treatment from a member of his own "Theodore was his name," replied clan; no attention was paid to his enthe girl. treaties, and he was compelled to retire, without even the common civility of an answer. A fecond, and a third, to whom he made application, evinced little or no tendency, either to credit his tale, or to offer their fervices. He was on the point of retiring from the cottage of a fourth, when the fisherman's wife to whom it belonged, obferving his knapfack, as he turned to go out, faid, in a fhrill tone of voice, "People don't often let lodgings to people who can't afford to pay for the hire of them!" If that be the only objection," replied Alan, "I believe I can fatisfy you, as far as the money will go, which my father gave me at parting.' At the bare mention of the word Money, every thing affumed a new appearance. The fire blazed, mine hoftefs fmiled, her husband cracked his jokes, fupper appeared, clean ftraw was ipread, Alan made a hearty meal, and as he configned himself to repofe, felt all the comforts of being among his relations. He was uncertain how long he had remained in this fituation, when the touch of some perfon, addreffing him in a low voice, roufed him from the flumber he had fallen into. It was a girl belonging to the cottage, whofe bold and wanton demeanour had exceedingly difgufted Alan. She had expreffed her re pugnance towards his being permitted to pass the night where he then was; infolently declaring, fhe had work enough, without fweeping after every vagrant who infefted the highways. Oppreffed as he was by fleep and wearinefs, he nevertheless perceived that her breath was ftrongly tainted by the effluvia of fome fpirituous liquor; to the effect of which he attributed the intelligence she seemed fo eager to communi caté. "If y you be really the fon of Modred the weaver," faid fhe, "it is pity but you should know what has happened fince you fell asleep." "What is it you mean?" faid Alan. "Here has been a young fellow from Olingra, on horfeback," said she," who has inquired for you. every where, and gone off quite in a pet, at not finding you." is "It must be Theodore!" faid Alan. "And wherefore has it been concealed from him, that I am here?" "Why, old Ambrofe, you must know, don't much like being disturbed in his fleep. So he told him through the window that he knew nothing about you. Befides, I fuppofe, he thought he fhould get more by keeping you here, than by letting you go.' "How long has he been gone?" faid Alan. "Not five minutes," replied the girl; " he took the road for Inverness." "Enough! faid Alan, feizing his knapfack, and rewarding her honefty; "keep your own counsel, and fay nothing of my abfence." In an inftant he flew from the cottage, and haftened in pursuit of his friend. The night was dark and tempeftuous. Not a fingle traveller paffed him on the road, from whom he could obtain the fmalleft information. At the approach of morning, he fat down fatigued and difappointed, among fome paffengers, whom he found affembled in a fmall boat, preparing to cross the Firth of Dornock. Here he had fome leisure to reflect upon the fingular mode in which his fleep had been interrupted, and the intelligence conveyed to him refpecting his friend Theodore. He began to fufpect that fome fecret motive of the fisherman's girl had rendered him the dupe of her artifice. Perceiving that he was unobferved by the reft of the crew, he applied to his talifman, and foon felt, or fancied, that the whole mystery was unravelled. He beheld the abandoned object of his former difguft, caroufing with her infamous paramour, in the very room, and by the fire, he had left. Upon the floor laid the wretched fisherman and his wife, bound, with their backs to each other, and faftened by cords to an iron ftaple in the wall. A large fack contained every thing portable belonging to the cottage, with which these iniquitous wretches were preparing to make their efcape. It was now fufficiently clear for what purpose he had been deceived refpecting Theodore. But it did not feem quite fo evident, in what manner his curiofity was either blamable, or dangerous, in the prefent inftance. Since, although the fpectacle itself was painful, his own welfare did not appear to be implicated in the event. Perhaps he entertained other fentiments in the fequel. Among the paffengers who had crowded into the boat with Alan, were two women, whofe appearance indicated a deportment fomething fuperior to the rest of the crew. "Allow me," faid the eldeft, fmiling, and prefenting fome viands the had taken from a bal ket," to offer you a part of our breakfaft; the morning air is extremely keen, and your pallid countenance betrays a want both of reit and nourishment. A little food would enliven your fpirits; unlefs, like Matilda, you have moped away your appetite." At the word Matilda, Alan raifed his drooping eyelids, and beheld the most lovely figure imaginable. She was feated with her hands folded; while her beautiful, but dejected features, wore evident traces of fome inward forrow. If there can exift any thing more interefting than female beauty, it is the contemplation of that beauty in diftrefs. There is fomething fo congenial to the heart of man, in embracing an opportunity, which awakens the pleafing expectation of being serviceable to thofe we love. Perhaps, alfo, fome portion of more felfish confiderations may blend itself with the profpect; the hope of meeting with a return of that affection which infpires us to the undertaking. She had raifed a thick veil, to partake of the refreshment her companion placed before her; but finding herfelf unequal to the task, remained in filent meditation. Alan, who had been accuftomed only to the pale, unripened beauties of Olingra, with their high cheek bones and ruddy locks, regarded her as a being of fuperior order; and remembering his adventure beneath the oak, began to fufpect Oberon had once more dazzled him with preternatural vifibility. With his mouth and eyes wide open, he remained for fome minutes in mute aftonishment. All the women he had ever feen; all the laffes of Caithness, froin the remoteft regions of Caledonia, to the confines of Sutherland; could not, he was convinced, have equalled the beauty he now beheld. Even Ifabel, the fair and faithlefs Ifabel, was in comparison without a charm; fo lovely feemed the melancholy ftranger, the fad, but beauteous Matilda. Her companion poffeffed also traces of an interefting countenance, although in fome meature obliterated by time. There was, nevertheless, a degree of dignity and mildnefs fo happily blended in her manners, that no perfon, could behold her with indifference. Finding Alan made no answer to her offer, it was repeated; and the youth gathering courage from entreaty, with much awkwardness, and little appetite, prepared to join in their repast. The fociety of his fair meflmates afforded Alan a gratification hitherto unknown. Their converfation at once enlightened and amufed him. It was a luxury, the narrow fphere of his`intercourfe with fociety had never afforded. He continued with them, not only during his paffage across the Firth of Dornock, but alio during their short refidence at Tain; and afterwards accompanied them, for feveral days, upon an excurfion they made along the Firth of Cromarty, to Dingwall, and the Lakes of Rofs. Matilda gradually laid afide that chilling referve, which diftinguished the firft moments of their acquaintance, and gave him reafon to believe a mutual paffion fubüfted between them. Simplicity and innocence are strangers to hypocrify. The heart of Alan was open to all mankind; and. Matilda, as the liftened to his artleis tale, repaid his vows with love. During one of those happy moments, in which they confided to each other every circumftance within the little volume of their lives; fhe related to him the virtues and the generofity of her amiable companion. "I lived," faid he, "in contented poverty with my aged parents, at Carrel, on the lake of Brora. The lady, whom you fee me with, came, as was her ufual custom, to make a fummer's tour among the Highlands. Her liberality and kindnefs to my father and my mother, I fhall never be able to repay. She has invited me to live with her; and was it not for the depreffion of fpirits which I experienced in parting from my relations, I have every reason to rejoice in the friendship of an amiable woman, who promifes to provide, both for me and for them." As Matilda uttered these words, her companion appeared. Alan was furprized to perceive in her countenance, evident marks of difpleasure. As the enter entered, he muttered fomething; but fo inaudibly, that he did not comprehend a fyllible. For fome days he fancied her kindness to him had diminifhed, in proportion as Matilda's increafed. There was no accounting for it. Either the deemed Alan too abject a connection for her young friend, or entertained a pallion for him herself. The latter did not feem probable, when, with very little ceremony, fle took occation to infinuate, that, having altered her route, it would be neceffary for them to part; as the purpofed to proceed by Baleada to Fort Auguftus, which did not lie in his journey to Inverness. Alan, who could icarce prevail upon himfelf to credit what he heard, liftened with anguifh and furprife. The following morning prefented him with a trial ftill more fevere. Rifing, as had been ufual with him, to enjoy a fhort converfation with Matilda, before her companion joined them at breakfaft, he heard with astonishment that fome hours had elapfed fince their departure. The people of the house were unable to explain, either the route they had taken, or the motives which occafioned fo extraordinary a determination. All the intelligence he could obtain, amounted to a vague conjecture refpecting the conduct of Matilda; which was reported, as ungrateful to her patronefs; although Alan deemed the imputation cenforious and abfurd. It was upon the fecond morning after this melancholy feparation, when, having paft a fleepless night, our youth entered a narrow pafs, between fome high mountains, in the vicinity of Inverness. The fun, with more than ufual fplendour, caft an effulgent brightness upon every object around him. "Ail Nature fmiles," faid he, "and every heart but mine is joyful! I alone, a wretched exile, urge my weary progrefs in folitude and lorrow." As he uttered thefe words, with trembling Lands, and fearful expectation, he once more ventured to infpect the fatal talifman. A reflefs and invincible defire to contemplate again the lovely features of Matilda, entirely fubdued the weak philofophy which had hitherto induced him to forego a luxury fo exquifite. Repeated punishment, in confequence of his imprudent gratifications, had almoft ftifled the remaining embers of his curiosity. The experi ment he knew was dangerous, but the temptation was irrefiftible. A thick mit fpread itself over the glafs as he raifed it to his eyes, and becoming fpecdily difperfed, was fucceeded by leveral floating characters, which foon arranged themfelves on the furface in more legible order; until at length he beheld plainly the following words: Alan! Alan! pause a while! Outward forms thy mind beguile; Never will a woman's fchemes Realize thy father's dreams; Wouldst thou make Matilda thine? Thou must all thy hopes refign; Alan! now behold and fee, Mark, Matilda's chastity! What words can exprefs his difmay and aftonishment in beholding, as the letters receded from his obfervation, the lovely figure of his Matilda, cafting her white arins round the neck of a young foldier, who feemed devouring her with kiffes. Proftrate on her knees before them knelt her amiable companion; grafping with her hands Matilda's garments, while the tears poured down her cheeks, and her attitude evinced every fymptom of the moft earneft fupplication. "Accurfed infamy!" exclaimed the frantic youth, in agonies of indignation and defpair, "and doubly curfed be the malignant dæmon who thus infults my feelings with his deteftable machinations!" So faying, with increafing fury, he dafhed the talifman againft the rocks; when, to his unfpeakable furprise and confternation, inftead of fragments, which he expected to fee flying in all directions, ten thousand fairies, in bright rays of glory, burft upon his view. In the midft ftood Oberon, mounted on a lofty car, whofe burning radiance dazzled all before it. Over his lucid arms a veft of purple waved in undulating folds; while numberless inferior Genii hovered in fantaftic forms, and fluttered round. Meanwhile, a voice, which vibrated upon his very heartftrings, thus addreffed him : "Behold, rafh youth! the accomplishment of my prediction! The moment is arrived, in which the knowledge thou haft acquired, induces thee to imprecate the medium by which that knowledge was conveyed. It has fallen to thy lot to behold the folly of a prying difpofition, and dearly haft thou purchafed thy experience. Profit by the the leffons you have received; be wife and cautious. "The purpose is fulfilled for which thy talifman was bestowed. It remains only to remove the veil which conceals from human forefight the mysterious operations of Providence. The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate; but full of wisdom, juftice, and mercy. The prefentations of thy glafs correfponded with the empty gratifications of idle curiofity; an external contemplation with out inward knowledge; a profpect of events, without any intimation of their caufes.. "When compaffion for the unfortunate induced thee to bestow thy charity on the foldier, what prompted thee to intrude upon his private moments? Having diftributed thy money generoufly, it is oftentation to purfue it afterwards. Yet fuffer not the difappointment thou didst experience to diminith thy benevolence. Be charitable, and spare not in thine offerings to the poor. Be ready to believe the tale of diftrefs, and give ear to the prayer of the miferable. Better to fail ten times, by helping the unworthy, than fuffer one deferving object to go away in want. These are actions that will give peace to thy flumbers, and cover thine eye-lids with repofe. Thus wilt thou be enabled to meet death without fear, and approach the grave without difmay. Thus will thy life be honourable, and thy laft days comfortable. The remembrance of the past will foothe the hours of fickness, and the glow of confcious virtue will difpel the coldness of approaching diffolution. Thy father's conduct in deftroying thy faithful maftiff was an act of felfprefervation and humanity. On the morning after thy departure he found im raving with the Hydrophobia. Refpecting Ifabel and Theodore thy punishment was juft. They had long been plighted to each other, and nothing but thine unwarrantable vanity prevented thee from obferving her attachment to another, If the union had taken place during your refidence in Olingra, the confequences of your anger would have been dangerous to Theodore. "The vifion you beheld in the cottage of the fiflierman, prevented you from overtaking the friend whom you purfued. The information you receiv ed from the lips of that abandoned proftitute was not without veracity; altho' her motive for communicating the in telligence was iniquitous and deteftable. The hand of juftice will speedily avenge her crimes. Had you pursued your inquiries upon your arrival at Tain, you would have discovered that your friend was at that moment in the town. But biaffed by the effect of idle curiofity, you loft the only opportunity of finding him. He came in purfuit of you, upon the fudden death of your good fatherwho has left you more than you imagined he poffeffed. "Return, therefore, to a life of innocence, of industry, and peace; nor feek to realize, in a wicked world, the miftaken notions of thy parent refpecting thy future greatnefs. The fpotless, the beautiful Matilda, at her father's manfion by the waters of Brora, waits anxiously for thy arrival. The woman with whom thou faweft her is an abominable Procurefs; who roaming from the Brothels of Edinburgh, in fearch of victims for proftitution, inveigled Matilda by her fnares. The foldier who embraced her, was her brother. He knew too well the character of her companion; and meeting with his fifter, by the way, as he proceeded on a vifit to his family, releafed her from the clutches of her infamous betrayer. The fupplications you witneffed, were the intreaties of conscious guilt imploring mercy from the hands of those it attempted to injure. "Alan, adieu! Propitious powers direct thy ways-be virtuous, and be happy!" Thus ended Oberon; and inftantly the hoft of fairies, in moving myriads, clofed around him. Then rifing in a mafs, foared rapidly aloft, till, like vapour blending with the atmosphere, they gradually difappeared. Amazement, joy, and terror, by turns poffeffed the breaft of Alan. He looked around him, but not a trace appeared, either of his broken talifman, or the glorious affemblage of fupernatural agents, whofe tranfitory vifitation had alarmed and dazzled him. All was filent and folitary. Even the birds, as if confcious of fome preternatural appearance, remained mute among the branch es. The wind was hufhed, the fky ferene, and the fon of Modred, offering up a prayer of gratitude, measured back his footsteps towards the mountains of Olingra, POETRY. T POETRY. FOR THE EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. MARY. 'HE day had been cloudy, and grey was the eve, And the night it was gloomy and dark; The wind's fullen roar drown'd the figh that did heave, From Mary who pafs'd through the park. Tho' fhe went to meet Henry, her heart ftill would fwell, With the pangs of forfaking her parents Its gleam niade the scene more forlorn." Mid-way thro' the gloom of the foreft the prefs'd, Her heart it was fad, and her steps they were flow; It was cold-his kind fpirit was gone. Her hands met her view-with his blood they were ftain'd Reafon's fmile no more play'd on her face; The Maniac's mad laugh alone now re main'd, Her cheeks not a drop of their pure blood retain❜d, Defpair had ufurp'd every grace. She left not the fpot ere the morning fun fhone, In filence the fits all the day; Till each faint fhade of light from the weft fhall be gone, Then feeks the the wood's dreary way. And ever he goes by the hoarfe-founding brook, And to the church-yard's holy ground, reft-and her look To the Author of "The Pleafures of Hope," on his leaving Scotland. « Know thine own worth, and reverence "the lyre." Beattie. More dreary and wild was this fpot than WHILE far from home, tho' darkʼning the rest,. Each object with horror her fick fancy drefs'd, Each blaft murmur'd tidings of woe. bear, All trembling fhe lean'd on a tree; The voice of her love founded low in her ear, Faint and paly his form did fhe fee. No terror her limbs longer bound; clouds may low'r, And with their tranfient gloom thy sky o'ercaft; And though thy laurel crown the demon pow'r Of Envy ftrive with pois'nous breath to blaft; Yet fear not thou, whom fate ordains to march Firm in the rugged path of well-earn'd fame; The boy fhall fooner feize heav'n's glit. t'ring arch, Than malice ftain the honour of thy name. For 3 M |