THE SOLDIERS: A BRITISH TALE. RODOLPHO's fervant, whofe mind was not fo much the flave of fuperftition as the foldier's, obferved, through the halfopened door, that his master had changed his dress, and was partaking of the refreshment on the table this drove the tale of his companion from his mind, and with his perfuafion, aided by the cheering warmth of the fire, the foldier followed his example, and changed his clothes; comfort animated his fpirits, fuperftition weakened, and with fharpened appetites they eat the offered repaft, and foon loft their fears and fatigue in fleep round the fire, which the negro fupplied with fresh fuel as often as it needed. The mind of Rodolpho was too much engaged to fleep; the repulfive manner of the folitary, while he performed fuch acts of kindness, was an inconfiftency that engaged his reflections: fear never impels a generous mind to cordiality, thought our foldier; his countenance was unmoved at the fight of us, our hayonets, our muskets; his authoritative tone, and frigid look had nothing in it that implied difmay; his conduct feems more the refult of defperation; he has fled fociety; he is perhaps difgufted with his fpecies; life is not the object of his care; to take it from him would only rid him of what he values not: he has therefore given way to the urbanity of his nature, which events may have rendered obfcure, though not eradicated, and relieves those whom chance may caft within his influence regardless of the event. These reflections ferved only to irritate the curiofity of Rodolpho; he longed to fee the female whofe harmonious voice gave harmony to the tempeft, and created fuch an interest in his feelings; to hear why a man whofe addrefs and appearance betrayed natural politeness had chofen fo complete a retirement abstracted from fociety: yet he could not refolve to commence a converfation with his hoft by afking queftions; it would be breaking a focial law which directs us, as far as our powers will admit, to return the kindness we receive; and to fome characters, a compliance with their humour is the most acceptable return we can offer. We are more flattered by an allowance for our failings, than by applause for our virtues, Rodolpho confidered the determined taciturnity of the reclufe indicative of his humour, and remained filent, often looking at him, who kept his eyes fixed on the fire, except when he cast a momentary glance at our foldier :.....his head was uncovered, his countenance had an expreffion of sternnefs, that seemed less the effect of nature than events; for fometimes his contracted brow would relax, his features expand, to an appearance of candour, and then a figh, indicative of forrow, would heave his breast. They had fat a confiderable time filent; Rodolpho took out his watch ;..... "It is nine o'clock," said he ; the exclamation was involuntary,the recluse started, and caft his eyes on our foldier; their eyes met....there was something fo forrowful and impreffive in those of the folitary, that diffolved the quick fufceptibility of Rodolpho into a tear; the reclufe kept his eye fixed on it as it fell on the watch. The contending feelings that paffed in rapid fucceffion through his countenance and which feemed by his heaving breaft to be labouring for utterance...... the overflowing fenfibility which appeared in that of Rodolpho...... the filence of the fcene, that was only interrupted by the rustling of the branches of the trees that furrounded the cottage, raised the feelings of Rodolpho to their full compass. The reclufe was evidently agitated, fome tears fell, and he appeared to be on the point of giving freedom to his labouring breast, when a voice, that, to the ears of Rodolpho, gave an idea of seraphick sweetness and affection, exclaimed, “My dear uncle, what is the matter? why do you weep?" and inftantly the form of a female, light as goffamer, fprang across the room, fell on his neck, breathing refponfive fighs. Rodolpho rofe from his feat, and made an involuntary exclamation of furprife; but a moment's reflection told him, to interrupt by inquiry, or to attempt confolation, would not be an act of kindness. The foul whofe fenfibilities have been long fuppreffed feels a fenfation of extreme relief, when nature meliorates the nerves that were become rigid; he fat down in filence viewing the female, who, in foft whispers, was comforting the reclufe.during her tender attentions, he often kiffed and pressed her to his bosom. The intellect of Rodolpho was lodged in his eye and ear. The female, while foothing her uncle, did not notice him; but the exhibited a face and form calculated to warm the frigid breast of an anchorite. To nature the owed all; her drefs was in the fimple style of a peasant, diftinguished only by a peculiar neatnefs;.... her hair flowed in all the luxuriance of nature; her employment gave an intereft to her figure fenfibly felt by Rodolpho. Is there in nature a contemplation more enchanting to the mind, that can appreciate the sweet, the tender cordial ities of life, than youth confoling the afflicted? What a magick influence does it caft over the character of a female when we view her smoothing the pillar of age or fickness, or endeavouring to cheer the defponding mind with the bright colours of youthful hope; the confolation of young and uncorrupted hearts have an harmony all their own to the ear of age. Nature speaks in their voice, cheers and gently flopes their paffage to the grave. And believe me, fair ones, to the eye of virtue it adorns you more than the gayeft habit, and will yield more exquifite delight on reflection, when the parent, the friend, or the ftranger is departed, that the most refined scene of fenfual enjoyment. The reclufe gently difengaged himself from the embrace of the young woman, and faid, "Antonia, take a chair and fit near me ;"... Rodolpho made an effort to place a feat, but her light and rapid movement anteceded his; fhe obferved it, and, fmiling, acknowledged the kind f of his intention.....fhe fcarcely knew the meaning of the word polite,' that fides fo fmoothly off the tongue of polifhed females, without fpringing from the heart. Untutored nature spoke in her voice, whofe politeness is a difpofition to be pleafed and please. The folitary recovered his fcattered fpirits, and fixing his eyes (that had loft all the sternnefs which before animated them) on our foldier, thus addreffed him. ..." The referve of my manner, that ill accords with the hofpitality due to a ftranger, may have impreffed you with an unfavourable idea of my heart, and the agitation of spirits you have witnesfed, given an appearance of weakness to my mind, that the frigid philofopher affects to defpife." "Whilft in the enjoyment of the comforts you have difpenfed to me, a ftranger," replied Rodolpho, "I fhould not merit their experience, if I felt any other fentiment than gratitude. I am a stranger, a barrier to your judging unfavourably of me, and the fame barrier prevents my thinking of the agitation I have witneffed (the caufe of which I am ignorant), with any other feeling than regret, fearing its removal may be beyond my power." "It is," replied the reclufé; my language (vanity is dead in my heart) is not, I feel, in unifon with the ruftick fimplicity of my dwelling and appearance; all to you feems enveloped in mystery; a mystery, that it may be your duty as a foldier, in thefe times of bloody warfare to unfold, when every man that is unarmed is esteemed an enemy to the country to which he belongs. I am of no country; I was a citizen of the world; I am now a being, whose boundary is a defert :" the reclufe paufed, memory feemed to have no pleasures for him. Rodolpho was filent; every fentiment he could have uttered would have feemed cold and intrufive. Antonia spoke not, but the mantling blush of her cheek, the tenderness of her eye, that floated in liquid amber, told her participation in the feelings of her uncle. a Fifteen years only had Antonia been being of this world, fresh and blooming as the rofe of the wilderness where she grew was her countenance ; pure as the lily of the valley was her mind; nature was all alive in her heart; vivacious and tender. With the lark fhe offered her morning orifons to the God of day, and chaunted with the lonely Philomel her evening thanks to the fame beneficent Being; after that, her most lively fenfation was love for her uncle. Her form and manner perfonified the idea of an Arcadian, beautiful and artless. (To be continued.) |