He pressed his suit—and then, the meek sufferer, forcing a prophetic smile, pointed to her finger, as if the sight of its bony and emaciated condition, too small to retain the nuptial emblem, should admonish him of its inutility. The impassioned youth, however, marked it not, and she raised her head from the pillow: her eyes again brightened with a sudden effulgence, which strangely contrasted with the calmness of her voice, as she uttered, "My love, we shall be united in Heaven!"

"And upon earth, also," said Dalton, looking towards me. I gazed at them for a moment, and almost unconsciously began to repeat some words from the ritual of the Church, when a deep sigh from the sufferer made me pause.-Her strength had been collected for the last few words, and in giving them utterance, her gentle spirit had passed away!

THE WIZARD.

BY MISS JEWSBURY.

I.

He waved his wand!-dark Spirits knew
That rod-yet none obeyed its call;
And twice the mystic signs he drew,

And twice beheld them bootless all :

Then knew the Seer JEHOVAH's hand,
And crushed the scroll, and broke the wand!

II.

"I feel Him like a burning fire,

When I would curse, my lips are dumb; But from those lips, 'mid hate and ire, Unchecked the words of blessing come; They come and on his people rest, A people by the Curser blest!

III.

"I see them from the mountain-top,How fair their dwellings on the plain! Like trees that crown the valley's slope, Like waves that glitter on the main ! Strong, strong the lion slumbering thereWho first shall rouse him from his lair?

IV.

"Crouch, Amalek-and thou, vain King! Crouch by thine altars-vainer still!

Hear ye the royal shouts that ring
From Israel's camp beneath the hill?
They have a God amidst their tents,-
Banner at once, and battlements!

V.

"A Star shall break through yonder skies, And beam on every nation's sight;

From yonder ranks a Sceptre rise,
And bow the nations to its might:

I see their glorious strength afar-
All hail, dread Sceptre! hail, bright Star!

VI.

"And who am I, for whom is flung

Aside the shrouding veil of Time? The Seer whose rebel-soul is wrung

By wrath, and prophecy, and crime :

Woe, then, for Moab! woe for me!"

VII.

On Peor's top the Wizard stood,
Around him Moab's Princes bowed;
He bade-and altars streamed with blood,
And incense wrapped him like a shroud!
But vain the rites of earth and hell-
He spake a mastered Oracle!

St. Giles's Fields. A stake and fagots; crowds collecting around them.

TIME.-Fifteenth Century.

CHARACTERS.

The Martyr: Sheriff and men. A Lollard in disguise. Countryman. Spectators.

COUNT. WHAT news, my friends? what is the happy news That here hath brought such multitudes together;That thus for festivities prepare

ye

With bonfire ready to proclaim your joy?

Is there good news? Or do celebrate

ye

Some ancient holiday: some day that brought
Victory, fresh liberties, or blest release
From famine, pestilence, or wizard-craft?
Or hath some noble lord, perchance the King,
Found in his heart to glad the citizens-
Pr'ythee, good man, what is 't?

LOL.

COUNT.

Thou 'lt see, anon!

Ay, so it seems! If any thing I learn

'T must be by seeing, not by hearing, faith!

See! see! what shall I see?-An ox to roast?

LOL. An ox?-A man!-Think'st thou these very wise And pious citizens could find delight

In an ox-roasting? Nay, they burn a man!

COUNT.

A man! a man!-My God! what sort of

man,

What hideous malefactor must he be?

I dread to see him!-What deed has he done

So horrible, that he must die by fire?

Is he a thief-a cut-throat, that did creep
Into a midnight house, and murder babes-
Parents and babes, all in each other's blood?
Or is he some lean miser, that has slain
The innocents that fell into his power

By death of relatives-to seize their gold?

LOL. No! none of these; but worse than all, he is A heretic!

COUNT.

A heretic! What's that?