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ing near Graziana. She, meanwhile, with tasteful assiduity, wove a coronal of the surrounding flowering shrubs and wild flowers, and placing it upon her sister's head, repeated affectionately Chaucer's praise of Alceste:

For all so many virtuis hath she,

As small florounis in her corowne be;
In remembraunce of her, and in honour,
Cybilla made the daiesie, and the flour.
Sorownid al with white, as men maie se,
And Mars gave her a corown red parde,
In stede of rubies set among the white;
Therwith this quene woxe red for shame alite
Whan she was praise'd so in her presence.

The idea was simultaneously suggested and adopted of choosing Amanda queen for the day; and she was requested with her new dignity to set a laudable example to her loving subjects, and delight their ears with some pleasing invention of her fancy. This compliment from her friends was accepted with that graceful ease which so well becomes majesty. She merely requested that her story might be second in favour of her sister's, who she knew was always well prepared for such occasions, whereas her own recollections had been lately somewhat confused with a romance of her own. As the originator of this amusement, I wished to propose certain regulations as to succession, degree of merit, rewards and punishments, claiming for myself a kiss from majesty and her fair sister at the close of the entertainment; but this was

strenuously opposed by the envious juniors. I therefore magnanimously allowed that this recompense should be the meed of him whom the queen should adjudge to have related the best tale; but that he who was wilfully dull and untertaining, should be expelled our next meeting al fresco. This met with general approbation; each young heart hoping to bear away so sweet a prize. Amanda promising, moreover, her flowery crown to the fortunate knight, which, if he preserved until they met again, should insure him sovereignty over their rural sports.

These preliminaries being thus pleasantly adjusted, Graziana prepared to begin; but previously, my gentle readers, let me bespeak your candour and kind construction of whatever may appear unusual or singular in the following relations: above all, let me beseech you not to confound poor me with all the various sentiments contained therein, nor think I wish to recommend systems, because I relate opinions and actions of persons peculiarly circumstanced.

I neither propose Adelaide's sacrifice nor Monsieur de Roseville's generosity to the imitation of my countrymen and countrywomen; on the contrary, I would have every husband and wife maintain their exclusive privileges: much less would I insinuate that the devotedness of Mary is ever really to be met with among creatures of her stamp; and although the story is a fact, I ought to apologise for even an allusion to such low wretches. Now, gentle reader, if you feel tempted to go further with me, let it be to leafy and

grassy nooks; for in such were most of these fancies engendered: and may you experience many delightful days in such spots this ensuing summer, amidst intelligent, warm-hearted friends, male and female.

TALE I.

THE STORY OF ZULEMA.

And Custance han they taken anon fʊte-hot,
And in a ship all stereles (God wot)

They han hire set, and bidden hire lerne sayle

Hire litel child lay weeping in hire arm,
And kneling pitously to him she said,
Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee no harm :

With that hire couverchief of hire hed she braid,
And over his litel eyen she it laid,

And in hire arme she lulleth it ful fast,
And into the heven hire eyen up she cast.

CHAUCER.

THE morning was bright and sunny, the sea danced and sparkled gayly-Alvarez, with his net in hand, came from his solitary hut, intending to pursue his daily occupation, but, struck with the beautiful appearance which the ocean presents on a summer's morn, he stood watching its smooth foldings of heavy green dashed with light featherings of the curling foam, and enjoyed the glad breeze which played on his cheek and bosom. The heavy slaty vapour which announces a hot day, still hung in the distant horizon; but over the immediate shore all was blue and shining-Alvarez threw the net into a little boat, which

B

was fastened to a small headland, or rather a projecting crag, forming the boundary of his small neglected garden; where the poppy and darnel flourished amidst the scanty stock of vegetables; choaking up the little nourishment, which an uncultivated, chalky soil afforded-his house stood lone and bleak, nearly a quarter of a mile from the adjoining hamlet, and above two leagues from any town. No smoke issued from the chimney, no friendly or playful voice was heard from within the usual appendages of a Spanish cottage, a goat and some poultry, were wanting, and, but for a large water spaniel, Alvarez would have been alone; like some wretched shipwrecked man, or fearless outlaw seeking a subsistence from wrecks and pillage. Yet the face of Alvarez bore not the stamp of the latter employment; manliness, and dignity,"Tho' something tainted

"With grief, that's beauty's canker,”.

were the predominant characteristics. Unlike the rest of his trade, who had been out for some hours, that they might carry the rich harvest of their toils to market, he still loitered to gaze on the "World of Waters," while many a philosophic and bitter reflection passed through his mind, when he thought of the past occurrences of his life. While he stood thus wrapt, his eye looking out intently without perception, he was not aware of a distant black speck which floated on the horizon, until its nearness recalled his attention; when he plainly perceived a small boat, drifting with the tide towards shore. No person was within,

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