close upon you, and all is forgotten now." With these words I drew nearer to the body, imprinted upon its marble lips one last tender kiss, then gently closed the door, and quitted the room for ever Fortunate, thrice fortunate, Amelia! Thy sorrows are at last ended -thy repose eternal; while, plunged in intensest thought, I know no respite to despair. My bitter feelings are gone, for, like the reptile that wears away ages in the rock, I am cased in the adamantine fence of apathy. The moon comes up in her glory-suns rise and set-all nature tunes her music to the soul, but the harmony rings through the universe, unheard alone by me. At midnight I cling in agony to the remembrance of my wife. Fancy is then again at work with her fiends, to lash me into madness. Softened at times by the memory of the past, I walk where Amelia once walked-weep as she once has wept, and when the thunder-god treads in his majesty along the trembling floor of heaven, fancy I hear the omnipotent Judge pronouncing a sentence of condemnation on the murderer. It was but last night, that, among the thronging visions of the hour, the spirit of my wife appeared, and beckoned me to follow. Awe-struck, I obeyed, and in an instant we both stood, as in days long gone by, amid the memorable woods of Vale-Royal. The same sweet rivulet wound through its rich meadows-even the same willows, methought, drooped their long tresses in the stream. The light meanwhile was slowly fading off the sky, the bells from the neighbouring church were ringing, and a few scattered ploughmen were seen driving their flocks homeward. On a sudden, the well-known figure of my friend B approached, while, beside him, gleamed, in the pale star-light, the sweet features of his sister, which for six happy years had never turned towards me, but in smiles. I strove to address them, but in vain; the scene changed its character, and I stood alone with Amelia in the regions of upper air. Millions of souls were near us, millions of worlds around, but all was darkly indistinct. The very moòn, methought, was dead-the sun entombed among the ruins of the lower world. a sudden we stood as if fixed to adamant, while above us shone a faint light through a dun atmosphere of clouds. The chaunting of Hosannahs arose, and a voice from the lampless empyreum pealed in thunder towards It raked up the sins of the past: it called for retribution on the murderer. I was denounced-the Almighty eye was on me, and beside me stood the spirit of my wife, clothed in light, and crying to the bar of heaven for vengeance. Mankind, methought, then rushed to judg ment. They heard their sentence: for them the mercy-seat was opened, on me it was closed for ever. I was hurled through illimitable spacemy crimes made to themselves voices, clothed themselves, as it were, in the garb of friends, and shouted my damnation in my ear. me. - On My vision, my tale is ended, for I am widowed and solitary upon earth. ́Shall I live, then, when every charm of existence is departed? Never-never. I will be restored unto my kindred elements, I will form a portion of the mist, the mountain, and the cataract; or, if departed spirits are permitted to revisit earth, linger amid the landscape in whose bosom my wife and my boy repose. Sweet scenes of my ear, liest love, receive my last adieu. By yon cowslip bank, which yet PART XI. 44. R VOL. II. glimmers in the twilight, I have sate for hours with Amelia: under yon row of elms, whose green tops wave proudly to each breeze, I have watched with her the waning splendors of the sun-set, and shall soon sleep in peace beneath their shade. But away-the tempest is abroad: and be it mine to quit earth amid its ruins. The thunder shall roll my dirge, the blue lightning enfold me in its splendor. Hark, I am summoned; or is it madness that rages in my brain? Again! Spirit of the tempest, I come; throw wide your shadowy halls, and receive into them for ever the soul of the predestined suicide! DOCTOR JORTIN. DR. JORTIN was sometimes assistant preacher at Lincoln's Inn chapel for Bishop Warburton. He had no recommendation to Archbishop Herring, but his merit. His Grace told him most unexpectedly, at a dinner of the Sons of the Clergy, that the living of St. Dunstan's was at his service; which so surprised him, that he ran instantly out of the hall, and left his hat behind him. THE ARROWS OF LOVE. (From the Greek of Anacreon.) Once, within the dusky dome Of laughing mischief-"This," said he, THE YOUNG ROBBER. By Washington Irving, Esq. THE following tale, being the subject of the beautiful embellishment which accompanies this part of the Magnet, and being in itself an admirable specimen of the talents of the author, our readers will, we are sure, not regret the space it occupies. I was born at the little town of Frosinone, which lies at the skirts of the Abruzzi. My father had made a little property in trade, and gave me some education, as he intended me for the church; but I had kept gay company too much to relish the cowl, so I grew up a loiterer about the place. I was a heedless fellow, a little quarrelsome on occasion, but good-humoured in the main! so I made my way very well for a time, until I fell in love. There lived in our town a surveyor or land-bailiff of the prince's, who had a young daughter, a beautiful girl of sixteen: she was looked upon as something better than the common run of our townsfolk, and was kept almost entirely at home. I saw her occasionally, and became madly in love with her she looked so fresh and tender, and so different from the sun-burnt females to which I had been accustomed. As my father kept me in money, I always dressed well, and took all opportunities of showing myself off to advantage in the eyes of the little beauty. I used to see her at church and as I could play a little upon the guitar, I gave a tune sometimes under her window of an evening; and I tried to have interviews with her in her father's vineyard, not far from the town, where she sometimes walked. She was evidently pleased with me, but she was young and shy and her father kept a strict eye upon her, and took alarm at my attentions, for he had a bad opinion of me, and looked for a better match for his daughter. I became furious at the difficulties thrown in my way, having been accustomed always to easy success among the women, being considered one of the smartest young fellows of the place. Her father brought home a suitor for her, a rich farmer, from a neighbouring town. The wedding-day was appointed, and preparations were making. I got sight of her at her window, and I thought she looked sadly at me. I determined the match should not take place, cost what it might. I met her intended bridegroom in the market-place, and could not restrain the expression of my rage. A few hot words passed between us, when I drew my stiletto, and stabbed him to the heart. I fled to a neighbouring church for refuge, and with a little money I obtained .absolution, but I did not dare to venture from my asylum. At that time our captain was forming his troop. He had known me from boyhood; and, hearing of my situation, came to me in secret, and made such offers, that I agreed to enrol myself among his followers. Indeed, I had more than once thought of taking to this mode of life, having known several brave fellows of the mountains, who used to spend their money freely amongst us youngsters of the town. I accordingly left my asylum late one night, repaired to the appointed place of meet ing, took the oaths prescribed, and became one of the troop. We were for some time in a distant part of the mountains, and our wild adventurous kind of life hit my fancy wonderfully, and diverted my thoughts. At length they returned with all their violence to the recollection of Rosetta: the solitude in which I often found myself gave me time to brood over her image; and, as I have kept watch at night over our sleeping camp in the mountains, my feelings have been roused almost to a fever. At length we shifted our ground, and determined to make a descent upon the road between Terracina and Naples. In the course of our expedition we passed a day or two in the woody mountains which rise above Frosinone. I cannot tell you how I felt when I looked down upon the place, and distinguished the residence of Rosetta. I determined to have an interview with her;--but to what purpose? I could not expect that she would quit her home, and accompany me in my hazardous life among the mountains. She had been brought up too tenderly for that; and when I looked upon the women who were associated with some of our troop, I could not have borne the thoughts of her being their companion. All return to my former life was likewise hopeless, for a price was set upon my head. Still I determined to see her: the very hazard and fruitlessness of the thing made me furious to accomplish it. It is about three weeks since I persuaded our captain to draw down to the vicinity of Frosinone, in hopes of entrapping some of its principal inhabitants, and compelling them to a ransom. We were lying in ambush towards evening, not far from the vineyard of Rosetta's father. I stole quietly from my companions, and drew near to reconnoitre the place of her frequent walks. How my heart beat when among the vines I beheld the gleaming of a white dress! I knew it must be Rosetta's; it being rare for any female of the place to dress in white. I advanced secretly and without noise, until, putting aside the vines, I stood suddenly before her. She uttered a piercing skriek, but I seized her in my arms, put my hand upon her mouth, and conjured her to be silent. I poured out all the frenzy of my passion; offered to renounce my mode of life; to put my fate in her hands, to fly with her where we might live in safety together. All that I could say or do would not pacify her. Instead of love, horror and affright seemed to have taken possession of her breast. She struggled partly from my grasp, and filled the air with her cries. He In an instant the captain and the rest of my companions were around us. I would have given any thing at that moment had she been safe out of our hands, and in her father's house. It was too late. The captain pronounced her a prize, and ordered that she should be borne to the mountains. I represented to him that she was my prize; that I had a previous claim to her, and I mentioned my former attachment. sneered bitterly in reply; observed that brigands had no business with village intrigues, and that, according to the laws of the troop, all spoils of the kind were determined by lot. Love and jealousy were raging in my heart, but I had to choose between obedience and death. I surrendered her to the captain, and we made for the mountains. She was overcome by affright, and her steps were so feeble and faltering, that it was necessary to support her. I could not endure the idea that my comrades should touch her, and assuming a forced tranquillity, begged that she might be confided to me, as one to whom she was more accustomed, The captain regarded me, for a moment, with a searching look, but I bore it without flinching, and he consented. I took her in my arms, she was almost senseless. Her head rested on my shoulder; I felt her breath on my face, and it seemed to fan the flame which devoured me. Oh, God! to have this glowing treasure in my arms, and yet to think it was not mine! We arrived at the foot of the mountain. I ascended it with difficulty, particularly where the woods were thick, but I would not relinquish my delicious burthen. I reflected with rage, however, that I must soon do So. The thoughts that so delicate a creature must be abandoned to my rude companions, maddened me. I felt tempted, with the stiletto in my hand, to cut my way through them all, and bear her off in triumph. I scarcely conceived the idea, before I saw its rashness; but my brain was fevered with the thought that any but myself should enjoy her charms. I endeavoured to outstrip my companions by the quickness of my movements, and to get a little distance a-head, in case any favourable opportunity of escape should present. Vain effort! The voice of the captain suddenly ordered a halt. I trembled, but had to obey. The poor girl partly opened a languid eye, but was without strength or motion. I laid her upon the grass. The captain darted on me a terrible look of suspicion, and ordered me to scour the woods with my companions in search of some shepherd, who might be sent to her father's to demand a ransom, I saw at once the peril. To resist with violence was certain death, but to leave her alone, in the power of the captain! I spoke out then with a fervour, inspired by my passion and my despair. I reminded the captain that I was the first to seize her; that she was my prize, and that my previous attachment for her ought to make her sacred among my companions. I insisted, therefore, that he should pledge me his word to respect her, otherwise I should refuse obedience to his orders, His only reply was to cock his carbine, and at the signal my comrades did the same. They laughed with cruelty at my impotent rage. What could I do? I felt the madness of resistance. I was menaced on all hands, and my companions obliged me to follow them. She remained alone with the chief-yes, alone-and almost lifeless!- Here the robber paused in his recital, overpowered by his emotions. Great drops of sweat stood on his forehead; he panted rather than breathed; his brawny bosom rose and fell like the waves of a troubled When he had become a little calm, he continued his recital. sea. I was not long in finding a shepherd, said he. I ran with the rapidity of a deer, eager, if possible, to get back before what I dreaded might take place. I had left my companions far behind, and I rejoined them before they had reached one half the distance I had made. I hurried them back to the place where we had left the captain. As we approached I beheld him seated by the side of Rosetta. His triumphant |