestry derived from kings.'

CHAP. II.

Be mine to read the visions old,

Which thy awak'ning bards have told;
And left they meet my blafted view,

Hold each strange tale devoutly true.

Collins.

The Castle of Alwyne-Murder-Grief-Affectionate folicitude of a Kinsman-the BrothersCowardice and Intrepidity-Love.

ON

the fummit of a stupendous rock, stood the venerable caftle of Alwyne.-its battlements far o'er-topp'd the monarch of the wood,' and in apparent ftrength, would laugh a fiege to fcorn'. An alliance with the noble houfe of Percy, healed an ancient feud, and for the last century the auguft pile had reared it's head in peace.

fmoothed her

Though angry war had wrinkled front,' yet forrow remained an inmate of the castle. Misfortune is the common lot of mortality-it accompanies alike the poor inhabitant of a cottage, and damps the luxurious pleasures of a palace-humanity may heal the wound of affliction, but confcience, unerring monitor, probes deep into the human heart, and raises fear and tumult.

B 3

The father of the prefent chieftain, Sir Edric, furnamed the Hardy, was found in a forest adjoining his domains, villainously murderedthree ruffians lay near him, fuppofed to have met their death from the known valour of the unfortunate knight; yet ftrange to relate, year upon year paffed, and no particulars relative to his premature end had tranfpired, nor could fufpicion even fall upon an enemy.

His lady, difconfolate at the dreadful fate of her loved lord, fell into a fettled melancholy, and left the tranfitory scene of life in giving Lirth to two lovely boys.

Earl Percy took upon himself the charge of his orphan relatives; he infufed early the fpirit of independance, and inftilled into their youthful bofoms, the mild precepts of virtue and religion.

Hubert, the elder born, was the victim of inordinate paffions, and fwerved from the tract pointed out by his illuftrious kinfman. In early youth he frequently experienced the derifion of his companions, for the cowardice he manifefted in the manly exercifes of those days. The precepts of the earl, and the studies of his preceptors, were neglected-his brows were ever clouded with difcontent, and he encouraged the mot baneful paffions in folitude. His want of efolution forbade him to protect himself against