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 1 
 
 DON RAPHAEL, i 
 
 A ROMANCE. 
 
 BY GEORGE WALKER, 
 
 AUTHOR OF THE THREE SPANIARDS, VAGABOND, 
 POEMS, ^Cs 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 VOL. L 
 
 Now on my foul, 'tis what an outraged heart. 
 Like your's, fhould wifh ! — I fhould, by heaven, 
 Efteem it moft e.xquifite revenge ! 
 
 Tancred and Sigismunda, \ 
 
 PRINTED FOR G. WALKER, BOOKSELLER, 
 
 1 OG, GREAT PORTLAND-STREET ,* 
 
 AND T. HURST, 3 2, PATER-NOSTER-ROW; 
 
 By Exton, Great Portland-street. 
 
 180.
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2010 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/donraphaelromanc01walk
 
 DON RAPHAEL 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 :",:'■ "^" ^'°n e can aggrava euy,,,,,.,^^ 
 
 Thovipscrti 
 
 A KE ftreets of Madrid had long been 
 
 'eared from pafTengers. All the city was 
 
 piilKtouded in ilumbers and darknefs^ and 
 
 the old clock of the cathedral had chimed 
 
 vvith fulleii paufes the hour of /midnight r 
 
 hen Don Lorenzo deFerrara was walk • 
 
 ng alone^ wrapped in gloomy thoughts^ 
 
 !id in as little hafle as if it had beenrfo^dn 
 
 ' Ijecl of his thoughts was con- 
 
 B cealed
 
 2 
 
 cealed in his breafl; but had any fpe&tOT 
 witnefTcd his a61ions, they muit have be- 
 lieved that his mind was touched witii 
 diftra^lion^ and that grief or paffion had 
 completely overpowered his underfiand- 
 ing. 
 
 He wandered through feveral ftreets, 
 his arms folded acrofs^ and his eyes bent 
 on the s^round; now and then he extended 
 his hands, as if imploring the aid of hea- 
 ven, or invoking the name of his miftrefs, 
 ~3Trftfect!>vn'y-C"?'l65- of his pace betrayed thp 
 
 ">e front of a magni/icent pile of lild 
 
 ^rig. ^vnen his attention was fuddenly nr- 
 
 >efted at the %ht of a /lender ladda- of 
 
 yo?o, which wa. f- ftened to a balconv 
 
 above, and defcended into the fu-eet 
 
 He looked round hira, to difcover il' 
 ^ny perfon were nigh, but the ftreets were 
 Jiient and dark-he liftened to catch anv 
 iouzui, but none came near, and he flood 
 %vo„dern,g - the Angularity of the p-epa- 
 ration. . was not long before he con- 
 
 eluded
 
 tliided that it might be robbere, who at 
 this moment were rifling the houfe, 
 and if fo, he Hiould run the hazard of be- 
 ing murdered by them in their retreat, or 
 of fuffering under the fufpicion of being 
 an accomplice, fhould the guard of the 
 night come round. He had particular 
 reafons to avoid fo unpieafant a fufpicion, 
 which under fuch circumftances w^ould be 
 more cafily entertained than refuted; and 
 he moved fome ])aces diltant before he 
 Tcflecled, that probably his feet had been 
 dire61ed thither for the prefervation of 
 the family, whom he now propofcd to 
 alarm. 
 
 A flight confufion which reached his 
 eai*s on the ftilinefs of night confirmed his 
 fufpicions, and called for his afnftance. 
 He forgot his own individual danger, and 
 immediately afcended the ladder. He 
 paufed when he gained the balcony, but 
 every thing round him was again filent^ 
 and he ftood irrefolute whether to proceed 
 .or retreat, v,hen the low found of ap- 
 B 'J preaching
 
 roaching and hafly footfteps arrefted hh 
 .Aention. He laid hh hand upon his 
 fword, that he might not be taken at ad- 
 vantage in the dark. 
 
 Some perfon hallily approached^ by 
 . hofe quick ftep atid lovr breathing be 
 judged to be a female; and now an adven- 
 ture of a very difTerent nature feemed to 
 prefent itfelf He moved a little forward^ 
 ;> be more certain^ and the lady catching 
 • ; motion; threw heri'elf fuddenly into hi« 
 m^y leaning upon his fhoulderj her fpii-its' 
 
 ireme agitation. 
 ' ' O heavens/' faid fne, '* are you at lengrb 
 cor:?? I have been on the verge of de- 
 ' •" n . I am not now ^ree from danger. '* 
 Fenr nothing/' replied Lorenzo in a 
 I will prote6t you." 
 
 .'lantly/' replied the lady, 
 
 givii i-r hand, " or it will be too 
 
 ^-^ . ,.:id die with fhame at my fa- 
 
 v/ere he thus to detect me." 
 
 ouid make no reply to thefe 
 
 V V- J it gently ^drawing her forward, he 
 
 k-1
 
 lecPhti i^i lu^ ^.^eicentj woiKlering in his 
 own niindat the fingiilarity of the raiitake^ 
 V. hich at flrit had amiiied him, but which 
 on fecond refle61ion threatened to involve 
 him in circumilances the mofl: iinpleafing; 
 and which he had neither leifure nor incli- 
 nation to pmTue. Yet to deiert the lady 
 at fuch a moment, and under fuch' a mil- 
 take, he conceived would be both cruel 
 and unmanly - 
 
 Iler drefs, her manner, and her air, as 
 well as he could diftinguifh through the 
 obfcurity; befpoke her of rank, and' the 
 touch of her hand informed him fhe was 
 not mean. He looked down to fee if any 
 perfon was beneath in the ftrcct, more ai- 
 tonifhed than ever that the favoured lover 
 did not appear, as from the words of the 
 lady it was evident ilie had expelled an- 
 other. 
 
 He affifted her to defcend, prefening 
 mutual lilence, and w^as preparing to fol- 
 low, when a loud voice arrefted his (leps, 
 and he perceived beliind him a man with a 
 .. J dravsn
 
 5 
 
 drawn fword in one hand, and a (aper lii the 
 other; his drcfs at the fame time in the lit- 
 moil dilbrder. He ran forward, threatening 
 vengeance by his looks and words, uttering 
 the epithets of robber and afralfni at every 
 ftep^ and calling on the lady by the name 
 of Agnes^ who being in the fireet^ efcaped 
 bis fight. 
 
 Lorenzo faw the neceffify of preparing 
 /or his defence, which he had fcarce time 
 to do, before he was furioudy attacked by 
 the llranger, who aim.ed at his life, with a 
 violence that deprived himfclf of reafon. 
 Lorenzo felt the aukwardness of his fitu- 
 ation. Had he been willing, explanation 
 under his circumftances could not have 
 availed; yet he found reluclance to fight a 
 man who had not injured him, and who 
 pofTibly was defending his family from dif- 
 iionour. Immediate danger rendered it 
 impoffible to remain nierelv on the defen- 
 iive, and having been long inured to peril 
 and danger, he turned afide the mad attack 
 c;f Ids adveriarv, and in a moment ran him 
 through the arm. '* I
 
 'Vl am murdered/' exclaimed the? un- 
 fortunate man with a groan^ as he fell 
 upon the balcony. " Ungrateful daugh- 
 ter! do I die for my kindnefs to you?" 
 Lorenzo wiflied to remain, that he might 
 yield every affiilance in his power, but the 
 confufed found of various voices within 
 the palace warned him to fly, and relieved 
 him from the apprehenfion that the 
 •^vounded man w^ould be left without at- 
 tention. 
 
 Three fteps brought him to the ground, 
 not a little chagrined at this fatal event, 
 and angry at the imprudence which had 
 involved him in circumftances of lb much 
 embarrafsment. The lady remained trem- 
 blino: in the ftreet — flie caui^ht the arm of 
 Lorenzo, to prevent herfelf falling, and he 
 could diftinguifh by the univerfal fhudder 
 which agitated her fmme, the extreme dif- 
 order of her mind, though her tongue de- 
 nied giving utterance to her feelings. 
 
 Lorenzo was aware of the neceffity of 
 
 flight, though irrefolute in the plan he 
 
 B 4 jQiould
 
 8 
 
 Ujouid adopt. He had no arrangemenb; 
 ready for the purpofe, and the particulars 
 of his dwn affairs confined him to the nar- 
 
 .yeCt circle of a61ion. To carry an un- 
 known lady to his own reiidence would 
 involve him in innumerable diflicultiesj, 
 yet Ije faw no other way to difentangle 
 himfelf \nth honour^ from an adventure 
 he had been led into by fate or curiofity. 
 
 The feet of the lady moved fwiftly for- 
 w^ard^ urged by fear^ while her arm leaned 
 upon Lorenzo. She fpoke not;, but the 
 tcai-s fpllowed^ down her cheeks^ and fre- 
 
 ;ent and deep fighs ftruggled for utter- 
 ance. Lorenzo was too much confufed.to 
 interrupt this filence^ ^ till arriving at the 
 end of a long ftreet, • he fuddenly paufed, 
 and inquired where the lady intended 
 
 " Holy Virgin!" exclaimed (he, fpea-: • 
 
 ing through her tears, '' is that a q^ueflion 
 
 to be diked at this moment ? Have I facri- ' 
 
 ft red my fame, my peace, for this ? Would 
 
 .heaven T had periflied by my father V 
 
 fvvcrd.
 
 fword,, rather than have been thus ftabbed j 
 to the heart by an indifference which can \ 
 only arife from contempt/' 
 
 Lorenzo in vain attempted to form ai3 ■ 
 apology he could not utter^ for the cool- j 
 nefs of his behaviour, under thofe circum- j 
 ftances the lady imagined him^, ^admitted : 
 no apology; arid was indeed the e>;treme 
 of cruelty. He paufed, with intention to j 
 declare the miftake that had arifen, when /^ 
 th.Q found of fteps behind^ obliged them to j 
 move forward, fearful of further mifchief 
 
 Ke led his unknown charge through va- - 
 rious flreets where filence and darknefs 1 
 the moft profound refided: the agitation of ^ 
 the lady eveiy moment increafed, and the ^ 
 confufion of Lorenzo did not fubfide. Ir-^J 
 refolute on v,'hatmode of a61ion he (hould * 
 adopt, they arrived at the door of a mean- 
 looking dwelling, from whofe forbidding ^ 
 afpe6l the lady fhrunk with affright^ /when l' 
 Lorenzo knocked at the door. , i 
 
 ' '' Is this' a place — !" faid fhe, in a voipe 'i 
 ''l^le, from a tumult of contend- j 
 
 •4 11 
 
 i . 1 J-M.
 
 10 
 
 ingp-afTions: (he would fiavc (aid more, 
 but grief prevented her ii]di<;nation from 
 breaking forlli, and Lorenzo perfe^lly iin- 
 derdood the meaning her queilion implied, 
 lie ^s^as going to reply^ when the door was 
 opened by a wretched looking old woman, 
 with a glimmering taper in her hand, 
 fcarce ferving to mark the outlines of a 
 figure, which ficknefs and age had nearly 
 deflroyed. Lorenzo advanced to enter,, 
 but Lady Agnes fhrunk back with evident 
 affright. 
 
 *' Barbarian,*' cried flie with extreme 
 agitation, '" do you already treat me thus. 
 Would to heaven I had died, ere this night 
 had taught me the treachery and ingrati- 
 tude of man. But I am not yet yours; 
 nor Vv^iil I ever." 
 
 '' The chevalier is a noble gentleman,'* 
 cried the old woman, '' and incapable of 
 either ingratitude or treachery. I have 
 known him thefe three days, and I have 
 bleffed the hour ever fmce that he firft 
 €larkened my door/* 
 
 ^' Woman/'
 
 11 
 
 '' Woman/' faid the weeping fiifferer, 
 '' it is not from you that I afk information; 
 the appearance of this place is more than 
 fuflicient. But he is deceived if he thinks, 
 weak and foolifli as I have a6led;, that I will 
 commit myfelf further into his power — 
 he miftakes me^ and alas I have miilaken 
 myfelf' 
 
 " Lady/' replied Lorenzo^ no longer 
 fpeaking in an under voice, '' I am not the 
 man you expected. A miftake — ' 
 
 He was proceeding, but the lady no 
 longer heard him. The firfl found of his 
 voice was more than fuflicient (o explain 
 to her the unwelcome truth ; and flirink- 
 ing from the various diftrefs that involved 
 her, file funk fenfelefs, and would have 
 fallen to the ground, had not Lorenzo pre- 
 ferved her. He fupported her into the 
 houfe, and the old woman having fecured 
 the door, proceeded before him with the 
 lamp into a large apartment, which feemed 
 once to have been elegantly furaifhed, but 
 now wore the appearance of extreme 
 poverty. The
 
 12 
 
 The old v.o:..a^. ^-^cccd the lamp upon 
 i table, while Ihe haflened to procure fome 
 emedy for the fenfelefs ilranger. Lorenzo 
 ently fupported her to a fopha^ removing 
 :er veil, td give her air, and perhaps to 
 itisfy his curiofity. He beheld a coun- 
 enance which, though pale, was .yet ex- 
 remely lovely, and -marked w^ith an air of 
 •iobility and good fenfe. He was wholly 
 : ftranger in Madrid, and could not there- 
 ore know^, froln the fituation of her father's 
 alace, to w^hom it belonged, nor had he 
 earnt more of the name of the lady, than 
 ixat of Aofnes., from the words of her un- 
 3rtunate father. He was gazing upon her 
 matures, having reached the lamp to ex- 
 nine them minutely, when dame Alice 
 "cuned with a powerful ftimulant. 
 
 Iloly;Saint Nicholas,'' exclaimed fhe, 
 
 rofiing herfelf, "what do my eyes behold^ 
 
 avalier ! Have you murdered the lady ?'* 
 
 Murdered the lady ! my gooil ^ '--^'i -/'
 
 13 
 
 • Ah^ Cavalier/' faid fhe, poinling v/ith 
 her hand^ " if my memory, is bad^ my eyes 
 are yet good. I am fure I did not expe6t 
 murder would. have been committed under 
 my root ?.nd I' take all the blefled faints 
 and holy martyrs to witnefs^ that I neithei' 
 approved nor confented to fo barbarous a 
 deed/' 
 
 LoreiizOj while dame Alice was thus be- 
 moaning herfelf, examined into lihe caufe 
 of her grief. He perceived feverai drops 
 of blood upon- the garment of the lady, 
 which raifed his alarm^ that fhe had^ unfieen 
 by him, wounded herfelf/ when fhe fell at 
 the door; and he was confidering if he 
 ought not to call in furgical alfiflance, 
 when thQ old wcnian'sexclamatior»^; pointed. 
 iodupon h kj 
 
 ■which . communicated to the 
 '' "" ed from this ailarm^ he !clt ih: 
 
 ^■^'^^ rad attention of .dafhe ^>^^^, 
 u^s he foothcd, by a^Urances 
 val he 'hadflightiy wounded,'
 
 14 
 
 He retired to lay afide his cloak^ and t© 
 reflect coolly upon the means of extricating 
 111 mi elf from this unpleafant affair. Great 
 and potent reafons already required his 
 iitmofl caution and fecreiy. His life^ per- 
 haps, depended upon the obfcurity of his 
 retreat ; for he had little doubt but the 
 Avound he had indicled ^vould prove fatal. 
 Judging from appearances the perfon whom 
 he had been engaged ^vith, muft be of fu- 
 perior rank. He had unintentionally run 
 a^say with a lady^ who would, moft pro 
 bably, difcover his afylum, if permitted to 
 leave the houfe. She had, indeed, no 
 place to retire to, unlefs it were a convent ; 
 for after fuch an adventure with an ob- 
 fcure flranger, the door of her lover and 
 of her father w ould be alike clofed upon 
 her. To appear himfelf publicly in her 
 fervice was impoifibie^ and to entru ft any 
 commifiion to dame Alice was, . at beft, 
 extremely hazardous, and he had little 
 doubt but the lady would inlift upon her 
 liberty, when (he fliould have reco\ered 
 hex reafon. In
 
 15 
 
 In Madrid there "was but one man whcm 
 he could call his friend, and to that friend 
 he had been a itranger, fince a very 
 early period of youth, when they had 
 been fellow ftudents at the college of 
 Toledo, A fworn I'riendlhip at that period 
 had fubfifted between them, but feveral 
 yeai's, and various adventures, J had con- 
 tinued to divide ihem ; and Lorenzo knew 
 not, iffnat attachment which had engaged 
 the young Aranda to him, had I'urvived the 
 accidents of time, and the profperous for- 
 tunes which had cnftated him in the honoi'S 
 and riches of his anceltors. He hadhitherta 
 remained unknown, from a fear of difcover* 
 ing his abode, but he now propofed to feek 
 the palace of the Count, as foon as it was 
 day, that he might learn how much he had 
 to depend upon friendfliip, and if poflible, 
 tranfmit to him the protection of the lady. 
 
 He threw afide his military di'efs, which 
 was ftained with blood, and taking from a 
 fmall parcel the gvrh of a Benedictine 
 Monk, which he had worn on other occa- 
 
 fions.
 
 16 
 
 Ci on% he took every precaution againfi 
 dete61ion. He retiirned to the room \^'here 
 be had left Lady Agnes, and found that 
 though fhe had repeatedly recovered^ yet 
 Ihe no fooner opened her eyes ' upon the 
 dreary defolation of the apartment^ whofe 
 wretchednefs appeared more miferable by 
 he glimmer of one only lamp; than ihe 
 again clofed them^ as if ihe fought to fink 
 from a confcioiifnefsof her cruel fituation, 
 lie recom.mended the old houfekeeper to 
 uie her with attention andkindnefs^, and if 
 poirible^,to attempt to tranquillize her fears ; 
 then entering his own folitary chamber, he 
 threw himfelf into a crazy chair^ in hopes 
 of finding in a few miniUes oblivion/ a 
 ^elief from refle^iior, 
 
 ^^s found it impoflible to reft. Indif- 
 
 d frightful images flitted through 
 
 agination^ when he clofed his eyes, 
 
 '} -:t,o ;vn he refolved to go (though 
 
 .'I -midnight) to the palace 
 
 hj'ch h; vas not 
 
 vent of St. Francis. Wrap- 
 
 ping
 
 1/ 
 
 ping his religious habit around him, and 
 drawing the cowl over hh head, he ven- 
 tured through the obfcure ftreets^ where 
 no perfon was ftirring, 
 
 lie hxid ah'eady paffed feveral narrow 
 winding llreets, and fearing that he had 
 gone wrong, he paufed to look rounds la 
 hopes of feeing feme perfon of whom he 
 might inquire. • He had not flood many 
 minutes, before fome one approached him;, 
 running in hafte, who no fooner came 
 near enough to diflinguifh his habit, than 
 catching him by the arm, '' My good Fa- 
 ther/'- faid he, ^' this is mod fortunate : I 
 was this moment running" to the convent 
 of St. Francis to fetch a Confelfor, but you 
 will fave me the trouble of diRurbing their 
 repofe/' 
 
 , '' I am on bufinefs," replied Lorenzo. 
 ^'^ There are many others difch gaged; you 
 will do well to apply to them; they are 
 now at prayer.' 
 
 '' You mufl iiuiuciiv me ;" laid the fer- 
 yant, '' my miflrcfs is at the point of death. 
 
 She
 
 18 
 
 She may not even live till we ran return ,* 
 aiul poor woman, Die Iccms very unfit to 
 die." 
 
 " What is the matter with her?" laid 
 Lorenzo. '' Matter enough, I dare fay." 
 replied the fervant. *^' At times fhe is 
 raving as if flie were infane; and then fhe 
 weeps and moans as if fhe had fome very 
 terrible crime upon her confcience. — But 
 holy father, the time wafles, and fhe will 
 be a corps before the dawn of morning.'* 
 
 " How know you that?" faid Lorenzo; 
 •*^ if fhe can rave as you fay, fhe is not io 
 near to death." 
 
 '' She is worn out with watching," faid. 
 the fenant, impatiently, ''It is a deed of 
 charity. Father ; you may fave her foul, 
 for it is evident fome enormous crime lavs 
 heavy upon it." 
 
 '' Has Hie made you her confeflbr, then .^'* 
 laid Lorenzo, merely to gain time to think 
 how he might extricate himfelffrom this 
 unforefeen adventure. 
 
 " I have
 
 1.9 
 
 " I have been her fervant for years/' 
 *anfwered the man, '' and fiie has always 
 been lubjecl; to very great inconfiflencies, 
 always wifliing to change her fitiiation;,. 
 and feldom ileeping a week m the fame 
 apartment; and then at times lately, Hie 
 has been for whole hours plunged into the 
 deepeft melancholy, never anfwering a 
 queftion, or regarding whether we were in 
 her prefence, or out of it. But now, poor 
 lady, it will foon be over with her, and 
 you will never hear from her own mouth 
 what preys upon her foul, if you do not 
 move a little fader/' 
 
 Lorenzo ftood irrefolute. To repulfe 
 or to comply alike expofed him to the 
 danger of deteClion, and he knew the ex-»^ 
 tent of the ronfequences that would enfue. 
 He was about to urge the importance of a 
 prior engagement, when a fecond fervant 
 came hafiilv up. 
 
 'Is my lady dead?" cried the firfl. 
 '' Xo,"- aniwcred the other, '* but } ou 
 will \ery likely fmy here till fhe is, for ihe 
 
 is
 
 eo 
 
 > in a great hurry to leave the worlds and 
 :\er chief cry is for a confeiTor.'' 
 
 "" You have not now liberty to refufe^ 
 Father/' f aid the firft, prefTing Lorenzo by 
 the arm. '' Move on^ if you pleafe/ a 
 httle more willingly : confider^ that by 
 walking a few yards^ you may fave afoul/^ 
 
 Lorenzo perceived how vain it was to 
 rcmonflrate^ and wifhing himfelf well over 
 this unpieafant accident^ he accompanied 
 the fervants, who did not conceal their fuf-^ 
 piciorts that fome very important crime 
 hung upon the mind of their lady^ and 
 diilra61ed the moments which ought to 
 have been fpent in tranquillity and prayer. 
 
 Lorenzo cafl a flight glance from his 
 cowl at the building v>^here they Hopped. 
 It was large, but no way peculiar in its 
 firu6ture; and the door being opened, 
 they entered, and paffed altogether towards 
 the chamber of the fick lady. They pro- 
 ceeded to the fecond ftory, through leveral 
 elegant apartraents, till their ears" v^xre 
 ^ifiailed by lamentations and groans; which 
 
 Lorenzo
 
 21 
 
 Lorenzo at firll conceived to proceed from 
 the dying perfon^ but was foon convinced 
 that it was thus the iervants endeavoured to 
 exprefs their fonow round the bed of 
 their millrefs^ where there did net appear 
 one perfon^ who claimed the characier of a 
 friend or relation ; and it was cafy to per- 
 ceive that thisihew of grief proceeded no: 
 from the hearty and could only increaie 
 the pangs of mifery. 
 
 '' Here is the holy Father Confeffor/' 
 faid the feivant in a whining tone^, as he 
 ondu6led Lorenzo to the bed-fide; ^' hast 
 my Lady an v other requeft r '' A voice 
 enfeebled by fuffering^ and weak from in- 
 ternal dec|MBfelired that the good Father 
 vould advanre/and offer up to heaven^ 
 prayers for a contrite fpirit, which was 
 conviaced of the vanity of life^ and the 
 dreadu:! nature of lin. 
 
 Lorenzo -drew near the bed of mifery 
 :.nd foiTOw. The glimmering lights in the 
 chamber^ •> Or upon the eager faces o;. 
 
 ■ :arce'fupprefs the 
 curiofity;
 
 22 
 
 curiofity which (Iruggled to break througft 
 the affecled lamentations of grief. Before 
 him lay the dying lady, already pale with 
 the fhadings of death, and groaning in- 
 wardly from the fufferings both of body 
 and mind. 
 
 She raifed her languid and hollow eyes 
 upon Lorenzo. They were marked with 
 an exprefTion of fuch extreme meaning, 
 'that his whole frame was agitated as he 
 gazed upon them. The flrong exprefTion 
 of contagious grief feemed to rife in his 
 bofom, and deftroy his power of utter- 
 -ance, and he was obliged to turn batk his 
 cowl, that he might br^ithe with greater 
 /reedom. 
 
 ''Eternal mercy T' murmured the pe- 
 nitent, whilft every limb feemed to be agi- 
 tated with convulsive motion, " whom do I 
 behold.? whom have you brought.?" 
 
 Lorenzo feared that he was detected— 
 he fhuddered at the confequences ; and 
 drawing his cowl haftily over his face, 
 '' The lady/' faid he, in a low and fearful 
 
 voice;,
 
 23 
 
 voice, ^' is- delirious. I cannot be of fer- 
 vice but by my prayei^s." 
 
 He moved round to v/ithdraw, but the 
 words of the lady arrefled his fteps. " Go 
 not/' faid Vae, '' let him not quit me till 
 I am certified of the truth." 
 
 " Deer Lady/' faid one of the female 
 attendants^ '' it is only the holy friar who 
 came here at your requcft^ and waits to 
 take your confelTion, and adminiHer the 
 comforts of abfoliition." 
 
 '' Ah/' faid the lady in a hollow voice, 
 " what is abfolution, v.hen crime is no 
 longer a matter of will ? Can it give peace 
 to the mind diltrafted by pailion^ and even 
 yet a prey tp guilt? Can the being wIhj 
 has been o-ujltv of—'' 
 
 Thedomeftics looked at each other, and 
 at Lorenzo, but the words of the lady funk 
 into filence. She feemcd to farink from 
 refleclion, and clofing her eyes, fhe uttered 
 a deep and mournful groan, at the fame 
 time ftretching out her limbs, as if in the 
 agony of inflant diffolution. 
 
 ''It
 
 24 
 
 ^'\t is all over !" faid the domeftics ^viih 
 aery; ''my lady is dead." 
 
 A profound filence, for fome minutes, 
 cloiVd the lips of the mofl clamourous^ 
 who were fhocked at a fcenefo repugnant to 
 -ill], nature. Lorenzo felt a fecret horror 
 creep upon his nerves^ as he contemplated 
 the fubjecl: before him. 
 
 '' Unhappy woman ;" faid he to himfelf ; 
 ^' '.''fhat was the crime which fo preved upon 
 rhy fp^S^, that it deprived thee of hope ? 
 Alas I tliat. the paffions of our nature ■ 
 flibuld be the tyrants of our reafon^ and fo 
 far ' GUI', conquerors^ that reafon only be- 
 comes a medium of gratification; and 
 hurried as we are from paflipn to paffion, 
 we never paufe to refieft^^ll refle6lioii 
 has no power to relieve." 
 
 All prefent hung down their heads in 
 fjlence ; a few fhed tears; and Lorenzo' 
 was going to offer the prayer appointed 
 for tht > ] of the lately departed^ when 
 the b: afen/ible lady^, with a fi|;h 
 
 that feemed drawn from the inmoft recefs 
 
 of
 
 25 
 
 ofher bread, again opened her eyes, and 
 turned them upon Lorenzo 
 
 "Your are Hill here;" faid flte faintly; 
 '' I am going ver} fait. Liften to my con-~ 
 fefiion ; and O tell me if th^re be any 
 hope/* 
 
 Lorenzo took a feat near the bed. He 
 would have ordered the fervants to depart: 
 but the reflection of his own fituation, and 
 the charaBer he had to perfarm, caufed 
 him to tremble. He \vas well verfed in the 
 fonnula? of the church, but he knew not 
 the nature of the confeilion he was to 
 receive, nor the conl'equences in which it 
 ani<rht involve hrm. The fcrsants o-athered 
 clofer round the bed, in eager expec 
 lation, but the lady paufing, motioned 
 them to retire. " Lei me be alone-," faid 
 ihe, "let no one be j^'efent but this holy 
 Father." 
 
 Alllhe fpeclators r^lu6iantly and linger- 
 ingly withdrew; but their obedience car- 
 ried them no further than the coridor, 
 where they endeavoured to gather what 
 VOL. I. c might
 
 26 
 
 might be faid by their lady : but the tone 
 of her voice was fo low^ and her fpcech lb 
 much interrupted^ that fcarce a word could 
 be heardj accompanied by fighs and tears. 
 
 An hour was ah'eady pafl^ and their im- 
 patience became extreme. They liilened 
 with painful attention^ but their fancy de- 
 ceived their ears^ for all was filent as the 
 grave. They continued to wait fome time 
 longer^ but the profoundeft ftillnefs re^- 
 mained ; and curiofity became mingled 
 with woHderand apprehenflon. 
 
 The houfekeepcr was the firil who broke 
 through the awful (ilence^ which had tied 
 up their w^crcls^ by obferving the extreme 
 fingularity of the event, and the uncommon 
 length of the confeffion. '' Were it the 
 tranfadions of her whole life/' laid flic, 
 '^ that my Lady Ifabclla was pouring into 
 the ear of the Father ConfefTor^ it w^ould 
 not take longer time : but how a perfon 
 foexhaufted, and fo evidently at the point 
 of deaths can be able to make fuch a nar- 
 rative; is beyond credit. I know not what 
 
 to
 
 to ihink ; bring your ear to the key-hole> 
 for my part^ I cannot hear the fmallefl 
 whifper. Surely no accident has hap- 
 pened/' 
 
 The fervants were very willing to be 
 alarmed. Judging, with probability, that 
 no common caufe could have produced fd 
 long and fo uninterrupted a ftillnefsjand n# 
 longer attending to refpe6l, they refolved 
 to fatisfy themfelves in the reafon of fuch 
 filence. 
 
 The houfekeeper ventured flowly to 
 open the door, but fhe ftarted back in 
 halty affright, her pj\le countenance ex- 
 prelfmg the horror which fliook her frame. 
 It was fome moments before flie could 
 fpeak, fupportedby two of the women fer- 
 vants. All prefent caught the alarm^ look- 
 ing round with fear, not knowing what 
 to believe, till their repeated interroga- 
 tions drew from the houfekeeper, that fhe 
 had no fooner opened the door, than flie 
 fixed her eyes upon a figure, all drefled in 
 white, which fat upon the bed, while th<* 
 c 2 ConfefTor
 
 23 
 
 ConfefTor remained in his chair, wjj^h I)i 
 eyes clofed as if dead. 
 
 A ftory fo incredible^ was differently 
 received, according to the diipofition of 
 the hearer. AH the fervants gathered in a 
 group, and after much debate, it was 
 agreed that the boldeft fliouid enter the 
 room, and fee if the houfekeeper had not 
 been deceived by her fancy, and the gloom 
 that reigned in the chamber. 
 
 One of the moil courageous entered the 
 apartment, attended by tbe fie ward;.. the 
 dying tapers faintly glimmered ijti ttie 
 fockets, and the frlence of death reign«d 
 around them. They advanced with fhrink- 
 ing caution towards the bed,- where the 
 lady lay motionless. Lorenzo wa,s re- 
 clining with his head againft the back of the 
 chair, as ifafleep or dead, for he moved not 
 at their entrance, nor at the ronfuHon of 
 fomany murmuring voices, for the fenants 
 had folio vved clofe after each other, fearing 
 to toggle from the group. 
 
 The
 
 29 
 
 » • 
 
 The ftoiy of the hoiifekeeper now re- 
 ceived credit^ though they could not per- 
 ceive the phantom in white : and they 
 gazed round them with pale cheeks and ap- 
 prehen/ive fancies. The lady was evidently 
 dead : her face and her hands were already 
 bedewed with the clammy cold damp of 
 death, and muil have been for fome time 
 loft to the world. 
 
 Lorenzo feemed to have partaken in 
 her flight, and univerfal confteniation be- 
 gan to fill every bofom. One of thenv 
 ventured to take his hand, and the diffe- 
 rence of the touch convinced him, that 
 life had not yet ceafed to move in his 
 veins. 
 
 ^^The Father ConfefTor/^ faid he, ^•' is 
 certainly yet alive, but his pulfe is ex- 
 tremely low, and I ha\ c no doubt, but the 
 figure which dame Jacintlia faw, has tei*- 
 riiied tl^.e poor Monk into convulfions. 
 Flelp me then to convey him into the next 
 room." 
 
 c 3- Some
 
 so 
 
 Some of them hefitated; but the women 
 urging them to exert themfelves, they 
 complied. The mot ion ^ and perhaps the 
 change of air^ fpeedily roufed the dormant 
 powers of his frame, and it was not long 
 before he opened his eyes^ which fixing 
 upon the unknown perfons round him, he 
 no forncr gained the poweV of fpeech^than 
 he ordered one of them inflantly to fetch 
 a public notarjfj that the confeffion of the 
 kdy might be taken down before wit- 
 neiTes. 
 
 " It is not of any ufe. Father/' faid one 
 of them, "It is of infinite importance; 
 I command you inflantly to obey me/* 
 faid Lorenzo pafTionately ; " a moment's 
 delay may indeed render your going at 
 alb ufelefs/' 
 
 " I would go, moil willingly/' replied 
 the fteward, "but-— "But— but what? 
 fay, what?" cried Lorenzo. " The- lady is 
 dead," replied the fteward in a low voice. 
 
 "Dead!" repeated Lorenzo to himfelf. 
 in the greatell agitation. " Dead at fuch 
 
 a
 
 31 
 
 n moment. — Then I have no longer buft- 
 nels here." 
 
 '^ What was it, holy Father?" faid the 
 itevrard, reipectfiilly, when he law Lorenzo 
 riling to depart. The latter frowned^ with- 
 out replying, and moved towards the door. 
 
 '' Let us in treat/' cried feveral^ '^ that 
 you will not leave us in fuch a perplexity. 
 How could the conlbflion of my lady agitate 
 you fo much^ unlels indeed you faw — " 
 
 '' Yes," replied Lorenzo^ with a for- 
 bidding look ; '' I both faw and heard ; 
 but confefTion is not a trifle to be played 
 with. Let me pais ; — hear you not the 
 bell ringing to morning prayers ? Do your 
 duty to your miftrefs ; and if you know 
 any of her relations, let them be inflantly 
 fent for : I may then find it neceflary ta 
 appear. Remember my injunclions, and 
 keep your fouls in peace." 
 
 Morning had dawned upon the fpires of 
 
 Madrid, when Lorenzo quitted the houfe. 
 
 He drew his cowl over his face to prevent 
 
 beiiig obfcrvcd, and deeply mufing on the 
 
 c h i;ecent
 
 Tccentadventiii-e, he moved .iio\\-ly thiraii^ti 
 the f tree is. 
 
 " How VYonderfully flrange/' faid he to 
 h\m[e\i] '' Iiave been the events of this 
 night ! as though fortune had combined to 
 hrmg the variciis divergencies of fate to a 
 poFntj a]id involve me either in greater 
 perplexities^ or extricate me wholly from 
 thole that fuiTound me. Yet furely this is 
 uctfo be effected by xYiQ prefent flate of 
 my affairs. I have been, perhaps, guilty 
 of murder. I have run away with a young 
 jady. not only from her fi-iends, but from 
 her lover. I have heard a confeffien which 
 it was of the utmoft importance I fhould 
 hear, but which I dare not re\ eal, though it 
 ought to be publiflied to mankind. I am 
 now going to put a youthful friend/hip to 
 the teit; a teft indeed fevere, when my 
 verv name mav no longer be remembered 
 by the CountAranda.'* 
 
 In the midft of thefe refle6tions Lorenzo 
 pafled the convent of vSt. Francis. lie in- 
 quired of an old devotee, ^vho was haiten-
 
 35 
 
 ing to early prayers, and mumbling over 
 her beads as fhe walked, w^hich was tlie 
 palace of Count Aran da. 
 
 ^' Blefs yourHolinefis/'anfwered flie, '*' it 
 is a comfortable fight to lee vour reverence 
 abroad fo early about works oi^ piety. The 
 Count has very much occafion for a confef- 
 fbr, for my part I Ivurried a^vay to prayers 
 as foon I could; itw^as fliocking to hear him, 
 and I am gonig to purify my mind at the 
 flirine of St. Francis/' 
 
 *^' Good Woman/' faid Lorenzo^ '^ of what 
 are you fpeaking. Is the Count unwell ? " 
 
 " Yes truly, is he-," faid fhe, raifing her 
 voice. '' He is ftarkmad. Holy Father.'* 
 
 "Heaven preferve us/' faid Lorenzo, in a 
 low voire. — "' Aye, folfay/' cried the old 
 lady, '^'may it keep us all in. our right mind. 
 It is an awful judgnieiit,butiftliefe grandees, 
 and Counts, and Marquises^ and. Dukes, had 
 no more upon their confciences than us' 
 poor folk, they would not be fo apt t^ 
 lofe their underflandings/' 
 
 € 5. !%hem
 
 34 
 
 *"*■ Where docs the palace fland ?" de- 
 tiiandetl Lorenzo abrubtly. 
 
 '' Is it poffible you don't know the 
 Count's palace f" cried the old lady, lifting 
 up her hands and eyes. " Mercy on me^ 
 not know where the Count Aranda lives ^ 
 I thought all the world had known him." 
 
 '' I have no time to wafte/' cried Lo- 
 renzo, impatiently. 
 
 '' Well, well," faid the old lady, " if you 
 don't really know^ the palace, the mode's the 
 pity. Look down to the bottom of that 
 flreet, there you fee a large marble build- 
 ing; that is the place. You need not tell his 
 Excellency, Father, that I faid he was mad." 
 
 Lorenzo immediately haftened away and 
 left the old lady in the midil; of a fentence^ 
 fearing fome new interruption, if he re- 
 mained in the open ftreet. He lamented 
 the unforefeen calamity of his friend, 
 which mufl neceffarily deftroy all the hopes 
 he had formed, and deprive him at once of 
 that counfel and fupport he fo tnuch 
 
 needed. 
 
 He
 
 35 
 
 He aiTived in a few minutes at the gate 
 of the palace, and dcfired the porter to in- 
 troduce him to the Count. 
 
 '* He cannot be feen/' replied the fervant. 
 
 " Is his malady fo violent ? Does he not 
 retain the power of diftinguifhing per- 
 fons?'* 
 
 " Of doing what ?'' faid the fervant, 
 opening his eyes, with a broad flare. 
 
 '' I fay/' faid Lorenzo, '' is his reafon 
 quite gone ? Is he pofitively delirious ?" 
 
 The fervant, without replying, broke 
 into a violent fit of lauo:hinof, which called a 
 fevere frown upon the brow of Lorenzo, 
 \vho had not any inclination to mirth; and 
 the fen^ant recolle61ing that he owed more 
 reverence to the habit of the inquirer, re- 
 plied in a ferious voice : — "You have been 
 deceived, Father; fome perfon has lent you 
 hither to pray for my mafler, I fuppofe; 
 but he was never in a worfe humour for 
 fuch an exercife, than juft now. He has 
 been fwearing and Itorming at every thing 
 about him, this three hours, and I would 
 c 6 not
 
 3<> 
 
 itot engage that even your habFt wouJcT 
 prote^i: you from afTront.'* 
 
 " I ^vlll hazard it/' replied Lorenzo, " I 
 mult fee him, for I have buiinefs of confc- 
 quence." 
 
 The fervant no longer hefitated, but led 
 tlie way up flairs, and through feveraf 
 rooms, to the doai'of the Count's chamber^ 
 vvl>cre he flopped. '' You will excufe my 
 entering to announce you^ Father/' faidhe, 
 '' I might be made to pay for the intru^ 
 flan." 
 
 Lorenzo. rapped at the door, but received^ 
 no anfwer, tnd venturing to open it, he 
 law the Count fitting with his back towards 
 him. 
 
 Every thing round him lay in diTorder: a 
 brace of piftols lay upon the table; afword> 
 unflieathed upon the floor ; the drefsofthe 
 Count was equally deranged ; his hat lay 
 before him^ with the feather broken, and 
 his cloak was torn from his fhouIdei*s. 
 
 " Surely" thought Lorenzo, " what the 
 old lady faid was the truths here are incon- 
 trovertible
 
 »7 
 
 trovei-tible fignfi of infaiiity.- The fervarrt 
 had a mind to play upon me/' The Count 
 hearing the lervant fliut the door, rouTed 
 from his reverie, and ftarting from his feat, 
 turned round with a look of anger and per- 
 turbation. 
 
 '' Did notlcommand- -" cried he; butthe 
 moment he beheld the figure ofLorenzo> 
 in his benedicline robes, his voice fell, and 
 he gazed upon him iome moments, as if ta 
 read his meiTage. 
 
 Lorenzo Itood confounded and rilent> 
 Hot being able to determine whether or no 
 the Count was a61ually mad, while the lat- 
 ter fatdoivn, fixing his eyes fted^afdy upon 
 him with a mixture of apparent fear; 
 ''What would you r"faid he at length, pale 
 ;lnd fa altering, '^ What is it you want ?** 
 
 *' lam come/' replied Lorenzo, in a voice 
 agitated by the fnigubnty of i\K:h a recep- 
 tion. " I am come to inform you of mat- 
 ters of importanceJ' 
 
 ^' Have my' prayers and my v/ifhes then 
 been heard .^'' faid the Count iiia myfterious 
 
 manner.
 
 manner. '' Jlely Stranger, permit me to 
 in({rjre, from what cclcilial fphere you 
 have defcendcdj and what is the purport 
 of your imperial niiffion." 
 
 *' lie is undoubtedly diftracled/* thought 
 Lorenzo, " he raves, and will not perhaps 
 know me if I fliould difclofe r/iyfelf; yet it 
 is neceflar) that I fliould try him/' '' Count 
 Aranda/' faid he, folemnly, '^^you had once 
 a friend, named Lorenzo de Ferara^ who 
 was your companion when you lludied at 
 Toledo. Do you remember ?" 
 
 '' I remember him well," replied the 
 Count, with a figh, '' but it is fome yeai-s 
 lince I have ever heard of him ; no doubt 
 he is dead." 
 
 '' Behold him here," faidLorenzo, throw- 
 ing back his cioak and cowl, and flretching 
 out his hand. 
 
 The Count fhuddered, and fhrunkback. 
 '' Do you difdain my acquaintance.^" faid 
 LorenzOj his eye fparkling with indigna- 
 tion .? '^ Are you too proud to acknow^ 
 ledge me?''
 
 39 
 
 " O, no, no/* rr>d tlie County '' I fee 
 clearly my dear friend no longer lives^ but 
 I was ignorant that perniiffion was ever 
 given to a being that had once been hu- 
 man, to afTume again that forjn, imagin- 
 
 mg- 
 
 '' You are diilracled/' interrupted Lo- 
 renzo, abruptly. '' Is your imagination be- 
 wildered, or do vou feek beneath this alfec- 
 tation to conceal your ingratitude ? Have 
 you forgot that I preferved you from 
 drowning, at the hazai'd of my own life ? 
 Did w^e not fwear a friend/liip, that neither 
 accident nor fortune was to interrupt or 
 deftroy ? But when I come to you in dif- 
 trefs — when I claim your affiftance, you 
 meanly fhrink from the talk, and affect to 
 believe me not what I am. 'County I 
 defpife fuch condu61." 
 
 *' You wrong me ! " replied the County 
 llill gazing at him with fear ; '' are you 
 really and pof: lively Lorenzo de Ferara; 
 and have you never been dead?" 
 
 *' What abfurdity V faid Lorenzo; " how 
 
 if
 
 40 
 
 if I had been dead, could I have been li^re? 
 The dead never leave the grave to wander 
 on it's furface." 
 
 '' That I deny/' laid the Marquis fo^ 
 lemnly; '^ they may wander, though in 
 unfeen forms; the doclrine of celeilial in^ 
 fluences teaches us that there ar^ various 
 modes of fpiritual exiftence; and that at 
 times, and to the greatly favoured, thefe 
 forms have been commanded to appear 
 and have intercourfe/' 
 
 " Good heavens !" faid Lorenzo, '^ how 
 have you become fo credulous ? But be-"" 
 lieve me, I am pofitively the individual 
 Lorenzo you knew at Toledo/' 
 
 '' But you were then a civilian/' rcr 
 turned the Count: "1 heard afterwards 
 that you had entered the army ; what then 
 is the meaning of this habit ?" 
 
 '' It is the difguife of necefiity," replied: 
 Lcrenzo> hoping that the Couiit was re- 
 turning to reafon. '' I am ftill a foldier of 
 fortune — I niay fay, of ruined fortune. 
 ]\Liny unparalleled events have forced me 
 
 ta
 
 41 
 
 to Madrid. I came to repofe in your con- 
 fidence, to require your advice and aiiiil- 
 ance : but tell me tirft^ if you are fatisfied 
 I am no impollor." 
 
 . ^^ Your voice and your perfon declare 
 you to be Lorenzo/' laid the Count. 
 " You will forgive me if I have a61ed 
 towards you with inconriilence: I am at 
 prefent labouring under a misfortune 
 which deranges my underitanding, and 
 ahnoft drives me to aclual madnefs/' 
 
 . /^ But was it pofTible you could imagine 
 me a fupeniatural being ?" faid Lorenzo. 
 
 '•' Who or whatever I did believe you/' 
 anfwered the Count fokmnly, " let us 
 wave for the prefent. I am ready to 
 li/len now to your afraii»s^ and to hear in 
 what way you require my fervices.'^ 
 
 " That is much too long a detail for this 
 hour," replied Lorenzo : '' the adventures 
 of tiiis night are of themfelves fufficient. 
 It is fcarcely, pcrhaprs to be bclie\ ed, that 
 fincc the clock ftruck twelve, I have killed 
 a nobleman^ run away with a lady, and — " 
 
 Loren^Q
 
 42 
 
 Lorenzo was proceeding, but the fiidclen 
 emotion of the Count llartlcd him. His 
 countenance changed ; and riling in fury, 
 he fnatched his fv, ord from the iioor, cr) - 
 ing aloud, '' It is you then, who have 
 deitroyed my happinefs — who have fe- 
 duced the afredions of Lady Agnes — and 
 murdered the Duke of Aragon, her father. 
 MoH-fter, fiy ! or I fiiall not refpe6t the 
 oath of our friendfhip.*' 
 
 '' How rafn are you/' replied Lorenzo 
 cahiily. ^' I was told that you were mad, 
 and I have now^ too much proof/* 
 
 ^' Would it not urge any man to mad- 
 nefs, to outrageous madnefs," exclaimed 
 the Count vehemently, '' to have all his 
 hopes blafted in a night? to find his mif- 
 trefs gone before the moment of affigna- 
 tioD — to find her father bathed in blood — 
 to find tiiat his rival was once his friend? 
 O God! 'tis too much for my foul to 
 bear." 
 
 '' Suffer me to explain the truth to you," 
 cried Lorenzo, chagrined at this haftinefs 
 of temper. '^ You
 
 43 
 
 *"' You cannot explain any thing!'' paF 
 fionately cried the Count : " is not Lady 
 Agnes now in your hands?" 
 
 '' She is, but—" '' But what?" cried 
 the Count, advancing. " Fly ! fly ! my 
 rage will overcome me." 
 
 '' Hear me, hear me!" repeated Lo- 
 renzo. " How could I know that Lady 
 Agnes was any thing to you? I never 
 beheld her till this night." 
 
 *^' Never!" interrupted the Count, be- 
 ginning to cool; '' how then — how is it 
 poffible fhe fhould trult herfelf with you, 
 if you were a flranger ? She did not ufe 
 to be fo forward : but I am not fo calily 
 duped — you have betrayed me." 
 
 " If you would liilen," faid Lorenzo, 
 '' \ might explain; but while you thus 
 play the child, I will be filent." 
 
 '' You have a defire to torture my foul/* 
 cried the Count, walking about in great 
 agitation. '*' If you knew how nearly all 
 my hopes of future happinefs and prefent 
 peace arc concerned in this unfortunate 
 
 affair;
 
 44 
 
 affair; even though you were my rival, 
 you would pity me." 
 
 "^^ Now, my dear friend/' replied Lo- 
 renzo, ". vou fpeak with reafon : attend, I 
 beg vou, without interruption, to the ac- 
 cidents of this eventful night: you will 
 then perceive, that however llrange my 
 running away with your miltrefs will ap- 
 pear, yet it is far faort of what I have feen 
 and heard, in my way to your palace/' 
 
 Lorenzo then related the accident which 
 had led him to the fatal encounter — the 
 necefTity he was under of wounding the 
 Duke — his furprize at the behaviour of 
 the lady — and the fituation in which he 
 had left her. He was then proceeding to 
 inform the Count of the fingular confeffion 
 he had witnefTed,. but the Count had not 
 power to reltrain his impatience. 
 
 Starting up, he begged Lorenzo in- 
 ftantly to lead him to Lady Agnes. '' Exr 
 cui^c me, my dear friend," faiel he ; '' but 
 conf icier what muil be the terroi*s of 
 a lady in her fituation ! — What muil /he 
 
 have
 
 43 
 
 have felt on difcovering fo ftrange ^ niif- 
 take ! — What muftilie have thought of my 
 coohicfs ; and can I ever expecl her for- 
 givenefs ? Surely I muft have been de- 
 tained by powers the moft extraordinary : 
 no human means could have fo ccnfufed 
 my fenfeSj and held me from my appoint- 
 ment." 
 
 Lorenzo remembered the behaviour of 
 the Count at his firft entrance; and his 
 furprize was converted into curiofitv, to 
 learn the purport of w^ords^ beneath which 
 feemed concealed a myfiical meaning. 
 . '' I have no time at this moment/'* an- 
 swered the Count, '' to enter on a fubjecl 
 of fuch infinite importance : at prefent 
 Jet us haften to Lady Agnes/' 
 
 CHAP.
 
 46 
 
 I 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 X HE day had long dawned upon the 
 labours of Madrid, when the Count and 
 Lorenzo haftened to the feckided lodo ins^s 
 of the latter. 
 
 '^You have a very fingular choice/* 
 faid Aranda ; '^ what could induce you to 
 live in this vile fituation, furroundcd with 
 poverty and dirt ? You mufl have very 
 powerful reafons for dwelling in the moll 
 unpleafant part of Madrid." 
 
 *^'Ihavefo^ indeed/' replied Lorenzo. 
 '^ The fame reafons have metamorp!*3fed 
 my military drefs into the robes of a 
 Monk, and the unfortunate accident of 
 this night will oblige me to continue this 
 difguife." 
 
 •& 
 
 Th9
 
 47 
 
 The Count remained filent ; and it was 
 not long before they arrived at the houfe 
 of dame x\lice. 
 
 On their entrance^ the old lady faluted 
 them with a confiirion of exclamatiqiis, 
 from which they could only guefs that 
 fome frefh accident had happened, and 
 which their fears immediately applied to 
 lady Agnes. 
 
 ''PTow is the lady now ? Is fhe recovered ? 
 Lead us to her chamber :" cried the Count 
 and Lorenzo at once. 
 
 '' Alas is me !" returned dame Alice^ 
 lifting up her eyes and crofTmg herfelf ; 
 *' but it is utterly impofTible Cavaliers. 
 What a wicked world do we live in ! Satan 
 himfelf, is furely broke loofe ! — But it is 
 no matter-: the fairer the appearance^ the 
 more deceitful the heart." 
 
 " What are you muttering ?" demanded 
 the Count impatiently ; '' Is the lady well ?" 
 
 ^' She is by this, I hope/' replied flie. 
 '' But fuch doings never took place under 
 my roof before — Heaven and the blefTed 
 
 faints
 
 4^ 
 
 Ciints proteci: us ! — If I hatl but fiil- 
 pccled — " 
 
 ^'^ SufpeQed what? fay what!" de- 
 manded Lorenzo. 
 
 " You need not be in a pafiion ,*" replied 
 dame Alice, ^' I forgive you : but I muftbe fo 
 plain as to tell you, that my houfe, though 
 mean and humble, fhall never be a ihelter 
 for fuch proceedings ; and had I knov/n, 
 no money nor fair fpeeches neither, fhould 
 ever have tempted me to take you in." 
 
 ^' Sit down, my good woman," faid the 
 Count. '' Calm yourfelf a little, and then 
 quickly tell us what you mean." 
 
 '^ My meaning does not require expla- 
 nation, I think. The Cavalier knows it iiill 
 well. Heaven alone, though, knows were 
 it will all end. — The lady is full of threats, 
 and noperfuafion can pacify her." 
 
 *^'^ I will undertake to make your peace/' 
 faid the Count ; '' only fhew me to her 
 apartment. Here is a trifle for the in- 
 convenience you have fullered." 
 
 €( 
 
 Ah,
 
 49 
 
 '' Ah. vour Excelienza/*' replied flie, 
 ^viping her eyes: "' you are too generous. 
 It is not for that I complain. \t is that f(5 
 iweet a young lad\ fhouicl have been fo 
 deceived ; but, thanks to the blefied faints, 
 fhe is fafe enough by this." 
 
 The Count was alarmed at this intelli- 
 gence — defiring her to inform him where 
 Lady Agnes was. 
 
 " That I cannot do y' faid fhe. *^^As foon 
 as (lie was fiifficiently recovered to fpeak, 
 Uie enquired who the Cavalier was that had, 
 conveyed her to my houfe, which I told her, 
 unthinking of harm, and that he was gone 
 out. This news feemed to recover her at 
 once, for flarting up, fhe lold me flie had 
 been bafely deceived into the belief that 
 Lorenzo was another perfon, and offering 
 me a ring, fhe befought me to forward her 
 efcape from a wretch who had, doubtlefs, 
 firit dellroyed her lover, and had after- 
 wards murdered her father. I could not 
 pretend to detain her, you know, Cavalier, 
 and as I refid'ed taking any bribe, ilie hinted 
 
 VOL. I. D tQ
 
 m 
 
 to me at parting, that the fiiould bury heifelf 
 for the reft of her life, in fome provincial 
 (fonvent^ where not even her relations 
 fliould ever difcover her/* 
 
 The Count vas confounded at this inti- 
 mation. All his eager hopes of foothing 
 her under her unfortunate fittiation were 
 overthroV/n, and he muft continue (at lead 
 for a time) to remain in her eyes, the moll 
 defpicable of men. 
 
 While the Count remained 'in this re- 
 verie, Lorenzo refieQed that ladv Agnes 
 might not even yet have quitted the houfe; 
 'but concealing bis itifpicion/and making a 
 fign to the Count to detain the oldladvyhe 
 proceeded t J examine the different apart- 
 ments. 
 
 . Ke paffed through feveral, and into that 
 where Lady Agnes had reHed, but without 
 the fmallefl trace that could confirm his 
 iiifpicions. He paiTed forward to his own 
 chamber, from v/hich he tool: a few things 
 he wiflied to depofit in the cnrc of the 
 County and was returning, when he fancicd- 
 
 that
 
 51 
 
 '^::i a Voice c>^rae froDi fome diilaiit Qfit 
 partment. 
 
 The houfe was large and defolate. He 
 knew of no other lodger than hinfilelf, and 
 believing that now he ha^ difcovered the 
 retreat oi the lady, he proceeded haftily up 
 the flairs, and advanced -towards the room 
 from whence the voice feemed to proceed. 
 
 '''O tremendous juftice/' faid a iblenm 
 voice, '^ how canft thou be reconciled to 
 infatiate vengeance. Is it not better that 
 ten thoufand die, than that I fliould iufler!" 
 
 Lorenzo fhuddercd at the words. The 
 voice v/as dreadfully familiar to his ear ? 
 '- O heavens/* thought he, '' have I been fo 
 near deftni^iion, and at eft. How has 
 this terrible man difcovered my retreat !" 
 
 •' Am I wrong/' faid the fame voice, (in 
 foliloquy) "Can human nature give up- 
 her pafTions to cool argiiment ? No ; give 
 me but revenge, and I fhall die with fatis- 
 fa61io!i.*' 
 
 Lorenzo, pale and trembling, turned 
 
 away with cautious Itep. *' Ah/' faid he 
 
 D 2 to
 
 52 
 
 to himfelC '' It is he, it is Don Raphael,, 
 and Madrid cannot hide me from his eye/* 
 
 It was v/ith ibme difficulty he returned to 
 the Count J for he expecled every moment 
 to be oveitaken, and the flighteft echo of his 
 fteps llartled him with apprehenfion. 
 . • '' The blefTed Virgin keep us! " ejaculated 
 dame Alice, '' what has the Cavalier feen ; 
 1 hope it was not the ghoft of the lady's fa- 
 ther; if fo, I am undone forever." 
 
 ^' What is it that has affrighted ^'oti 
 thus?" faid the Count, looking at Him in 
 aftonifhment. '^ Have you indeed been 
 witnefs to any fupernatural appearance ? 
 You are extremely pale." 
 
 Lorenzo endeavoured to fmiie at theiv 
 fiifpicions. ^' Would to heaven/' faid he, 
 *• that it had been a fpirit. How long have 
 Tou had other guefts than ni) feif in your 
 iioufe^ dame Alice ?" 
 
 ■^ Since laft night ;" replied fiie, " but you 
 jieed not have been terrified at him, if that's 
 ^Jl you have feen. I mud confefs his looks 
 ^re not the rnofr v/inning ; but for him to 
 turn a foldier pale !" '' He
 
 53 
 
 ''lie muft be very terrible/' laid tlie 
 Count, imi ling. 
 
 ffll is well you have no occafion to 
 know him/' faid Lorenzo^ rnyfterioufly. 
 ." I would not for the vahie of all Madrid^ 
 fleep under the fame roof with liim.'* 
 
 " Marry ! that as you like/' faid dame 
 Alice, with a fmile of contempt. " I dare 
 £ay he has not killed a Xobleman^ and run 
 aw^ay with a Lady; for my part I like ;i 
 rough outfide if it conceals a found heart; fa 
 you will do well;, Cavalier, to look for ano- 
 ther lodging.*' 
 
 '' It may be as well^*' faid Count Amnda^ 
 *^ to take the good woman at her word, 
 the dooi*s of my palace will be always 
 open to you, and my fervants fliall come 
 for your baggage." 
 
 ''I have very little of that," replied Lo-- 
 renzo, '^ a foldier of fortune muft have 
 few incumbrances; but my dear Count, let- 
 us halten from this place ; at another op- 
 portunity I will give you my reafons; the 
 foimd of my voice may betray me/* 
 
 d3. The
 
 54 
 
 The Count made another efrortio gain 
 from (lame Alice, what (he might know 
 further of Lady Agnes^ but without eife^l^ 
 as ihe ■^\'^s really ignorant of the motions of 
 ih:it Lady. He return.ed without more 
 delay^ with Lorenzo to his palace, from 
 whence he difpatched two of his. mo ft trufty 
 fervants, the one to make minute enquiry 
 at every convent after Lady Agnes, and 
 the fecond to learn the health of the Duke; 
 "being fearful, that fliould he appear him- 
 felf in the bufmefs, it might lead to un- 
 pleafant confequences, and perhaps defeat 
 the very purpofe of his inquiiT. fince/no 
 doubt, his perfon would be particularly de» 
 fcribed, if fhe refolved to avoid him. 
 
 After appointing a fuit of rooms to the 
 mfe of Lorenzo, the Count deHrcd that he 
 would retire to take fome little reft, and 
 meet him in the afternoon, when they 
 might renew that mutual confidence they 
 had early exchanged, at the college of To-^ 
 ledo, and which had been long interrupted 
 by the ncceflary abfence of Lorenzo, 
 
 upoa
 
 
 upon the duties of his fituation ; and ^{'e- 
 ries of adventures, which followed elofe 
 upon each other. 
 
 Lorenzo, when he retired, had fufiiciei\t 
 matter to exercife relJection, but wearied 
 nature required repofe, and it w^as not tilP 
 fome time after noon that he awoke, and 
 haftened to meet his friend. 
 
 He found him fitting alone in a profound 
 fit of mufmg, and foon learnt that his mef-^ 
 fengei^i had returned with unpleafant 
 tidings.. Lady Agnes not being to be 
 found, and the Duke of Aragon's life m 
 the utmoft danger ; while at the fame tinxe 
 part of the truth had become ^he public 
 difcourfe of Madrid, and the utmoft vigi-^ 
 lance was exerted to difcover the adaffin. . 
 
 Lorenzo had every thing to apprehend ; 
 Lady Agnes, he feared, would furnifh the 
 clue to the houfe of dame Alice, whei^ 
 he had taken her, and he could not hope 
 for the lilence of the latter ; even the pa- 
 lace of the Count he confidered as a very^ 
 iiifecure retreat. , 
 
 D4 ^*' I am
 
 6(i 
 
 ^"lam tilnioft; driven to clefpair ;'' faid he, 
 "the morc I endeavour to fly IW fate, the 
 greater are the difficulties into which I am 
 ptupgcd. Madrid I confidered as a fecure 
 •afyliim from an enemy as inveterate as 
 death ; but I find him lodging beneath the 
 •very fame roof, and if I knew where to fly^ 
 Madrid would not hold me three hours." 
 
 '*l lament with you/' returned the Count, 
 '•/ this unfortunate accident ; but while the 
 Duke lives, there is every reafon to hope ; 
 •and you will be fafe in my palace. You 
 could not be more I'ecure and lefs known, 
 if you were under royal prote6\ion.'' 
 
 At this Hftom.ent a fcrvant entered, and 
 prefented a folded paper to Lorenzo, who 
 coloured with extreme confufion, as he 
 inquired if it w^as for him. '' Yes, Senof,'* 
 replied the fervant ; '' the perion who 
 brought it, defired me to deliver it into^ 
 your own hands." 
 
 The Count and Lorenzo looked at each 
 other, and the latter turning to the fervant, 
 inquired after the figure of the perfon 
 %ho brought the billet. *' lie
 
 57 
 
 '' lie was drefTed in the habit of a 
 monk/" replied the fervant, '' of nearly the 
 fame order as yourfelf. — He Avould not 
 wait a moment." 
 
 '' What m-yftcry !" faid Lorenzo as the 
 fervant withdrew. '' Are all my motions 
 watched. — But who can this be ! " He tore 
 open the paper^ and read ftmply ; — 
 
 Lorenzo de Ferara is requested by a friend 
 to come this ni^ht^ at the same hour, to the^ 
 saint place idiere he heard an extraordinary 
 coJifessitm. 
 
 " The more I endeavour to free myfelf 
 from this maze/' faid Lorenzo, " the more 
 am I perplexed and bewildered.'"^ 
 
 "What was the confefllon that .you, 
 heard?" inquired the Count. '• My curi- 
 ofity is roufed: but you are weak with, 
 want of refrefhment, and before I can , re- 
 quefi: you to gratify me, I will order ^ 
 repafl into my Itudy, where we fliall be 
 free from intcrrupHon — at leaft from any 
 
 ihing human." 
 
 D vJ Lorenzo
 
 58 
 
 Lorenzo {"milcd^ for he had more ffian 
 once obfer\ cd a peculiar bias to uiperfti- 
 tion in his friend, and he remembered 
 even while they were at college^ the Count 
 had made the ftudy of the accult fciences, 
 his amufement. 
 
 During their rcpaft, they fuggeiied va- 
 riet)' of plans to difccver the retreat of 
 lady Agnes, and foften the refentmcnt (he 
 had but too much rcafon to entertain. 
 
 '' When I refiecl/' faid he^ '' upon the de- 
 licacy of her mind^ and the many objections 
 1 had to combat before I could induce her 
 to fly with me^ I almoft lofe the hope that 
 file will be ever reconciled to my excufes." 
 *^ But if fhe fincerely loves you/' replied 
 Lorenzo, '' no doubt but fhe will forgive. 
 What crime, except inconflancy will ndt 
 a lover forgive ? And if you had power to 
 -perfuade her to quit her father's houfe, 
 there can bebut little doubt but you may 
 again prevail/' 
 
 *' By ihi^ manner in which you fpeak/* 
 replied the Count, /' 1 perceive that you 
 
 clafs
 
 clafs lady Agnes with thofe womcn^ "v\hp 
 are ev^r ready to fly in the face of their 
 fathei-s' commands^ and are happy to have 
 an excule to give a wide latitude to their 
 a6lions; but I anhrc you, you are ex- 
 tremely wron":. It ^vas with the con fen t 
 of her father himfelf, that I paid my ad- 
 dreiTes to her, and our courtfliip had gone 
 fofar^ that me day of our union had been 
 named. The marriage fettlements had 
 beenhintf'A at^ and it would fcarcely have 
 been fuppoied that any accident, fhort of 
 death, could have interrupted our felicity* 
 But the Duke, without deigning to give 
 me any reafons for hi^ caprice, firft became 
 cool towards me, and after fevcral flagrant 
 affronts, forbid me lii^ houfe ; declaiing, 
 that though his daughter was an only cliild, 
 before he would beftow her upon mc, he 
 would coniine her in a convent for life. 
 It was in ^ain I fought for an explanation; 
 and I little doubt, but fome private enemy 
 has fecretlv traduced me, for the Duke is 
 a man who knows the world too well, to 
 D e a^
 
 60 
 
 a6l in this manner ^vithoiit believing that 
 he has a fuflicient reafon/' 
 
 '^ But then he is guilty of very great in- 
 juftice/' replied Lorenzo, '^ in lillening io^ 
 tales he will not hear reiuted. I think thafc 
 his daughter is perfe611y excufable.-^-^i 
 There would be nothing to regret, if all 
 who acted thus had the fame motives ; but 
 "blind and mifguided pafTion is too gene- 
 rally predominant/' - 
 
 Lorenzo, ^vhile he fpoke thus, repeat- 
 edly fighed, and the Count making no 
 reply, he funk into a lit of mufing^ whicb 
 •was interrupted by the fervant's entering 
 to clear the table. 
 
 '' Jago,'' faid the Count, " bring fome 
 win€, fome fruit, and fome fweetm^ats,*^ 
 and then, remember I am at home to no 
 one; not even little Malunut;, piilefs he 
 brings me news from the Duke.]': 
 
 The fervant bowed and rjp tired. '* Is 
 little Mahmut, as you call him," Ihid Lo- 
 renzo^ *^ one of your domeitics V 
 
 !•' Nc;
 
 61 
 
 • *^-'No ;" replied Aranda, " he is the moft- 
 fingular little mortal on, the face of the 
 earth ; his qualifications are altogether 
 fupcrnatural ; and I may truly fay, he is 
 highly favoured of heaven ; but I muft 
 not awaken your curiofity too ftrongly for 
 the prefent. If we fhould have hereafter, 
 any moments of ^eifure^ I will introduce 
 him to you; but now let me beg of you 
 to make me acquainted with your various 
 fortunes; and how a man who preferves 
 a regard to morality^ can have rai fed to 
 himfelf fo unrelenting a foe." 
 
 His friend remained filcnt^ revolving in 
 his mind the cruelty of his fate, until the 
 fertant had made his arrangements, when 
 the Count repeadng his charge of derwal, 
 and having fallened the door to prevent 
 any interruption, he began. 
 
 The Adventure;^' of Lorenzo de Ferara. 
 
 It is, I believe, more than five years fince 
 I left you at your itudies in Toledo, more 
 ferious avocations forcing me into the 
 
 world.
 
 62 
 
 world. Yon remember^ that from my 
 earlieit infancy, I had been brought up 
 within the avails of a convent^ at a little 
 di ftanre from that city ; that my parents, 
 mj/ guardian, or my patron, were alike 
 unknown to me ; and that whether I was 
 the child of cl^ince or of indigence I had 
 only a few^ circumitances to gucfs. 
 
 In that early fancluary of my youth I 
 \vas taught to believe myfelf dcilined for 
 facred ordination. I w^as initiated into the 
 ritual and formulae of our church; and 
 never having experienced the careiTes of 
 parental afl€6^tion, or the pleafures of free 
 exillence, I felt no repugnance to the rou- 
 tine of monafiic dilcipline, believing that 
 the whole human Ipecics were employed 
 in fimiiar lervices. 
 
 It was thus that the years of my youtk 
 glided by: I v/as happy, becauie I knew 
 vi no more extended a circle of exillenoej. 
 and I was without a wiili to difcover the 
 origin from which I fprang, or the hand 
 that fuppUed a yearly ftipend lor my 
 board. On
 
 ' On the day that I entered my fifteen tit 
 Tear, the Superior received a note from the 
 hand of a Itranger, which created in him 
 much fui'prize, and he hefitated to obey its 
 requefl. '• This note/' faid h^ to thfe- 
 ftranger, '' requires me to deliver to you 
 our little brother Lorenzo ; but we aK 
 ready confider him an inmate in our 
 houfe/* " I prefume not to di61ate/' faid 
 the ftrangcr, "but I would fuggeit, that as 
 l)is bc^rdhas been regularly diiburfed;, you 
 cannot have a claim to detain him." 
 
 " That is mofi true/' replied the Supe- 
 rior ; '' I hope I am to deliver him to 
 better fortune/' The fiiTinger bowed, but 
 made no reply; and I was immediately 
 fcnt fbr^ and delivered into his hands. 
 
 This perfon was of a tacitume difpo- 
 fition; and I remember that he b^eard all 
 the trifling remarks I m.ade^ and the won- 
 der I exp/elfed at the new fcenes which 
 opened at once before my eyes, with the 
 moit pcrfe<5l iiidinirence. 
 
 I was
 
 64 
 
 I was introduced in* him to the college 
 '^here the ftiidy of Jurirprildence is prac- 
 tifed, for I had no occafion to fpend my 
 time in learning languages, the monks 
 having fparcd no pains in my inllruclion. 
 The firanger then took his leave, without 
 the fmallefl token of ratisfa6\ion or regret, 
 only recommending diligence. 
 
 It was then I took upon me thofe fludies 
 which might one day raife me to the tri- 
 "bunal of juftice; and it was then, my dear 
 Aranda, I became acauain ted with vou. It 
 was then you condoled with me, as m y ^ 
 ideas enlarged, on the obfcurity of my ' 
 birth, and the uncertainty of my fortunes. 
 
 During three years my falary was punc- 
 tually paid by fome pcrfon unknown, but 
 jmy utmoft vigilance could never dete6i 
 the hand; and as my private ftipend was 
 by no means illiberal, I remember you 
 iifed to confole me with the inference, 
 that my friends could not be of low rank 
 or fortune. 
 
 As
 
 65 
 
 As my intercourfe with the world be- 
 came more general^ it was with forrow I 
 l<)oked upon the prccarioufnefs of my 
 fitiuition. The idea of being overwhelmed 
 in poverty at the caprice of a perfon whom 
 I knew notj was to me dreadful ; and the 
 more fo, as I had never known the dif- 
 tinfiion of poor and rich^ or witnell'ed 
 the miferies fuffered by the former. 
 
 To preferve myfelf from this terrible 
 fituation^ which arofe to my mind in cafe 
 of abandonment^ I applied almoft day and 
 jiight to my ftudies. The pleafures en- 
 joyed by other young men in my fitu- 
 ation^ were profcribed by me ; and I muft 
 acknowledge, my monaflic habits had ori- 
 ginally fitted me for this drudgery of 
 learning, and taken from me much of the 
 levity and gaiety of youth. 
 
 I have fometimes wondered that a young 
 man, with fo ardent a fpirit as the Count 
 Aranda, could find pleafure in the fociety 
 of a perfon who had no refources of enter- 
 taiao^icnt. 
 
 Your
 
 .. .Your CGmpanyj I believe^ was abfotutel^ 
 necefTary to prevent my linking into me- 
 lancholy; and indeed it was al mod the 
 only relaxation I allowed myfeif throygh 
 the day. 
 
 , Many v/ere the; fi hemes I proje61ed t0 
 difcover the foiirce of my fappiies, but all 
 were eqnally iiaiitlefs ; and 1 have no 
 doubt that even the Superiors ofl th^ col- 
 lege were equally ignorant of my ixal 
 benefactor. 
 
 : The ft udy of jurifprudence was in itfelf 
 iminterefting, but not '^o in ite powers and 
 confequences : and when I remembered 
 that I might do much to foften the feveri- 
 ties of mankind, and redrcis many of thofe 
 grievances which daily cried aloud for 
 amelioration, I found much faiisfadion in 
 planning fchemes which were indeed never 
 to exift. 
 
 The fancy that I might one day preflde 
 oYcr the bar of jullice, excited iii me a 
 ilrong .irdour for knowledge, independent 
 of other motives; and having pafled 
 
 through
 
 67 
 
 through the coiirfe of fliidv neceflarv fot^ 
 common and civil cafes, I was entering 
 upon the abilrufe Ipeculations of the lnv;s 
 of nations, when my purfuits were totally 
 changed ; and from the rights, were di* 
 re61ed to the wrongs of mankind. 
 
 Whoever it was that had power over 
 my fate, their intentions feemed to have 
 no ftability. The Superior of the college 
 received a note, which reauefted my dif- 
 miffal from the eftablifhment, and a littfe 
 packet^ which contained a fubordinate 
 commiffion in the army, and a fmall fum of 
 money to equip me for my new capacity. 
 
 It is likely I fhould not have pofitively 
 fubmitted to this arbitrary dellinationV 
 v^ithout any reafon or excufe^ had it not 
 been for your advice : nor was it a fmall 
 ta<k to re-arrange my plans, and from fo 
 clofe an application to fludv, from the re- 
 treats of a college, and the cells cfa cloifter,, 
 to enter at once upon the buftie of mili^ 
 t?.¥Y life, and all the exertions of painful 
 warfare. 
 
 Lhad
 
 68 
 
 ^^ I had juit entered my nineteenth jear 
 when I became a foidier ; and as the army 
 is a fcene of-fplcndor and parade, my 
 youthful mind eafiiy imbibed all the max- 
 ims of gallantry and honour which are the 
 icamina of a foidier 's charaiiler. 
 
 It was with confRlerablc regret I left 
 Toledo, which to me had been a fecond 
 retreat^ and w here I had found a companion 
 and a friend : but the hurry of my employ 
 did not leave me much time to think. 
 
 The deference I every where received 
 reconciled me to the change of fituations, 
 and the tales of veteran heroes fired my 
 imagination with an ardent defire after 
 fimilar exploits. 
 
 Our regiment was marched through va- 
 rious provinceSjforneara twelvemonth^, in 
 irTwhich time I faw great part of Spain, and 
 the mannei*s of its inhabitants ; but I de- 
 fired nothing more than a war, when I 
 might have an opportunity of fignalizing 
 my relblution, and fomcthing to repeat as 
 well as my companions. 
 
 The
 
 69 
 
 •The rcdleffnefs of ambition and the dif- 
 content of the people are generally fer- 
 menting frefh troubles, and fome fymp- 
 toms of war appearing on the fide of 
 Portugal, feveral bodies of troops wore 
 .concentrated toward the frontiers of that 
 kingdom. 
 
 It was propofed that an extenfive en- 
 campment fhould be formed along the 
 borders of the Breganza Domain ; but as 
 nopofitive acl: o{ hoftility had been com- 
 mitted, it had been deemed beft not to 
 provoke v/ar by an open difplay of power; 
 and our troops were difperfed to the cities 
 of Leon and Oviedo. 
 
 It was my lot to be ftationed in the city 
 of Leon, on the beautiful river Elza, at the 
 foot of the mountains of Afturia, fo re- 
 ^ tnarkable for the variety of foliage which 
 m fome places clothes the fummits of the 
 highcft hills. 
 
 A foldiers life is extremely pleafaM, 
 when quartered in a large town : he re- 
 ceives the homage of ail rankij, and the 
 
 par-
 
 70 
 
 pa^'^tlcular regards of the ladles; he is 
 tlecoratedin the moll elegant maimer,, and 
 his unitbrm is . calculated to difplay the 
 human figure in the iitmoft perie61ion ; 
 his exen iies give a pliiy of health to his 
 countenance ; and kindling at the parade 
 of public exhibition^ he feels and almoll 
 believes himielf fuperior to the refl of 
 mankind. 
 
 No wonder then, that m^y ideas fkould 
 imdrrgo a frefii revolution, and frefli views 
 open before me. The confined f})here of 
 humble independence was enlarged, and 
 I reflc6^ed on the means of procuring a 
 fplendid eftabliihment. Many were the 
 opportunities I had of offering myfelf to 
 fome lady of fortune, but my ambition 
 looked forward to rank and dignity. I 
 confidered it a folly for a foldier of fortune 
 to encumber himfelf with a wife, unlefs 
 ilie could raife him both to affluence and. 
 rank, and by looking too high, I found that 
 lay vain fchemes were abvays abortive; 
 
 but
 
 71 
 
 but my heart wp.^ untouched^ and my va- 
 nity v is tc o high to fuflbrmuch. 
 
 Ambition, I iiiight fay, was my darling 
 miihers. She was my theme by day, andr 
 my dream by night ; and fo inflated were 
 my ideas, that I f uicied mylelf Hltle fiiort of 
 the heroes of antiquity, though I had never, 
 even in fmgle combat, yet fecn the face of 
 an enemy. This cnthunafm was pro- 
 moted by my itudics and my exercises. 
 The arts of war, the hves of heroes, and the^ 
 fictitious adventures of romance, cblilera- 
 tcd the fpirit of Legiilut'tcn and the Pan- 
 dits. I arofe every day wilh the fun, and 
 pkmgcd into the river. I joined every 
 party that was formed to chafe the wolves 
 .amonglt the mountains. I clambered tliQ' 
 fteepeil rocks, and endeavoured to imitate 
 the goat in leaping from rock to rock. 
 Thiui I hardened my confJtution, and 
 lighed for the moment of- a^lual fen'ice, 
 when I imagined my finglc pro'^vofs- would 
 fufhce to hew down whole ranks of the 
 
 enemv.
 
 re 
 
 caemv, and to decide the fortune of th^ 
 day. 
 
 Enthufiafm is ever the fame in its na- 
 ture, though leading to different ends ; and 
 though it is a fpecies of infanity, yet na 
 man is more perfe611y happy than he who 
 is moll fubjevSi to its fway. Of this nature 
 is love. At that time I had never been 
 touched by its influence., and perhaps my 
 fufferings were the more fevere from its 
 Laving been delayed till my reafon was 
 matured into fettled habit. 
 
 It was in one of our adventures on the 
 mountains, that we were led a confiderable 
 way, in purfuit of a wolf, whole fierce 
 appearance and uncommon fize, -excited 
 determination to extirpate him : but the 
 labour and difiiculty of following him 
 through a country fo rugged, tired out 
 my companions, one after the other, and 
 even the dogs feemed willing to abandon 
 th^ chafe. 
 
 Deter-
 
 s. Deteriniiied not to yield to trifling ob- 
 ilaclesj I continued to clamber from one 
 elevation to the nCxXt, and only conquered 
 one thicket to engage with another. My 
 faithful dog kept true to the fcent,* iind 
 after ranibling I know not whither, I 
 found myfelf alone on the abrupt heights 
 of the mountains. Ilhouted aloud to my 
 companions, but the founds only vibrated 
 from rock to rock, refturning upon me in 
 numberlels echoes : and I repeated the 
 experiment feveral times, charmed with 
 the effe^. The peculiar wildnefs of mv 
 'ele\ated fituation obliterated all ideas of 
 the chafe, and I Itood for fonie time, ad- 
 miring the beauties of nature around me. 
 
 After fome time., I advanced to the 
 elevated brow of the mountain, which 
 fcemed to promife an extcnfjve view, as it 
 •overlooked a coniiderable valley, and com- 
 manded the many windings of a long chain 
 of hills. 
 
 It was about fun-fet when I gained this 
 
 fituation, and looked down with delight into 
 
 VOL. I. E the
 
 the Vale beneafli^ which was entirely co- 
 vered with for eft trees^ of variegated 
 foliage, upon whofe tops the fun feemed 
 to repofewith lingering delight. 
 
 The irregular hills which encircled tliis 
 place, rofe as an amphitheatre around ; in 
 fome parts covered with alnioft impene- 
 trable woods, in others barren. The fun 
 flione red upon the tops of the hills, and 
 the clouds caught the fervid tinge which 
 gave all nature a glow, and filled me with an 
 enthufiallic rapture, 
 
 I fat dovm upon the fliort mofs of the 
 mountain, to contemplate at lei lure, the 
 fubliine fcenery around, me. The peaceful 
 tranq\ii;llity of the valley, fliadowed by 
 almofL impenetrable foliage : the dreary 
 and chaotic barrennefs of the diitant moun- 
 lains, Hiaded with blacknefs : the How 
 finking of the fun, whofe orb feemed to 
 increafe in magnitude as it verged to the 
 cdi^e of the horizon : and the deep filence 
 which forerun the night, entranced me 
 upon the fpot. 
 
 The
 
 The ill outs of men J the founds of cattle^ 
 and the voices of birds, were equally ba- 
 niflied from this folitary fpot; and I in- 
 dulged in a dream, which caiTied me away 
 from fociety, and planted nie aniidfi; em - 
 bowering fhades, and verdant greens, t 
 forgot my companions. I forgot the ne- 
 cefTitv of mv return to L^on. I forgot all 
 things but the pleafmg profpe6ls around 
 me, till the fliades of the ffis^antic moun- 
 tains began to overfpread the valley, and 
 the blue mifts to gather upon the hills. 
 
 My faithful dog broke the chain of my 
 enchantment, fhewing by his impatience, 
 that he knew our time was wafteing ; but 
 \\'hen I began to refled upon Te*m7iing, 
 I found it utterly impoffible, in the dark, 
 and without a guide, to retread rocks and 
 iteeps, where there v»\is no path, and where 
 a falfe Hep would have been irrecoverable. 
 
 I alfo found, on defcending from the 
 
 flights of fancy, that I was both weary and 
 
 hungry, without having power to procure 
 
 refrefliment, and with the profpe61 before 
 
 E 2 Bp e
 
 76 
 
 iiie of- remaining all night upon the hllhr 
 When I arofe, I found my limbs ftiffened 
 with fittings after fo much exercife^ and I 
 moved flowly to a little thicket^ where I 
 purpofed to await the morning; but in 
 fear that fome noxious reptile ir.ight have 
 made it a retreat, I moved on to a frag- 
 ment of rock, which lay upon the furface, 
 as if thrown from a gTeater height. 
 
 I fat down, refolved to bear with pa- 
 tience, and as became a foldier, what was 
 without remedy ; and I pleafed myfelf 
 with refiecling that this was the firR accir 
 dent I had experienced which I could con,- 
 ftrue into an adventure. 
 
 The darkncfs of night moved fr.ft over 
 the face of the earth, and the diftinction of 
 o])jecls ^vas obliterated. The cooi v,inds 
 flitted by me, as I fat upon the rock, like 
 whifpei-s In the air, and m}' dog frequently 
 ifarted up his ears, as if alarmed by fome 
 diftant found. 
 
 My fituation bec;^me extremely cool^, 
 jmd the dews of the hills gathered upon 
 
 me
 
 77 
 
 me \vith ah impleafant chillnefs. T arofe 
 to warm myfelf by motion, and my dog 
 itarted up, no doubt joyous at the hope 
 that he-'fliould not remain in that fituation 
 all night. He ran about me with pleaiiu'e, 
 and I felt at that moment w^hat a mifcrable 
 being is man, without a friend or com- 
 panion to fliare in the refleclions, thq 
 pleafui'es, and the pains, his flying and 
 rapid mind is perpetually fii ggefting. 
 
 Thefe thoughts naturally led on to a 
 train of reflections upon my own folitary 
 fituation in life, and Vt^ithout regarding my 
 fieps, I continued to follow my faithful 
 attendant, till I found he had difcovered 
 a path that feemed to wind towards the 
 valley. 
 
 Though prccipitous and dangerous, I 
 determined to purfue it ; and had ad* 
 vanced a confiderable way, fometimes 
 intercepted by the bufties which choakcd 
 the path, when the dog on a fudden flop • 
 ped and began to bark. 
 
 E s Hooked
 
 78 
 
 I looked foi-ward, in the way lie fecmc^ 
 to dirct5i, and v/as not a little iiirprized at 
 Ceeiiifj a light move beneath me^ near the 
 iurlb.ce of the ground^ along the . Ikirts of 
 the forefl. It was too dark for me to dif- 
 tingiiifii by whom the light was canied^ but 
 conceiving it, could be only fome peafant 
 ■^ivho refided in this fecluded retreat, and 
 %vho might now be returning to his cotto.ge 
 •from his daily labour ; I determined to 
 xlaini a ilielter beneath his roof for the 
 night. 
 
 I had fome difficulty to filence the cla- 
 «mour of my dog, v/ho feemed to fhrink 
 'back, as if unwilling to follow me ; but his 
 faithfulnefs overcame his fear, and we de- 
 fcended flowly together. By the time I 
 gained the level ground, at the expence of 
 two or three falls, the light was loft in the 
 \vin dings of the forell. It ^v^as too dark to 
 judge for myfelf, and I left it to the fa~ 
 gacity of my dog to ftrike out fome path, 
 v>hichl followed without hefitation, every 
 inftant in danger of being knocked down 
 by the hanging branches. It
 
 79 
 
 It was fome time before I again caught 
 the light, which the barking of my dog 
 firft pointed out, and I was not a little fur- 
 prized at the cowardice he difplayed in 
 creeping clofe by my fide. I advanced 
 with as much fwiftnefs as the thicknefs 
 of the trees would permit, fometimes gaiiv^ 
 ing upon the light, which.- feveral times 
 crolTed the path, and fometimes ioiing it 
 altogether. 
 
 For more than a mile, according to my 
 judgment, I continued to follow this lights 
 without being able to diftinguifh by whoin 
 it was carried. I increafed my fpeeu, rc» 
 ceiving feveral fevere blows from the im- 
 pending boughs ; but when I fancied my- 
 felf witliin a few paces, on a fudden it 
 appeared at a diftance, like a faint ftar. 
 
 My furprize began to be roufed. The 
 filence and caution of my dog, who crept 
 fo clofe to my feet that I was in danger of 
 treading upon him, did not decreafe my 
 iufpicions ; and remembering the tales I 
 had heard of fpirits that wandered by 
 E 4 niglit^.
 
 so 
 
 night, and of meteors ghncing along the- 
 path of the traveller I began to hefitate 
 ^vhelher I iiioiild proceed. 
 
 I was aimoll aihamed of betrayhig thefe 
 ly mptoms of fer.r to niyfelf^ and refolved 
 after a moments hefitation to foilo>N' ai all 
 f vents. 
 
 Poffibly^ thought I, this is the adventure 
 my fortune has referved for me as a trial 
 of my courage^ and wcrthinefs of her 
 favours ; fnail I then be wanting to fecond 
 her intentions ! 
 
 Not however to venture forward i-afhly, 
 I prepared my fword for any attack that 
 might be made on my pcrfon^ and calling 
 upon the fpirits of departed heix)es^ I ad- 
 vanced with a quick motion ; my fword 
 held out before me to feparate the branches. 
 
 I now evidently gained upon the lights 
 and fancied I could perceive the outlines 
 of a human figure, envelloped in black : 
 but whether reallv drefled in tkat colour, 
 or only receiving it from tlio ihaxle of 
 night, I could not dilliuguilh. I now ven- 
 tured
 
 81 
 
 tured to call aloud to the perfon to flay ;. 
 and my dog^ encouraged by my voice^ 
 began to bark^ but with evident fear. 
 
 The light flopped for a moment, but 
 was inftantlv extinguiflied, and I remained 
 in total and impenetrable darknefs. 
 
 I ftood ftiil to lifien if any one moved 
 towards me, and bent my ear to catch the 
 (bunds that might run along the ground^ 
 for I was not vv'ithout fufpicion that he 
 might have been a robber, who, on hear 
 ing my voice, had extinguilhed the light, 
 the better to fall on me by furprize, but all 
 remained profoundly and terribly (ilent. 
 
 I looked round, but it was impoflible to 
 difiinguifb a yard before me. I looked up,' 
 but a dark canopy of foliage concealed 
 even the fparkle of a flar. The wind was 
 hufhcd, and fo great was the fdence, that a 
 Leaf might almoft have been heard to fall. 
 Some bird of the night fiew by me, and 
 the fudden found in the air, ftartled me 
 with fear. What, a moment was this to give 
 the wing to fancy, for fuperftitious fears 
 £ 5 began
 
 begnn to creep o\ cr me in fpite orreaH)!!. 
 r remembered ieveral llrange ftories I had 
 heard at Leon^, of thcle very mountains^ 
 and particularly of a dcfolate building, 
 Avhich, for ou<>hl; I knev/, mioht be fituated 
 in this valley. There are times when the 
 moltabiurd of fancies aflinne the face of 
 n'lith. and fuch a time was the prefent. 
 
 I was perplexed and bewildered in my 
 own mind, at my filuation — expofed on 
 all fides to I knew not what — and I debated* 
 whether I Ihould remain flilb advance^ or 
 retreat. 
 
 There appeared no difference of choice,, 
 and I decided to advance, trufting to the 
 fagacity of my dog to point out immediate 
 danger, and prevent nu^ tumbling into 
 fome filent ftream, or being fwamped ir> 
 fome deceitful bog ; though I more than 
 once fancied the ground fplaflied as I trod 
 upon it. 
 
 At about fifty yards the path divided 
 ieveral ways, and following my companion, 
 who had now loit his feai-s, I had not gone 
 
 lar^
 
 S3 
 
 far, wh^n the diftant tones of fome perfon 
 ringing, caught my ear : the filence of the 
 forell permitting me diftindly to hear the 
 air of an old popular ballad- 
 Encouraged by the afllirance of fome 
 near abode, I advanced with increafmg 
 fpirits ; and after winding through feveral 
 intricate paths amongft the bufhes, I dif- 
 covered a cottage of moft miferable afpecl:. 
 Through a chink in the broken fhutters, 
 flione a ray of light, and having waited 
 till the voice ceafed, I ventured to rap 
 gently at the door.. 
 
 E\ ery found feemed to be hufhed, as i€ 
 m alarm at the unufual circumllance of an 
 intruder in fo fecluded a fituation. • I 
 waited fome time,, but receiving no reply, 
 I ventured to rap again with louder noiie. 
 The light was taken away, and I expe6led 
 every moment fome one w^ould appear, but 
 in this I was difappointed. 
 
 My dog teftified his impatience by bark- 
 ing, and after waiting fome time, L con- 
 eluded it could be only fear which pre- 
 vented
 
 8J 
 
 vented any one appearing ; nor could^ I 
 wonder that they fliould be thus cautious^ 
 •\vhen I confidercd that whatever mio-ht be 
 the exigency, no help was near: and though 
 cottagers might not have much to tempt 
 the avarice of rapine, yet that little was to 
 them of the utmoft value; nor did I know 
 whom they might have to dread in fo fuf- 
 picious a wild. 
 
 The night was yet early. — It was un- 
 pleafant to remain for fo many houi^s as 
 muR pafs till morning, in the damp and 
 open air, and I refolved not to be fo eafdy 
 denied admijTion. • 
 
 I knocked loud and long, before any one 
 appeared to f!ir; but as denial was the 
 w^orft I believed 1 had to fear, I determined 
 not to depart unanfwered. I called re- 
 peatedly, and finding I was not eafily 
 turned from my pm-pofe, a voice at length 
 demanded, through the key-hole, who I 
 was, and what I w^anted. 
 
 '' I am a traveller," replied I, " benighted 
 in the foreft ; can you give me flielter for 
 the night?" ^^ From
 
 83 
 
 *^^ From whence come you ?" demanded 
 a i*ou;5h voice^ dilTcrcnt from the firfl, 
 which I had judged to be a woman's. 
 
 " From Leon ;'* replied I. "I was on 
 a hunting party^ and have loft my way/* 
 
 '^'^Are you alone then ?" demanded the 
 fame voice ; " are your companions near ? " 
 
 '*No;" anfwered J, ''they are many 
 miles behind, if they are not^ as is mofl 
 probable^ by this tim^e, fafe at Leon. You 
 will not repent giving me fhelter.'' 
 
 •^^ That is more than I know ;" faid he> 
 HI a low grumbling voice, while I heard 
 him unbar the door, v/hich he gradually 
 opened, as if to convinee himfelf that. I 
 was alone. 
 
 An old woman, ivhofe features werfe 
 roughened with the weather and the 
 tem-peft of many a year, hold a fmall 
 lamp, by Vv'hich I dillingui^.ed the maf- 
 ter of the coiic^e. He wasdrcfled in 
 the coane habit of a woodman. His fea- 
 tures were extremely dark, and his eye 
 moved with quicknefs and rapidity. He 
 
 feemed
 
 86 
 
 feemed confiderably younger than his 
 eompanion, and with the moil forbidding 
 air, invited me into his dwelHng. 
 
 I fat down, with fome doubts of what 
 company I had accidently ftumbled upcn^ 
 but as there was now no remedv. I took 
 care not to betray any fear. The old lady 
 placed the lamp upon the table, while the 
 man took great care to fecure the door, as 
 if he apprehended his little cita.del w^ould. 
 be ftormed, placing feveral ftaves of wood 
 again ft it. 
 
 '^ You are not willing to be furprized^ 
 my friend/' faid I; " you make all lure." 
 
 '' This is not a world to live in with our 
 doors open/' replied he. 
 
 '' You are afraid then ?" continued I. 
 
 ''Not much of that neither," faid he 
 roughly. ''This is not a place to feek for 
 much wealth, mailer. You did well to hit 
 my cottage, or you would have ftoodavery 
 good chance of remaining out all night." 
 
 As he faid thefe words, he ftalked ful- 
 lenly acrofs the floor, calling a glance 
 
 upon
 
 S7 
 
 upon mv figure; and I thought he frowned 
 at perceiving my arms. 
 
 " Svlvia/' laid he as he fat down^ " you 
 have been fiiiging here till you have let the 
 fire out : bnng another log — the Cavalier 
 looks cold." lie then liftened as if he ex- 
 pe61ed to hear fome perfon coming; 
 fitting on his three-legged ftool in fuch 
 variety of poftures, that I faw he was not 
 fatisfied with my prefence. 
 
 I mull own my opinion of my ho ft began 
 to be not the molt favourable; but fup- 
 pofing him to have evil intentions, I flat- 
 tered myfelf that I had fufiicient fkill to 
 repel any attack he could make upon me 
 alone; and I determined, if any other 
 came to the cottage, to quit it at all hazard.s. 
 1 call a glance round this little dvv-elling, 
 but the dim lamp only dilplayed the hum- 
 ble and penurious poficmons of a cottage^^ 
 with fome implements for cutting wood. 
 I faw no preparations for fupper ; and the 
 furlinefs of the man, with the Sybil-like 
 figure of the woman^ were not calculated 
 
 to
 
 88' 
 
 to excite freedom. I almoft repented hav- 
 ing accepted fuch unwelcome fheltcr: but 
 as now I mufl make the beft ufe of my bad 
 fortune^ I defired to know if I could not 
 have fomething to eat^ the chafe having 
 left me very hungrv. 
 
 ^'^ I don't knov,/' replied he dr\Iy. 
 *' Soldiers don't generally carry much coirr 
 about them: vve have no luxuries." 
 
 '' I fhallbe ccntented with what fatisfies 
 you/' replied I;, without noticing his 
 remark. 
 
 ^' We fupped an hour ago/' replied he. 
 *' We have nothing but a little black breads 
 and a drop of wine. Dame^ bring them, 
 out." The woman arofe at this laconic 
 command, and teking a^vay the lamp^ went* 
 into, an mner room, leaving us only the 
 light of a glimmering wood fire^, which 
 threw out a llanie by fiarts, illumining this 
 wretched cottage with a red glare. 
 
 I perceived that my hoft eyed me with 
 a fcrutinizi ng ftare^ very diifercnt froir» the 
 dillidence of a common peafant. His dark 
 
 features
 
 S9 
 
 ieattU'es were glazed with the glare of the 
 fire, and his afpe6t feemed fa\age in ex- 
 treme. " Surely/' thought I^ '' this man 
 caftnot be what he feems : here is nothing 
 of the ferenity of a cottage life marked 
 upon his face; every trait of palTion and 
 a bad heart is imprelTed upon his furrowed 
 features." 
 
 A piece of wood fell from the fire upon 
 the hearth — he (looped to take it up^ and 
 fome weapon (which he concealed in a 
 moment) half difclofed itfelf^ in his breafl. 
 He turned his eyes upon me^ and perceiv- 
 ing that I had mine fixed upon him^ he 
 called aloud with fome confufion,. '' Syl- 
 via, Syk ia, make a little haile — can't you 
 find the bread?" 
 
 I laughed aloud at t\\e name of Sylvia^ 
 for fure never was name worfe applied ;~ 
 but my hofl feemed offended at my free- 
 dom, miflaking thereafon. 
 
 '' 'Tis well, Cavalier," faid he, " for 
 thofe in high circumftances to laugh at 
 poverty. The time has been — that is — 
 
 I mean
 
 90 
 
 I mean that I myfelf was once a fbldier, 
 and if merit had recei\ed its reward^ I 
 ihould n©t have been l^iiried in this 
 "wretched place. But an eld ibidier is like 
 an old garment, ufelefs when worn out." 
 
 "^ You widely miflake me/' replied I. 
 *' It it not for me to laugh at poverty ,•- for 
 no man can be well poorer than myfelf. 
 But here comes Sylvia ; and I fliail not 
 envy the fupper my companions will have 
 at Leon/' .• 
 
 Sylvia placed fome very bad bread before 
 me^ and a flaik of wine. 
 
 " Come^ Cavalier/' faid fhe, '' you mufi 
 not expecl preffmg/' 
 
 ''Hunger is a fufficient invitation/* 
 replied I ; '• but I would willingly pledge 
 my companion in arms. Lei us drink to 
 our friends who have died in the field/' 
 
 '' Agreed/' faid he, while a faint fymp- 
 tom oi fmiling ran over his features for a 
 moment. '' Bring another horn, Sylvia. 
 It begins to grow late^ Cavalier : 'twas 
 
 well
 
 91 
 
 ■\vcll you found out this place. Did you 
 meet anv one abroad in this "wilderners ? *' 
 
 '' No/' replied I, " >vhom fhould I 
 meet?" 
 
 '' Nay, I know not/' replied he with 
 quicknefs. 
 
 '•'Do others dwell here befide you?" 
 ^' It is reported fo/' anfwered he, glancing 
 a look at dame Sylvia, who never ven- 
 tured a fingle word. '' Did you never 
 hear of any murders or robberies in theffr 
 mountains?'* 
 
 ^' No/' anfwered I carelefsly ; '' none m 
 particular. I am but lately come to Leon, 
 and it was by mere accident I difcovered 
 this romantic and fecluded valley. You 
 feem fliut out from all the world by the 
 mountains that furi*ound you. I fuppofe 
 very few travellers ever come this road to 
 be murdered ?" 
 
 '' The fev/ that do come, are eaough," 
 replied he drily. 
 
 '' And are all that come murdered^ then ? " 
 clpmanded I, fixing my eye upon him. I 
 
 thought
 
 thoiie^f W appeared quite confitfetl, Ttni 
 my fulpirions werx* arouiVd more firongly 
 than betare. He averted his eye from me, 
 :\Vid ftirring the fire, repliixl, " I know 
 lun 1 have lived here manj yeare fafe 
 enough* 1 am afraid of nothing for my 
 jxirt : but Sylvia here (though heaven 
 kno\\^ the has nothing to lole^ is ahnoft 
 ion irieil out of her wits." 
 
 Dame Sylw, Ihook her head, aiul looked 
 round with a frightened air. 
 
 '• ^^'hat is it that troubles you. my good 
 \>-om;ui r* faid L •"You arc nt^t afraid of 
 robben^ I hope : 
 
 N.>. CaMdier;" cried flie, in a trem- 
 bling voice 1 " if I had nothing worfe to 
 tear I 1> oii!a ileep found. But — " 
 
 • But Nviuu : crit^ my holK ia an im- 
 ptrioas VDU'c, lh.u irupofcd iilonce on 
 \vhat dame Sybia was going to fay. **i 
 (..:i toll you^ Cavalier^ this fooliih woman 
 Ic'c \ c>i in fpN^lres ; and will have it, that 
 the iXv* Mif.'i t>f'tk<r Ok\v/A» wnlks through 
 the tt^reii at night, with a blue taper, and. 
 
 a chaiu
 
 95 
 
 a chain trailing from Iii;s waift along the 
 ground." 
 
 I now recolle6led the figure which I had 
 indiftincUy feen coming the Hght through 
 the foreft^ which I had followed throut,h 
 fo many winding-s, and loft in fo lingular a 
 manner. The blood niflied to my face at 
 the remembrance, and I inquired if he had 
 been out that night. 
 
 ''Was I out! ' rejx^ated he, rcjghly. 
 "Where? what do you mean, Cavalier? 
 Do ycu think that I — " He recollected, 
 fui^dcniy, that he was fcctiT.) ing mere than 
 he prudently ought ; and cauing upon mc 
 oneof hi*i nialig-nant and exprcfTive glances, 
 he faid. finlily, that he never was from 
 home after night-fall. 
 
 '' Then it mufl have been fomc of your 
 neighbours," faid I, " pafling over the 
 confufion he had Ictrayed. I followed a 
 light, carried by fome perfon I could not 
 overtake for a confiderable diftance." 
 
 "Holy Virgiii!" cried S>lvia, '' was it 
 a bluidi light ? did it burn near the groitnd ? 
 did it move fwiftlv i did it — "
 
 94 
 
 ""' Plliaw !" cried the man ; '^ what non- 
 lenfe next, will you dream about ? What 
 was the perfon like, w ho Garried this lame 
 light, Cavalier?" 
 
 '' He was in my eyes fo wrapped in blacky 
 that—" 
 
 *' In black 1 fay you r" cried he impa- 
 tiently. " Are you fure he was in black ? 
 Did you fee his face ? " 
 
 " No !" replied l, aftonifned at the 
 change his coiyrten|^^ exjprefred, after 
 but a mojjJh^l^TOrecfiKinig his* com- 
 panion for her credulity, '' What if I had 
 feen his face !" 
 
 '^Oh, nothing:" replied he. '' If you 
 had feen his face, you would never have 
 wifhed to have feen it again." 
 
 '^Is he a murderer, or a robber?" faid 
 I, fixing my eyes upon him ; '' are his fea- 
 tures ^o terrible ?" 
 
 *' I know not what he is," anfwered he^ 
 paufmg a moment as if to liften ; then 
 proceeding : '' I can only tell you that no 
 man in thefe parts dare look upon him. 
 
 He
 
 93 
 
 Me is never feen in day-light; and it h 
 but at times he appears. No man knows 
 %vhence he coines, or where he goes. Nor 
 dare any man nrxeet him to inquire : though 
 it is believed he dwells in the ruins of an 
 old caille at no great diflance." 
 
 '•' That is a very uncomfortable abode/* 
 faid I, watching his countenance ; '' per- 
 haps if I had followed him, he would have 
 given me fhelter. I have heard many 
 flrange tales of his f^teks^^nK*! did not 
 believe them : howxvcr you have mifed 
 my curiofity." 
 
 '' It was bcfl for you/' faid he, with a 
 faint fmilcj that you did not follow him : 
 '' flouter men than you have attempted it^ 
 and paid very deai*ly for their hardiliood. 
 Many an one has he led to the edge of a 
 precipice, down which they have been 
 dafiicd in pieces. Others he has led into 
 quagmires: but I know not that he does 
 any mifchief to thofe who take no notice 
 of him ; and that is the reafon I do not 
 permit Sylvia to mention him." 
 
 J knew
 
 96 
 
 I knew not what to infer from fo extra- 
 vagant a tale. I was aware how credulous 
 -country, people v/ere ; delighting in the 
 marvellous, and believing the greatefl 
 abfurdities. But I had been witnefs in 
 part to the truth of this tale^ and the fear 
 my dog had teftified^ induced me to think 
 that there might be more reafon to believe, 
 than generally happens. I wiihed to in- 
 xiuire farther c^cmcerning this marvellous 
 flory^ r.nd why the fpeclre had been named 
 *he old man of the ca/lle ; but Filelfo ( fo 
 was my heft named ) relapfed into his furly 
 difpofition, and refufcd to anfwer. 
 
 We remniiied feme time mutually fdent, 
 each wraDDed in their o^vn refleclions. 
 Mine were di\idcd between what I had 
 juft heaixl^ and the lingular difpofition of 
 FilelfOj who feemed uneafy at my com- 
 pany, and not to he conciliated by any 
 advances of friendHiip. 
 
 Our fiience had continued fome time, 
 interiiipted only by a fpark now and then 
 flying from the embei"s, Avhich were dying 
 
 upon
 
 upon the hearth. The lamp fhed fo loW a 
 gleam> that I began to apprehend we 
 fhoiiid foon be involved in total darknefs. 
 Filelfb llarted up at once^ with lb briflc a 
 motion^ that he alarmed me. " Dame Syl- 
 via/* cried he, ^' do you not fee the fire 
 is dying out? What preparations have 
 you made for the Cavalier ? '* 
 
 ^' I have made none," replied fhe, as in 
 truth Ihe might, for (he had never left the 
 room, except to provide the fupper. 
 
 '' You Vtill have forry entertainment,'* 
 faid he, ftriding over the floor: '^ our cot- 
 tage cannot boall any bed but ftraw — per- 
 haps you cannot deep in that way?—. 
 When I was a Ibldier, I have often been 
 glad of a haixl ftone to lay under my head/' 
 
 I anfwered that I had no deflgn to fleep, 
 and with truth ; for never did I meet lefs 
 invitation. 
 
 ''But we who labour hard in the day^ 
 
 require fleep/' faid he; " and I fuppofe 
 
 you do not wifh to keep us both up to bear 
 
 you company.'* 
 
 VOL. I. p ^'^ Certainly
 
 98 
 
 . ^'Certainly not/' anfwered I; '' permh 
 me to fit here ; put a little more wood to 
 the firCj and you may go to refl. I ihall 
 pay you with pleafuro/' 
 
 ^'^ You forget that you are a llranger to 
 us/' replied he bluntly. '' I don't fufpe6l 
 you of any wrong, Cavalier ; but you 
 know — *', 
 
 He perceived my anger was rifing at 
 his infolent infinuations, and he afuimed 
 an air of defiance^ as much as to fay, 
 refent if vou dare. 
 
 Sylvia fnatched up the lamp^ and her tall 
 fpe^lre-like figure cafl a grim fhade upon 
 the walls. 
 
 *' Come, Cavalier/' faid fhe, " 'tis al- 
 moft midnight ; you had better accept our 
 loft^ bad as it is, than venture abroad at this 
 hour." 
 
 I hefitated for a moment; but indeed 
 there was no choice, and her words feemed 
 to infmuate more than flie expreffed. 
 
 ^' Good night/' faid I to Filelfo as I 
 paired him. ^' Aye, aye, good night t'ye/' 
 
 returned
 
 99 
 
 »^turDe(l he in a furly voice, throwing 
 himfclf down upon a bench, with ib much 
 noife, that he fliook the walls of his totter* 
 lag dwelling. 
 
 I followed Sylvia into a little dirty kind 
 of lumber room, in which Hood a ladder, 
 leading through a trap door into a loft, 
 where fowls were roofting, and fo^e bun- 
 dles of fir aw and fire-wood were piled as 
 for winter flore. 
 
 '' There/' faid fhe, ''take the lamp — 
 you muftdo as w^ell as you can ; but don't 
 forget to draw up the ladder after you.'* 
 
 I returned her thanks for the caution, 
 which feemed to hint to me even more 
 than my fupicions dared to acknowledge. 
 I did not fail to obey her injun6lion ; and 
 as the trap-door wasloofe, I placed it down 
 and a confiderable weight of wood upon 
 the top. I heard fome loud words between 
 Filelfo and Sylvia, but was not able to un- 
 derftand the lubjecl, though my feare 
 naturally led me to fuppofe that it related 
 to myfelf 
 
 F f3 After
 
 100 
 
 After fome time a total filence prevailed, 
 and I then ventured to examine a little the 
 fituation in which I was placed. The lamp 
 every moment threatened to expire^ and it 
 was with caution I proceeded to fearch 
 through the gloomy loft. 
 
 A long cheft^ half concealed beneath 
 fome lodfe ftraw, attra61:ed my attention. 
 With the utmoft care I remo\^ed the llraw% 
 and lifted up the li<l_, with a<le/ign to exa- 
 mine the contents, a curiafity that was 
 perhaps unjuftifiable, but by the w^retchcd 
 fituation in which I w\as placed. 
 
 It was impofTible to fee the contents of 
 this cheft, which ftood at fome diftance 
 from the lamp ; and I feared to mo^ e the 
 light, lell the flame fhould expire. 
 ^ I ventured to put my hand in to examine, 
 thinking that it was perhaps corn for the 
 fowls ; but I was ftruck with frefh fears on 
 finding that I had difcovered the ftock of a 
 firelock. Ha ! thought I^ this is doubtlefs 
 a repofitory for arm.s, and this man is a 
 Ipbber. What if hia comrades fhould re- 
 turn.
 
 lai 
 
 riirn, while I am cooped in this loft, entirely 
 at their mercy ! 
 
 I feJt fome little confidence in the com- 
 pany of mv dog, who had fallen alleep 
 amongft the ftraw, and I knew would roiife 
 me at the firfl alarm, if I fhould happen tp 
 ihniiber. 
 
 I placed my piftols in order, and gi*afp^ 
 ing my fword, lay down upon the flooring ; 
 bat if I clofed my eyes, I opened them 
 ^g^in, fancying that I heard a ruftling near 
 me :— thus for fome time, fear and an in- 
 clination to fleep by turns had the maftery. 
 The more I refle61ed on the danger of my 
 fit nation, the more fufpicion I felt for 
 what the cheft might contain ,* and being 
 at length overcome by the charm of lleep, 
 I dreamt that this cheft was not only a re- 
 pofitory of various weapons, but for tliofe 
 travellei's who hj'd been murdered by the 
 terrible Fileifo. The figure of this favage 
 looking man fecmed again to come before 
 me ; he feemed to fteal along the loft with 
 the dead body of a man upon his fliouldei-s ; 
 F 5 he
 
 102 
 
 he drew near the chefl, and i\Tinn<r flie 
 
 '<*-<• 
 
 tovcr, carefully dcpoilted his burthen 
 within ; while he was doing which, he^ 
 Icemcd to my imagination to turn his eves 
 upon me as I flept, with a look of threaten- 
 ing malice. Dame Sylvia appeared to 
 Toliow with a light, and a loafoii of water 
 vith which jfhe ftooped repeatedly, to wafh 
 out llains of blood upon the floor. Filelfa 
 had no Iboncr made an end of his errand^ 
 than I thought he advanced towards me 
 with a dagger which he pulled from his 
 bofom. I attempted to raife my fword^ 
 L>ut in vain — I feem.ed chained down upon. 
 the floor — and raifing his dagger^ I felt the 
 cold ileel gradually thruft through my 
 breafl. I awoke vvith a violent ftrnggie, and 
 in an agony of horror. I trembled vio- 
 lently, and cold drops of fweat hung upon 
 upon me, while for a fe^'; moments I be- 
 lieved the vifion a reality. 
 
 In the utmoft a<?itation I looked round, 
 almofl expefting to fee repeated the 
 (JreadXul fubje6l of my dream. The lamp 
 
 mi
 
 103 
 
 l)iirnt, though feebly, and filenc<5 reigned 
 around. I arofe, determined to fatisfy 
 mylelf as to the contents of this cheil^ 
 w hich had fo much alarmed me, and gently 
 moving the lamp, I proceeded to raife the 
 lid, every inftant liltening to catch the 
 itiinuteft noife. 
 
 I held the lamp down, to look into the 
 cheft, and at that moment I heard th^ 
 found of a bugle horn. " Now am I loft \" 
 ejaculated I, ^' thefe are his comrades re- 
 turned.'* The lid of the chcit Hipped from 
 my hand and clofed^ the wind extinguifh- 
 ing the lamp, and leaving rne in total and 
 horrid darknefs. 
 
 My feelings at that moment were truly 
 wretched, and I flood fiill in fdent agony, 
 expe6ling fome dreadful cataftrophe im- 
 mediately to cnfue. Again the bugle horn 
 founded, and after the paufe of a few mo- 
 ments, it founded a third time clofe to the 
 cottage. 
 
 ., F4r I lift-
 
 104 
 
 I liftened, and could dirunguifh the faf" 
 tenings of the door below, taken away; 
 and a mixture of low voices enfue ; but I 
 could not gather a fingle diftincl word, nor 
 durfl I move from the fpot ^vhere I flood. 
 
 This converfation w^as held in the dark, 
 for any light would have expofed them 
 through the chinks of the floor; and I 
 could not but admire their extreme cau- 
 tion. They had not talked long before 
 they both quitted the cottage together, for 
 I had heard only one voice bcfide that of 
 Filelfo. 
 
 I liilened for a long time, expe^ing 
 their return, but in vain ; and by my cal- 
 culation it was about two o'clock in the 
 morning. 
 
 I ventured to take a more eafy pofition, 
 and fleep being now completely bani/lied 
 from my eyes, I became more reconciled 
 to my fituation. Doubtlefy, thought I, 
 Filelfo confidercd a foldier beneath his 
 notice; and to fay the truth, he would
 
 105 
 
 have had a very paltry booty, not worth 
 the trouble of winning. Mod likely he is 
 gone out at this early hour with his com- 
 rade, on Ibme party of depredation. 
 
 It was morning before I clofed my eyes, 
 the dav Ihinins: throuo^h feveral chinks of 
 the roof; through which at the fame time 
 pafTed the frelh breezes that moved over 
 the forefl. 
 
 I flept for about two hours, when I was 
 awakened by the crowing of the cock which 
 roofted on a beam over my head; and 
 finding myfelf extremely revived by the 
 flight deep I had taken, I arofe, and pre- 
 pared the ladder to defcend ; but cafting 
 my eye towards the chell, my former defire 
 to examine its contents arofe, and I flep- 
 ped towards it. My hand was upon the 
 lid, when fancying I heard a noife behind 
 jne, I looked round, and faw the head of 
 dame Sylvia through the tmp door, fhe 
 having mounted the ladder I had juft let 
 down, to fetch fome wood for the fire. 
 
 F ^ I was
 
 106 
 
 I was extremely confufed at this dfetec- 
 tion, though flie took no notice that (he 
 had leen me, only inquiring if I had flept, 
 and if I had any appetite for my breakfafl. 
 
 "' Filelfo has been out/' faid flie, '' la- 
 bouring in the woods fince day-break/' 
 
 '' I inquired how foon flie expe6led hii 
 returnj determining to be at fome diflance 
 from his dwelling by that time : nor did I 
 deilre to learn the nature of his labour. 
 
 Dame Sylvia haftened to prepare me 
 fome cakeS;, inquiring if I had heard any 
 noife in the night, 
 
 I was'at a lofs how to anfwer this quef- 
 tion ; but confidering that from her I 
 could not poffibly have any thing to fear, 
 '' Pray/' faid I, '' was there any danger, 
 that you cautioned me to draw up the 
 ladder ?" 
 
 ''' It is impoffible to be too fecure/' re- 
 plied fhe, rather confufed. 
 
 '' Then there zcc7S danger/* cried I. '^ I 
 comprehend your meaning — Filelfo is — " 
 
 'J Hulh^ Cavalier/' faid flie, alarmed and 
 
 runnin 
 
 G
 
 107 
 
 running to the window, to fee if he was 
 coming ; then finding all fafe, fhe turned 
 towards me. *' I guefs/' faid fhe, '' your 
 fufpicions, but they are w rong : my mafler 
 I believe, is hitherto honeft, but tempta- 
 tion to a man whofc extravagance has 
 brought him to the extreme of poverty, is 
 oftentimes refiftlefs." 
 
 *' Who w^as it then/' faid I, " that 
 founded the bugle horn in the dead hour 
 of night, if it was not a <:omrade?'* 
 
 '' Ah !'* replied fhe folemnly, '' I fear it 
 was a comrade, but much more to be 
 dreaded than the partner/hip of robbers." 
 
 '•^ You become myflerious," faid I; 
 " pray explain." 
 
 Again (he looked to the door; but no 
 fign of Filelfo appearing, fhe turned to- 
 wards me, faying, '' You may perhaps 
 think what I am going to tell you, the idle 
 whims of an old woman ; but for all that, 
 it is but too true. — You heard the bugle 
 horn ?" 'M did/* " You remember what 
 you was told of the wandering fpirit of 
 
 the
 
 108 
 
 the Old Man of the cafile ?" " Yes, what 
 has that to do wifh the foiindint; of the 
 bugle horn?" "Too much. Filelfo had 
 no inclination to explain to you any thin<^ 
 concernin<r that infernal beino^: but that 
 vou have heard is alTuredly true ; and I 
 fear me that he has feduced my mafter 
 into his fervice^ and purchafed his foul for 
 the paltry goods of this world/' 
 
 '' I know not/' faid I^ '' whether I fliould 
 not laugh at you. Can there be any 
 temptation in this cottage, or any luxury in 
 the homely fare you are now preparing ? 
 A man mull be a fool indeed to fell his 
 foul for a morcel of bread." 
 
 ^' Ah, Cavalier/' replied flie folemnly, 
 and fighing, '' you are deceived. But I 
 hope vou will not expofe me to Filelfo. 
 I am certain that he would murder me, if 
 he knew that I mentioned what he endea- 
 vours to conceal even from me. But I 
 have heard one or two of their midnight 
 converfations ; though, in general, they 
 retire into the woods. It is not many 
 
 vreeks
 
 109 
 
 weeks fince I heard this prowling fpirit fay 
 to my nvdftei% Serve nieyFi!eIfo,zcitJi diligence, 
 iitid I icill repay you beyond your utmost 
 icish ; by the centre of this rolling earth I 
 szcear, that if you deceive me, you had better 
 have been Ano-elo Gomez. 
 
 '*^ And pray who is Angelo Gomez P* 
 faid I. 
 
 '"What!" faid fhe, ^' did you never 
 hear the ftor}^ of Angelo Gomez ? It was 
 told in verfe by fome famous poet ; but 
 the fhort of it is, that this Angelo Gomez 
 was a cottager in this very foreft, and for 
 fome reafon or other, entered bond with 
 the old man of the caflle, who was then 
 alive, and a veiy famous magician. It was 
 about two hundred years ago; but as I 
 was faying, Angelo Gomez entered into a 
 league to fei-ve him : fomehow difpleafing 
 him, he one night had him carried through 
 the air, cottage and all, and placed on the 
 higheft point of the mountain, where it 
 was impolTible for any man to climb, and 
 where the cottage Hands to this day ; and 
 
 they
 
 110 
 
 they do fay, that the fkeleton of poor 
 Gomez, ^vho was flarved to deaths is now 
 to be feen there." 
 
 ''That is very likely^ indeed;" faid I. 
 *' If no one can clamber up to the cottage, 
 how can they fee the fkeleton of Angelo 
 Gomez?" 
 
 ^' I don't know how," faid fhe, ''I only 
 know that it is all true^ for I have feen th6 
 cottage many a time myfelf '* 
 
 ** I would advife you, my good w^oman/" 
 faid Ij '' not to let thefe things diflurb your 
 refl. Depend upon it^ Filelfo knows 
 better than enter into an engagement ^vith 
 any fuch perfon as you imagine." 
 
 Dame Sylvia was angry at my difbelief. 
 " I would tell you of n thoufand malicious 
 aQioiis/' faid fhe^ '^committed by this 
 fpirit;, which no prieft dare undertake to 
 lay. This very foreft is deferted by all the 
 peafants, on account that they could not 
 live at quiet. And Giles^ who was the laft 
 that braved it, died on a fudden^ nobody 
 knows how^ about two years agone : about 
 
 which
 
 ni 
 
 iviiich time it firft was that Filelfo fell fnfa 
 the fnarc. Ever fmce that time, he has 
 been talking of retrieving his fortune^ and 
 once more figuring in the world : and he 
 does not live, as you may fuppofe, by what 
 you fee here ; for I afTure you he brings 
 home, at times, all kinds of dainties^ fweet- 
 meats, and preferves, and fowls, and fruit, 
 and wine. But I never will tafte with him, 
 as for certain they are provided by Satan." 
 
 I fmiled at this woman's fimplicity ; 
 though I perceived there w^as certainly 
 feme myftery in her flory, and I was pre- 
 paring to touch upon the contents of the 
 cheft, as Filelfo entered the path before the 
 cottage, bending beneath a large bundle 
 of faggots. 
 
 " Hufh !" cried dame Sylvia, in a fright : 
 '' Here he comes ; remember to be filent 
 on what I have told you.'" 
 
 I made a motion that fhe might depend 
 upon my honour ; and turning towards the 
 door, I endeavoured to read the character 
 gf this fingular man. 
 
 I fan*
 
 112 
 
 I fancied that I could perceive in his 
 countenance, indignation at the meannefji 
 of his employ. lie feemed to fpu.rn the 
 ground, rather than walk upon it ; and 
 feveral execrations fell from his lips, as he 
 came near. He threw down his burden 
 with a frown. " See/' faid he to me, '' how 
 I am obliged to labour, while thoufands 
 riot in fuperfluity, and deftroy what they 
 cannot confume. I may toil for two days 
 to earn a dollar, while the idle will throw 
 away fifty in a night, at feme entertain- 
 ment they deteft. But d — w me if I be 
 longer a drudge in this world for nothing; 
 or lay thefe grey hairs on a dunghill." 
 
 '' Have you forgot," faid I, aftoniflied 
 at his behaviour. *' Have you forgot that 
 the rich are not always happy ? What h^ve 
 you here in this fequeftered retieat to dif- 
 turb your tranquillity ? The man with 
 ten thoufand ducats a year, cannot eat more 
 than vou," 
 
 *' Tis very fine talking," cried he pee- 
 vifhly. ^' lie can always eat if he chufes, 
 
 which
 
 113 
 
 which I cannot. If poverty is fuch a 
 charmin':: thin^:, whv don't thofe who 
 praife it fb much^ fliewus a little pra61ice? 
 But they know better ; and I know better : 
 and may I die at an Auto da Fe, if I fuffcr 
 it long. — Dame Sylvia, w here is my break- 
 fail?" 
 
 r wondered at the ftrong inclination of 
 this man to make himfelf miferable. The 
 morofenefs of his temper was not to be 
 foftencd by civility, and I was under the 
 neceffity of fitting down to breakfaft, and 
 helping myfelf without ceremony, or of 
 going without. He eyed me in fullen 
 filence, and we had nearly fini/hed our 
 repaft of hot cakes and coffee, before he 
 again addreffed me. 
 
 '' You foldiers,"faid he, '^ in thefe times, 
 lead very fin« lives ; live on the befl of 
 the land, and do nothing ; — 'twas other- 
 wife in my days ; but every thing is getting 
 worfe." 
 
 '' Very likely/' replied I coolly. '* How 
 niany leagues is it from hence to Leon V"^ 
 
 '' The
 
 114 
 
 " The road you fay you came/' anfAvercd 
 Re, " is aljoiit fix. . But there is another, 
 through a narrow defile, not eaiy to find^ 
 that is only three. It begins at the bottom 
 of the valley, and Avinds round the foot of 
 the mountains, on the other lide of this 
 foreiir 
 
 As it was neceflary I fhould return to 
 Leon with as much Ipeed as poffible, and 
 as it was indeed equally difficult for me to 
 retrace a rout I had fcarce noticed, I ven^ 
 tured to requeii: Filelfo to be my guide to 
 the path he mentioned, for which I offered 
 him a liberal reward. After fome grum^ 
 bling he reluctantly complied ; and having 
 made a fmall prefent to dame Sylvia, for 
 the poor entertainment I had received, we 
 fct out. 
 
 I looked round at the door, at this 
 wretched fabric, which appeared fo nearly 
 falling, that I could not but acknowledge in 
 my own mindj it was no place to be de/ired, 
 even by thofe who affe^ rapture at feclu- 
 iion aud rcpofe, 
 
 A fme
 
 115 
 
 A fine rcfrefTiing air played amongf! the 
 trees of the foreft, fcen ted with variety of 
 aromatic exhalations^ from the wild fhriibs 
 which grew in profiifion. The path was 
 overfpread with fhort gfafs, and bordered 
 with variety of wild flowei-s ; in fome places 
 fprcading upon irregular banks of mofs ; 
 in others tufted beneath the venerable 
 branches of the hardy oak;, or the wide- 
 fpreading cork. 
 
 In fome places the forelt was fo thick, 
 that the fun with difficulty penetrated 
 through the foliage ; in othei's it was open, 
 inclofing a fmall plat of meadow, enamelled 
 with wild flowersj. and enlivened with the 
 hum of bees^ eager in colle61ing a thou- 
 fand fweets. 
 
 I had leifure to examine the fcenery 
 around me^, for my guide was too much 
 engaged with his own refie61ions to inter- 
 rupt the filence. And when I began to 
 examine his drefsas he walked a few pacefi 
 before me, marked the caution of his fteps, 
 and caught a glimpfc of his dark and un- 
 bend in <»'
 
 116 
 
 bending features, I could not avoid tlunk- 
 nig that 1 beheld a robber, ftealing through 
 the coverts to fall upon the haplefs tra- 
 veller. 
 
 We continued to wind through fevcral 
 involi^tions of the path, which bent down 
 to the banl.s of the flream, whofe murmur- 
 ing ^vaters traced their way over broken 
 fragments of rocly, or loft themfelves in 
 unfearchable chafms. 
 
 Sweet-fcented and evergreen fhrubs 
 hung over the banks, and a deep grove of 
 bending willows, formed an inimitable 
 fliade, where Contemplation might delight 
 to linger ; invited by the congeniality of 
 the twilight grove, and the pleafant mur- 
 mur of the flream. 
 
 The cooing of the dove was heard from 
 the fecret reti'eats of the fore ft, and the 
 nightingale mingled its melody with the 
 foft tones of the linnet. 
 
 I remarked feveral cluflers of rofe trees 
 and myrtles, and in fome places the delicate 
 jellaiBine, encircled and entwined ronnd 
 
 the
 
 117 
 
 the olive and the mulberry. I wondered 
 that thefe trees fhould be promifcuoufly 
 mingled with thofe of the fbrefl, as if 
 planted by the hand of man^ to give variety 
 and entertainment to this felecl fituation. 
 I had no doubt but this had once been the 
 retreat of fome Grandee, and pofTibly had 
 been thus cmbellifhed by the owner of 
 the caftle of St. Helma, when that building 
 was in its glory. 
 
 Thefe refleclions reminded me that I 
 ought not to quit the forelt without viewing 
 lo celebrated a ruin, concerning which fo 
 manv tales of wonder were circulated, and 
 which I myfelf had been half inclined to 
 believe. I inquired of Filelfo Vv'here the 
 caftle llood. 
 
 " It once flood upon the ground/' re- 
 replied he, quickening his pace. "^But 
 where do the remains now ftand; it is not 
 certainly all level with the ground }" 
 
 '' Perhaps not/' faid he, fuilenly, " I 
 give myfelf no trouble about it ; — It lays 
 fomewhere to the left; deeper into the 
 foreft/'
 
 118 
 
 ^' I fliould vefy much like to fee it/'' 
 iaid Ij *' I have a great tafte for the reliques 
 of ancient grandeur. I love to explore 
 the mouldering Walls which have formerly 
 vibrated to the voices of men, and the 
 founds of hilarity.'* 
 
 '' And other founds too, mayhap/' mut- 
 tered he. 
 
 " Yes,'' continued I, '' the founds of 
 ^rief and lamentation, perhaps of war, and 
 perhaps of murder," 
 
 ''I know nothing about it/' faid he, 
 ^' let us walk a little fafter, or we fhall not 
 get to the plain by neon." 
 
 '^ You feem very refervcd," faid I, 
 ^' about this caftle : have you any reafon 
 to be fo careful of mentioning it.^ You 
 are not fo fuperftitious as dame Sylvia." 
 
 '^'^ SuperRitious /' repeated he, two of 
 three times, with a contemptuous fmile. 
 " No, no, Cavalier, I am not very fuper- 
 ftitious. It requires no fuperllition to 
 avoid the caftle of St. Helma. If you 
 knew — '* 
 
 Here
 
 11^ 
 
 Here he fuddenly paufed, with a look 
 that feemed to reproach himfelf with faying 
 too much. "' If I knew what ?" demanded 
 t. *^'Is there any danger in exploring 
 thiscallle ?" 
 
 '' Tis what I would not undertake," tc- 
 turned he. " There is danger enough, if 
 it was only from the tottering towei-s which 
 rattle in the wind. Never a tempeft hap- 
 penS;, but part of it comes to the ground.*' 
 
 '' What then will become of the old 
 ir.an ?" fa id I fmiling. *' He will have no 
 place to fheltcrhim from the rain.'' 
 
 Filclfo did not conceal his difpleafure at 
 thefe words. *' If he never forfakes this 
 foreft, till that happens/^ faid he, ^' he is 
 fafe enough for a century at leall:. There 
 are yet two of the towei-s and one fide per- 
 itR, The eaftern tower, where the old 
 magician ufed to ftudy, was fplit by a 
 thunder bolt from the top to the bottom ; 
 and he was burnt to afhes as he was form- 
 ing fome terrible fpeil. The country peo- 
 ple believe that the chafm was formed by 
 
 the
 
 120 
 
 th^ devil, as he" flew away'witli him that 
 nighty which was near an hundred yeai-s 
 ago. It may be two for any thing I know ; 
 but ever fmce that time, nobody has dared 
 to live in the calllej and very few to go 
 near it." 
 
 '' Did you never venture to walk over 
 it?'^faidl. 
 
 '^ I walk over it !" replied he, '' No, no, 
 I know a little better. There have been 
 one or two perfons fmce I lived in this 
 foreft who had more courage than wifdom : 
 but they had leifureto repent." 
 
 ''How fo ?" " How fo ! why the one 
 of them never came back to this hour: 
 and the other, after going over fome of 
 the rooms, fat himfelf down in a chair : for 
 not a thing had been moved. He had not, 
 however, fat long, before the ghoR of the 
 old magician, in a black gown, with a beaixl 
 down to his knees, a lamp in one hand, 
 and a chain round his body, ju ft as he wan- 
 ders through the ibrell at night, came into' 
 the room, and fixed his eyes upon him 
 
 with
 
 121 
 
 vfilK a tremendous frown, and a loc^ that 
 penetrated through his foul. The fpe^lre 
 then laid his icy hand upon the ftranger, 
 who bad no power to refift, and aftet 
 leading him through feveral chambers, 
 where he was almofl frightened to death 
 by different delufions^ he was conducled 
 into the vaults of the callle, and led along 
 a damp paflage^ paved with human bones, 
 and walled with Ikulls. In this place the 
 apparition vanifhed; and it was many 
 houi*s before the flranger found his way 
 from that loathfome fituation ; where he 
 "Was nearly iuffocated with vai'ious fmells, 
 and half poifoned with filth. When he at 
 kH groped his way to day-light, he found 
 himfelf at the mouth of a broken fhore, 
 \vhich ^d formerly been the drain to the 
 caftle. Since that time, which is fifteen 
 year's ago, no perfonhas been fufiiciently 
 hardy to ventui^e into the caftle." 
 
 J thanked Fdelfo for his nan*ative,which, 
 
 however ftrange, carried with it an air of 
 
 truth : but I did not imA lefs incliaation 
 
 VOL. I. G to
 
 122 
 
 to:-vifit ith^ caflle; on the contrar}% nly 
 cftriodaty ivas more ftrongly excited to bo. 
 wrtiief&jofthe exiftdnce of fo fingular al 
 ftftli^ t<I c6uld iiot draw from Fiklfb any 
 further parti ciilai-s: he even told me that 
 he repepted haviilg faid any thing to detep? 
 me from examining the caftle, finc^ I.had'' 
 fo much defire to be running into danger. 
 
 T 'We left the courfe of the flream^ and 
 foon quitted the valley for a more open, 
 though not lefs romantic country. The) 
 road lay between fevera? hills, which*" 
 formed as it were the ^ti\ fteps of the^ 
 mountains of Alluria ; and we foon per- 
 ceived the fpires of Leon beneath us. 
 
 • Here my guide propofed to return, 
 pointins: out to me the road ; and after 
 recompensing him for his trouble, I very 
 willingly difpenfed with his company : for 
 I'could not divefi myfelf of fufpicion, not- 
 withlianding his behaviour towards me;* 
 and had I dared, I fhould have inquired of 
 him the contents of that cheft, which had! 
 fo much engaged my attentions qti k • v 
 
 r , I pro-
 
 12 
 
 o 
 
 ?i ? pTOceeded fonvard alone, charmed' 
 vfithrtfie exten five pro fpecl I enjoyed, and 
 tracing the river, in its various windings, 
 aorofs an almoft boundlefe plain, decorated 
 with^^ cirftiTation; and adorned, at intervals, 
 ^dtk little villages, embofomed in planta* 
 tions of -orange and olive trees. 
 
 The heat of the fun reminded me that* 
 noon was advancing, and I quickened my 
 fkps, not knowing what conje6hircs might 
 be formed on my abfence ; efpecially as 
 it ^vas every day expe<51ed we jfhould be 
 called into a^lual fervice. . 
 
 Nothing ^vould have been a feverer dif- 
 grace to me, than fuch an event during my 
 abfence; every officer having received 
 orders to holdhimfelf in momentary readi- 
 nefs. The ardor of the chafe, and the. 
 fubfequent events, had entirely banifhed 
 my engagements from my mind, and the' 
 fpires of Leon alone, recalled to rae the 
 urgency of my prefence. 
 
 I haflened forward, cafting but a hafty 
 
 glance upon obje^^ and views, which I 
 
 G "^ propofed
 
 124 
 
 propofed again to vifit on the firfl oppoi-- 
 tunity . When I arrived at Leon, I hallened 
 inftantly to the guai^ room, where I learnt 
 with fatisfa6lion that no frelh command 
 had been received ; and being unwilling 
 to make a confident of any of theyduiig 
 ^nd giddy officers, my companions^ I con- 
 tented myfeif with ftating, that being 
 benighted on a part of the mountains, 
 where I was ignorant of the way, I had 
 Jbund fheiter in the-cottage of a peafant. - 
 -.1 refervedto myfeif exploiing the labyr 
 rinths of the valley, and the ruias of.St; 
 Hehna, which I confidered as a treafui-e 
 for future entertainment : and I took no 
 fmall pleafure in reflecting that I would 
 -difcover the myftei*y which envelloped 
 thofe mouldering walls, and undeceive the 
 world with regard to tlie floiy of : the OJd 
 Mati of the Cafde, by which name the 
 Tpe&ce was m'&W knowa at Leon. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 125 
 
 CHAP. iir. 
 
 
 Wi 
 
 HEN I returned to my lodging, 1 
 found upon the table, a letter inclofing a 
 ticket and invitation to a mafked ball^ to 
 be given by the Marquis of Fienza. I was 
 furprized, not knowing from whom this 
 favour was fent, nor did my rank in the 
 army entitle me to the circle of fociefy 
 into which I /hould be introduced : how- 
 ever, after fome hefitation, I decided to 
 accept the invitation. 
 
 Is it poffible, thought I, that my unkno^vn 
 relation, or guardian, has intention, under 
 favour of the general difguifc, to difcourfe 
 with me? But then, what drefs fhalM 
 adopt, by which they may difcover me ? 
 It was fome time before I could pleafe 
 myfelf in this point, for my finances did 
 not permit me to give way to my fancy, and 
 I determined at length, to appear in the 
 G 5 habit
 
 If6 
 
 habit of a Itudcnt, ^vhich would Wpc^r- 
 feclly in chara6^ter, and by making lifr of 
 the clothes I had vforn at Toledo- thofe 
 who knew me, couIcT not raiftake, -Hvhile I 
 Hiould be paffed over by ftrangere. 
 
 This point being airanged, I indulged 
 in various cGn}e61ures,: on the refalt, flatter- 
 ing myfelf that it might perhaps be a parent, 
 who could no longer forego the fatisfac- 
 tion of beholding their offspring; and fo 
 perfe611y did I reconcile myfelf to the idea 
 that it was affuredly my unknown protec- 
 tor, that I formed various plans iir my 
 jnind to compel them to a difcovery. -^-''^* 
 
 My hopes increafed as the tby of fl>e 
 ball drew near; andnever having mingled 
 in fcenes of pleafure/ I haftened \'f-ith a 
 I'ght heart, to this feftival of mirth dnd 
 fancy ;' where all the people of diftin^liofl 
 in and near Leon Were a-fiembled, ai:d 
 many of my fuperior ofRccrs mingled in 
 the group. 
 
 At that time, mafquerades were the moft 
 fafliionablc amufements of Spain, and par- 
 ticularly
 
 127 
 
 ■itieuWiy.prGmoteclby the ladies, -Avho v;Qrc 
 I aUowect,fre^o^ at .tjiem^v^^gv: ^£^al haUts 
 
 ^1 A.va(Lnumber of both fexes were alTem- 
 bled, of manners as various as the diflerent 
 «; characters afllimed; and I wasr perfe6i!y 
 -chai'med with the gay variety. - . ... . 
 
 Duennas v^ere there drefled like giddy 
 youth — and youth afTumed the decrepitude 
 of age, JRake^ appeared under the habits 
 of monks— -and monks in the drefs of 
 cfBcers. , Every one feeraed to have cb ofpn 
 a chara^ler oppofite to the one they per- 
 formed in real life; but perhaps, that 
 \v'hich they would have chofen;. had.they^ 
 had the liberty of choice. 
 
 The commander of the regiment^. to 
 which I belonged^ was there as a confefTpr, 
 andlmyfelf, as I have faid, as a fludeiit. 
 Several mafks attempted converfation with 
 me, but their queflions and replies were 
 fo perfedly abfurd, and fo much out of 
 characler, that the firft novelty wearing 
 away, I began to eonfider this amufement 
 G 4 as
 
 us 
 
 05 rin ini^id method of trifling away time^ 
 when a nun tapped me upon the arm, and 
 inquired how long I had left college, 
 and if I could inftrucl a fimple novice in 
 the vows fhe was about to take. 
 
 ' '' It is not for me/' anfwered I, "to take 
 upon myfelf fo important an office ; I 
 would rather refer you to the care of yon- 
 der father^ whom you fee counting his 
 beads^ with his eyes fixed upon the 
 ground/' 
 
 '' Truly," faid fhe, " I expe^ed a little 
 inoi*e gallantry from a ftudent, than to be 
 referred to an old confeiTor. Will the 
 feventy of your ftudies permit you to 
 dance with me ?" 
 
 "I am afhamed to acknowledge/* re- 
 plied I^ " that my exercifes have neveif 
 allowed me time for that accomplifhment/' 
 
 " Let us, then/* faid fhe, laughing, 
 '' take a feat, and obferve the humours of^ 
 the crowd/* She caft her eyes round, and 
 perceiving a vacancy, upon a form placed 
 at the end of the grand hall, fhe conducted 
 
 me
 
 12.9 
 
 me thither^ repelling with no little wit, 
 the farcafms that were caft upon her for 
 the freedom fhe -was taking with a col- 
 legian. 
 
 We entered into converfation on the 
 various characlers which pafTed before us, 
 and by degrees Ihe contrived to introduce ^ 
 a more tender fubje6l. She inquired par- 
 ticularly if my heart had ever been at- 
 tached to any particular lady, and w hen I 
 replied in the negative, her voice afTumed 
 a tone of peculiar tendernefs. 
 
 ^^'It is of no ufe, Cavalier," faid flie, '' to 
 pretend longer that I do not know you ; 
 the name of Lorenzo has long been dear 
 to my heart ; but your conftant referve 
 has hitherto prevented your difcoverin^ 
 the efteeml have for you. Tell me then,, 
 if your heart be fufceptible of tendernefs, 
 how far I may expe6\ a return ?'* 
 
 '^ iVfadam V* replied I, flruck with her 
 expreffions, ^' how fhall I return you 
 ihanks for the obligations you lay upon me? 
 
 o 3 But
 
 ISO 
 
 But you fay youkno>y me ! may I inquire 
 how you, received that knowledge ?Y has 
 
 "Do you think," fa id /he, bnfklyy_,/^a 
 did not caufe your motions to be watched; 
 and knew well the habit you w^ould come 
 in?'^ 
 
 *'' You miftake my meaning/' retunied 
 I, ever keeping in view the fubjecl mofl: 
 upon my mind, and looking forward to a 
 very different explanatijon. ^' I have a 
 with to know how you difcovered who I 
 am, and what are the particulars. yen know 
 concenjiug my birth ?" i- ,71;. .v 
 
 'That is the moil curioUs iqil^ftion," 
 returned (he, laughing, " that ever man in 
 your fituation made, to a lady in mine. 
 What fingularity attends your hkti\ ? Are 
 not you a gentleman and an officer ? and 
 what further do I wifh to know, thai -you 
 might defire to conceal ?" 
 
 " Then you are ignorant," replied I, 
 difappointed. '' You did not fend for me 
 here to explain ; and I am — "
 
 131 
 
 ••^ What f' demanded fhe \vith emphafis, 
 and fom^ indignation. ^^ Gracious h^a- 
 \en; what are you talking about? I fear 
 \'we donot underlland each other !'* 
 ^i It was clear^, indeed, that we did not ; 
 but recolle61ing that I had already com- 
 mitted myfelf too far to a ftrar^er^ I af- 
 fumed, as well as I could^ an air of gallan- 
 try, and began to enter into that frivolous 
 round of compliments which is expected 
 in aiTemblies of promifcuous company. 
 
 The anger of my nun began to clear 
 away, and her wit to fparkle, when Ihe 
 found I did not behave to her with indif- 
 ference. I intreated her many times to 
 favour me with a glance at her features, 
 conje6lunng, from the grace of her perfon, 
 wi'and the vivacity of her converfation, that 
 her beauty was without a rival; but this 
 favour flie abfolutely denied me. 
 
 When tired with fitting, we arofe and 
 mingled in the crowd. I obferved that 
 our fleps were frequently crofTed by a. tall 
 figure^ habited as a confelTorj who endea- 
 voured
 
 132 
 
 voured to engage my flray novice, by Jik 
 remark)s^ but flie treated him %vith fever€^ 
 repartee, and avoided his peculiar atten^i 
 tions. 
 
 ^' You little thinkj Lorenzo/' faid fhe^ 
 *' who this formidable rival of your's i? ; 
 No lels a perfon, I aflfure you, than your 
 commander. Count Pandolfo. Do you think 
 you are known by him ?" 
 
 I replied that I believed not, and inquired 
 if fhe w ere certain of the perfon ; for I 
 knew fo little of the world, that 1 could 
 fcarce think a man of his years, would at- 
 tempt to gain the affeclions of any lady. 
 
 We left the hall when the dances again, 
 began, and fought fome refreihment in an 
 elegant apartment^ lighted in a fuperb 
 manner, and difplaying every luxury the 
 feafon could produce. 
 
 We took fome iced Iherbet and Italian 
 preferves ; but my nun was fo fevere, that 
 knowing Hie mull of neceffity unmafk in 
 the refe6lory, fhe contrived to draw over 
 her face a thick black veil^ which efle61ually 
 
 pre*
 
 133 
 
 vented my obfening her countenance; 
 nbr could Aiy' intreaties^ mingled with all 
 the compliments my fancy could fuggeft^ 
 prevail upon her to be lefs fevere. 
 
 We difcourfed on a thoufand fubjs^ls. 
 I was aftonifhed to find my unknown com- 
 panion perfect miflrefs of many things 
 beyond the fphere of a lady's education ; 
 and I was as much charmed with the man- 
 ner of her expreffion, as with the words 
 fhe uttered. There was fomething pec\i- 
 liarly fafcinating in the tones of her voice;, 
 and havnig prevailed on her to fmg/ th<S 
 company^ as well as myfelf, w^ere enchanted 
 with her vofce, and pleafed with the little 
 tallad fhe had chofen. But w^hile I fat 
 enjoying this fatisfa61ion^ and a p>articular 
 flow of fpirits^ infpired by the gaiety 
 around me^ I remarked that the confefTor 
 kept his llation within vieVv^ and fomething 
 like jealoufy arofe in my heart. 
 
 When my companion had finiihed hex 
 ballad^ I condu61:ed her from the crowd;, 
 w^hich had gathered in a circle^ fixed by 
 the melody of her voice; and mingling 
 
 with
 
 134 
 
 . With the com pail} walking, we were in fen- 
 fibly led into the gardens, which, to my 
 
 ■furprize, w^re illiuninated, and gay with 
 variety of mafks. 
 :- After fome intreaty on my part, and 
 
 *:!iiuch hefitation on that of the lady, I pre- 
 
 rvailed upon her to inform me that her 
 name was Ippolita ; but her family and the 
 
 1 place of her refidence, ilie concealed. 
 
 ':.;:■ We rambled through the flowery mazes 
 of thofe extenfive gardens, charmed with 
 the fragrance of the air, perfimied with the 
 coflly drugs of the call. 
 
 The delicate green of the fo^'age, as the 
 feathered leaves trembled on the gentle 
 breath of the night, amongft a thoufand 
 lights, charmed the eye, and induced the 
 mind to wander into the fairy regions of 
 fictitious felicity. 
 
 Ippolita teftified her pleafure by the 
 foftefl exprelTions; my heart yielding to 
 her charms, and forming a ftrong inclina- 
 tion towards the tender paffion. But when 
 I was forgetting myfelf in the pleafing 
 
 dream.
 
 135 
 
 i^'eafafii the figui'e of Count Pandolfo 
 
 vcrofled me at every turning of the ^valk, 
 
 ;Uivi ^3* chagrined at this eircum fiance, on 
 
 feveral accounts^ for while I confidercd 
 
 him as my rivals I bad to fear his refent- 
 
 .ment in the line of my duty; for being 
 
 much beneath him in command, it was 
 
 unpleafant and unfafe to have fuch a, man 
 
 for an enemy. I believed my felf unknown 
 
 to him, and I refolved, at all hazards, not 
 
 to betray rayfelf. Ippolita perceived me 
 
 ..thoughtful, and requefted to know what 
 
 difturbed me. I difguifedmy real uneafi- 
 
 3,iieik beneath a compliment, profefTing to 
 
 iregret, and which indeed was true, my 
 
 : -ignorance of where I fliould have the plea- 
 
 fure of feeing her again.. :: i>*.i 
 
 .. At thefe words flie broke into a laugh, 
 whifpering to me, " My dear XorenzLo, 
 leave that to my care. I have received fo 
 jnuch pleafure in your company this night, 
 that you may depend on my feeking out 
 fome expedient for our future meeting. 
 .But I fufpc6l you do not deal caadidly;with 
 -t:..*.' me
 
 136 
 
 me — you are chagrined at the particukrlty,^ 
 of this old Count;, who is my utmofl a\^er-, 
 fion. Would you believe it — 'this ma», 
 who to-night has drell'ed himfelf iij the,- 
 habit of a ConfefTor, not only has a private , 
 amour with a woman of this city^ but makes 
 honourable pretenfions to me ? Thank 
 heaven^ I am my own miftrefs — I have re^ 
 fufed him with contempt. My fortune is 
 independent, though not to affluence : and 
 without my heart I will never beflow m]f 
 hand/' 
 
 Thefe fentiments infpired me with in*- 
 creafed efteem — my mind affumed tran^ 
 quillity — and we fauntered till we were 
 both willing to fit down at the tables which 
 were fpread in the open air, with elegant 
 cold collations, and attended by a band of 
 mufic, concealed in a grove of orange 
 trees. 
 
 The freedom of Ippplita invited me to 
 fay many things, my diffidence and igno- 
 rance of the fex would otherwife have pre- 
 vented; and the mind^ takiog a tone from 
 
 every
 
 157 
 
 ^Very oTijc6i within its \ie^\% natuiiaHy in- 
 clined to love and tendernefs. ' - 
 
 Thoiio:h I had not feen the face of this 
 fafcinating lady, her exterior did not per- 
 mit me to doubt of her beauty ; and I 
 ventured to profefs for her a paffion^ which 
 fhe declined with that pointed delicacy 
 which rather invites than forbids. 
 
 I fighed out an earneft requell that fhe 
 would acquaint me with her refidence^ and 
 permit of my vifits: and though Ihe would 
 not grant either, fhe promifed that it 
 fhould not be long before I heard from her 
 again. 
 
 With this promife I was obliged to be 
 fatisfied^ and the company beginning t6 
 feparate^ I was under the neceffity of lift- 
 ening to her requeft that I would leave her, 
 fhe declaring that my pre fuming to follow 
 her, would be to lofe her for ever. 
 
 When I had bade her adieu, I haflened 
 home, to mufe upon every fyllable whicft 
 had fallen from her lips ; and to piclure to 
 myfelf what fort of features were likely to 
 
 belong
 
 138 
 
 > belong to fo elegant a ibriTi. So much 
 yVas my mind engaged/ that I endesvQured 
 uiii vain to clofe my eyes y xind il w^os jaot 
 till morning that T fell afleep-, vrlYea,! -did 
 4 -not avv^.ke tiir kte in the day^ and;fome 
 v^4\me after the hour of attending the 
 
 |>r;-Iwas not a little angry with my f elf for 
 , thi^ neglecl of duty, which I feared Count 
 Pandolfo would not fail to feize as a pro- 
 sper opportunity of puniflung my prefump- 
 tion^, in detaining from him a Jadyhe 
 feemed fo defjrous of gaining. Nor -^vas 
 I deceived^ for he not only reprehended 
 «ne in fevere terms, but threatened to lay 
 me under ai*reft, if I was ever guilty ^f 
 fimilar neo^licrence. » 
 
 My fituation did not permit of reply, and 
 when I refle61:ed on the difgrace I had in- 
 . curred, I was ready not only to execrate 
 the mafquerade, but the lady who had 
 , drawn me there, almofl determining to re- 
 fufe any future invitation ; but if you have 
 ev£i;b€ea touched by the faicinating man- 
 
 ncvfk
 
 1^ 
 
 ncrs of thaf infinuatiiig fex, you tvill rendify 
 imagine that thofe refolutions were ohly 
 adhered to^, till the opportunity arol'e ftor 
 breaking them. * 
 
 Many days did not pafs away before I 
 received a note^ left by a ferv'ant in my 
 abfence, rcquefting me to be on the public 
 walk that evening at a particular hour^ and 
 to accompany the perfon who would there 
 fp^ak to me. 
 ' 1 ! I was in raptures at this notice, and the 
 '^finte feemed an age, till the moment ar- 
 ^''rived for my haftening to the walks. I was 
 there confiderably before the time ap- 
 pointed, my impatience leading me to ima- 
 gine that I was deceived, and that Donna 
 Ippolita had only intended to trifle with 
 me, that fhe might entertain herfelf witU 
 the prefumption of my vanity. 
 
 I walked to and fix) w4th hafty ftep<;, now 
 repeating her name in tender wifhes, and 
 then accufing her of unkindneik My im- 
 patience and diiorderly paces attached up- 
 on mc the eyes <jf the company,- and I Our 
 
 deavoureiL
 
 140 
 
 *leavored to be compofed, but;^y vexadoft 
 iiiGreafed as the fliades of evening begaii' 
 to difperfe the people^ without bringing 
 me the wifhed-for mefTenger. rl-^ 
 
 I began to fancy that it could not be the 
 tender^ obliging Ippolita, who had thus 
 treated jne, rather hoping that it might 
 have been lome trick of my fellow-officers,; 
 who had a mind to fport with my credulityj 
 but then I recolle6led, that I had not con- 
 fided in any of them ! 
 
 '* If fhe has deceived me/' faid I to my- 
 felfj '^ I will break from her for ever^ and 
 this night fliall terminate our friendlhip; 
 \j^t her go ; perhaps flie may give prefe- 
 rence to Count Pandolfo;, and if fo, fhe is 
 unworthy a moment's regard/* 
 
 I was interrupted in my heroic refolu- 
 tions by a black fervant, who enquired if 
 my name was Lorenzo de Ferara^ I replied 
 in the affirmative^, then taking me fiimiliarly 
 -by the arm : "My Lady/' faid he^ ^' is now 
 waiting impatiently for you ; at no great 
 diflance; fhe told me not to return witl> 
 out you."
 
 141 
 
 ft waS'by this entirely dufk, and I com- 
 plied immediately with the requefl of the 
 fibie ambafTador of love. He led me 
 through feveral private llreets, till we came 
 fuddenly to the front of a very fine houfe, 
 which by its appearances ^v^as elegant 
 enough for fome Marquis or Grandee, at 
 lead fo it appeared to my eyes; and fcarce 
 believing my good fortune, I fcllow^ed in 
 fdence through feveral elegant apartments^ 
 until I came to one that was more neat than 
 large, and furnifhedin a ftyle of the utmofl 
 tafte. 
 
 Elegance and neatnefs were confpicuous 
 in eveiy article,* wax tapers, on fdver 
 ftandsj burnt in the midll of a cluiler of 
 flowers, and prefented to my view an ob- 
 je6l, which more attra61ed my attention 
 than the decorations of the apartment. 
 ' Ibeheld a beautiful female, fitting upon 
 a Perfian fopha, dreffed in the mofl en- 
 chanting manner. Her complexion was 
 of the finefl; olive, wirich the foft and Ian- 
 guiihing glances of her dark eyes fo much 
 
 improved.
 
 142^ 
 
 Imptdved, that I Avas riveted to the rpoty> 
 without the power of advancing. I feari^dct 
 that fome millake had been made, and I'.' 
 "ivas going to apologize for my intrufion, 
 when^fmiling at my embarrafTraent, and.' 
 holding out to me one of the moft delicate' 
 hands in Spain, her voice in a moment 
 informed me it was indeed Ippolita. 
 
 'How are you, my dear Lorenzo ?" 
 faidfhe; /V have you not thought it an 
 age fince we lafl parte^?' Then turning 
 tothe fervant, flie ordered him to prepare 
 a treat flie purpofed to give me. 
 
 I fat down befide her, and my diffidence 
 by degrees fubfiding, our converfation 
 became at once tender and lively. A 
 little repad was ferved up, over which we. 
 fat talking till the clock ftruek twelve. 
 
 I knew not how to tear myfelf away, 
 though at the fame time I was under the 
 lyeceflity of going. Donna Ippolita . 
 quickly penetrated my thoughts. *' Lo* . 
 ren^io," fa id (he, *' I am forry you are not^ 
 perfe6tly free with me :~you wiih to go : 
 
 why
 
 U5 
 
 why Jo you not fay fo? there is no l^Stis*** 
 fi6Han in conftraint, and I defir^, if V^U^ 
 regard my eftcem, you will in future leave^ 
 me^ when you know it to be necelTary. 
 Oil the evening after to-mono vv I will fee 
 you again." 
 
 So faying, fhe arofe, nnd gave me her- 
 hand, which I ventured, for the firll time, ' 
 to prefs to my lips ; then calling to her 
 fervant, Muzio, fhe bade me adieu^ with a 
 mixture of dignity and tcndernefs which 
 perfe6lly charmed me, and funk deep into 
 mv heart. 
 
 I returned home, more than ever charmed 
 with this lady, whofe behaviour had been 
 more referved this evi&ning, than at the 
 inafquerade ; and her good fenfe fhone 
 more powerful than her wit. I began fe- 
 rioufly to entertain thoughts of mamage ; 
 for though fhe was fome years older than * 
 myfelf, I refie^ed that fortune had thrown 
 in my way, an opportunity which might 
 never again occur, of rendering myfclf 
 independent of my unknown friends, and ! 
 of the world. I con-
 
 i44 
 
 tconficlered, that whatever might be my 
 "birth, I fhould not difgrace rnyfelf by an 
 alliance with a woman of fo much beauty 
 and good fenfe as Ippoiita ; and I dreamed 
 all night of equipages and palaces, digni- 
 4iities and honours. 
 
 I counted the next day, the hours and 
 the minutes that were to lead me again to 
 this charming creature, who abforbed all 
 my thoughts. I declined a party upon the 
 mountains, for the pleafure of repeating, 
 at leifure, the name of Ippoiita ; and the 
 romantic valley, with the ruins of St, 
 lielma, which I had purpofed to explore, 
 no longer engaged any portion of my 
 attention. 
 
 The hours crept round, and I was again 
 happy in the company and converfation of 
 this fafcinating creature. Eithei* by ac-- 
 ci^dent, jQT ratiier by ,de%n, ihe hinted to 
 me that her fortune was confiderable and 
 indepeaident ; that though fhe had a father 
 who held her in fome conlroul, yet flie 
 was the miftrefe of her aciions; her for- 
 tune
 
 145 
 
 irnie having been left her by her hufbaiid, 
 who had been nearly eighteen months 
 dead. 
 
 Thefe hints flattered my moft fanguine 
 expe«51ations, but I was embarralTed and 
 ailiamed to mention my ov;n obrcurity of 
 birth, and confequent poverty ; fo mnch 
 fo indeed that I neglefted many favourable 
 opportunities, on this and feveral fubfe- 
 quent vifits, of preffing my fuit with that 
 ardour 1 defired, dreading nothing more 
 than the queftion which fliould touch on: 
 my fortune, confidering that it would in- 
 llantly deftroy all my high-raifed expec- 
 tations. 
 
 I obferved that Count Fandolfo had 
 always latterly regarded me with a look of 
 marked difpleafure, frequently fending me 
 on trifling parties into the country, to pro- 
 te61 ftores, and provide ammunition; but 
 as it was not in my power to retaliate, I 
 was obliged to be palfive under his dif- 
 pleafure. 
 
 VOL. I. H The
 
 146 
 
 The day ^vhen I received my quarterly 
 pay as a foldier, and the penfion of my 
 unknown friend came round, it was with 
 fatisfa61ion I went to the office, in the 
 hope that I fhould be veiy fhortly above 
 receiving what had the appearance of cha- 
 rity ; but I was not a little confounded at 
 receiving only the common pay of my 
 ftation. 
 
 " How is this ?*' faid I to the paymafter ; 
 " you mufl certainly miftake !" 
 
 He afTured me that he did not; that he 
 had received no fupply from the ufual 
 channel^ nor fo much as a note of expla- 
 nation. 
 
 I could make no reply for vexation, and 
 my indignation would have been too hard 
 for my refolution, had I known on whom 
 to wreak it. 
 
 I haflened in the greatefl confufion to 
 my lodging, refle61ing that I was become a 
 beggar indeed. I threw myfelf upon a 
 chair to revolve every circumftance of my 
 fate: — Either I had been deferted as I had 
 
 often-
 
 147 
 
 oftentimes foreboded — either the party 
 who overlooked me was dead — or Count 
 Pandolfo had fome fccret influence over 
 my fate, and knew the fource from 
 whence I had been fupplied, which his 
 reprefentations had flopped. 
 
 In either cafe I had no pofTible means 
 of redrefs. My pride w^ould not permit 
 me to feek an explanation of the Count; 
 and my determination to thwart his prg- 
 je6ls became fo much the flronger, as the 
 neceflity of my eltabliflnnent became 
 greater. I imputed his enmity to his jea- 
 loufy,' and I felt a fecret fatisfa6i:ion in tri- 
 umphing over a man w^ho took thofe fmif- 
 tcr means of depriving his rival of power. 
 
 I refolved to explain my fituation to 
 Jppolita at our next interview, and either 
 prevail with her to promife a fpeedy 
 union, or enter fome other regiment; no- 
 thing being more unpleafant than for a 
 fubordinate officer to be at variance with 
 his commander, who, if he be inclined, can 
 render his very exiflence a burthen. 
 
 H 2 Filled
 
 148 
 
 Filled with tliefe fentlments^ I (le\v to 
 Donna Ippolita as foon as it was dark. She 
 received me with her iifiial fmiles and aHa- 
 bilitVj and after Ibme little preface, I 
 entered upon the fubjecl: of my birth and 
 fituation. 
 
 She checked me with vivacity, declari?ig 
 that this harangue was fuperfiuous^ as fhe 
 liad made particular inquii-y into every 
 thing relating to me ; and though I w^as fo 
 inihappy as not to be acquainted with my 
 parents^ fhe confidered that circumilance 
 more as a claim upon her generofity^ than 
 a fubje6l for reproach. 
 
 " Will you never learn to know^ me, 
 my dear Lorenzo ?" faid llie, prefenting 
 me a glafs of wine. *' Mult I repeat to yt)u 
 that I am (at lealt fo I flatter myfelf) fu- 
 perior to the vulgar prejudices of illiberal 
 people? Of what value is wealth, if it 
 does not allow us to do what we have a 
 miml, provided there be no criminality at- 
 tached to the aclion .^" 
 
 ^' Charming-
 
 149 
 
 . '' Charming Ippolita ! " replied I. '' You 
 ha^ e indeed more than once convinced me 
 that Spain cannot produce another fo ami- 
 able, and to worthy to be loved. In more 
 thiin one initanoe your good fenfe has pe- 
 netrated to my thoughts, and outllripped 
 their utterance. At this moment you can- 
 rct but perceive all I would exprefs, and 
 even more than I have langu ige to fay.'" 
 
 " You are fmgularly gallant to-night, 
 Cavalier/' faid fhe, with a glance that fillei 
 my foul with hope ; *' are you as fincere 
 as polite ?" 
 
 I now bade adieu to timidity, giving ut- 
 terance to all my wiihes. I befought her 
 to make me happy, by the promife of her 
 hand, and after a thoufand fcruples, and 
 namelefs expreflTions, which give ^o much 
 point to trifles on thcfe occafionSj (he con- 
 fen ted with a charming gmce to comply 
 with my rcquefl. 
 
 While we fat involved in thofe explana- 
 tions wliich follow a mutual avowal of paf- 
 (ion, I heard a fort of buflling noife upon 
 n f) the
 
 150 
 
 the ftairs, and the voice of Muzio repeat- 
 ing — ''I afTure you, Senor, my Lady is 
 not at home." 
 
 Ippolita became inllantly pale. " Hea- 
 vens !" cried I, '^ you are ill. Who is it 
 dare thus to intrude ?'' " I am loft V* cried 
 fhe, with a faint cry ; '' it is my father, and 
 I am undone.'* 
 
 ''If it is only your father, why this 
 alarm ?" faid I. " He muft foon know* 
 of our affe^lion, and why not at thi| 
 moment ? " 
 
 " Not for a world!" cried fhe, in ex- 
 treme agitation. " Ah, Lorenzo, you do 
 not know his rafhnefs, and his intolerable 
 pride. If you love me, do not wait. Go 
 into that clofet — you will find a private 
 ftair-cafe that will lead you out. Good 
 heavens, how unfortunate ! Fly, dear 
 Lorenzo, fly ! '* 
 
 I was beyond meafure aftonifhed at an 
 ngitation which I thought needlefs, if her 
 fortune was fo independent as I was taught 
 to believe; but the buftle on the flairs 
 
 every
 
 151 
 
 ev^y moment advancing, I retired to pre-' 
 \ent her from fainting^ which her varying 
 complexion flrongly indicated. 
 
 I did not;, however^, haften down the back 
 ftairs, waiting to difcover if her father was 
 known to me^ for the voice of the perfon 
 difputing withMuzio I certainly had fome- 
 where heard before. But what horror and 
 difappointment thrilled through my foul, 
 • when I plainly diftinguifhed the loud voice 
 ^of Count Pandolfo. 
 
 " So Madam!" cried he, " you are not 
 at home! — -Wine too! — Pray who was 
 your companion? I'll find him out !" 
 
 *' Hear me,'' cried Ippolita, in a voice of 
 aflTumed fdndnefs, and even fhedding tears. 
 '' Hear me, dear General; your ar,5>cr 
 frightens me to death. It was a miflake of 
 Muzio's. Then lowering her voice, '' It 
 was a miftake that arofe from my regard 
 for you. That impertinent and- mad- 
 headed boy Lorenzo, fent me a note that 
 he would vifit me ; and Muzio having my 
 orders to deny me, extended them to you. 
 
 m As
 
 ]5t 
 
 As to the wine, there has been nobody 
 here : the firft glafs was dirty, and I took, 
 a fecond. But Tee, my dear Count, how 
 apt paffion is to build upon trifles without 
 meaning " 
 
 He fat down, apparently fatisfied with 
 thefe excufes. "I hope," faid he, '' I may 
 truft in your honour. After the fecrets I 
 have repofed in your confidence, even 
 your own delicacy mufl prevent your hav- 
 ing any conne6iion with him. He Kas no 
 property that might ftimulate your inte- 
 ^eft; and pardon me, that is the only 
 excufe for treachery I allow in ladies of 
 your quality.'* 
 
 " I have given you my word, my dear 
 Count !" replied flie, '' and do you think 
 I would fiight you for a boy ? — Think 
 fcrttcr of yourfelf, Ibefeech you." 
 
 *' I thought 1 heard a noife in the 
 rlofet,'" faid the Count, ^' It is only the 
 cat, I fuppofe, but I will fee," faid llie,. 
 riling herfclf, and advancing towards the 
 «loor where I flood, and which was fo con- 
 trived.
 
 153 
 
 trivtd that it opened upon a private 
 ilight of ftaii-s, which, no doubt, had- af^ 
 fitted others before mc. 
 
 M\ curiolity and indignation had kept 
 an equal pace, and it was only from the 
 molt powerful realbns, I refrained burfting 
 into the chamber, and ^sreaking the firft 
 working's of my rage upon the periidious' 
 woman ; but a moments refleclion ferved 
 to fliew me the danger I had efcapcd, and 
 to rejoice that I had detecled the fyren, 
 who was luring me to dertru6^ion. 
 
 On h'earing her rife, I haltily withdrew,'. 
 tikin^ no caution that I might not be"* 
 heard, for I thought tliat knowledge muft 
 till her with confulion. I flipped do^vn 
 the ftairs, and met Muzio coming up. I 
 made a fjgn to him to be filcnt, which he 
 perfectly underftood, and grinjiing at me 
 with his large white teeth, he conducted 
 me fafe into the fireet. 
 
 I uttered a fliort ejaculation of thanks 
 
 for my fortunate efcape, it feeming to me 
 
 like a dream that I had juft awoke from, 
 
 II 4- and
 
 154: 
 
 and I woiulered at the po\s-erriil Tpcil th^it 
 had bound up my fenfcs. I who had but 
 an hour before believed that the ardor of 
 rny love would never be fhaken, and con- 
 (idered that no earthly obje61 fo defirable 
 as the hand of this lady, now found that T 
 defpifed her from my foul, and my refent- 
 nient almofl led me to hatred. 
 
 I formed many fchemes of revenge as I 
 walked haftily to my lodging; for the 
 words of Count Pandolfo were fo flighting 
 to my felf-love, that I defired much to 
 teach him, that I was not altogether the 
 boy he thought me. 
 
 As I became calmer, I faw that the befl 
 revenge I could take w^as to remain wiiolly 
 indifferent, leaving Ippolita to form her 
 own conje61ures, and no doubt fhe would 
 expe6l that I fliould either continue en 
 tangled in her toils^ or fly out into fome 
 violent mark of anger, which would ex- 
 pofe my own weaknefs. Total indiffe- 
 rence would wound her to the heart, as 
 flie could fcarce think it poifible;, I could 
 
 fo
 
 155 
 
 fo foon break from the chains, fhe believed 
 fhe had riveted upon me. 
 
 What a fex is this ! thought 1 ; with the 
 femblance and fmiles of angels, they lure 
 us to admire, while malice lodges deep 
 ^vithin their hearts, and vanity, coquetry, 
 and deceit, guide all their motions. Thank 
 heaven I have efcaped with fo little mif- 
 chief from one of the mofl perfidious and 
 moft alluring. Never again will I liften 
 to the fong of the Siren. — Never again 
 approach the fmiling fhores, where love 
 feems to beckon to the gardens of delight, 
 but which arc encompalTed by the quick- 
 fands of deceit, and the vortex of a phren- 
 zied imagination. 
 
 I had fufficient food for refie6lion, to 
 prevent deep intruding upon me. Some- 
 times I rejoiced at my efcape : fometimes 
 I bellowed upon her epithets of vexation ; 
 and fometimes I regretted that the vifion 
 I had indulged for fo many days, had thus, 
 at laft, vanifhed into empty air. Then 
 again^ when I turned my thoughts upon 
 H 5 my
 
 156 
 
 my own circumfuances^ I beheld irivfoif 
 aimolt a beggar, and an outcaft fram the 
 tbciety in which I lived. 
 
 I had no man near me to whom I could 
 apply for direction or advice. No relation 
 on the furface of the earth whom I coidd 
 claim or acknowledge. I had been more 
 than once deceived in the flight friendfliips 
 I had formed ' in the army^ and my mind 
 looked forward with very dark broodings 
 upon the future. 
 
 I began to think man a very different 
 being from what I had imagined when I 
 knew nothing beyond the walls of the con- 
 vent^ or had only acquaintance with the 
 youth of the college, mod of whom were 
 itutainted by the vices of the world, and 
 were as fanguine in their expecylations as 
 myfelf. 
 
 Once more I determined to make the 
 fludy of war my only purfuit, that I might 
 therebv banifh from mv mind thofe in- 
 trudintr and unwelcome reflections, which 
 only conducted to melancholy and defpair; 
 
 and
 
 157 
 
 and I even fonned a diilant intention .of 
 banifhing myrelf from Spain^ as an ad^ en- 
 tiif%r in the new world. 
 
 I kept my relblution never aG:ain ta 
 vifit Ippolita, who attempted, by ieveraf 
 infinuating letters and mefTages^ to per- 
 fuade me to an intei^iew, accufing me of 
 injuflice and barbarity^ in not fo much as 
 hearing the excufes fhe had to make : bnt 
 I was too well aware of the power of her 
 eyes and her eloquence, to truft to my 
 reafon in counteracting them, efpecially 
 when the paifions of youth were in rebel- 
 lion againft me. 
 
 I could not but perceive the incrcafing 
 coldnefs of Count Pandolfo, which ren- 
 dered my fituation peculiarly irkfome. 
 More than once I had ferious thoughts of 
 abandoning the army, and retiring to the 
 bofom of filence and repofe. 
 
 I looked back with regret to the houi*s of 
 my youthj when no thought for to-morrow 
 defh'oyed the pleafures of to-day ; and 
 reflecting upon the folly of luinian pur- 
 
 fuits^
 
 158 
 
 fuits, the tranquillity of monadic retire* 
 ment appeared with innumerable charms. 
 
 '' But/' faidi, ''Mias man no other duties 
 than thofe of self? Was he born to fpend 
 his days in indolence ; to be unprodu61ive 
 on the face of the earth ? Did the great 
 Creator of the human race fay to man^ 
 be unfruitful ? Did the teacher of peace 
 bid his difciples immure themfelves in 
 cells^ and mock the purpofes of nature ? 
 No ! — The vow of monaltic celibacy is 
 then a vow of negative murder. It is a 
 compact to diminifli the fpecies. It is 
 blafphemy againftthe eternity of heaven." 
 
 Thefe and fimilar refle61ions created in 
 me an abhorence of monkiih inftitutions, 
 and though I might be faid^ as a foldier, 
 not to be allowed to pronounce againfl 
 others for diminiiliing mankind ; yet 
 there was a ftrong apology for my profef- 
 fion, in the unruly and ungovernable paf- 
 fions of men, which are perpetually fer- 
 menting difcord, and require the Itrong 
 arm of combined powery to prevent a few 
 
 malignant
 
 159 
 
 malignant and turbulent fplrits from 
 wholly rooting up fociety^ and depopula- 
 ting the earth. It is, however, to be hoped 
 that mankind will one day univerfally fee 
 the happinefs of peace; and then, and not 
 till then, the profefTion of a foldier will 
 become both impious and ufelefs. 
 
 The rumour became every day llronger, 
 that Portugal was training up forces in 
 fecret, and fome cabal forming againfl the 
 Queen Regent. Our troops were under 
 conftant training, and feveral detachments 
 were appointed to ftations on the moun- 
 tains, to be ready to pour down upon the 
 province of Galicia. 
 
 One evening I was furprized by a hur- 
 rying mefTage from Count Pandolfo, who 
 defired inftantly to fee me upon a bufmefs 
 of importance. It was in vain to attempt 
 judging of fuch a mandate, though I had 
 little doubt but it related to Donna Ippo- 
 lita, and I armed myfelf with patience, to 
 hear any thing he might chufe to fay on 
 ihe fubje^. 
 
 He
 
 160 
 
 He received me with cool politenefs, 
 and reveral profeflTions of iViendlhip, fome. 
 little time iince I might have • believed 
 fin cere. 
 
 ''Cavalier Lorenzo," faid he, preTcnting 
 me with a patent, '' I have the honour to 
 declare to you, that you are appointed to 
 a fuperior command. You are made 
 Captain, over a regiment. To-morrow I 
 am going to march through the province 
 ofAfluria, to concentrate the arrny of 
 Oviedo. The Duke D'Ahnaine ^vill fucceed 
 me in this city, and you are appointed to 
 command a detachment which will fccure 
 an effential pafs upon the forkof the moun- 
 tains, Avhere there is now a fmall garrifon 
 you will have to relieve. Foit Dajos will 
 be made a depot for ammunition, on ac- 
 count of its fituation. It is a ftation of 
 much importance, and your fidelity and 
 courage is depended on.*' 
 
 You may fuppofe I liflened with atten- 
 tion to this harangue^ for fome time, 
 
 doubt-
 
 161 
 
 doubtiiijT whetlier he was ferious : but the 
 commifrion which I read, and the afrabillty 
 of his imniier, con^iaced me of the truth. 
 I returned him thanks for his good opinion. 
 My refentment was ah'eady vanifhed^ for 
 I looked upon the affair of Donna Ippolita 
 as the greateft abfurdity on my part, and 
 fuchas merited from him the treatment I 
 had received. I knew not to whom to 
 impute this fudden fmile of fortune. My 
 Itation at an ifolatcd fort, I could readily 
 guefs, was the management of the Count, 
 which would prevent my viilting Ippolita 
 in his ab fence ; but my commiflion I con- 
 (idered as the lafl fervice of my unknown 
 guardian. 
 
 I returned the Count my acknowledge- 
 ments, inquiring more particularly into the 
 nature of the fer\ ices expe^^ted from me : 
 and learning the troops would be in mo- 
 tion early tlie very next morning, being 
 to march at an hour*s warning, 1 retired to 
 make fome little arrangements, the time 
 fcarcelv allowed. 
 
 My
 
 162 
 
 My heart fluttered at the approach of 
 ,«i6live duty, and my promotion made me 
 look upon myfelf with more refpcclj. feel- 
 ing that confidence^ and natural pride, 
 which gives a pJeafurable flimulu& to 
 exertion. 
 
 I threw myfelf down upon the bed for 
 about three hours : rifing as foon as the 
 dawn of day fhed a grey light upon the 
 horizon. The drums beat to arms in 
 feveral parts of the city^ and the foldiers 
 began to afTem.ble from their quarters. 
 The inhabitants arofe to witnefs our de- 
 parture, and every fenfation that can thrill 
 the heart's expe6lation, with hope and fear, 
 with joy and forrow, was experienced by 
 all and each of the multitude. 
 
 I placed myfelf at the head of my men, 
 who had been apprized of my promotion 
 nearly as foon as myfelf, and teftified their 
 fatisfaclion by their cheerfulnefs in obey- 
 ing my commands. Count Pandolfo led 
 the van with a long line of troops, and a 
 grand military band, which enlivened the 
 
 pro-
 
 163 
 
 proceffion and animated every heart. The 
 colours ftreamed upon the wind ; the 
 horfcs pranced as if joyful at again entering 
 the field ; and the foldiers marched forward 
 with animation. 
 
 My troops, who were to leave the main 
 body at the foot of the mountains^ taking 
 a more fouthern direclion^, formed the 
 rear, and I was not a little proud at behold- 
 ing myfelf fo confpicuous in the midfl of 
 glitter and parade : and while I looked 
 around me at the fpe6^ators, I fancied the 
 fmiles of the ladies^, chiefly dire61ed on 
 myfelf, and not a few honored me with 
 wifhes of fuccefs. 
 
 I raifed my eyes towards a window where 
 many ladies and gentlemen were ftanding 
 on the balcony, and amongfl them Ippolita 
 was not a little confpicuous. She coloured 
 with refentment and anger, bridling her 
 head, and biting her lips with vexation, 
 as I had the vanity to believe : and in order 
 to mortify her, I took not the fmalleft no- 
 tice of her endeavours to attract my regard; 
 
 ^ bowing
 
 164 
 
 bowing to a lady m an oppofite 'tvindo^'*^, 
 \vhora I had never feen before^ bitt ^vbo 
 returned my ialiite with fatisfa61ion ; 
 throwing nir, at the fame time, fome 
 liovvers fne took from her bofoin, and 
 which I placed in my hat, beneath a fine 
 wavhig plume of feathers, w^ith an air of 
 no little gallantry. 
 
 This little incident gave me a frcih £ow 
 of fpirits ; the proceffion appearing in my 
 eyes more to reieinble the air of a triumph^ 
 than that cf an army going to w^ar : one 
 h-']f of which, at leaft^ were certainly going 
 to be ilaughtered. 
 
 I took leave of Count Pandolfo at the 
 foot of the hills, our routs and deflination 
 here dividing. The roads were good, 
 though nanow and of laborious afcent, 
 having been once Roman military ways. 
 In fome places they had been hev/n out of 
 t'ne living rock; in others they were raifcd 
 upon terraces of large ftones, at the ex- 
 pence of prodigious labour: fomctimes 
 thcv 1 affcd over the Iteep fummit of a 
 
 hill.
 
 165 
 
 hiVi, and then again ovei'topped the hang- 
 in<i: precipices. 
 
 V/e loon found onrfelves \vinding 
 amongft mountains,, formed of hills heaped 
 together without regularity, and rifing to 
 the clouds — their dark heads being fre- 
 quently loft to our fight ; and then again 
 cmerfringfto view, as the clouds broke and 
 paired over them. 
 
 The trampling of fo many feet in mea- 
 Aired time, founded hollow and feai'ful 
 over the rocks ; and when the clarions and 
 trumpets founded at intervals, the vil^rating 
 tones fled from mountain to mountain, till 
 they feemed loii for ever in filence; but 
 in a few feconds another chain of hills 
 took up the charge, and fancy might have 
 ^believed that every hollow contained a 
 troop, and eveiy mountain an army ready 
 prepared for the battle. 
 
 This deception was wonderfully increafed 
 by the extenfive line of the troops, along 
 the narrow winding road, which from ele- 
 vated flations, could be only partially feen. 
 
 Some
 
 166 
 
 Some appeared fcattered over the moun- 
 tains behind. Some creeping along the 
 ileep fide of the hill. — A file of baggage 
 waggons appeared aloft in the clouds, 
 while others were lofl in the vallies. 
 
 At the feet of the mountains and in the 
 crevices of tne rocKs^ fpread forefts of 
 chefnut and pine^ w^hile the high heads of 
 the hills^ expofed to all the fury of the 
 feafons, were in general barren^ and black 
 'with rugged rocks, or thinly clothed with 
 fhort grafs and mofs, amongft which flocks 
 of flieep were leifurely browfing. 
 
 I frequently flopped to gaze behind me 
 on the magnificence of the fcenery ; the 
 little hills around reminding me of that 
 charming valley I had fo fully intended to 
 explore. I knew by the fituation, that it 
 could not be more than three leagues dif- 
 tant from fort Dajos, which I was going to 
 command ; but thofe three leagues were 
 over the mofl barren part of the moun- 
 tains. One univerfal confufion of rocks, 
 piled in endlefs variety intervened; 
 
 inter-
 
 167 
 
 interfefted by deep natural ravines^ and 
 dangerous from accumulations of llagnant 
 water, over which time had fpread a thin 
 and deceitful furface. 
 
 At noon we halted in the line of march> 
 and provifions being diflributed through 
 the ranks, the men formed themfelves into 
 little companies on the road. Some fliel- 
 tered themfelves in groups under the cool 
 ihade of thehan^T^inff rocks. Othei*s ftraved 
 down to the vallies, where the winding 
 Itream gently murmured^ and the frefh 
 veixlure fpread itfelf for their repofe ; 
 while the veterans, ufed to the toils and 
 fatigues of war, fat down upon the open 
 grounds, balking in the burning beams of 
 the fun, and mingling fongs with their 
 fcanty repafl. 
 
 I amufed myfelf with contemplating this 
 living pi6lure of human life, fpread before 
 me. The bold fcenery which every group 
 exhibited was ftrikingly great, nor could I 
 forbear, when I confidered the dark fea- 
 tures mofl of them prefented, their uni- 
 form
 
 Form and martial clrefs^ and their arms 
 fcattcrcd befide them, glittering in the fun, 
 or piled againfl the rocks, comparing them 
 to fo many hords of banditti enjoying their 
 fpoil, or waiting to fiirprize frefli plunder. 
 
 The boafting voices of fome who were 
 exaggerating their own aclions, to raife 
 themfelves into heroes, in the eyes of 
 tliofe w^ho were new to the army ; the 
 loud laiiSfhter of others, and the fono^s of 
 many, by degrees funk into iilence ; moH 
 of them being inclined to lleep, while the 
 more watchful refrained from difturbing 
 their companions, fitting in filent contem- 
 plation on the family and friends they had 
 left, and the pleafures of their nati^ e home. 
 
 A few indeed, whofe vifages were fur-, 
 rowed with traits of cruelty, were planning 
 fchemes of depredation, when the horrid 
 trump of war fhould be the fignal of 
 liberating them to prey upon mankind : 
 and when I reflected that the peaceful ham- 
 lets, tlie abodes of innocence and love, 
 w^ould iirft fall a prey to tlie ravages of 
 
 con-
 
 109 
 
 cO'iiteiKiing power ; I fi«;hed at the pro- 
 lefiTion I belonged to, and was grieved at 
 tfie crimes of man. 
 
 The time allowed for repofe, very foon 
 expired. The flirill trumpet founded the 
 fignal for marching, and the blall was re- 
 turned in harfli echoes, flying in every di- 
 rection around us. In a moment, as if 
 rifing from the grave, all ftarted into mo- 
 tion. Thofe on the brink of the llream 
 haltcned to ^he dufty road, the hollows 
 beneath the rocks poured forth their 
 numbeiT^, and Itragglers from the forell:, 
 pantiiig for breath, clambered the fteeps^ 
 and. formed into the line. 
 
 The fame energy and fa-.isfacliondidnot 
 now urge them to the march, as when 
 frefh in the cool of the morning, and in- 
 fpired by the mufic of martial inftruments. 
 It was but at intervals that the trumpet 
 founded in the front, and was anfwered in 
 the rear, and repeated by the echoes. 
 Toil and w^earinefs appeared in moit of 
 t^ieir features, and thofe who had prefTecl 
 VOL. I. I to
 
 iro 
 
 to be foremofl in the morning, now lln- 
 ,gered in the rear. 
 
 The clouds of dufl raifed by the tramp- 
 ling of their feet, thickened their rei'pi- 
 ration, and fullied the brightnefs of their 
 drefs. They no longer fhone with the 
 fplendor of a parade, but they took a much 
 more interelling appearance, and feemed 
 indeed, warriors of the mountains. 
 
 We had long fince left behind us all 
 ilgns of human habitation, travelling over 
 a mafs of mountains, where fcarce the tot- 
 tering fabric of a fliepherd's hut was to be 
 feen in the interval of half a league : and it 
 was not eafy tofuppofe that any obje61: on 
 thefe barren heights, could pofTibly at- 
 tra61 the ambition of man. Yet their 
 commxanding fituation on the frontiers of 
 an holtile country, and the impregnable 
 nature of the fortrefs, perched upon the 
 point of a rock, and afcended by narrow 
 flairs, rendered it a place of extreme 
 flrength, and a key to three provinces, as 
 it flood in the fork of a long chain of moun- 
 tains,
 
 UiinSj one lide of which ftrctched away t6 
 tiie northern ocean, and the other bor- 
 dered Galicia. 
 
 The ni2:ht came on extremely daric, but 
 
 'o 
 
 without rain^ long before we reached the 
 place of our deltination : and torches being 
 lighted to guide the troops over the dan- 
 gerous roads, the fpe61acle aflumed a fare 
 of dreadful grandeur, the numbei*s of the 
 men being multiplied into an army of 
 infinite magnitude. 
 
 In every dire61;ion lights fhonc and dif- 
 appeared, while the dark outlines of the 
 jnountains were vifible only in blacknefs, 
 intermixing and forming one mafs Vv^ith 
 the clouds. The voices of the men calling 
 to each other, pafTed upon the wind, and 
 were faintly repeated by the echoes. The 
 clafh of arms frequently was heard along 
 the winding of the road, and the trumpet 
 fcreamcd in the air. 
 
 On a fudden the tremendous noife of a 
 
 cannon thundered over our heads, rolling 
 
 from mountain to mountain in repeated 
 
 I 2 vibrations.
 
 172 
 
 ^ Ibrations, fnaking the rocks ^vith the con^ 
 cufTion, and threatening to overwhelm, us 
 in the ruins. 
 
 For a moment I was aflonifhed at the 
 ftupendous effecl, which rolled over us 
 equal to the pealing thunder of the clouds ; 
 and I could diftinguifh the earth to tremble 
 tinder my feet. 
 
 This piece was fired from the foi% whicli 
 was perched above our heads ; and from 
 which the line of our m.arch had for fome 
 time been diftinclly obferved, though the 
 grey ftone of the fortifications^ and the 
 obfcurity of the night, hid it from our 
 view. We now perceived lights u})on the 
 battlements, and foon diftinctly heard the 
 voices of people as they paficd alorg the 
 I'amparts. 
 
 We had not expecled fo foon to reach 
 the place of our deftinatiom, nonp but our 
 guides having been the way before, fo that 
 the cannon burll upon us in furprize, and 
 d'pread an alarm that the enemy were near ; 
 "but when the truth was difcovercd, the 
 
 troops
 
 173 
 
 tfoops' quickened their fteps, and vre foon 
 heard the drum beating to arms in the 
 giirrilbn;, that we might receive the ho- 
 noiii's of war. 
 
 I delivered my credentials at the gate to 
 the officer on duty, who received me with 
 politenefs, and we Hood converfmg to- 
 gether, while the troops and the baggage 
 filed into the asra of the fort. 
 
 The mufic of the garrifon llruck up, 
 and was anfwered by that of the newly 
 arrived troops^ which at firft founded at a 
 diftance, but as it drew nearer, rufhed upon 
 the filence of night with a fublime effe6^. 
 It was long before the whole had entered 
 the gates and were diftributed to their 
 quarters, andnottill then would Iretirewith 
 Don Ferren to fhare a little entertainment 
 his attention had provided. 
 
 I felt rather embaiTaffed in the prefence 
 of a man whom I was about to fuperfede 
 ill command, and it was only his politenefe 
 which encouraged my confidence ; but as 
 foon as he had read a private letter I de- 
 I s livered
 
 174 
 
 ITvered from Count Pandolfo^ he took me 
 by the hand^ faying ^^^th a fmile : 
 
 '' ]M3/ dear Lorenzo^ you ought to con- 
 gratulate nic, if it were not that you are 
 obliged to take my fituation. I am about 
 to exchange the h-kfomcnefs of garrifon 
 daty^ for active fervice. The day follovving 
 to-morrov*% m.y regiment will refign this 
 place to you. I am commanded to 
 ,|?viedo/* 
 
 ' - I made a fuitable reply to this fpeech, 
 and we fat down to f upper with fatisiaction. 
 Bon FeiTen gave me feveral general in- 
 ilru61ions, which his knowledge of the 
 fituation enabled him to do ; and it was 
 not until far in the night that we retired to 
 Jfefl.. 
 
 The following day was fpent in the nc- 
 ceflary arrangements for an exchange of 
 poffcfrion ; and the day after. Den Fericn 
 took his leave of me, nor did I omit any 
 ceremony of military etiquette. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ir5 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 X HE fort of Dajos (lands perched upon 
 the point of a mountain, and is afcended 
 by a very naiTow pafs, hewn out of the 
 rock. It confilts of a large quadrangular 
 tower^ and a range of huts forfoldiers; 
 beneath which is an extcnfive excavation^ 
 for the keeping of ftores. It is encom- 
 pafTed by a rampart and parapet, covered 
 by two baftions^ and a battery mounting 
 eight field pieces, which entirely com- 
 manded the afcent for a ccnfiderable dll^- 
 tance, and rendered the fort impregnable 
 to any force which mJght be brought 
 again ft it. 
 
 The tower being built of the fame dark 
 
 ftone which forms the mountains^ the eye 
 
 i h of
 
 176 
 
 ©ra ftrringer cannot difLlnguiili it, at a dif- 
 tance, from the many piles of broken rock 
 the tempeils have at different times fhaken 
 from their foundations, and fcattered over 
 ^he mountains in variety of fanciful forms. 
 The novelty of my fituation was fuf- 
 iicient amufement to me for fome time, 
 and the vaft profpe61 which the elevation 
 prefented around me, was a charm to 
 counteract the routine of duty. The 
 painted landfcape that fpread before me 
 in the province of Galicia, formed a fine 
 contraft with the awful grandeur of the 
 mountains. Thefe were dark and llerile, 
 folemnly feated in eternal gloom ; while 
 the vallies fmiled in the gayefl colours of 
 cultivation. A perpetual filence, like a 
 calm on the ocean, or vihen the winds are 
 hiiflird in the defert, reigned around us, 
 - nd knew no interruption, but the wijid?, 
 rhe thunder, and the rain. Except, indeed, 
 tho birds of the heathy wildernefs, as they 
 ])aiTi d. fcreamingby in fearch ofprey. 
 
 It
 
 177 
 
 It was feldom a courier arrived with 
 difpatches^ and we feemed as if banifhed 
 from fociety and condemned to a Rate of 
 ina61ion not a little irkfome. Our com- 
 pany did not confift of more than three 
 hundred men^ the reft having accompanied 
 Don Ferren to Oviedo : and I found fo 
 much frivolity in the manners of the offi- 
 cers, that I was pleafed when I could retire 
 from their fociety without the imputation 
 of pride. 
 
 I ^vifhed to be able to ramble over the 
 mountains^ but my duty forbade this in- 
 dulgence^ as I feared being negligent on 
 my poft, or abfent from the fort in cafe of 
 alarm ; it being impoffible to know at 
 what hour, or in wliat place, the fmothered 
 flame v»ould burft forth. 
 
 For a month I endured this confinement, 
 at the end of which a courier arrived from 
 Oviedo, with news that every thing had 
 taken a tranquil appearance on the fide of 
 Portugal, and the Duke of Briganza was 
 prepaiing to viiit Madrid; where, no 
 I o doubts
 
 oubt, his detention \sould havcpreveiiteil 
 the ro volution Avhich has iince taken place. 
 Being noNv more at liberty, I made a 
 tew arrangements, in cafe of any alarm 
 raking place during my occafional rambles, 
 oixiering a iignal gun to be iired, Avhich 
 could be heard ^^ith eaiV at more than a 
 ieaiiues diicance, in everv direction on the 
 mountains. As ioon as the guard was 
 changed, and the orders of the day de- 
 livered. 1 feldom milled fome little excur- 
 lion, but thefe were lengthened infenfibly 
 Another mountain appeared which I had 
 never afcended. another valley lay beneath, 
 which 1 had never explored, and thus it 
 was frequently evening by the time I re- 
 turned toDajos. 
 
 This part of that extenfive chain called 
 the mountains of Alturia, is as 1 have faid, 
 
 x^iremely barren, being expofed to the 
 uinds and itomis, which blow from the 
 northern ocean ; but towards the fouth^ 
 thev are covered with extenlive forefts^ 
 prefcnting to the eye that richjiefs of ve- 
 
 cetation^
 
 179 
 
 gctatioii;, which is at once pleafiiig and 
 grand ; and wc are i'ometimcs loft in 
 aftonifliment at beholdin": lar;i^c mafrcs of 
 foreft trces^ hanging as it were in the air, 
 or fufpendcd from the crevices of the 
 rocks. 
 
 Thefe diflant objecls frequently brought 
 to my mind the valley of St. Ilelma ; its 
 pleafant fhades ; the clear murmur of its 
 ftream ; and the myfterious caftle, that was 
 mouldering to the ground. I low diflTerent, 
 thought ]j to ramble amidfi: the fhades of 
 the fpreading beech, the chefnut, and the 
 feather-leafed afli : to liften to the drowfy 
 babbling of the brook, and enjoy the in- 
 dolence of luxurious repofe. — Here, if I 
 ramble, it is over fleeps and precipices, 
 where I am for ever in danger of breaking 
 my neck ; and my toil is rewarded, only 
 bv viewing a new fuccelTion of tremen- 
 dous fterility. Yet in this fterility there 
 was a charm extremely pleafant and in- 
 viting to melancholy reflection, for when 
 I wandered over the fpreading heath, and 
 
 heard
 
 ISO 
 
 Heard the wind Cigh amongft the tall mofe 
 it Teemed like the founds of mourning 
 fpirits to the imagination ; and the fudden 
 gufl which paffed a^'.vay and was heard no 
 morCj filled me with fuperftitious fear. 
 
 One evening I had flruck into another 
 dire^lion, at a confiderable diflance from 
 the fort^ and being fatigued with clamber> 
 jng, I fat down upon a fragment of rock^ 
 green with mofs^ and overlooking, an ex^- 
 tcnfive fweep, along the fides of feveral 
 mountains. I watched the gradual ap- 
 proach of twilight, when the fun no 
 longer tinged with purple the grey rocks, 
 or the lofty clouds. Obje6ls took upon 
 ihem the fame dun fhade, and the form of 
 the hills was only vifible in broken out- 
 lines. 
 
 The cool winds crept by me, and every 
 bird of the, wafle was Hill. My thoughts 
 took the fad fhading of the night, and an 
 unufual and unaccountable oppreffion of 
 fpirits hung upon me. The moll gloomy 
 mufiogs crowded upon me^ and no longer 
 
 dwellinij
 
 181 
 
 d\velling on my ov/n individual fortuniD/T 
 refie61ed on the flate of man^ and his I'ela, 
 thanmomentaryexiflen.ee. Like the giirt; 
 of wind upon the mountain^ he is hcre^ 
 and he is palled away for ever. But where, 
 whither does he go i^ Is he like a beam of 
 light, penetrating for ever through infinite 
 fpace? buif' what mind can even contem- 
 plate for a minute the nature of infinite 
 continuance? it ftarts back with horror! 
 for refle6lion becomes pofitive madnefs. 
 
 A blafi: of wind blew by me cold and 
 ehecrlefs ; the tall mofs flower waved its 
 head, and the darknefs of night hung upon 
 the dells beneath me. I flarted as the 
 winds pafTed over me at intervals. I 
 fancied that articulate founds moved upon 
 the breeze. I raifed my head to liflen, 
 and heard a cry which I could not under 
 Hand. 
 
 Surely, thought I, the fpirits of night 
 are wandering over the defolation of na- 
 ture, for no human being can be roaming 
 at this hour, far from habitation or fhelter. 
 
 Again
 
 182 
 
 Again my nerves ^vere thrilled with the 
 cry, which grew llvonger upon the air. 
 My ienfes became alarmed, for it ^vas a 
 cry of I'lich diftrefs, that though I heard no 
 words, my foul felt Ihocked within me. 
 I arofe and ftood looking towards the 
 winding dale. In a moment after, I per- 
 ceived an obfcure form moving with unde- 
 fcribable quicknefs towards me. The 
 outline w^as human, but I could diftinguifh 
 neither feature nor aciion, yet it moved 
 with the fwiftnefs of wind, uttering re- 
 peatedly, this tremendous cry ; / ci7?i 
 judged with a terrible judgment ! I caught 
 thefe words as the phantom palled by 
 along the fiirface of the waft e, with glan- 
 cing velocity. I trembled 1 looked 
 
 round, but the form was gone. 
 
 I had fcarce fufficient ftrength to feat 
 myfelf; my nerves had lofi: their tone, 
 and the cold breezes of the night alone, 
 prefervcdme from finking. 
 
 What is this, thought I, which has jult 
 paired before me ? Is it the fpirit of fome 
 
 wretched
 
 183 
 
 TvTctched mortal, or a roaming demon cT 
 the air ? Whence came it, and whither is 
 it gone ? Can this be the fpirit that wan- 
 dei-s through the valley of St. Helma, or 
 broods over the ruins of its caftle ? If fo, 
 fearful and terrible indeed arc the judg^ 
 ments of the Almighty. Sorcery muft be 
 a crime of the deepeftdvc. 
 
 This explanation of an unfathomable 
 myflery, in fome degree tranquilized my 
 m.ind. I arofe and fought my way over 
 the tracklefs mofTes of the mountain. 
 Fancy at times chained me to the earch, 
 when the founding wind feemed to bring 
 aoain to mv ears the fearful crv of woe, 
 but it palTed away, and again funk into 
 filence. 
 
 It was with difficulty and labour I found 
 my w^ay back to the fort, guided by a glim- 
 mering light from tlic ^vatch tower. The 
 people at Dajos teitiiied their furprize at 
 mv pale and frighted looks, which I im~ 
 puted to the danger and fatigue of tracing 
 through deep mofs, which in fome places 
 
 con^
 
 181 
 
 concealed holes, where the water ftagngteeT 
 and became extremely dangerous. in 
 truth, I had no Inclination to relate the 
 circumflances of what I 'had heard and feen, 
 at the certainty of being diibelieved ; nor 
 could I, on mature refle^lion, avoid think- 
 ing myfclf that I might have been deceived 
 by the vapours which roll over the hiUs, 
 and the peculiar train of melancholy re- 
 fie6ticns, which then had pofTeffion of my 
 mind. But again I remembered the night 
 when I firfl difcovered the valley of St. 
 Helma. It was certain that I had then 
 followed an obfcure figure which eluded 
 me. The ilorics of Filelfo and Sylvia 
 could not have been for the purpofe of 
 deceit ing me ; and there was in their man* 
 ner, fomething more than in thofe who 
 only relate from report the tales of fi61ion 
 and of horror. 
 
 There are many things which ^ve are 
 perpetually refolving to perform, but 
 which every trifling incident ferves to 
 poftpone : for where there is fome 
 
 trouble^
 
 ys5 
 
 trouble, we are willing to think that to- 
 morrow mav perhaps ferve better than 
 to-dav. Of thefe ^vas niv proje61ed vifk 
 to the yalley, and it is probable, my refo- 
 lutibn would never have been fafliciently 
 roufed, but for an incident which filled 
 my foul with allonilhment^ and kindled 
 within me all thofe remains of fuperftitiony 
 which my monkifh education had caufed 
 me to imbibe, but which my later fludios 
 had enabled me in fome degree to fmother. 
 I, now felt an invincible and perpetuni 
 impulfe to undertake this adventure ; bitt 
 the lenoth of the way to the valley, and 
 the time it would neceffarily require, de- 
 layed me yet fome time longer. I ap- 
 pointed a temporary command during my 
 abfence, whix:h I did not intend fnould 
 exceed two davs, and felcfting an old fol- 
 dier, named Gafton, who was well ac- 
 quainted with the Afturias, I ordered him to 
 }}ro\ ide arms and proviiions for our jour*- 
 ]icy, giving out that I meant toexploi-e 
 tlicddiles of the mountaiiiS, the better to 
 
 facir
 
 186 
 
 facilitate any operations which miglit 
 hereafter be necefiary^ when there might 
 be no time for fuch undertakings. 
 
 Gaflon had all things in readinef«, early 
 in the mornings and well pleafcd at rny 
 preference of him^ boafted not a little of 
 his knowledge^ declaring that he was ac- 
 quainted with almofl every ftone that lay 
 upon the hills^ and knew every crevice and 
 every bog that w^e had to avoid : for he 
 would undertake to lead me^ by ways that 
 only fliepherds and their flocks could 
 know. 
 
 His boafling' w^ould have lead me to 
 doubt his abilities^ had I not known that 
 his early days v/ere pafTed attending fheep 
 upon thefe very hills ; and having break- 
 Hilled, we fet out from Dajos. 
 
 The fun fhone bright, and the light 
 clouds difperlcd fi:om the fumniit of the 
 hills : we foon left jlic fort behind us, 
 lightly treadhig over the dark brown fward 
 which v;as decked with innumerably flow- 
 ers, of fuch dimhiutive Cue, that they ap- 
 peared
 
 187 
 
 pcared like Ipangles fcattered about. The 
 morning air infpired us with vigor^ and 
 ircfh youth Itrcngthened the nerves of 
 Gafton, at the fight of lb many well-known 
 obje6ls^ which recalled to his memory the 
 years that had pafied away, fince he flrayed 
 earelefs as the flocks he attended ; and I 
 was perfectly interefted in his favour^ when 
 I perceived a tear to fleal down his cheeky 
 which he ilreve to hide. 
 
 It was not for me to interrupt his reflec- 
 tions — I had enough of my own : but in 
 fpite of thefe^ the country we now entered 
 upon, aroufcd me to obfervation. We 
 feemed furrounded by abfolute baiTennefs, 
 and proceeded with difficulty over moun« 
 tains which appeared asvaft accumulations 
 of fand, of roclcs, and of rubbifli; as if 
 fome mighty city had once fpiend its 
 buildings, its domes, and its fpires, over 
 this place, but which a tremendous earth- 
 quake liad reverfed, or an univerfal confia- 
 grati(%n reduced into ruins and aflies. Nor 
 tb'l it require much from fancy, aclualiy to 
 
 point;
 
 188 
 
 point out rocks of various forms whicii 
 itood detached, and reared thcmfelves 
 above fiin'ounding fragments^ like fhal- 
 tered fpires, or broken columns. The 
 refle6lion and refraction of the fun in fuc* 
 ceeding ages had calcined the rocks into 
 dull, and the intenfi ty of his rays almoft 
 lubdued our fn-ength. Gaflon toiled for- 
 ward with perfevering labour^ and I was 
 not willing to be outdone by a man three 
 times my age. 
 
 By noon he conducted me to a fpotthat 
 repaid all the difficulty of attainment. It 
 was a fmall plat of green fward, which 
 fwclied from the regular flope of the body 
 of the mountain, and v>'as covered with a 
 lively verdure, which was preferved by a 
 fmall fpring that trickled down the rocks 
 behind^ and fliaded in part by a thorn, 
 whole roots grew into the chinks of the 
 rocks. 
 
 We fat down upon this aiiy fituation, 
 Gafton producing the contents of his wal- 
 let, which furniflied no flight repalt. Ths 
 
 prof-
 
 r89 
 
 profpec^ that we enjoyed gave fpirit to oiii* 
 enteitainment. To the right Itretched the 
 frowning andclaud^capt mountains we had 
 paffed; and to the left arofe, in apparent 
 endlefs fucceffion, others not lefs lofty and 
 irregular^ but which were clothed w^ith 
 waving trees in all the various fhadings of 
 autumn. The baiTen valley beneath Uf> 
 was encompafled by hills fplit with deep 
 fiflures, and feveral trickling ftreamg, which 
 took the appearance of melting filver, 
 traced their mazy courfe down intricate 
 and' narrow channels in the rocks. 
 
 The plains were wholly fluit from our 
 view. Vv'e beheld only the great and the 
 fubiime, and the mind partook of the ima- 
 gery it furveyed. 
 
 When we had finifhcd our repafl, I 
 inquired of Gafton if he knew the valley, 
 of St.Helma? 
 
 '''Know it!" replied he ; ''yes, yes, I 
 know it well: it lies beneath yonder blue 
 mountain with the two peaks ; that little 
 llream you fee there, gufliing down the 
 
 rocks
 
 190 
 
 locks from the fpring of St. Maria, winds 
 away till it comes to that valley ; it is then 
 much larger, and before it gets to the fea, 
 it is deep enough to carry fhips." 
 
 '' Is it long/' faid I^ '' fnice you dwelt 
 upon thefe hills ? I underftand you were 
 born amongft them/' 
 
 '' Your Honor is right/' replied Gafton. 
 ^' It is now many a year fmce I was amongd 
 them : I have not thriven like the fpring 
 of Saint Maria; for I return dry, and 
 poor, and exhaulled. There is little plea* 
 fure to the man who returns to the place 
 of his ^vouth poor as the day he departed. 
 He may tell them the adventures he has 
 feen, and they will not believe him." 
 
 '' But you have relations— they will 
 always liflen to you with pleafure." 
 
 '' No, your Honor," anfwered he, fliak- 
 ing his grey head; '' I have neither friends 
 nor relations : they are long fmce dead. 
 My parents were buried before I was the 
 height of an arcabuz. An old fhepherd 
 took pity on me, and took me to keep 
 
 fliecp
 
 191 
 
 iheep on thefe hills : and when he died, I 
 was feized ^sith a fpirit of roaming ; for I 
 had no one that cared for me^ fo I went to 
 the wars, and am now grown grey in the 
 fervice." 
 
 He repeated his fliortbut forrow^fiil flory 
 with a look full of meaning ; and when I 
 faw his white locks waving in the wind, I 
 faid to myfelf, '' This man has done his 
 duty : he ought now to retire to eafe and 
 quiet ; but alas, he is, like myfelf, forlorn 
 on the ftormy wafte of life." 
 
 '' Well, my brave comrade,'' faid I, '' 'tis 
 a folly for foldiers to repine : if we are 
 beaten to-dav, to-morrow we may conquer : 
 the chances of war are ever turning round. 
 If it is fo many years fnice you left thefe 
 mountains, you perhaps have forgot the 
 old Caftle that ftands in the valley of St. 
 Helma/' 
 
 '' That I fliall never do," returned he. 
 " Thirty years ago, and more, I have heard 
 the good old Gonzalez tell fuch llories 
 
 about
 
 192 
 
 a-bout it, that I fliall remember tlicrn (o my 
 dying-day/' 
 
 " And what were ihefe?" fiiid I. ^' lias 
 the caftle been To long in ruins ?" 
 
 '' Many a year before that I believe/' if 
 report fay true, '' I remember wlien all the 
 furrounding walls were full of gaps and 
 cracks ; one ef the towei-s in my day was 
 quite even with the ground, and a great 
 part oF the wail ; but the moft curious is 
 the tow^er called the Devil s Tower, it fplit 
 exa611y jn half I remember old Gonzalez 
 telling us that he had heard his father fay, 
 that it happened wiien he w^is a boy, on a 
 very windy ftormy night. There lived at 
 that thne an old man, who fpent his time in 
 fludy, and the country people ^vould have 
 it, that he was a magician, and knew more 
 than themfelves, and lived in a lonely out • 
 iandilh manner. Some faid he was melan- 
 laticholy, and fome .faid he was mad. He 
 however, was the owner of the caftle, and 
 nobody knew his heirs. He ufed to be 
 drelfed in fo whimfical a manner, with a 
 
 a long
 
 193 
 
 lo^i a: beard down to his knees^ that it was 
 enough to give credit to all that was laid 
 of him. ll was nevei^ I believe, known 
 what became of him ; fome laid he ^vas car- 
 ried a'svay m a vvhirlwindj others whifpered 
 that he muft have been murdered, though 
 nobody knew by whom, becaufe his ghoic 
 ahvays walked with a lamp, and had a large 
 chain rouixl its waiil." 
 
 "' I did not expecl," faid I, '' that you 
 Avho have ieen the world, and who doubt 
 this old man's being a magician, would 
 \y\\-^ given credit to the reft of this llorv. 
 Did you ever fee any appearance of this 
 ipe6trc or any other ?*' 
 
 '•Never, myfeif; but old Gonzalez 
 fince told m.e, that upon the mountains one 
 night, when he was lying upon the heath 
 watching for a wolf that had been feveral 
 times looking for fome mutton, he heard 
 all at once a ftrange cry, as of fome perfon 
 indiftrefs: he railed himfelf to look round, 
 and fome figure flitted along \!ii^ brow of 
 the hlll, but what, he could not diftinclly 
 
 VO; I. K f^p^
 
 194 
 
 fee, and it ftruck him^ from the flrange fear 
 Tie felt, that it miiftbe the ghoft of the Old 
 Man of the Caftle/^ 
 
 This incident fo ftrongly accorded ^vi{h 
 the ftrange and fhocking phantom I had 
 myfelf feen, that I was fome time filent, re- 
 fle^ling upon a phenomenon, which ap- 
 peared fo fupernatural, that I had hefitated 
 in believing my ovv'n fenfes. 
 
 I could no longer doubt, after fuch con- 
 firmation, thouo-h there was fom.e variation 
 in the tales of Gafton and Filelfo, the latter 
 perhaps adding circumfiances more confo- 
 nant to his own nature. 
 
 Gallon, v>'hen no longer invited to talk, 
 reclined himfelf to lleep, and left me to 
 my own refie61ions. I began to feel fome- 
 thing of repugnance to my intended expe- 
 dition, the deferted ruins of the Caftle of 
 St. Kelma becoming a more formidable 
 obie6l than I had hitherto tho ght them. 
 
 I had made preparations, with intent to 
 pafs a night in fome one of the chambei-s 
 which might yet remain fo entire as to af- 
 ford
 
 1.95 
 
 ford me flielter, but when I thought thai: 
 perhaps the fame phantom which had 
 pafled me on the hills might become my 
 vilitor^ I was much inclined to return 
 to Dajos; then again I conlidered my 
 own folly, and refolved at all hazards 
 to proceed, that I might affure mvfeif of 
 the truth, and know what confidence was 
 to be placed in popular narrations. 
 
 I awoke Gaflon, Vtho ilept lightlv, ftart- 
 ing up at the firR call/for he had been 
 inured to camps. Vv'e took leave of this 
 pleafant fpot, continuing our way by a 
 winding defcent into a hollow, which 
 again led us to another afcent, keeping 
 along the fide of the mountains, till we 
 overlooked the valley of St. Helma, as from 
 the top of an amphitheatre of hills. 
 
 The profpecl was diflerent from the line 
 of view in which I had firil beheld it, but 
 not lefs enchanting. Gafton pointed out 
 to me, at a diftance, the two remaining 
 towers of the Caltle, little more than vifi- 
 ble from the elevation, above the tall 
 K ^ tr-ees
 
 196 
 
 trees that luiTounded it. It was fituated 
 nearly in tlie centre of the vaJley, upon a 
 finall elevation^ and before the invention 
 of cannon, might have frowned defiance 
 to any hoftih'ty. 
 
 I wondered that I had not difcovercd it 
 on my iirfl vifit to this place, but the indif- 
 tin6l form it afTumed, almoft concealed as 
 it was by the furrounding trees, prevented 
 a ftranger from diftingnifliing it from the 
 broken outlines of towers and battlements, 
 which the mountains presented wherever 
 they were bare of foliage. 
 
 We defcended into the vallcj/, winding 
 anion gft thickets of myrtle and rofemary. 
 The lofty beech, the elm, and the chefnut 
 fpread an almoft impenetrable gloom 
 through the forefl. The mild tnits of the 
 evening began to tinge the flcy with a 
 deeper glow, empurpling the rocks on the 
 tops and fides of the furrounding moun- 
 tains, and when his broad orb hung upon 
 the liills, the country appeared lighted up 
 in univerfal blaze. 
 
 The
 
 197 
 
 The few paths tliat wound through the 
 mazes of the forelL were, fince the days of 
 Gafton^overfpreadwith grafs^ and he could 
 only guide me bv the known fituation o^i 
 the Caftle. A thoufand little infecls bufily 
 attended our fteps^ dancing about us, and 
 their humming was uninterrupted by a ze- 
 phir, or the trembling of a leaf. As w^e ad- 
 vanced deeper into the foreft, the beauty 
 of the fcenery increafed, and it fcemed as 
 if art had been employed to mingle trees of 
 light and deep-coloured foliage, agreeably 
 to amufc the eye. 
 
 Jeffamines and woodbines in abundance 
 clung to the fupporting branches of the 
 ftrong giants of the grove, hanging over 
 our heads in feftoons of delicate flowers^ 
 while beneath our feet, the fhort srafs wa& 
 fcattered over with violets. 
 
 I w^as charmed with the beauty of the 
 groves, and Gaflon obferved, that in his 
 time he did not remember that he had ever 
 feen thefe flowers growing wild. ^*^ Doubt- 
 lefs," laid he, '' becaufe at that time the 
 K . 3 foreft
 
 198 
 
 foreft was inhabited by near a dozen fami 
 Vies, and now it is become a defert, without 
 a foul to invite a fingie traveller to his 
 hearth/' 
 
 '' The reverfe is then not for the better," 
 faid I. " To n^an^ fociety has more charms 
 than all the wildernefs can afford ; but 
 where is the reward of his labours, if he re- 
 turns from foreign countries to his native 
 foil, and finds it abandoned of its people, 
 without one to be told of his return." 
 
 Gafton hung down his head and was 
 fjlent. 
 
 We moved flowly forward, engaged with 
 our own refle61ions, till the gentle mur- 
 juurs of a ftream caught my ear, and at- 
 tracted my attention. A path feemed to 
 incline towards the brook ftriking into a 
 tall grove of evergreens and fweet-fcented 
 {hi'ubs, overhung with lofty cy pre fs, and a 
 few wild citrons. 
 
 The melodious voice of the nightingale 
 warbled unfeen amongft the foliage, and 
 wc advanced, forgetting that we were pof- 
 
 fibly
 
 199 
 
 fjbly leaving the Caftle, whofe towers were 
 not to be diftiiiguiflied in the deep bofom 
 oftheforcft. As I advanced, a more at- 
 tractive found than even the llrains of the 
 nightingale reached my ear : it was the 
 fweet and plaintive founds of a female 
 voice, unaccompanied by any i'nflrument^ 
 and I immediately fancied it to proceed 
 froni fome fhepherdefs fitting on a bank of 
 flowers, with her fhecp on one fide^ and a 
 ftrcam on the other. 
 
 ChaiTned with the idea of fo arcadean a 
 fcene, I moved cautiouily onward;, till 
 opening upon a little grove, I perceived at 
 a few paces diilant, fitting beneath a little 
 natural arbour^ upon a bank of mofs, the 
 elegant figure of a lady, half dreffed, as if 
 fhe had been bathing in the liquid pool, her 
 hair falling in natural ringlets, concealed 
 her bofom, her face was averted, and fiie 
 feemed bufied in adjufiing herdrefs, while 
 fhe am u fed hcrfelf finging ; and araongfl fe- 
 veral little airs that fhe fans:, the followinjr 
 was all that I remember : 
 
 ,K 4 AIR.
 
 200 
 AIR. 
 
 Violets and Blue-bells grow in the groves j 
 Rofcs unfold their fweet fcents to the air. 
 But if they grow, where no mortal e'er roveSj 
 What is the value, which none can fliare ? 
 
 Virgins, like rofes, blooming and gay, 
 Soft as the Violets delicate flow'r, 
 Hid in the Valley, for ever may ftay, 
 For who can perceive or feel their pow'r ? 
 
 While I flood liftening v. ith attention to 
 the fweet melody of her voice, I hadleifure 
 to examine the fingularity of her drefs ; it 
 V CiS neither Spanifli, Morefco, nor Religi- 
 ous, but a curious mixture of each, formed 
 in fo fanciful a manner, that while it won- 
 derfully difplayed all the perfe6lions of the 
 form, it gave rife to the idea, that the fair 
 ^vcc,rcY was a little deranged in her mind ; 
 l}[]t when file turned her flice to^vards mc^ 
 thefe fufpicions vani/Iied all at once, leav- 
 ing behind them pleafure and furprize. 
 
 I beheld a countenance, lovely with 
 voutii and beauty,andfufrufed with the moft 
 delicate blulh. Her eye,s beamed with intcl- 
 
 ligence>.
 
 201 
 
 lipence, but the moment fhc o-Ianced them 
 upon me^ her features exprefTed terror and 
 confufion. She fnatched a loofe robe and 
 veil which lay upon the bank, and Part- 
 ing up, fhe ftoodfor a moment in the atti- 
 tude of flight, gazing upon me with a look 
 of lurprize, while her delicate mouth ^vas 
 half inclined to fmile. 
 
 I flood ftilh in the moft pleafing confu- 
 fion, when throwing into her features a 
 thoufand uniting graces, with fome little 
 air of coquetry, fhe flarted away with the 
 fpeed of a fawn; I flew after her, befeech- 
 ing her to ftay, but her nimble feet almoft 
 outflrippcd the wind; and her veft hanging 
 part over her flioulder and her arm fhe 
 feemed like the figure of Diana in the woods. 
 
 I conjured her to wait but a moment, 
 that I might alk her a queftion of infinite 
 importance. I made ufe of the moil ten- 
 der exprefnons, but all in vain, for the cruel 
 tormenter, when ihe had gained a confider- 
 able di fiance upon me, turned round her 
 K 5 bead
 
 202 
 
 head with an arch fmile, and then agaiil 
 darted away. 
 
 I knew not what to think of this beha- 
 yioiir, which fhe repeated feveral times, 
 and I began to fufpecl that her flight waa 
 intended only to invite purfuit, and the 
 remembrance of the artful Donna Ippolita, 
 ahnoft determined me to give up the chafe; 
 but when fhe again turned her face, there 
 appeared fo much of youthful innocence 
 in every feature, that I found it impolTible 
 to defift. 
 
 The elegance and eafe of every motion 
 while fhe flew along^ fcarce touching the 
 grafs, brought to my mind the fabulous 
 ilories I had read of Sylvan Nymphs, pur- 
 fued by the deities of the foreft. She 
 turned round an abrubt angle of the thicket, 
 and again for a moment flie paufed to gaze 
 at me, but was as quickly loll to my view. 
 
 The underwood and fhrubs were here fo 
 extremely thick, and fo regular, that it had 
 every appearance of having been planted 
 by art, and I expecled to lind within its 
 
 (hades
 
 203 
 
 fliades fome little cottage, which, like 
 Filelfo's, might give fhelter to fome re- 
 cliife from the world. • 
 
 I feared in the mazy labyrinth to lofe the 
 track, and was quickly round the fame an- 
 gle, but it w^as only time enough to catch a 
 glimpfe at her form, as fhe palfed through a 
 little door in a high Hone wall, andclofmg 
 it with quicknefs, was loft to my purfuit. 
 
 I was confounded at this incident, and 
 looking up through the thick boughs of 
 the trees, perceived that I was on the out- 
 lide of the wall w^hich encircled the ruins 
 of the cafile of St. Helma, whofe antique 
 tuiTCts and battlements appeared to hang 
 far above mv head. 
 
 The coppice w^as fo luxuriantly verdant;, 
 and fo entangled, that it was not eafy to 
 deviate from the regular track; and the 
 fhrubs mingled with briars, gre^v fo clofe 
 to the wall, that the eye could not from 
 this fpot learn the extent. 
 
 I ftood mufing upon the ftrange flight 
 of this nymph^ who had taken an afylunx 
 
 within
 
 204 
 
 ^vithin a ruin of which I had-Iieard fo many 
 llngubir reports^ till Gafton fliould over- 
 take me ; for I could by no means recon- 
 cile the idea^ that it was poffible for a 
 female of her appearance to refide in fo 
 dcfolate a place; and with very little 
 aiTifcance from fancy^ I fliould have be- 
 lieved what I had feen^ to be one of thofe 
 illufions I had been taught to expe61. 
 
 lie foon came in fight;, and feemed 
 fomewhat difappointed when he faw me 
 ilanding alone^ my arms folded^, and my 
 eyes raifed toAvards the towei-s where the 
 ivy entwined^ and the long-ftalked mofs 
 waved its head to the airs of the evening. 
 
 •' Ah, your Honor !" faid Gallon, '' there 
 they are, jufr as they flood thirty years 
 ago, and as they may ftand thirty more. 
 I warrant they would not have run away. 
 You had better firfl have caught the young- 
 lady — thirty years will make fome little 
 odds" in her.'' 
 
 '' I thank you for your obfervations/* 
 replied I, roufed from the reverie into 
 
 which
 
 205" 
 
 which I was finking ; '' they are perfeclly^ 
 true; but do you think me To ungallant a 
 foldier^ my boy^ as to give up a lady on 
 aiiy occalion ? The truth is^ flic difap- 
 peared through that door."' 
 
 *^ Through that !" cried Galton with a 
 look of furprize. '*^ Why that leads into 
 the little yard behind the caitle, where 
 ibmetimes the carelefs boys ufed to fteal 
 away to play, becaufe they knew nobody 
 would look for them there : but the gate 
 was down at that time. The old wall too 
 has been repaired, for it was then full of 
 breaches. I know not what to think of 
 all this. — Surely it could not be done 
 without hands." 
 
 '' That I think is very clear; but if we 
 cannot find entrance in one place, we may 
 in another. The evening will foon ciofe 
 upon us, and I v>^ilh firil to make choice of 
 an apartment.'' 
 
 " St. Chriftopherbe your guide," replied 
 he, fliaking his head ; '' if your Honor 
 means to pafs \!i\^ night in tliat caftle, you 
 
 will
 
 505 
 
 will find fifty gaps in the wall, that wilt 
 admit a troop of horfe. I am only forry 
 that you have brought poor old Gallon all 
 the way from Dajos to ftand ten try outfide 
 thefe walls, while you arc rambling over 
 them, or, perhaps, fighting- with fome 
 fpedre. For my part I have no curiofity 
 to traverfe rooms, mildewed and hung with 
 cobwebs, and the wind whiftling at every 
 window. It would be much better to be 
 in an old wine cellar, for there we fhould 
 have all thefe, andfoniething to chearus." 
 
 '' But the lady. Gallon. — You would not 
 want any other to chear you/' 
 
 " There are times and feafons, your 
 Honor, for all things; my time is paft; 
 your's is paffing ; but I doubt whether you 
 pafs any of it in company of that lady, as 
 you call her, this night." 
 
 " None but the brave deferve the fair/' 
 faid I ; ''and furely after coming all the way 
 from fort Dajos, we will never go back to 
 fay we arrived at the walls of the caftle and 
 feared to enter: for my part, I will not 
 
 retreat
 
 207 
 
 refvcat till I fee fome more formidabre 
 opponent than the ihadow of a woman." 
 
 Gafton made no reply — leading the way 
 till we came oppofite one corner of the 
 wall. 
 
 *^ Faith and truth, your Honor/' faid he^ 
 paufmg and refting on his fword, ^'Here 
 ufed to be a large opening^but it is mended 
 up like the door. — I doubt whether we 
 iind any entrance at all. It flrikes me that 
 the fhepherds or fome of the woodmen 
 have built up the wall, to prevent flrangei*s 
 fromfufFering for their curiofity." 
 
 I thought this not unlikely, and we con- 
 tinued to follow what had once been the 
 path, but was now overfpread with the 
 branches of creeping fhrul^s. No chafm 
 in the wall appeared, and I began to have 
 fome apprehenfions, not lefs alarming 
 than thofe arifing from fupernatural caufes. 
 I compared the manners of Filelfo, with 
 the fecurity of this place, fo v/ell adapted 
 to banditti. All my fufpicions of his cha- 
 ra6ier and defigns^ recurred frefh to my 
 
 memory.
 
 2QS 
 
 memorr, and I begr^n to apprehend that 
 the caftle of St. Hehna was indeed haunted^ 
 but with fpirits more terrible to man^ 
 than all that roam iiivifible through the 
 earth or the air. 
 
 Gafton condu61ed me carefully round 
 the w^all towards the principal gates. 
 " There, at leafl/'faid he, " you will find 
 room enough to enter. One of the old 
 iiiafTy gates had been (in my youth) fo 
 long on the ground, that the grafs was 
 more than half grown over it : the other 
 fwung by one hinge, and, no doubt, has 
 long fince dropt to pieces." 
 
 ''I ^vonder," laid I^ " Gafton, that you^ 
 never ventured into the caitle." 
 
 "Why, your Honor,'' replied he, ''I 
 mufl own I never did. I have been v/ithin 
 this outer wall, a]xl 'vvalkcd over the yards 
 and gardens, and vvhat they call the inner 
 court. They v/ere all covered with long 
 grafs and weeds, and the garden was over- 
 grown with thiiiles and nettles — theflirubs 
 and flowers grew wild : it was a defolate 
 
 fight
 
 209 
 
 fight to fee : and then the ruinated towers 
 and tottering v, alls^ that feemed as if they 
 Avere going to fall upon you. I remem- 
 ber we boys uied fometimes to pelt thxs 
 v,indo\vs, but there was no OGcafion for 
 that to make it look difmal. I could almoll 
 fancy that I hear fomebody groaning at 
 this moment^ within that dark looking 
 tower." 
 
 '' You will put us both in the vapoui*s/' 
 faid I. ^' The evening comes on a-pace, 
 for we have loll the fun behind the moun- 
 tains." Having forced our way among the 
 entangled boughs^ which in ibme places 
 were almoil impenetrable^ we reached 
 what had been the grand entrance, but we 
 found the wall made good, apparently 
 newer than t\\c reil. 
 
 Here v.q paufed to refle6l on this unex.- 
 pcclcd difappointment, and Gallon v;ith 
 no little fatisfaciion took liold of it to rc- 
 rcquell again that I would at leaf! defer 
 till morning, my refolution of exploring 
 
 the
 
 210 
 
 the building, which it was not poffible now 
 to feCj evcnifwe were within the walls. 
 
 Icouldnot but admit the juftners of his 
 rcafons, but at the lame time I wiflied 
 earncftly to iatisfy my curioiity^ which the 
 fingular incident of the lady not a little 
 increared. I therefore propofed that after 
 we had entirely gone round the buildings, 
 if I faw no opening by which we could 
 eafily enter, I would poftpone it till the 
 morning, intending then to fcale the v/alls. 
 
 The increafing darknefs, which the thick 
 foliage augmented/ obliged us to quicken 
 our Heps, and ^ve foon reached the foutheni 
 fide facing the ruined part of the caftle : 
 the winding of the river here running over 
 a bed of broken rocks/ prevented our pro- 
 ceeding, the v;all continuing down to the 
 edge of the water, and being now fatisfied 
 our attempts further would be ufelefs for 
 that night, I propofed in my own mind 
 to endea^ our to gain the cottage of Filelfo, 
 which though a wretched place, was pre- 
 fera])Ie to remaining in the heavy dews 
 
 which
 
 1211 
 
 xvhic li dropped from the trees. I had alfo 
 net forgot the cheft which I had fecn in 
 the lof t^ and whofe contents appeared to 
 me very fufpicious. 
 
 In about a hundred yards^ we entered a 
 narrow path, on one fide of w^hich ran a 
 floping bank, not a little convenient for the 
 purpofe ofrefting, andGafton very quickly 
 remembered, that v/e had been travelling 
 ilnce noon, without halting, and now Hood 
 in need of refrefliment. 
 
 I could not refufe his requeft; and the 
 more fo as I found myfelf inclined to par- 
 take of our flores, and we fat down upon 
 the bank fpread with mofs and wild flraw- 
 berries. 
 
 '' This is admirably romantic,'* faid I, 
 " Have you any tafte for the fublime ?" 
 
 '•' I do not know that I ever tafted it in 
 my life," replied he. ^'^ I like a good piece 
 of mutton and a glafs of Madcii*a, much 
 better than mofi of the made d; flies fcned 
 up at the tables of Grandees." 
 
 '-' You
 
 2 1-2 
 
 " Yon miftake me, friend/' faid I, laiigl* 
 ing. " I mean have you any relifh for the 
 clianns of fuch a place as this^ where a dull 
 and impenetrable obfcurity creeps amor^g 
 the trees, Vvhere the path is fcarce vifible, 
 and may lead to the ecige of a precipice, 
 where, if it was lights we might perhaps fee 
 a turret of the caftle crowned with wild 
 flowers, and where we are every moment, 
 for what we can teW, expofed to the attacks 
 of robbers." 
 
 ^aieaven forbid!" cried Gaflon. ''I 
 never had a taiie for any fuch a fituation-; 
 though in the courfe of my profeffion, no 
 man can fay I was ever a coward, and per- 
 haps fome mothers and widovvs may have 
 wept for i\\Q ftrength of my arm. — Hufli ! 
 your Honor ; did not you hear a foc-t 
 fall.^" 
 
 ^' No," anfv/ered I, in a low voice. 
 '' Don't let your apprehenfions furprize 
 you." 
 
 GafiOn made no reply ; but bending his 
 ear to the path, he lifLcned for half a 
 
 minute.
 
 213 
 
 minute. '^ Somebody is coming this way/' 
 laid he. ^' There is only one^ lo if it 
 lliould prove a robber^ v/e need only ftand 
 upon our guard." 
 
 He then refumed his feat^ placing his 
 fwm*d ready befide him. I was not under 
 any apprehenfion at this intelligence^ for 
 ^ve were well armed. It vras not many 
 minutes before I found that he had guefTed 
 wclb plainly diftinguiiliing fteps, which in 
 the filence of this forefi:^ founded to a con- 
 iiderable diftance. 
 
 It was not long before I perceived a man 
 approaching, though the furrounding 
 fliades did not permit me to diftinguifh his 
 features clearly. He was tall^ and as he 
 came nearer^ I fuppofed him to be a wood- 
 man by hisdrefs, and an axe he carried over 
 his fhoulder. 
 
 He quickly perceived us ^nd immedi- 
 ately turned round to retreat. '' What^ 
 my old friend, Filelfo/' cried I, '' have you 
 forgot your gueft ? We want your afTift- 
 
 ancc
 
 214 
 
 ance to another night's lodghig. How h 
 dame Sylvia?" 
 
 At thele words he turned round, and 
 came cautioufly up to us. I then perceived 
 it w^as not Filelfo, but a llranger. 
 
 ^' Cavalier/' faid he, " did you inquire 
 for Filelfo ? are you acquainted with him ?" 
 
 ^' Perfectly well/' replied I; '' he was 
 once my holt, and we are now^ g^i"g" to 
 lookout for his cottage."' 
 
 '' It is fome diftance hence," anfwered 
 he, '' but if you often a ifit him, you doubt- 
 lefs know where it ftands. I Aviih you fafe 
 there." 
 
 At thefe words, he W'as retiring, but I 
 called to him to fiay. ''Sit down, friend, 
 and tafte our wine," faid I. "■ You will befo 
 good as dire6l us to his cottage, or per- 
 haps give us fhelter in your own." 
 
 '' Ye myftic powers," faid he, folemnly 
 looking up, ''what cottage have I .^" Then 
 turning to us : " Strangers, I will diret?l 
 vou, if you chufe, to his cottage.— By 
 what means did you lofe vcur way ? " 
 
 •To
 
 215 
 
 *' To fay truths I am unacquainted with 
 the valley. This is the fecond time of my 
 vifiting it." 
 
 '• You have bufinefs of feme importance 
 here, no doubt/' faid he, ^yi^g i^ie as I 
 could perceive through the dufl:y light. 
 
 *' I have bufmefs, but it is onlv the bufi- 
 nefs of curiofity and doubt ; I came pur- 
 pofcly to explore the Caiile cf St. Ilelma^, 
 I hear fome very ftrange reports concern- 
 ins: i^:> aii^ 1 have come hither to be fatis- 
 fied.'* 
 
 " And you have chofen Filelfo for your 
 guide .'' 
 
 ''No, no/' cried L ''I fhall not be able 
 to prevail on Fiielfo, to fuch an under- 
 taking-, he %vould have frightened me from 
 it, if I would have attended to fome horri- 
 ble ftory he was full of, concerning the 
 Old Man of the Caiile, ^vho, he faid, 
 haunted the ruins, and roamed through the 
 foreft. But I am not to be frightened by 
 fuch idle talcs." 
 
 ••' Filelfo
 
 216 
 
 ^^Filelfo told you truth," faid he, in a fo- 
 Icmn tone of voice. ^^ No man that ever 
 Entered tkofc defohte walls returned to fay 
 he had feen the-6ld Man of the Cafile." 
 
 " Do you live in this foreil," faid I. '' I 
 am not defirous of troubling Filelfo, for 
 you doubtlefs know he is not very hofpi- 
 table/' 
 
 '' He had his reafons/' replied the 
 ftranger. '^I cannot oiTer vcu fliclter, for 
 before the day breaks I have many leagues 
 to 10." 
 
 ^'Leagues/' repeated I in fiirprize, "are 
 you going to walk all night over thefe wilds 
 and forefts." 
 
 ^^ Not to-night^ but many nights; yet 
 ])efore I go my defdned journey^ let me 
 caution you not to approach the Caftle of 
 St. Helma." 
 
 I was inflamed by the my fiery of thefe 
 fpeeches. '' Your advice/' faid I, '' is too 
 late^ and your words only excite in me a 
 firmer refolution. If it coft me my life^, I 
 fvvear by all the Saints I am refolved to 
 venture." He
 
 
 'X 
 
 / 
 He raifed his hand for a m6inent to his 
 
 forehead. '' Rafa mortal/' fald he, '' you 
 r.re ignorant of the danger you tempt. 
 Your oath has bound you ; you are en- 
 gaged to adyance. This is not the path to 
 the Caftle, this will lead you to the riyer." 
 
 *'' You know then which it is !" cried I, 
 eagerly, "^ Point me to it, and I will giye 
 -you any reward you require."— 
 
 '' To-morrow," faid he, with a groan^ 
 '' we will talk of that. What is your name ? " 
 
 I replied, that my name wtis Lorenzo 
 de Ferara, that I wtiS commander of Fort 
 Dajos, and if in his traycls he eyer came 
 there, I ihould make him welcome. 
 
 " I accept the inyitation, ' faid he ; '' let 
 us be gone; the night advances rapidly, 
 and before morning I mull be at Rome." 
 
 He turned round abrubtly, beginning to 
 walk forward. Gafton had fcarce time to 
 put the remains of ourrepaft into his wal- 
 let and run after us, for imperceptibly this 
 Itranger walked at an amazing pace, which 
 required fome exertion to follow. It was 
 
 ^ now
 
 now fo dark that obje6>s were become of 
 one fliade. The ft ranger moved rapidly on, 
 and Gafton^ panting for breath, took hold 
 <)r my arm, whifpering at the fame time, 
 Tor heaven's fake, your Honor, did he 
 not fay he was going to Rome ? don't fol- 
 low him any more; either he is mad, or 
 this is the very " 
 
 Gaftonwas immediately filenced by our 
 guide turning round. *' As the hour draws 
 near to midnight," faid he, ^'when the 
 three-quarter chime is founded by the 
 Cafde dial at Madrid, you will perceive a 
 glimmering l^lue flame creep along the bat- 
 tlements of the remaining towers ; at that 
 time all the gates and doers of the Caftle 
 are open ; you may then, and then only 
 find entrance, but I warn you to fhun the 
 danger you provoke: When the clock 
 ftrikcs twelve, remember me !'' 
 
 '' And how do you know all this ?" de- 
 manded I. 
 
 " To-morrow,'' faid he, folemnly, " To- 
 lliorrowyou will not a(k me that queftion. 
 
 Look
 
 219 
 
 Look i'ound, there is your path to the left." 
 Gafton, as well as myfelf, turned our 
 heads at this intimation; but when we again 
 looked round, our inftru6lor w^as gone, and 
 we ftood aghaft in mutual and filent afto- 
 nifliment. 
 
 '' Did I not w\irn your Honor/' faid 
 Gafton, in a tremulous voice; '' I thought 
 there was fomething flrange about him/' 
 
 Here he paufed and hefitated, at the fame 
 time looking round him, though no object 
 could be dirtin6lly fcen. ''I fay, I ihould 
 not wonder if this were the very fpirit 
 which wanders about, and takes up his 
 abode in this fepulchral Caftle/' 
 
 " It is not impoffible," replied I ; " his 
 difappcaringin this manner, was fomething 
 inexplicable/' 
 
 ** Yes, your Honor; and then did not you 
 remark in what a ftrange voice he fame- 
 times f^oke, and when he talked of travel- 
 ling to Rome in a few hours, and of wan- 
 dering leagues in a night over the fe wilds, 
 L 2 . where
 
 220 
 
 where no living foul durfl venture ; and of 
 •hearing in the mountains of Afturia the Ca- 
 thedral clock of Madrid ? I'm fure it made 
 my blood run chilly though I know not 
 why/' 
 
 " Wlle^ well^ my friend/' faid \, laying 
 my hand on his fnoulderto encourage him. 
 '' You mult perceive that fome very im- 
 portant myftery is concealed beneath thcfe 
 circumftan ces, and that myflery I have 
 fworn to know, notwithftanding his denun- 
 ciations. I grant it is pofiible; hirn we 
 have nov/ feen may be v^z reftlefs fpirit of 
 the Old Man of the Caftle ; but then who 
 was the Lady. Did ycu ever hear of one 
 Caftle being haunted by two fpirits at a 
 time V 
 
 Gaflon laughed at the idea, but made ufe 
 of ail his rhetoric to prevent my going for- 
 ward. Being hov/ever determined that 
 nothing fhort of impaffabie force fliouid 
 prevent me, I ftruck down the path, cau- 
 liouily tracing my way/ and was reluc- 
 tantly
 
 091 
 
 fnntly followed by Gaflon ; who, though I 
 did not put him upon his duty, confidered 
 himielf bound by the laws of honour to 
 accompany me. 
 
 1^ S CHAP.
 
 S22 
 
 CHAP. V 
 
 rT^ 
 
 HE path perpetually \voiind in diflerent: 
 intricate (lire61ions^ as if contrived to 
 miilead the judgment, and I was in doubt 
 v/hether we were not leaving the Caille al- 
 together; when w^e came at once upon a 
 poflern gate, which on trial, I found 
 firon giy barred ; and had it been day, the 
 \valls were too high to be fcaled without a 
 ladder. 
 
 Gafton fat dowaupon the grafs. ''^This 
 is a llrange bufincfs I have been tliiaking," 
 faid he. '' If I might take the liberty, I 
 fiiould fay, that I do think it is not our 
 place to pry into myfteries that do not 
 concern us. It is for Priefls to combat 
 jrholls, and for Soldiei^ to war with men." 
 
 '- II
 
 22o 
 
 ** It is not my intciilion to deprive you 
 ©ryouro\v.n diicretioii," i'aid I. ''I took 
 you only to guide rne o\ er the mountains^ 
 and I am fatisfied with your fervices. I do 
 not defire you to accompany me beyond 
 this ipotj where you may reft yourlelf from 
 the fatigues of the day." 
 
 *^^What/' cried he, ''while you are ex- 
 ploring tlie Caftle alone, and perhaps 
 breaking your neck down fome fliatterecL 
 ftair-cafe in the dark ; it would be a very 
 pretty tale to return ^\^iih to Dajos. No, fince 
 nothing can change your mind, I will not 
 fit idly here. Old as 1 am, and a little v> orfe 
 for v/ear, I remember the time when I 
 fnould have been as refolute as yourfelf : I 
 have but a few years to live at any rate, 
 and I may.asv/ell end my days in this caf- 
 tle as any where elfe. Ah ! your Honor, 
 There ! there !-— Do you fee the flame ?'* 
 
 ''Yes, Gafton," replied J, 'M do; it 
 
 moves flowly along the turret. It is a faint 
 
 and iickly flame, like the ignited vapours of 
 
 L 4 night.
 
 ^24 
 
 pghl^ or like the fiaiiie I once follo^vcd in 
 this verv foreft." 
 
 '^ You did follow then/' laid Gafton, 
 *"' and ^vherc did it go V 
 
 '' I kiiov/ not — It was either extingiiifli- 
 cd or var.iihed, for I loft it when I thought 
 I ^vasjuft upon it.'' 
 
 ^^ Ah 1 Maftcr/' h\d Gallon, with a flifled 
 figh : *'' But no matter^ \^t us go.** 
 
 At thsfe W'ords we arofe. We ftood 
 gazing upon the lights which moved flowly 
 along the moulding of gothic fretwork, 
 ^vhich jetted a little beyond the walls, 
 running round the building, about a yard 
 below the battlemeuis, and much too nar- 
 row for any human beins; to ftand upon. 
 
 " Mercy upon us," faid Gaftoji, in a whif- 
 per ; " Do you not feel an odd fenfation 
 creep over ) ou. Ha ! there, — the light 
 fi:ands ftill/' In a few moments the gale 
 flew c5pen v> ith a harfh found, arid a lecrct 
 Ihudder ran through my frame. 
 
 I advanced, followed by Gafton, into the 
 court-yard, which was covered with thifiles 
 
 and
 
 225 
 
 and mat ted grafs . It was too dark, parti cularty 
 to diftinguifli the ravages of time upon the 
 building, though we could perceive through 
 the windows in fronts the oppofite fl:y, 
 the roof in that part having wholly fallen in. 
 At this hour of the night I had no inclina- 
 tion to trace the outlines of the Caftle, 
 Avhich was a large hollow fquare, with an- 
 gular towers ; one half of the building was 
 fallen into ruins, and the principal gate 
 was choaked up by a large heap of Itoncs. 
 
 I muft confefs, that I feemed as if under 
 a momentary refpite at this repulfe. The 
 Angularity of the moving flame, and the 
 fudden opening of the outer gate had in 
 fpired me with awe and no little appre- 
 henfion, it being impoffible longer to with- 
 hold belief from the tales I had fo repeat- 
 edly heard. 
 
 '•We will wait in this vard till mornin<j/' 
 i'aid I. '' It is fomething to make an en- 
 trance ; I begin to think, that if we were, 
 to enter fuch a mouldering fabric as tin's, 
 ^ ^ without.
 
 TIG 
 
 mth-our light, we might fall through fome- 
 fracliire in the flooring/' 
 
 " I do not think we fliall v;ant h^ht, 
 your Honor/' replied Gallon, coming 
 dole to me. '' If I miftake not, the flame 
 has quitted the battlements, and now burns- 
 at the bottom of the fouth tower." 
 
 I looked where he pointed, and perceiv- 
 ed that the light fhone from a little door at 
 the foot of the tower, and looking up, the 
 battlements were left in cloudy darknefs. 
 
 '' Let us accept this fignal," cried I, ad- 
 vancing; ^'^'Tis now too late to retreat.'* 
 
 Gafton made no reply, and keeping 
 dofe behind me, we advanced to the door 
 whence the light had fhone, but it was 
 now advanced partly up the winding flaii-s 
 of this tower^ and while we could not fee 
 the body of the flame, its rays in the turn- 
 ing of the fleps cafl a gloomy light, which 
 fullered us to difcern the way, moving for— 
 w^ard when we advanced, and flopping 
 when we paufed to liften ; and could I have 
 diftinguifhed fteps, I Ihould have been cer- 
 tain
 
 227 
 
 tain fome perfon preceded us. Umvilling 
 to be feen, we followed the uncertain light 
 to the fiill landing, where an antique lamp 
 burnt upon the ground. 
 
 Here we pauied to look round us 
 jji doubt. A dreadful fdence reigned 
 through the building, and the furrounding 
 gloom fpread its fadnefs over our fpirits. 
 We looked at each other in filence^ but 
 Gallon did not make any motion to retreat, 
 and I would not now fhew, by outward fear, 
 that I repented my ralhnefs. 
 
 I raifed the lamp from the ground, and 
 following a narro^v pafTage which branched 
 to the right, between two walls, after two 
 or three turnings, we reached a door, 
 which anfwered the information we had 
 iceceived, that all the doors in the caftle, 
 at this folemn hour, would be open. 
 
 '' But, your Honor," faid Gallon, " he 
 did not tell us when they would fhut; 'tis 
 ten to one but we (hall be caught, though 
 all appears fo inviting at prefent." 
 
 ^' Peace,
 
 22B 
 
 •'' Peace, Gafton/' faid I, ''l^i us not 
 alarm any flumberiiig fpirit." 
 
 ''Do fpirits f.eep, then ?" returned 
 Gafton, in a low voice, as ^ve paifed into a 
 chamber, lurrounded by ftone avails, and of 
 connderable e?vtent. '' I know not, in- 
 deed," faid I, '' whether they ficep or no. 
 Lit I mean fpirits that yet inhabit earthly 
 bcdic ^ :s not clear to me that thofe 
 who haunt this caftle are immaterial." I 
 raifed the lamp to throw light upon the 
 furrounding obfciu'ity, and at that moment 
 the door we had juft entered, jarred to, 
 ■with a violence that ihook the w^hole fabric, 
 echoing lor feveral mom.ents along the 
 chambers, in fearful founds. 
 
 I fliuddered at this ftrange incident, and 
 Gafion uttered a deep groan, unable other- 
 wife to exprefs his fears. Convinced that 
 no human pojver, unaided by fupernatural 
 agency, could have eflre61:ed this, I ftood 
 confounded, till the echoes died away, and 
 all a<ruin fettled into the dccpeft ilillnefs. 
 
 No
 
 229 
 
 No footftep was diftingiiifhable, except 
 cur own^ as we cautioufly advanced to- 
 wards an oppofite dcor which ftocd open, 
 inviting our entrance. A flight of ftairs, 
 dcfc ending to the ground-fiocr of the 
 body of the cafJe, prefented themfelves, 
 and we began to dcfcend, paufing about 
 half way, in expe61ation that the door 
 above r.s would be clofed bci-ind us, but 
 Me were deceived ; and having reached the 
 ground-floor, we proceeded along a paf- 
 iage, ^vhich our lamp but fainth/ ferved to 
 iilumiRe, its rays not penetrating to the 
 fiir'iher end. 
 
 '' I thought I heard a groan,'' laid I, to 
 Gafton : '' heard you any found ?" 
 
 " No,'' replied he,, liftening. '^How 
 many hours does it want yet till morning ? 
 Ha ! •Ma{iro,.what is that ?" 
 
 " Where," faid I,, turning liound quicldy. 
 '' O it is nothiiioj but vour fhadov/," faid 
 he, ''I miftook it again! t the wall forfome- 
 thing elfe, every part of this foiitarv place 
 chiljs me with apprehenfioii. '
 
 5230 
 
 Twas not without partaking in thefe rears> 
 but it was now impofllble to return if 1 
 would. What I molt dreaded w^as the ex- 
 tin 6 Hon of our lights being aim oft per- 
 fiiaded that it burnt by magic power, and 
 w^ould fail us when it had ferved to con- 
 ducl us to fome dangerous place. 
 
 Another door ftood open before us, and 
 proceeding ilowly on, we entered a room^ 
 where were fome remains of furniture of 
 ancient form, damp with mildew, and 
 dropping in pieces with age. 
 
 '' Let us now try an experiment, my 
 friend/' faid I, *' help me to move this old. 
 piece of lumber, which I fuppofe has been, 
 a fopha, into the door-way, we will fee if 
 inv in ble hands will remove it, or if it will 
 not prevent this door clofnig upon us.'* 
 
 ''Aye, your Honor," faidGafton, '"^ that 
 is ^vell thought on ; fet the lamp on the 
 ground, if you pleafe^, or it will be too 
 much for our ftrength. The people of 
 x3id times ufed to love furniture that might 
 ftand as long as the ilone wali^; of their 
 dwelling.'' 1
 
 231 
 
 r placed the lamp upon the ground, and 
 with fome diiTiculty we removed this old: 
 piece of lumber^ and placed it againit the 
 door. 
 
 '* That is what I call fecuring a retreat/* 
 cried Gafton, exulting. '' The old Duke 
 of Caftile ufed to fay^ a good retreat was 
 often of more moment than a partial vic- 
 tory. I wifh we could make his words 
 ti'ue in the prefent inftance.'' 
 
 '' Never fear /' replied I. " If the old 
 Duke never advanced he could never 
 retreat. We will try his maxim when we 
 can go no further. I begin to like the 
 adventure/' 
 
 *^ That is more than I can fay;" replied 
 he fhrugging up his flioulders ; and could. 
 I at that folemn moment have fmiled at any 
 thing, it would have been at his grotefque 
 appeaiTince, by the light which faintly 
 burnt upon the floor. 
 
 I (looped to take np the lamp, which by 
 the weaknefs of its flame, created in me no 
 fmall fear that it was expiring. The folemn 
 
 found
 
 2o2 
 
 ibiinJ of a bell ftriking at tedious uitervals^ 
 broke upon the filcnce ; e\ eiy tone vibra- 
 tlng through my nerves; and ^vhen it 
 ftruck thetwelfth time;,the lamp glimmered^ 
 fiaflied up for a moment^ and died away ! 
 
 I Ihuddered at this accident^ and remem- 
 bered that the ftranger had bade me think 
 of him ^vhen J heard the laft hour of night. 
 Strange and myftericus being, thought I, 
 what can this portend. What prodigy 
 next am I to witnefs ? 
 
 Poor Gafton began to repeat his prayers 
 v;ith as much fervor as if he had been at 
 the point of death. '' Heaven have mercy 
 on us ! Gracious and ever-lcving Saints, 
 and bleiTed Martyrs/' cried he, his teeth 
 ftriking each other with fear, '/prote61 us 
 this once — but this . once — from the Old 
 Man of the Caftle, and if I ever come 
 again witliin his territories " 
 
 "What nonfcnfe a.e you uttering?" 
 cried I. '' Did not I chufe you out of a 
 whole garrifon for your courage.'^ — Do 
 you ftand muttering in that manner when
 
 233 
 
 vou are Co charge the enemy ? — Do iiof 
 YOU perceive the reflection of fome lighi: 
 nt the farther end of the room ?" 
 
 '' I ihould not wonder/' replied he, " if 
 it was the very lamp your Honor was juil 
 now carrying, which has made a march in 
 the dark, and now is ready trimmed and 
 lighted, to lead us into a more difmal fitu- 
 tion, if that can be found." 
 
 I fn-iiied at this remark, moving 
 towards the light, till I diicovered tliat it 
 entered from an inner chamber, the door 
 of which, like all we had hitherto paffed, 
 remained open ; though this was but 
 partly fo, I puflied it back, and we entered 
 a chamber, the fight of which caufed us to 
 paufe in new aftoniOiment. 
 
 It was wainfcotcd round with, plain 
 wood, painted black: the roof and the- 
 floor were of the fame colour : — four ta- 
 pers, of black wax, in black candieflicks, 
 burnt upon a fmall fquare table, in the 
 centre of this room, upon which was placed 
 fome drv fruit and wine,
 
 ^34 
 
 This WHS a reception \\e Had had no 
 reaion to expect from the invifible owner 
 of the CaiHe^ and we moved towards the 
 table^ without thinking to take the fame 
 pvecaiuion with this door as we had done 
 v;ith the outer one^ and it was inilantly. 
 jarred toOj and bolted on the oiitude with 
 a violent noife.. 
 
 All our apprehenfions were inereafed^ 
 at this new circumftance, which convinced 
 us beyond doubts that svhoever it was that 
 overlooked iis^ all our fteps had been cb- 
 ferved, and now. we ^vere entirely cut off 
 from the hope of retreat^ there being not 
 the fmallefl appearance of a door in the 
 black wainfcot around us. 
 
 ''Holy Saints!" exclaimed Gaflon, 
 ^^ what is the matter with your Honor^ — 
 are you ill ?" 
 
 " That is a firange queftionj" replied I, 
 not well pleated that he fiionld then notice 
 thepalenefs of my countenance: but look- 
 ing at him with lome little difpleafure,. 
 I was flartled to perceive that his face was 
 
 changed
 
 2:35 
 
 ciniiged into a livid colour, and that his 
 lips were faded like thofe of a coi'pfe. 
 
 " Good God, Gallon/' cried I, **' what is 
 the matter ?• you are extremely ill/' 
 
 '' I know not/' faid he, gazing round 
 him with a ftare of horror ; '' the lights 
 burn blue ! Your Honor is certainly at 
 the point ofdeath, or lome fpeli has liaileii 
 upon you.' 
 
 " Tis ili*ange/' cried I. '' You appear 
 to me as if you were dying, and your 
 colour is already faded, and poiTibly I ap- 
 pear the fame to you. — Yet I do not feel 
 myfelf any w^ay atfe61ed. It mull be fome 
 charm that acls upon us, and has perplexed 
 our fight. Sit down, my friend, and if I 
 tiiought we might eat without danger, 
 here is a little repaft ready fet out for us.'' 
 
 '' Not for the world — not for the world : 
 I would not touch a morcel," cried he. 
 " Depend on it, 'tis let there for no good. 
 This chamber- looks as if drelied for a 
 funeral, and m.oft likely thefe provifions 
 arc intended to delcroy u^." 
 
 Xhh
 
 £36 
 
 This concliifjon appera-cd but too pro- 
 bable; and I glanced my eye o^er the 
 chamber, vvhich was moiirnfiil in extreme. 
 Two chairs ftood on each Me of the table, 
 made of black wood, and of a fingular 
 form : all that we looked upon was black. 
 From the roof hung a large iron chain^ 
 reaching within two feet of the table ; and 
 when I remembered what Filelfo had told 
 me, — Doubtlefs, thought I, this chamber 
 is the place where the Old Man performed 
 his incantations; and what we now beholc! 
 are pofTibly the remaining effects of Im 
 diabolical art. When I glanced my eye 
 iipQn the terrific countenance of Gaflon, 
 w^ho needed nothing to have heightened 
 the fear that was painted upon his face, a 
 ftidden ficknefs feized me, and I could 
 fcarcely fland. 
 
 I motioned to Gallon to fit down in 
 one of the chairs, whiilt I did the fame in 
 anotlier. He obeyed me in filence, for we 
 were mutually incapable of fpeech. We 
 •■''■- -arcclv feated, when I obferved the
 
 237 
 
 Tliain which hung over the table to be 
 powerfully agitated; and I attempted to 
 Hart np, but found that I was fixed in my 
 feat by fome fecret fprings which clafped 
 over me. Gaflon uttered a loud fcream of 
 horror, when he found himfelf confined in 
 the fame manner; and clcfing his eyes^ 
 lay as if already dead. 
 
 The clanking of chains fcundcd from 
 beneath the floor; and I was fpeechlefs 
 \vith horror, v»^ben I perceived him gradu- 
 ally fnik frcm n:y f^ght, ar.d a trap door 
 in a few moments clofe up the chafm. 
 The four tapers died out one after the 
 other^ and I found myfelf left in impene- 
 trable darknefs. 
 
 My agitation was extreme and dreadful, 
 when I found all my efforts in vain to ex- 
 tricate myfelf from the fatal chair in which 
 rfat. 
 
 ]\fy thoughts wTre too confounded to 
 admit of arrangement ;«• and the predomi- 
 nant fenfation, I remeniLber, at that fatal 
 
 hoiir
 
 238 
 
 hour was, that I fliould be difpatched hy 
 feme fee ret ftab in the dark. 
 
 The rattling of chains by degrees fub- 
 fided into filence. I execrated my own 
 folly in exploring myfleries which did not 
 belong to me ; and when I recoil e6^ed the 
 devices which owners of ancient caftles 
 had to gratify their malice upon an enemy, 
 and the tales I had heard, independeiit of 
 fupernatural power, I JDegan to apprehend 
 that I fhould thus remain, liii famine termi- 
 nated my exiitence. 
 
 My fpirits frequently flamed into impo- 
 tent efforts of rage, and I fliook the infer- 
 nal machine which clafped me round with 
 iron hoi's ; but it was beyond the power 
 of man to break them afunder : nor could 
 I move my arms, either to defend myfelf 
 in cafe of attack, or to temiinate my exift- 
 ence, Avhen defpair fhould render life 
 -infuflTerable. 
 
 This frenzy was fuddenly checked by 
 
 the found of the door, which had been fo 
 
 firmly bolted, opening and fhutting rc- 
 
 . . peatedly
 
 239 
 
 peatcdly with violence ; and raifing my 
 eyes, I beheld in the oppofite wall the 
 word Lorenzo in letters of fire. I clofed 
 them at this horrid fight, and expelled that 
 death v/as ftealing into my veins, from the 
 icv chiilnefs which fpread through them. 
 In a fe*v m.oments all was again fileiit — I 
 opc^^ed my eyes, and the infcription was 
 vani/hed. 
 
 Whoever, thought I, after this fhall dif- 
 believe the powers of enchantment, ought 
 for one minute to experience my fltuation. 
 But where will this terminate, and who 
 fhall free me from this miferable confine- 
 ment ? 
 
 The room was impenetrably dark, nor 
 .^as the univerfal ftillnefs internipted by 
 the flighteft found. One o'clock was tolled 
 heavily by the cattle bell ; and while the 
 found ftill vibrated, the door entering the 
 room where I was confined, opened fud- 
 denly, and a faint light ftreamed into the 
 apartment. 
 
 I turned
 
 £40 
 
 I turned my eyes towards it in rearful 
 •expe6lation of fome new phenomenon, 
 and beheld the figure of an old man ad- 
 vancing : his white beard reached nearly 
 to his knees^ and his countenance \Na3 mod 
 fhocking to look upon, and fuch as it is 
 impoffible for mortal to poffefs. He was 
 tall, and moved forward with an air, ferious 
 and majeftic : his robes ^vere black, and 
 trailed upon the ground: on his head he 
 w^ore a black ti era: round his vraift w^^s a 
 ftrong chain, part of which reached to the 
 floor. In his left hand he carried a Limp 
 whofe flame burnt blue ; and in his right 
 a black wand, w^hich he waved in myfteri- 
 ous circles in the air as he approached. 
 
 All my fenfes were wound up to the 
 moil acute agony of expe61ation. I dared 
 not move my eyes from his perfon, and 
 yet I feared to gaze at him. This, thought 
 I, is the Old Man, the magician of the 
 caRle of St. Helma. Is it his wandering 
 fpirit, or the man himfelf who has dif- 
 covered the means of prolonging hurr-in 
 life? . While
 
 V/hiie I made thefe reflections, he ad- 
 \ anced towards the table, where 1 was 
 feated, with his wand pointing to the chain 
 which h'j.ng down from the loof, and then 
 ^t that round his body, by which I judged 
 tliat he had been faftened in that manner, 
 till he had found means to brea:k aw^ay. 
 He prefied his foot firmly upon a plank of 
 the floor, and inftantly I perceived the 
 chain agitated, as it had been before; the 
 fprings recoiled, and I ftarted up at liberty. 
 
 I made a lign of thanks for this favour, 
 and without the fmaUcft motion of a fea- 
 ture, he pronounced in a hollow voice the 
 worxl obei/. He waved his wand in the 
 air, and without moving a ftep, pointed me 
 to a plank in the floor, where I perceived 
 an iron ring, which he motioned me to 
 raife, I looked down with horror upon 
 the darkabyfs that prefented itfelf beneath 
 this trap-door, and in which poor Gafton, 
 had been plunged. I recoiled from it 
 with evident figns of fear. 
 
 VOL. I, ._. This
 
 24£ 
 
 This fingiilar being took no notice of 
 m} clifmay, moving forward to the opening, 
 down which he immediately Hepped, bid- 
 ding me follozo. 
 
 Implicit obedience bent my limbs to 
 comply. I ftepped down upon a narrow 
 ladder, but my foot flipping, I w^as at once 
 precipitated to the bottom. My fenfes, 
 I believe, failed me for a moment, and I 
 found my felf ftruggling to rife, in the arms 
 of my terrible condu6lor. I fhuddei'ed, when 
 I perceived that his arms were around me ; 
 the lamp ftill burned at a little diftance, 
 ^vhere it had fallen, by my tumbling upon 
 my condu61;or:who lay beneath me ; but I 
 fhoiild have permitted him to rife, had I 
 not been convinced by the warmth of his 
 body that my fenfes had been impofed 
 upon. 
 
 I ftarted up, entangling him in his chain 
 and robes, vowing inflantly to difpatch 
 him if he cried our or refifled. 
 
 *^' Rafh mortal," cried he, ^'ceafc this 
 violence, allow me to rife/' 
 
 ^' Not
 
 245 
 
 ^^ Not till you fwear/'' replied I, '* that 
 you will condu6t me and my companion 
 lafe from this place^ and explain to me the 
 illufions to which we have been victims. 
 If you attempt any outrage^ I will immedi- 
 q^tely plunge my fword into your heart/' 
 
 ''' Your companion," replied he, *^ is al- 
 ready fafe from the w^alls : if you will follow 
 me through thefe fubterraneous paffages, 
 which he has gone before, I will lead you 
 immediately where he is w^aiting for you, 
 by my command/' 
 
 '' No," replied I, '' I have already paid 
 for exploiing this building; you muft lead 
 me through the upper rooms. You muft 
 comply wilh my requeft/' 
 
 He made a motion with his hand as he 
 arofe. I was again fhocked with his livid 
 afpeQ, and almoft doubted my fenfes. I 
 took the lamp, and faidtered out my com- 
 mand for him to lead the way ; but if he 
 had refifted, I doubt whether I Ihould have 
 had power to ufe violence 
 
 M 2 He
 
 He proceeded before me into the black 
 diamber the door of which he locked be- 
 hind iis^ taking away the key ; he led the 
 vv^ay into a fmall room very poorly fur- 
 iiiflied, on the firfl floor of the Caltlc. 
 
 Here he flopped^ and turning round, he 
 iinfallened a malic which he w^ore, and 
 which hadfo much terrified me; and I be- 
 held the features of the woodman I had 
 feen the preceding evening, through the 
 cloom of-twilidit. 
 
 '' You are a bold man, Cavalier Lo- 
 renzo/' faid he, '' I bid you welcome to 
 my Caftle. Good God, is your name Lo- 
 renzo ?'* 
 
 I WTiS very much furprifed at tliis quef- 
 ticn, v/hich he made with a ftrange altera- 
 tion- of voice and feature. He turned away 
 to coiiceal his confufion, lighting a lamp 
 which ilood by, and extinguifhing the one 
 he had held, ^vhofe flame burnt blue, and 
 caft fo falfe a tint upon objc61s ; again he 
 turned round, and overcoming his confu- 
 fion : '' What I mean/' faid he^ '' is, if you 
 
 are
 
 245 
 
 are a man of honor, I may depend on } our 
 keeping my fecret.'* 
 
 '' I know not/' replied I^ " whether ho- 
 nor does not urge me to the contrary. It 
 mull be a fecret of more than common 
 import, that can teach you to pra61:ice fo 
 many and fo fcrange deceptions. It muft 
 be a fecret of fingular myflery that can re- 
 tain you in this folitary fituation, where 
 you live in conftant confinement, and if 
 you would have claim upon my honor, if 
 will be by repofmg in my confidence/" 
 
 I muft acknowledge that I w^as charmed 
 with his figure ; though youth was no 
 longer written upon his bro"\v, lie was a 
 man about forty-five, of an animated, af- 
 pe6l, mingled with much dignity; his eye 
 commanded refpecl, and over his features, 
 the paffions which animated his foul^ play- 
 ed as images in a mirror. His fmile pof- 
 feli'cd facination, and his frown infpired fe- 
 cret terror. He was in appearance a man 
 fupcrior to common men, and I was irre- 
 M s fiftibly
 
 4(> 
 
 lifcibly inrpiTcd witli the wiih to gain hi>^ 
 i onfidcnce, and eiifure his friendfliip. 
 
 '* Senor/' faid I, " though I have not 
 much experience in mankind, I have been 
 taught that it is not from exteriors we are 
 to judge. My wifh, my defire at this mo- 
 ment, woidd be to promife you unlimited 
 iecrrcy. Put have not my fenfes been 
 ucccived, and niv reafon deprived of it^^ 
 powers? I-Lr>e I not witnelfed events this 
 \\\g\\t, fuperior to common cauicsr" 
 
 " li the explanation of thefe things yoiL 
 have feen/' faid he, fitting down, and point- 
 ing me to a feat, '' v.ill fatiify you, nothing 
 is more eafy. I am a inan, Lorenzo, who 
 have feen many misfortunes; the gay 
 world has lo/l its charm for jne; I have fled 
 from friends, whonx-felf-interefl only drew 
 round m.e ; from love, the moft baneful 
 of deceits; from courts, poffeiling no fiii- 
 cerity; and from mankind, who prey upon 
 each other/' 
 
 I fighed as he fummed up this fad cata- 
 logue, and raifing my eyes, I read in his. 
 the ei':otions of his heart.
 
 24r 
 
 •'" This CaftTe," faid he/ '' concealed in 
 the dark bofom of a forefl, and that forell 
 buried am idll an amphitheatre of hills, ever 
 capped with clouds, was once the abode of 
 my anceftors, andfeemedthe only place ca- 
 pable of affording to me the obfcurity I had. 
 ehofen. Some tales which you heard, wxre 
 a better defence againft intrufion, than a: 
 wall with battlements, and a garrifon with 
 troops. To thefe reports I gave addition, with 
 wider circulation ; and this forcft, which 
 twenty yeai*s fince, at my firft fettling, con- 
 tained about a dozen cottages, was quickly 
 deferted of its people. One peafant alone 
 remained, whom I retained in my fervice 
 till his death. It was abfolutely neceflary 
 fome one fhould know my fituation that 
 I might provide for a thoufand wants I had 
 imbibed, and having by accident met the 
 woodman, Filelfb, who had fought fhelter 
 in an obfcure and tumbling hovel ; I en- 
 gaged him by confiderable prefents, 
 though I have little delire to repofe much 
 ill his confidence.'' 
 
 M4, ^^You.
 
 248 
 
 * You fay well/'faid I.intermpting him^ 
 '• that man is not to be trufled ; depend on 
 it Senor, you will one day find him a vil- 
 kin/' 
 
 He finiled at the v/armth of my expref- 
 fion, then again his features took their 
 ufual fiamp of ferioufnefs^ and he went on. 
 
 '' I believe that he is without principle^ 
 lait he knows, and. he trembles at my 
 power ; he knows that I can punifli him 
 dreadfully. Yes^, terrible would be his 
 doom.'' 
 
 As he pronounced thefe words in a 
 raifed voice^ I ^e\t a fecret horror creep 
 over me, and I feared to inquire into the 
 nature of this punifnment. 
 
 '' Ho airum^d his ufual lone; '' Lo- 
 rci^izo/*' faid he^ '' you will perceive how 
 eafv it was for me to deceive you and your 
 companion, when your minds wxre fo well 
 ]>repared by preceding events. I followed 
 you in the dark, in this difguife, fo that had 
 \o\.v feen me, I fliould have palled for a 
 fpeclrc. I clofed the doors behind yoiL. 
 
 that
 
 249 
 
 th?A you miglit be under the neceflity of 
 entering that black and. fearful chamber^ 
 where many curious and barbarous engines 
 of toriTire remain, fince the time of igno- 
 rance and barbarity. Your fuvprize at the 
 O.ght of your companion's livid complexion 
 Wcis natural; a chymical compofition in the 
 .tapers^ threw out a falfe light. A much 
 Icfs degree of deception has fufficiently de- 
 terred feveral w^andering perfons^ whom 
 rhance or curiofity have led to this build.- 
 ing ; but my meeting you on the pre- 
 ceding, evenings and the courage you ex- 
 prefTed, notwithftanding the myflery of niy 
 words^ caufed me to believe^ that it w^as not 
 a trifle that would deter your refearches. 
 I aik you to tell me, and to tell me upon 
 honOr^ ifyou have no other. view than to 
 examine the truth, or falfity of report^ or 
 to trace over the antiquities of tliis vaft 
 and ancient pile/* 
 
 lie fixed his penetrating eye. upon me^ 
 while I prepared to reply. 
 
 m; ''Senor,''
 
 '• Senoi%" faid I, "the candor with which 
 you have explained to me, what my realbn 
 ^.voiild long have vainly fearched into^ 
 claims from me an open reply. I will ovrn 
 that the Itories told me by Filelfo^ with in- 
 tention to alarm me^ only excited^ my cii- 
 rioiity. The ftrange founds I heard of the 
 bugle-horn at midnight, at his cottage, 
 and having myfelf followed a light, which 
 tlifappeared when I thought myfelf clofe 
 upon it, roufed my refolution to know the 
 truth.'' 
 
 '■ It w^as I," replied he^ '' that you fol- 
 lowed. It is my cuflom when I vifit Fi^ 
 lelfo, to found the horn, which if I was in 
 danger of difcovery, he would anfwer. The 
 mafic I wear when I vifit him, is this, which 
 you will owai is fufhcient not only to af- 
 fright dame Sylvia if fhe fhould chance to 
 fee me, but to give birth to the moil extra- 
 vagant defcription of any one who may by 
 accident be within view/' 
 
 '' I am fatisfied," replied I. '' I will 
 never more give credence to tales of appa- 
 ritions^
 
 rltions, and ftories ofTpe(51res. I have no 
 doubt but they might all be explained 
 upon inquiry, into much more familiar 
 circumitances than thofe you have jull 
 repeated." 
 
 '^•^ Iknownotthat/'anfwered he. "There 
 muft be fome foundation for the univerfal 
 belief of mankind; there muft even be 
 fome reafon for the very character you 
 have feen me affume. Men are rarely fo 
 inventive as to build a ftory at once.— Give 
 them but a fmgle faft, and that they may 
 fwell into a volume."' 
 
 At thefe words he arofe abruptly, and 
 remarking the hour, inquired whether I 
 would take fuch fhelter as the caftle af- 
 forded for the remainder of the night, or 
 join my companion in the foreft/' 
 
 To be thus difmiifed, was far from my 
 intention. I wilhed much for a more in- 
 timate acquaintance with a man, whofe 
 mode of life was fo eccentric, and whofe 
 manners were fo totally different from the 
 the reH of mankind, 
 
 ^^The
 
 £32 
 
 , '' The Fight of the morniiio-/' faid I, '' h 
 ^ieg■i^ning to mingle ^vith the light oi* 
 } our lamp, and in Icfs than an hour the 
 tops of the hills will be tingled with the 
 beams of the fun. Gafton will wait for 
 me, and I would wiliingly remain fome 
 moments longer in your company. You 
 have given me fufhcient reafon to pro- 
 wAiQ you fecrefy, and I give you my word 
 of honour." 
 
 '' Lorenzo/' faid.he, in a firm and Heady 
 voice,,/' your courage has gained my re- 
 fpecl.rmd your words command my efteem. 
 I could eaiily confide in your promife, 
 and I doubt not it would bind you. In- 
 deed, the only ill confequence I have to 
 i-ear is the intrudon of many perfons who 
 now believe me dead. I came hither to 
 live for myfelf, and no longer to be the 
 Have of impertinence and folly. My mode 
 of life is not a crime, that I fhould fear the 
 laws* and my power in the world w^ould 
 pi'ote^l me from • injury. But I wifh not. 
 to be under the neceffity o^ exerting, that 
 
 power;
 
 £53 
 
 power^ andrepulfiiig the intrufion of thofe 
 I am determined not to fee. You may 
 thinks perhsps^ that my head is fomewhat 
 deranged ; I know not but it is^ and this 
 foiitude iDcft befits the temper of my mind. 
 Willvou obiioe me? Will you take a fo- 
 lemn oath, not even to mention to vour 
 attendant, the difcovery vou have made." 
 
 '' You conilrain me," replied I, " to any 
 thing you d'nmand ; but if I fwear, I expe61 
 
 to be more than half a confident 1 ex- 
 
 pecl— " 
 
 "'What!'' cried he changing counte- 
 nance. '* What do you expect V 
 
 I remarked the fudden alteration of Im 
 manner, and though my thoughts ran 
 forward lo inquiry alter the beautiful girl 
 I had icep. the preceding evenings and 
 traced to tbefe walls, I refrained, from a 
 fort of referve on my part, which Teemed 
 to ^vhifper the impropriety of the queflion; 
 and repl) ing, I informed Sim, that I ex- 
 pe6\ed he would indulge me with a view 
 
 of
 
 254 
 
 of the Interior of the caftle, and inform 
 me bv what name I flioiikl addrefs him. 
 
 ''The name by which I am known/' 
 replied he^ '' is Don Raphael. If you 
 follow me^ I will lead you to the apart- 
 ments I inhabit^ but to condu6l you over 
 the building is not in my power. Many 
 of the ftairs and pafTages were broke into 
 by the fall of great part of the edifice — 
 thefe are now blocked up : fome cham- 
 bers like that in which you have this night 
 witnefTed a fpecimen of cruel ingenuity^ 
 and fome fuits of rooms^ for particular 
 reafons I have walled up^ and indeed were 
 they open to infpe6lion^ one chamber is 
 fo fimilar to another^ that curiofity would 
 foon be fatiated. Follow me^ if you- 
 pkafe." 
 
 We paffed through feveral narrow paf- 
 fagesj fecured by itrong doors, of which he 
 had the keys^ and coming to a winding 
 it one flair-cafe^ we afcended^ and entered 
 on a fuit oi rooms^ furnifhed in a ftyle of" 
 
 elegance
 
 255 
 
 elegance more fuited to the former fplen- 
 dor of the caftle than its prefent fituation. 
 
 Don Raphael bade me remark as we 
 pafTed^ that he w as in no danger of fiidden 
 furprize^ it being no eafy matter to force 
 fo many fti^ong doors of black oak^ even 
 by any one who ^vas familiar wath the 
 mazy windings of the pafTages, into which 
 the grey light of day fhed its rays through 
 the narrow loop-holes ; and the lamp began 
 to diminifh in luilre. 
 
 The third room we entered, was fitted 
 up for a private chapel. Upon a fmall 
 altar, of curious workmanfhip, ftood a filver 
 crucifix, of no little value. — A cryftal 
 lamp burnt on each fide. A window of 
 ftained glafs, threw a deep and melancholy 
 gloom upon the objects, infpiring ferious 
 reflection. 
 
 '' This," faid Don Raphael, paufing, ''is 
 the place w here I pafs part of my time ; 
 I have here, as vou fee, obje61s that re- 
 mind me what I am. On that organ, I can 
 perform anthems^ and foothe my mind with 
 
 the
 
 256 
 
 , the hopes cf a better and more iubliiJic 
 exiilence. Here, Lorenzo^ I claim your 
 promiie. Swear to me by your reipcct 
 for that fign, that my fecret Ihall not pals 
 from your lips ; fwear that }ou will not 
 mention to anyone living the fecret of my 
 retreat." 
 
 " By all the hopes I }>offefs/' replied I 
 '' I fwear, that I will preferve }our fecret, 
 uniefo you yourfcif fhali caufe me to 
 divulge it." 
 
 '' That i$^ fuflicient," anfwered h^, pro- 
 ceeding to an oppofite door^ which led us 
 into a library of fomxe extent. '^ You fee 
 here," faid he, ^^that I am not ^vithout at- 
 tending to the cultivation of my mind ; 
 believe me, I have much more entertain- 
 ment in converrma: with thefe iilent frieitds, 
 than I fhould haA e with the living authors 
 and a^lors. I learn wifdom from their 
 maxims and acfions^ but had I known the 
 individuals^ I ihould doubtlefs have found 
 the mcft pious tinged with hypocrify ; and 
 the rnoll heroic^, exactly like the men of
 
 257 
 
 tlieprefent generation. Here,! may la}", 
 I feel niylelf rile above my fpecies ; fof It 
 is my opinion^ that no man is fuperior to 
 his fellows but in two points of view. Th« 
 political economy of nations^ requires that 
 there fhould be fubordination of ranks, but 
 tliough necefTary, it is abfolutely fi61:itious: 
 it is like the money of a country, of not 
 the fmalleit intrinfic value, but of the 
 greateft for political reafons. The only 
 dignity of man, is the fuperiority of his 
 knowledge; his mind becomes elevated; 
 he perceives things with truth, and then 
 only has he a claim to be called a rational 
 being/* 
 
 '' I muft admire,'* replied !, '' thefe fert- 
 timents you expreis ; they give me con- 
 fidence in myfelf, and ftimulate me to 
 learning. I con fe Is that I envy the choice 
 \ ou have made, but every man has not 
 that pov.er of fele61ion. You have here 
 all the charms of folitudc, w ithout ^ the 
 le-er-^. cf m.onaftic feclulion, or a binding 
 
 VOaV
 
 258 
 
 vow you would often have defired to dif- 
 folve." 
 
 "Exa6Uyfo/' replied he; ''I have en- 
 deavoured to combine all that is pleafmg 
 of abfolute folitude. I am not incommo- 
 ded here with the petty politics of a con- 
 vent: my hours are not facrificed to an 
 uninrtru61:ive formula. I have a laro^e 
 garden, in which I can ramble at leifure ; 
 the cultivation of which is a labour necef— 
 fary to health ; and if its boundaries are 
 too fmallj I can wander abroad in the 
 foreflj fecure within the magic circle I 
 have drawn round me." 
 
 He fmiled as he fpoke^ and moving 
 forward, w^e entered another room, adapted 
 to more domeftic purpofes, and fitted up 
 in a flyleof fimplicity and neatnefs. 
 
 '' This/' faid he, '^ h my fitting room, 
 I command an extenfive horizon from 
 t^iefe windows : almoft the only ones that 
 are not enflirouded by the lofty trees, or 
 circumfcribed by the towering hills. You 
 aiay fee over a long chain of vallies^ 
 
 formed
 
 259 
 
 ormed by the prominent angks of moun- 
 tains — and the mind is induced to wander 
 far beyond the eye. You muft require 
 refrefhment^ Lorenzo ; pray be feated 
 on thatfopha ; you will not find it a dece[>- 
 tion." 
 
 I fat down at his de fire ; his w^ords had 
 the power of a charm over me^ and every 
 objecl I beheld, fcemed almoft like illu- 
 Con, when I remembered the external 
 defolation of the building ; and had not 
 the firfi: circnmftances of our myfterious 
 entrance been fo fully explained, I ihould. 
 have been inclined to fufpe^l Don Raphael 
 of powers rather fuperiorto common life. 
 He fat down near me, after placing upon 
 a fmall table, fom.e wine and cakes^ when 
 obferving that the day had broken, and the 
 clear light fliot from the hills, he extin- 
 guifhed the lamp, and prefled me to join 
 him in a repafi, of which I had fome need 
 to reftore my fpirits. 
 
 '' I would offer you coffee," laidhe,with 
 n fjn ile^ '' if I had power to call up fome 
 
 invilible-
 
 269 
 
 uivifible dwarf to make it, but that not 
 being the cafe^ I ho2>o you will excufe 
 me/* 
 
 '' I fhoiild like it as well/* replied I, 
 •' from the hands of a fair nyniph ; cannot 
 you, Don Raphael, call upon fuch an one 
 to attend us ?" 
 
 Whether it was the exprefuon of my 
 looks, or the purport of the words I had 
 uttered taking him by furprize, I know 
 not, but the blood ruflied into his face ; 
 his eyes fparkled with inexpreiTible fierce- 
 nefs, and ftarting up, he looked round him, 
 as for feme weapon of vengeance. 
 
 I repented the exprefuon ; but ii was 
 too late. 
 
 '' Rafli man," cried he, looking earnefily 
 at me, ^^who are you ? are you a traitor 
 in dil'guife ? — But remember your oath.; 
 for by the living Creator of Exiftence, if 
 vou betrav mc, even in the confidence I 
 have repofed, or by any accidental dif- 
 covery you have made, I will infiicl upon 
 yon -rri unutterable vengeance — a ven- 
 geance
 
 261 
 
 gc-ance at which even fiencL; fliall /luidcU r. 
 
 1 command you to tell me what you have 
 
 iearnt ! what it is you mean !" 
 
 However I was flruck with artoiiidiment 
 
 at his words and manners, his lafl: exprei- 
 fions rouied my indignation. '' Don 
 Raphael," replied I, coolv, " lam little ac- 
 quainted with you, and it feems you are 
 equally ignorant of me, or ycu would 
 know that T defpife threats, and am not to 
 be commanded by an equal. You have 
 given way to an abfuixl burftof pafTion. — 
 You have inadvertantly informed me of 
 what I only fufpecled ; and" continued I^ 
 in a tone of irony, ^^I do not wonder you 
 have fo elegant a tafte in retirement, when 
 it extends even to the choice of a com- 
 l^anion." 
 
 A palenefs almoft equal to that of death, 
 overfpread his countenance ; his limbs 
 trembled ; his lips quivered ; and unable 
 to exprefs the excefs of paffion and' agi- 
 tation, he fat down, fixing his eyes upon 
 me with a look which almoft amounted to 
 frenzv. His
 
 262 
 
 Mis emotion excited my pity and regret. 
 1 knew not why, but I was angry with my* 
 felf, for thus playing upon his feelings : 
 though I was ailonillied, and more than 
 ever interefled in a man, who was fo to- 
 tally different from all with whom I had 
 ever yet converfed, and excited at once, 
 both efleem and fear. 
 
 " Lorenzo/' faid he, after a long aiid 
 folemn paufe, " I know not by what 
 means you have come at my mofl facred 
 fecret — a fecret which not even Filelfo 
 could betray, for he has never, to my 
 knowledge, feen or heard of my daughter 
 Cornelia. But remember now, what I am 
 going to fay ; and remember, as you would 
 avoid the threats I have power to fulfil — 
 I have fworn on the facred altar, and by 
 Omnipotence itfelf, that while I live, Cor- 
 nelia Ihall not leave me. No ; by the 
 eternity of heaven, though he were a prince 
 of the blood — though he were the mo- 
 narch of Spain himfelf^ who fhould fue at 
 my feet for her, I would refufe^ and fpurn 
 
 at
 
 26 
 
 o 
 
 rit his offer. No; fooiier than part ^vith 
 Cornelia^ I would phmge my poignard in 
 her boroin—- 1 would tear her piecemeal, 
 aud^fcatter her limbs in the air." 
 
 '' Is this paflion, or is it madnefs, Don 
 Raphael!" cried I, not a little ftartled at 
 his vehemence. ^^ You mud allow that 
 fuch an oath and fuch refokitions are ex- 
 tremely unnatural." 
 
 '^ I am not to be bound by the laws of 
 nature, nor by the lav,^s of man/' cried he. 
 '' If I allowed myielf amenable to human 
 inftitutions, do you think I would feclude 
 myfelf thus totally from fociety ?" 
 
 '' But, Senor/' replied I, '' you do not, 
 I hope, place yourfelf beyond the reach of 
 the law } Your being thus fuffered to 
 live here in tranquillity, arifes from the 
 laws having full force; and thofe laws 
 which watch round your rcpofe, and ren- 
 der your perfon facred, yt)u cannot abro- 
 gate or interrupt, however fuperior your 
 rank, or prejudiced your opinion." 
 
 '' You
 
 264 
 
 '' You are a tolerable civilian, *' replied 
 he with mere temperance. '' I acknow- 
 ledge v/hat you fay, in its iitmolt latitude; 
 nor do I mean to imply that I do not bow 
 with reverence to the government of the 
 land: but I would enforce my intention 
 by faying, that when a man has overleaped 
 his love of life in purfuit of a favourite 
 obje61, the law becomes a very trifling bar- 
 rier in his way. Sooner than part with 
 Cornelia, my life and her s fnall both be- 
 come a facrifice ; then where is the law? — 
 Kow do you comprehend?" 
 
 " Clearly," cried I, "-It is impoffible to 
 miftake, nor can I wonder that you have fo 
 great a defire to retain as your companion, 
 a young lady of fo much elegance; fhe 
 mud render your hours lefs tedious, and 
 folitude lefs irkfome. She mull. " 
 
 '' Let us wave the difcourfe, Cavalier," 
 interrupted he, fomewhat impatiently ; "it 
 is a fubje6l I do not love to difcufs; only 
 be fo obliging as tell me briefly how you 
 difcovered my daughter." 
 
 I in^
 
 2()j 
 
 I Iiiformed him of the chance which led 
 me to her the preceding evening. He was 
 di (curbed at my narration ; and the praifes 
 Ibeftowed upon her beauty called i5p va- 
 rious emotions in his countejiance. 
 
 " It is enoucrh ;" faid he. " How lono: will 
 vou remain at the Fort of Dajos^ and to 
 what part of Spain do you expecl to 
 march ?" 
 
 I replied, '^that it was extremely uncer- 
 tain ; but that while I remained at the Fort^ 
 I fhould be plcafed if he w ould honor me 
 with a vifit, anel happy in another oppor- 
 tunity to wait upon him at this Callle.'' 
 
 He leemed embarralled and undecided 
 in his anfsver, preffing ne to partake of 
 the wine and cakes, and it was eafy for me 
 to perceive that he was difturbed at my 
 preience, which I imputed to jealoufy of 
 his daughter. I wiflied to relieve him by 
 any abfence, but notwithflanding his auf- 
 terity and forbidding coolnefs, I found a 
 charm in his converfation and fomething 
 
 to
 
 266 
 
 to me altogether nev/ in his expreffions, 
 ^vhich riveted me to his company. 
 
 I arofe feveral times to make obferva- 
 tions on the beauty of the opening morn- 
 ing, the grandeur of the expanding fun 
 over the blue mifts of the mountains^, 
 and the dark waving woods. 
 
 '' Methinks, Don Raphael," f^iid I, after 
 a few minutes mutual fdence, '' that you 
 are a happy man in your choice of life. 
 You feem to me to want but one thing to 
 render your fituation perfe6>.'' 
 
 " x\nd v/hat is that ?" faid he^ ^vith a 
 fcrutini2'.ing look. 
 
 ^'It is a friend/' replied I. '' How^- 
 ever valuable may be the company and 
 converfation of your daughter Cornelia, 
 flill there mull be a great diflance be- 
 tween a father and his daughter. There 
 muft be a thoufand fubjecls upon which 
 you cannot converfe. You mull forbear 
 all abftrufe and fpcculative reafoning." 
 
 '' And much better it is to forbear than 
 indulge/' anfwered he. '' Too much fpc- 
 
 culation
 
 267 
 
 1 ulalion only bevvildei-s the mind : amidd 
 iiilinity of hypothefes^ truth becomes un- 
 diftinguiihable." 
 
 '' I am of a diflerent opinion/' rejoined 
 I, for the lake of converfation, and to 
 lengthen my ftay. '^ Truth can only be 
 found by being fought. I acknowledge 
 that in the company of a virtuous and ac- 
 compliflied female^ converfation may be 
 pleafant^ and the hours agreeably amufed; 
 but to be on a perfect footing of equality;, 
 that female ought to be a wife." 
 
 " You know not, perhaps/' replied he 
 in a tone of tendernefs, " what it is to be 
 a parent! — what it is to rear up a plant, 
 ingrafting upon the flexile foul your opi- 
 nions and ideas— to watch the dawning 
 beauty of opening youths, and the expand- 
 ing flow^ers of underflandingand grace : nor 
 can you conceive the mighty value of fuch 
 a plant — a value equal to my exiftence: 
 nor fliall any man enjoy the fruits of my 
 cultivation, which he cannot know how to 
 value, and might quickly defpife. Chance 
 N ^ has
 
 268 
 
 has infomied you that I pofTefs this trea- 
 fiire, and I have informed you that no 
 power but death fliall (hatch her from me. 
 IC therefore^ you will forgive my plain- 
 nefs^ and confer on me a favour^ which I 
 will find means to acknowledge in a man- 
 ner you think not of; you will abide by 
 the oath of fecrecy you have taken^ and 
 fulfer me to remain in that folitude, which 
 for important rcafons I have chofen." 
 
 '' You requefl: of me/' replied I, ^^v/hat 
 is indeed more diflicult for me to comply 
 withj for while you defire my abfence^, 
 your words fafcinate my fteps^ and if I am 
 denied your friendfliip, I ^cel that I fhall 
 iuffer infinite regret; for, permit me to fay, 
 that befides ) ourfelf, I never met with 
 more than one perfon, who appeared to 
 me worthy the confidence of fincere 
 friend fliip." 
 
 My words created in him much confu- 
 fjon ; the blood flowed to his cheeks, and 
 again receded ; he opened his mouth to 
 Ipeak^ but his words died away unuttered, 
 
 and
 
 2G9 
 
 and he murmured to himfelf, '' No, it is 
 iinpoiTible.'* 
 
 We fat fonie time mutually embarrafTed^ 
 when I v,-as thrown into greater confuflon 
 by hearing a light flep, moving towards 
 the door, and a Iweet voice Tinging, as the 
 perfon advanced^ of which I only caught 
 thefe lines : 
 
 Youth is a ftream that fmoothly glides, 
 Bright as the liquid fountains fiow, 
 Through phafant meads, its chryflal tides, 
 Sparkle and Ihine, and gaily go. 
 
 Don Raphael ftarted up in the utmofl 
 confufion;, and glancing a look of inexpli- 
 cable meaning at me, he darted to the door, 
 but was not fwift enough to prevent Cor- 
 nelia opening it firft, and throwing herfelf 
 into his arms. 
 
 '' My dear father," faid fhe, '' you are 
 early ; I did not cxpecl you had fo fooij 
 arifen. I was going to play the morning 
 hymn in the chapel: will you accompany 
 me r" 
 
 "I am engaged, Cornelia," replied he, 
 
 kiffing her; " if you will go into the gar- 
 
 N a* den
 
 270 
 
 den^ and gather fome flowers for tlie win- 
 dov/,, I wnll attend you prefently." 
 
 '' I will go dire611y/' aniwered ihe^ taking 
 his hand, and fmiling with molt bewitching 
 grace. '' But I have had a very pleafant 
 dream to-night, and if you will lillen ^ 
 moment, I will tell it you.'' 
 
 Don Raphael turned his head towards, 
 me, and I could eafily conceive his vexa- 
 tion ; but I was rivetted to the feat where 
 I fat, and had no power to fpeak or retreat, 
 fo much was I engaged with the beauty 
 and expreffions of this chaiTning creature. 
 Her eyes followed the motion of Don Ra- 
 phael ; file ftarted, and bluflied deeply 
 when file beheld me, and the electricity of 
 her glance thrilled over my nerves, pro- 
 ducing a fimilar fenfation. 
 
 '''Do I itill dream," faid flie, in a mur- 
 mured whifper. " This is the very refem- 
 blance of the figure I fa^\■ in my fleep. Is 
 it real, father?" 
 
 Don Raphael bit his lip ; he fmiled, he 
 frowned, he knew not what to reply. " This, 
 Cornelia/' faid he^ '' is — a man V
 
 271 
 
 Cornelia averted her eyes, and was going 
 to fly, but fuddenly flopping, '' I llioukl 
 have told you laft nighty father, had you 
 returned iboner/' faid fhe, " that I faw 
 fuch an one as this in the forefl : I ran from 
 it, but it fmiled fo, that I had almolt a 
 mind to have ftaycd and fpoken to it. Tis 
 not fo much different from you and me, 
 father, as I had imagined. I fhould like to 
 know if it can fpeak as w^e do. I thought 
 that it did, yefterday." 
 
 '' Npnfenfe ; no, 'tis dumb 'tis de- 
 
 ftruclion. Go, get to your own room, 
 Cornelia,'' cried Don Raphael in the ut- 
 moft agitation. 
 
 '' But if it will not hurt you," faid /lie, 
 lingeringly, '' it may not befo venomous." 
 
 ^^Diaraaion!" cried he. ^'Torture! — 
 
 O infulferable \ — Begone, Cornelia 1 
 
 command you to be gone." 
 
 Cornelia, affrighted, inftantly obeyed ; 
 
 and Don Raphael paced the room, his 
 
 hands clenched to his forehead. I was too 
 
 much engaged vvitn my own thoughts, and 
 
 N 4 the
 
 272 
 
 the fingular fcene I had witnefied, to in- 
 terrupt him ; nor indeed was I capable of 
 putting any queftion at that moment. 
 Don Raphael continued to ti-averle the 
 room^ muttering lentences to himfelf. 
 *•' Folly ! — Fool thatlam ! — But I ought to 
 have expe61ed — " With many other un- 
 conne61ed phrafes he continued to amufe 
 himfelf^ till a fmall clock in the room 
 11 ruck feven. 
 
 It was then he feemed to recover his 
 fcattcred thoughts^ and turning fuddenly 
 round to me^ ( for I had not removed from 
 the fopha, where I fat revolving over the 
 means of being better acquainted w^ith the 
 charming Cornelia,) ''Cavalier Lorenzo/' 
 faid he^ " you offered me your friend- 
 fhip; but if you would not be my mofl 
 fatal enemy^ you will never again vi/it 
 the caftle of St. Helma. You have made 
 yourfelf mafter of a fecret which I would 
 have guarded with my life. You have 
 feen my daughter Cornelia : fne is as 
 innocent as a child of nature, and I 
 
 repent
 
 273 
 
 repent me that I have kept her fo pro- 
 foundly ignorant. Till this morning flie 
 has been taught to fear the name of man. 
 I have painted him to her in all the colour- 
 ings of deformity. — I have taught her to 
 dread him as the mortal enemy of inno- 
 cence and virtue : but I fear I have only 
 performed half my tafk, and undone by 
 too much refervC;, ^vhat all my caution 
 fought to build up. Will you lay me under 
 an eternal obligation ? Will you allow me 
 to fee you depart in peace ?" 
 
 His words made a deep impreffion upon 
 mc. — I arofe ; '^ Don Raphael/' replied I^ 
 " your commands muft be obeyed. Is it 
 poffible that lovely creature never faw 
 any man before, except yourfelf .?" 
 
 ''Never;" replied hc^ ''never within 
 her recolle61ion. She is now only fixteen. 
 Filelfo never comes to the caftle, nor dare 
 he intrude within a certain diftancc : — the 
 confequence to him would be death." 
 
 n5 ^^ Death!
 
 274 
 
 '' Death ! " repeated I, eiideavoiiring io 
 penetrate the thoughts of this uncommon 
 mortal. '' Yes/' laid he fternly, '' death." 
 
 " Your reafons/' faid I, '' ought to be 
 powerful, for }'our orders are rigorous ; 
 but I go, Don Raphael, and you may de- 
 pend on my filence.'' 
 
 '^'^ And your oath,'' returned he, expref- 
 fively. '' Had you experienced the per- 
 fidy of friendfhip and of love, as 1 have^ 
 you would not condemn my actions. But 
 heaven be praifed, I am now fo much 
 mailer of my own pride, that the opinions 
 of others have long been indifferent to 
 me. Your companion has moft probably 
 departed forDajos. If you are unacquainted 
 with the way, I will give you directions to 
 the cottage of Filelfo, who fhall attend 
 you." 
 
 I returned him thanks for his politenefs, 
 but knowing that Gafton wouJd not venture 
 to return, within any reafonable time, 
 without me, I declined the offer ; and after 
 a few ceremonies of parting, Don Raphael 
 
 con-
 
 275 
 
 condii61cd me to the gate, where he di- 
 rected me to the place he had left the 
 old foldicr. ^' Adieu, Lorenzo/' faid he; 
 remember your honour and your oath." 
 I waved my hand, and bowing, entered the 
 labyrinthian path, in fearch of my faithful 
 companion. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 2J6 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 A 
 
 T about an hundred paces diflant, I 
 found Gaflon fitting under a tree, with his 
 back againfl tlie trunk, and his fword with 
 the point thrufl into the ground, befide 
 him. His eyes were clofed, and he feemed 
 to ei'joy a profound fleep, but the found 
 of my Heps ftartlcd him, and he leaped up 
 in a fright ; but when he faw who it was, 
 he fat down again, and began to groan, as 
 if he fuffered under mortal pain. 
 
 '' Ah, your Honor, can I believe my 
 eyes? — Can I believe that I fee yourfelf 
 come back again, to look for the poor old 
 Gaflon ?^' 
 
 '' Chear up, my boy," cried I, '^ and tell 
 me how you got out of the dungeon you 
 fell into." t' Dun-
 
 277 
 
 '" Dungeon/* repeated he> groaning; 
 ^' No^ no, your Honor, it was the bottom- 
 lels pit ; I thought I never fliould have 
 ceafed going down. I am fure it is deeper 
 than any gold oi* filver mine in Mexico; 
 and then it went with fuch rapidity, that it 
 firfl took away my breath, and then my 
 lenfes/' 
 
 " That was bad indeed : — Well, but you 
 got fafe out at lafl." 
 
 '' Ah, your Honor ; no, I believe I am 
 going to die here, on this very fpct ; and 
 if you willjuft have the goodnefs to let me 
 be buried under this great tree, I will 
 thank your Honor as long as I live/' 
 
 '' Pfliaw, nonfenfe !" cried I, '* have you 
 got nothing to eat ?" 
 
 '' O no, nothing at all, your Honor, that 
 is the worft of it. If we had any thing to 
 eat, w^e might talk over thefe things at our 
 eafe ; but I fee nothing but a few wild 
 berries, and I fhall die here." 
 
 '' You will firft, I hope," faid I, fitting 
 down befide him^ '' tell me how you ef- 
 
 capcd
 
 278 
 
 caped — ifyou had ftaycd till day-light, you 
 might have let yoiirfelf out." 
 
 *' If I had ftayed an hour longei*;, I be- 
 lieve I fliould never have come out at all. 
 I was more dead that alive^ when I re- 
 covered myfelf, at the bottom of that 
 bottomlefs pit ; for there was the great Bel- 
 zebubj in the drefs of a conjurer, flanding 
 over me w^ith a torch of burning fulphur. 
 lie roared out to me in a voice as big as 
 thunder, to get up and follow him : I did 
 fo, your Honor, for I was very glad to find 
 that I could move at all. But there he led 
 me over heaps of carcafes that were quite 
 putrid, and no doubt thought I, they have 
 been unfortunate travellers like us. Welb 
 your Honor, I believe I was knee deep in 
 filth, as I followed, or rather waded through 
 corruption ; but what hurt me mod, w^as to 
 hear the piteous groans of thofe dead bodies, 
 as I trod upon them. — Oh, it made my heart 
 die within me. We had not walked above 
 four or five leagues of difmal v;ay, before 
 we came into a large hall that was big enough 
 
 to
 
 279^ 
 
 fo hold St. Peter's at Rome. The walls 
 ^vere black like thofe of the room we were 
 fo finely caught in, and at the diftance of 
 every yard, was a niche, fuch as I have feeu 
 ftatues (landing in, but inflead of ftatues, 
 every one had a red hot fkelfeton, to the 
 amount of about three hundred, and mod 
 horrible it w^as to behold them : but I w^as 
 near dying in reality, when I faw one place 
 empty, and my own name written over it 
 in blood.'' 
 
 " That was moft terrible, indeed," cried 
 I, laughing. " Kow w^as it poffible you 
 could furvive fotrem-endous an adventure?" 
 
 " Your Honor, then, does not believe 
 what I am relating.'*" 
 
 *' Not quite all, indeed, Gafton," replied 
 I. '^•'I muft have more faith than an old 
 devotee, if I did. But pray how^ got you 
 out of that hazardous fituation?" 
 
 '' I w^as cart,"faid he, with a very ferious 
 countenance, '' into a deep trance, and 
 when I recovered; I found myfelf lying 
 
 on
 
 ^80 
 
 on my face, beneath this very tree, and 
 here I flialldie." 
 
 There was fomething fo doleful in his 
 tone,, that however I might be inclined to 
 laugh at his credulity, I could not but 
 commiferate his diftrefs, for certainly his 
 fears had filled his imagination with thefe 
 frightful chimeras, and almoft unhinged 
 his undcrilanding. I would have endea- 
 voured to undeceive him, but my oath to 
 Don Raphael intervened, and I contented 
 myfelfwith foothing his mind, and combat- 
 ing his terrors. I had brought with me the 
 wallet he had left behind him, with the 
 fragments of our ftores, and having per- 
 fuaded him to eat, his fpirits gradually 
 returned, and his ailments vanifhed. 
 
 After refting fome time, Gafton fo far 
 recovered as to confent to fet out on our 
 return, and I cautioned him to avoid making 
 himfelf the jeft of his comrades at the fort, 
 who, whatever truth there might be in his 
 tale, w^ould certainly condemn him as 
 crazy. 
 
 We
 
 281 
 
 We arofe and traced our way through 
 this filent foreft^ guiding our fleps by the 
 peaks of the mountains, for there was no 
 chance of meeting any human being who 
 might dire61: us. Gaflon was filent, for he 
 was in fa6^ much indifpcfcd by his fright, 
 and I had fufficlent employment for my 
 refle61ions in the eccentrical characiler of 
 Don Raphael, and the fweet fimplicity of 
 his daughter Cornelia. We began to afcend 
 the mountains, but the fublime profpecls 
 that firetched around and beneath us, did 
 not once invite us to paufe that we might 
 regard them, fo great is the difference 
 when the mind and the body are weary. 
 
 We made a very fcanty repafl about 
 noon, on the remains of our provifions, 
 and by night fall, reached the fort ofDajos, 
 fatigued and difpiritcd. A courier had 
 anived about an hour before with (HT 
 patches, which were thought to be imp(U'- 
 tajit, and a council was at that moment 
 debating on the propriety of opening 
 thcmj and offending feme meficnger after 
 
 inc.
 
 282 
 
 me^ though they knew not exa611y the roufc 
 I had taken. 
 
 > Weary as I Avas, I immediately retired to 
 read over the difpatches, which came from 
 Oviedo^ and bade me prepare to repel any 
 attack on the part of Poilugal^ as they had 
 certain intelligence that a fudden irruption 
 was on the moment of breaking out^ and 
 that I mufl hold myfelf in readinefs to 
 depart at a minute's notice, with half tlie 
 garrifon, to any part my fervices might be 
 required. 
 
 There feemed to me fomething more 
 than I could penetrate in thcfe advices^ 
 which, in facl, told me no more than we 
 already knew%* and I even fufpe61ed that 
 hoftilities w^ere abfolutely begun. I gave 
 orders for doubling the guard, and that the 
 flri6lefl difcipiine and vigilance mufl be 
 obferved. Having taken thefe precautions, 
 I fat down in my own apartment to refi: 
 myfelf, with more liberty, while my fupper 
 VMS preparing ; and the image of Carnelia 
 prcientcd itfclf to my mind with all the 
 
 .fmilins:
 
 283 
 
 fmiling foftnefs that had fo deeply im» 
 ])refled itfelf upon me. 
 
 I had not entirely made an end of my 
 flipper before another meffenger arrived a^t 
 the fort. He fpoke with a wonderful de- 
 gree of myftery, and every thing was in 
 confufion and alarm. ''All Spain/' faid 
 he to the men, " is in arms. The Court is' 
 going to leave Madrid. Nobody knows 
 what has happened : but whatever it be, 
 every thing is going to be turned upfide 
 down." 
 
 My apartment was befet with officers, 
 who crowded round me, eagerly demand- 
 ing the news, and they were not a little 
 chagrined, when they found me equally 
 ignorant of the foundation of this fel- 
 low's reports. I told them that my 
 in(lru61ions were to leave the fort in the 
 hands of Don Miguel de Varro, and twenty 
 men, and to march within three houi-s for 
 Leon, where liirther advice would be re- 
 ceived, as to the nature of the fervice we 
 were to be employed on. 
 
 The
 
 m 
 
 The bu.^clc and ronfufioii this informa- 
 tion created, required my prefence and 
 exertions ; and it was with difficulty I 
 could fiiatch half an hour's fleep upon the 
 floor. It was in va'in to conje^kn-e to 
 what part of Spfdn we were deftined^ or 
 whether we fliorJ.d not even be ordered on 
 forei^rn fervice ; for it was cafy to fuj^pofe 
 that forne more diflant obje6l than Por- 
 tugal was in view, or fo important a fitu- 
 ation would not have been left expofed 
 without fuulcient men to defend it 
 
 It was now, for the firft time, I regretted 
 thofc engagements which would tear me 
 away from an obj e6^t that fo lately ^vas 
 becomie dear to me, and the more I refolved 
 to forgetj feemed the deeper engraved on 
 my memory. It w^as, however, extremely 
 unbecoming the chara61er of a foldier, to 
 fufler the foftnefs of love to fubdue my 
 refolution in moments like thefe; and 
 rcuringmy-Vif, as v^ell from the fupinenefs 
 oriluml:er as love, I packed up my own 
 baggage, and made every arrangement for 
 
 our
 
 285 
 
 our march, which I ordered to commence 
 at two o'clock in the morning : io preca- 
 rious is the life of a ibldier, that he cannot 
 fay in the morning ^vhere he fliall lleep at 
 night. 
 
 At the time appointed we began to tra- 
 verfc thofe fleeps and defiles, whofe varied 
 profpe6l had fo delir;hted mc on my jour- 
 ney to Dajos. I now paifed alciig them an 
 unconcerned traveller^ having in my ow^a 
 mind fufficient employment for refleiSlion. 
 Our march was extremely fatiguing, the fun 
 being high and fultry, and the dull of the 
 road blo^ving over us in drifts. We reached 
 Leon late in the afternoon, where arrange- 
 ments had been made for our recep- 
 tion, and large bodies of troops were 
 collected, though ignorant of their def- 
 tination. 
 
 I waited upon the Duke of Caftile for 
 further initru6Lions; he informed me that 
 the whole province of Catalonia had broken 
 into fudden and violent rebellion. Orders 
 had been tranfmitted from the Court of 
 
 Madrid^
 
 286 
 
 Madrid, to colle61 and turn upon them the 
 whole power of Spain, that their intentions 
 might be crnflied before the contagion 
 fhould be caught by other provinces ; or 
 the infidious and ufual policy of France 
 lead her to fend fupplies to difafite6lion, or 
 reinforcements to difappointed ambition : 
 it being well known that the popular fuiy 
 had been blown into flame, by men w^hofe 
 views had been difappointed in the Cabi- 
 net, and w'ho, to revenge themfeives for 
 fuppofed negle^l, played upon the paffions 
 of the people, who certainly fuiTered under 
 the preffure of many evils. 
 
 Such indeed is, and always has been the 
 cafe, under the moft wife and prudent 
 governments ; for if it be difficult for the 
 mafter of a family to have his ordei*s re- 
 fpe61ed, and his commands obeyed, how 
 much more difficult is it for the govern- 
 ment of any country to find upright fer- 
 vants, who will not abufe their trult, and 
 make a rod of their power. 
 
 Can
 
 1287 
 
 Caa then a pretext ever be \vaiiting for 
 ihe ambitious, the turbulent, the licentious, 
 and the di (appointed, to play upon the 
 people, and make them the wretched vic- 
 tims of their intrigues and defigns ? 
 
 The collection of troops required time, 
 and I rejoiced to learn that fome days would 
 be abfolutely necelTary for the march of 
 ■thofe at the diftant frontier towns^ which 
 had been Rationed to overlook Portusfal. 
 
 I was no^v again in the city, v.hcre I had 
 fo nearly fallen a vi6tim to the deceit of 
 Donna Ippolita, and when I remembered 
 all the allurements ihe had difplayed, and 
 the blandifliments flie had pra61ifed, even 
 the innocence of Cornelia could not efcape 
 my fufpicion, though it was impofTible for 
 more than a tranfient thought to glance 
 upon fuch an idea. 
 
 '' If," thought \, '' there ever exiilcd a 
 female, whofe heart was without g'ule, it 
 is this beautiful creature. Brought up at a 
 diftance from intercourfe with the relt of 
 her fex, whofe example might have conta- 
 minated
 
 288 
 
 ininatcd the native kiilre cf her foul, and 
 taught her the arts of vanity and pride, it 
 is impofFible but all the grac es of feminine 
 perfection mu(r endow her mind ; and he;- 
 perfon, my eyes can witnefs, is without 
 equal.'' 
 
 It is aftonifliing how the mind of a lover 
 ainufes itfelf with reveries, perpetually 
 painting images of impoffible pcrfcclion 
 and fchemes of impofTible attainment. 
 
 In thefe reveries I found fafncient 
 amufement for every waking hour, and 
 propofed to myfelf variety of plans,, once 
 more to gain a fight of Cornelia, whom I 
 conlidered held in a fpecious confinement 
 by Don Raphael, who facrificed her happi- 
 nefs to his own convenience. How flatter- 
 ing to my love of romance, were the fchemes 
 I propofed to myfelf of refcuing her from 
 his power; but then I remembered with 
 grief that I could not aiibrd her flielter^ 
 being myfelf without a home, or any 
 permanent eftablilhmcnt. 
 
 Ah,
 
 289 
 
 Ail, thought I, v/oiild It ^vere pofli- 
 ble fo far to gain upon this proud and mvf- 
 tcrious mortal^ as to win his efteem. I 
 have no tye that fnould prevent my re- 
 nouncing the world, and becoming a part- 
 ner In his iblitude ; he may then accom- 
 modate his unnatural oath. We will live 
 and die together. 
 
 My mind entered into every previous 
 arrangement;, and iurmounted every bar- 
 rier, till I almoft believed myfelf'an inhabi- 
 tant of the Cattle of St. Helma ; but from 
 this reveri-e the roll of the drum fuddenly 
 aroufed me^ and other duties than thofe 
 of love and romanticity called me to a6lion. 
 
 There is no remark m^re jufl;, than that 
 indolence and folitude are the great fof- 
 tcrers of love, l^y permitting the mind to 
 follow, and to indulge without interrup- 
 tion, every fcheme of felicity it can fuggeft. 
 But among the a61ive purfuits of life, the 
 charm vaniflies, and we behold things in 
 their proper ihades and colours. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 So
 
 ^90 
 
 So it waSj that my fcheme appeared ri- 
 diculous^ when I was attentive to the du- 
 ties of my ftation ; but no fooner was I 
 alone^ than all the faicinating charms of 
 love and folitude ruflied upon me fo pow- 
 erfully^ that I was more than once on the 
 point of liarting up and flying to tKe 
 valley. 
 
 For two dnys I balinced between duty 
 and inclination^ but the more I hefitated^ 
 the lefs was I capable of determination : 
 while the hours ftill continued their pro- 
 grefs^ and I heard ^vith regTet that the 
 third day was fixed for our departure^ and 
 it was but too probable that I might never 
 vifit Leon again. 
 
 This refle^lion at once prompted me to 
 nclion. It was impoffible I could think of 
 leaving Cornelia without fo much as an 
 adieu, or the flightell hint of the aiTe61ion 
 fhe had infpired, for I believed that it was 
 impoffible but one day or other fhe would 
 give her heart and her perfon to fome one, 
 in defiance of the oath of her father, and I 
 
 fhould
 
 291 
 
 fliould then have my o^v^ fully to condemn^ 
 for having fubmitted in filence. 
 
 I hnftened to the Duke of Caftile, for 
 Count Pandolfo Avas not yet arrived^ though 
 liourly expected^ and his conjunction would 
 determine the march of the troops. It 
 was with extreme difficulty that I obtained 
 permiflion of abfence till the following 
 morning, and that as a favour I was to pre- 
 fcrvc fecrct, or half the officers in the city 
 would have petitioned a fimilar indulgence. 
 
 It was noon when I departed from Leon; 
 the difiance exceeded fix leagues of very 
 rough road ; but what will not man under- 
 take when his pafTions lead the way ? 
 
 Having provided myfe.f with a mule, I 
 haflened from the city, taking the obfcure 
 road which Filelfo had firfl pointed out to 
 me, and it was not till I began to enter 
 amongft the mountains, that I felt the 
 abfurdity of my proje61. 
 
 How unlikely was it that 1 fliould find 
 
 admifTion to the caflle, and how much more 
 
 unlikely that I fhould find an opportunity 
 
 o ^ of
 
 29^ 
 
 of fpeaking to Cornelia^ who would doubt 
 lefs be more feverely guarded than before^ 
 and poiTibly not permitted beyond the walls 
 of the caflle. 
 
 To look once more upon thofe walls^ 
 feemed to me no fmall gratification^ and 
 though I fmiled at my folly, I had no 
 energy to repel its impulfes. I even fan- 
 cied that I breathed with more fatisfa6lion 
 as I came within the circle where the lovely 
 Cornelia moved. 
 
 Certauily, thought I^ it cannot be love 
 that thus attracts me ; for what have I Iccn 
 of Donna Cornelia, but a momentary 
 glance, except, indeed, on the evening that 
 I firll: beheld her, when her flight difcovered 
 her pcrfon in a thoufand graceful attitudes: 
 but how abfurd to fall in love from fuch a 
 caufe ; yet I have been told the god o£ 
 Love fhould be encompafied by a thoufand 
 abfurdities. How diffimilar are the fenti- 
 ments I feel for this lady, and thofe I ex- 
 perienced for Donna Ippolita ; 'tis certain 
 that if I now love, I never loved before. 
 
 M'ith
 
 293 
 
 With refiefiions like thefe, I beguiled the 
 length of tlie way,, and being mounted on 
 a lure-footed mule, I entered the forelt 
 fome time before funfet. 
 
 The narrownefs and intricacy of the 
 path now impeded my way^ and I purpofed 
 in my own mind to faflen the mule in 
 fome copfe, and proceed on foot, but a 
 fudden turn of the path led me before I 
 was aware, to the brink of the flream^ and 
 the hanging rocks around recalled to my 
 recolleclion, that I was within a few paces 
 of the fpot where I had firft beheld Cor- 
 nelia. 
 
 This little accident was a charm to my 
 mind. I difmounted and moved flowly 
 forward^ enraptured Vvith the deep fdence 
 which prevailed, and the enchanting foli- 
 tude of the fpot, interrupted only by the 
 gurgling of the little flream, as it flowed 
 through the rounded channels of the 
 rock into a limpid pool, where it formed 
 a tranfparent bath, overfheltered by clilTs, 
 o 3 * covered
 
 .294 
 
 covered ^vith -vvild flowers, and concealed 
 hy an intcrv.oven thicket. 
 
 I fallen ed the mule to the trunk of a 
 ])ahn tree, and fat down on the bank where 
 Cornelia had fat ; the birds fang in the 
 grove, and the declining fun tinged all na- 
 ture with a deep and beautiful glow. I 
 was perfeclly enraptured, and my eye wan- 
 dered over this little place with infatiable 
 delifi^ht. 
 
 o 
 
 The fliort grafs in feveral places ^va« 
 bent dov.n with the impreffion of foot- 
 fteps, and I pleafed myfelf with believing 
 t!iey were traces of Cornelia. Several 
 little pieces of fdk were fcattered upon the 
 ground, and vvhile I arofe to gather theni^ 
 with more pleafure than if they had been 
 the relics of a faint, I made no doubt but 
 this felecl fpot was a favourite place with 
 Cornelia ; and that fhe fome times came 
 hither to work, thefe little fragments fuf- 
 iiciently teftified. 
 
 How long time had elapfed fmce flie had 
 been in this place, I had no means to de- 
 termine^
 
 295 
 
 (criniuc, and I regretted that my appear- 
 ance in the foreft might have deprived her 
 of this liberty ; and lb far from remember- 
 ing me with pleafure, fhe would only 
 think of me as the caufe of her ftrider 
 confinement. 
 
 While thefe refleclions engaged me^ I 
 ftooped to pick up fomething that glittered 
 amongfl the grafs, and to my furprize found 
 it to be a portrait, not of Cornelia^ but of a 
 man, the exprelTion of whofe features ar- 
 reted mv attention, 
 
 Hefeemedto be about the age of twenty, 
 and the fire of fuperiority animated his 
 features. An engaging fweetnefs of ex- 
 preffion played over his face, while his 
 elevated forehead and commanding eye 
 befpoke noblenefs of birth, and nobility of 
 foul. It was impoflible that having once 
 feen Don Raphael, I fhould be a moment 
 in fixing upon the original of this portrait, 
 though time, with the pencil of pafTion, had 
 deeply traced his finders over the brow of 
 youth. 
 
 4 The
 
 296 
 
 The habit \vas rnilitaiy. and I felt no little 
 Jatisfaclion from the reflection that Don 
 Raphael had once borne arms like myfelf, 
 and therefore muR pay the tribute of 
 refped to the name of foldier. I rejoiced 
 in this fortunate difcovery, though I knew 
 at the fame time what uneafmefs fuch a 
 lofs would create to Cornelia. 
 
 I refle61ed, that if no better fcheme arofe^ 
 I liad an excellent excufe for admiflion to 
 the Caftle, under pretence of reftoring the 
 picture, and I determined immediately to 
 haften to the Caftle gate ; but while I was 
 every moment on the point of going, I 
 /till lingered without any motive for flay- 
 ing, but to imagine in idea, the pleafure 
 of again feeing fo innocent a girl; and I 
 fat down to pi6iure to myfelf the furprize I 
 fhould occafion her. 
 
 You will fay that my imagination had 
 run away with my reafon ; than which, 
 there is nothing more true, for reafon has 
 nothing in common with love. 
 
 I indulged
 
 297 
 
 I indulged in thefe thoughts, which the 
 enchanting niildnels of the evening, and 
 the Ulence of the place, encouraged; and 
 leaning my head back again It a tree, I was 
 iinconfcioufly finking into flumber with 
 the pi6lure in my hand, when I fuddenly 
 found my fingers preffed by thofe of ano- 
 ther, ^vho endeavoured to take the pi61ure 
 from me, and raifing my eyes, I beheld 
 with a ftart of aftonifhment and pleafure, 
 the lovely Cornelia bending over me, en- 
 deavouring to recover the portrait, with 
 trembling impatience. 
 
 She fteppcd fuddenly back on my 
 waking. No fign of confcious impropriety 
 was upon her features, but with the moil 
 enchanting voice, fhe deilred ''I would 
 give to her the pi61ure ihe had lofl." 
 
 " Sweet maid," faid I, rifmg up, and taking 
 her hand with one of mine, h'jlding at 
 the fame time, the picture at fome diftance 
 before her with the other ; " it was my 
 intention to reftore it to you, but I cannot 
 part from it without fome reward." 
 
 5 ^M do
 
 29S 
 
 " I do not uncIeiTtaiid you/' replied fire, 
 ''^yoii know the picture is mine, what re- 
 ward then can you afk for returning what 
 you cannot keep ? I beg you to return it 
 to me dire6\iyj for if my father finds that 
 I have fpoken to you, he will be very an- 
 gry, and I expecl: him every moment back 
 to the Caftle/' 
 
 ^'' Then he has forbid me fpeaking to 
 you," faid I, '' and why has he done fo ?'* 
 
 "Becaufehe fays you are a man,'' anfwer- 
 ed fhe, with a tender blufli, '' and he told 
 me all men are feliifli, and wifli nothing 
 more than to deflroy us/' 
 
 ^^ But, my angel," replied I, in a voice 
 of as much foftnefs as I could afTume, '' is 
 not Don Raphael alfo a man like myfelf ? 
 Do you think /V would injure you ?" 
 
 " I know not,'' anfwered flie, fomewhat 
 confufed* ''he looks upon me fometimes 
 lb terrible, that I almoft fear he is going to 
 eat me up, efpecially fince I have alked 
 him fo many queftions about you : Whe- 
 ther you lived in the woods^ or fed flieep 
 
 on
 
 29.9 
 
 on the mountains^, and if there were many 
 fiich as } oiij in what he calls the world ?" 
 
 I was perfe6ily aftonifhed at fo much 
 flmplicity, accompanied with pure and 
 perfect innocence. '' Cornelia/' replied I, 
 " Don Raphael has done well to inform 
 you that man is a being to be feared ; he 
 is fierce in his pafllons^ and deceitful in the 
 means of gratifying them." 
 
 '' And are yon one of thefe/* cried fhe^ 
 endeavouring to free her hand, " give me 
 the picture — " 
 
 '^ Moft certainly/' replied I, '^for I have 
 no right to detain it ; but youmufl remain 
 with me a few moments, that I may tell 
 you fifty things of that world you have 
 never yet feen, and which Don Raphael 
 conceals from you with the jealoufy of a 
 mifer. He has not perhaps told you, that 
 thoufands of human beings like you and I, 
 and himfelf, refide in immenfe buildings 
 called cities; that we have variety ofamufe- 
 ments, of entertainments, of employments 
 and purfuits ; he has painted to you per 
 o G haps
 
 300 
 
 haps cnly the troubles, vexations, and ca- 
 lamities attached to the world, while he 
 concealed from you all its charms." 
 
 " He has told me very little," replied 
 file, '' but I have a great defire to know 
 more, and if I did not expe6l my father 
 would quickly return, I fliould lillen with 
 pleafure to what you could tell me ; but 
 indeed, Lorenzo, I mufi: go." 
 
 '^' Will you remember me," faid I, with 
 a deep figh, " when I am far awaV:, or has 
 your father all your afTe^lion ?" 
 
 " Do you think," faid flie, turning her 
 eyes upon me, with a look which pene- 
 trated me to the foul ; ^' Do you think 
 then I fliall forget you ? But why are you 
 going aw^ay ? Are thefe woods fo very un- 
 pleafant^ or is it, that in them you have no 
 place to fleep ?" 
 
 '' Ah, Cornelia," replied I, fighing, 
 '' though I could dv/ell beneath the 
 branches of thefe trees, and feed with plea- 
 fure on the fniits that grow wild on the 
 boughs ; yet I am under an imperious ne- 
 
 ceffity
 
 501 
 
 ccfTity to go away, far away. — I know not 
 nivfclf how far, and perhaps I fliall never 
 fee you more/' 
 
 I know not whether it were the tones of 
 my voice, or the fympathy we had infiinc- 
 tively imbibed that touched her, and melt- 
 ed her into tears — teai*s, which as they 
 fiow^ed, delighted me with the certainty, 
 that if I loved, I did not love alone, I gave 
 loofe to all the raptures of a lover's expref- 
 fion ; I clafped the blufhing maid to my 
 bofom, and offered up to heaven and to her 
 the moft folemn vows, that fhe alone fhould 
 be the miftrefs of my afre6lions ; that for 
 her alone would I wifh to live, and thai flie 
 fliould be the fecret centre, round which 
 all my alliens fhould move." 
 
 " But my father — ;" murmm-ed Cornelia, 
 and this fhort fentence led forward to the 
 moft unpleafant reflections. We ftood 
 leaning on each other in filence : not a 
 leaf in the forell feemed to move, and the 
 laft rays of the fun fcarce ti]}ped the up- 
 moft fummit of the hills, while deep twi- 
 light
 
 302 
 
 light hung upon the groves. Vv'hatwcre tfie 
 feelings of that moment, when the ne- 
 cefTity of parting, without a poffibility of 
 even requeuing a future meeting, ilruck 
 me with anguifh, and deprived mxe of 
 fpeech ! 
 
 This uncertainty was interrupted by the 
 fudden report of a piftol ; and I ftartcd 
 round, in expe6lation that Don Raphael 
 Avas about to revenge himfelf. The tur- 
 tle dove does not tremble half fo much at 
 the (liot of the fportfman, as did Cornelia 
 at the found of the pillol. 
 
 *' It comes/' faid fhe, '* from the way 
 of the Caftle ; my fatherjs returned; it is 
 a fignal that I am miffed ; fly I befeech you, 
 for he has vow^ed the m.oll dreadful ven- 
 geance upon you and upon m.e, if he ever 
 difcovers that wx have met w^ithout his 
 knowledge." 
 
 ^^But whence," cried! in hafte, '' when<:e 
 fuch injuftice ? What caufe of offence ?" 
 
 '■ I know not," interrupted flie, break- 
 ing from me ; ^^ but he is very ftrange in 
 
 his
 
 303 
 
 his fpeeches of late ; he will not believe 
 that I was ignorant of your being before 
 in the foreft, and I fhoiild not have been 
 here this evening, but that I found the 
 key of the little gate by accident ; I had no 
 intention of ftaying longer^ than juft to 
 take a furvey of my favourite little fpot, 
 the only place where I feel myfelf per- 
 fe6lly free — adieu, Lorenzo, adieu, adieu,*' 
 cried Ihe, as fhe darted from me through 
 the labyrinthian path. 
 
 Unable to reftrain my fteps, I purfued 
 her, again to have the fatisfaclion of a look 
 or a parting glance ; her feet w^ere more 
 accuftomed than mine to evade the briars 
 that crept over the path, and fhe fled from 
 me with as much earneftnefs as if (he 
 had feared my defigns. 
 
 The ckifh of weapons engaged my at- 
 tention and riveted my fteps ; I turned 
 towards the place whence he founds pro- 
 ceeded, and could faintly diftinguifh at a 
 diftance between the boles of the trees, 
 
 through
 
 304 
 
 through the gloom ^vhich gathered faft, 
 two perlbns contending tor \iclory. 
 
 I pauled for a moment^ hcfitating whe- 
 ther I ought to interfere; but fancying that 
 I CO d diiiinguifh the figure of rilelfoj as 
 one of the combatants^ I fufpe61ed that 
 fome traveller was the viclim of his out- 
 rage ; and being well armed, I rufhed im- 
 mediately forward to interfere. 
 
 As I drew near, I was altonifhed to per- 
 ceive that it was no other than Filelfo and 
 Don Raphael himfelf, engaged in ferious 
 and fatal combat; they feemcd to have no 
 other weapons than poignards, with which 
 they fought furioufly, and with determina- 
 tion that one or both fliould perifli. They 
 were too much engaged with themfclves 
 to perceive my approach, and I was within 
 a fewpaces^ when the foot of Don Raphael 
 ftriking againft a root, he fell, and Filelfo 
 darted upon him like a beaft of prey upon 
 hisvi6lim. 
 
 '' Is this thy vaunted power?" faid he^ 
 furioufly: and raifinghis wxapon already 
 
 ftained
 
 305 
 
 ilained with blood, '' This fhall liberate 
 k mv en2:a<2:ements. this fliall render me 
 again free." 
 
 His arm was defccnding with rapidity, 
 when I ftruck him a fide blow witli my 
 fword, which made him ftagger^ and drop 
 the ^veapon from his hand, the blood 
 nifiiing from the wound he had received. 
 
 '^Rife, Don Raphael," faid I, "Provi- 
 dence has brought me to your relief, but 
 whence comes it, that the dagger of the 
 fervant is raifed againft his mafter?" 
 
 ^'^ Secure the villain," faid Don Ra - 
 phacl, attempting to rife; " he is a monf- 
 ter of ingratitude. More than once has his 
 life been a forfeit to the law, and I hav^ 
 not only fpared, but concealed him ; but. 
 now juftice and my own fafetv demand 
 him from my proteclion, and he ihall 
 die." 
 
 " That is more than you dare," mut- 
 tered Filelfo, fullenly. " But for this ill- 
 ftared ftripling, and I had now done the 
 
 deed.
 
 soff 
 
 deed. But mark me^ I may chance to come 
 iUTofs thee, youth." 
 
 " Regard him not/' faid Don Raphael^ 
 ieizing him by the arm^, for he could make 
 no re/if lance. '' He is both a robber and 
 a murderer : aflifl me to convey him to 
 the caftle, till I can deliver him to th^ 
 oilkers of juftice." 
 
 '' Thou liell/' cried Filelfo, v/ith a fmile 
 of malice: '"'tis not thy intention; 'tis 
 not in thy daring. I would unmafk thee. 
 I would drag thee from thefe grim woods, 
 and from the caftle of St. Ilelma. Re- 
 member Alencaftro !" 
 
 I could perceive through the dim twi- 
 light^ that Don Raphael was extremely 
 agitated; and t\iQ myftery of Fiielfo's words 
 conveyed a meaning which made me fhud- 
 der^ and led forward to thoughts I dared 
 not to follow. I remained ina^live^ my 
 foul fecretly (hocked as I looked from one 
 to i\\e other, and I could not poiTibly de- 
 termine which was moll criminaL 
 
 Don
 
 307 
 
 I>on Raphael faw my doubts and hefi- 
 tation. '' Weak boy/' exclaimed he^ '^ you 
 wear a foldier's coat, but you pofTeis a 
 woman's heart. See you not that I am 
 bleeding from feveral wounds, or I would 
 drag this wretch by the hair to my caftle, 
 if no other means appeared ?'* 
 
 '* Thy power is not equal to thy will, 
 good mafler/' faid Filelfo, tauntingly. 
 *' You had better contrive to get yourfelf 
 thither/' 
 
 '' I am a fool/' faid Don Raphael, ftifling 
 his refentment, " to regard the w^ords of 
 a man infignificant and impotent as thou. 
 Cavalier Lorenzo, you have this evening 
 rendered me an important fervice, which 
 I am forry to have received from your 
 hand. Fate has fo ordained, and if you have 
 a defire to finifh the obligation, you will 
 affiil me to confine this murderer. Yes, 
 I repeat it, he is both a murderer ard an 
 outlaw. If you refufe me, I ihall reward 
 the fervice I have already received, but 
 you will have no further claim." 
 
 ^^defy
 
 SOS 
 
 '' I defy you both/' cried Filelfo, break- 
 ing from the weak grafp of Don Raphael: 
 "' I will go myfcif to Leon, and bring buck 
 v,ith nie the power to examine every recefs 
 in the caftle—- it will then be feen — " 
 
 Ai he fpoke he leaped into the thicket, 
 notwithftanding his arm continued tobleed, 
 and that he had before received feveral 
 wounds. 
 
 The fuddennefs of his flight deprived 
 me of refie6lionj while it conveyed to me 
 an inftant idea of his guilt, and feizing one 
 of my piflois, I fired after him into the 
 thicket; the bullet rattled amongft the 
 branches^ without farther effe61:. 
 
 " He has efcaped/' faid Don Raphael. 
 '•' My wounds will not permit me to purfue 
 him, and you mufl be better acquainted 
 with the receffes of this forefl. than I fcmcy 
 you are, or it would be a dangerous at- 
 tempt in you to follow him/' 
 
 ^' Will you fuifer him to go to Leon and 
 betray you, then ?" faid L
 
 309 
 
 ^' No ;" replied Don Raphael, fmlling, 
 ^' his words were only intended to deceive 
 you ; he dare not." 
 
 '•' Cut they fiirely had meaning ?" faid I. 
 '' They had/' replied he, emphatically. 
 '''What do you fuppofe they imply ?" 
 
 This queftion filenced me a few moments, 
 for I dared not to fay what I thought they 
 implied, and I merely anfwercd that I knew 
 not. 
 
 " Nor I either," faid he, coolly. ''You 
 had better re-charge your piftcl, andbe on 
 your guard as you return. Filelfo has 
 malice, and fufficient ftrength yet left to 
 fire a pifiol. We muft not remain in this 
 place. Had h.e not taken me by furprize 
 when we were converfing as in friend/hip, 
 I fnould have fealed his doom. As it >vas^ 
 he has no reafon to boaft his a61Ivity." 
 
 Don Raphael took t^^o or tliree Aeps 
 along the path, but found himfelf too 
 weak with lofs of blood; to walk without 
 afiiuancc, and his wounds continued to 
 bleed. 
 
 '' Lorenzo/'
 
 310 
 
 /^'Lorenzo," faid he, in a mournful voice, 
 "^ you fee how relu61ant I am to be obliged 
 to you, but you knov/ my rcafons/and you 
 know the oath you have taken.' 
 
 I waved my hand as he fpokc^ and 
 moved on to fupport him. 
 
 ''I perceive/' faid I, ''that you arc 
 faint and weak. I hope your wounds arc 
 not dangerous." 
 
 ''No, I think not," anfwered he, "a 
 certain imbecility has feizedmy nerves; — 
 I mufl fhake it off. It arifes as much 
 from my having taken a long ramble this 
 dav over the barren mountains, without 
 any refrefliment fince the morning, as from 
 my wounds." 
 
 We began to proceed flowly towards the 
 caftle of St. Helma. 
 
 . " Cavaher Lorenzo," faid Don Raphael, 
 as he leaned upon my arm, " I thought by 
 this time you had been many leagues dif- 
 tant from this valley. I am acquainted 
 %vith the troubles that have rifen in Catalo- 
 nia. I confefs that were it not for one 
 
 con-
 
 311 
 
 confideration^ which indeed is paramount 
 to all others, I fliould regret that our ac- 
 quaintance is fo tranfcient ; for, notwith- 
 Itanding my uneafiuefs at your prefcnce, 
 I feel a fatisfa6tion that I cannot account 
 for, in your company. Tell mc, -ssho are 
 your relations, and what are your connec- 
 tions in life. I am not without feme 
 knowled2:e of the inhabitants of the w^orld. 
 and if I can return you any fervice of that 
 nature, you have only to mention your 
 wiflies." 
 
 I \vas afliamed to declare that I ^vas even 
 io^norant of mv birth, and in mv confufion 
 could make no immediate reply. 
 
 '' Perhaps,'' faidhe, " you are too proud 
 to receive obligation ; perhaps you do not 
 require it ; at Icaft, do me the favour to 
 receive this ring — it is a trifle which I 
 would have you accept in token of friend- 
 iliip." 
 
 " The intention," anfwcred I, '' obliges 
 me to accept the gift ; I fiiail wear it at 
 once with pride and with pieafure." He 
 
 bowed.
 
 312 
 
 liowed, and we fhortly after arrived at the 
 cafilc. 
 
 He waited a moment at the gate, as if he 
 expecled I ^voll]d have bade him adieu, 
 but that was very far from my intention ; 
 and having faftencd the gate, we proceeded 
 in filence through the garden, and by a 
 jjoftern into the caftle. It was dark, and 
 the remembrance of what I had expe- 
 rienced on my firfc viiit to this dreary pile 
 of building, caufed me to fln'ink back. 
 
 '' Be not afraid," faid Don Raphael, ftill 
 leaning upon mc. " This caille is cer- 
 tainly awful, and the mind, unaccuftomed 
 to its gloom, may fancy fliadows of ^ ifion- 
 ary beings in its dark receffes. Its walls 
 ha^ve erenow echoed the groans ofdefpair, 
 and rung with the cries of murder ; but it is 
 to be remembered, the perpetrator and fuf- 
 ferer have long ere this refted in peace." 
 
 " Can, then, the mind of a murderer 
 ever be at reft .^" faid I, and paufed. 
 
 " That is a fmgular queftion," replied 
 he, '' and docs not relate to what I was 
 
 favino.
 
 313 
 
 faying. I think the mind even of a mur- 
 derer might become callous. There may 
 be certain ftarts of ungovernable terror; 
 certain traits of a fecret, deep and dreadful; 
 that will betray him to himfelf, if not to 
 others, and when unengaged by bufinefs, 
 and retired into the iilence of midnight, 
 he mult endure the agonies of the con- 
 demned^ and feel that fting which he 
 cannot draw forth." 
 
 '' You have painted his feelings/' faid \, 
 '- wuth a mailer's hand. It requires obfer- 
 vation to know this." 
 
 '' It requires more ! " cried he, in a tone 
 of voice that made me Hart. '' This is no 
 lubje6l to difcourfe upon in this place. 
 Your fuperftition and your fears would 
 awaken : — you would fancy groans in the 
 munnurs of the wind, and fpirits in the 
 tall trees that wave againfl the windows." 
 
 *' I am not apt," faid I, '' to give at- 
 tention to light fancies. I even queftion 
 whether the fpirits of the dead can break 
 through the confines of invifible exillence, 
 VOL.1. p and
 
 314 
 
 and become embodied to our fenfes. 
 Once indeed, have I feen and heard, what 
 would give contradiclion to reafon, and 
 reafon to credulity." 
 
 '' What did you fee ?" faid Don Raphael 
 paufing in the dark ; and net a found was 
 heard to move through the caftle. 
 
 '' It was near midnight/' replied I ; '^ it 
 was on the fide of one of thofe dark moun- 
 tains, where the wind moves unchecked, 
 that I was fitting, ferious and fad — " 
 
 Don Raphael fighed; and while I paufed, 
 the deep found of diilant mufic ftole upon 
 us. " It is Cornelia that plays, faid Don 
 Raphael : '•' fhe is performing a ferious 
 fervice of my own compofition.'' 
 
 '' The f train," faid I, '' is Melancholy 
 itfelf — it is more adapted to defpair than 
 piety — it is fuch as a mind might fancy, 
 which had lofl all talle for exiftence." 
 
 '' It w^as in fuch a difpofition that I com- 
 pofed it, Ihortly after a misfortune had 
 befallen me, which occafioned my difguft 
 for life. I am no profound muficiari, but 
 
 I have
 
 315 
 
 I have had iufTicicnt leifure to amufe 
 myfelf with that fubHmefl of human in- 
 ventions." 
 
 '^ Let us approach and liften/* faid I. 
 *' Mufic charms me to rapture." 
 
 *' I am fo much exhaufled/* anfwered 
 Don Raphael^ " that I fhould rather proceed 
 to my own room. I find myfelf fainter 
 every mom.ent." 
 
 I was under the neceffity of fubmitting 
 to his wufhes, and we foon entered the 
 fame range of apartments w^here he had 
 formerly conducted me. A lamp was 
 burning upon his table : wine and feveral 
 articles of refrefhment Vvcre placed upon a 
 little fideboard : and not only neatnefs, 
 but elegance and profufion appeared. 
 
 Could any traveller by chance have 
 gained admiflion into thefe retired apart- 
 ments of this decaying fabric, nothing 
 fliort of enchantment could have appeared 
 capable of thus providing. Thefe inhabited 
 chambers were too ftrongly fecured, and 
 dillin61 from thofe purpofely fuffered to 
 p -' decay.
 
 316 
 
 decay, far any one to attempt entering by 
 force. Nor fhould I have a feconcl time 
 vifited the callle^ if accident had not de- 
 te61ed to me the fecrets it contained. 
 
 Don Raphael fat down upon a fopha. I 
 fupplied him with fome refrefhments^ and 
 having flripped off his upper garments^ I 
 examined the wounds he had received, 
 which proved to be little more than 
 fcratches with the point of a dagger on his 
 breaft and arm. 
 
 At his dire6lion I opened a cabinet con- 
 taining elixii-s of various qualities, and 
 pharmacal preparations, with fome of 
 which having drcffed his wounds, he pro- 
 felTed himfelf confiderably eafier, and 
 invited me to partake the contents of his 
 fideboard. 
 
 '' It appears to me, Cavalier Lorenzo/" 
 faid he, '' a little fmgular, that you fhould 
 fo opportunely come to my relief I 
 thought the lervice you are ordered on, 
 morepreffmg than to admit your abfence : 
 and why fhould you come to this foreft ?" 
 
 '' Senor,''
 
 517 
 
 '' Senor/' anfwered I, '' your fufpicioiu 
 are perhaps in part true. I confefs that I 
 knew not how to tear myfelf away from 
 this part of Spain, without once more vifit- 
 ing this romantii: valley, which fpreads out 
 fo many allurements, that I may fay the 
 fummit of my wifhes w^ould be to imitate 
 the mode of life you have chofen. The 
 world in my eyes does not appear to offer 
 any confideration that I Ihould regret its 
 lofs ; and 1 muft acknowledge, I look with 
 no fmall envy on the tranquillity of your 
 fituation. The cares of fubfiftence, of ap- 
 pearance, and of etiquette, do not compel 
 you to acl againll your inclination and 
 wifhes — you may w^ander abroad in the 
 foreft, contemplating the beauties of na- 
 ture — you may traverfe the mountains, 
 and meditate on the fublimity and filence 
 of rugged uncultivation — you may return 
 hither, and enjoy the charms of a well 
 regulated garden, or the delicacies of 
 human art — you have books and mufic to 
 lead you into the regions of fancy and of 
 p 3 found —
 
 o 
 
 18 
 
 found — you have a fweet companion to 
 entertain you — and you want only a friend 
 who fhall at once be able to fhare in your 
 refIe61ions^ and to preclude the neceffity 
 of trufting to the attentionof a mercenary 
 agents whofe avarice may be tempted to 
 defirov the hand that feeds him.'* 
 
 Don Raphael had continued filent during 
 this long fpeech, poffibly as much from 
 furprize^ as helitation at the anfwer he 
 fhould return: he feemed to behold me 
 with an earneft gaze of wonder^ and when 
 I ceafed to fpeak^ he replied. 
 
 '' Lorenzo^ you have more than once 
 lunted tome^ the fentiments you have now 
 fo fully expreiTed. Your mind is roman- 
 tic — you are young — and that mode of life 
 ^vhich appears fo very different to any you 
 have hitherto enjoyed^ tempts you to fnp- 
 pofc that there happinefs is to be found, 
 becaufe it has not fallen to your lot. But 
 you would quickly look in vain for the 
 very buftle you now feek to avoid. The 
 groves that charm you to-day, would to 
 morrow become faded in vour cve>"
 
 319 
 
 " Not fo/' cried I haftily. '"' I have 
 been familiar with the leckided cloifters of 
 monkifh retirement — I have pafled .days in 
 meditation within the gloomy confines of 
 a narrow cell, and nights in watching at 
 the dreary fhrine of fome departed faint/' 
 
 '' You fcek to impofe on me/' faid he 
 with fome feverity. '' I am not fufficiently 
 ignorant to believe an incongruity. The 
 times of holy warfare are long paft : monks 
 do not now exchange the cowl for the 
 helmet. You feek to difguife your real 
 motives— my daughter — " 
 
 He paufed; for no doubt my confciouf- 
 nefs of the truth of this accufation was 
 vifible. He frow^ned^ and remained for 
 fome time in filence, his eyes fteadily fixed 
 upon my face, while abafhed I could only 
 look upon the ground, Ihrinking from the 
 fcrutiny of his regard. 
 
 After a deep figh, he leaned back upon 
 
 the^feat. "You have mentioned to me/' 
 
 faid he, " that your name is Lorenzo de 
 
 Ferrara. I have gathered from your fre- 
 
 p4 quent
 
 320 
 
 ({uent hefitations that iome iinpleafant clr- 
 cumftance clouds your birth or your for- 
 tune. The tone of your voice, the general 
 outline of your countenance^ calls back to 
 my memory perlbns and times, long va- 
 nifiied from the face of exiftence. ' Have I 
 any claim upon your confidence; ^nd may 
 I, without wounding your delicacy, inquire 
 into the minuter circumftances of your 
 fituation in life ?" 
 
 '' You may command my utmofl confi- 
 dence." faid I, *^' Very few words will ac- 
 quaint you with all that I know of myfelf, 
 and you will then no longer wonder at the 
 apathy with v.hich I regard the world/' 
 
 He liftened with the profoundeft atten- 
 tion while I fpoke ; he caufed me to repeat 
 to him every trifle I could recolle61:, con- 
 cerning the means by which I had received 
 fupplies ; difappointment fat upon his 
 features ; and when I had brought down 
 my narrative to the conclufion of my ad- 
 ventures with Donna Ippolita, he clofedhis 
 eyes and remained for more than half an 
 
 hour
 
 321 
 
 hour in the deepeft refle61ion, ^vithont 
 making the fmalleft comment upon \N'hat 
 he had heard. 
 
 This fingularity of behaviour was not a 
 little painful to me^ but I faw too many 
 flights of this ftrange mortal to be very 
 much furprized ; though my fears and 
 hopes, as to the imprefTion I made upon 
 him, were not a little flu6luating, during 
 this long fufpenfe. 
 
 At length he opened his eyes, as if juft 
 awaking from a dream, and looking on a 
 watch that lay before him. '' It is near 
 two o'clock," faid he, "It is the folemn hour 
 of night, and human nature demands re- 
 pofe. To-morrow you will begin your 
 journey towards Catalonia ; you have need 
 of reft." 
 
 '' When the mind is powerfully en- 
 gaged," anfwered I, '' the body can dif- 
 penfe with fleep ; in two hours I muft 
 depart for Leon. You have, however^ 
 much caufe to retire; if you will grant me 
 p 3 permifTion
 
 322 
 
 })emiiirion, I will lay down upon that couch 
 till the miils of night be^in to depart.'* 
 
 '' Be it fo/'faid he; '' I feel myfelf both 
 languid and weak^ I will lay down for two 
 hours, and wall be W'ith you by the time 
 you intend to fet out." 
 
 '' You are very ill, Don Raphael/" cried 
 I, obferving an increafing palenefs over- 
 fpread his face. " I fear you have fome 
 fecret hurt." 
 
 '' I fhall be better, I truft, after a little 
 reft," anfvvered he; " this is a return of an 
 old difeafe, which is more of the mind 
 than the body."' So faying, he faintly 
 fmiled, and attempted to rife, but found 
 his ftrength fo much exhaufted, that he 
 was obliged to accept my affiftance. 
 
 A little door which he unlocked, opened 
 upon a winding pallage, w^hich condu61ed 
 us to a fuit of rooms very neatly fur- 
 nifhed, and ftrongly fallened by bolts to 
 prevent any fudden furprize from the 
 hard\ hood ofallranger. Every door-way 
 had two ftrong folding doors of black oak, 
 
 and
 
 323 
 
 and the entrance into the third room was Co 
 narrow, that but one perfon could pafs at 
 a time. 
 
 In this chamber^ lighted by a narrow 
 loop-hole by day, Don Raphael fiept. The 
 lamp which I had brought at his defire, I 
 placed upon a little ebony table, and after, 
 leading him to the bed, I fat down on a 
 chair befide him. 
 
 He was too unwell to defire converfation, 
 and I had fufficient leifure to examine this 
 fingular chamber, where jealoufy might 
 have repofed her choiceft treafure, or ty- 
 ranny flumbered fecure. The outer-door 
 which clofed upon the narrow entrance, 
 was flrongly plated with iron, and the inner 
 w^as confl;ru6led of iron bars, in the manner 
 of the gratings in the parlour of a convent, 
 through which it was eafy to deflroy any 
 perfon, before he could poffibly ftir from 
 his pofition, fuppofing he could have over-' 
 come the barrier of the outer door. 
 
 Several foace of pillols hung 'near the 
 
 bed, mofl probably loaded. In one cor- 
 
 p 6 ner
 
 324 
 
 ner lay feveral pieces of ancient weaponi^ 
 of war^ and an antique battle-axe was fuf 
 pended from an hook^ a dagger of peculiar 
 form hung near the bed-poft;, and twenty 
 men would have found arms fuflicient t© 
 equip them. 
 
 It was evident that many of thefe wea- 
 pons had hung for years in their prefent 
 fituationj and from the brightnefs of feve- 
 ralj it was alfo apparent that Don Raphael 
 kept fufficient in readinefs for ufe. But 
 when I reflecled on the folitude of his fitu- 
 ation^ and the refources of concealment 
 this very building would afford in cafe of 
 outrages, could I wonder at fo much fufpi- 
 cious precaution ; yet, thought I, is it poffi- 
 blehe is fo careful of his own prefenation, 
 and permit his daughter to remain expofed 
 in the more open parts of the building ; 
 her of whom he feems more jealous^ than 
 a mifer over his fecret ftores. 
 
 I caft my eyes round the gloomy apart- 
 ment;, and perceived a narrow door oppo- 
 fite the one by which we had entered. 
 
 I made
 
 325 
 
 I made no doubt but it led to fome 
 chambei's beyond^ and it was more than 
 probable they were appropriated to Cor- 
 nelia. 
 
 'Whether thefe cham.bers belong to Cor- 
 nelia or not^ thought I, 1 fhould much like 
 to fee what was contained behind fo much 
 pi-^caution. What is it prevents my fa- 
 tisfying the curiofity I feel ? Good man- 
 nei-s, and the danger of detection forbid 
 me ; but certainly I have received no 
 friendfliip or civility from Don Raphael 
 that fliould bind me ; on the contrary, 
 -every obligation is on his fide, yet he 
 treats me with the mofl: dillant civility. 
 
 The more I debated in my own mind 
 the propriety of fuch an a61ion, the lefs 
 capable I found myfelf to withitaad the 
 temptation, and I liilened a long time to 
 be alfured that Don Raphael wr.s a deep, 
 every moment on the point of riiing to 
 feitlsfy myfelf, yet ftill fixed to my rhair, 
 from a fe'ar that- too fudden a motion 
 
 mi<^ht aroufe his half fleepy fenfes, 
 
 ^ The
 
 326 
 
 The mofl profound filence reigned 
 within this vaft and decaying pile of 
 building, even the midnight breeze was ex- 
 cluded the retirement of this chamber, 
 and the little flame of the lamp burnt with- 
 out a waver. It was with difficulty I could 
 diftinguiili the breathing of Don Raphael, 
 and I made no doubt the cordial he had 
 taken, a6ied as an opiate. 
 
 My thoughts flucluatcd in fufpenle ; I 
 w^as within the wtJIs of the cafde of St. 
 Pleima ; nay, within the very chamber of 
 the powerful mafler of tis mylteries, and if 
 this opportunity departed unimproved, a 
 fimilar was never likely to occur ; yet I 
 feared to grafp the moments as they flew, 
 -and hefitation and fufpenfe chained me to 
 the place. 
 
 A faint and hollow tone founded fo- * 
 lemnly from a diftance. I ftarted and 
 liltened, and found it was three o'clock; 
 only one hour now remained before the 
 morning would again break through the 
 darkneis of night, v/hcn other cares, and 
 
 other
 
 32? 
 
 Other engagements would call me into 
 a6Lian. 
 
 I felt as if I had been waiting for fome 
 fignal. The minutes admitted no longer 
 delay ; I ventured in a low voice to pro- 
 nounce the name of Don Raphael, but I 
 received no anfwer ; I repeated it in a 
 louder voice, without receiving any reply. 
 I liuened, and could perceive that he 
 breathed ; I cautioufly arofe, bringing the 
 lamp, fhaded with my hand, towards the 
 bed, when I flood a few moments contem- 
 plating his features, which were pale^ 
 though ferene. 
 
 How imbecile and weak a creature is 
 man, thought I, -when any derangement 
 takes place in his fragile frame. This being, 
 who lays here extended before me, pof- 
 feffes powers and energies of the moft vio- 
 lent nature when roufed; he is mailer of 
 all the accomplifhments of a nobleman ; 
 his manners and his modes of a61ion are 
 wonderful ; eccentricity is in all his words 
 and purfuits. But what is he now ? when 
 
 that
 
 328 
 
 t^iat fpark of etherial and heavenly flame 
 is dormant. Now he lies before me an 
 inert mais of matter, and no more exalted 
 than the meanell peafant in all Spain. 
 
 Could that monfler Filelfo now fleal In- 
 to this chamber, could he like me. Hand 
 thus before his fleeping enemy; then, Don 
 Raphael would fleep no more ! 
 
 The idea alone made me fhfidder. I 
 pi61ured to myfelf the horrid image of Fi- 
 lelfo in my fituation ; I thought I could 
 mark the fmile of malignant triumph, 
 which would diftort his ftrong traced fea- 
 tures. I turned my head round with a 
 doubting mind, left fome fecret paflage 
 might even then have allowed him admif- 
 fion. 
 
 All was dark around me as I fliaded the 
 lamp, lell its rays might awaken Don Ra-. 
 phael. I almoft believed that I heard the 
 low breathing of a perfon who feared to 
 betray his approach. I liflened with ear- 
 neft attention, not daring to make the 
 fmallelt motion. I became certain that 
 
 fome
 
 338 
 
 fome other perfon moved near me, I 
 heard a bolt gradually and cautioufly with- 
 drawn. I fhuddered with the firfl emotions 
 of dread, but refolution came to my aid ; 
 and fnatching at the dagger which hung at 
 the head of the bed, I turned quickly round 
 to await the event, fecretly pleafed that 
 Don Raphael would a fecond time owe his 
 life to my prote61;ion. Thefe thoughts va- 
 nifhed in a moment, when I beheld the door 
 open, and Cornelia herfelf in a night-drefs 
 with a lamp in her hand, enter the room. 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 Printed hy R, Exton, 87, Great Fortland-sircet;