fhriek the found of defolation; while the raven flapped its wings round the building, and seemed to anticipate bloodshed and horrid murder.

Emma had her folitary meal fent up to her apartment; the unfavourable looks of her keeper feemed to exclude any promife of bribery, or fuccessful entreaty. The visit of her dreaded lover fucceeded her breakfaft. He found her what he expected, abhorring every word which he uttered in the way of affection for her.

"Brave me not," he faid; "you are too much honoured by the attachment I feel for you. You will regret fuch misconduct. Yield to my paffion, charming Mifs Tankerville, with a good grace, and you may depend on my future kindness."

"I will fooner lofe my life!" exclaimed the heart-grieved Emma.

Oh, we will take care to prevent your death, by removing all means of violence."

He then quitted the room, clofing the door after him with unusual violence.

Nothing remarkable happened, except that he was vifited by the mistress of this horrid affaffin, a woman well-fuited to her fituation; fuch fociety as her's, however, could give but little relief to the diftreffed Emma,

CHAPTER XIX.

Ye ask to know my race-from Arno's vale,
Hurl'd headlong down, I fought the depths of hell,
For more than common villany renown'd.
No feller favage haunts the moonlight wild,
Nor owns a den with bloodier deeds defil'd,
As well Pistoia knows my native ground."

Sternly he ceas'd, with execrations dire,
And, loud blafpheming Heav'n's eternal Sire,

He rais'd his ruffian hands, and dar'd his wrath;
But foon a fpiry fnake his members binds,
Another round his vocal paffage winds,

And ftops with many a fold the felon's breath."

BOYD's Tranflation of the Inferno of Dante Aligiberi.

On the third day, a traveller was brought in wounded, the prifoner of this nefarious gang; fhe recognised him immediately. It was not Dauncey, nor any of her relations, that prefented himself to her view; but the beloved features of Sir Henry MoreHow much changed from the bloom

ton.

ing chevalier that she had met in England at the masquerade!

Deftitute of that fine flufh of health which was wont to draw observation from the fpectator; pale, and fainting with the lofs of blood which he had fustained in the conflict that he had held with the robbers; he afforded a melancholy fight to his fond miftrefs. She could not fupprefs the feelings of her heart, but, fhrieking aloud, fell infenfible on the floor. Had the robber been apprised of this part of our fair heroine's hiftory, in all probability this moment would have decided Moreton's fate; who, difclaiming all regard to perfonal fafety, notwithstanding the figns his miftrefs gave him, intimating quietness and calmnefs, threatened the utmost torments that invention could fuggeft, to the whole body, if one of them dared to profane her with his impious touch; promifing the richest presents, on his honour, if they would convey Emma to the city of Vienna.

Some derided him, others treated him as a madman, laughing at him, and shaking their heads; but not one of them was otherwife than callous to his feelings. As for the fainting of Emma, they regarded it as a fign of that tendernefs which frequently accompanies virtuous and delicate females; but which they confidered as totally unneceffary, if not unpleasing.

When recovered by their affiduities, she was shown to her apartment; and the leader of the banditti, preffing her hand, intimated that the hour was approaching which he fhould reckon the happieft of his life.

It was to a miserable, low, and dark garret, that the wretched Henry was led, fupported by two men; for he had diffembled the ftate of his wound, hoping that he fhould be able to make his efcape, and refcue Emma from her miferable durance. Spots of blood ftained the floor.

The moon darted her trembling rays through the cafement, and on a miferable