according to the same laws as the planets, may be either self-luminous, or may reflect the light of the Sun."

I need hardly say, at the close of my Lecture, that I profess to be nothing more than the unskilful compiler of the information I have endeavoured to set before you. But if I have succeeded in carrying on your interest in my subject, and your attention to my remarks, thus far, I cannot do otherwise than hope that we shall not have spent our evening together without advantage. It is always instructive, and may always be highly improving, to look into the works of creation in a reverent spirit. An honest and good mind cannot fail of being led upwards from the works to the all-directing Intelligence, from the creatures to the CREATOR, from things visible to things invisible, even to the Great GOD of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness. He is, one scarcely needs to say, the only worthy Object of our knowledge. Though we know all depths and mysteries of science, and know not Him, we really know nothing as we should. We know nothing which it will concern us to know when we shall have shuffled off this mortal coil, and passed into the regions and space which are beyond the ken of our fellow mortals.

ECHOES OF FANTASIE.

PART THE FIRST, (continued.)

I THINK I must have fainted, for I can but just remember that the cold, subduing, fascinating gaze of Noesie went thrilling through me, and I sank into her arms. As I opened my eyes, her look was still intently bent on me. She would not let me stir. I heard her say, " Charming, but demented Fantasie, I can both love and pity thy innocent credulity. Look full at me. Dost thou think I would deceive thee? Open thine eyes and gaze steadily awhile in the direction that I point."

"Thou art cold," I said; I cannot stay with thee, keep closer, my sweetest darlings."

Dicè and Erosie crept softly near, shuddering as they gazed upon my new protector, and with one voice exclaimed, "O, Fantasie! thou wilt not love her more than us. Come let us soar away; why didst thou stop to talk to her ?"

"Peace, children!" said our powerful companion; you regard me as of another species. I too am of that family of fairy spirits that attend upon mankind; but while you beguile man with your witcheries, I teach him to discern between the real and imaginary, and to decide between the true and false. If he would be ruled at all times by me, he would be spared from many sorrows and mistakes. Thou, gentle Fantasie, art dazzled by thine own fond fancies; and whomsoever, from thy very birth, thou hast attended, thou hast also deceived-and whensoever we have met before in Time we have been antagonists; and now we meet again. So far, thou hast ruled here, but lasting power is mine. Thou canst carry all before thee, but thou canst not sway with justice, because thou art not constant, even to thyself."

“O, say no more," I cried, “let me go," for though I knew I had the power to go, yet still she spoke with majesty and dignity that fascinated me; "the thrilling melody of heaven's angelic choir, falling in murmuring echoes on the ocean's mighty surface, comes floating on my ear; now bursting forth in wild extatic praise, then softly whispering peace, O, let me fly and blend my voice with theirs-and then list, the gentle breeze, the soft sweet sighing of the forest trees, the perfume borne upon the air, are all clear evidence of angels' presence, and as they float along by me, I feel the touch of their soft beauteous wings. How can I stay with thee? Noble Noesie! let me go. I will not stay with thee." She put her hand upon my lips and softly said,

"Calm thee, Fantasie; I am not the monster thou dost picture me, neither have I the power to retain thee against thy will. Go, if thou wilt, but thou hadst better let me tell thee what thy fancy pictures really are. Come now, look yonder, thou sweet, fond child." I nestled close to her-I know not why-I could not love her; but her gentle words had power.

"I will listen, but be quick," I said.

She began, "Carry back thy thoughts, if possible to thy birth, and tell me if ever thy fancies were embodied or made real; in other words, hast thou ever given lasting satisfaction to any, over whom thou hast had sole power. Nay, thou knowest it. Neither can thy glowing ideals of the Infinite ever save or satisfy a soul."

"Art thou sure of it, or art thou dreaming ?" I replied. She smiled. "I never dream," she said; "'tis thou who dreamest and dost revel in thy dreams as if they were realities. Listen-that Infinite, whom we worship, is great and good. He is an Omnipresent Essence of Perfection and of Power. He holds the universe in His control. All created things submit to Him because He wills it, and fulfil the object of their being. Man is His peculiar creature; we are man's attendants. I am his especial guide. His light is worse than darkness without me. 'Tis not his lot to revel in imaginary scenes, but his portion here is labour and thought. That temple yonder that thou thinkest so glorious, is but a building made with human hands, where one day in seven men should meet to thank the Infinite for the blessings of the six, and to implore His protection."

As Noesie was speaking she had risen, and I found that we were walking slowly on a highway. Seeing my surprise to find she had drawn me on without my knowledge, she smiled again that smile of power.

"What, dreaming even while I speak!" she said, "wilt thou never open thine eyes? I dread thy influence over man, ever charming and exciting him with thy fond fancy, yet ever being led and turned about by every softest breeze-look, we have come thus far," pointing backwards, "and thou knewest it not!"

"Dost thou reproach me then," I said, "for having come with thee ?"

"No, Fantasie, I would not reproach thee; but I would wish to show thee thine own danger, and how soon thou art prevailed upon to leave thy glowing imagery. I would thou wouldst leave it altogether."

"But I never will," I said, with warmth. "This dry and dusty way, by which thou art dragging me, would quickly kill me, I am even now both faint and tired."

"That's right, dear Fantasie," whispered Zetesie; "I was hoping thou wouldst not submit to her: I cannot even; and if thou goest, I will go too, and thou shalt tell me all thy dreams, I am longing to know more of thee."

"Thou shalt go, I like thee better than I did at first -thou art not so pale, I thought thee even ugly but just now."

"Didst thou? well, that is nothing new; for so I am always thought till all my worth is known.

"I doubt not we shall be friends," said I; "but I would like to hear what further Noesie has to say."

For a moment, I think, I had forgotten my darlings, Dicè and Erosie. The latter sported on beside me, rosier and brighter, though I could not but be surprised so soon to find her stouter, and altogether not so delicate and transparent as she was: yet she pleased me quite as well. But what ailed my other darling? how changed! she was pale and fainting! wasted to a shadow of her former self. With difficulty had she kept pace with us, even with the aid of Zetesie; for Erosie and she no longer sported, hand in hand. I pressed her to my heart; she was cold, and grown too weak to answer In despair I cried, "O, Dicè! Dicè!" She gazed into my face, a sweet, beseeching look, that is even now bitterly reproaching me; she softly whispered, Closer, Fantasie, bend down thine ear, for I must speak into thy very heart. It was because thou hadst turned thy back on me; but I am better now."

my caress.

"And dost thou love me thus, my injured Dicè? I will never, never leave thee. Lean on Erosie, she is strong and able; and keep before me ever. I will never let thee go-never.'

She gently placed her hand in that of Erosie; but the latter gazed about, and cared not altogether, so I thought, to be so near to Dicè-I could not understand what ailed them, and why I saw them, so distinctly,

two.

*

*

"Let us enter, Fantasie," were the words of Noesie, that roused me from a reverie. Zetesie had twined her arms about me, and, following Noesie, we entered. Noesie

took my hand; "See," said she calmly, "Fantasie, these pillars of thy wondrous temple are but stone! all glowing as thou didst describe it--it is all cold stone, and nothing, nothing more! where mortals worship. The angel voices are but sounds proceeding from thy heated fancy. This Altar, and the Sacrifice thou speakest of, are simply what they seem to me, and nothing more. Search for thyself."

She sought to place my hand upon the Altar, but I started back with horror at the thought.

"Thou art so far right, great Noesie, that this building, in which we are, is but a work of human hands ; yet even this is sanctified beyond all other works of man, because the Infinite is pleased especially to meet His creatures here; but the glowing beauty of this Temple, that I ere now described to thee-though 'tis plain thou didst not see it, was reflected from another, invisible, on which, through this, I gazed. A Building, every stone of which has Life, which fills both heaven and earth, and is glorified with a majesty and splendour I could not describe; which emanates from Him, the Centre and Origin of all majesty and holiness, Who ever lives therein, and sits upon the throne."

She smiled, and only said, "I cannot convince thee of thy madness; but let us look into the Law, in which we both believe is found the Truth."

She took the sealed Book from its usual place, with a calmness and self-possession that astonished me. "Rash, bold Noesie!" I cried; and dost thou dare to penetrate the mysteries of that Book ?"

Why not? It is my especial duty to explain its truths to men.'

"Seest thou not that seal upon the Book in thine hand; thou wilt not, surely, break it. That is GOD'S own seal set on it, to prevent the careless gaze of those who cannot understand Its mysteries."

"I do not respect that seal: it was man and not GoD who placed it there: I claim the right of reading and interpreting all the truths contained therein; and therefore am I man's highest friend. Quiet thy scruples, tender Fantasie, and trust alone in me."