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DREAM-CHILDREN; A REVERIE.

CHILDREN love to listen to stories

about their elders, when they were children; to stretch their imagination to the conception of a traditionary great-uncle, or grandame, whom they never saw. It was in this spirit that my little ones crept about me the other evening to hear about their great-grandmother Field, who lived in a great house in Norfolk (a hundred times bigger than that in which they and Papa lived) which had been the scene -so at least it was generally believed in that part of the country-of the tragic incidents which they had lately become familiar with from the ballad of the Children in the Wood. Certain it is that the whole story of the children and their cruel uncle was to be seen fairly carved out in wood upon the chimney-piece of the great hall, the whole story down to the Robin Redbreasts, till a foolish rich person pulled it down to set up a marble one of modern invention in its stead, with no story upon it. Here Alice put out one of her dear mother's looks, too tender to be called upbraiding. Then I went on to say, how religious and how good their great-grandmother Field was, how beloved and respected by every body. And then I told how, when she came to die, her funeral was attended by a concourse of all the poor, and some of the gentry too, of the neighbourhood for many miles round, to show their respect for her memory, because she had been such a good and religious woman; so good indeed that she knew all the Psaltery by heart, ay, and a great part of the Testament besides. Here little Alice spread her hands. Then I told what a tall, upright, graceful person their great-grandmother Field once was; and how in her youth she was esteemed the best dancer-here Alice's little right foot played an involuntary movement, till, upon my looking_grave, it desistedthe best dancer, I was saying, in the county, till a cruel disease, called a cancer, came, and bowed her down with pain; but it could never bend her good spirits, or make them stoop, but

they were still upright, because she was

:

so good and religious. Then I told how she was used to sleep by herself in a lone chamber of the great lone house and how she believed that an apparition of two infants was to be seen at midnight gliding up and down the great staircase near where she slept, but she said "those innocents would do her no harm ;" and how frightened I used to be, though in those days I had my maid to sleep with me, because I was never half so good or religious as she--and yet I never saw the infants. Here John expanded all his eyebrows, and tried to look courageous. Then I told how good she was to all her grand-children, having us to the great house in the holydays, where I in particular used to spend many hours by myself, in gazing upon the old busts of the Twelve Caesars, that had been Emperors of Rome, till the old marble heads would seem to live again, or I to be turned into marble with them; how I never could be tired with roaming about that huge mansion, with its vast empty rooms, with their worn-out hangings, fluttering tapestry, and carved oaken pannels, with the gilding almost rubbed out-sometimes in the spacious old fashioned gardens, which I had almost to myself, unless when now and then a solitary gardening man would cross me-and how the nectarines and peaches hung upon the walls without my ever offering to pluck them, because they were forbidden fruit, unless now and then,—and because I had more pleasure in strolling about among the old melancholy-looking yew trees, or the firs, and picking up the red berries, and the fir apples, which were good for nothing but to look at--or in lying about upon the fresh grass, with all the fine garden smells around me-or basking in the orangery, till I could almost fancy myself ripening too along with the oranges and the limes in that grateful warmth

or in watching the dace that darted to and fro in the fish pond, at the bottom of the garden, with here and there a great sulky pike hanging midway

down the water in silent state, as if it mocked at their impertinent friskings, -I had more pleasure in these busyidle diversions, than in all the sweet flavours of peaches, nectarines, oranges, and such like common baits of chil dren. Here John slyly deposited back upon the plate a bunch of grapes, which, not unobserved by Alice, he had meditated dividing with her, and both seemed willing to relinquish them for the present as irrelevant. Then in somewhat a more heightened tone, I told how, though their great-grandmother Field loved all her grand-children, yet in an especial manner she might be said to love their uncle, John L, because he was so handsome and spirited a youth, and a king to the rest of us; and, instead of moping about in solitary corners, like some of us, he would mount the most mettlesome horse he could get, when but an imp no bigger than themselves, and make it carry him half over the county in a morning, and join the hunters when there were any out-and yet he loved the old great house and gardens too, but had too much spirit to be always pent up within their boundaries -and how their uncle grew up to man's estate as brave as he was handsome, to the admiration of every body, but of their great-grandmother Field most especially; and how he used to carry me upon his back when I was a lame-footed boy-for he was a good bit older than me—many a mile when I could not walk for pain;—and how in after life he became lame-footed too, and I did not always (I fear) make allowances enough for him when he was impatient, and in pain, nor remember sufficiently how considerate he had been to me when I was lame-footed; and how when he died, though he had not been dead an hour, it seemed as if he had died a great while ago, such a distance there is betwixt life and death; and how I bore his death as I thought pretty well at first, but afterwards it haunted and haunted me; and though

I did not cry or take it to heart as some do, and as I think he would have done if I had died, yet I missed him all day long, and knew not till then how much I had loved him. I missed his kindness, and I missed his crossness, and wished him to be alive again, to be quarrelling with him (for we quarrelled sometimes), rather than not have him again, and was as uneasy without him, as he their poor uncle must have been when the doctor took off his limb. Here the children fell a crying, and asked if their little mourning which they had on was not for uncle John, and they looked up, and prayed me not to go on about their uncle,but to tell them some stories about their pretty dead mother. Then I told how, for seven long years, in hope sometimes, sometimes in despair, yet persisting ever, I courted the fair Alice W-n; and, as much as children could understand, I explained to them what coyness, and difficulty, and denial meant in maidens-when suddenly, turning to Alice, the soul of the first Alice looked out at her eyes with such a reality of re-presentment, that I became in doubt which of them stood there before me or whose that bright hair was,-and while I stood gazing, both the children gradually grew fainter to my view, receding, and still receding, till nothing at last but two mournful features were seen in the uttermost distance, which without speech, strangely impressed upon me the effects of speech; “We are not of Alice, nor of thee, nor are we children at all. The children of Alice call Bartrum father. We are nothing; less than nothing, and dreams. We are only what might have been, and must wait upon the tedious shores of Lethe millions of ages before we have existence, and a name❞—and immediately awaking, I found myself quietly seated in my bachelor armchair, where I had fallen asleep,-but John L. (or James Elia) was gone for ever.

THE

THE RENEGADE.

Continued.

HE sun had not yet risen,when suddenly, at the extremity of the cavern, a ray of light glimmered between the clefts of the rock. An enormous piece of stone, forming a kind of door supported by imperceptible hinges, slowly moved, and an old man, like a necromancer of tradition, holding a lighted lamp in his hand, advanced toward the Princess. The trembling sisters uttered a shriek of terror; but Ezilda, approaching the apparition, recognized the prophet of the Black Mountain. "Time is precious, (exclaimed Goudair) fear nothing, and follow me." The old man was immediately obeyed. By a secret passage he conducted the Princess and the nuns of Amalberge to an adjoining cavern, and the turning stone was immediately closed behind them. "Remain here, (said Goudair, setting down his lamp on a heap of calcarious stones.) You are now in safety. No enemy can molest you. There are three roads before you : that on the right leads to the cataract and cannot be passed without danger. That on the left leads to a castle occupied by the Saracens ; and that in the middle, which penetrates to the centre of the earth, is perfectly inaccessible." With these words, he lighted a few of the lamps with which the nuns were provided, and withdrew from the miraculous grotto.

Composed and undismayed, the Princess conversed with her companions. She pointed out to them the wonders of their subterraneous palace, and called their attention to the sublime horrors of the volcanic eruptions of past ages. As the breath of terror is contagious, and infects all within its reach, so courage is an electric flame which vivifies all that it approaches. Inspired by the Princess, the nuns speedily recovered their tranquillity and the day was concluded in prayer.

Four and twenty hours had elapsed, and Goudair had not yet returned. Perhaps, thought Ezilda, the old man has been captured by the infidels. What then might be the fate of the unfortu

A ROMANCE.

nate captives?-Deprived of nourish ment, oppresssed by the insalubrity of the air, their strength gradually failed, and they sunk into profound sleep. The Princess, wholly occupied with the fate of her companions, was incapable of enjoying repose. "The middle passage, (said she, turning to look at the three subterraneous alleys,) that which Goudair supposes to be inaccessible, may perhaps be the path of safety. "Holy sisters, rest in peace-may Heaven inspire and guide me!" and taking one of the lamps which Goudair had left burning, she proceeded to explore the unknown tract. For a considerable distance the path continued to descend; but the Princess at length arrived at a kind of staircase, which turning to the left, changed the direction of her course. At every step the road became more and more dangerous, and was intersected by detached masses of rock; on every side the horrors of death appeared multiplied in a thousand various forms. The Princess advanced with hasty steps. The rolling of the torrent, which in the miraculous grotto resounded like thunder, now produced only a gentle murmur.. A few traces of vegetation, which were perceptible between the masses of stone, a few pale and languid plants seemed to indicate that the gloomy recess was occasionally visited by light and air. She advanced; a refreshing breeze, like the breath of life, penetrated the abode of death. The Princess at length approached the mouth of the cavern, and issuing from the abyss of ruin, arrayed in white and veiled, she appeared like a spirit of the grave, like a fantastic creation of darkness and chaos.

While Ezilda rapturously inhaled the pure and refreshing atmosphere, she cast a glance of astonishment around her. She found herself transported into a delicious garden, in the centre of which appeared a grove of myrtle and orange trees. On every side statues of marble were interspersed among the foliage. A limpid fountain rose from a basin of the finest granite;

and odoriferous flowers bloomed in vases of rare porphyry. The Princess, who fancied herself wandering on fairy land, perceived at the extremity of an alley of trees, a colonade magnificently illuminated. It was a building of oriental architecture attached to a spacious edifice. Ezilda approached the pavilion, the interior of which was decorated with rich draperies and wreaths of flowers. Within the Moorish temple a young female of exquisite beauty was seated on cushions of azure fringed with gold. Her countenance was melancholy and dejected, and her fine eyes were suffused with tears. The Odalisk was alone, and her fingers running over the strings of a lute drew forth plaintive strains of melody.

Ezilda uttered an exclamation of surprise. Pale,attired in white,and no less mysterious than beautiful, she presented herself to the eyes of the Odalisk,who dazzled by the charms of her unknown visitor, and half bewildered by sorrow, imagined that she beheld before her the beloved of the great prophet descended from the immortal palace of the houris. Throwing herself on her knees before Ezilda, "White rose of Sidrah, (she exclaimed) sovereign virgin of the river of life! have my tears at length moved thy pity? Hast thou come to restore me to hope ?"-Alas! unhappy lady, (replied Ezilda) I am but a feeble mortal like yourself, and have no power to relieve your sorrow."-The Odalisk recovered her senses, and looking stedfastly at the Princess-" Unknown mortal, (she exclaimed) what brings you hither?-whom do you seek here?— do you know the lord of this palace ?" -I know him not, (replied Ezilda) .. he is perhaps Agobar."-"Stop, (interrupted the Odalisk) pronounce not his name. Incomparable beauty, do you know him?-have you seen him?""The Mussulman chief (replied Ezilda,) is a stranger to me. I have seen him only once."-"Once, (exclaimed the beautiful Arab) a moment is sufficient to render him beloved for ever. His first glance decided the fate of my existence .... But your countenance bespeaks benevolence and

sensibility, (continued the Odalisk,) you inspire me with confidence. Sit down, and I will unfold to you the sorrows of the ill-fated Zarela. The Princess, deeply moved, complied with her request, and the Odalisk spoke as follows:

"I am the daughter of the King of Hadramut, and I was born on the fertile shore of the gulf of Arabia. Iadvanced in life, surrounded by all the luxuries of the East-I enjoyed in anticipation the prospect of future happiness and glory; but, alas, how vain were my dreams of felicity! A sanguinary war broke out between my fa ther and the King of the Troglodites. The cruel Meroé, followed by an army which he had raised on the banks of the Astapus, crossed the gulf which separated our states from his. He enter ed our territories in triumph, and my defenceless family, captured by the conqueror, were reduced to slavery.

"A Pirate of Nubia had furnished vessels for conveying the troops of Meroé across the gulf; and I was included among the presents which the grate. ful conqueror tendered to him. For several weeks a violent fever deprived me of my reason. On recovering, I found that I had crossed the sea, and had been landed in Gaul, whither the savage Ethiopian had transported his slaves. I learned, that being destined for the seraglio of some Saracen Emir or grandee of Iberia, I was as soon as my health should be sufficiently restor ed, to be presented to the celebrated he ro, the redoubtable conqueror Agobar.

"I prayed for death, but my prayers were unavailing. By degrees my strength was restored, and I was accounted the most beautiful of all the captives of the Bazaar. Every day 1 heard my companions extol the achievements of the immortal Agobar; all hoped for the happiness of being chosen by the hero. At length the triumphant chief entered the province in which the the pirate of Nubia had fixed his temporary abode; and at the invitation of the Ethiopian, he visited the Bazaar. The daughter of a line of kings was

* At the period here alluded to, the Moors had at various times invaded Gallia Nar bonensis, where they had erected splendid palaces.

now a miserable slave. At this ter-
rible thought, a torrent of tears suffused
my cheeks; and when conducted to the
presence of the hero, a cloud of dark-
ness seemed to overwhelm me, and I
was on the point of sinking to the earth.
The cruel African, tearing aside the
veil that concealed my features, appear-
ed irritated by my grief; but the heart
of Agobar was moved. His last words
to the mercenary pirate still resound
in my ears:- Two thousand sequins!
-they are your's.' Then turning to
me-Fair slave, (he said) you are
free.'-'Free!' I repeated with amaze-.
ment, and for the first time I ventured
to raise my eyes to the Saracen chief.
I trembled; his calm aspect deeply in-
terested me. The beauty of his coun-
tenance equalled the dignity of his de-
portment. In a transport of gratitude,
admiration, and I may add of love, I
threw myself at the feet of my deliver-
er. I endeavoured to express my sen-
timents. But my soul was painted in
my looks; and he could not mistake
the transports of a rising passion. His
countenance became clouded with an-
ger, and in a harsh tone he exclaimed,
Young Arab, you have now no mas-
ter; but if your heart be grateful, never
again appear before me.'

"I remained mute and petrified. Ag-
obar withdrew. He said I was free;
but alas! my real captivity was now
only beginning. I was the slave of ty-
rannic love; and from that fatal mo-
ment peace has been a stranger to my
bosom. Far from availing myself of
my freedom to return to my native
home, I followed the footsteps of the
conqueror. On several occasions I
ventured to appear in his presence, and
I was continually repulsed with con-
tempt or anger. At length, braving
all his threats, I gained access to this
castle, which is at present the residence
of the conqueror.
Agobar (I ex-
claimed) in mercy unsheath your cime-
ter, and deprive me of life. Without
Agobar, what is the world-what is
even heaven to Zarela! Despise my
charms, disdain my love; but at least,
if you refuse to rid me of a wretched life,
let me, as the slave of your slaves, ac-
company you in your career of glory,
so that amidst the throng that surrounds
34 ATHENEUM VOL. 11.

you, I may sometimes raise my eyes to gaze on you.' But how vain were my entreaties! Agobar called his guards; and addressing himself to Franguestin, the leader of his Janissaries- This slave is yours, (he said :) to-morrow you may convey her to your harem. She is fair; receive her as the gift of your chief.'

"Can there be a more wretched lot than that which I am doomed to suffer? (pursued the Odalisk.) Franguestin sets out this night on a warlike expedition; I am in his power, and to-morrowBut no, there shall be no to-morrow for Zarela-and this poison"Hold! (exclaimed Ezilda, as the wretched captive was about to raise the poisoned draught to her lips)-you shall not die-you shall not be the slave of Franguestin. Where is Agobar?"-"This pavilion, (replied the astonished Zarela) adjoins the castle which he now inhabits. That door opens to the gallery leading to his apartments.-But, stranger, what is your purpose ?" "Fear not, (said Ezilda) Heaven will protect me; and on my return we will together fly this ha ted spot." In spite of the remonstrances of Zarela who was unable to guess her extraordinary design, the Princess opened the door, and proceeded along a narrow passage feebly lighted, which led to the apartments of Agobar.

While the fair Arab was engaged in recounting the history of her love and her misfortunes, the daughter of Theobert, recollecting the pious sisters of St. Amalberge, whom she had left behind her in the cavern, suddenly formed the design of once more appealing to the warrior in behalf of her companions. The gallery communicating with the apartments of the Mussulman chief, was crossed by several gloomy corridors, and was terminated by a heavy curtain which opened to the chamber of Agobar. The Princess had reached the extremity of the gallery and was about to draw aside the curtain-but she suddenly paused. Behind the tapestry, at a few paces from her, two Mussulmans were conversing together in a loud tone of voice, as follows:"Two hours after sunrise Agobar will be no more."-" And who will strike

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