or his fire could with, received feveral dangerous wounds in the confli&; and Rumour, who, like a river, increases as The goes, proclaimed them to be mortal. The Maréchal's grief was every way fuited to the calamity. In feeling himfelf a parent, he did not, however, forget that he was a hero. He is gone!' faid he; but not without his fhare of glory! "He is no more! but he died, as I ever wifhed him, in the fervice of his country!'

The difconfolate Maria heard thefe fentiments; but, alas! they conveyed no balm to her wounded heart. She had loft all that was dear to her in a world which had ever afforded her but too little enjoyment; and to indulge her forrows in folitude was now the only object that claimed her attention. In a few weeks fhe disappeared; and a letter informed the Maréchai that her refolution was to end her wretched remnant of life in the gloom of a cloifter. As fhe had not mentioned the place of her destination, the Maréchal was unable to prevent this fatal step; and, after many fruitless researches and enquí ries, he gave up all hopes of ever seeing or hearing from her more.

But what was his joy and furprize, when, after a short interval of melancholy, a letter from his fon convinced him that the youth was still in being, and in a fair way of recovery! The report of his death had been preinature; though accounts were received from the army in which he was numbered with the flain.

The Maréchal's anfwer announced the fudden retreat of Maria, in confequence of her error; and a truce of fix months being agreed on by the contending pow ers, the Comte de Sabran obtained leave of abfence, and determined never to return till he had found out the spot which contained the treature of his foul. With this view, he vifted every convent where he fuppofed fie might be concealed ; and, after incredible fatigues and anxiety, (during which he feldom tafted food, or fuffered fleep to approach his eyelids) he at length traced her to Vienna, whither the had been invited by a boardingfchool friend, whom alone she had made the confidante of her intentions. Under the feigned title of her brother, he was first allowed an audience at the grate; and he even obtained permiffion, under that fanction, to vifit her within the inclofure. There he found the had already taken the veil, and even her last vows;

but love prevailed over all the dictates of religion; and a plan was concerted for her release, which he immediately put into execution.

Night was the time fixed on for this defperate attempt, and every precaution was taken to prevent a difcovery. The guard was fecured by an ample bribe; the Comte fcaled the walls as the clock truck twelve, and found Maria prepar ed to fecond his exertions. Many ob ftacles, however, retarded his designs; nor were they accomplished before the centinel was relieved on whofe aid and fecrecy they had relied. The foldier now on duty, obferving him and Maria defcend from the wall by a rope-ladder the Comte had taken care to provide, immediately fired; when poor Maria fell at his feet. Not doubting but that she was mortally wounded, he facrificed the guard, by whom he fuppofed he had been bafely betrayed, to the first impulse of his refentment; and, in the diftraction of his foul, was meditating the like vengeance on himfelf, when Maria (who by this time had recovered from her woon) arrived foon enough to prevent the fatal ftroke. Once more he clasped ber in his arms; but the report of the centinel's nufquet having given a general alarm to the guards, he was conveyed, with Maria, to a place of fecurity. Murder and facrilege were the two crimes of which he flood clearly convicted; crimes which excluded the most diftant hope of mercy. He was accordingly ordered to prepare for inevitable death; and the lovely Maria was con demned to fhare his fate.

The day was come, the awful preparations were made, and the vile arm of an executioner was already raised to cut off two perfons in the bloom of health and youth, culpable in the eyes of erring man, but more than innocent in thofe of Heaven, when the old Maréchal de Sabran, doubtle's conducted by Providence, arrived at the melancholy spot, just in time to prevent the dreadful cataftrophe. His name and virtues were refpected even by thofe enemies who had fo often fhrunk before his valour; and no fooner had he claimed the two culprits, and declared his intention of appealing to the feelings of the Emperor, than orders were given to defer the execution till the event of his fuit should be known.

Being admitted to the Imperial prefence,

fence, what was his conduct? Did he rend his grey locks in token of affliction,or defcend to more abject acts of humiliation, in order to excite pity? No; he appeared, he looked, he spoke, with the confidence of a man who felt his claims to attention. The words he made ufe of were few. Sire," faid he, I am a father; alas! Imuft foon ceafe to be fo, for my fon and daughter have offended you! I come not hither in the forlorn hope of defrauding the claims of justice, which I have ever refpe&ted; but of pleading for honour, which has been equally dear to me. If my chil• dren are guilty, let them perish, but < not by a vulgar hand: mine, Sire, 'fhall do the office of an executioner; and the fame fword that pierces their hearts, thall foon find access to mine. I am a Maréchal of France; my name is Sabran; and this requeft, I truft, will not be refufed to the fame of my ancestors, and to my own!'

The Emperor heard him with aftonishment; nor was it till after a pause

of fome minutes, that he could make him this gracious reply. Go, it is impoffible that your children can have been guilty; or if they have been fo unfortunate, whatever be their crimes, I forgive them, for your fake.'

This fentence was highly extolled by all but the bigotted clergy, ever enraged to fee victims fnatched from their vengeance; thefe complained that the interefts of Heaven were facrificed to thofe of humanity: but, in fpite of their influence, Sabran and his beloved Maria were restored to the arms of their now enraptured parent, and foon after united in the fofteft bands that Hymen ever entwined. The fovereign, to whofe benevolence they owed thefe bleflings, was not long without his reward: in the very next campaign the young heir to his throne was refcued from his fate by the Comte de Sabran; who never failed to tread in the footsteps of his father, and feemed ftill more to inherit his god-like virtues, than his titles, his rank, and most ample fortune.

ftandish, and write out feveral fheets of paper (as it were) in his fleep, while he vainly imagines himself broad awake; on the contrary, the real flumbers of a found mind are frequently inftructive, through the juftnefs of the imagination; and a morning may be employed to very good purpofe in penning a dream of the preceding evening.

Laft night I went to bed, as ufual, with a calm, unruffled mind, after the bufinefs of the day; the natural confequence of health and innocence, the two folid bleflings of life. In my fleep, I fancied myself in the midft of a lonely delightful country landfcape, in the fpring of the year. The freshness of the greens, the luxuriance of the flowers, and the melody of the birds, all confpired to please me. While I entertained myself with the profpect, a perfon like a bride approached me; he was dreffed in a yellow filk, with a coronet of myrtle, interwoven with flowers, on her head. VOL. I.

Nothing was wanting, before to make my happiness compleat but a companion. Tranfported at the approach of fo fair a creature, I feized her hand, which fhe feemed not to disapprove. I led her to a rifing ground, where the trees made a thick fhade; we feated ourfelves on a bed of violets, and I began to addrefs her with a tenderness my youth had never felt before.

At that moment, two women, different in their mien and habit, intruded upon our retirement. The one appeared in full bloom, her cheeks dimpled with finiles, her hair flowing in the wind, and her limbs expofed to fight; there was an affected levity in her geftures, and the difcovered a folicitoufnefs to please, in fpite of her feeming negligence. The other came on with a more regular, majestick pace: the wore a white, unfpotted veil; through which, nevertheless, it was eafy to obferve an uncommon dignity in all her motions.

The gay appearance of the firit was as agreeable to me, as the awful prefence of the laft was unwelcome. Her looks

3 E

looks, as the lifted her veil, gave a check to my tranfports; while the other fmiled upon me with approbation. They both now contefted who fhould accoit me firit: whereupon, the airy perfon thus bespoke the matron-like female

6

Why should you break in upon the folitude, and interrupt the happiness, • of this youthful pair? Is it not fufficient that you have your votaries amongst perfons of maturer years, and are adored by hoary heads?-Be happy, continued fhe, turning to us, if love can make you fo: you are in the prime of life, and the prefent feafon is indulgent to your wishes.'

While the poke the whole creation feemed to rejoice; my heart was fired into rapture, and I gazed on her with fatisfaction. The other, obferving my manifeft diflike of her, caft on me a look of compaffion, and difappeared.

All restraint removed, I was now happy in my imagination beyond expreffion: I reproached my own folly for wafting fo many irretrievable days in labour, in application of thought, and in ftudying the romantick - vifions of philofophy; I reflected on the fhort remaining pace of my youth, and the exquifite charms of the lovely object that lay befide me, who feemed to court my affection, and with longing eyes to chide my delays.

Abandoned to my prefent bli's, I attempted the moft endearing careffes; when inftantly I heard a violent noife, as if the elements were all at variance. The fky was darkened, lightning flashed from the clonds, the flowers withered, the verdure of the fields was blafted, and the raven and the owl perched over me, with their boding notes. Struck

with horror at the fudden change, I fought for the perfon whofe fpeech had animated me before; but the phantom was vanished. This added to my dread, and I felt an immediate averfion for the beauty I purposed to take into my arms; at the fame time, I had the mortification to perceive her heart as averfe

to me.

When our common terror was now

grown to the height, the uproar and the darkness increafing upon us, a gentle gleam of light broke faintly through the gloom; and I could perceive the perfon coming towards us, whom, in the fecurity of our joys, we had rejected. Here

upon I recollected the compaffionate look with which the left us; and entertained fome hopes of fuccour, of which we then food in the utmost need; for the scene of horror that furrounded us, had reduced us not only to defpife each other, but to abhor even ourfelves.

As the drew near the threw up her veil, and difclofed a countenance full of fweetness and compofure; fuch a mixture as arifes from prudence and innocence united. The violent convulfions of nature did not difcompofe her looks. We immediately proftrated ourfelves at her feet; when the reached out her hand, and raifed us with an indulgence we little expected. The thunder ceafed, and the violence of the storm abated; when I would have excufed the rude treatment he had received from me; but he, touched with my grief and confufion, prevented me in the following words-

It was my tender concern for you that brought me hither before, and the fame compaflion, prevailed upon me to return. I can eafly pardon your first fault, and am not furprized at the powerful influence which the prefence of Vice had over you. Your youth, your inexperience, the weaknefs of your reafon, and violence of your pailions, all plead ftrongly for 6 you. But if, after this fevere warning, you continue deaf to my admonitions, I fhall for ever withdraw my protection from you.'

I was preparing to reply, when the prevented me again to this effectRemember, promifes in the hour of diftrefs are very deceitful; they fhew the fear and anguifh, not the refolution, of the foul. Take time and lei. fure to reflect coolly on your pat conduct; learn the habit of reafoning without paffion, and your actions then will be conformable to the dignity of your nature: fudden refolves are only the lightning of a dark mind; deliberate counfels yield a continued light, and will conduct you fafely through life.'

As the fpoke my fears vanished, my diforder ceafed, and I felt my whole anxiety relieved. I viewed my lovely bride with pleasure, whofe beauty now feemed to receive a fresh luâre, and her eyes glanced with equal complacency on me; when the divine form conti nued

had reprefented to him in fo ferious a light, would be easily obliterated by time and reflection. In this hope, however, he was greatly deceived: the poor girl, indeed, attempted at firft to difplay a refolution which he was unable to fupport; her heart was difappointed, and her health began to fuffer. Conftantia was almoft diftracted at the idea of proving the death of a fifter whom the tenderly loved; and the renewed her adjurations to her father with fuch irrefiftible importunity, that, touched with the peculiar fituation of his two amiable children, and elated with fome new profpects of commercial emolument, he refolved at last to comply with the generous entreaty of Conftantia, though at fome little hazard of leaving her expofed to indigence.

The pr udent lover was recalled. His return foon restored the declining health of his miftrefs: all difficulties were adjufted by a pecuniary compliance with his demands; the day of marriage was fixed; and Conftantia, after facrificing every filling of her fettled portion, attended her fifter to church with a heart more filled with exultation and delight than that of the bride herself, who had rifen from a ttate of dejection and despair to the poffeffion of the man fhe loved. But the pleasure that the generous Conftantia derived from an event which fhe had so nobly promoted, was very foon converted into concern and anxiety. In a vifit of fome weeks to the houfe of the new-married couple, the foon difcovered that her brother in-law, though entitled to the character of an honeft and well-meaning man, was very far from poffeffing the rare and invaluable talent of conferring happiness on the objects of his regard. Though he had appeared, on their first acquaintance, a man of a cultivated understanding, and an elegant addrefs, yet, under his own roof, he indulged himself in a peevish irritability of temper, and a paffion for domeftic argument, peculiarly painful to the quick feelings of Conftantia, who, from the exquisite fenfibility of her frame, poffeffed an uncommon delicacy both of mind and manners. She obferved, however, with great fatisfaction, and with no lefs furprize, that her fifter was not qually hurt by this fretful infirmity of er husband. Happily for her own com. ort, that lady was one of thofe good, oving women, whofe soft, yet steady af

fection, like a drop of melted wax, has the property of sticking to any fubftance on which it accidentally falls. She often adopted, it is true, the quick and querulous ftile of her husband; nay, their domeftic debates have run fo high, that poor Conftantia has fometimes dreaded, and fometimes almoft wifhed, an abfolute feparation; but her lively terrors on this fubject were gradually diminished by obferving, that although they frequently fkirmished after fupper, in a very angry tone, yet, at the breakfaft-table the next morning, they feldom failed to refume a becoming tenderness of language. Thefe fudden and frequent tranfitions from war to peace, and from peace to war, may poffibly be very entertaining to the belligerent parties themselves; but I believe they always hurt a benevolent spectator. Conftantia fhortened her vifit. She departed, indeed, disappointed and chagrined; but the generously concealed . . her fenfations, and cherished a pleating hope that he might hereafter return to the houfe with more fatisfaction, either from an improvement in the temper of it's mafter, or, at least, from opportunities of amufing herfelf with the expected children of her fifter: but, alas! in this, her fecond hope, the warm-hearted Conftantia was more cruelly difappointed. Her fifter was, in due time, delivered of a child; but it proved a very fickly infant, and foon expired. The afflicted mother languifhed for a confiderable time in a very infirm ftate of health; and, after frequent mifcarriages, funk herfelf into the grave. The widower, having paffed the customary period in all the decencies of mourning, took the earlieft opportunity of confcling himself for his lofs by the acquifition of a more opu. lent bride; and, as men of his prudent difpofition have but little fatisfaction in the fight of a person, from whom they have received great obligations which they do not mean to repay, he thought it proper to drop all intercourfe with Conftantia. She had a fpirit too noble to be mortified by fuch neglect. Indeed, as the believed, in the fondness of her recent affliction, that her fifter might have ftill been living, had he been happily united to a man of a more amiable temper, the rejoiced that his ungrateful conduct relieved her from a painful neceffity of practifing hypocritical civilities towards a relation whom in her heart fhe defpifed. By the death of her fifter the

was