er Garigliano, and is such indeed s every day brings with it—in a land here laws are trampled on and lawless men alk in the sun; but it should not be lost, ɔr it may serve to bind us to our Country. AN ADVENTURE. HREE days they lay in ambush at my gate, Then sprung and led me captive. Many a wild Ve traversed; but Rusconi, 'twas no less, That in a golden chain hung from his neck, Heaves o'er the dead-where erst some Alaric Then all advanced, and, ranging in a square, Stretched forth their arms as on the holy cross, From each to each their sable cloaks extending, That, like the solemn hangings of a tent, Covered us round; and in the midst I stood, Weary and faint, and face to face with one, Whose voice, whose look dispenses life and death, Whose heart knows no relentings. Instantly Y A light was kindled and the Bandit spoke. I wrote. ""Tis well," he cried. "A peasant-boy, Trusty and swift of foot, shall bear it hence. Meanwhile lie down and rest. This cloak of mine Will serve thee; it has weathered many a storm." The watch was set; and twice it had been changed, When morning broke, and a wild bird, a hawk, one. I loved, was scorned; I trusted, was betrayed; nd in my anguish, my necessity, et with the fiend, the tempter-in Rusconi. Why thus?' he cried. Thou wouldst be free and dar'st not. ome and assert thy birth-right while thou canst. robber's cave is better than a dungeon; and death itself, what is it at the worst, What, but a harlequin's leap?' Him I had known, Two months ago, When on a vineyard-hill we lay concealed 6 A Wood-nymph!' cried Rusconi. 'By the light, Lovely as Hebe! Lay her in the shade.' I heard him not. I stood as in a trance. • What,' he exclaimed with a malicious smile, • Wouldst thou rebel?' I did as he required. • Now bear her hence to the well-head below; But thou hast earned it.' As I staggered down, But there are moments when the courage comes) Why may I not, while yet-while yet I can, Release her from a thraldom worse than death?' 'Twas done as soon as said. I kissed her brow, And smote her with my dagger. A short cry She uttered, but she stirred not; and to heaven Her gentle spirit fled. 'Twas where the path In its descent turned suddenly. No eye Observed me, tho' their steps were following fast. But soon a yell broke forth, and all at once Levelled with deadly aim. Then I had ceased To trouble or be troubled, and had now (Would I were there!) been slumbering in my grave, Had not Rusconi with a terrible shout Thrown himself in between us, and exclaimed, When in the eyes of all I read distrust? for once,' and on his cheek, methought, I saw The blush of virtue, I will save thee, Albert; Again I cannot.' Ere his tale was told, As on the heath we lay, my ransom came; -But the night wears, and thou art much in need NAPLES. HIS region, surely, is not of the earth.1 grove, Citron or pine or cedar, not a grot Sea-worn and mantled with the gadding vine, But breathes enchantment. Not a cliff but flings On the clear wave some image of delight, Some cabin-roof glowing with crimson flowers, Some ruined temple or fallen monument, To muse on as the bark is gliding by. And be it mine to muse there, mine to glide, From day-break, when the mountain pales his fire Yet more and more, and from the mountain-top, Till then invisible, a smoke ascends, Solemn and slow, as erst from Ararat, When he, the Patriarch, who escaped the Flood, Was with his house-hold sacrificing there— From day-break to that hour, the last and best, 'Un pezzo di cielo caduto in terra. -SANNAZZARO. |