return of day, or, as I am more inclined to believe, the genii of these woods."-She fixed her eyes on him for a few moments with less astonishment than archness.

"Stranger," said she, "if you suppose me a shepherdess, why was I disturbed or if a genii, do you not dread my resentment for your intrusion?" As she spoke, she looked towards a pavillion. Ethelwald let fall the hand he had snatched, and beheld with wonder, (proceeding from their unexpected appearance) lord and lady Devon, followed by numerous retinue, approach

a

ing.

They greeted him with cordiality.

"We did not suppose you were so early a riser, baron," said Lord Devon," accustomed as you have been to scenes far different; we proposed, however, soon sending for you, to enjoy with us the freshness of the morning; let me introduce you to another branch of my family-Elfrida. "Elfrida! (exclaimed he, inwardly) and is it her!" His heart smote against his bosom-for a moment the flutterer ceased to throb. "Oh! Edgar, Edgar," he silently exclaimed," why, why, was thy Ethelwald sent on such an embassy." Lead on, lady Devon, said the earl; she presented her hand to the Baron, and they repaired to the pavillion, where

breakfast, with an elegant sumptuousness, was spread, while the artless sound of pipes and tabors, stole from behind. "Here," said the earl," my family and I enjoy the cool, the silent, and the fragrant hour; here we offer up prayers to that Power, who dispenses those gifts around us.— When I view yon bright reful. gent orb of day, methinks it calls upon the sons of affluence to contribute with benevolence to the happi of others; and sweet, } surpassing sweet, is that office above all others, gladsome to the heart that hour which, with blissful consciousness, it can say, I have added to the felicity of one of human kind. I have long, Baron, retired to this seat of my ancestors, for serene tranquillity is required for those powers, which in the morning of life, have been busily employed. Elfrida is my only daughter, and those three ladies, kins women to lady Devon.

setting off the elegance of another, and an air of simplicity presiding over the whole, rendered it fit for the peculiar residence of benevolence and peace. A bell at length summoned them to a magnificent banquet in the hall; which the quaint jest, the jovial laugh, and the winning politeness that reigned, made more delectable.

In the evening, the earl conducted Ethelwald to a spacious saloon, blazing with the variega ted lustre of innumerable lamps. The ladies he found habited in a style of more splendour, though not less taste than in the morning. Here were assembled a gallant shew of neighbouring barons, with their noble dames and daughters. Ethelwald had the supreme felicity of being seated next Elfrida, who shone above her gay companions with a surpassing loveliness. A large curtain, which hung ar the termination of the saloon, softly arose to the sound of an invisible minstrelsey, and discovered a luxuriant and romantic scenery. The entertainment consisted of a youth, commencing his pursuit after happiness, in which Prudence and Pleasure severally solicit to be chosen for a guide. Fascinated by the shewy exterior of the latter, he puts himself under her tutelage, the trying vicissitudes to

which such a choice necessarily exposed him, were strongly exemplified; worn out by his afflictions, and on the point of plunging into the gulph of despair, he is prevented by the interposition of Patience, who brings at her right hand, her gay attendant, Hope; they calm his perturbations, and assure him, if he relies on religion, a power, whose authority they all own, he will shortly discover the retreat of Prudence, who will be his smiling guide to the region inhabited by Happiness. He finds her as they promised; she leads him to the desired dome, which was adorned with all that could charm without dazzling the eye; Virtue, who presided over the entrance, immediately gave him admittance, introducing him to the bright inhabitant of the place, who was surrounded by the pow ers of innocent festivity, ornamented with all that could gain upon the soul; her first smile gave him a fore-taste of the bliss he is about enjoying. Cheerfulness now enters with her bright bugle-horn, announcing a banquet to those most deserving of partaking of it; Virtue immediately gives her a commission to invite those she pleases.-Cheerfulness immediately tripping forward, approached Elfrida and Ethelwald; she bound his temples with laurel, and placed on the snowy fore

He led her on; the company followed. The young domestics, who had supported the allegorical play, ranged themselves around, and sung alternately. The party at last separated. The Baron began to be roused from the tumults of pleasure. He sighed, in wishing for a power to detain them all, since by their means, he would have an opportunity of gazing yet a little longer on Elfrida; but he was obliged to retire to his chamber, where he speedily dismissed his attendants. Here, in the silence of night, forgotten thoughts began to obtrude; the active powers, so delightfully called forth, were sinking into calmness, and he recollected the occasion of his visit to the castle of Devon. "Oh, Edgar!" cried he, with a voice wildly disturbed, into what a situation have you thrown me? this is a trial, indeed; could you not have

ger? My sovereign, you have blasted my peace, your hitherto kind hand has uplifted the dag

ger for my heart she must be your's-the tongue of Ethelwald, even eloquent as it will be on such a subject, cannot paint her beauties. My queen, must then those thrilling emotions be covered with cold respect? I shall behold you too, when withdrawn from the bustle of a court, I shall witness the serene joys of happy love. Distraction is in the tho't: Edgar, the moment of thy union destroys me, for earth has no counterpart of Elfrida.” He sat down, his head resting sullenly on his hands. A sudden sensation seemed at length to rouse him; he started up, transport gleaming from his eyes; they were, however, quickly succeeded by a gloom. "Fly, fly from me," he exclaimed, "ye thoughts, fraught with horror ; shall I violate his confidence? shall I, so late unblemished?-oh, never, never shall the fair bloom of honour be blighted by an act of Ethelwald's.

ed,

(To be continued.)

FATAL EFFECTS OF SUDDEN JOY.

Eifrida could not be viewed by the fire of youth, the sensibility of a feeling mind, without dan

of a good family, possessed not of a large, but an easy fortune, and endowed with every virtue that

could render both himself and another happy in the married state, I had long paid his addresses to the fair Fidelia, the daughter of a gentleman in his neighbourhood; whose agreeable behaviour, universal good-humour and affability, joined to one of the most amiable persons, and an innocent simplicity, natural to herself alone, had so gained on his yet unwounded heart, that he found he could not live without being put in full possession of her charms; and his innate worth, pleasing manner, and unaffected politeness, had raised an equal passion in her breast. He made application to her parents, who very readily gave their consent. In the mean time, Malvolio, a man of a larger fortune than Florio, but who had as many bad qualities as he had good ones, likewise made pretensions to her favour. But her father, who was a man of too much sense, and who had too much regard for the real happiness of his daughter, not to give the preference to Florio's superior merit, hurried up the match as soon as possible, in order to put it out of Malvolio's power to influence her to his advantage. The nuptials were accordingly celebrated with an universal and unfeigned joy on all sides, and the day following was appointed for the bride and bridegroom to go down to a country seat of Florio's

near the sea-side. The disappointed rival, who had secret intelligence of every thing that passed, resolved to make use of this opportunity to put one of the blackest designs in execution. He laid an ambuscade for them in an unfrequented road they were to go through, and, attended by ten ruffians, armed with carbines and cutlasses, attacked the coach they were in. Florio defended himself with the greatest bravery, and presently laid four of them dead at his feet but overwhelmed by numbers, at last fell, and, with all his servants slain around him, was left for dead; at which sight the wretched Fidelia fainted a way, and in that condition was hurried along, and carried on board a vessel, which the vile assassin had got ready, which immediately set sail for France.

As soon as they arrived there, he offered to marry her; but she with the greatest contempt and disdain, rejected his offer, telling him, she would rather die, than submit to what was worse than death, the embraces of her husband's murderer; her rage and grief adding thereto the most opprobrious terms she could make use of, which so enraged him, that he told her she was now in his power, that he would give her but three days to consider of it, and if she did not in that tim