<< These verses tco appofitely expref"fed the feelings of my mind. My "voice died on my lips as I endea"voured to articulate the last words, " and I burst into tears. A flight noife "attracted my attention; on turning "round I perceived the Marquis ftand

66

ing behind my chair. I thought, my

rifing.

"Lord, you were at the Corfo,' said I, No, Mademoiselle Sidney,'. "(the name I adopted) 'I have been more "entertained at home by your perform"ance'. Your Lordship's tafte,' I replied gravely, in this inftance yields "to your politenefs.' Both,' faid he,

"agree in the truth of my affertion.' "Here the found of the Marchionefs's

equipage was heard below, and D'Em. "bleville haftened to receive her.

"In

"In feveral converfations relative to "the Marquis, Madame D'Embleville informed me, that although poffeffed " of most amiable qualities, ftill the faw "with concern, that he was ungovern"able in any favourite purfuit, and his

temper, though naturally gentle, was "rendered furious by oppofition; but

from his choice of a wife (fhe would " continue) I have nothing to fear, as "his pride, in a circumftance of fuch

moment, will never fuffer him to de་ rogate from the dignity of himself or "his family. In the courfe of fix "months a vifible alteration took place "in the Marquis, his health and spirits "rapidly declined. The Marchionefs

was frightened at this alarming change "in a fon whom she doated on to diftrac❝tion, and mentioned to me her distress "at

c 3

"at being unable to account for the "cause of his complaint. Has he ever,'

"faid fhe viewing me with a glance of fcrutinizing inquiry,

mentioned to

'you any circumstance which could "lead to a difcovery of his prefent"uneafiness ?' I was hurt at a question "fo unlike her ufual manner of addreff.

ing me, and I answered coolly, that I 86 was not fufficiently honoured with the "Marquis's confidence to be entrusted "with his fecrets. She withdrew, and "remained in clofe conference with "D'Embleville the reft of the evening. "Her behaviour to me the next day "was unusually referved, as fhe an"fwered the questions which I ven"tured to propofe with a diftant hauteur "that she had never before affumed to"wards me. Madame D'Embleville "dined

dined abroad, and after a folitary meal "in my own apartment, I retired to the

86

garden, and feating myself in a fequef

"tered spot began to read the following

High waves the dank grafs o'er these moss-cover'd

walls,

And the weed's rank luxuriance around them is

spread;

No more is the minstrel fong heard in these halls,

For the gay voice of music for ever is fled.

11.

Oh! fleeting's the shadow of grandeur and power, And man's but the child of corruption and clay;

Then wonder not, stranger, that fall'n is this tower,
Or these ivy-rob'd ruins should sink to decay.

III.

Yet once did this castle rise stately and grand,
And gaily its green banners floated in air;
And the widows and ferfs of the neighbouring land

Blefs'd its generous owner,

the Baron St. Clair.

IV.

Still to add to his bliss had a daughter been born,
And many a young Knight with a figh owned

her fair;

For the bud of the wild-rose that peeps thro' the

thorn,

Could fcarce with the soft blush of Bertha

compare.

V.

One night when the tempest swept mountain and vale,

And the wind-spirit shrieked from a cloud where

he fat;

In