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 ■
 
 DEMETRIUS, 
 
 A 
 
 RUSSIAN ROMANCE. 
 VOL. I.
 
 Strahan and Prefton, 
 Piiaters Street, London. 
 
 L
 
 DEMETRIUS, 
 
 RUSSIAN ROMANCE. 
 
 " Wife, valiant, good. 
 With every praife, with every laurel crown'd, 
 The warrior's wonder, and the virgin's figh." 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR LONGMAN HURST REES ORME AND BROWN; 
 PATERNOSTER-ROW. 
 
 1813.
 
 DEMETRIUS- 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 " "Jufl, to breathe 
 " This idle air, and indolently run 
 '* t)ay after day, the ftill retunring round 
 " Of life's mean offices and fickly joys.'* 
 
 " O ! rather, rather 
 *' Had I ne'er feen the vital light of heav*n 
 ** Than like the vulgar live, and like them die." 
 
 T u o M P S o N ' s Bophcmjla. 
 
 T7OR thofe who have been nurfed in the lap 
 
 of afFedion, to whom the voice of kin- 
 
 c{ dred love is familiar as the whifpers of the 
 
 fummer breeze, to whom the carefTes of a 
 
 parent feem but as the inheritance of nature, 
 
 it is not eafy to conceive the dreary ftate of 
 
 ^j one, who, fnatched in the period of infancy 
 
 '^/rom the bofom of domeftic peace, is 
 
 ^doomed to pafs through hfe a ftranger to 
 
 "^^ every tender tie, to all the hopes, the fears, 
 
 VOL. I. B the 
 
 ■)
 
 ( 2 ) 
 
 the pleafures, and the pains, which alteniateljr 
 foothe, fad den, and exalt the foul of man in 
 his flate of fecial exiflence, who is doomed 
 to weep unpitied^ to rejoice unnoticed, to 
 fmk into the grave unknown and unla* 
 men ted* Yet fuch was the fate, fuch 
 promifed to be the career of one, whofe 
 heart was formed by nature to thrill with 
 love, or melt with pity, to throb with the 
 afpirations of hope, or kindle with the ardour 
 of ambition. 
 
 Alexis Oflokof, from the age of infancy 
 to the dawn of manhood, had been an 
 inhabitant of the monaftery of St. Michael 
 in Lithuania. The only event which time 
 had not erafed from his remembrance, pre- 
 vious to the period of his feclufion, was 
 that of having been clafped to the bread of 
 a weeping female, who frequently and ten- 
 -derly carefled before (he configned him to 
 the arms of the man by whom he had been 
 conveyed to his prefent abode. 
 
 Often when the warm feelings of his 
 youthful heart had been chilled by the in- 
 difference
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 difference or wounded by the unkindnefs of 
 the flern monks bv whom he was fur- 
 rounded, would he retire into the fanduary 
 of his own bread, and recall to his remem- 
 brance the magic fweetnefs of the female's 
 voice, the foft preifure of her lips upon his 
 infant cheek, the tears which fell unheeded 
 from her eyes, as fhe bade him again and 
 again a fad and fond farewell. It was footh- 
 ing to his feelings to refled, that though 
 now regarded only by the eye, or greeted 
 by the voice of apathy, he had not always 
 been this outcaft from affeclion ; he had 
 once been an objed of tendernefs ; he had 
 once received and returned the kifs of kin- 
 dred love : might not fuch blifs again be 
 his ? At that idea the tear of grief was fuc- 
 ceeded by the fmile of hope, hope tranfient 
 and delufive ! Month followed month, year 
 rolled after year, till the fhade of his memory 
 became but the vifion of his fancy. The 
 image he ftill delighted to dwell on was now 
 ideal, but the feelings which accompanied 
 its conception were real \ and this treafure 
 B 2 of
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 of vifionary biifs, this mingled phantom af 
 memory and imagination, was cherifhed as 
 the folace of his forrow, or the goal of his 
 ^hopes. Yet, as the flender form and gentle 
 voice of the child were gradually exchanged 
 for the loftier ftature and deeper tones of 
 the youth ; other feelings lefs profound 
 perhaps, but more tumultuous, arofe within 
 his breaft. The " earlieft impulfe of the 
 youthful heart is to indulge the afFe6lions : 
 in woman — dedined only to the endearing 
 intercourfe of private life — another motive, 
 or a ftronger influence, rarely counteradls 
 this firft and fweeteft impulfe : but in man 
 — born to move within a more extended 
 fphere — to brave the conflicl of contending 
 paflions, '• the fnock of battle and the dorms 
 •^^ of fate," — other fprings of action are ex- 
 cited ; external impreffions vibrate on the 
 kindred chord within his bread ; the pa- 
 triot's worth, the hero's deeds, the lofty 
 and the vaft of human life, inflame his foul 
 and fafcinate his fenfes, till the foft throb of 
 iendernefs is only felt at intervals, amidft 
 
 the 
 
 iH
 
 C 5 ) 
 the proud fweil of glory and ambition^ 
 Thus proved it with the youthful Ollokof. 
 The fuperior of his convent was a Pole of 
 diftindion, who, having been fruftrated in 
 his ambitious views, negleded by his mo- 
 narch and deferred by his friends, had, en 
 the fudden impulfe of indignation, precipi- 
 tated himfelf into the convent, rather with 
 a view of efcaping difgufl, than a hope of 
 obtaining happinefs. Reft of body however 
 is far from including repofe of mind : the 
 turbulent and adive fpirit remained un- 
 fubdued, while the fphere in which its ener- 
 gies were employed, was contraded within 
 the. narrow compafs of a cloiftered life. 
 He endeavoured to procure the confolations 
 of religion ; but religion extends not its 
 pure and facred influence to thofe, who 
 feek it not with a humble heart and contrite 
 fpirit. The daily ceremonies, the nightly 
 vigils, became irkfome or infipid : happinefs 
 dwelt not in his breaft, and its earthly fub- 
 ftitute, hope, refufed to Jnhabit the gloom 
 of perpetual imprifonment. It was at this 
 B 3 period^
 
 ( 6 ; 
 
 period, when every joy was dead within 
 him, when the torpor of defpair feemed to 
 have benumbed every facuhy of his foul, 
 that his attention was firft attraded by the 
 kindling glance and beaming fmile of the 
 young Oilokof. The fuperior, to whom 
 the fixed looks, the monotonous tones, the 
 unvarying manners of the monks were in- 
 exprefTibly repelling, felt a rehef, almofl 
 amounting to a pleafure, in converfing with 
 the animated Oflokof, whofe natural en- 
 thufiafm of charader even the eternal fame- 
 nefs of a cloiftered life had not been fufficient 
 to eradicate or tame. There is a mournful 
 fpecies of gratification in beholding or ex- 
 citing pleafure in others, even when we 
 have long ceafed to be capable of feeling it 
 ourfelves ; and the prior, to whom many 
 combined motives rendered Oilokof an objedt 
 of intercff, determined on taking him under 
 his immediate protedion, and becoming 
 his inftrudor in all thofe branches of litera- 
 ture, which his own princely education had 
 fo eminently enabled him to acquire. All the 
 
 hours
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 Jiours of monadic leifure were foon devoted 
 to the inflruclion of his ardent and indefa*^ 
 tigable pupil : in this employment the fu- 
 perior found feme relief from the tedium 
 of his former exigence : but who can paint 
 the new fenfe of enjoyment it awakened 
 m Oflokof ? Hitherto confined to the con- 
 verfation of a few ignorant monks, or the 
 peruilil of a few fuperflitious legends, the 
 light which now broke through the mental 
 gloom by which he had been furrounded, 
 refembled indeed the fun of heaven, burfl^ 
 ing in all its glories on the eye of corporeal 
 blindnefs, and difplaying at one view all the 
 wonders of creation. But Oflokof from 
 fpeculation foon afpired to adion, from 
 theory to pradlice. He read of the world, 
 its pageants, its warfares, its grandeur, and 
 its gaiety, till he fighed to become an ador 
 amidfl: its fplendid fcenes : he read of martial 
 prowefs, the monarch's high career, the 
 hero*s far-famed deeds, till he panted to 
 realize the bright vifions his fertile imagin- 
 ation delighted Jo depid. In vain would 
 B 4 the
 
 ( 8 ) 
 the prior endeavour to rcprefs thefe ardent 
 feelings, which burfl uncontrolled from 
 his lips, by attempting to indil into his mind 
 that diflruft of his fellow creatures, which 
 he hinifelf experienced. In vain would 
 he paint their treachery, their malevo- 
 lence ; the ingratitude with which they re- 
 paid benefits, the envy with which they 
 regarded merit. " Oh my father !" Olio- 
 kof would reply, *' fome there may be who 
 " feel, who ad thus unworthily, but that 
 " all do thus, my own fenfations of them- 
 *' felves difprove. Can I be formed differ- 
 *^ ently from all my race, and does not my 
 *' heart deny the truth of the imputations 
 *' you attach to human nature?" 
 
 The fuperior was far from aware of the 
 force or nature of that mind he had at- 
 temped to dired ; he faw not in the gran- 
 deur of its conceptions, in the ardour of 
 its feelings, the ebullitions of a fpirit which 
 defied controul, of a genius calculated to 
 give laws to nations, and panting to fulfil 
 the grandeur of its defliny. The prior, 
 
 though
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 though fearlefs in fpeculation, was in deed 
 timid and irrefolute; that decifive quality 
 of the mind which adds adlion to opinion, 
 and practice to theory was wanting : but 
 the foul of Oilokof was formed on a far 
 bolder fcale : whatever he condemned, he 
 dared to reprove ; whatever he willed, to 
 do ; whatever he planned, to execute ; he 
 pofTefl'ed the gravity which determines 
 adion, as well as the impetus which excites 
 it. If there be any fufFering which more 
 than another claims compaflion, but re- 
 ceives it lead, it is that mental mifery occa- 
 fioned by the confcioufnefs of pofll^ffing 
 powers, which not meeting with propor- 
 tionate external excitements to action, op- 
 prefs, inftead of invigorating, the mind, and 
 render it the prey of wretchednefs, appa- 
 rently, of its own creation. Beings thus or- 
 ganized, uninterefted in the pailing trifles of 
 the hour, move gloomily through life j alter- 
 nately the victims of apathy or irritation ; 
 regarded as vifionaries or mifanthropifls, 
 beheld with wonder and diflike — that fpecies 
 B 5 of
 
 ( io ) 
 
 of difllke which the pride of human na- 
 ture always induces it to feel towards what- 
 ever it cannot comprehend. But prefent be- 
 fore them objeds of purfuit, adequate to their 
 defires, — awaken their bofom hopes, — 
 roufe the mafter fpring of their paiTions, — 
 touched with the fpear of Ithuriel, their 
 giant forms fpring from the earth, new 
 life is poured through their frames, new 
 energies difplayed in their a6lions; while 
 the world beholds and confeifes, with fur- 
 prife, a metamorphofis which defies its 
 comprehenfion. 
 
 Oflokof, the victim of his own defires, 
 confumed by the ardour of his feelings, 
 became the prey of a melancholy, he fought 
 neither to conceal or to controul. Religion, 
 which of itfelf is fufficient to fill the heart 
 of man ; to fatisfy thofe mental wants which 
 created beings can alone feel fupplied in an 
 intercourfe with their Creator ; religion was 
 to Oflokof but a name, implying a dull 
 round of ufelefs ceremonies, of painful pe- 
 nances, of tedious and unmeaning vigils. 
 
 The
 
 ( »' ) 
 
 The fpirit of devotion had never been awa- 
 kened within him ; the drearinefs of his life 
 prevented all emotions of gratitude, its mo- 
 notony prefented no excitement to prayer, 
 its blameleffn^fs offered no occafion for re- 
 pentance. Perceiving as much importance 
 attached by the fuperflitious moilks to the 
 mofl frivolous ceremonies, as to the mod 
 important dodrincs, and, not enabled by 
 the feeble light allowed him to feparate the 
 one from the other, he infenfibly learnt to 
 confider both as the offspring of hum.an 
 invention. The ignorance and bigotry of 
 the monks ffrengthened this belief, while 
 the oblique fuggeflions of the fuperior, ad- 
 dreffed to the fenfe, though fcrupuloufly 
 concealed from the ear, confirmed it. Ex- 
 cluded, therefore, from what alone could 
 have reconciled fuch a mind to the con* 
 finement of a cloifter, his reftlefs and re- 
 pining fpirit induced him to form the de- 
 termination of finally abandoning it. Soli- 
 tude unhinges or depreffes the minds of the 
 generality of men. Strengthened in enter- 
 B 6 prife,-
 
 ( 12 ) 
 
 prlfe, and fortified in opinion by participa- 
 tion, they become feeble and irrefolute, if 
 left to flruggle fingly with the flream ; but 
 folitude is to minds of ftronger texture the 
 nurfe of enthufiafrn, the birth place of every 
 grand exploit. The Oak throws out more 
 vigorous (hoots, and rifes to a loftier height 
 upon the defart plain ; while the more de- 
 licate plant requires the (hade and (belter 
 of others to fofter and protect it. It 
 was in folitary .meditation that the foul of 
 Ollokof acquired its ardour ; it was in fo- 
 litary meditation that he conceived and 
 arranged the final plan of his efcape. One 
 feeling alone induced him to linger with a 
 fentiment. of regret. The apprehended for- 
 row of his friend and his preceptor at his 
 defertion — a defertion to him fo cruel and 
 unexpeded ; yet to abandon his defign he 
 felt to be impofTible ; might he not then 
 venture to communicate it to the fuperior ? 
 might he not venture to rely on his regard- 
 ing it with indulgence, perhaps on his be- 
 holding it with approbation ? The poffibiiity 
 
 of
 
 ( 13 ) 
 
 of obtaining the prior's fandlon determined 
 him on candidly revealing his wiflies and 
 his intentions to him, and for this purpofe 
 he repaired to his cell. Ollokof found the 
 prior alone, his head fupported by his 
 hand, his eye refting on fome papers which 
 lay on the (lone table before him ; while the 
 light of a lamp, which fell on his coun- 
 tenance, fne wed the deep furrows of his 
 brow. He raifed his eye towards Oflokof 
 as he entered, kud pointed to a bench which 
 he defired him to occupy. Oflokof obeyed ; 
 when the prior flowly and fadly addrefled 
 him : " It is with forrow, though not with 
 *' furprife, that I have beheld the impa- 
 *' tience with which you have of late fub- 
 " mitted to the confinement of the cloifler. 
 " Liberty now appears to your eRthufiaftic 
 " fancy the firft of earthly bleflings ; my 
 " knowledge of your charader has aflured 
 " me, that you will never ardently defire 
 " that which you will not foon feek to 
 " obtain ; and my obfervation of your con- 
 " du<5l has convinced me, that it is your 
 8 inten-
 
 ( «4 ) 
 
 ** intention finally to abandon your prefent 
 " abode." 
 
 Ollokof flarted j the crimfon of furprife 
 and fhame coloured his cheek ; he was pre- 
 paring to make the intended confeflion of 
 all his hopes, his vviflies, and his aims, when 
 the fuperior, waving his hand as if to requefl 
 his filent attention, proceeded: — 
 
 " Before you execute the refolution you 
 *' have adopted, I wifli to claim your atten- 
 *' tion to a narrative, which will in all pro- 
 " bability influence both your prefent plans 
 " and future condud." 
 
 *' Ivan Vafliliovltch the Second, Czar of 
 ^' Mufcovy, left, at his deceafe, two fons, 
 *' Feodor, who fucceeded to his throne, 
 " and Demetrius, an infant. Feodor ef- 
 *' poufed Irene, filler to Boris Godonof, 
 " grand mafler of the horfe. Boris foon 
 ** acquire4 an unlimited afcendency over 
 ^* the m.'nd of Feodor : not fatisfied, how- 
 " ever, with the fecondary honours he was 
 " thus enabled to enjoy, he afpired to the 
 ** firft ra^k in the empire, and determined 
 
 " to
 
 ( 15 ) 
 *^ to deflroy his fovereign and his friend t 
 " for this purpofe he adminiftered a flow 
 " poifon to him, which, operating on an 
 " already feeble conftitution, eafily effeded 
 " his deftruaion." 
 
 Oflokof uttered an exclamation of horror; 
 but the prior, difregarding it, calmly con- 
 tinued : " Boris was immediately and una*- 
 " nimouily elected Regent of the empire, 
 ^' untilDemetrius, who then refided with his 
 " mother, the Czarina Maria Fedorofna, at 
 *' Uglitz, fhould be of an age to afcend the 
 '*^ throne of his anceftors. Here then was 
 " another obftacle to the ambition of Boris, 
 *' an obftacle which he foon determined to 
 *' remove by caufing Demetrius to be af- 
 " fallinated. The Czarina however re- 
 *^ ceived, through the medium of a faithful 
 " friend, an intimation of his defign, and 
 " removing Demetrius from Uglitz on the 
 " night that the afTaflins intended to perpe- 
 " trate the murder, fhe placed in her fon's 
 " chamber the body of a dead infant : this 
 ■** being miflaken by them for that of the 
 
 " Prince,
 
 ( i6 ) 
 
 " Prince, was pierced with wounds, and fo 
 " disfigured as to be rendered incapable 
 *' of recognition. This body, on the fuc- 
 " ceeding morning, being difcovered vvel- 
 " tering in its blood, the indignation of the- 
 " inhabitants of Uglitz v. as fo powerful, 
 " as to induce them to deflroy the affaflins, 
 '^ whom they found concealed amidfl the 
 " fuburbs of the city. The account of this 
 " cataftrophe being tranfmitted to Mofcow, 
 " Boris, after circulating a report that De- 
 " metrius, in a fit of frenzy, hc^d put a 
 *' period to his own life^ difpatched his 
 •' friend Prince Vaflili Shnifki to enquire 
 *' into the circumftances of his death. 
 " Having examined the body, he declared- 
 " it to be that of the true Demetrius, and 
 *' confinned the report which Boris had pre- 
 " vbufly propagated. Tne Czarina, accufed 
 *' of inattenuon to her fon's fafety, was com- 
 " peiled to retire into a convent: many in- 
 " habitants of Uglitz, who had dared to 
 '* exprefs their real fentiments coucerning 
 " the murder, were capitally punifhed. 
 
 *' Boris
 
 ( n ) 
 
 " Boris conducted the whole tranfadion 
 " with fo much art and fecrefy, that 
 " fcarcely any fufpicions were entertained 
 '* againft him ; and he was foon afterwards 
 *' elevated to the throne of Ruflia, which he 
 *' flill continues^to occupy.'* Another excla- 
 mation burfl from the lips of Oflokof : but 
 it was equally difregarded with the former, 
 and the prior continued : " The Czarina, 
 " on being compelled to retire to the con- 
 *' vent, found it impoflible to retain Deme- 
 ** trius near her perfon : alarmed for his 
 " future fafety, fhe determined to place him 
 *' out of the power of his enemy, by fend- 
 " ing him into Lithuania; and accordingly 
 *' configned him to the charge of that 
 '' friend, who had before preferved him 
 *' from deflrudlion. By him the young De- 
 " metrius was delivered to the fuperlor of 
 " this convent, to whom his imperial 
 '' lineage, and real title were difclofed ; but 
 **^ to the monks he was made known as an 
 " orphan of humble extraction, and pre- 
 
 -' fented
 
 ( 18 ) 
 
 " fented to them under the name of Alexis* 
 
 " Oflokof." 
 
 The cahnnefs with which this narrative 
 was made offered a contraft no lefs remark- 
 able with the importance of the events it 
 recorded, than that prefented between the 
 manner and countenance of the prior and 
 his interefled auditor. The former flill 
 maintained the gravity of his expreflion and 
 attitude ; while the latter, with clafped 
 hands, glowing cheeks, eyes in which a 
 thoufand varying emotions were depicted, for 
 fome moments remained immovable from 
 furprife, filent from excefs of emotion. At 
 length he approached the fuperior, and ex- 
 claimed in a voice, which, ardent yet tre- 
 mulous, exprefled at once the ftrength and 
 tendernefs of his feelings: ^' I, then, oh, 
 *' my father ! I, then, am this Demetrius, 
 ** deflined to avenge the murder of a 
 " brother, to fnatch a parent from imprifon- 
 " ment, to refcue a country from flavery ! 
 " Oh! wherefore has my noble Hneage, my 
 " glorious defliny, remained fo long un- 
 
 " known —
 
 C 19 ) 
 
 ^* known — unimagined ? The proudeft of 
 " my hopes are gratified, the brightefl of 
 *' my day-dreams realifed : but fay, does 
 *' my mother live, that mother, who fa- 
 " crificed her freedom for my Hfej that 
 " mother whofe parting carefs is yet warm 
 " in my remembrance?" " She lives," 
 replied the prior, " but oh, my fon ! fup- 
 *' ,prefs this enthufiafm, which eternally 
 *^ mifleads your judgment, and dazzles 
 " your imagination. The circumftances, 
 *' which I have narrated to you, were com- 
 " municated to me by the late prior, foon 
 *' after my entrance into the convent : they 
 " rendered me obfervant of your character : 
 " I difcovered in it that genius, which 
 " might enable you to recover the throne 
 ''^ of your anceftors; but not that prudence, 
 '' which would be neceflary for its preferva- 
 " tion. Your manner, your feelings, your 
 " inclinations, are at complete variance 
 " with thofe of the people you would 
 '^ govern. They are the very flaves of ex- 
 " ifling prejudices; you, even in their 
 
 " fancluary.
 
 ( 20 ) 
 
 " fancluary, difplay a daring contempt for 
 " them : the Rufliaiis, cold, grave, taciturn, 
 *' deliberate in every refolution, flow in* 
 *' every a^lion, would regard the enthufiafm 
 *' of your language, the rapidity of your 
 '' condud, with that fpecies of alarm and' 
 " aftohifhnaenr, with which we behold the 
 " eccentric movements of a comet." — 
 *' Surely, furely,'* interrupted Demetrius, 
 impatiently, *« thefe fliould be after con- 
 *' fiderations. Oh ! but once behold me,'^ 
 and his eye kindled with the exultation of 
 hope, " but once behold me, feated on 
 *' the throne of Ruffia, and fear not that 
 *^ any imprudence of mine fliall ever pre- 
 *' cipitate me from it." The prior fighed, 
 and forrowfully regarded Demetrius, as 
 he replied, " Let us then forego thefe 
 " after confiderations, to examine the 
 ''^ dangers and the difficulties which offer 
 '^ themfelves to your immediate profpe6ls. 
 " Twelve years have nearly elapfed fince 
 " the Ruffians heard and believed the flory 
 " of your death. Accuftomcd to the go- 
 ^' vernment of Boris, they will not eafily be 
 
 " induced
 
 ^ 21 ) 
 
 ^ induced to change it in favour of one, 
 ■*' whofe pretenfions will by many be re- 
 *' garded as fiditious : it will be difficult to 
 ^' prove them otherwife. Count Galitzin, ' 
 " (that faithful friend, by whom you were 
 ^^ conveyed to this convent,)' in order to 
 " elude the fufpicions of Boris which at- 
 *' tached to him in confequence of the com- 
 " paflion he discovered for the imprifoned 
 " Czarina, was compelled to abandon his 
 ^^ country, and to enter into the fervice of 
 ^' Sweden during the firft period of your 
 ^^ refidence in this convent* Occafional re- 
 <' mittances were received by the Count, 
 " and anxious enquiries made by him re- 
 *' fpedting your health and welfare : thefe 
 ** have of late entirely ceafed, and this con- 
 '' tinned filence induces me to apprehend 
 *' that this teflimony of your imperial rank 
 " is no longer in exiflence. The Czarina, 
 *^ on beholding this diamond crofs, which 
 <« Ihe faftened round your neck, and this 
 ^' letter which fhe addreflfed to the prior at 
 *' the period of your feparation, added to 
 
 " your
 
 ( *2 ) 
 
 " your refemblance to the Czar Ivan, 
 " would no doubt recognife you as her 
 *' fon : but what would her acknowledge- 
 *' ment efFed, fituated as fhe is, completely 
 " in the tyrant's power, but to expofe her 
 *' to his ftill more fatal refentment ? One 
 *' courfe alone prefcnts itfelf, which feems 
 ** to promife the llightefl probability af 
 *' fuccefs to an attempt at the recovery of 
 *' your native rights. The Poles, injured 
 " in their deareft interefts by Boris, would 
 *' eagerly embrace any opportunity of efFe£t- 
 ^' ing his deflrudion. The prefent poffelTor 
 ** of my lands and title," and a figh efcaped 
 him at the recolledions thefe words recalled, 
 " though flill in the period of youth, has 
 " already diftinguifhed himfelf both in the 
 *^ council and the field, and (lands high in 
 " the eftimation of his king and country : 
 " though perfonally unknown to each other, 
 *^ occafional intercourfe flill fubfifls be- 
 *^ tween us, and I am well convinced, that 
 ** in compliance with the wifhes of his kinf- 
 " man, fhould you finally refolve on aflert- 
 
 " ing
 
 C 23 ) 
 
 ^' ing your claims to the throne of Rullia, 
 *' the arm of Auguftus, Count Wiefnovitfki 
 " will be raifed, and his council afforded, 
 " to aflifl your views." 
 
 " If I refolve on afferting my claims ! 
 " Oh, my father! you but mock the ardour 
 *' of my hopes, the firmnefs of my refolu- 
 *' tion ! But fay. Why has this communica- 
 " tion been fo long, fo cru-eily delayed ?'^ 
 " It was delayed," replied the prior, " be- 
 **' caufe / was anxious to preferve a life you 
 ^^ are determined to hazard." 
 
 " Why then was it now made?" de- 
 manded Demetrius, with a half fmile. 
 
 "It was made from the difcovery that 
 '^ this life polTeffed no attractions for you, 
 " and that, without perfonal experience of 
 " the depravity of the world, you would 
 *' never remain content at a diftance from 
 
 it." 
 
 " Then the principal confequence you 
 '* anticipate from my abandonment of thi^ 
 *' cloifter is a defire to return to it,'' replied 
 Demetrius with gaiety. The prior anfwered 
 
 him
 
 ( =4 ) 
 
 him with Ills accuftomcd gravity, and Da- 
 metrius, anxious to retire from his prefence, 
 and freely to indulge the various feelings 
 which crowded on his mind, received the 
 letter now given him by the prior, and, re- 
 tiring to his cell, eagerly began to perufe it. 
 It was addrefled frqm the Czarina to the 
 late prior, and contained a fhort but affed- 
 ing account of the motives which had in- 
 duced her to confign her fon to his care. 
 She earneftly implored him to fecure that 
 fon from the machinations of Boris, and for 
 ever confign him to obfcurity, rather than 
 incur the chance of his perifhing by this 
 enemy of their devoted houfe. The tender 
 folicitude, the devoted affedlion, which 
 breathed throughout this letter, deeply af- 
 fected the heart of Demetrius, and recalled 
 the early imprefTion of maternal love, which 
 had never been entirely effaced from his 
 memory ; and to embrace this beloved 
 mother, to reftore her to that ftation fhe 
 had formerly occupied, became now the 
 deareft objed of his hopes j and again and 
 
 again
 
 ( 25 ) 
 
 again was the letter perufed and prefled 
 alternately to his heart and to his lips. To 
 the tumult of emotion fucceeded the calm- 
 nefs of deliberation. While he exulted in 
 the profped of that glorious deftiny opened 
 to his view, and in the confcioufnefs of pof- 
 fefling powers adequate to its fulfilment, in- 
 experienced in the ways of man, he yet felt 
 the neceflity of fome guide to affifl him 
 through the perilous path he was about to 
 tread. The propofal of the prior then oc- 
 curring to him, Demetrius determined to 
 adopt it, and, on his departure from the 
 convent, feek the immediate advice and pro- 
 tedion of Count Wiefnovitiki^ 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 « Devotion now, 
 " With eye enraptured, as the kindUng ftars' 
 •* Light one by one all heaven in a blaze 
 « Of living fire, adores the hand divine, 
 « Who formed their orbs, and poured forth glory on them.** 
 
 Cottle's Alfred. 
 •• E'n now his eyes with fmiles of rapture glow, 
 « As on he wanders through the fcenes of morn, 
 " Where the frefh flowers in living luilre blow, 
 •* Where thoufand pearls the dewy lawns adorn, 
 " A thoufand notes of joy in every breeze are borne." 
 
 BeatTIE's Minjlrcl. 
 
 TN every fubfequent converfation which 
 Demetrius held with the prior, the latter 
 feemed to regard him in the light of a facri- 
 fice, to confider him as the vidim of vain 
 illufions and impetuous defires: although he 
 confefled that he might once have indulged 
 in hopes as fanguine, and aims as romantic 
 as thofe which now inhabited the bread of 
 Demetrius, yet he perfifted in foretelling 
 their final difappointment. This conftant 
 
 oppofition
 
 ( 27 ) 
 
 ©ppofition of feeling and opinion became 
 inexpreflibly painful to Demetrius, who 
 longed more ardently than before to for- 
 fake the convent. The prior, apprehenfive 
 that if lie openly fanclioned the departure of 
 Demetrius, he fhould excite the curiofity, 
 or incur the fufpicion of the monks, advifed 
 him fecretly to abandon the convent and 
 to procure a guide to Cracow, the prefent 
 refidence of Count Wiefnovitlki, at the vil- 
 lage of Chudow. He configned to his care 
 the diamond crofs, together with fome 
 jewels of confiderable value, which had 
 been delivered by Count Galitzin to the 
 former prior. 
 
 The expreflions of gratitude and af- 
 fedion which the feeling heart of Deme- 
 trius urged him to addrefs to the fuperior, 
 were repreffed by the cold, grave manner 
 which he flill preferved towards him ; and 
 Demetrius fecretly hoping that the addrefs 
 of Count WIefnovitfki would be more con- 
 ciliating, in a voice offtifled fenfibility, bade 
 him farewell. Situations, however uninte- 
 e 2 refting.
 
 ( 28 ) 
 
 fefting, habits, however unendearlng, if 
 familiarized by long endurance, cannot be 
 finally abandoned, without creating a fingular 
 and almofl undefinable emotion, which does 
 not amount to regret, but which fufficiently 
 refembles it to check the ardour of hope, 
 and damp the exultation of confidence. De- 
 metrius experienced this, even at the 
 arrival of a moment, fo long, fo ardently 
 defired. The found of the door, as it clofed 
 after him on the fuperior's cell, the echo of 
 his footfteps through the vaulted paflages, 
 the voices of the monks chaunting their 
 nightly hymns ; all thofe founds, which re- 
 petition had formerly rendered unheeded, 
 now fell on his ear, and faftened on his 
 remembrance, as they were liflened to for 
 the lad time. But far other fenfations were 
 awakened in his bofom, as he unclofed the 
 private portal which led from the fuperior*s 
 apartments, and breathed the air of freedom, 
 and found himfelf a denizen of nature. The 
 air was ftlll and balmy, the iky was bright 
 and cloudlefsj the heavens glittered with 
 
 ftars ;
 
 ( 29 ) 
 
 ftars ; the earth fparkled with dew. Tl^e 
 immenfe plain, on which the monaftery was 
 fituated, was bounded only by lofty moun- 
 tains, whofe dark and rugged fummits 
 ftrongly contrafted the ferene and fmiling 
 afpedl: of the fky ; but this fky, alK beautiful 
 as it was, infpired emotions of fublimity : 
 the vaftnefs of its extent, the immenfity of 
 its height ; the awful ftillnefs with which fo 
 many orbs performed their revolutions ; the 
 radiance of the milky way 5 the wonders of 
 the aurora borealis ; all breathed of immor- 
 tality ; all declared the being of a God. The 
 belief wa^ irrefilliible ; the convi£lion was 
 inftantaneous ; it burft upon the reafon, it 
 penetrated the heart of Demetrius; he 
 bent his knee, and bowed his head with 
 reverential awe; and he, who in the cloifter's 
 gloom had denied his affent to the propa- 
 gated dogmas, owed his firfl feeling of de- 
 votion to the unreftrained furvey of the 
 wonders of creation. Demetrius flowly 
 proceeded ; emotions, at once profound and 
 enthufiaftlc, glowed in his heart : his mind 
 c 3 feemed
 
 ( 30 ) 
 
 feemed to partake of his body's freedom, 
 and he roved in imagination through the 
 bounds of fpace and time, to paufe at the 
 awful era of eternity. The firfi dawn of 
 morning light appeared, as he was afcending 
 the mountain he had on the preceding night 
 viewed in the diflance. From its fummit 
 he beheld the fertile vale of Chudow : the 
 villages glittering in the rays of the fun j 
 the wood, now clothed in its frefhefl ver- 
 dure ; the herds of cattle and flocks of fheep ; 
 the various founds which flole through th« 
 air, infpired emotions of gladnefs ; and with 
 quick, elaftic flep, Demetrius defcended the 
 mountain, and approached the village of 
 Chudow. He entered one of its hamlets, 
 and enquired for a guide to accompany him 
 to Lidda. His route had been previoufly 
 traced out by the prior : few difficulties 
 therefore remained for Demetrius to fur- 
 mount. Yet, although habited in the drefs 
 of a folifh peafant, which had been adopted 
 in order to elude obferyation, he found him- 
 felf an objedl: of wonder and curiofity. The 
 
 peculiar
 
 ( 3> ) 
 
 peculiar animation of his countenance and 
 geftures, the finking grandeur of his form, 
 the fplec^our of his yet unfunned com- 
 plexiony attracted the attention of the pea- 
 fants. Finding it necefiary to preferve a 
 greater degree of caution, he feldom addref- 
 fed his guide, as they proceeded towards 
 Lidda 5 and merely remained in each town 
 through which he pafled, a fufficient period 
 to refrefh and recruit himfelf, before he 
 again proceeded on his journey. In this 
 way he traverfed great part of Lithuania 
 and Poland ; his adive mind interefled iil 
 whatever he beheld, although the expreffion 
 of his feelings was concealed. It was to- 
 wards the clofe of day,, that he reached the 
 eminence which commanded an immediate 
 view of the city of Cracow. The Weifel, 
 flowing at the bafe of the hill, refledled in 
 its fmooth and clear ftream, the lofty fpires, 
 the ftately edifices, the glittering palaces^ of 
 the city. The plains, which ftretched to a 
 vaft extent around its walls, were fmiling in 
 all the luxuriance of fpring, and glowing 
 c 4 beneath
 
 ( 32 ) 
 
 beneath all the radiance of an unclouded 
 fun. It was the hour of feftivity and mirth ; 
 the trampling of horfes refounded through 
 the ftreets ; the bells rung from the ftt»cples ; 
 the hum of man afcended ; all teemed with 
 life, and light, and gaiety. The heart of 
 Demetrius throbbed with hope and exulta- 
 tion, as he contemplated the varied fcene. 
 He was about to enter on the ftage of ac- 
 tive life, to view the fplendid haunts of 
 man, to mix with that world his fancy had 
 fo often painted as an elyfium of blifs. 
 The glow of youth and health diffufed 
 through his frame that hilarity of fpirit 
 which IS felt by fome happily organized 
 beings, even independently of external cir- 
 cumftances ; but which rifes into rapture, 
 when thefe are in harmony with the feelings. 
 As Demetrius was defcending the road 
 which conduded to the city, his progrefs 
 was impeded by the approach of a numerous 
 and fplendid cavalcade : he remained flation- 
 ary as it pafled. The fine countenances and 
 dignified airs of the nobles, the fiery move- 
 
 menti
 
 C 33 ) 
 
 ments and fuperb trappings of the horfes, 
 excited his admiration ; but one objedt alone 
 foon attraded and rivetted his regards: this 
 was a young and lovely female, who, 
 mounted on a flight, but fpirited fleed, was 
 converling with a nobleman, who rode be- 
 fide her. Her countenance, beaming with 
 intelligence, befpoke her foul as yet un- 
 touched by forrow, unvifited by misfortune. 
 The gaiety of youth fhone in her fmile j 
 the brilliancy of health glowed onher cheeky 
 the fire of hope and happinefs fparkled in 
 her eye. To Demetrius, who had never 
 beheld the female face, but in the fun-burnt 
 features of thepeafantry ; or the female form, 
 but under their ruflic garb ; the bright and 
 beautiful figure, now prefented to his view, 
 feemed rather a vifion of fancy, than a being 
 of reality : " not touchM but rapt," " i>ot 
 " waken'd but infpirM," he continued to 
 gaze on her, while fhe remained within his 
 view ; and, when her robe no longer floated 
 in his fight, and her fweet and lively accents 
 no longer reached his ear, a figh deep and 
 c 5 uncon-
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 uncontrollable burfl: from his lips. Deme- 
 trius, at length darting from a reverie into 
 which he had fallen, proceeded towards 
 the city : it was that city which the lovely 
 objed of his admiration had inhabited, and 
 there perhaps fhe might again return ; at 
 this idea his heart beat high with tranfport, 
 and involuntarily quickening his pace, he 
 foon found himfelf in the fuburbs, and from 
 thence was direded to the palace of Wiefno- 
 vitfki. It was fituated in the moft fplendid 
 fquare of the city : the grand hall was 
 thronged with attendants ; to one of whom 
 Demetrius delivered the packet, (which the 
 prior had addrefled to Count Wiefnovitfki,) 
 and was then conduced by him into an anti- 
 ehapiber, where, throwing himfelf on a 
 couch, he remained abforbed by various 
 reflexions. There are moments in our lives 
 when ourrecolledions are fo confufed, our 
 feelings fo tumultuous, our hopes fo unde- 
 fined, that we feem rather to dream than to 
 think : this is peculiarly the cafe after having 
 experienced any new and ftrong emotion : 
 
 the
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 the whole train of our ideas is difordered ; 
 we no longer recognife our former views 
 and motives to adlion ; we ftart with amaze- 
 ment at the new feelings and defires which 
 have arifen within us. Thus felt Demetrius 
 as he awaited in the antichamberthe entrance 
 of Count Wiefnovitlki : he wondered at 
 the indifference with which he beheld the 
 approach of that moment he had once fo 
 eagerly anticipated : he wondered at the 
 pertinacity, with which he retraced the re- 
 membrance of the beautiful ftranger, with 
 which he clung to the hope of once again 
 beholding her : yet flill this remembrance 
 was fo fweet, this hope fo precious, that he 
 continued to dwell on the one, or indulge 
 the other, till the entrance of Count Wief- 
 novitfki aroufed him from his reverie. 
 Demetrius arofe. The Count approached 
 and eagerly feizing his hand, exclaimed, 
 *' Unfortunate Prince ! what a feries of 
 " crimes andof miferies has the prior's nar- 
 " rative difclofed ! Rightly . indeed did he 
 " judge, that I fliould e/j)ou/e, and as far 
 c 6 "as
 
 C 36 ) 
 
 " as my power will permit, ajftjl the caufe 
 " of injured innocence." 
 
 The animation with which he fpoke, re- 
 kindled at oncethe enthufiafm of Demetrius: 
 with all the eloquence of ftrong and ardent 
 feeling, he exprefled his gratitude, he 
 poured forth his hopes, he defcribed his 
 aims and his ambition. Count Wiefnovitfki 
 regarded him with evident admiration. The 
 elegance of his language, the grace of his 
 a£lion, the intelligence of his countenance, 
 furprifed and charmed him : while Deme- 
 trius felt no lefs attracted by the manner and 
 perfon of his new alTociate. His countenance 
 was not remarkable for regularity of feature, 
 but his eyes, dark and piercing, feemed at 
 one glance to read the fouls of thofe with 
 whom he converfed \ while the fmile of be- 
 nevolence, which played around his mouth, 
 affured them, that whatever foibles he might 
 difcover there, they would remain confined 
 to his own heart, and by that heart be re- 
 garded with pity and forgivenefs : 
 
 " A ftiort
 
 C 37 ) 
 
 " A fliort period," faid Count Wiefno- 
 vltfki to Demetrius, as they feparated, after 
 an interview of fome hours ; '' a fhort pe- 
 " riod muft be given to deliberation ; but 
 " afiure.yourfelf that this fhall be fucceeded 
 " byaaion.'* 
 
 Demetrius, throwing himfelf on the couch 
 prepared for him, found the glow of am- 
 bition, the throb of love, and the ardour 
 of hope, equally yield to the fenfe of 
 unconquerable fatigue. He funk into a 
 profound repofe, which was firft inter- 
 rupted by the blaze of a meridian fun, 
 fhining through the crimfon curtains of 
 his apartment. He found, on preparing to 
 equip himfelf, that Count Wiefnovitfki had 
 provided for him the garment of a Polifh 
 noble. Habited in this, he defcended to 
 the faloon, in which, on the preceding 
 night, he had feparated from him. Count 
 Wiefnovitfki, at the entrance of Demetrius, 
 ftarted in amazement at the metamorphofis 
 he beheld. His luxuriant ringlets, which 
 
 had
 
 ( 38 ) 
 
 had before been concealed beneath the pea- 
 fant's cap, now waved gracefully over his 
 majeftic brow. The fymmetry and grandeur 
 of his form, which had been obfcured by the 
 large coarfe cloak, were now difplayed to 
 the utmofl advantage by the embroidered 
 veft and purple mantle. The fire of genius, 
 the grace of gaiety, the dignity of manhood, 
 and the brilliancy of youth, were happily 
 combined in a countenance, whofe ever 
 varying exprellion betrayed each movement 
 of a reftlefs foul, which could neither reprefs 
 or conceal its adivities ; that countenance 
 was now ferene and fmiling, yet the grand 
 outline of its features, the occafional glance 
 of its kindling eye betrayed its capability of 
 exprefling all the ftrong and ftormy paf- 
 fions of a lofty nature. The Count accofted 
 him with mingled cordiality and refpe^l. In 
 the converfation which enfued, Demetrius 
 exprefled his anxiety to acquire all thofe 
 perfonal accomplilhments fuited to the flatioi> 
 he might hereafter occupy, and to make 
 himfelf acquainted with the practice as well 
 
 10 as
 
 C 39 ) 
 
 as the theory of war, before he fought to 
 lead armies to the field. 
 
 " Your defire coincides with my opi- 
 " nion,'* replied Count Wiefnovitiki ; '* I 
 " am aware, that however powerful may 
 " be the martial genius or inclination, a fol- 
 " dier fhould always pafs through the fub- 
 *' ordinate degrees of military rank before 
 " he arrives at fupreme command. In your 
 " fituation it were greatly advantageous to 
 " acquire the refpecl of the Poles by your 
 " valour, before you attempt to awaken 
 " their interefl: by your flory : they will 
 '* then embrace your caufe with confidence 
 ** as well as enthufiafm. The prefent junc- 
 '' ture of affairs is particularly favorable t^ 
 " fuch a defign. The Swedes, after having 
 " expelled our fovereign, Sigifmund, from 
 *' that throne which had defcended to him 
 " from his anceflors, are now preparing to 
 " invade this kingdom. The fpirit of mili- 
 " tary ardour which breathes throughout 
 " the land again ft the prefent enemy, 
 *' though not immediately favorable to your 
 
 " views^
 
 ( 40 ) 
 
 " views, will eventually prove fo, as It will 
 ** enable you to obtain a prafllcal know- 
 " ledge of martial difcipline, while the war- 
 " like fpirit once awakened in the kingdom, 
 " -will, without difficulty, be impelled into a 
 ** different direction. In the meantime, it is 
 " of infinite importance that your real rank 
 " be concealed, left Boris obtain premature 
 *' information of your having efcaped his 
 
 *' machinations, and fecretly difpatch his 
 " emiffarles into Poland, to obtain poflef- 
 " fion of your perfon." He paufed, and 
 Demetrius gratefully acceded to his fug- 
 geftions. In the converfation which enfued, 
 the Count again found occafion to admire 
 the grace and candour of the Prince's man- 
 ner, and the mingled juftnefs and penetra- 
 tion of his remarks ; while Demetrius felt 
 irrefiftibly attracted by the addrefs , of his 
 prefent companion ; who pofleffed the happy 
 art of exprcfling, even by a gefture or a. 
 glance, his fenfe of the merits or approba- 
 tion of the talents of thofe with whom he 
 converfed. This filent homage flatters our 
 
 vanity^
 
 ( 41 ) 
 
 vanity, without alarming our modefty : wc 
 do not feel called upon to difclaim that ad- 
 mbation which is never openly exprefled, 
 and, appearing to flow from the heart, infi- 
 nuates itfelf into our confidence^ and dif- 
 fufes a charm, rather felt than underftood, 
 over the fociety of thofe who beftow it. 
 
 Demetrius was introduced by Count 
 Wiefnovitfki to his friends under the title 
 of Count Lucknow, a young noble of Lithu- 
 ania. Although the King was abfent from 
 Cracow, the city was a theatre of revelry 
 and fplendour. 
 
 Plunged at once into a fcene fo new, fo 
 intoxicating, Demetrius at firfl adopted that 
 belief common to every youthful mind, that 
 in the delirium of the fenfes exifts the fecret 
 of happinefs. Experience foon corrected 
 this tranfitory error : the reign of pleafure 
 over a ftrong mind is abfolute, but fliort. 
 His imagination was dazzled, but his judg- 
 ment was offended ; his fenfes were in- 
 flamed, but his heart was untouched. The 
 ftrength of his reafon, the energies of his 
 
 mind.
 
 C 42 ) 
 
 mind^ languished amidft the repetition of 
 infipid pleafures; and that infenfibility to 
 enjoyment, that wearlfomenefs of life which 
 had opprefled him in the flilhiefs of the con- 
 vent, returned even amidft the gaiety of the 
 city. The hopes of once more encounter- 
 ing the lovely flranger had, for a while, in- 
 duced him to perfevere in vifiting thefe 
 fcenes of difTipation, even after their attrac- 
 tion had ceafed : but this hope gradually 
 faded from his mind ; and he determined to 
 devote his time exclufively to the acquire^ 
 ment of that knowledge, or thofe arts, which 
 after-circumftances might render requifite 
 or beneficial. With an intention of com- 
 municating this determination to Count 
 Wiefnovitfki, Demetrius joined him in the 
 faloon, and expreffed his feelings and confe* 
 quentrefolution with his accuflomed energy 
 of manner and of language. 
 
 *' This declaration does not furprife me,** 
 faid Count Wiefnovitfki, with a fmile ; 
 *' the indifference with which you llflen to 
 " the voice of flattery, or behold the glance 
 
 ^' of
 
 ( 43 ) 
 
 *' of love, even in the eyes of the beautiful 
 " Countefs Siradia, has not paffed unre- 
 ^^ garded ; nor has it excited my furprize ; 
 " you are deflined to run a nobler race, and 
 " obtain a higher prize, than the career of 
 ^' pleafure has to prefent, or to beflow. 
 " The feelings you experience tovi^ards 
 " thofe who continue to purfue the beaten 
 " track are perfectly natural : when we 
 '' are unable to receive pleafure from ob- 
 ** jeds ourfelves, we are difpofed to feel 
 " furprifed at, and fometimes indignant with 
 " others, for being more eafily fatisfied/' 
 
 " You have expreffed my own fenti- 
 " ments/' replied Demetrius ; " nothing 
 ** conveys fo cheerlefs, fo painful a feeling to 
 " the heart, as the view of mirth, with which 
 " we can neither participate or fympathize. 
 " It is pleafing to behold the fports of 
 *' children, becaufe they refult from genu- 
 *' ine enjoyment, from heart-felt innocence; 
 " but the gaiety of man too frequently ap- 
 " pears rather premeditated than fponta- 
 '^ neous ; rather an appearance than a rea- 
 " Ijty, rather an eiFort than an impulfe." 
 
 « Beware,"
 
 ( 44 ) 
 
 *^ Beware," replied Count Wlefnovltfkf^ 
 gaily, " how you exprefs fuch fentiments 
 " within the precinds of a court. 
 
 " Pleafure here has not occafionr.l incenfe 
 " merely prefented at her altars, but her 
 " votive fires blaze inceflantly j and her 
 '^ votaries are ever prepared to attack the 
 " recreant, who refufes to celebrate her 
 " orgies. You muft not condemn me, if I 
 " confefs, that this evening I Ihall be pre- 
 ^^ fent at her worfhip ; nor refufe my re- 
 *' queft, that yoii will alfo aflift in offering 
 '* her facrifice. Nay/' continued he, more 
 ferioufly, " I fhould not be thus impor- 
 " tunate without a motive. You have fre- 
 *^ quently expreffed your furprife at the in- 
 *' difference with which I regard the beau- 
 " ties of the court ; to-night, at the palace 
 " of Siradia, you will behold one, whofe 
 " beauty furpaffes them all ; to-night you 
 " will behold the Princefs Marina of Sen- 
 « domir." 
 
 The joy, which illumined the counte- 
 nance of Count Wiefnovitfki, was far from 
 creating a correfponding emotion in the 
 
 I breaf^,
 
 ( 45 ) 
 bread of Demetrius. " Auguftus, fortu- 
 ^' nate Auguftus," he thought, «* how dif- 
 *^ ferent are our feelings and our fates !" 
 Though flrongly tempted to communicate 
 to his friend the tranfient view he had ob- 
 tained of her who had made fo lading an im- 
 preflion on his heart, yet he felt retrained 
 by a feeling of embarraflfment, which he 
 found it painful to overcome. He con- 
 fented to accompany the Count to the Sira- 
 dia palace. The magnificent apartment into 
 which they were ufhered on their entrance, 
 was fupported by columns entwined with 
 garlands ; the walls, on every fide, were con- 
 cealed by immenfe mirrors, which refleded 
 the gay and ever moving throng. Deme- 
 trius immediately perceived the Countefs 
 Siradia, whofe natural beauty was heightened 
 by every advantage that art could beflow : 
 her fplendid robe, glittering with jewels, was 
 admirably calculated to difplay the perfed 
 fymmetry of her form, which rofe to a 
 majeftic height, and received additional 
 grandeur from a diamond tiara. Sur- 
 rounded by the mofl accomplifhed nobles of 
 
 the
 
 ( 46 ) 
 
 the court, Ihe was receiving that admiration 
 file fo highly prized, and ardently defired : 
 but the charms of the Countefs formed not 
 their only attra£lion : near the dazzling, the 
 commanding Henrietta, moved a foft and 
 lovely being, whofe retiring, yet expreflive 
 glances, feemed rather to avoid than feek 
 admiration. Her bright, luxuriant trefleS 
 were fhaded by a white tranfparent veil, 
 which, after concealing part of her neck and 
 jflioulders, fell in graceful foldings over the 
 bright azure of her drapery, whofe etherial 
 hue gave additional brilliancy to her com- 
 plexion : the pearls, which ornamented her 
 drefs and flowing ringlets, increafed the ele- 
 gance, without deflroying the fmiplicity of 
 her coftume. A fmgle glance at this beau- 
 tiful figure convinced Demetrius it was the 
 fame he had beheld, on his firft entrance 
 into Cracow. He eagerly, yet falteringly, 
 enquired her title of Count Wiefnovitfki. 
 " The Princefs of Sendomir,'' was the tri- 
 umphant reply. The heart of Demetrius 
 funk within him at the found. " Let me 
 *' prefent you to her/' continued the Count ; 
 
 and
 
 ( 47 ) 
 
 and he led Demetrius towards the t^rincefs. 
 She received them with infinite fweetnefs ; 
 and the Count, more animated, more fafci^ 
 nating, than Demetrius had ever yet beheld 
 him, immediately entered into converfation 
 with her ; while he, the hue of his cheek 
 faded^ the fire of his eye fled, remained 
 filent befide them. The fweet and pene- 
 trating tones of the Princefs's voice, the 
 chaflened gaiety of her manner, the mingled 
 fenfe and fpirit of her remarks, conveyed an 
 undefinable fenfation of foftnefs and anguifh 
 to the breaft of Demetrius. Love, in its 
 commencement, even if it exift Without hope, 
 is foothed, rather than irritated, by the pre- 
 fence of the beloved objed ; it derives a 
 melancholy gratification from gazing on her 
 form, from liftening to her voice, from 
 dwelling on her perfections ; but this grati- 
 fication is fatal as it is fafcinating ; all its 
 fweetnefs is gradually drained from the in- 
 toxicating draught, and bitternefs alone re- 
 mains, while thofe perfections, which were 
 formerly remembered with a mingled emo- 
 tion of triumph and forrow, are recalled only 
 
 with
 
 ( 48 ) 
 
 With fen fations of fuffering and of impatience. 
 Demetrius, unacquainted with the frightful 
 progrefs of the human paflions, though 
 touched with melancholy and regret, felt 
 irrefiftibly impelled to retain his flation near 
 the Princefs. 
 
 Struck with furprife at the change in his 
 manner and appearance, the Countefs Siradia 
 approached and rallied him on his air of 
 gloom and abflradion. He attempted to 
 reply with his accuflomed vivacity, but, 
 finding the effort too painful to fupport, 
 requefted her to honour him by a renewal 
 of her inflrudions in the game of macao. 
 She fmilingly complied, and led the way 
 into another apartment. The eyes of 
 Marina followed him as he retired. " Your 
 " friend," faid (he, addreffing the Count, 
 " is not kfs remarkable for the dignity of 
 " his mien, than the Angularity of his 
 " manner." 
 
 *^ My friend is one on whom you muft 
 ** not too haftily decide," replied the Count. 
 " To-night, I confefs, he has deemed it 
 " proper toperfonate the god of filence; 
 
 '^and
 
 ( 49 ) 
 
 " and had not his eye borne teftimony to 
 '^ the gratification his lip refufed to exprefs, 
 " I Ihould regret his having complied with 
 " my requefl of accompanying me to this 
 " fcene of feflivity. But,'* refumed he, 
 after a moment's paufe, "I am anxious that 
 ** you (hould not, even for a moment, retain 
 " an unfavourable impreflion of him. He 
 " is one whom to know is to love. He 
 " pofTefTes a genius, which, untamed by an 
 " early intercourfe with the world, difplays 
 " itfelf in the fearL'fs originality of his 
 ^' opinions, in the peculiar felicity of his 
 " expreffions, in the ftriking grandeur of 
 " his views and his conceptions; he poiTefles 
 " a heart, llrongly fufceptible of every im- 
 " preflion, candid, generous, noble, en- 
 " thufiaftic in its attachrnents, violent, but 
 " not lafling in its refentments. Yet thus 
 *' adorned with every perfonal and mental 
 " grace, to know him as /know him, and 
 " not to tremble for his future fate, is im- 
 " pollible ; his impatience of the neceflary 
 " reftraints of fociety, hfs too unguardedly 
 " expreffed' contempt of its follies and its 
 VOL. I. D " pre.
 
 ( so ) 
 
 ** prejudices, induce me to apprehend that 
 *' if ever — '* The Count abruptly paul'ed, 
 alarmed at having fo nearly incurred the 
 danger of betraying his friend's fecret. 
 
 The Princefo, who had IKtened with ap- 
 parent intereil to this eulogium, now ap- 
 peared difappointed at its abrupt termina- 
 tion, but thoughtfully replied, " Whatever 
 *' be the future danger he may have to 
 *' encounter, at prefent he is Fortunate in 
 *' the poffefTion of fuch a friend as Count 
 '* Wiefnovitfki." The Count made his ac- 
 knowledgements for this compliment ; and 
 then obeying a fummons to join the dance, 
 for this purpofe condudied the Princefs into 
 another apartment. At the conclufion of 
 the Saraband -the Count led Manna towards 
 a feat, near which Demetrius was ftationed ; 
 at the fame moment Count KoITar ap- 
 proached, and, addrefTmg the Count, drev/ 
 him afide, and diverted his attention from 
 the Princefs. Demetrius flill remained fileiit, 
 though his eyes with even an encreafed cx- 
 preffion of admiration, were fixed on her 
 5 cGunte-
 
 C SI ) 
 
 countenance. The Princefs felt embarrafled 
 and, anxious to interrupt the filence they 
 had hitherto prefer ved, faid in a timid voice, 
 " My Lord, I have been attending to your 
 " eulogium from Count Wiefnovitfki, till 
 '' I felt almoft inclined to envy you the 
 " polTeffion of fuch a friend." Demetrius, 
 when file began to addrefs him, had ad- 
 vanced to\^^ards her with an air of animation; 
 but at the conclufion of her fpeech his ex- 
 prefTion varied. 
 
 " I am not infenfible," he replied, in a 
 voice of reflraint, *' to the value of Count 
 '' Wiefnoviilki's friendfhip ; but furely you, 
 " Lady, can have no reafon to envy me the 
 *' poflefiion of that which you are fo emU 
 " nently calculated to feel and to infpire/* 
 
 The Princefs, not aware that thefe words 
 alluded particularly to the friendlliip of the 
 Count, but deeming the obfervation a gene- 
 ral one, replied, " Friendfiiip is a treafure 
 " of fo high a value, and requires qualifica- 
 '' tions of fo rare a nature, that I fliould 
 " efleem it almoft prefumptuous to flatter 
 D 2 " myfelf 
 
 UNlV^nSlTY OF 
 ILLINOIS LIBRARY
 
 ( 52 ) 
 
 " myfclF into the belief of poflciring them. 
 " A good underftandiug is no lefs requi- 
 " fite than a good heart ; an underftanding 
 " which enables us to difcern the charadler 
 «' of a friend in all its bearings, and a heart 
 *f which teaches us to cherifn the remem- 
 " brance of its virtues, and forgive or forget 
 " its imperfeiStions." 
 
 " However I may fail in every other 
 " refped," faid the gay Count Koflar, who 
 now joined them, " if to dwell on your 
 *' virtues alone be one proof of friendfnip, 
 " I may claim the honour of feeling it: 
 " perhaps, however, I deferve the lefs ap- 
 •' plaufe on this account, fince your imper- 
 *« fedions I never difcovered." The eyes of 
 Demetrius expreifed a mixture of contempt 
 and indignation at this addrefs, and the fa- 
 miliarity with which it was conveyed : the 
 Princefs, however, without replying to it, at- 
 tended to Count\Viefnovitlki,who had heard 
 her obfervation, and now faid, '' I agree with 
 *' Your Highnefs that it is impoflible to de- 
 " pend upon the liability of friendfhip in 
 
 " weak
 
 ( 53 ) 
 
 '* weakmirKis: they fee charadlers too much 
 " by ghmpfes, unable to difcover defects by 
 " their penetration, till their confequences 
 " are learnt from their experience ; they 
 " are fuddenly attracted by fome pleafmg, 
 *' and as fuddenly repelled by fome un- 
 " amiable, quality.'* 
 
 " Yes," faid Demetrius, " imperfe£l our- 
 " felves, we yet exped: perfection in others, 
 '' not aware that certain qualities are as 
 " liable to the attendants of certain defeds, 
 *' as the ocean is fubje£t to tempefts, or the 
 " wind to inftability/' 
 
 *^ Your wifli," faid the Count, with a 
 fmile, '^ to confider forbearance as amongft 
 " the firft duties of friendfhip, would teach 
 *^ me to apprehend, if not previouily ac- 
 *' quainted with your charader, that you 
 ," expeded to require its exertion in your 
 " favour." 
 
 " Your fufpicion would but be toojufl," 
 replied Demetrius, " and I never more 
 " painfully experienced its truth than at 
 " this moment." 
 
 . D 3 Marina,
 
 
 ' ( 54 ) 
 
 Marina, aft onifhed at the efFed the Count's 
 playful remark had produced on Demetrius, 
 endeavoured to divert it, by faying, ** Is 
 " there not fome danger that we may ex* 
 " tend this indulgence to the error of our 
 
 friends, to error in general ?" 
 By no means,! fhould imagine," replied 
 " Demetrius : " friends are not to be loved 
 " for, but notwiihjiandhig^ their faults." 
 
 " May I enquire the fubje£t of this grave 
 " differtation ?" demanded the Countefs 
 Siradia, who now approached them. 
 
 '' The faults of friends, Madam," replied 
 Count KofTar. 
 
 " The faults of friends 1" repeated fhc, 
 with an air of furprize ; " I mud confefs 
 ** I fhould have deemed their virtues a more 
 *' agreeable theme ; for myfelf, I own that 
 *' I find it as difficult to difcover faults in 
 *' my friends, as virtues in my enemies. 
 *^ We mufl at prefent, however, poftpone 
 *' our enquiries into the merits of this 
 " fubjed, ani attend the fummons to the 
 *' banquet." 
 
 She
 
 ( 55 ) 
 
 She requefted Count WIefnovitfki to con- 
 dud the Princefs thither ; and for herfelf 
 demanded the attendance of Demetrius, who 
 reludantly obeyed ; but though placed be- 
 fide the fafcinating Countefs, his eyes were 
 rivetted on the bright and beautiful coui^- 
 tenance of the Princefs of Sendomir. She 
 was feated between the Counts Wiefnovitfki 
 and KofTar j and although Demetrius heard 
 not the words fhe addreifed to them, he re- 
 marked the air of interefl with which Ihe 
 liftened to the former, and the arch, yet 
 fupp'rcffed, fmile, which played on her lips, 
 as fhe replied to the latter. Unaccuftomed 
 to conceal his feelings, he continued to gaze 
 on her, till the Countefs, furprized at his 
 filence, purfued the diredion of his eye, and 
 perceived from whence it arofe. " The 
 " beauty of the Princefs of Sendomir," faid 
 Ihe, " is fo refplendent, that the inferior 
 " orbs, who move within her fphere, are in 
 " danger of being obfcured and forgotten." 
 
 The air of pique which accompanied 
 
 thefe words, recalled Demetrius to felf 
 
 D 4 pof-
 
 ( 56 ) 
 
 pofTefllon, and during the remainder of the 
 evening, his attention was devoted to the 
 Countefs. The animation of his coun- 
 tenance, the gaiety of his converfation, were 
 artificial ; but Marina remarked the varia- 
 tions in his manner with furprize, and. 
 by exciting curiofity and conjecture, they 
 awakened attention and intereft. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( S7 ) 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 " Marina gets 
 '« Ail praifes, which are paid as debts, 
 «* And not as given." Pericles, 
 
 " Her charms, her mind, her virtues he explor'd 
 " Admiring. Soon was admiration chang'd 
 •' To love, nor lov'd he Iboner, than defpair'd: 
 ** But unreveard and filent was his pain ; 
 •' Nor yet in folitary ftiades he roam'd, 
 " Nor fhunii'd refort : but o'er his forrows caft 
 " A fitkly dawn of gladnefs, and in fmiles 
 " Conceal'd his anguifn ; while the fecret flsjme 
 " Rag'd in his bofom, and its peace confum'd.** 
 
 Glover's Leonidas» 
 
 TV /f ARINA, Prlncefs of Sendomir, was the 
 only defcendant of one of the mod 
 powerful nobles of Poland, the Palatine of 
 Sendomir. The early part of her life had been 
 fpent in the retirement of her father's caftle : 
 here ihe had derived from his inftrudions a 
 degree of knowledge, which combined with 
 her naf^ral genius, rendered her as diftin- 
 guifhed for the qualities of her mind, as for 
 the beauty of her perfon. The fenfibility of 
 her heart equalled the flrength of her un- 
 D 5 derflandingj
 
 C 58 ) 
 
 derftanding : that betwitchliig tendernefs, 
 that devotion to the will of a beloved objed, 
 traits fo eflenfial in the feminine character, 
 were poffefled by Marina in their fulleft ex- 
 tent : for the abfence of thefe endearincr 
 
 o 
 
 qualities, even beauty the moffc alluring, or 
 graces the mod captivating, cannot atone ; 
 thefe may indeed infpire an ardent pafTion, 
 but cannot preferve a pure and conftant at- 
 tachment, 
 
 Marina had imbibed from her father a 
 ftrong and enthufiaflic fenfe of religion. 
 Devotion was in her a vital principle, which 
 accompanied every thought, and influenced 
 every action ; which taught her to fuccour 
 diflrefs, to forgive error, to weep with the 
 wretched, and rejoice with the fortunate ; 
 which taught her, amidd the beautiful 
 fcenery of nature, to love the goodnefs, 
 and amidfh the fublime and terrific, to adore 
 the power of the Almighty. A flranger 
 to forrow, fhe. could fcarcely believe its 
 reality ; and when felicity, the moft unal- 
 loyed, gladdened her heart, and its ani- 
 
 matin^g
 
 ( 59 y 
 
 mating, fmlle played round her mouth, (he 
 would mentally exclaim, " Is it poflible 
 ** that there are beings who, far from 
 " deeming exigence a bleffing, figh for its 
 '* termination, while to me life prefents 
 " continual charms, and each day teems 
 " whh new enjoyment I" 
 
 When the Princefs of Sendomirappieared 
 at court, refplendent with youth, fparkling 
 with gaiety, brilliant, happy, innocent, fhe 
 feared not to exprefs, with equal grace and 
 enthufiafm, the varied feelings of her pure 
 and noble mind. Her rank would have 
 enfured refped ; her beauty commanded 
 admiration ; her virtues excited efleem : but 
 when combining with qualities fuch as thefe 
 the poffeflion of talents as rare as attra£tive^ 
 it may well be deemed fhe was calculated to 
 infpire the moft unbounded intereft, the 
 moft enthufiaftic admiration. Flattered, 
 followed, adored, fhe yet preferved that 
 fimplicity fo charadleriflic of genius, that 
 modefty fo effential to woman : her manners 
 acquired the refinements of a court, while 
 B 6 her
 
 C 60 ) 
 
 her mind remained untouched by its artifi- 
 cial intercourfe. Thus the" furface of the 
 diamond acquires a polifh by attrition, vhile 
 its fubflance retains all its original purity. 
 Such was the Princefs of Sendomir, when 
 firfl Demetrius was prefented to her by the 
 Count. The mingled grace and dignity of 
 his manner, the fire of his countenance, the 
 deep mellow tone of his voice, the fweet- 
 nefs of his fmile, during the fhort conver- 
 fation fhe had held with him, combined, 
 with the enthufiaflic eulogium the Count 
 had pronounced on him, to leave a ftrong 
 imprefTicn on the mind of the Princefs, and 
 to create a fecret defire again to behold 
 him. This defire did not long remain un- 
 gratified ; the Count foon introduced De- 
 metrius at the palace of Sendomir; and 
 here, as often as the eflabliflied forms of 
 foci ety permitted, the two friends prefented 
 themfelves. 
 
 The Palatine, who had always regarded 
 he Coant with peculiar efleem, extended 
 this fentiment towards his friend j and ex- 
 
 preffed
 
 ( 6i ) 
 
 prefied confiderable fatisfadion at learning 
 his intention of entering into the fervice of 
 Poland. 
 
 In the frequent and familiar intercourfe 
 which Demetrius now held with the Palatine 
 and Marina, he was enabled to obferve the 
 effect of religion on the mind, when divefled 
 of thofe fuperftitions with which he had 
 been accuflomed to behold it infeparably 
 conneded. He now firft learnt to believe 
 and to reverence the fublime truths of 
 Clhriftianity ; but his indignation was more 
 than ever excited againff: thofe inftitutions, 
 whofe obvious futility had fo long prevented 
 him from receiving and acknowledging the 
 divine dodrines they fought to adorn and 
 promulgate. He was not aware that the 
 impreflion made on the fenfes by public 
 ordinances aflifts that conveyed to the mind 
 by religious precepts ; and that, when thefe 
 have been habitually united, the former 
 cannot be attacked without deflroying the 
 reverence attached to the latter. 
 
 Demetrius,
 
 ( 62 ) 
 
 Demetrius, prepofTeffed by the belief, that 
 a mutual attachment fubfifted bqtween the 
 Count and the Princefs, felt confirmed in 
 this opinion by the pleafure fhe always ap- 
 peared to receive from his fociety, and by 
 the admiration with which the Count always 
 fpoke of Marina's. He had long endea- 
 voured to perfuade himfelf into a belief, that 
 the eagernefs with which he continued to 
 feek her fociety proceeded rather from 
 efteem than afFe£tion ; and that the influence 
 of her beauty was forgotten in that of her 
 talents. Yet the anguifh he experienced, 
 as he marked the pleafure which beamed 
 from her eyes at the entrance of the Count> 
 or beheld her addrefs him with all her 
 fmiling fafcination of manner, might have 
 convinced him of the nature of his fen- 
 timents, had he not (hrunk from their in- 
 veftigation. 
 
 The mornings of Demetrius had been re- 
 gularly pafTed in folitude, and devoted to 
 fludy. Having at the accuflomed hour 
 retired to his apartment, he placed himfelf 
 
 at
 
 ( 6^ ) 
 
 at a table covered with maps of the different 
 provinces of Lithuania and Ruflia, plans of 
 fortifications, military models, &c. &c. : he 
 drew them towards him, but could not com- 
 mand his attention to their examination. 
 His eye glanced over rivers or forefts, or 
 wandered from baftions to redoubts ; but 
 his thoughts were far diflant ; they were 
 employed in dwelling on the recolledion of 
 Marina's fweet yet penfive fmile, as (lie bade 
 him farewell on the preceding evening. He 
 fancied that her manner was lefs brilliant 
 than formerly ; but it was more attractive, 
 ' more interefting : that her eye was lefs 
 fparlding, but its expreflion was more tender 
 and more touching. From whence could 
 fuch a change proceed ? She was ftill the 
 Princefs of Sendomir, the admired of every 
 eye, the" beloved of every heart — beloved 
 too by that heart whofe pofleflion alone fhe 
 valued. The pang which ever attended the 
 idea of Marina's attachment to his friend was 
 now accompanied with that of felf-reproach. 
 He endeavoured to banifli thefe painful emo- 
 tions.
 
 ( 64 ) 
 
 tlons, by recalling the high hopes, the ex- 
 alted aims, the glowing ambition, which had 
 formerly inhabited his bread ; but the de- 
 prelTmgqueftion occurred, would thefe hopes, 
 if fulfilled, — would this ambition, if gratified, 
 now afford him happincfs ? Oh never ! 
 never ! was the agonizing reply. He then 
 attempted to forget the pangs of difappointed 
 love, of fickening hope, by dv/elling on the 
 memory of his mother, by recalling the idea 
 of her parting tendernefs, fo often and fo 
 fondly retraced in his remembrance. But 
 thofe who love find every tender emotion 
 infenfibly conneded with that which is the 
 niafter-fpring of them all : their regard for 
 their former friends appears more warm, it 
 is expreffed more frequently and more en- 
 thufiaftically ; but this proceeds from that 
 oveiflowing foftnefs of heart which, when 
 infpired by love, refembles fnow impreg- 
 nated by the warm atmofphere of fpring, 
 which diffolves beneath the fun-beam's 
 feebleft glance. 
 
 Demetrius,
 
 ( 65 ) 
 
 Demetrius, finding every effort vain to 
 divert his mind from the painful recollec- 
 tions which crov^^ded upon him, arofe and 
 paced the room with a rapid flep, to dif- 
 lipate by motion the poignancy of thofe 
 thoughts which folitude and reft rendered 
 more oppreflive. Count Wiefnovitfki en- 
 tered the apartment. " The found of your 
 " footfteps," faid he, " convincing me that 
 *' your fludies would not receive any inter- 
 *' ruption by my entrance, I have ventured 
 *' to intrude, in order to communicate to 
 " you fome intelligence of importance." 
 
 The animation of the Count's voice and 
 manner oppofed a painful contraft ta the 
 feelings of Demetrius. This gay and happy 
 air in a favoured rival appeared a fpecies of 
 infult ; and finding it difficult to reprefs the 
 irritation it excited, he replied in a grave 
 and abrupt tone to the Count's addrefs, 
 without making any enquiry as to the 
 nature of the intelligence he had to com- 
 municate. 
 
 The
 
 ( 66 J 
 
 The Count, after glancing his eye over 
 the countenance of Demetrius, faid in an 
 altered tone, " Fev/ circum (lances have ex- 
 ** cited in me more aftonifliment than the 
 " little intereft you have of late exprefTed 
 " in what, at one period, abforbed your 
 ** every thought, and influenced your every 
 *^ adion. It appears almofl requifite," 
 continued he, obferving the glance of en- 
 quiry which Demetrius directed towards 
 him, " to remind you, that you are de- 
 *' fcended from the race of Ivan, that you 
 *' are heir to the empire of RufTia." 
 
 "And when, or how. My Lord," haugh- 
 tily demanded Demetrius, " have I evinced 
 " this forgetfulnefs ?" " 1NIay," replied the 
 Count, with a fmile of fuch fweetnefs as 
 might have difarmed anger itfelf of its attri- 
 butes, " I will confefs, that you at prefent 
 " polTefs an entire confcioufnefs of your 
 *' imperial lineage : the air of majefly dif- 
 *^ fufed over your perfon proclaims that 
 *' you feel the diftindion between a fove- 
 '' reign and a fubjecl. Yet let me hope 
 
 " that.
 
 ( 67 ) 
 
 ' that, for a time at lead, the equality of 
 "' friendfhip may be preferved between 
 '' us." 
 
 " Oh, my 'friend !" faid Demetrius, 
 eagerly feizing the hand which the Count 
 had extended towards him, " how un- 
 " worthy do I feel of this regard — how 
 " painful is the refledion — '* 
 
 " Which you mufl Therefore determine 
 " to banifh,'* replied the Count, ** and 
 " fubftitute the pleafure of hope in its 
 *' place. The intelligence I alluded to on 
 " my entrance into this apartment, but 
 *' which the demon of difcord fought to 
 " prevent the communication of, was this ; 
 " that a fmall body of Ruflian troops have 
 " lately made an unexpected defcent into the 
 ** territories of the Palatine of Sendomir : 
 " they were repulfed by the peafantry, nor 
 " have they ventured to make a fecond in- 
 '' curfion. Let us however avail ourfelves 
 " of this favourable moment to communis 
 "• cate the fecret of your birth to the Pala- 
 " tine J and induce him, while revenging 
 
 « his
 
 ( 68 ) 
 
 " his own injuries, to embrace the cauie of 
 ** one, for whofe future fortunes he has 
 ** ah'eady exprefled himfelf fo deeply in- 
 " terefl'^d. Will you permit me to make 
 " this d'fclofure, or do you prefer referving 
 ** the communication for yourfelf ?'* 
 
 " My caufe can never find an abler 
 *' advocate than Ai^uftus Wiefnovitfki, and 
 *' to him will I rengn it ; befides," added 
 Demetrius, with a languid fmile, " my 
 " head and my heart are too much op- 
 *' prefled to permit me to perform the 
 " hero of my own tale to any advantage.'* 
 
 " Some fecret forrow," faid the Count, 
 with a look of anxious penetration, " op- 
 " prefTes you. Why hefitate to reveal it ? 
 
 « Why ': 
 
 " Torture me not by enquiries," inter- 
 rupted Demetrius, " I cannot now endure 
 " them. A period may arrive when my 
 *' wound may be probed, when my feelings 
 *' and my fufferings may be revealed. At 
 " prefent leave me to folitude, to refledion ; 
 " and whatever you may deem me. Oh ! 
 
 "do
 
 ( 69 ) 
 
 '' do not deem me unfriendly or ungrate- 
 " ful/' 
 
 The Count, after exprefling his commi- 
 feration for his fufFerings, withdrew, with- 
 out making any further enquiry into their 
 caufe. 
 
 Demetrius, once more alone, felt all the 
 imprudence he had been guilty of, in 
 weakly yielding to a paflion, which now 
 feemed to have attained a i^egree of ftrength 
 almoft^'iieamountable. " If to conquer it 
 " be impoflible,** exclaimed he, " at leafl, 
 " I will no longer voluntarily refign myfelf 
 *' to its dominion." 
 
 As he uttered thefe words, his eye acci- 
 dentally fell upon his helmet and fabre, 
 which lay neglected in the apartment. He 
 recollected that this was the day and' hour 
 when the young nobility of Cracow were 
 accuftomed to aflemble on the plain beyond 
 the city walls, to try their fkill in martial 
 feats, or military exercife. Demetrius had, 
 at one period, engaged in thefe purfuits 
 with ardour i his interefl in them however 
 
 had
 
 ( JO ) 
 
 had gradually declined, till they were of 
 late wholly neglefted. At prefent however 
 he adopted, with eagernefs, the idea of 
 engaging in any purfuit which might, even 
 for a moment, divert the painful — the 
 dangerous — current of his thoughts. 
 
 Equipped in his military garb, and 
 mounted on his courfer, he proceeded 
 through the principal flreets of the city to 
 the appointed fpo:, unconfcious of the ad- 
 miration his graceful form arili T^^le air 
 excited, as he guided his fiery fleed, who 
 bent his arched, but fubmifiive, neck be- 
 neath the powerful arm he dared not con- 
 tend with. The Countefs Siradia was 
 {landing at an open balcony of her palace, 
 furrounded by feveral ladies, amongfl whom 
 was the Princefs of Sendomir, when Deme- 
 trius pafled beneath it. He anfwered her 
 fmile of recognition by a cold but profound 
 obeiiance, without perceiving Marina, who 
 had involuntarily attempted to conceal her- 
 felf from his view. 
 
 " Count
 
 ( 71 ) 
 
 " Count Lucknow," faid the difappolnted 
 Henrietta, " is undoubtedly the mofl in- 
 *' fenfibie, as he is alfo the mod handfome 
 *'' man in exiilence." 
 
 " You have then engaged in a vain c(Mi- 
 ^' teft with this infenfibility, and fpeak the 
 " language of defeated experience r" de- 
 manded the Lady Coloni, with a fmile of 
 malicious meaning. A (hade of confufion 
 paffed acrofs the features of the Countefs ; 
 but (lie endeavoured to conceal it by af- 
 fuming an air of gaiety, and replied^ that 
 fhe had fufficienr caufe to accufe him of in- 
 fenfibility, who could regard, with'fuch an 
 air of inditterence, the beauties her balcony 
 difpiayed. " Let us," continued fhe, with 
 the air of one to whom a fudden idea pre- 
 ients itfelf, " let us purfue this infenfible 
 *' Count to the iield of fports, whither his 
 " garb proclaims him deftined, to difcover 
 •• whether he preferve the fame immoveable 
 " gravity, amidft the fhock of the lance as 
 *"' amidd the glance of the fair." 
 
 The
 
 ( 72 ) 
 The ladies confented to this propofal, 
 which accorded alfo with the fecret inclina- 
 tions of Marina, and proceeded in the fuperb 
 carriages of the Countefs to the field of 
 fports. When they entered it, the nobles, 
 who formed part of the body of Polifh 
 huflars, amongfl: whom was Demetrius, 
 were performing their various manoeuvres. 
 Their glittering mails, worn rather for orna- 
 ment than defence, their fnowy plumes 
 waving over their helmets, the proud, but 
 raeafured, paces of their courfers, called 
 forth expreffions of admiration from the 
 ladies. Marina alone was filent ; (he dared 
 not truft her voice to exprefs the feelings 
 which the fcene before her excited ; that 
 fcene, which, without the prefence of De- 
 metrius, would have appeared but an empty 
 . pageant. Every new or ftriking fituation, 
 in which a beloved objed; is beheld, feems 
 to beftow a deeper interefl to that before 
 excited : when love is accompanied by 
 hope, the conviftion of this is attended 
 with a fpecies of exultation, but when de- 
 prived
 
 ( n ) 
 
 prived of it becomes infinitely painful ; that 
 deprefling belief of inferiority, fo common 
 a charaderiftic of a true attachment, is 
 encreafed to an oppreflive degree, and a 
 tranfient temptation is experienced to de- 
 preciate perfections whofe contemplation is 
 attended by feelings at once irritating and 
 humiliating. Marina had long ceafed to 
 behold Demetrius with indifference. The 
 originality of his manner and opinions had 
 at firfl merely excited her intereft, but the 
 grace, the dignity, the mingled foftnefs and 
 fpirit of his charader, had finally fucceeded 
 in attaching her heart. 
 
 Many of the young nobles, who had 
 courted the fmiles of the Princefs, or fighed 
 for her regard, united cultivation of mind 
 to elegance of manner and gracefulnefs of 
 perfon ; but they pofTefTed not fufficient 
 diftindnefs of charader to make a flrong 
 imprelTion on fuch a mind as Marina's. 
 Their ideas, their hopes, their purfuits, were 
 not only influenced, but created by the 
 habits of that fociety in which they moved* 
 
 VOL. r. E However
 
 ( 74 ) 
 
 However their talents, or their difpofitions 
 might originally vary — like different metals 
 all caft in the fame mould — they alike re- 
 ceived the current imprefTion of the world — 
 the ftamp of nature was effaced in the mint 
 of art. Their converfation, when ferious, 
 proceeded neither from their feelings or 
 their reflexions, but confided of thofe 
 adopted opinions, which, pafling through 
 the memory, but not the mind^ become 
 tedious from their tritenefs, or unmeaning 
 from their want of application ; when lively, 
 it was frequently brilliant and amufmg ; but 
 it wanted thofe traits of genius and origin- 
 ality, the fudden gefture, the arch fmile, 
 the fun-beam from the eye, which, ac- 
 companying the mental irradiation, gave 
 poignancy to the wit, and grace to the fallies 
 of Demetrius. In Count Wiefnovitfki the 
 Princefs faw much to admire, and every 
 thing to efteem : fhe refpeded the juftnefs 
 of his fentiments and their confiltency with 
 his condud : his converfation often in- 
 ftrufted, fometimes amufed, and always in- 
 
 terefted
 
 ( 75 ) 
 
 terefted her ; but the equality of his manner^ 
 the even tenor of his feelings prevented hini 
 from exciting thofe more vivid emotions it 
 was referved for Demetrius to infpire. 
 
 Original charaders, whofe peculiarities 
 neither repel or alarm, frequently engage 
 the affedions more irrefiftibly than thofe 
 which poflefs lefs diflind, but perhaps more 
 eftimable qualities. — The fertile valley, or 
 the fragrant flower are too frequently be- 
 held, to leave any ftrong impreflion on the 
 mind ; but the roaring catarad, the cloud- 
 capt mountain, are viewed with wonder, and 
 recalled with intereft. 
 
 To Marina, Demetrius feemed alone in 
 the univerfe: all that he did, all that he 
 uttered, breathed fuch an air of daring in- 
 dependence, that fometimes fhe regarded 
 him with an emotion almoft bordering upon 
 awe ; at others, every foft and every tender 
 feeling was excited by the melting cadence of 
 his voice as he addrefled her — by the beam- 
 ing foftnefs of his eye, as he gazed upon 
 her. Thefe were moments when the 
 E a full
 
 ( 76 ) 
 
 full convidion of the fentiments fhe had 
 cherifhed, were difclofed to her knowledge^ 
 and overwhelmed her with fliame and re- 
 gret : for never had fhe indulged the hope 
 of having excited reciprocal regard. The 
 general diflance of his manner, the habit 
 in which he pertinacioully perfevered of 
 quitting her, whenever the Count ap- 
 proached them, convinced her of his indif- 
 ference. The coldnefs of his manner on 
 the preceding evening had more decidedly 
 than before confirmed her in this belief; 
 and made pain predominate over pleafure in 
 her mind, when fhe gazed on him, as he 
 performed his rapid evolutions ; as fhe 
 marked the grace of his geftures, the light- 
 ning of his eye, when in the circling courfe,. 
 he fwiftly palTed the fpot where fhe unfeen 
 was feated. She imagined the high hopes, 
 the exalted emotions, which muft now 
 animate his breaft ; and, endeavouring to 
 identify her feelings ^with his, fhe glanced 
 forward in thought to the hero's career, to 
 the field of glory, to the *' feftival of 
 
 " honour."
 
 ( n ) 
 
 " honour." Alas ! to her its anticipation 
 was a fource of terror, not of triumph : fhe 
 turned afide to conceal from her companions 
 the feelings her expreffive countenance be- 
 trayed. 
 
 At this moment the body of huflars, who 
 had before wheeled round the courfe, or 
 performed their manoeuvres with their 
 lances, now arranging themfelves into a 
 long extended column, fuddenly unfheathed 
 their fabres, at the fame moment elevating 
 them in the air, as if in the ad of taking 
 aim at the enemy. The fudden flafh of 
 light gleaming from the polifhed weapons, 
 with all the brilliancy of lightning, terrified 
 the horfes belonging to the carriage in 
 which Marina was feated. They plunged 
 v/ith violence ; their riders were precipitated 
 to the ground : with unchecked fpeed they 
 rufhed acrofs the plain. The hulfars, im- 
 mediately difperfmg, followed the carriage 
 with the utmoft velocity. The found of 
 their rapid purfuit but urged on the horfes 
 to more defperate exertion: they rapidly 
 E 3^ approached
 
 ( 78 ) 
 approached the moat, which furrounded the 
 walls of Cracow. The huflars paufed, in 
 hopelefs expectation, in filent alarm, for 
 deftrudion feemed to hang over the fcene. 
 Suddenly one of the females, feated in the 
 carriage, attempted to precipitate herfelf 
 from it, but finding the effort ineffeftual, 
 wildly clafped her hands and uttered a 
 ihriek of defpair, as fhe caft a glance of 
 horror towards the fpot they were ap- 
 proaching. 
 
 That face, that voice were inftantly re- 
 cognifed by Demetrius. Excefs of appre- 
 henfion, which fo often unnerves the firmed 
 heart, and palfies the ftrongeft arm, now 
 lent to Demetrius a degree of courage and 
 refolution almoft fupernatural. He marked 
 the fpot to which the horfes were advancing, 
 and, dafhing with defperate fpeed to the 
 fame pointy compelled his fiery and terrified 
 courfer to remain ftationary on the brink of 
 the moat. To arrefl the progrefs of the 
 furious and ungoverned fteeds, with the 
 force of his fingle arm, appeared impof- 
 
 fible i
 
 ( 79 ) 
 
 fible ; yet tamely to await their approach 
 was but to prefent himfelf to deflrudion, 
 without averting it from Marina. 
 
 The iirft caufe of their alarm now occurs 
 ring to him, he raifed his fab re, and flafhed 
 it rapidly before their eyes. This fucceed- 
 ed ; the horfes fuddenly wheeled round and 
 again rufhed forward in an oppofite direc* 
 tion. Demetrius galloping towards the 
 huflars, who were now afTembled in a body, 
 briefly explained his wiflies to them, and 
 again purfued the horfes, who, panting and 
 fatigued, had gradually abated their fpeed. 
 The huffars, in the meantime, had formed 
 themfelves into an immenfe circle, and when 
 Demetrius ruilied before and turned the 
 horfes from their prefent courfe, in every 
 diredion fabres gleamed In their eyes, and 
 oppofed their progrefs : frightened and be- 
 wildered, they at length paufed and gazed 
 wildly around, while their fiery eyes, fmoak- 
 ing noflrils, and erected ears befpoke their 
 fpirlts yet unquelled. Demetrius availed 
 himfelf of this moment to approach, and 
 E 4 cutting.
 
 ( 8o ) 
 
 cutting the traces, which attached the 
 horfes to the carriage, he impetuoufly 
 fnatched the Princefs from it, and bore her 
 through the clofely preffing throng. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( 8i 
 
 CHAP, IV. 
 
 ^ Thafe happy fmiles, 
 
 *• Which yhy'd on her ripe Up, feem'd not to know 
 " What guells were in her eyes ; which parted thence, 
 *• As pearls from diamond's diopp'd." 
 
 JCing Lear, 
 ** Were I crovvn'd the mod imperial monarch, 
 •• Tliereof mod worthy ; were I the faired youth, 
 •' That ever made eyes fwerve ; had force, and knowledge 
 •• More than was ever man's, — I would' not prize them, 
 *' Without her love : for her employ them all, 
 *• Commend them, or condemn them to her fervice 
 " Or to their own perdition.'* 
 
 Tie IVinters Tafe. 
 
 IV/FARINAhad beheld Demetrius rufli to- 
 wards the trenches, had beheld him on 
 the frightful brink, checking, with one arm 
 his reftive deed, while the other was ex- 
 tended towards the carriage, now rapidly 
 approaching, and threatening to overwhelm 
 him with deflrudion; but fhe beheld no 
 more ; her fenfes fled before her apprehen- 
 fions. When fhe recovered her recollec* 
 tion, Ihe found herfelf in a carriage fup* 
 ported by Demetrius, who was regarding 
 E 5 her
 
 C 82 ) 
 
 her with looks of the tendered anxiety. 
 Forgetful of every thing but his paft alarm 
 and prefent joy, tranfported at beholding 
 her revive, " She lives, fhe lives !" Deme- 
 trius exclaimed, wildly feizing her hands 
 and prefling them to his bread, while rap- 
 ture beamed from his exprefTive eyes. 
 Marina regarded him with a look of fur- 
 prize and enquiry. 
 
 " Oh ! a(k me not how I have been thui> 
 " fortunate to refcue thee ! require not 
 *' cold details of fcenes, too dreadful even 
 *' to be remembered ; you live and I am 
 ^' blefl ; you are in fafety, and I am in 
 " elyfiuml'' 
 
 His looks, his words, his manner, all 
 conveyed an inftantaneous, but undoubted 
 convi(5lion of his attachment. A thoufand 
 confliding emotions ftruggled in the bread 
 of Marina. Gratitude for her deliverance, 
 terror, fcarcely overcome, at her late dan- 
 ger, joy at the difcovery of Demetrius' af- 
 fedion overpowered her with fenfations die 
 in vain endeavoured to conceal j and her 
 4 colour
 
 ( 83- y 
 
 colour faded, though a fweet fmile ftble- 
 over her countenance as (he again funk 
 back in the carriage. 
 
 The manner of Demetrius inftantly- 
 changed from the expreflion of rapture to that 
 of folicitude: he addrefled her in the gentled 
 and moft foothing accents, befought her ta 
 tranquillize her feelings, and implored her 
 ibrgivenefs for the vehemence with which 
 he had betrayed a paflion it had fo long 
 been torture to him to conceal. The ex- 
 preffion of Marina's countenance, the blufhi 
 which ftole over her checks, the foft but 
 hailily withdrawn glance of her eye, for the 
 firft time conveyed to Demetrius an intima- 
 tion that fhe wiis not infenfible to it. Gra- 
 titude, friendfliip, the anguiih he had fo- 
 long endured, the mifery he had fo lately 
 anticipated, all were forgotten in the rap« 
 turous belief that Marina returned his 
 attachment. 
 
 '' Oh fay," he exclaimed, " fay before 
 ■'" we part, what have I to hope or to dread* 
 '- from this continued filence ?'* 
 
 E 6 ' They
 
 ( 84 ) 
 
 They had nearly reached the palace of 
 Sendomir. Demetrius flill retained Marina's 
 hand as he gazed on her face with an ex- 
 preflion of the moft ardent anxiety, the 
 mod devoted affedion : the Princefs, in a 
 timid and faltering voice, while endeavour- 
 ing to conceal the flruggles of her feelings, 
 replied, " From me, my Lord, you can 
 *' never have to apprehend either ingrati- 
 " tude or infenfibility." 
 
 Demetrius, with a glance, vivid as the 
 hghtning's flafli, and a fmile fweet as the 
 parting fun-beam, expreffed his rapture and 
 his thanks, as the carnage flopped before 
 the palace gates. They defcended, and De- 
 metrius fupported rather than led Marina 
 towards the grand faloon. On their en- 
 trance, they difcovered the Palatine and 
 Count engaged in earned converfation. The 
 fight of the latter inftantly recalled to 
 Demetrius all thofe recolledions, which 
 a momentary delirium of blifs had banifhed. 
 He had endeavoured to fupplant his friend in 
 the affedions of Marina, that friend but now 
 
 employed
 
 ( S5 ) 
 
 employed in pleading his caufe, in promoting 
 his fervice. Shame, anguifh, regret, in a 
 moment faddened the bright countenance of 
 Demetrius. 
 
 The Palatine and Count eagerly enquired 
 the caufe of their fudden appearance, and 
 difordered manner. They appeared alike 
 incapable of replying to thefe demands. 
 Demetrius at length briefly related the cir- 
 cumftances which had fo recently occurred. 
 He dwelt much on the danger the Princefs 
 had incurred, but little on the efforts he had 
 made to preferve her from deftrudion. 
 
 The Palatine ardently and repeatedly ex- 
 preffed his gratitude, held his daughter to 
 his breafl, fhedding tears of joy over her; 
 then returned to Demetrius, and faid, pref- 
 fmg his hand between both his : " Little, 
 " brave Prince, did I deem that the interell 
 " the Count had already excited in my 
 *' bread towards you, could admit of en- 
 " creafe ; but now, oh ! infinitely ftronger 
 '* is it rendered by being united with gra- 
 *^ titude.'* 
 
 The
 
 ( 86 ) 
 
 The Princefs, at this addrefs, for the firfl 
 time fince her entrance into the apartment, 
 directed her glance towards Demetrius. 
 <' Prince !" fhe repeated, in a tone of afto- 
 nifhment and enquiry ; while the change in 
 his expreflion flruck her with furprize and 
 pain. 
 
 ** You will permit me to communicate to 
 " my daughter, the events which the Count 
 '^ has this morning made me acquainted 
 *' with ?'' demanded the Palatine. 
 
 '« Oh ! moil affuredly," replied Deme- 
 trius, " if the Princefs condefcends to in- 
 " terefl: herfelf in my fate, it will become 
 ' '^ doubly an objedi: of concern to myfelf." 
 
 The Palatine regarded him for a moment, 
 then glanced his eye over Marina, and an ex- 
 preflion of fignificance, as if he had made 
 fome important difcovery, pafled acrofs his 
 countenance, while the fmile of fatisfadion, 
 with which it was accompanied, evinced that 
 it was not an unpleafmg one. 
 
 The Count now propofedthat they fhould 
 retire, and leave the Princefs to that repofe 
 
 her
 
 ( 8^7 ) 
 tier appearance implied flie required. De* 
 metrius acquiefced with his propofal, and the 
 Count taking his arm, proceeded towards 
 his own habitation. They entered it, and 
 Demetrius immediately quitting the Count, 
 was haftily preparing to afcend the grand 
 ftaircafe, when the Count exclaimed, in a 
 tone of furprife, " Is then the reception the 
 ^^ Palatine gave to your hiftory, an objed of 
 *' total unconcern to you?" Demetrius, 
 flruck with the apparent ingratitude and in- 
 confiftency of his conduct, inflantly returned 
 and accompanied Count Wiefnovitfki into 
 his apartment. 
 
 *' My dear friend,'* faid the Count, with 
 a look and voice of fympathy, '' What 
 " means this pallid countenance, this agi- 
 " tated mien ?" 
 
 The heart of Demetrius, already foftened 
 hy the emotions it hadfo lately experienced, 
 was wholly overcome by the kindnefs of the 
 Count's manner and addrefs. Throwing 
 himfelf into a feat, he concealed his face 
 
 beneath
 
 ( 88 ) 
 
 beneath his hand, to hide the weaknefs it 
 
 betrayed. 
 
 *' What am I to Infer from this conduct ?*' 
 
 faid Count Wiefnovitfki, approaching him. 
 
 " Is this the agony of grief, or the remorfe 
 
 " ofguik?" " Both, both/' repHed Deme- 
 trius, in a ftifled voice; " Count Wiefno- 
 " vitfki," he added, fuddenly rifmg and 
 pacing the room with rapid though unequal 
 fleps, *' I have betrayed your friendfhip, I 
 *' am unworthy your regard ; I love the 
 " Princefs of Sendomir, enthufiaftically, de- 
 '' votedly love her. I have dared to avow 
 *^ this love, — have dared to demand a re- 
 " turn, — have — " " Received it," inter- 
 rupted the Count, in a voice fo unafFededly 
 calm, that Demetrius, fuddenly paufmg, 
 fixed his ardent gaze upon his countenance : 
 the arch glance of his eye, the playful fmile 
 of his lip, confounded him. 
 
 " Is all this an illufion," he exclaimed, 
 " or is It indeed Count Wiefnovitfki whom 
 " I now addrefs?" 
 
 c «' It
 
 ( 89 ) 
 
 " It is Count Wiefnovitfki, whom you 
 " addrefs," he replied ; " and for the illu- 
 " fion,' — it is yourfelf who have created it. 
 " Your imagination has converted a fmcere 
 " friend into a favoured rival. The decep- 
 " tion, without doubt, has been produdive 
 *' of fome unpleafmg effedls ; its elucidation, 
 ** it is to be hoped, will be attended with 
 " more agreeable confequences/* 
 
 The countenance of Demetrius gradually 
 changed its expreflion from the flupor of 
 amazement to the glow of rapture. He 
 poured forth incoherent expreffions of gra- 
 titude and delight ; he overwhelmed the 
 Count by numerous and contradidory en- 
 quiries; and finally concluded by demand- 
 ing, how it was pollible for the Count to 
 know Marina, to enjoy her fociety, to be 
 honoured by her friendfliip, and ftill to 
 retain his philofophical indifference. 
 
 " Indifference certainly is not a term 
 " which expreffes my feelings towards the 
 " Princefs; but happily I ^;7i fufficiently phi- 
 " lofophical to retain polTellion of my own 
 
 *^ heart.
 
 ( 90 ) 
 
 *' heart, when I am not hkely to receive 
 "• anotlier in exchange ; and this I had 
 " difcernment enough ta difcover would 
 '' have been the cafe, had 1 felt too deeply 
 " the charms of the Princefs. From the 
 " period of my firft acquaintance v^'ith your 
 " character, it appeared to me, that you 
 *' were exadly calculated to conceive a 
 " reciprocal attachment : the advantages 
 " attendant on fuch an attachment need 
 " no enumeration, nor indeed would they 
 " at prefent obtain much of your attention. 
 " The imprelTion you had received of my 
 *' being your rival, I was not anxious to 
 *^ remove, as I was defirous that you fhould 
 '* obtaiti the confidence of the Palatine, 
 " before you fought the hand of the Prin- 
 " cefs ; and I dreaded left the natural en- 
 " thufiafm of your charader fhould coun- 
 " teradt thofe fchemes which I had planned 
 '' for your future welfare.'* 
 
 " Admirable friend I" explaimed Deme- 
 trius jt " be you ever the guide of this en- 
 
 " thuftafm ;■,
 
 ( 91 ) 
 
 *^ thufiafm ; to your judgment, even in its 
 " wildefl: flights, fhaM it be fubjugated." 
 
 " Bew^are how you make a promife you 
 " will find it difficult to perform," replied 
 the Count ; " we are never confcJous of the 
 " extent of our enthufiafm, tii Mke the 
 " retiring waves of a ftormy fea, its violence 
 " is fubfiding, and leaves us leifure to con- 
 ** template the force of its progrefs by the 
 " extent of its efFeds. Imagine not, hov/- 
 " ever, that I reprobate that enthufiafm, 
 ^' whofe ardour fprings from an undaunted 
 " reliance on the juftnefs of its aim — from a 
 " proud confcioufnefs of the grandeur of 
 " its obje£l:, whofe fire is furnifhed by the 
 " hand of reafon, and kindled by the torch 
 '^ of genius ; but it is that dangerous eleva- 
 ^^ tion of the imagination, which no longer 
 ^^ permitting thofe who are influenced by 
 *' it, to perceive objects through the me- 
 " dium of their own or of others' expe- 
 " rience, diminifhing difficulty and conceal- 
 ^^ ing danger, ruffies forward from theory 
 
 " ta
 
 ( 92 ) 
 
 *^ to pradbice, abforbed in cnthufiaftic vi- 
 *^ fions, heedlefs of j5T'ecaution, fearlefs of 
 *« confequence. It is this^ my friend, which 
 " fome views in which you formerly in- 
 *' dulgedj fome traits, which you have occa- 
 " fionally difplayed^ would lead me to ap- 
 " prehend, if ever you afcend the throne 
 *' of your anceftors." 
 
 *^ Oh ! embitter not fuch a profpedl of 
 *' blifs by anticipations of evil," replied De- 
 metrius, '' which it will reft with you to 
 " obviate ; for have I not declared, that you 
 *' fhall ever be, not merely the friend of 
 *' my heart, but the counfellor of my rea- 
 « fon?" 
 
 The Count exprefled his fenfe of this 
 confidence, and then proceeded to com- 
 municate the fubftance of the converfation 
 which had taken place between the Pala- 
 tine and himfelf. He had betrayed the 
 deepeft intereft throughout the whole of 
 the narrative, and had at its conclufion 
 folemnly promifed to efpoufe the interefts 
 of Demetrius, as foon as the ftate of his 
 
 country
 
 ( 93 ) 
 
 <:ountry would permit ; but he had advifed, 
 that the Prince fhould make a campaign 
 againfl: Sweden, in the caufe of the Poles, 
 before he fought to lead them againfl Ruf- 
 fia in his own, " With this favorable dif- 
 " pofition towards you," continued the 
 Count, " little doubt can exifl with regard 
 " to the reception the Palatine will give the 
 " difclofure of your attachment to his 
 *' daughter. My advice, therefore, in this 
 " refped, will coincide with your inclina- 
 " tions, when I propofe that this difclofure 
 *' be made as foon as circumftances will 
 " permit." 
 
 Demetrius prefTed the hand of his friend 
 in reply to his advice, and in acknowledg- 
 ment of his kindnefs, and then retired to his 
 own apartment, there to give boundlefs 
 fcope to the blifsful anticipations which occu- 
 pied his thoughts, — to the rapturous fenfa- 
 tions which glowed, in his heart. 
 
 The Palatine, in the meantime, had in- 
 formed Marina of the imperial lineage, the 
 eventful hiftory of Demetrius. With al- 
 
 moft
 
 ( 94 ) 
 
 moft breathlefs impatience fhe liftened to a 
 narrative, which mud have excited curiofity, 
 even in an unconcerned auditor ; but in the 
 bread of Marina, awakened interefl the moft 
 unbounded. When the Palatine concluded 
 the narrative, the Princefs, abforbed in the 
 remembrance of Demetrius, dwelling on the 
 fmgularity of his former life, or the gran- 
 deur of his future profpe^Els, forgot the fm- 
 gular appearance her fiience muft wear to 
 her father, forgot even his prefence. " Ma- 
 " rina,'* he at length faid, and at the found 
 of his voice fiie (larted, raifed her eyes to- 
 wards him, and beheld his piercing regard 
 fixed on her countenance ; " Marina, how 
 *' am I to account for the total abfence of 
 " intereft with which you have attended 
 " to the hiftory of Prince Demetrius of 
 « RulTia?" 
 
 " Abfence of intereft !*' (he involuntarily 
 repeated, " Oh my father!'* She paufed, for 
 his expreflive fmile recalled her to felf pof- 
 feflion. A vivid blufli pafTed acrofs her 
 cheeks, and believing the fecret of her heart 
 
 betrayed.
 
 ( 95 ) 
 
 betrayed, fhe arofe and was haftily preparing 
 to quit the apartment. 
 
 The Palatine, for a moment, gently de- 
 taining her, faid, " Go, my beloved child,- 
 ** but go with the allarance, that your 
 " future happinefs will ever be the firfl 
 " objed: of your father's care ; and that at 
 '^ this moment, the inclinations of your 
 " heart, and the wilhes of his, are in uni- 
 « fon/' 
 
 He held his daughter to his breaft, and 
 impreffed a kifs of tendernefs upon her 
 cheek : fhe caft a glance of timid, but 
 grateful, affedion towards him,, and with- 
 drew. 
 
 The un mingled rapture which the cer- 
 tainty of requited affedion, the glow of 
 happy love conveys to the heart of man, is 
 tempered in that of woman, as the fplen- 
 dour of the fun falls with chequered radi- 
 ance through the grove's light foliage, by 
 the foft fliades of modefty and apprehenfion* 
 Surprife at the novelty of her emotions, 
 alarm at their violence, forbad Marina to 
 
 refign
 
 ( 96 ) 
 
 refign hcrfelf, without a fpecies of timidity, 
 to the empire of that affedion which (he 
 felt was deflined to domineer over every 
 other, — on which flie felt her future hap- 
 pinefs was to depend. 
 
 Timid, trembling, her bofom throbbing 
 with mingled emotions of fear and love, 
 the Princefs awaited the arrival of Deme- 
 trius, as the hour approached at which he 
 was wont to prefent himfelf at the palace of 
 Sendomir. Simply, but taftefully habited, 
 in a veil of white fatin, a few rofes blulhing 
 on her bofom and amidft her filken treiTes, 
 the various and rapid fl actuations of her 
 feelings beautifully exprefled in the vivid 
 glances of her eyes, in the deepened tints 
 of her cheek, in the fweet yet timid fmile 
 which played around her mouth, fhe had 
 never appeared fa exquifitely lovely, as 
 when the Palatine, accompanied by Deme- 
 trius, entered the apartment, and advanced 
 towards her. 
 
 " This morning, Marina," faid her fa- 
 ther, with a fmile, *' I accufed you of in- 
 
 *' difference
 
 ( 97 ) 
 
 difference towards the fate of your gal- 
 lant preferver. I have now granted him 
 permiffion to try, whether he can induce 
 you to betray towards himfelf a deeper 
 interefl in it, than you exprelfed to your 
 
 father. 
 
 ty 
 
 Marina raifed her eyes with a fupplicat- 
 ing look, as if to deprecate a continuation 
 of her father's raillery ; but he had quitted 
 tlie apartment, and inftead of meeting the 
 regard of the Palatine, flie encountered that 
 of Demetrius, fixed on her, with an ex- 
 preflion of fuch ardent affedion, fuch rap- 
 turous admiration, as compelled her eyes 
 again to feek the ground, and added a 
 deeper hue to the vermillion of her chec^ks. 
 
 '' Oh ! tell me," exclaimed Demetrius, 
 *' tell me, lovelieft of created beings i that 
 *^ I have not been deluded by vain and pre- 
 " fumptuous hopes into thus afpiring to 
 *' your favour, into thus daring to implore 
 " fome return to that paflionate and de- 
 *^ voted attachment which has [o long, to 
 *^ the exclufion of almoll every other emo- 
 
 voL. I. £ " tion.
 
 ( 9^ ) 
 
 *« tlon, occupied every thought and eveiy 
 " fenfe. His imploring eye, his thrilling 
 accents, expreffing all the doubt and the 
 anxiety of the moil refpedful, yet ardent 
 attachment, vibrated on the heart of Ma- 
 rina ; file could not refill their tender ap- 
 peal. 
 
 " If," faid file, in a hefitating accent, 
 raifmg her eyes for a moment to his coun- 
 tenance, but again veiling them beneath her 
 filken lafhes ; " if any further aflurance of 
 '' regard be neceflary, receive it. Prince ! 
 ■^' fandioned as it now is by a parent's ap- 
 ^' probation." She paufed, while love and 
 modefly feemed to flruggle for empire in 
 her bread, and difFufed over her face and 
 figure, an exprelTion at once vivid ar.d 
 vtouching, at trading by its beauty, yet com- 
 manding by its purity. 
 
 Demetrius poured forth, in drains of the 
 fincerell attachment, his exquifite fenfe of 
 happinefs and of gratitude. To the tumul- 
 tuous exprtirion of rapture fucceeded the 
 fofter interchange of feelings. Marina at- 
 tended
 
 ( 99 ) 
 
 tended with the deeped interefl: to every 
 detail, however minute, or circumftance, 
 howerer trivial, conneded with the fate of 
 Demetrius. 
 
 She Ihared in the feelings he exprefled 
 towards his mother, and with him eagerly 
 anticipated the moment, when, freed from 
 her unjuft confinement, fhe fhould be 
 clafped in the arms of her fon, and by him 
 reftored to the rank fhe had formerly en- 
 joyed. Marina fhrunk with dread, how- 
 ever, from the contemplations of the dan- 
 gers he muft brave before that period of 
 happinefs could arrive. As fhe viewed the 
 graceful form, the glowing countenance of 
 Demetrius, fhe (huddered at the thought 
 that the fate of war might lay that form in 
 the duft, and ftamp with the hues of death 
 that prefent brilliant countenance. 
 
 The joy of Demetrius, on the contrary, 
 was unalloyed by any anticipations of evil. 
 It was entire, it was rapturous, it was trium- 
 phant. The native energy and gaiety of 
 his character now burfl forth with a radi- 
 F 2 ance^
 
 ( lOo ) 
 
 ance, which furprlfed and charmed Marina. 
 His former ambition now received an ad- 
 ditional ftimulus ; for on its gratification de- 
 pended the fulfilment of a (till dearer hope. 
 His love of glory became more ardent ; for 
 how fweet was the idea of exahing himfelf 
 in the opinion of Marina, of rendering him- 
 felf more worthy her regard, of creating a 
 yet deeper intereft in her heart ! 
 
 The late fucceffes of the Swedes had now 
 fpread confiderable alarm throughout Po- 
 land : commanded by their King, the cele- 
 brated GuftavusAdoIphus, they had invefled 
 and reduced Riga, entered Courland, de- 
 valuated great part of Lithuania, and now 
 befieged, with an immenfe fleet, the city of 
 Dantzic. Notwithftanding thefe fuccelfes, 
 Guflavus made propofals of peace to Sigif- 
 mund ; but infatuated by the hopes of reco- 
 vering the crown of Sweden, he dill con- 
 tinued inflexible. Guflavus therefore deter- 
 mined to purfue his good fortune. His 
 generals defeated the Poles in Semigallia, 
 while he befieged and reduced Pillaw. 
 
 Sigifmund,
 
 Sigifinund, alarnied at his repeated defeatSy 
 fent a body of troops to oppofe him, and to 
 prevent Dantzic from falling into his hands* 
 His troops, however, were defeated before 
 Marienberg, and Guftavus arrived withfrefh 
 forces before Dantzic, which he would 
 probably have carried, had he not been 
 wounded by a cannon fhot. The Poles, in 
 the meantime, recovered Marienberg, and 
 the States of Holland fent ambafladors to 
 mediate a peace between the two kingdoms. 
 Sigifmund, however, would liften to no 
 accon^modations, and was at prefent en- 
 camped at Dobrazin, whither he fummoned 
 the nobles of his kingdom to join him. The 
 Palatine and Count Wiefnoyitlki prepared to 
 obey this command : the former offered 
 Demetrius a flation of confiderable import- 
 ance amongft his own troops, who were now 
 a{|'embled at Cracow : this was accepted by 
 him with mingled gratitude and delight j and 
 the period which elapfed before the departure 
 of the troops, divided between the fociety of 
 the Princefs and his military arrangements. 
 F 3 An
 
 ( 1^2 ) 
 
 An air of fadnefs and defolation reigned 
 throughout the palace of Sendomir, when 
 Demetrius repaired to it on the morning 
 deftined for his departure. The court 
 before the palace was occupied by the Pala- 
 tine's troops, receiving or delivering orders. 
 The grand hall was flrewed with military 
 packages and martial accoutrements: 
 throughout the interior, all was a fcene of 
 dreary confufion, where the grave counte- 
 nances of the adtors ill agreed with their 
 hurried and impatient ftiovements. 
 
 No fentiment of fadnefs, however, could 
 penetrate the foul of Demetrius. High in 
 hope, young in experience, the joy of an- 
 ticipated tranfport was as yet unalloyed by 
 the recolledion of pad difappointment. 
 Even his approaching feparation from the 
 Princefs touched his foul with only a paffing 
 pang ; for was he not even now approaching 
 nearer the pofTelTion of her, who was at 
 once his infpiration and his aim ? Oh ! how 
 different were the triumphant feelings which 
 glowed in the bread of Demetrius, from the 
 
 trembling
 
 ( 103 )■ ^ 
 
 trembling apprehenfions which dwelt In that 
 of Marina 1 Deprefled^ overwhelmed, (hrink- 
 ing from the poignancy of reflexions which 
 her vivid imagination encreafed even to 
 agony, when Demetrius entered her apart- 
 ment, fhe raifed her tearful eyes towards 
 him, and as they reded on his countenance, 
 their exprefTion feemed to reproach him for 
 the want of fympathy it betrayed. The fire 
 of his however vanilhed, as he gazed upon 
 her pallid cheek : he anxioufly endeavoured 
 to re-alTure her, employed every argument 
 that the moft fmcere and devoted attach- 
 ment could fuggeft, to allay the apprehen- 
 fions fhe tremblingly exprefled. Her tears 
 continued to flow, but their bitternefs was in 
 fome meafure abated. The alTured voice, 
 the intrepid mien of Demetrius, infenfibly 
 communicated fome portion of firmnefs to 
 the mind of Marina; biit on the entrance of 
 the Palatine, her former alarms recurred. 
 
 " Both, bothl" Hie exclaimed, *Vmufl; 
 
 " I then lofe you both amidfl: thefe dreadful 
 
 " fcenes ? and thefe, too, are but the pre- 
 
 F 4 " lude
 
 ( I04 ) 
 
 " lude to others." — She' paufed, as if en- 
 deavouring to acquire more felf-command. 
 She arofe, and taking the hands of the 
 Palatine and Demetrius, joined them toge- 
 ther, as with fervent, yet trembh'ng accents 
 fhe exclaimed, " Guard, oh, Demetrius! the 
 ** lifeof my father; and you, oh, my father!" 
 fhe added, in more faultering accents, 
 *' preferve the life of Demetrius." She 
 raifed her eyes to heaven, as if to implore 
 protedlion upon objeds fo beloved j then, 
 fervently prefling their united hands, fhe 
 fuddenly releafed them, and waving hers, 
 as if to forbid their purfuit, ruflied from the 
 apartment. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 C ro5 ) 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 " From camp to camp, thro' the foul worn!) of night, 
 " The hum of either army Hilly founds. 
 " That the fixt centiiiek may ahnoft receive 
 " The fecret wh'fpers of each other's watch. 
 " Fireanfwers fire, and through their paly flames 
 ** Each battle fees the others umber'd face. 
 " Steed threatens ileed in loud and boaftful neighs, 
 ** Piercing the iiight's dull ear; and from the tents 
 •* The armourers accomplifliing the knights, 
 " With bufy hammers doling rivets up 
 ** Give dreadful note of preparation." 
 
 Henry J^th. 
 
 17OR a time the thrilling tones, the part- 
 ing farewell of the Princefs, rendered De- 
 metrius infenfible to every other imprellion ; 
 but when mingled in the cavalcade, amidft 
 his young and noble aflbciates, the found ol 
 martial mufic, the trampling of the fteeds, 
 the glance of burnifhed armour, " the pomp 
 " and circumftance of glorious war,", gra- 
 dually created other emotions, till the recol- 
 lections of the lover yielded to the anticipa- 
 tions of the hero. ' 
 
 F c Count
 
 ( io6 ) 
 
 Count Wiefnovitfki, at the head of his 
 own troops, was feparated from Demetrius 
 during the march ; but as they purfued the 
 fame route, joined the Palatine and himfelf 
 in the various towns or villages wherein the 
 troops repofed and refrefhed themfelves. 
 
 The fortified city of Wadiflaw afforded 
 objeds of intereil: and enquiry, and the 
 Count and Demetrius, foon after their ar- 
 rival at it, proceeded to explore the envi- 
 rons. After having examined the outworks 
 and fortifications, they afcended the ram- 
 parts. It was a lovely evening ; and the 
 friends, pleafed v/ith an opportunity of in- 
 dulging in unreferved intercourfe, prolonged 
 it till the fhades of night, clofing around, 
 reminded them of the confiderable period 
 which had elapfed fmce they quitted the 
 .city. They had remained for fome time at 
 one fpot, leaning againfl: the parapet, which 
 commanded an extenfive view of the fur- 
 rounding country : they had entered into 
 the moft confidential difcourfe; the love, the 
 hope, the ambition, of Demetrius, had been 
 
 dwelt 
 
 A
 
 ( I07 ) 
 
 dwelt on with his accuftomed energy and 
 candour ; his pail misfortunes, his future 
 profpeds had been difculTed, and, kindling 
 with the ardour the fubjed always infplred, 
 he exclaimed, " Oh, Auguftus ! it is not in 
 " the power of language to exprefs how 
 " ftrong is the hatred, how powerful there- 
 " venge, which irvflames th.e lad defcendant 
 " of Ivan, againft the ufurper of his throne, 
 '* the tyrant of his country, the murderer 
 
 *' of his brother, the deteiled .** A 
 
 flrong prelTure of his arm arrefted his 
 fpeech, and raifmg his eyes in aftonifliment 
 to the Count, he beheld him, while one 
 hand reded upon his arm, dire£ling the othei* 
 towards a proje£tion in the wall, from be- 
 hind which appeared part of a figure fuffi- 
 ciently near to convince them their conver- 
 fation had been overheard. Demetrius, ir- 
 ritated at this idea, was on the point of rufh- 
 ing towards him, when the object of his in- 
 dignation, perceiving his intention, fled with 
 the utmofl precipitation. The Count and 
 Demetrius, as if by mutual ionfent, though 
 F 6 without
 
 ( io8 ) 
 
 uvithout exchanging a fnigle word, rapidly 
 purfued and retained him in their fight, till 
 they reached the entrance of the city, when 
 he fuddenly difappeared from their view. 
 In vain they attempted to recover fome 
 traces of him ; and after wandering through 
 every fquare and ' flreet in the city, they re- 
 turned fatigued and difappointed to the Pa- 
 latine, who enquired, with fome furprize, 
 into the occafion of their long abfence, and 
 the difcompofure of their countenances ; 
 but, equally unwilling to confefs the impru- 
 dence they had been guilty of, or to alarm 
 the Palatine, they endeavoured to elude 
 thefe enquiries. 
 
 When converfing apart on the fubjed, 
 they agreed that no pofTibility remained of 
 difcovering who had been their auditor, as 
 they had neither obferved his drefs or fea- 
 tures fufficlently to recognize them. As the 
 length of time, during which he had been 
 flationed near the parapet, was extremely 
 uncertain, they felt inclined to indulge a 
 hope, that he might not have made himfelf 
 
 acquainted
 
 ( i©9 ) 
 
 acquainted with any circum fiance of import-' 
 ance relative to the Prince's hiftory. 
 
 As the troops were departing from Wadif- 
 law on the enfuing morning, and Deme- 
 trius was preparing to afcend his courfer, a 
 man clothed in a wretched garb, his arm 
 ilungina fcarf, his face pallid and diflorted, 
 placed himfelf immediately at the head of 
 the Prince's horfe, and clafped his hands to- 
 gether in an attitude of entreaty. Deme- 
 trius, regarding the miferable obje£t with 
 compafTion, gave him fome florins, and 
 again prepared to afcend his impatient deed, 
 when the mendicant, throwing himfelf on 
 the ground, caught the end of his girdle, 
 and poured forth the moft vehement ex- 
 prefTions of gratitude, while his dark and 
 fcrutinizing eye was fixed upon his counte- 
 nance, Demetrius . endeavoured to difen- 
 gage himfelf from his grafp, but the mendi- 
 cant (till purfued his ufelefs and troublefom 
 acknowledgments. Demetrius, irritated at 
 this (trange perfeverance, and perceiving 
 all his comrades were prepared to depart, 
 
 and
 
 ( i«o ) 
 
 and regarding, with furprize, the fingular 
 fcene before them, fuddenly detached the 
 belt from the mendicant's grafp, vaulted 
 upon his courfer, and joined his comrades, 
 who gaily congratulated him on having ef- 
 fected his efcape. Suddenly the idea that 
 this man was the fame as had alarmed. the 
 Count and himfelf on the preceding night, 
 flaflied acrofs his mind, and, checking his 
 horfe, he turned to difcover whether he 
 were yet vifible. He was not to be per- 
 ceived amongft the crowd alTembled to view 
 the departure of the troops;- and Demetrius, 
 recolleding how impoflible it would be to 
 identify the mendicant with their auditor of 
 the preceding night, purfued his way, with- 
 out making any attempts to difcover him, yet 
 not without experiencing fome inquietude 
 from thefe remarkable incidents. All in- 
 quietude, all retrofpedlion, however, was 
 banifhed from the mind of Demetrius, when 
 the troops arrived within fight of the PoHfh 
 camp. From a fpot of rifing ground, they 
 beheld an inmienfe extent of country, 
 7 covered
 
 ( III ) 
 
 covered with tents of various defcriptions. 
 The royal flandard, waving heavily in the 
 centre of the camp, proclaimed the prefence 
 of Sigifmund. Numerous banners, belong- 
 ing to the Palatines and Nobles of the king- 
 dom, fluttered over their refpective tenisv 
 while, in the intervening fpaces, glittered 
 the mailed warrior, or the caparifoned fteed. 
 The whole encampment was furrounded by 
 a fortification, which multitudes werebufily 
 employed in completing ; and the din of 
 their inftruments, the found of their (Irokes, 
 returned in equal intervals upon the ear. 
 
 It was a fcene of brilliancy and anima- 
 tion ; to thofe who refleded how foon it 
 might be converted into one of blood and 
 defolation, its contemplation was not unat- 
 tended with melancholy emotions : but De- 
 metrius beheld it with unmixed delight; 
 his bofom fwelled with prophetic tranfport, 
 as he refleded that a period might arrive 
 when he alfo fhould have armies at com- 
 mand — when he alfo fhould be a warrior and 
 a monarch. The arrival of the troops was 
 
 hailed
 
 . ( 112 ) 
 
 hailed by the army with the uttnod fatif 
 fa(!:l:ion ; the foldiers mingled together, anc^ 
 while one party recounted the various for- 
 tunes of the campaign, the other conveyed 
 tidings of their homes, their friends and 
 kindred: each iiflened to the other with 
 interefft ; each interrupted the other's re- 
 cital, byfrequent ejaculations of furprize, or 
 forrow, or fatisfa£tion. 
 
 The Palatine and nobles, meantime, re 
 paired to the royal tent, to receive the orders 
 of their fovereign. Sigifmund gave them -v 
 gracious reception j but his haggard eye, 
 the care-worn traces of his cheek, the ex- 
 prelTion of uneafmefs which his countenance 
 aflumed, when not immediately engaged in 
 converfation, betrayed the anxiety of his 
 mind, and convinced his fubjeds that he 
 dreaded being obliged to comply with the 
 terms propofed by Guflavus, that of his 
 entire refignation to all claims on the crown 
 of Sweden. This , event feveral of the 
 Pollfli nobles, amongfl: whom \v2is the Pala- 
 tine of Sendomir, feci'etly defired 5 but 
 
 the
 
 ( i«3 ) 
 
 the indignation Sigifmund had hitherto ex- 
 prefTed, even at the fuggeftion of this pro- 
 pofal, compelled them to maintain filence 
 on a meafure they yet hoped prudence 
 would induce him to adopt. Demetrius, 
 prefented to him by the Palatine, under the 
 title of Count Lucknow, was received with 
 peculiar courtefy ; and the enthufiafm with 
 which he exprefled his anxiety for a gene- 
 ral engagement, called forth a fmile of ap- 
 probation, though it was fpeedily fucceeded 
 by h figh of retrofpedlion. The , Swedifh 
 army was encamped near Quidzin, about 
 the diftance of thirty leagues from the fpot 
 occupied by the Poles. It was imagined 
 that Guftavus, aware of the inferiority of 
 his forces, would avoid coming to an en- 
 gagement : but Sigifmund, who was per- 
 fectly acquainted with the fpirit and enter- 
 prize of the enemy he had to contend with, 
 deemed otherwife, and determined to await 
 his approach in his prefent advantageous 
 fituation. 
 
 Oft
 
 ( '14 ) 
 
 On the fourth day after the arrival of the 
 Palatmc's forces at the Polilh camp, intelli- 
 gence was brought the King, that Guftavus, 
 at the head of his army, was advancing, ra- 
 pidly towards them. '' He fhall find us 
 *^ prepared to receive him," replied Sigif- 
 mund ; and immediately he rode through 
 the camp, examining the entrenchments, 
 delivering orders to his generals, and ex- 
 horting and encouraging his men. 
 
 At funfet, the advanced guard of the 
 Swedifti army was in fight : the Poles im- 
 mediately placed themfelves in a flats of 
 warhke preparation ; but perceiving no 
 difpofition on the part of the enemy to at- 
 tack their camp, Sigifmund commanded his 
 troops to remain within the trenches. Be- 
 fore the clofe of day, the whole Swedifh. 
 army was in fight. The fhades of night 
 foon concealed .them from the anxious and 
 exploring eyes of the Poles ; but the heavy 
 trampling of their cavalry, the neighing of 
 the fteeds, the rattlingof armour, the voices 
 of the chiefs iffuing their orders^ in the loud 
 
 tones.
 
 C i'5 ) 
 
 tones of command, were diflindly heard 
 through the ftillnefs of the night, and con- 
 veyed an intimation of the Swedes being 
 occupied in forming a temporary fhelter. 
 Suddenly the profound darknefs was inter^ 
 rupted by the blaze of innumerable fires, 
 kindled by the adverfe armies. The whole 
 plain was enlightened by this artificial day, 
 and fo near were the advanced guards of 
 the Swedes to the Polifh camp, that the two 
 armies appeared but as one. There were 
 no alarms, however, no diflurbance in either 
 army ; a kind of truce feemed to reign be- 
 tween them, and each appeared to think the 
 fun alone worthy to behold thofe efforts of 
 valour they meant to difplay. 
 
 Ardently did Demetrius anticipate the 
 dawn of that day, which was to behold his 
 firfl advance towards the goal of immor- 
 tality, to witnefs his firfl: progrefs in the 
 career of glory. Incapable of taking any 
 repofe, enveloped in his mantle, and lean- 
 ing on his fabre, he remained alternately 
 regarding the movements of the Swe^lifh 
 
 army.
 
 ( I'G ) 
 
 army, or cafling impatient glances towards 
 the eafl. It came at lafl,-^this moment, 
 fo long, fo eagerly anticipated; and De- 
 metrius, already equipped, mounted on 
 his courfer, and aiTembling the body oi 
 huffars under his command, waited impa- 
 tiently the orders of the King. 
 
 The army was drawn out of the camp, 
 and arranged in order of battle. The na* 
 ture of the ground, v/hich was perfedlly 
 level, prefented no opportunity for difplay- 
 ing fKill in the exercife of manoeuvres, ot 
 difpofition of ambufcades. Demetrius was 
 Rationed in the right wing, to proteft a body 
 of infantry under the command of Count 
 Wiefnovltfki ; the Palatine commanded the 
 left, and the King himfelf the centre. The 
 front of the Swedifh army exhibited a for- 
 midable afped: : the principal part of th(; 
 forces was compofed of infantry, whofc 
 ferried fpears prefented an almoft impene- 
 trable phalanx : thefe were protedod b} 
 dragoons, whofe weapons were a piflol am., 
 afabrej'the latter hung from their belts, 
 
 while
 
 ( '17 ) 
 
 while the former were levelled againft the , 
 enemy. The SwediHi chiefs were dif- 
 covered by the fplendour of their garbs, 
 and the energy of their adions. Guftavus 
 Adolphus, diftinguifhed by his majeftic fta- 
 ture, and the peculiarity of his armour, was 
 feen darting along the diiTerent columns, re- 
 peating and enforcing his orders ; then, 
 fuddenly throwing himfelf amongft a body 
 of cavalry, the trumpets founded the 
 charge, and, hke a thunder-bolt, he rufli d 
 forward at the head of the dragoons, and 
 bore down upon the right wing, where 
 Demetrius was Rationed. The fiercenefs of 
 the attack, the flafh from the weapons, the 
 fmoke and dud which enveloped him, ren- 
 dered it impofTible to hear or fee beyond the 
 extent of a few paces : ali was tumult, all 
 was obfcurity. Demetrius remained firm 
 in his pofl ; returned the furious onfet by 
 difcharging his piftol againft his imme- 
 diate opponent, and then drawing his fabre, 
 attacked him with vigour : his arm proved 
 victorious ; the Swede funk breathlefs from 
 
 his
 
 ( 'i8 ) 
 
 his horfe, and the fmoke, now dlfperfing 
 before a fudden gale of wind, difcovered 
 that the dragoons who had borne down on 
 them had, in the ardour of their attack, fe- 
 parated themfelves from the main body of 
 the army. The hope of furrounding and 
 fecuring them inflantly occurred to Deme- 
 trius : he ilTued his orders to the hulfars, 
 who immediately made an attempt to obey 
 him ; while Demetrius himfelf fought with 
 a fury infpired by hope, and animated by 
 conqueft. The agility of his movements, 
 the vigour of his frame, the perfe6l cool- 
 nefs of his courage, rendered every ftroke 
 the harbinger of death. The dragoons 
 flirunk from his uplifted fabre : a Swedifh 
 officer, irritated at this oppofition, ,rufhed 
 towards him, and, lifting up his fabre be- 
 tween both his hands, aimed a ftroke at the 
 helmet of Demetrius. lie parri'ed the 
 blow, and the next moment difarmed, and 
 direded his weapon at the breaft of the 
 officer, at the fame time requefting him to 
 acknowledge himfelf his prifoner, and retire 
 
 to 
 
 J
 
 ( "9 ) 
 
 to the Polifh camp. The Swede, after re- 
 garding Demetrius for a moment, complied, 
 and followed an huflar, whom the Prince 
 had commanded to condud him to his 
 tent. In the meantime, Guftavus had re- 
 covered his original Ration in the main body 
 of the army, and the hopes of Demetrius 
 were diHippointed, The Palatine, amongft 
 other diredions he had given Demetrius, 
 had advifed him never to allow his troops 
 to depart at any confiderable diftance from 
 the poil they at firft occupied ; and even if 
 fcattered in purlait of the enemy, to endea- 
 vour to re-eftabiilh difcipline and order 
 amongfl them. This advice he now pre- 
 pared to obey ; but in vaiii he fummoned, 
 by his voice and geflure, the huflars to re- 
 turn to their pofl : they were in purfuit of 
 the dragoons, who had attacked them fo 
 furioufly at the commencement of the 
 battle ; and the fpirit of perfonal refentment 
 mingled with that of public warfare. The 
 dragoons were now completely routed, and 
 flying over the. plain in every diredion: their 
 
 further
 
 ( ^20 ) 
 
 further purfuit could afford no effential fer- 
 vice to the caufe ; and Demetrius, indig- 
 nant at the inefficacy of his efforts to make 
 himfelf obeyed, called upon thofe few of 
 the huffars who yet remained near his per- 
 fon, to return with him to the pod they had 
 forfaken. At this moment the dreadful 
 cry of " The Poles retreat ! the Poles re- 
 ** treat V* refounded through the air. De- 
 metrius fpurred on his courfer, and en- 
 deavoured to recover the ftation he had 
 abandoned ; but it was in poffeffion of 
 the enemy, and the whole field prefented 
 one vafl fcene of confufion, of carnage, 
 and of tnmult. Nothing now remained 
 but, the exertion of mere perfonal cou- 
 rage. Wherever the Swedes appeared 
 vidorious, Demetrius rufiied towards them, 
 fought to fudain the finking Poles, and en- 
 deavoured to re-affure them by his words, 
 his geftures, but, above all, by his example. 
 In one part of the field he beheld the Pala- 
 tine of Sendomir : his horfe had been 
 killed, and, deferted by his troops, he was 
 
 feebly
 
 ( «2I ) 
 
 feebly flruggling with his numerous oppo- 
 nents. Demetrius fell upon them with re- 
 fifllefs fury, and, having fucceeded in dif- 
 perfmg them, returned to the Palatine dif- 
 mounted, and, placing him on his courfer, 
 requeiled him to leave the field, 
 
 "And you, my fon," exclaimed the Pala- 
 tine, " why not accompany me ? Why 
 *• throw away your life in a caufe which no 
 " valour can longer maintain ?' 
 
 " Where is then the King ?" demanded 
 Demetrius. He could add no more, for the 
 Swedes now bore down upon and feparated 
 him from the Palatine. The fmall body of 
 hullars, which had remained near Deme- 
 trius, now gradually dlminifhed. Some fled 
 from the fabres of the ehemy, others fell be- 
 neath them, and the found of " Victory to. 
 '• Sweden! Vidory to Sweden!" refounded 
 on every fide, and conveyed a pang of 
 mingled regret and moriification to every 
 Polifh heart. Demetrius now found him- 
 felf entirely furrounded by the Swedes, wha 
 feemed infpired with courage, proportionate 
 
 VOL.1. G to
 
 ( ^22 
 
 to their fuccefs ; and the convi£i:ion that the 
 flrength of his arm was impaired, deter- 
 mined him to make a defpcrate effort to 
 reach the camp, and retire, for a time at 
 lead, within the entrenchment. He effeded 
 his purpofe with a coolnefs and refulution 
 which excited the refped ajid admiration of 
 the enemy ; and though he gradually re- 
 treated before them, the deiirudlion his 
 fabre flill dealt around, befpoke it the re- 
 treat of a hero fubmitting to fate, rather 
 than of man yielding to man. 
 
 The camp prefented a fcene of alarm and 
 conflernation. The trenches were fo ill 
 defended, that no hope remained of being 
 enabled to make a long refiftance againft 
 the vidorious' Swedes. 
 
 Sigifmund, overwhelmed with fatigue 
 and def[/air, was feated in the centre of his 
 tent, furrounded by thofe few of his nobles 
 whohadhaftily alTembled at his command. 
 A melancholy filence reigned throughout 
 the circle : after a folcmn paufe of fome 
 minutes, the King thus in anguifli addrefled 
 
 them :
 
 ( 123 ) 
 
 them : — " Nobles of Poland! this day has 
 " beheld a defeat the moft fignal that we 
 " have endured fince the commencenient 
 *^ of our contefl with Sweden ; that con- 
 " teft niuft: terminate^ here: the haplefs 
 *' Sigifmund is no longer a meet rival for 
 " the triumphant Guftavus. Your wifhes, 
 *' your feelings, have long been made 
 " known to me, and it becomes not your 
 ^' King to oppofe the inclinations of fub- 
 " jedts, who ' have Ihed their blood, and 
 " ri{ked their lives, in his fervice. Nobles 
 " of Poland ! I confent to a peace with 
 " Sweden, on whatever terms it can be 
 *' procured. Let a flag of truce be imme- 
 *' diately difpatched to Guftavus/' The 
 nobles, whatever were their fecret fenti- 
 ments, from refped to the feelings of 
 Sigifmund, forbore to betray any appear- 
 ance of fatisfadion at this declaration. 
 Satisfadion, indeed, at fuch a moment, they 
 could fcarcely experience. Even when com- 
 bating in a caufe, to which no perfonal or 
 patriotic intereft is attached, the humiliation 
 G 2 of
 
 C ^24 ) 
 
 of defeat Is always deeply and painfully felt 
 in the breaft of a foldier. Apprehenfions 
 alfo, left the terms propofed by Guftavus 
 (would be too rigorous to receive their ac- 
 fquiefcence ; the uncertain fate of thofe 
 friends . who were abfent from the royal 
 tent, combined to deprefs the hearts, and 
 fadden the countenance of the alTembled 
 nobles. The Palatine of Sendomir now 
 advanced, and entreated permilTion to ac- 
 company the herald to the Swedifn monarch. 
 This requeft was acceded to. The King 
 and nobles unanimoufly concurred in con- 
 figning to his difcretion their own honour 
 and their country's welfare. The anxious 
 glance of Demetrius had, during this fcene, 
 haftiiy paffed over the aflembled warriors, to 
 difcover whether Count Wiefnovitfici were 
 amongft them. With inexprelfible delight, 
 be beheld his well-known countenance, and 
 the heart-felt and exprelTive glance of recog- 
 nition was exchanged between them. 
 
 After the departure of the Palatine, the 
 younger part of the nobility quitted the 
 
 prefence
 
 ( 125 ) 
 
 prefcnce of Siglfmund. Count Wiefno- 
 vitfki accompanied Demetrius towards his 
 tenr. The hufTar ftationed at the entrance 
 reminded him of the Swedlfli officer, whom 
 he had made prifoner during the battle : he 
 mentioned the circumftance to the Count, 
 and, as they entered the tent, the Swede 
 arofe and returned their falutation. His ve- 
 nerable and dignified figure impreffed them 
 with refpe6t. His helmet was laid afide, 
 and his grey locks waved over his brow 5 
 while his dark eye, ftill retaining all the fire 
 of youth, feemed to imply, that the furrows 
 on his cheek had been traced by the hand 
 of forrow, rather than of time. 
 
 Demetrius addrelTed him with his natural 
 fweetnefs and courtefy, acquainted him with 
 the fate of the battle, and the embafTy dif- 
 patched from Sigifmund to Guflavus, which 
 feemed to promife not only a fpeedy, but a 
 lafting ceflation of hoftliities between the 
 twa countries. " You will not therefore/' 
 continued he, " long endure the fate of a 
 " prifoner, and the only advantage I fhall 
 03 '' derive
 
 ( '26 ) 
 
 *' derive from my conqueft will be, that 
 *' it may enable me to obtain fome know- 
 *' ledge of one, whofe appearance fo greatly 
 " induces me to defire it.*' 
 
 The Swediih chief, without replying to 
 this fpeech, or indeed appearing aware of 
 its import, gazed on Demetrius with an ex- 
 prelTion of curiofity and amazement, " That 
 *' voice, that look !" he wildly exclaimed^ 
 *' your name, your rank, brave youth j delay 
 " not to inform me of them/' 
 
 Demetrius, furprifed and bewildered, was 
 preparing to difclofe them without referve, 
 when a glance from Count Wiefnovitfki 
 reftored him to felf pofleffion. " Count 
 •' Lucknow," he rephed, in a low and 
 unaflured voice. 
 
 " Count Lucknow," repeated the chief 
 in a tone of difappointment. 
 
 '* Mav I enquire the motive of this de- 
 " mand ?** aflved Demetrius. 
 
 An air of referve difFufed itfelf over the 
 countenance of the Swede, as he replied, 
 " Your ftrong refemblance to a deceafed 
 
 ^^ friend
 
 ( 127 ) 
 '^ friend has thus induced me to tranfgrefs 
 " the la^ws of courtefy. A hope, tranfieut 
 *' as delufive, had found its way to my 
 " heart ; the fird reflection of reafon, how- 
 " ever, fliewed me its futility, which your 
 *' reply to my demands confirmed." 
 
 Demetrius felt anxious to enquire into 
 the nature of this hope ; but Count Wief- 
 novitlki, who marked the impatience of his 
 manners, and dreaded the impruduce of his 
 condud, addrelTed himfelf to the Swede, 
 
 Hild infeTiribly engaged Hifii ili' ali mtcicnfing 
 
 converfation. They difcuffed, with equal 
 temper and ability, the various fortunes of 
 the war between the Swedes and Poles. The 
 Count fpoke with the highefl refpedl and 
 admiration of the genius and valour of the 
 Swedifh monarch. The chief dwelt on 
 them with enthufiafm, and recounted many 
 inftances of heroifm,^ which he had dif- 
 played fmce his entrance into the fervice of 
 Sweden. 
 
 " You are not then a native of Sweden?" 
 
 enquired -the Count. " No, I am a Ruffian," 
 
 G , 4 was
 
 ( »28 ) 
 
 was the reply, and a deep figh efcaped hini 
 as he made it. " A Ruffian !'* exclaimed 
 Demetrius. The chief again fixed his pene- 
 tratirag eye upon him, " Your's is a Po- 
 " lifh title," he faid, but the accent was 
 lefs that of aiTertion than enquiry. 
 
 " Count Lucknovv," interrupted the Count 
 abruptly, '' it is probable the Palatine may 
 *' have returned from his embafly, fhall we 
 •' not haften to afcertain its fuccefs ?" then 
 addreffing the chief, he promifed to make 
 him acquaintsd with its refult ; and taking 
 the arm of Demetrius, hurried him from 
 the tent. 
 
 " My dear friend,'* he exclaimed, '^ I 
 *' entreat you to be on your guard with 
 *' this myfterious ftranger. Remember that 
 *' a premature difcovery of your exiftence 
 " to Boris, would for ever deftroy thofe 
 " hopes you at prefent entertain of reco- 
 *' vering your native rights. This Ruffian, 
 ^' mod probably, has difcovered a ref'^m- 
 *' blance between you and your noble 
 " family, which has occafioned his expref- 
 
 " fions
 
 C 129 ) 
 
 " (ions of furprife ; but how can we afcer- 
 " tain whether he were the friend of Ivan, 
 " or be now the partifan of Boris ?" 
 
 " His being engaged in the fervice of 
 '' Sweden, does not make this latter fug- 
 *' geftion probable," replied Demetrius. 
 " I will, however, comply with your wifhes, 
 *' and endeavour to difcover his fentiments 
 " before I difclofe my hiftory." 
 
 '^ If a truce be agreed on between Swe- 
 "■ den and Poland, the two armies will, 
 " during the final adjuftment of the treaty, 
 " remain ftationary. During this period 
 " we may be enabled to penetrate into the 
 " views and charader of this Ruffian no- 
 " bleman." 
 
 They were now arrived at the royal tent, 
 and found the Palatine returned from his 
 embafly. Guftavus difdained to avail him- 
 felf of his late victories, to impofe upon him, 
 who was his kinfman as well as his rival, 
 any harfh terms, or degrading conceffions. 
 He fimply required that Sigifmund Ihould 
 renounce all claims to the kingdom of Swe- 
 G s den.
 
 ( '30 ) 
 
 den, which he could not govern in pcrfon, 
 confiftently with the compact entered into 
 at the period of his eledion to the throne 
 of Poland. Should he agree to this pro- 
 pofal, Guftavus confented to refign the 
 principal towns he had taken pofTefTion of 
 during the war, and immediately to with- 
 draw his forces from Poland. Thefe terms 
 were too confonant with the wifhes of the 
 nobles, not to receive their univerfal appro- 
 bation, and Sigifmund gloomily refigned 
 the fole arrangement of the treaty to their 
 diredlion, even refufmg to accord, at the 
 requeft of Guftavus, a perfonal interview 
 to him. 
 
 During thefe final arrangements, the two 
 armies mingled together in the fpirit of 
 focial glee, as they had before encountered 
 in the fhock of military warfare. Deme- 
 trius had made the Palatine acquainted with 
 the fingular aftonifhment his captive had 
 expreffed on firft beholding him j and the 
 Palatine, anxious to develop a circumftance 
 which might be intiaiately conne<5ted with 
 
 the
 
 C 131 ) 
 
 the fate of Demetrius, endeavoured to learn 
 from the Ruffian's converlation, the events 
 of his former Ufe. He found him, how- 
 ever, inacceffible on this fubjed ; and any 
 allufum to thofe events which had occurred 
 during the late reigns, fpread a gloom over 
 his countenance, and threw an air of referve 
 over his manner ; he expreTed a grateful 
 fenfe of the attention paid him, both by the 
 Palatine and Count Wiefnovitiki ; but for 
 Demetrius he foon profelfed a fincere and 
 ardent attachment, which the latter' re- 
 turned, and felt ftrongly impelled to brealc 
 through that reftraint, which the prudence 
 of his friends had advifed him to obferve- 
 A truce for fix years being finally agreed 
 on between the Polifh and Swedifh nations, 
 the two armies broke up their feparate en- 
 campments, and Guftavus withdrew his 
 forces out of Poland, to lead them to other 
 combats, and to other victories. The Ruf- 
 fian noble, who had expreifed a defire to 
 vlfit the interior of Poland, was ftrongly 
 urged by the Palatine and Demetrius to^ 
 G 6 accom-
 
 ( 132 ) 
 
 accompany them on their return to Cra- 
 cow, and he at length confentcd to comply 
 with their requeft. 
 
 I'he conclufion of the peace, mortifying 
 to the pride, but favourable to the welfare 
 of Poland, was by the friends of Demetrius 
 regarded as greatly propitious to his future 
 interefls. His brilliant courage, his gay 
 and affable demeanour, had rendered him 
 highly popular amoiig the army and younger 
 part of the nobility. The King himfelf ho- 
 noured him with particular regard; and the 
 Palatine judged that the return of the army 
 to Cracow would be a favourable period for 
 laying before the Diet of Puland the claims 
 of Demetrius to the throne of Ruilia. 
 
 The anxiety of Demetrius to return to 
 Cracow, induced him lo requeft permi/fion 
 of the King to leave the camp a few days 
 previous to the general departure of the 
 army ; CouiU WieinoviifKi made the fame 
 requeft, and the young nobles accompanied 
 by their Rufi]an friend, and followed by a 
 few attendants, quilted the camp, and ad- 
 vanced by rapid llages towards Cracow. 
 7
 
 C 133 > 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 '• How now, Marina ! Why do you keep alone ? 
 
 *• Do not 
 " Confaine your blood with forrowing, with this 
 <'' Unpiofitable woe." Pericles. 
 
 TOURING the firft period of her repara- 
 tion froin the Palatine and Demetrius, 
 Marina had refigned herfelf, without con- 
 troul, to the dominion of forrow. Thofe, 
 who can for a while diifipate, amidll fcenes 
 of tumult or of gaiety, the pangs of tem- 
 porary or eternal feparation, cannot even 
 conceive the agonies of one, doomed to 
 remain in (lillnefs and inad:ion, while a be- 
 loved objed is expofed to death, and fur- 
 rounded by danger. That ilate of external 
 peace, but fecret agitation, refembles^ the 
 frightful calm, which reigns throughout the 
 face of nature, before the rifing hurricane : 
 clouds veil the heavens ; darknefs broods 
 over the earth ; all objeds refled the fom- 
 bre hue ; and forrow, filence, defolation, 
 
 breathe
 
 ( '34 ) 
 
 breatbe over the fcene ; at intervals, the 
 trenibliiig forebodings of the fearful heart, 
 like the deep, yet diftant ihunder, inter- 
 rupts the fule;nn ftiUnefis ': the one, the 
 prelude, the other, the prefentiment of de- 
 flrudion. The vi\id iina-ijination of Marina, 
 uhich had fonneily been the fpring of ex- 
 quifite enjoyment, employed in rinticipating 
 or creating delight, was now converted to a 
 fource of torture. Sometimes her reafon 
 bade her endeavour to banifii thefe painful 
 and ufelefs apprehenfions ; but could fhe 
 do this, without alfo banilhing the remem- 
 brance of her father and her lover ? And 
 wasjt not almoft criminal to indulge a wifh 
 for tranquillity, when they were expofed 
 to perils, and braving deflruiElion. Such 
 are the feelings of the heart, not the rea- 
 fonings of the judgment ; but in the fpring- 
 time of life, in the noon-day of love, the 
 heart fpeaks, while the reafon is filent. 
 
 How infinite the change ! how rranfport- 
 ing the contraft ! in the feelings of Marina, 
 when flie firfl received intelligence of the 
 
 con-
 
 C «35 ) 
 
 conclufion of the peace — of the fafety of the 
 Palatine and Demetrius ! In a mind mw 
 bued with the fpirit of devotion, gratitude 
 is the moll powerful flimulus to its exercife. 
 When the heart fivells with rapture, to lift 
 It up to that being, who conferred fucb 
 excefs of joy, becomes its firft and dearcfl 
 defire. Marina poured forth her ardent 
 thankfgiving for this reftoration to felici'v ; 
 and fell, while thus employed, that fweet 
 and facred calm, which religion difFufes 
 through the foul, temper the violence of 
 her tranfports, and render them more fatif- 
 fadory, becaufe more capable of -being 
 fleadily furveyed : the eye is dazzled by the 
 fun's meridian blaze, but repofes with plea- 
 fure on its parting beam. 
 
 The Princefs of Sendomir now glanced 
 forward, with eager delight, to the return of 
 the army. She had calculated, with the 
 utmofl exaclnefs, the period v>/hen fhe 
 thought it probable this event might occur ; 
 and each day, each hour, which diminifhed 
 
 the
 
 C '3<5 ) 
 
 the interval was hailed with encreafing de- 
 light. 
 
 As Marina had, in the period of fuffering^ 
 fecluded herfelf from fociety, fo, in thiji 
 moment of joy, did fhe yet remain in foli' 
 tude, to avoid that imperfect fympathy 
 which to ardent tempers is even more pain 
 ful than total indifference. Who would feel 
 like her, fuch vivid tranfport from the cer- 
 tainty of the peace ? who would, hke her, 
 anticipate, with fuch eagernefs, the arrival 
 of the troops ? and how painful to behold 
 the uninterefted eye ! to liften to the cold 
 detail ! to hear the indifferent remark of 
 thofe around, while all her feelings were 
 attuned to rapture ! Thus thought the 
 young, the enthufiaflic Marina, as fne paced 
 the grand faloon of the palace, with rapid, 
 but unequal fteps. Too refllefs, too agi- 
 tated, to purfue her wonted employments, 
 finding it equally impofTible to command 
 her attention, or fubdue her feelings, (he 
 ceafed the inelTedual attempt, and aban- 
 doned
 
 ( ^37 ) 
 
 doned herfelf to all the luxury of blifsful 
 anticipation. 
 
 Abforbed in one of thofe delicious re- 
 veries, in which the imagination, as yet 
 unchecked by reafon, the heart, as yet un- 
 taught by experience, feels not one pang of 
 pqfi difappointment intrude, to foretell the 
 pollibility oi future^ but yields without con- 
 troul to the empire of hope ; Marina heeded 
 not the lapfe of time, or the unufual founds 
 which iffued from the palace court; they 
 became louder, but yet pafled unregarded : 
 at length the increafmg tumult, which now 
 even appeared to pervade the palace itfelf, 
 aroufed her from her reverie. A rulh of 
 joy poured on her heart : her father and 
 Demetrius were returned ! the belief was 
 irrefiftible. She attempted to advance and 
 welcome their approach, but her emotion 
 impeded her progrefs, and fhe remained 
 transfixed in the centre of the faloon ; her 
 eyes rivetted on the entrance ; her cheeks 
 glowing ; her lips half unclofed, yet impref# 
 fed with the fmile of rapture j her bofoin 
 
 throl>
 
 ( i3« ) 
 throbbing with fenfations vivid, fluQuating, 
 and undefinable. The door was fuddenly 
 unclofed ; and Marina beheld, not the bloom- 
 ing, the animated, the tranfported lover 
 her fancy had depided, but a lifelefs form, 
 fupported in the arms of another ; a counte- 
 nance, imprefTed with the image of death ; 
 Demetrius wounded, expiring, perhaps even 
 now no more ! A heart-rending fhriek burfl 
 from her lips — (he tottered a few paces 
 towards him — and then funk.fenfelefs on 
 the ground-. 
 
 The palace of Sendomirwas fituated at the 
 entrance of Cracow ; and Demetrius, who 
 had, on his return to the city, fomewhat 
 preceded his companions, immediately^ on 
 arriving at it, checked his courfer's rein, 
 and fprung lightly. to the ground. It was 
 night, but the moon threw a clear and dif- 
 tind light around, and difcovered the maf- 
 five portal of the palace court. Demetrius 
 immediately haftened to unclofe it : it re- 
 filled his efforts ; and, irritated at this un- 
 expeded obflacle, he was preparing to force
 
 ( 139 ) 
 
 it open, when two men rulhed from fome 
 unperceived covert, and attacked him with 
 a violence which he was wholly unprepared 
 to refift. His garb, adapted to the heat of 
 the feafon, and the rapidity with which he 
 had travelled, was without any fpecies of 
 martial accoutrement ; and the only wea- 
 pon he had retained, was a fmall fword, 
 which he inflantly unfheathed, and reding 
 againft the portal, defended himfelf with 
 equal ikill and courage. He wounded one 
 of the affaflins in his fide, who^ infpired 
 with added fury, in return aimed a (Iroke 
 with his dagger at Demetrius, which pierced 
 his too unguarded bread, and hrs weapon 
 indantly fell from his nervelefs grafp. 
 
 The aflallins,.with favage exultation, were 
 proceeding to complete th^ir work of de- 
 ftrudion, when Count Wiefnovitfki and the 
 Ruflian, accompanied by feveral attendants, 
 reached the fpot. Although they did not 
 immediately recognize Demetrius, who now 
 lay fenfelefs on the ground, they attacked 
 the aHaflins with fuch vigour, as compelled 
 
 one
 
 ( HO ) 
 
 one to inflant flight, and forced the other to 
 throw afide his weapon and implore their 
 mercy. The Count immediately configned 
 him to the charge of his attendants, and 
 then, with the affiftance of the Ruffian, 
 raifed the apparently lifelefs body from the 
 ground, and, with horror inexpreflible, dif- 
 covered the pale countenance of Demetrius, 
 He immediately fummoned the domeftics 
 belonging to the palace of Sendomir, who 
 entreated him to allow them to convey 
 Demetrius thither, that his wound might- 
 receive immediate attention. Count Wief- 
 novitiki, apprehenfive of alarming the Prin- 
 cefs, at firft hefitated to comply with this 
 requefl ; but obferving that the flighted 
 movement made the blood flow from the 
 Prince's wound, he permitted them to bear 
 him towards the grand faloon, from whence 
 they informed him the Princefs was retired. 
 The Count was inexprefllbly fhocked, at 
 his entrance, on perceiving Marina, and be- 
 holding the efl?e6l which the fight of his 
 wounded friend produced on her. She 
 
 wa&
 
 ( 141 ) 
 
 v/as conveyed by her female attendants to 
 her own apartment, and the mod careful 
 afliduities employed to reftore her to recol- 
 ledion. 
 
 Count Wiefnovitlki, in the meantime, 
 had placed Demetrius on a couch, and un- 
 clofed his veft to examine the wound, from 
 which the blood now appeared to flow with 
 leiTened violence. While thus employed, 
 the diamond crofs, which had been placed 
 on his neck by the Czarina, and which De- 
 metrius had worn fmce it had been re-deli- 
 vered to him by the prior, attracted the 
 attention of the Count, and, removing it 
 from his neck, left it might interfere with 
 his examination of the wound ; he gave it 
 to tlie Ruffian, who carelefsly laid it afide, 
 and proceeded to affift the Count in ftaunch- 
 ing the wound of Demetrius. In a few 
 minutes he unclofed his eyes, and breathed a 
 deep and heavy figh. The Count, tranf- 
 ported with delight at fymptoms of return- 
 ing animation, addreflfed a few anxious and 
 affedionate enquiries to him j but Demetrius, 
 
 after
 
 ( Hi ) 
 
 after gazing around for a moment, again 
 clofed his eyes, while an expreflion of an- 
 guifli pafled acrofs his countenance. Count 
 Wiefnovitfki now raif^d him from his re- 
 cumbent pofture, and lupporting him in his 
 arms, requefted the RufTian to adminifter to 
 him a cordial, which had been prepared by 
 the domed ics of the palace. The Prince's 
 head reded for fupport on the fhoulder of 
 Count Wiefnovitllvi ; his difhevelled hair 
 flrayed over his pallid brow ; his unbuttoned 
 veft difclofed his neck and blood-ftained gar- 
 ments : in the defolation of his whole afpedt, 
 the late gay and blooming Demetrius could 
 with difficulty be recognized. As the 
 Ruffian approached with the cordial, and was 
 conveying it to his lips, his altered appear- 
 ance ftruck him vt/ith a degree of horror, 
 almofl more powerful than its occafion 
 feemed to juflify. " What a fearful change! 
 ** what an appalling fight !'* he wildly ex- 
 claimed. The Count, from a fpecies of 
 feeling which rehde'-ed it acutely painful to 
 hear another remark what he too forcibly 
 
 felt
 
 C H3 ) 
 
 felt calmly to hear or to notice, fnatched 
 the goblet from the Ruffian, and endea- 
 voured to induce Demetrius to fwallow Its 
 contents. The Ruffian, meantime, regard- 
 lefs of this adion, continued gazing on De- 
 metrius. 
 
 '' What a powerful, what a myflerious 
 " refemblance !'* he exclaimed : then fud- 
 denly approaching him, he drew his veil yet 
 further afide, and bent down to examine the 
 fhoulder he expofed. " This cannot be 
 " delufion ! this cannot be the effed: of 
 *' accident !'* he faid, clafping his.hands, as 
 if in token of gratitude, while tears rolled 
 down his furrowed cheeks. " It is, it muft 
 " bo^ Prince Demetrius of Ruffia !" 
 
 The Count, at this exclamation, raifed his 
 eyes from the countenance of his friend and 
 with his accuflomed f ^U-pofleffion, addrefTed 
 the Ruffian : *• Whatever this fcene im- 
 *' plies," faid he, " and of whatever im- 
 '^ portance be the difcovery you have made, 
 '• at prefent there is but one objed which 
 " requires our immediate attention, — the 
 
 " reft oration
 
 ( 144 ) 
 
 *<^ reiloradon of Demetrius; any fudden 
 " furprife, or flrong emotion may be at- 
 " tended with the moft fatal confequences. 
 " Whatever circumftances, therefore, you 
 *' may wifh to learn or to difclofe, let us 
 " forbear at prefent to communicate. In 
 " a fliort period, we fliall be enabled to fa- 
 *' tisfy our mutual doubts and curiofity." 
 
 This fpeech rcflored the Ruffian to ap- 
 parent compofure, and again approaching 
 Demetrius, he lent his aid to aflift in his 
 recovery. He once more unclofed his eyes, 
 and foon was fufficienrly reftored to be 
 enabled to reply to the Count's anxious en- 
 quiries : with the ailiftance of the domeftics, 
 he was conveyed to a couch, prepared for 
 him, in an apartment of the palace ; and the 
 Count, in a few hours, had the inexpreffible 
 fatisfa£tion of finding that he had fallen into 
 a gentle 11 umber. This intelligence he com- 
 municated to the Princefs, who had now re- 
 covered from her fwoon ; and having in 
 fome meafure calmed her apprehenfions by 
 an aflurance, that the Prince's wound was 
 
 not
 
 ( HS ) 
 
 not dangerous, and that? his death-like ap- 
 pearance had been folely occafloned by the 
 fudden efFufion of blood, he quitted her, 
 with the entreaty, that fhe would endeavour 
 to procure fome repofe, and haflened to the 
 faloon, where he had requefted the Rufliaa 
 noble to remain during his abfence. 
 
 Count Wiefnovitlki found him intently 
 examining the diamond crofs, which had 
 been taken from the neck of Demetrius. 
 
 " This crofs," faid the Ruffian, extending 
 it towards him as he approached, " this 
 " crofs was placed by the hand of the 
 *' Czarina Feodorofna, around the neck of 
 ^^ her fon, before flie configned him to my 
 *' care. You gaze upon me with aftonifh- 
 " ment," continued he, " but not with 
 " apprehenfion ; for he, who once ha- 
 " zarded his life to preferve that of his 
 *' prince, is not an obje£t to be regarded 
 " with dread or with diftruft." The proud 
 expreflion of confcious integrity diffufed it- 
 felf over his countenance. " Forgive me," 
 faid the Count, " thofe precautions, whofe 
 
 VOL. r. H " inutility
 
 C 146 ) 
 
 «* inutility I am now fo happily convinced 
 <* of, and attribute them to their true caufe, 
 " — the anxiety of friendfhip." 
 
 *^ I do more than forgive, I admire and 
 " efteem the motive which induced you to 
 *' adopt them ; but, at prefent let us mutu- 
 *' ally throw afide all ufelefs referve, and 
 *' explain by what ftrange coincidence of 
 *^ events the Prince of Ruflia and the Count 
 <* Wiefnovitfki have thus encountered." 
 
 The Count immediately, in compliance 
 with the wifh thus intimated, proceeded to 
 relate all the circumflances connefted with 
 the fate of Demetrius, with which he was 
 himfelf acquainted. With all the energy of 
 friendfhip, and the eloquence of feeling, he 
 dwelt on his virtues, his courage, and his 
 genius: he fpoke of the ardent hope cherifhed 
 by the Prince of recovering the throne of 
 his anceftors ; of the fandion thefe hopes 
 had received by the folemn engagement 
 entered into between himfelf and the Princefs 
 of Sendomir. He fpoke of the Palatine's 
 intention of requefting the King to convoke 
 
 the
 
 ( 147 ) 
 
 the diet, for the purpofe of laying before 
 
 them the claims of Demetrius to the crown 
 
 of Ruffia, and of imploring their afliftance 
 
 to enable him to obtain it. *' You, who fo 
 
 *' fully eftimate the charader of one, whom 
 
 ^^ it is my pride, as well as my pleafure, to 
 
 " call by the endearing title of friend," 
 
 continued the Count, " have difcovered 
 
 *' the dawn of that genius, whofe meridian 
 
 " fplendour promifes to dazzle and to 
 
 " ailonifh the world. His ambition is fo 
 
 " boundlefs, his views are fo vaft, his ideas 
 
 " fo exalted, his energies fo unwearied, 
 
 " that I fometimes dread this very enthu- 
 
 ** fiafm and genius, which are formed to 
 
 *' raife him even above the dignity of a 
 
 «' monarch — to the rank of a hero, may 
 
 " dazzle his judgment, and miflead his 
 
 " condud, by inflaming him with hopes 
 
 ** which cannot be realized, or urging him 
 
 " to defigns beyond the power of man to 
 
 ** execute." 
 
 " This excefs of ardour,'* rejoined Count 
 
 Galltzin, " is the error of youth, an error 
 
 H a " which
 
 ( 148 ) 
 
 ** which experience foon corre(5ts, or 
 *^' prudence conceals. The character of the 
 " Prince is fuch as muft-beflow, not receive, 
 *' honour from any flation, however ex- 
 " alted. Oh ! with what tranfport do I 
 '* anticipate the period, when the enemy of 
 " his houfe, the murderer of his brother, 
 " fhall tremble beneath his avenging arm ! 
 " The circumftances," refumed he, after 
 a fliort paufe, " preceding my delivering 
 *' Demetrius into the hands of the prior of 
 " St. Michael's convent, you are already 
 " acquainted with. The Czarina had en- 
 " gaged me, by a folemn promife, not to 
 " undertake any enterprize, which might 
 "endanger the life of Demetrius, by 
 *' difclofmg my knowledge of his preferva- 
 *' tion to any human being. The fate of 
 " Feodor had infpired the Czarina with a 
 " timidity and weaknefs, not natural to her 
 *' character, and, in this inftance, the am- 
 *' bition of the Princefs yielded to the fears 
 " of the mother. I gave a reludlant 
 " acquiefcence to her requeft, and contented 
 
 " myfelf
 
 ( '49 ) 
 
 " myfelf with occafionally making enquiries 
 *' relative to the health and welfare of the 
 " young Prince, and communicating the 
 " intelligence I procured to the Czarina, 
 " the feverity of whofe confinement I fm- 
 " cerely commiferated. I found it diffi- 
 " cult, nay rather I fhould fay, impolTible, 
 ** to conceal my indignation, when I beheld 
 *' the triumphant Boris, contaminated with 
 ** the blood of his fovereign, elevated to his 
 ** throne. Oh, how feverely did I repent 
 " the promife, which the fears of th^ 
 *' Czarina had extorted from me ! Without 
 *' implicating the life of Demetrius, how- 
 *' ever, in my enterprize, it appeared pof- 
 " fible to induce the Ruffians to rebel 
 " againft their tyranr, whofe treatment of 
 " their late Czarina feemed to juflify me in 
 '' making the attempt. I did make it : but 
 '• my endeavours were detected, my perfon 
 " was fecured, and for eight years I lan- 
 " guifhed in captivity. The means by which 
 " I efcaped the tyrant's power are too te^ 
 " dious to recapitulate. I had powerful 
 H 3 " friends
 
 ( «5o ) 
 
 *' friends in Sweden ; by them 1 was pe»^ 
 <« fuaded to enter, under a feigned title, into 
 ** the Swedifh fervice. During this period, 
 *' I frequently endeavoured to make en- 
 ^* quirles into the fate of the Prince ; and 
 •' for this purpofe, difpatched feveral mef- 
 " fengers to the convent of St* Michael : 
 " but the ftate of warfare, which exifted 
 *' between the two countries, obliged them 
 ** to return without having fucceeded in 
 " arriving at the place of their deflination. 
 " When it was my fate to be made captive 
 ** by the hand of my Prince, his refemblance 
 " to his noble family ftruck me, even 
 " amidft that fcene of carnage and con- 
 *' fufion. His appearance and graceful 
 *' addrefs, on his entrance into the tent, 
 *' nearly overcame me with furprife. He 
 *' unites in his perfon the majeftic de- 
 *^ portment of Ivan, the grace of the 
 *' Czarina, and the peculiar fweetnefs of 
 *' expreffion which charaderized the un- 
 ** fortunate Feodor. There was an appear- 
 *^ ance of interefl in his manner, and of 
 
 " alarm
 
 ( 151 ) 
 
 " alarm in yours^ when I expreffed my 
 " aftonifhment, and enquired his title, 
 " which excited my curiofity, and induced 
 " me (independently of the ftrong at- 
 *' tachment I had already conceived towards 
 *' him) to comply with your requefl of 
 '*' accompanying you to this city. When 
 "I beheld the Prince, ftretched pale and 
 " inanimate upon the couch, his refemblance 
 " to Feodor (when fmking gradually under 
 '' the influence of the poifon, adminiftered 
 " by Boris, — he had, in the abfence of the 
 '' tyrant, who fufpe£ted not the difcovery 
 *' of his guilt, communicated to me the 
 " fatal fecret — ) overpowered me with the 
 ** convidtion that it was Demetrius himfelf 
 *' whom I beheld. I, as you witnefled, 
 " rufhed towards him, for the purpofe of 
 *' difcovering whether he Hill bore on 
 " his fhoulder the marks of a wound 
 " accidentally received during his infancy. 
 " The fear was flill vifible ; and neither 
 " the teflimony of this crofs, or the 
 ^' narrative you have but now related, were 
 H 4 " requifite
 
 ( »52 ) 
 **' requlfite to confirm my belief that it was 
 «• Demetrius, the defcendant of Ivan, the 
 *' lawful fovereign of Rufiia, whom I 
 *' beheld. I (hall not, by affording my 
 *' evidence to afTifl the Prince's views, deem 
 " my felf infringing the promife made to the 
 " Cziarina ; for at the head of an army, 
 *' Demetrius wiU have lefs to apprehend 
 *' from the open indignation of Boris, than 
 *' at prefent, from his fecret machinations. 
 '* Had you not alTured nie the Prince's 
 *' fecret was known but to yourfelf, and 
 " thofe mod interefled in preferving it, I 
 *' fhould not have hefitated to attribute the 
 " attack, fo lately made on him, to fome 
 " emiflary of the tyrant's." 
 
 Count Wiefnovitfki fcarcely admitted the 
 pofTibility of this conjecture, but allowed 
 that it was of importance to afcertain, from 
 the wounded affafTm, the motives of his 
 condud. For the purpofe of making this 
 enquiry, the Counts Wiefnovitfki and 
 Galitzin (after leaving directions with the 
 attendants refpedting Demetrius, and learn- 
 ing
 
 ( IS3 ) 
 
 ing that the Princefs, having vlfited his 
 chamber, and convinced herfelf that the 
 Count's information was juft, had retired to 
 her own apartment, with an intention of 
 taking fome repofe), quitted the palace of 
 Sendomir, to repair to that of Wiefnovitfki, 
 where another fcene of wonder and expla- 
 nation awaited them. 
 
 They found the wounded man over- 
 powered with the agonies of pain and re- 
 morfe. No difficulty attended their en- 
 deavours to induce him to make an ample 
 confeflion of his views and his employer. 
 
 He was a Ruffian foldier, who had, in 
 confequence of the fevere chaftifement which 
 had been inflided upon him for fome trifling 
 offence, fled from his country, and entered 
 into the fervice of Poland. Here he con- 
 tinued for feveral years ; but the infults and 
 reproaches of his comrades, added to an 
 ardent defire to revifit his native country, 
 rendered him the vi6lim of fuUen defpon- 
 dency. The dread of being apprehended, 
 and chaftifed for his defertion^ fliould he 
 H 5 return
 
 C '54 ) 
 
 return to RufTia, detained him in Poland ; 
 but, refllefs and repining, the contempt he 
 received was returned by hatred, not merely 
 of his immediate aflbciates, but of mankind 
 at large. It was at this period that, while 
 on guard upon the ramparts of Wadiflaw, 
 he overheard the converfation which pafled 
 between Count Wiefnovitfki and Deme- 
 trius. He attended with eagernefs and 
 amazement to the fecrets it revealed, and, 
 every loyal and every generous fentiment 
 extinguifhed within him, the only idea that 
 occurred was, to benefit himfelf by this un- 
 expefted difcovery. 
 
 Believing that he had not obferved the 
 perfon of Demetrius with fufficient accu- 
 racy, and anxious to obtain a perfeft 
 knowledge of his face and figure, he had, 
 on the fucceeding morning, difguifed him- 
 felf in the habit of a mendicant, and, while 
 detaining Demetrius, under the pretence of 
 expreffing his gratitude, indelibly imprinted 
 on his memory the lineaments of his counte- 
 nance : he learnt alfo, at the fame time, 
 5 from
 
 ( ^55 ) 
 
 from foine of his attendants, the rank he 
 poffefled, and the title by which he was 
 known, his engagement with the Princefs of 
 Sendomir, and every other particular which 
 it was requifite for his purpofe to obtain. 
 Poffefled of this information, the hopes of 
 the immenfe reward he might receive from 
 Boris, determined him on immediately ef- 
 caping into Ruflia, and revealing to him all 
 the circumftances he was acquainted with. 
 
 This intention he effeded, and Boris, 
 overcome with aftonifhment and alarm at 
 the communication of a flory he found it 
 difficult to difcredit, from the improbability 
 attached to the idea of its fabrication, en* 
 tered into an agreement with Koflof, that 
 when he fhould either deliver Demetrius 
 alive into his power, or bring him undoubted 
 teflimony of his death, he fhould receive 
 the ftipulated reward. 
 
 Koflof immediately acceded to this pro* 
 
 pofal, and returned, accompanied by an- 
 
 other emiffary of the tyrant, into Poland, 
 
 Here he learnt that the army was on the 
 
 H 6 point 
 
 :-^
 
 ( '56 ) 
 
 point of returning to Cracow, \vhither he 
 determined to haften, to carry his defigns 
 into execution with the greater fecurity. 
 On his arrival he informed himfelf of every 
 circumftance relative to Demetrius : he 
 learnt his cuflom of frequenting the palace 
 of Sendomir, unguarded and alone ; and 
 this information fuggefted the plan which 
 he and his companions executed. The re- 
 turn of Demetrius was uncertain ; they had 
 already waited for his arrival feveral nights 
 preceding that on which he had prefented 
 himfelf at the portal. 
 
 The moon fhed a bright radiance over 
 his whole figure : Koflof inftantly recog- 
 nifed, and difcovered him, as he believed, 
 wholly unarmed, for the fmall fword he 
 wore was concealed beneath his veft. This 
 was an opportunity too favourable to be 
 neglefted : by a fignal agreed on, he com- 
 municated his intention to his companion, 
 and at the fame moment he ruihed upon 
 the unprepared Demetrius. 
 
 The
 
 ( 157 ) 
 
 The two Counts liftened to this recital 
 with a mixture of furprife, horror, and gra- 
 tftude. If Koflof, of which little doubt ex- 
 ited, could be prevailed on to relate thefe 
 circumflances in the aflembly of the Diet, 
 it mud eflentially benefit the caufe of De- 
 metrius ; for, by difcovering the tyrant's 
 apprehenfions of the Prince's claims, it alfo 
 fully difclofed his convidion of their juf- 
 tice. Count Wiefnovitlki, anxious, for a 
 time at leaft, to preferve the life of Kollof, 
 commajjded that every attention ihould be 
 paid to his wounds ; and, in order to calm 
 his apprehenfions, and to fecure his fidelity, 
 aflured him of an unconditional pardon 
 from his generous Prince. The tears which 
 filled the eyes of the haplefs wretch at this 
 declaration, evinced that his guilt had been 
 rather the offspring of circumftance than of 
 nature. 
 
 The two noblemen, completely over- 
 powered by the fatigue they had endured 
 from their rapid journey, added to that 
 they had incurred during this eventful 
 
 night.
 
 ( '58 ) 
 night, retired to their refpe6live apart- 
 ments, and, for a few hours, refigned them- 
 felves to that tranquil repofe which Heaven 
 fheds over the flumbers of virtue and phi- 
 lanthropy. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( 159 ) 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 **^ We fwenr to revenge them ! — no joy Ihall be tafted, 
 
 " The harp Ihall be (ilent, the maiden unwed, 
 
 " Our halls fhall be mute, and our fields fliall lie wafted, 
 
 " Till vengeance be wreak'd on the murderer's head. 
 
 " Yes monarch ! though fweet are our home rexoUedVions, 
 
 " Though Cveet are the tears which from tendernefs fall; 
 
 " Though fweet are our friendil»ips,and hopes, and afFedt ions, 
 
 « Revenge on a tyrant is fweeter than all." 
 
 Moore's Irijh Melodies^ 
 
 'V\rllEN Demetrius awoke from his balmy 
 and refrefliing fleep, no immediate con- 
 fcioufnefs of the events which had occurred 
 in the paft night prefented itfelf to his re- 
 membrance. That fenfation which he had 
 experienced for fo many preceding morn- 
 ings, (before his ideas were fufficiently col- 
 leded to give it an image or an aim,) of hav- 
 ing fome important motive for exertion, now 
 induced him to attempt rifing from his 
 couch. An opprellive fenfe of weaknefs 
 feemed to enchain him to it, while the pain 
 of his wound which this flight movement 
 induced^ inftantly recalled to his recoUedion 
 
 the
 
 ( J<5o ) 
 
 the circumftance which had occafioned it. 
 He gazed around to difcover where he was 
 now fitaated : the curtains of his couch 
 concealed the view of the apartment ; but 
 he heard the gentle movements, and per- 
 ceived the llender form of fome female 
 through its foldings. ' He extended his 
 hand to draw them afide, and his eye relied 
 on the Princefs of Sendomir, who at this 
 moment had entered the apartment, and, 
 advancing to the couch, was liflening, with 
 the tendereft folicitude, to the deep yet rapid 
 refpirations of Demetrius, when he fuddenly 
 unclofed the curtain, and extended his hand 
 towards her. His altered countenance (for 
 though his eye fparkled with love and joy, 
 his cheek's bright bloom was faded to the 
 hue of death), conveyed a pang of anguifh 
 to the heart of Marina, and her tears fell on 
 the hand of her lover. 
 
 Demetrius endeavoured to foothe her by 
 the aifurance that in a fhort period his wound 
 would be completely healed, and his health 
 re-eftabliflned 5 but, as he fpoke, the tones 
 
 of
 
 ( i6i ) 
 
 of his voice fo tremulous, fo feeble, (o 
 changed from the deep full accents with 
 which he had lad addrefled her, melted her 
 foul with pity and with tendernefs : her tears 
 flowed with encreafed violence. Suddenly, 
 however, ftruck with the idea that this be- 
 trayal of apprehenfion, by exciting a cor- 
 refponding emotion in the bread of Deme- 
 trius, might prove eflentially injurious to 
 him, fhe checked her falling tears, and, 
 fuppreffing her feelings, anfwered his footh- 
 ing addrefs by a fmile fo fweet and touch- 
 ing, that he, who had been intently regard- 
 ing her countenance, and, by the changes 
 it expreffed, developed the train of her feel- 
 ings, thought he had never, in her brighteft 
 days of health and happinefs, beheld her fo 
 exquifitely lovely. The Counts Galitzin 
 and Wiefnovitfki foon entered the apart- 
 ment, and expreffed their fatisfadion at the 
 accounts they had received from his attend- 
 ants, of the profound repofe Demetrius had 
 enjoyed : " But/' added Count Wiefno- 
 vitfki, with an arch fmile, " with a guardian 
 
 " angel
 
 ( i62 ) 
 
 " angel to watch over your fiumbers, who 
 *' could doubt then* charm or their ef- 
 " ficacy." 
 
 A blufti palTed acrofs the cheeks of the 
 Princefs, and fhe caft a reproachful glance 
 at the Count, as if to upbraid him for the 
 gaiety of his addrefs. 
 
 " I underfland the exprelTion of your 
 " countenance. Lady," continued the Count, 
 *' and the cenfure it implies ; but, believe 
 " me, it is not deferved. If the life of my 
 ** friend were in danger, mirth would alike 
 *' be banifiied from my manner and my 
 *^ mind ; but my own knowledge, com- 
 ** bined with the affurance of your fkillfuj 
 *' Samocia, has convinced me that the 
 " wound of Demetrius, although it may be 
 *' tedious, will not be dangerous. At 
 " prefent, as we are going to enter on its 
 " examination, and as thofe days, in which 
 '^ fair damfels (launched the blood, and 
 *' bound up the wounds of their heroic 
 ** fuitors, are no longer in exiftence, we 
 " mufl, for a while, banifh you from this 
 
 " apart-
 
 ( '63 ) 
 
 •• apartment: in the meantime, although 
 " we negledl one cuflom in repute amongfl 
 •* our ancellors, this nobleman may, for 
 " your amufement, have recourfe to an- 
 " other, and having been made captive by 
 " the arm of Prince Demetrius of Ruflia, 
 " may at the feet of his peerlefs lady, 
 " defcribe the wonders of his matchlefs 
 " valour, together with all the marvellous 
 " events, relative to his fate, with which 
 " time and chance have made him ac- 
 " quainted.'* 
 
 This fpeech excited a degree of furprife 
 in the minds of its auditors j but Marina, re- 
 lieved by the aflurance it conveyed of the 
 Prince's fafety, with her wonted grace and 
 fweetnefs, addreffed Count Galitzin, and 
 requefled him to accompany her to the 
 faloon : he complied, and, judging from 
 the Count's fpeech, that he defired the Prin- 
 cefs to be informed of all the events which 
 had been difclofed on the late night, pro- 
 ceeded to relate them. Ah ! if they could 
 have infured Demetrius the pofleifion of 
 
 his
 
 C i64 ) 
 
 his throne, without braving the dangers he 
 mufl: yet encounter to obtain it, how un- 
 mixed would have been the delight expe- 
 rienced by Marina, at the certainty that hiy 
 rank and lineage would now be publicly 
 acknowledged ! But, deeming it almoft: cri- 
 minal to dwell on painful anticipations, 
 amidfl: fo many caufes for prefent gratitude, 
 Ihe ftrove to reprefs the fears which, like 
 clouds flitting acrofs the clear blue fky, 
 fometimes tempered the ardour of her 
 hopes. 
 
 Count Galitzin, as he liftened to her re- 
 marks on his narrative — remarks, which 
 , alike evinced the flrength of her underftand- 
 ing, and the tendernefs of her feelings, an- 
 ticipated the bleflings his country would 
 experience beneath the reign of Demetrius 
 and his Czarina, and indulged his imagin- 
 ation in dreams of future profperity, more 
 congenial to the warm fancy of youth than- 
 the fober feelings of age. 
 
 Count Wiefnovitfki, meantime, having ex- 
 amined the the Prince's wound, and think- 
 ing
 
 ( i«5 ) 
 
 ing him fufficiently compofed to attend to a 
 fimllar narrative, gradually and cautioufiy 
 informed him of the mutual difcoveries 
 which had been made, during the few pre- 
 ceding hours. Demetrius liftened to his 
 recital with infinite fatisfadion : the regard 
 he had conceived for Count Galitzin, ren- 
 dered the referve he had continued to main- 
 tain towards him, painful to his feelings : 
 to learn, that there no longer exifted any 
 neceliity for the referve, and that he, whom 
 he already regarded with efteem, was en- 
 titled to his gratitude, gave inexpreflible plea- 
 fure to his ardent and grateful heart. 
 
 Demetrius anxioufly defired to converfe 
 with Count Galitzin refpecling his mother, 
 to learn every circumftance relative to the 
 fate of one, whofe remembrance, though 
 fometimes overpov/ered by Wronger, or 
 more tumultuous emotions than thofe of 
 filial afFe<Sl:ion, was never wholly effaced ; 
 and, which, when forcibly prefented by any 
 unexpected occurrence to his imagination, 
 (till retained all the charm it once poffeffed, 
 
 when
 
 ( i66 ) 
 
 when conftituting his only folace, amidfl 
 the dull round of a conventual life. 
 
 Demetrius perceived, with the Count, the 
 immediate neceflity, fmce Boris was now 
 acquainted with his exiftence, of imploring 
 the afTiftance of the Poles, and openly affert- 
 ing his claims to the throne of RufTia. The 
 love of glory was at once (Irengthened and 
 foftened by his paflion for Marina, which 
 combining with every other emotion, with 
 every other defire, fpread over his foul that 
 delicious glow of feeling, which, like the 
 purple colouring of evening, at once dif- 
 fufes harmony and fplendour over the ob- 
 jects it irradiates. 
 
 During the period which intervened be- 
 fore the arrival of the troops, the rapid re- 
 covery of Demetrius no longer left any oc- 
 cafion for apprehenfion, even in the bread 
 of Marina : but it permitted many opportu- 
 nities for the difplay of thofe tender atten- 
 tions, thofe watchful afliduities, fo inex- 
 prelTively fweet, when beftowed by, or re- 
 ceived from, thofe we love. To anticipate 
 
 the
 
 ( 167 ) 
 
 the wifhes of the afking eye, to exprefs by 
 a word, or a look, the full extent of our 
 fympathy, to devote ourfelves to the fer^ 
 vice^ if we tremble for the fate, of the be- 
 loved fufferer, is the flrongefl: neceflity of 
 the heart ; but becomes iis deareft gratifica- 
 tion, when apprehenfion has given place to 
 hope. We delight to feel fandioned in the 
 exprefTion of that excefs of regard, which, 
 even where relative ties feem to authorife 
 its avowal, is feldom fully difplayed when 
 profoundly felt. Sweet, permanent, reci- 
 procal, is the impreiTion which this inter- 
 change of kindnefs and gratitude leaves 
 upon the memory ; and as the diftant 
 tricklings of the rivulet which has allayed 
 the tliirft, or the loft tremblings of the 
 moon-beam which has lightened the home- 
 iheltered traveller on his way, excite plea- 
 furable fenfations in his bread ; fo does the 
 touch of that hand which adminiftered to our 
 wants, fo do the tones of that voice which 
 foothed, the glance of that eye which 
 iymfpathifed with our fufferings, infpire, even 
 
 when
 
 ( 168 ) 
 
 when the period of fufFering is paft, emo- 
 tions at once fweet and profound, tender 
 and enthufiaftic. The Princefs and Deme- 
 trius had experienced more vivid fenfations 
 of pleafure in the fociety of each other ; 
 but they had never fo entirely felt, that 
 where love reigns, it reigns over every other 
 feeling. The ambition, the energies of 
 Demetrius {lumbered ; the apprehenfions 
 of Marina were forgotten ; all eHe was for- 
 gotten in the excuifite delight, with which, 
 from day to day, fhe watched the dawn of 
 health, dealing over her lover's cheek, or 
 marked it break in the keen flafhes of 
 his eye. 
 
 This fweet, but tranfient period drew to- 
 wards its conclufion. The Palatine returned 
 to Cracow. Demetrius acquainted him with 
 the events which had occurred fmce 
 their feparation ; and " he immediately ex- 
 prefled his anxiety to have the Prince's 
 claims laid before the diet of Poland. 
 Koflof was recovering from the effeds of 
 his wounds, and declared himfelf prepared 
 to give the teftimony required of him. The 
 
 King 
 
 1
 
 ( i69 ; 
 
 King was returned to Cracow : the princi- 
 pal nobility of the kingdom were already 
 aflenibied there : the army was not yet dif- 
 banded : every thing confpired to render 
 this a favourable moment for claiming the 
 alliftance of Poland. 
 
 The foul of Demetrius was again infpired 
 by ambition ; that of Marina again funk 
 with apprehenfion : accuftomed of late to 
 behold him alone occupied with herfelf, 
 with giving or receiving proofs of affection, 
 fhe felt inclined to repine at the profped of 
 his engaging in more adive fcenes, where, 
 although ihe might be the ultimate aim of 
 his hopes, (he could no longer be their im- 
 mediate obje«^. Such feelings we always 
 endeavour to conceal from others, fre- 
 quently from ouri'elves ; they are feverely 
 condemned by thofe who reafon, rather 
 than teel, but they are pitied, and perhaps 
 beloved by thofe who have ever experienced 
 fnnilar weaknefles. 
 
 The Palatine, determining not to permit 
 a longer period to elapfe, before the fecret 
 
 VOL. I. I of
 
 C 170 ) 
 
 of Dernetrius was publickly divulged, re- 
 quefted an audience of the King. Sigif- 
 mund liflened to the narrative he made, 
 with the interefl it was calculated to create. 
 The advantages which might refult to 
 Poland, from having the throne of Ruffia 
 occupied by a Prince, who would be bound 
 by every tie of honour and gratitude to an 
 alliance with ir, rather than by a defpot 
 who, on all occafions, evinced his hatred 
 and contempt for the Polifli nation, could 
 not efcape the politic mind of Sigifmund, 
 and influenced him in the favourable an- 
 fwer he returned to the requefl of the Pala- 
 tine, " that the diet might be immediately 
 *' convoked, and the claims of Demetrius 
 " publickly difcuffed, in the prefence, and 
 " by the members, of that auguft af- 
 « fembly." 
 
 A day was appointed, and a proclamation 
 iifued for this purpofe : but, in the mani- 
 fefto difpatched to the different provinces, 
 although the defire of the King for this 
 extraordinary convocation was particularly 
 
 declared.
 
 ( 171 ) 
 
 declared, the motive which induced him to 
 requefl: it was not divulged. 
 
 Cracow foon became the centre of at- 
 tradlion. Some were drawn thither by 
 curiofity, others by intereft, others by 
 neceflity ; but the caufe of all this agitation 
 Hill remained a profound myftery ; nor 
 was a fnigle member of the diet, at their 
 entrance into the council-hall, in pofTef- 
 fion of the caufe which had brought him 
 thither. Various were the conjectures 
 formed and reje6led, the opinions declared 
 and difputed, the difcoveries made and 
 retradled, during ^ the interval between the 
 alTembling of the members, and the entrance 
 of the King. Sigifmund at length ap- 
 peared, accompanied by the Palatine of 
 Sendomir, and followed by Demetrius and 
 the Counts Galitzin and Wiefnovitiki. 
 The Monarch afcended his throne, while 
 the noblemen mingled with the furrounding 
 throng. An imiverfal filence reigned 
 throughout the affembly, as their fovereign 
 thus addreffed them : " Primates, palatines, 
 I 3 " and
 
 ( '7^ ) 
 
 ** and nobles of Poland, you are here af- 
 *' fembled on an occafion, no lefs remark- 
 " able than it is important ; you are here 
 *' aflembled to inveftigate the merits of a 
 " caufe, which, not alone concerns the 
 *' happinefs of a few individuals, but which 
 '^ involves the future fate and welfare of a 
 " nation : of a caufe, to which deliberation 
 *' mud be fucceeded by action ; which, if 
 ** it receive acqulefcence, will alfo require 
 " afTiftance. 1 forbear, in compliance with 
 " the defire of hi in inoft deeply interefted 
 " in the ilTue of your invedigations, any 
 " attempt to influence your opinions, by 
 " declaring my ozvn ; aiTu'ied, that they 
 '' will be formed with wifdom and impar- 
 " tiality, no lefs than they will be declared 
 ** with candour and courage. Demetrius 
 '^ of Rullia, at once the pleader and the 
 *' objcd of this caufe advance.'' — The 
 nobles direded their enquiring glances 
 around, to difcover the one among (1 them 
 who was thus defignated and fummoned by 
 
 their
 
 ( ^73 ) 
 their monarch. They remained not long 
 in fufpenfe. 
 
 , Demetrias advanced into the centre of 
 the circle which furrounded the throne. 
 His countenance (lili retained the impref- 
 fion of his recent iilnefs, and an air of lan- 
 guor appeared in his movements ; yet the 
 grace of thefe movements was not diminifh- 
 ed, or the expreflion of that countenance 
 impaired. By thofe nobles, to whom he 
 was perfonally unknown, he was viewed 
 with furprife and admiration ; by thofe who 
 had been his companions in the court, or in 
 the camp, he was regarded with curiofity 
 and inter eft. 
 
 The full convidion of the immenfe in- 
 terefts depending upon the decifion of that 
 auguft affembly, whom he was on the point 
 of addrefling ; the profound filefice which 
 reigned throughout the council-hall, for a 
 moment, gave an air of timidity and irrefo- 
 lution to the manner of Demetrius. He 
 threw a rapid glance around : his eye refted 
 on the countenances of his friends, of 
 I 3 Count
 
 C >74 ) 
 
 Count Galitzin, of Wiefnovitfki, of the 
 Palatine of Sendomir : the fight infpired 
 him with confidence — reftored him to felf 
 pcfleflion. With a fmile, which fpoke af- 
 furance of fuccefs, he anfwered their an- 
 xious and enquiring looks ; and, while a 
 faint colour tinged his check, as he firft in* 
 terrupted the folemn ftiHnefs, he com- 
 menced the difclofure of his rank, and the 
 narrative of his misfortunes. He related 
 the murder of Feodor, his own preferva- 
 tion from the machinations of Boris, and 
 the confequent imprifonment of the 
 Czarina ; the difcovery of his rank, made 
 to him by the prior of St. Michael's con- 
 vent ; his departure from thence, and ar- 
 rival at Cracow. He then dwelt on the 
 generous protection and fubfequent friend- 
 fhip of Cbunt Wiefnovitfki, and the paren- 
 tal regard of the Palatine of Sendomir, 
 while the grateful feelings of his heart gave 
 additional fvveetnefs to his fmile, and pathos 
 to his voice. He paufed — overcome with 
 ftrong emotion, and glanced his eye around, 
 
 as
 
 ( ^75 ) 
 as if to difcover the elfed his narrative had 
 produced. 
 
 His recital, made with all the fimplicity of 
 truth, yet with all the eloquence of genius, 
 deeply interefled the aflembled nobles. 
 Exclamations of furprife, of curiofity, of 
 horror at the crimes of Boris, of compaf- 
 fion for the misfortunes of Demetrius, re- 
 founded through the hall : but they were 
 mingled with the tones of doubt, of diftruft, 
 or of enquiry : thefe were not unregarded 
 by the Prince. 
 
 " Nay, think not, nobles of Poland !" he 
 exclaimed, while the pride of confcious 
 reditude gave additional firmnefs to his 
 voice, and dignity to his mien, " think not, 
 *' that I appear before this auguft alTembly, 
 ** a mere aflerter of a claim, whofe juftice 
 " it is not in my power to prove. I come, 
 " not to excite a cold and half withdrawn 
 " belief of an unfupported tale,, but a full 
 " convidion of acknowledged and decifive 
 " fads, to claim, not compallion for my 
 " fate^ but recognition of my rights,** 
 
 I 4 Demetrius
 
 ( 176 ) 
 
 Demetrius then requefled Count Galltzin 
 to advance from amongft the nobles : he 
 complied, and approached the throne of 
 Sigifmund. His venerable and dignified 
 afped excited the refped, and his impref- 
 five manner commanded the attention of 
 the nobles, as he proceeded to relate all the 
 circumftances refpecling the fate of Deme- 
 trius, vi'ith which he had been fo intimately 
 conneded. The crofs which had been 
 faftened round his neck by the Czarina, the 
 imprefTion which he ftill retained of the 
 wound received in his infancy, his ftriking 
 refemblance to his imperial anceftors, were 
 all noticed. No circumftance however 
 trivial, or event however minute, was 
 omitted by Count Galitzin, which could 
 confirm the narrative related by Demetrius. 
 He concluded this addrefs by making a 
 folemn afleveration that in the perfon of 
 him now before them, they beheld the lineal 
 defcendant of Ivan, the lawful Czar of the 
 Ruffian empire. A burft of entire and 
 univerfal conviction proceeded from the 
 
 affembly.
 
 aflembly. The friends of Demetrius and 
 the nobles of Poland approached to con- 
 gratulate him. 
 
 '' Yet a little while/' faI4 he, as a beam 
 of gratitude and fatisfadion illumined his 
 countenance, " yet a little while, muft I 
 " demand your further attention to the con- 
 " feflion of one who will prove that the 
 " reality of my rights are beheved by my 
 *' enemies, as well as by my friends." 
 
 Sigifmund then difpatched his guards for 
 Koflof, who was borne bv them in a litter 
 into the centre of the affembly. The 
 nobles thronged eagerly around him, as, 
 with a feeble voice, he related the recent 
 events which had occurred refpeding Deme- 
 trius. His confeflion could not be doubted : 
 it was that of a dying man j. and it evinced 
 that Boris not only believed the exiftence of 
 Demetrius, but, that the Prince had every 
 thing to apprehend from his machinations. 
 Koflof, after receiving an entire pardon for 
 his pad offences, was removed from the hall, 
 and again borne to Count Wiefnovitfki's 
 I 5 palace^
 
 ( 178 ) 
 
 palace, where, after languifhing for fome 
 days, he expired, with the fatisfadlion of 
 having made this moft ncceflary expiation 
 for his crimes. 
 
 For fome moments after Koflof's re- 
 moval from the hall, all was^ tumult and 
 aftonifhment, congratulation and alarm. 
 The fmgularity and importance of the 
 events difclofed, the flrong perfonal interefl: 
 excited by the appearance and addrefs of 
 Demetrius created the moft tumultuous 
 emotions throughout the aflembly. 
 
 At length Sigifmund arofe from his 
 throne, and in a loud voice demanded the 
 attention of the nobles. A fudden filence 
 pervaded the hall. " Your conviction, 
 *' nobles," faid the King, ^' of the truth 
 " of that recital and thofe events which 
 *' have been made known to you, is fuf- 
 *' ficiently difplayed by this general expref- 
 ^^ fion of your feelings ; it will, I truft, be 
 *' equally evinced by the unanimous agree- 
 *' ment of your conduct. By avenging 
 " the caufe of this unfortunate Prince, by 
 7 " reftoring
 
 • ( 179 ) 
 
 " reftoring hini to the throne of his ancef- 
 " tors, you will be defending the rights of 
 " humanity." 
 
 A Ihout of applaufe and confent re-echoed 
 through the hall. 
 
 " Deeply," continued the King, " do I 
 " lament my own inability to aid, to the 
 *' extent of my inclinations, the caufe of 
 *' the Ruffian Prince. The crown troops, 
 *' fo lately employed in my fervice, and but 
 " now dilbanded, require an interval of re- 
 " pofe. This accorded, they (hall be em- 
 " ployed againft the tyrant Boris. In the 
 " meantime, palatines and nobles! whofe 
 " fwords have ever yet been fwift to avenge 
 " the injuries of the oppreiTor, and the 
 " wrongs of the opprefled, be it at once 
 " your glory and your pride, to lead forth 
 " your valfals in fupport of a caufe, fo emi- 
 *' nently calculated to excite to generous 
 " feeling — to Simulate to heroic adion." 
 
 The Monarch ceafed, and the Palatine of 
 Sendomir, fecretly difpleafed at the declara- 
 tion he had made of his own inability to 
 I 6 afford
 
 ( i8o ) . 
 
 afford any prefent afliftance to the Prince, 
 remained filent and thoughtful : but Deme- 
 trius, ever more prone to feel gratitude for 
 favours conferred, than refentment for bene- 
 fits withheld, repaid with the moil ardent 
 acknowledgements, the congratulations ad- 
 drelTed, and the promifes made him by the 
 nobility. 
 
 *' Nobles of Poland !" he exclaimed, with 
 enthufiafm, " may this moment never be 
 *' erafed from my remembrance — this mo- 
 ** ment, in which you fo generoufiy accord 
 " your fupport to one, whofe very means 
 " of repaying this fupport, if fuch a period 
 ** fhould arrive, he will have received from 
 *' yourfelves. Oh, never • be an hour fo 
 *' glorious to the nobility of Poland for- 
 " gotten by Demetrius ! Yet deem it not 
 *' prefumptuous," continued he, while the 
 fire of his eye and the crimfon of his cheek 
 fpoke the exalted feelings of his foul, " if I 
 " affert that this period will indeed arrive. 
 ** It cannot be that tyranny will for ever be 
 •^ triumphant : it cannot be that a fpirit 
 *' panting, by its daring deeds, to prove its 
 
 " illuf-
 
 ( i8i ) 
 
 " illuflrious defcent, will for ever be 
 *' deftined to obfcurity ! Oh, my friends ! 
 " for by that title have you now authorized 
 ** me to addrefs you, when you (liall behold 
 *' Demetrius feated on the throne of 
 " Ruffia, and furrounded by his people, 
 " you will recall the prophetic fpirit which 
 *' infpircd him in the diet chamber of Po- 
 " land, before the throne of Sigifmund." 
 
 Enthufiafm, which in another might have 
 been regarded as extravagance, in Demetrius 
 feemed but the ebullition of a genius which, 
 confcious of its powers, feared not to difplay 
 them : it accorded with the chara6ler of his 
 whole perfon, with the vivid expreffion of 
 his eye, the varying colours of his cheek, the 
 animation of his geftures, the dignity of 
 his form ; all fpoke him a being, whether 
 to rife or fall with fortune, deftined for 
 grand exploits — deftined for the hero's 
 career. 
 
 The nobles now engaged in a difcuflion 
 on the number of forces it would be in 
 their refpedive power to colled, and the 
 
 probable
 
 ( i82 ) 
 
 probable period of their being prepared for 
 action. The Palatine of Sendomir and 
 Count Wiefnovitfki joined with equal in- 
 tereft, though not with equal enthufiafin to 
 Demetrius, in the difcuflion. 
 
 Sigifmund, meantime, congratulated him- 
 felf on perceiving that the caufe of Deme- 
 trius would be aflifted, without any imme- 
 diate expenditure of troops or treafure to 
 the crown of Poland, whofe interefts, by the 
 nature of the conftitution, were feparated 
 from thofe of the nobles. 
 
 At length, after long debates and various 
 refolutions, it was determined that thofe 
 nobles, who agreed to take up arms in the 
 Princes caufe. fhould, at the commence- 
 ment of the enfuing month, with their re* 
 fpedtive troops repair to Grodno, (a more 
 eligible (lation for a general rendezvous of 
 the forces than Cracow,) and that they 
 ffiould there be joined by Demetrius with 
 the Palatine's vaflals. ^ 
 
 The purpofe for which the diet had been 
 convoked being now accompliflied, Sifgif- 
 
 mund
 
 ( '83 ) 
 
 mund difolved it ; and the younger part of 
 the nobility, enthufiaftic in the caufe of 
 Demetrius, accompanied him, in a fort of 
 triumphal proceflion, towards the palace of 
 Sendomir. 
 
 The wonderful events which had been 
 difclofed in the council-hall, and which it 
 was no longer requifite to conceal, were 
 rapidly fpread throughout the city. All 
 ranl^s, all eyes, feemed to catch the enthu- 
 fiafm which the hiflory of Demetrius had 
 created in the diet, and haflened to behold 
 the defcendant of Ivan, the exiled Czar of 
 Ruflia. The graces of his perfon, the fweet- 
 nefs of his manner, as he fmilingiy furveyed 
 the crowd who thus thronged to behold him, 
 added to the intereft already excited ; and 
 he, who on his firfl entrance into Cracow, 
 had pafTed through this vei7 city, as an 
 obfcure and unknown individual, now ex- 
 cited univerfal attention and refpedl. De- 
 metrius felt however that this intereft had 
 originated in his misfortune, rather than his 
 merits j and though it reflected honour on 
 
 thofe
 
 ( i84 ) 
 
 thofe who beflowed, did not confer glory 
 on him, who received it. His thoughts 
 glanced forward to the arrival of that period 
 when he fliould obtain di(lin6lions which 
 he had deferved, when amidft the ftreets 
 of Mofcow, he Ihould hear the fhouts, he 
 fhould receive the bleflings of his gratuhit- 
 ing people : but anticipation of future glory 
 was banidied by the emotions of prefent 
 blifs, when, on his approach to the palace 
 of Sendomir, he beheld his beloved Marina. 
 The interval of his abfence had been to 
 her an interval of the deepefl anxiety. The 
 certainty that the fate of the Prince depended 
 upon the decifion of the diet ; the know- 
 ledge that this decifion, even if favourable, 
 would for a time feparate her from Deme- 
 trius, and plunge him amidfl fcenes of toil 
 and danger, excited fears and hopes, the 
 mod fluctuating and tumultuous. To wan- 
 der from room to room, to difpatch meflenger 
 after meffenger to the council-hall, from 
 which, however, as they were excluded from 
 entering, fhe could only learn that the diet 
 
 was
 
 ( i85 ) 
 
 was not diiTolved ; to watch the progrefs of 
 time, as it was traced on the dial-plate, or to 
 mark it in the courfe of the fun, formed the 
 employment of Marina, during the tedious 
 hours whilft the diet remained in con- 
 fukation. At length, the found of the 
 approaching multitude was heard : the tones 
 they uttered were thofe of triumph, or con- 
 gratulation. The diet had recognifed the 
 claims of Demetrius. It was a convidion 
 attended with mixed emotions, which gra- 
 tified the pride of the Princefs, but excited 
 the fears of the woman. Exultation, hope, 
 and joy, however, reigned in her foul, when 
 fhe beheld Demetrius advance from the fur- 
 rounding nobles, to the palace of Sendomir. 
 The animation of his eye, the brightnefs of 
 his fmile, the grace of his a6lion, as he waved 
 his arm in token of gratitude and fare- 
 well to the crowd, who had accompanied 
 him to the palace gates, were noted by the 
 eyejand engraven on the memory of Marina. 
 As he drew nearer, he diredted his regards to 
 the palace, and encountered the glance of 
 
 the
 
 ( i86 ) 
 
 the Princefs. He haftily advanced to the 
 portal, and the next moment beheld him in 
 her apartment. 
 
 Marina approached to welcome him with 
 a fmile of congratulation on her lips, and a 
 tear of apprehenfion in her eye. He feized 
 her hand with rapture, and prefled it alter- 
 nately to his lips and to his heart. 
 
 " You anticipate the entire acknowledg- 
 *' ment of my claims," hefaid j *' the com- 
 *' plete fuccefs of my application ; you fee 
 *' it in the excefs of my joy — of my exulta- 
 " tion. Oh, my beloved ! this is but the 
 *' prelude of a greater joy, a greater 
 " triumph, when the people of Ruffia fhall 
 '' acknowledge me as their Monarch, and 
 " receive thee as the chofen of my heart, 
 *' the fovereign of my fubjeds,*' 
 
 " Ah, Demetrius," faid Marina, while the 
 ^motions of apprehenfive love gave a foft 
 and penfive air to her countenance, " Ah, 
 *' Deipetrius ! but before that period can 
 '' arrive, what perils mud you not en- 
 *' counter !" " What glory may I not 
 
 " acquire 1'^
 
 ( 18; ") 
 
 *' acquire !'* replied Demetrius. ^^ Banidi 
 " thefe vain forebodings of evil, which every 
 " prefentiment of my heart affures me will 
 '' prove as unpredidive of our future fate, 
 *' as they are deflrudive of our prefent en- 
 " joyment." 
 
 Marina endeavoured to reprefs thofe fears 
 which file agreed with Demetrius in con- 
 demning as vain, though fhe could not, like 
 him, confider them as groundlefs. 
 
 Demetrius now became the grand objed 
 of all intereft, the theme of all difcourfe, the 
 centre of all attraction. He feverely la- 
 mented the few intervals allowed him for the 
 enjoyment of Marina's fociety, between the 
 preparations for his departure, and the 
 public and fplendid fcenes, in which he 
 found himfelf perpetually compelled to en- 
 gage. The death of Koflof at this period 
 attracted his attention to a more folemn and 
 awful fcene : he expired, deeply penitent 
 for the crimes he had committed, and ex- 
 prefling, with his lafl breath, his ftrong and 
 grateful fentiments of the generous forgive- 
 
 nefs
 
 ( i83 ) 
 
 ncfs extended, and attention paid him, by 
 his Prince. 
 
 The preparations for war making through- 
 out Poland, and the motive for which it was 
 undertaken, were foon learnt by the fur- 
 rounding nations ; and reaching the alarmed 
 and guilty Boris, created a powerful fenfa- 
 tion among his fubjeds. The tyrant, terri- 
 fied at thefe rumours, propagated the mofl 
 abfurd and contradidlory reports concerning 
 Demetrius : he aflerted that he was an 
 impoflor, a magician, a monk ; that a true 
 defcendant of Ivan Vaflilievitch would never 
 have allied himfelf with a nation of catholics 
 and heretics. Every fuggeftion, calculated 
 to impair the intereft which the Ruffians 
 were difpofed to feel towards Demetrius, 
 was difleminated by Boris, without attention 
 to its juftice or probability. 
 
 In the meantime, he inftituted a fecret 
 enquiry into the ctt'cumftances of the fup- 
 pofed murder of the infant Demetrius. The 
 affaffins employed by him on this occafion 
 had been deftroyed by the populace at Uglitz. 
 
 Prince
 
 ( j89 ) 
 
 Prince VafTili was the only perfon now in 
 exiftence who had feen the dead body of 
 the infant ; and when Boris made enquiries 
 of him on the iubjedl, he declared that, 
 though the child appeared of the fame age 
 and fize as Demetrius, the corpfe was too 
 much disfigured to leave a poflibility of af- 
 certaining it. As he alone, however, was 
 aware of this clrcuinllance, he promifed to 
 make any affirmation required of him, to 
 convince the people of Ruflia that the dead 
 body, which he had examined at Uglitz, 
 was indeed that of the Prince. Every thing 
 confirmed to Boris the tale which Koflof 
 had related to him, and the return of his 
 other emiflliry into RufTia acquainted him 
 with the failure of their attack on the 
 Prince. 
 
 Boris next determined to repair to the 
 monaftery where the Czarina was confined, 
 and endeavour to compel her by threats, or 
 induce her by promifes, to reveal all the cir- 
 cuuiflances with which fhe was acquainted. 
 
 The
 
 C 190 ) 
 
 The report of the Prince's exillence, 
 and the preparations making throughout 
 Poland for the invafion of RufTia, in order 
 to place its lawful fovereign on the throne 
 of his anceftors, had not penetrated the walls 
 of the cloifter in which the Czarina was 
 imprifoned. Her furprife therefore equalled 
 her alarm at the unexpeded demands of 
 Boris ; and the (Irong emotion (he betrayed, 
 convinced the tyrant that flie was acquainted 
 with, and had mod probably been accelTary 
 to, the Prince's prefervation. Irritated at 
 this belief, he proceeded to queflion her 
 more (ternly than before ; and the Czarina, 
 overcome with apprehenfion, fcarcely know- 
 ing whether the difclofure or concealment 
 of the circumftances fhe was acquainted with, 
 would mod conduce to her fon's danger or 
 prefervation, burft into a flood of tears, funk 
 upon a feat, and concealed her face with her 
 hands, as if to exclude the profped of the 
 tyrant before her. The artful Boris then 
 endeavoured to fcothe her, by promifes of 
 
 freedom.
 
 ( 191 ) 
 
 freedom, and reftoration to her former rank. 
 The Czarina remained filent. 
 
 " Your anfwer is of little importance to 
 *' myfelf/' continued Boris, '' but of in- 
 '' finite concern to him who now claims the 
 *' throne of Ruffia. If you perfevere in your 
 " refufal to give me all the information in 
 " your power, my vengeance fhall unre- 
 " mittingly purfue, fhall finally overtake 
 *' him, nor reft till it is quenched in his 
 " blood — till it is fatiated with his dying 
 *^ groans." 
 
 The tyrant exprefTed the wifhes of his 
 foul, while his dark contra6led brow gave 
 an air of ferocity, and his flafhing eye an 
 expreflion of triumph to his countenance. 
 To the difordered imagination of the 
 Czarina he feemed already to have executed 
 the vengeance he defcribed, and to glory in 
 its final fuccefs. 
 
 '' Oh, Heaven !" flie wildly exclaimed, 
 " could not then my efforts prevail — could 
 " nothing fave my child, my only child, 
 *' from the hand of this murderer ?" 
 
 "You
 
 ( 192 ) 
 
 *' You did then feek to fave him ?" de- 
 manded Boris eagerly, hoping to make 
 fome difcovery, during the prefent confufed 
 and appalled ftate of her mind ; but the quef- 
 tion reftoring her to felf pofTefiion, and to her 
 former ftate of calm defpondency, deter- 
 mined her that fhe at lead would not by 
 any unguarded confeffion, contribute to the 
 de(lru61ion of one (he hoped, yet feared, 
 might indeed be her fon, her beloved De- 
 metrius. 
 
 Boris, after finding every effort ineffedual 
 to induce her to a full confeffion of thofe 
 circumftances refpe£ling the Pnnce,of which 
 he now felt perfuaded flie was well informed, 
 fuddenly conceived the idea of propofing 
 that fhe fhould, if convinced herfelf of her 
 fon's death, make a declaration to this pur- 
 pofe^ which he might publifh throughout 
 the Ruffian empire ; and which, by freeing 
 him . from the apprehenfion of his fubjeds 
 being mifled by the claims of the pretended 
 Demetrius, would alfo deliver from the pur- 
 fuit of his vengeance, an impoflor, whom he 
 
 fhould
 
 < 193 ) 
 
 fliould then peaceably refign to that obli- 
 vion, which would foon overtake both him- 
 felf and his pretenfions. 
 
 This propofal was exadtly calculated to 
 produce an efFedb on the timid mind of the 
 Czarina. The life of her fon might yet be 
 preferved ; and this had ever been the grand 
 objed of her care. She felt inclined to 
 comply with this demand ; when the idea of 
 the weak, the cruel appearance, fuch a 
 declaration would wear to her fon^ who, 
 unacquainted with the motives which dic- 
 tated, would attribute it to a felfifli regard 
 for her own fafety, not to a maternal ten* 
 dernefs for his, rendered her firm in her 
 refufal. Boris, finding every attempt to 
 induce her compliance with his wifhes, fail 
 offuccefs, quitted her, in the full convidlion 
 that he who now afpired to the throne of 
 Ruflia, was indeed its lawful fovereign. 
 The unfortunate Czarina retired to her cell, 
 agitated by doubt, diflraded by fear. The 
 acute mifery (he had firfi: experienced, after 
 the murder of Feodor, and her feparation 
 
 VOL. I. K from
 
 ( »94 ) 
 
 fi'om Demetrius, had been gradually ex- 
 changed for a flate of tranquil apathy. 
 
 The effed of calamity varies according to 
 the nature of the minds it vifits. Some, 
 feeling and acknowledging the futility of all 
 earthly hopes, apply for confolation to that 
 religion which alone can afford ir. Others, 
 llrong in the imagined power of their own 
 efforts, endeavour to brave the fhock of 
 misfortune, by rendering themfelves callous 
 to its influence, by arming themfelves with 
 that floical indifference which looks alike 
 upon the fmiles, or frowns of fate. Others, 
 incapable of refifling, bend beneath the 
 ftroke of calamity ; without fufficient flrength 
 to contend with the temped:, or offer any 
 defence to its violence ; they feebly fmk 
 beneath it, till all vigour of charafter, all 
 fortitude of foul, is gradually and fatally 
 oxtinguifhed. 
 
 Such was the flatc of the Czarina's mind, 
 when the unexpeded communication of 
 Boris roufed her from the torpor of defpond- 
 ency, without infpiring her with the-,vigour 
 of hope. . 
 
 The
 
 ( m ) 
 
 The flilliiefs of her cell, which had before 
 accorded with the flate of her feelings, was 
 now rendered infupportable. She longed 
 for tumult and for noife, for fome external 
 objed which might diflipate the poignancy 
 of her thoughts, or accord with their 
 diftradlion. Sufpenfe, that flate fo often 
 and fo juflly deprecated, was experienced 
 by her, without even the relief of anticipating 
 its termination. The fate of Demetrius, 
 the iffiie of the conteft, might never pene- 
 trate her dreary prifbn, where filence, gloom, 
 and defolation reigned. 
 
 K 2
 
 C J 96 ) 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 " Should we be taking leave 
 
 *' As long a time as we have yet (o liv^, 
 
 *' The loathnefs to di'part would grow — ^Adicu. 
 
 Cymbemnc. 
 « What bell is this ? 
 " It fends a folemn found upon the breeze: 
 " Now to a fearful fupcrftitious mind, 
 " In fuch a fcene, t'would like a death-knell come* 
 " Forme, it tellsl^utof a welcome near, 
 " Andfo I bid it welcome. 
 
 Baillie's De Montfori. 
 
 tyHlLST the Czarina was enduring 
 all the horrors of fufpenfe, unfup- 
 ported by fympathy, and- uncheered by 
 hope ; the thoughts of Demetrius, even 
 amidftthe gaiety of the city, during the fweet 
 converfe of Marina, or amongfl: the tumult 
 of military preparations, glanced forward to 
 that period when he ihould behold his 
 beloved and oft- remembered mother ; when 
 he fhould clafp her to his joyful heart, and 
 
 reftore
 
 C ^97 ) 
 retlore her to freedom, to fplendour, and 
 to happinefs. 
 
 Sanguine and enthufiaftic, the bright 
 funihine of the Prince's feelings was fcarcely 
 fhaded by a fingle cloud, except when the 
 penfive eye of Marina reminded him of their 
 approaching feparation. The fympathy of 
 feeling, which had formerly exifted between 
 Demetrius and the Princefs, was no longer 
 experienced. The unclouded brilliancy of 
 his fpirits, the ardour with which he haftened 
 the preparations for his departure., the 
 delight with which he anticipated the mo- 
 ment of its arrival, excited a degree of painful 
 furprife in the mind of the Princefs. Was 
 ambition then fo preponderating a feeling in 
 his foul, that his aflPedlon for her was over- 
 powered by its influence ? She no longer 
 feemed to poflefs the power of reading her 
 lover's heart, of difcovering that it was her- 
 felf, :that it was the hope of being enabled 
 to claim and to obtain her for ever that thus 
 ftimulated his ardour, and influenced his 
 hopes. 
 
 K 3 He
 
 ( 198 ) 
 
 He who is to brave the dangers of the 
 combat, views them only as the means of 
 glory ; his eye, fixed on the fummit of tlie 
 height he has to climb, heeds not the perils 
 of the path which conduct to it : but fhe 
 who in fafety and at diftance beholds the 
 deep afcent, dwells alone upon its dangers 
 and its difficulties ; while its height, crowned 
 with glory and renown, is enveloped in 
 darknefs and obfcurity. The moment of 
 reparation drew near. The nobles, who had 
 promifed their affiflance to Demetrius, were 
 afTembled at Grodno, and awaited his ar- 
 rival ; the troops of the Palatine and Count 
 Wiefnovitfki were prepared. The great ad- 
 vantages which would occur from penetrat- 
 ing immediately into Ruflia, before the ty. 
 rant was prepared for refiftance, induced 
 the friends of Demetrius to haften his de- 
 parture from Cracow. 
 
 The day was appointed, the hour of fc- 
 paration was arrived. Demetrius, at the 
 palace of Sendomir, endeavoured to foothe 
 the apprehcnfions of the Princcfs. 
 
 '' Alas!"
 
 ( *99 ) 
 
 ■ " Alas !" file exclaimed, " hovv^ vain are 
 " thefe attempts at confolation ! if like me, 
 " you lamented our feparation, lil^e me, 
 *' you would feel their futility. Who fhall 
 ** aflure me, even if fuccefs fiiould crown 
 " your arm, that in the tumult of the 
 ** camp, in the glory of the hero, in the 
 *' fplendour of the monarch, the remem- 
 " brance of Marina will not be forgotten ?'* 
 
 ^' Forgotten!" reiterated Demetrius, and 
 the whole expreflion of his countenance 
 underwent a fudden change, " forgotten ! 
 *' can fuch a doubt exift ? can fuch a belief 
 " find place in the heart of one, to v/hom 
 " mine is devoted ? Has the ardour with 
 '' which I have engaged in forwarding my 
 *' caufe, have the hopes which I have ex- 
 " preffed of its ultimate fuccefs, induced 
 " fuch an accufation? What has flimulated 
 " this ardour but my pafTion for Marinai 
 '' what has been the object of thefe hopes 
 " but the polTefiion of Marina? Oh, cruel 
 " and unjuft fufpicion ! have / not rather 
 ^' reafori to doubt the conflancy of that 
 K 4 ^' heart
 
 ( 200 ) 
 
 " heart which could for a moment indulge 
 « it?" 
 
 The expreflion of the Prince's coun- 
 tenance, the energy of his manner, con- 
 vinced Marina of his unimpaired attach- 
 ment. She blufhed at the injuftice (he had 
 committed, and anxious to repair it, ex- 
 tended her hand towards him. 
 
 " Forgive me, Demetrius," fhe faid, 
 ^' error is furely entitled to forgivenefs 
 " from him who has occafioned it ; for, 
 *' believe me, had my heart been lefs in- 
 ** terefled in the prefervation of your*s, it 
 *' had not fo eafily doubted its conftancy." 
 A deep crimfon tinted her cheeks as fhe 
 made this avowal ; the cloud palled away 
 from the countenance of Demetrius. " Ex- 
 *' plain it as you will,'* he faid, taking the 
 hand (lie had extended towards him, " I 
 " mud and will believe you, but never, 
 " never again indulge a fufpicion not lefs 
 " injurious to my honour than to your 
 " peace. Oh, Marina! could you but re- 
 '' gard yourfelf as /regard vou, you would 
 
 " feel
 
 ( 201 ) 
 
 " feel that the poffelffion of a throne, that 
 " the empire of the world, could never 
 " fhake my conftancy or banifh you from 
 *' my remembrance/' 
 
 As he uttered this fentence, Marina 
 ftarted, and the palenefs of death overfpread 
 her countenance. 
 
 " That is the fummons for departure/* 
 fhe faintly faid ; " heard you not the call 
 " of the trumpets ? Oh, yet a little while, 
 *' and to what dreadful fcenes will it not 
 ^' fummon you !" 
 
 ^' Indulge not thefe ufelefs alarms, my 
 *' beloved r* replied Demetrius, " though 
 '** dear, inexpreffibly dear, is the convi6lion 
 " they betray of your regard ; yet to fee 
 *' you fuifer thus *' 
 
 He was interrupted by the entrance of 
 4he Palatine and Count Wiefnovitlki. 
 
 *' The troops are aifembled, and await- 
 " ing your arrival, Prince !" faid the latter, 
 but he fuddenly paufed, and caft a glance 
 of apprehenfion upon Marina; her eyes 
 weje t^arlefs 5 hut her fixed gaze, her pale 
 K 5 and
 
 ( 202 ) 
 
 and quivering lips expreffed her fuffcrings. 
 Her fears feemed to have infufed themfelves 
 mto the bread of Demetrius. All the 
 confidence he had exprefled, all the hopes 
 he had cherifhed, fuddenly vanifhed be- 
 fore an unaccountable prefentiment of evIL 
 Love, by exalting the feelings above the 
 even tenor nature has deflined them to 
 prcferve, expofes them to the moft fudden 
 and unexpedled vicKTitudes. The heart, 
 no longer under the regulation of reafon^ 
 is as often unaccountably triumphant, as 
 it is unreafonably deprefTed ; like a velTel, 
 deprived of its rudder, at the fport of the 
 waves, alternately wafted forward by the 
 gales of hope, torn by the temped of doubt 
 and jealoufy, or engulfed by the billows of 
 defpair. 
 
 The buoyant and triumphant date of 
 mind, fo long preferved by Demetrius, fud- 
 denly yielded to ^read and anxiety. 
 
 " I cannot, cannot, leave her 1" he ex- 
 claimed, feating himfelf befide the Princefs, 
 and endeavouring to re-aflure her by a pro- 
 ii)ife of delay. 
 
 " Oh,
 
 ( 203 ) 
 
 " Oh, no ! no !" (he faid, attempting Co 
 recover her feir-poflfefiion, while a blufli of 
 fhame at the fears (he had betrayed ftole 
 over her cheek ; " no, Demetrius, I am 
 " not always the weak being you have now 
 *^ beheld me, the victim of imaginary doubts, 
 *' or anticipated fears ; my frame is feeble, 
 " and my feelings (trong, but if I cannot 
 *^ always conquer, I can fometimes reprefs 
 " them." An air of compofure and re-- 
 lignation fpread itfelf over her perfon. De- 
 metrius now appeared the mod deeply af^ 
 feded. She raifed her eyes to his coun- 
 tenance ; the mixture of foftnefs and an- 
 ^uifh it expreflfed, again nearly overpowered 
 her. 
 
 " Oh, go, go!" file faid, " go! while I 
 ^' can yet fubmit to your departure;" but 
 Demetrius obeyed not the command. 
 
 The Palatine and Count now approached. 
 " Prolong not gin interview," faid the latter, 
 '' which can alone be produdive of pain." 
 And he feized the arm of Demetrius, to 
 wrge him from the fpoto 
 
 JK 6 The
 
 ( 2C4 ) 
 
 The Prince tore himfelf from the con- 
 templation of Marina, and advanced to the 
 dooroftheapartment, — asfuddenly returned, 
 and precipitating himfelf towards the Prin- 
 cefs, flrained her fervently to his bread ; 
 then, without uttering a word, quitted her, 
 and rufliing through the hall, vaulted on 
 his courfer, and placed himfelf at the head 
 of his troops, before the Count could re- 
 cover from the furprife, occafioned by the 
 velocity of his movements. When he joined 
 Demetrius, he abftained from fpeaking on 
 the fubjed of his feparation from the Prin- 
 cefs, but, by converfmg on military topics, 
 on the probable number of their forces when 
 united, on the plans of the enfuing cam- 
 paign, he infenfibly diverted his thoughts 
 from the fubjed they were too much dif- 
 pofed to revert to^ 
 
 When Demetrius and the Count arrived 
 at Grodno, they found the Polifh nobles 
 and their troops in a (late of preparation ; 
 all eager to engage in a caufe which fo 
 ftrongly interefled their feelings, and ex- 
 cited
 
 ( 205 ) 
 
 cited their enthufiafm. Their confidence 
 im the talents, as well as refped for the birth 
 of Demetrius, induced them to refign to 
 him the fupreme command of the forces. 
 
 It was unanimouHy agreed that they fhould 
 immediately commence their march towards 
 Ruilia, as the frontiers were not in a ftate of 
 defence ; and, if they could penetrate into 
 the country, they had every reafon to appre- 
 hend that the Ruffians would ^ock to the 
 ilandard of Demetrius. 
 
 A manifefto, relating the event of the 
 Prince's efcape, when an infant, from the 
 machinations of Boris, entering into a brief 
 account of his pad life, the attack fo lately 
 made on him by the tyrant's emiflaries, and 
 •concluding by calling upon all loyal fub- 
 jedls to join their lawful fovereign, was dif- 
 tributed by Demetrius on his march through 
 Lithuania. Count Galitzin, acquainted with 
 the nature of the country, and the feverity 
 of the climate, ftrongly urged the neceffity 
 for fecuring fome place of importance, be- 
 fore the approach of winter : the troops 
 
 might
 
 ( 2o6 ) 
 
 inlght then be enabled to repofe from their 
 fatigues during the inclement feafon, while 
 the Ruffians would, in all probability, be 
 continually augmenting the Prince's forces. 
 His opinion determined Demetrius to 
 march immediately towards Novogorod, 
 and endeavour to take poiTeffion of that 
 extenfive and well-fortified city. The army, 
 in their route, pafied through Wolina, 
 within a few verfts of St. P/Iichael's con- 
 vent. Demetrius had occafionally in- 
 formed the prior of the various events which 
 had occurred to him fince his departure, 
 and had received replies to thefe commu- 
 nications. They always breathed the tone 
 of condolence, rather than of congratula- 
 tion ; of compaffion, rather than of fym- 
 pathy : yet the confcioufnefs of the inefti- 
 fiiable benefit he had derived from his in- 
 ftrudions, together with that habitual re- 
 gard which is fo generally felt between two 
 individuals, from long continued inter- 
 ^ourfe, created an irreliilible defire in the 
 breafl: of Deme^ius, to revifit that fpot it 
 
 had
 
 ( ^^1 ) 
 
 had once been his mofl ardent wiili for ever 
 to abandon. 
 
 The troops were to repofe for one night 
 at Wollna ; and Demetrius judged, that by 
 quitting them a few hours before they 
 reached that place, and purfuing his way 
 rapidly towards the convent, he might re- 
 main there during the night, and rejoin his 
 troops before they commenced their route 
 on the enfuing morning. This plan ar- 
 ranged, with his accuilomed rapidity, he 
 determined to carry it into execution, anci, 
 communicating his intention to his officers 
 and friends, bade them adieu, and urged 
 on his courfer towards the monaftery of 
 £t. Michael. 
 
 It was night before he reached the im- 
 menfe plain he had crofled on his firil de- 
 parture from the convent : he involuntarily 
 checked his courfer's fpeed, as he recalled 
 to his memory the fublime feelings, the 
 animated hopes, which had then elevated 
 his foul, and diredled his thoughts towards 
 ithe God of nature. The fcene was ftill the 
 
 fame;
 
 ( 2.o8 ) 
 
 fame ; but how was its appearance changed 
 from that when he had lad beheld it ! 
 
 The night was perfedly calm, but im- 
 penetrably dark ; not the flightefl: found 
 broke through the ftillnefs, — not one of 
 thofe numerous flars which had then 
 adorned the heavens, now glimmered 
 through the denfe atmofphere, which en- 
 compaiTed the earth. This gloom, this 
 filence, was opprefTive. Demetrius feemed 
 to breathe with pain and effort ; he fpurred 
 on his deed, and dire(Eled his courfe towards 
 the fpot where he believed the monaftery 
 was fituated ; but the impenetrable mifts, 
 by which he was furrounded, prevented 
 him from difcovering any object by which 
 this circumflance might be afcertained ; and 
 he proceeded, for fome time, acrofs the 
 plain, in dreary gloom and uninterrupted 
 filence. Suddenly, the deep and well- 
 remembered tones of the monaftery bdl 
 reverberated through the air, and convinced 
 him he was but a few paces from the place 
 of his deftination. He advanced in the 
 
 «dircc-
 
 C 209 ) 
 
 Tdire(Stion from whence the found had pro- 
 ceeded, and foon found himfelf before the 
 portal of the convent. The light was vifible 
 through its grates : no found was heard 
 throughout its walls ; the bell alone, tolling 
 at equal intervals, interrupted the folemn 
 and profound fi lence. 
 
 Demetrius, well verfed in the cuftoms of 
 the cloifter, was aware that this bell pro- 
 claimed the interment of one of the mem- 
 bers ; and concluding they were now af- 
 fembled in the cemetery, determined to re- 
 pair thither and remain till the funeral ob- 
 fequies were performed, before he dif- 
 covered himfelf to the prior. Attaching 
 his horfe to the portal, he proceeded to 
 carry his defign into execution, and ad- 
 vanced to the cemetery, which was fituated 
 on the oppofite fide of the convent. It 
 was furrounded by a high wall, but an iron- 
 railed gateway admitted a view of what was 
 palling within. Here Demetrius flationed 
 himfelf, til! the door of the convent was un- 
 clofed, and feveral monks, bearing a coffin, 
 
 ad-
 
 ( 2IO ) 
 
 advanced into the centre of the gloomy 
 fpot, which was (liaded by yews and cypref- 
 fes, hanging their dark branches over the 
 tombs. The torches, borne by the monks, 
 who now arranged themfelves around the 
 pall-covered coffin, threw a faint light over 
 the fcene, and difplayed their own pale and 
 haggard countenances. * 
 
 Demetrius recognifed each well-known 
 face, but gazed in vain for that of the prior: 
 iiis eye involuntarily reverted to the coffin, 
 and he (huddered at the idea which flruck 
 acrofs his mind, as he anxioufly awaited the 
 conclufion of the ceremony. .^. 
 
 The coffin was at length configned to^(4&5^^ 
 tomb, and concealed from the view of the , 
 fpeclators : when the principal monK, ex- 
 tending his hands over the grave, exclaimed 
 in a loud voice, " The body of Father 
 " Stephen, once Count of Wiefnovitfki, 
 " and late prior of this convent, is herecon- 
 ■*' figned to his native dufl : for his foul 
 " the requiems of this alfembly are re^ 
 " quired.*' 
 
 InAantly
 
 ( 211 ) 
 
 InRantly the chaunts of the monks re- 
 founded through the cemetery : but Deme- 
 trius, fhocked and overwhelmed by this 
 confirmation of his fears, no longer de- 
 firous of entering the convent, haftened 
 from the fpot, and remounting his horfe, 
 ilowly and fadly quitted the fpot. 
 
 The death of his early friend, and the 
 gloomy fcene he had fo recently witneffed, 
 ieemed to fill the mind of Demetrius with 
 prophetic dread, as well as prefent regret. 
 In the moment of enthufiafm, his reftora- 
 tion to the throne of his anceftors had ap- 
 peared to the Prince an eafy atchievement : 
 but now, in flillnefs, in darknefs, and in 
 folitude, lately departed from the contem- 
 plation of a fcene, fo calculated to damp the 
 ardour of all earthly hope, he feemed for 
 the firft time to appreciate the extent and 
 the difficulty of that enterprife he was about 
 to undertake. With an army of four thou- 
 fand men, to invade the largefl empire 
 in Europe ! Was it not conducing them to 
 deflrudion ? Thus afked his doubting rea- 
 
 fon;
 
 • ( 212 ) 
 
 fon ; but his courage and his genius ftill 
 triumphantly replied in the negative. 
 
 The rifing fun foon difpelled the vapours 
 of night, and difcovered to Demetrius a 
 view of Wolina, where his troops were 
 awaiting his arrival. On his entrance into 
 the town, his pale countenance and altered 
 manner excited the alarm of Count Wief- 
 novitfki : briefly explaining their caufe, after 
 having repofed and refrefhed himfelf, he 
 jquitted the town at the head of his troops, 
 and proceeded on the deflined route.
 
 ( 213 ) 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 *' Behold thofe men ! — their funned but thoughtful brows-, 
 " Their finewy limbs ; their broad and portly cheils, 
 ** Lap}>'d in their native veftments, rude but graceful ' 
 •' Thofe be our haidy brothers of the north." 
 
 Baillie's Family Legend. 
 " The foes beneath 
 •* Look up aghaft, with horror Hirink and die ; 
 ** Whole legions crufhM beneath the dreadful heaps 
 " *• Lie hid and loft, as never they had known 
 " A name or being ; while aroiiad them grew 
 " A hill of ruin. " Glover's Leonidas. 
 
 IT was in the month of Augufl:, in the 
 year one thoufand fix hundred and 
 four, that Demetrius re-entered that coun- 
 try, in which he had received exiftence, — 
 that country, over which he was entitled to 
 reign. 
 
 The frontiers prefented no forces to op- 
 pofe their progrefs ; and, informed by Count 
 Galitzin of the nature of the country they 
 had to traverfe, the troops rapidly advanced 
 towards Novogorod. In the different dif- 
 tridls through which they pafled, Demetrius 
 
 pro-
 
 ( 314 ) 
 
 proclaimed his name and rank, calling upon 
 his fubjecls to take up arms and follow the 
 fortunes of their lawful foverelgn. The 
 rumours which had been circulated through- 
 out feveral of the provinces, had already pre- 
 pared the minds of the people for the arrival 
 of Demetrius ; and many, difgufted with the 
 tyrannical condud of Boris, flocked to his 
 flandard. Still, however, to the Prince's 
 furprife, no army appeared to oppofe his 
 progrefs; and this circumflance, inducing 
 him to apprehend fome treacherous defigns 
 on the part of his enemy, rendered him 
 extremely vigilant over the condud of the 
 army. During the excurfions of the fo- 
 raging parties, precaution appeared pecu- 
 liarly requifite, left the inhabitants of the 
 villages, at the diftribution of their ftores, 
 fhould give notice to the enemy, and warn 
 them to approach, during the unguarded 
 ftate of the Polifh troops. In every arrange- 
 ment, Demetrius difplayed a degree of cau- 
 tion and forefight, which furprized all who 
 were acquainted with the natural impetuofity 
 
 of
 
 C 215 ) 
 
 of his character. A detachment of the 
 army, having reached the village of Zary, 
 (which had been foraged by Count Wief- 
 novitHvi on the preceding day, and by him 
 declared capable of affording confiderable 
 fupplies,) Demetrius ftationed his hufTars 
 around the village, in order to give notice 
 of an attack, if any fhould be attempted, 
 marfhalled his forces into different brigades, 
 and proceeded to diflribute the (lores which 
 the inhabitants had been commanded to 
 produce. 
 
 The Prince had ordered his manifeflo to 
 be read, as ufual, to the inhabitants, but it 
 had not produced its accuflomed effe6l: with 
 fuUen and filent indignation, they brought 
 forth their (lores into the grand fquare, 
 which is generally fituated in the centre of 
 the RufTian villages. 
 
 DemetHus addreffed them with his wonted 
 urbanity, lamented the nece(rity he was re- 
 duced to, of depriving them of the fruits of 
 their induftry, but aifured them, that, when 
 feated on the throne of his anceftors, his 
 
 earlieft
 
 C 216 ) 
 
 earllefl asSt would be that of repairing all the 
 injuries he might have committedj in obtain- 
 ing pofleirion of it. Count Wiefnoviifki, as 
 Demetrius concluded this addrefs, was 
 flruck with the malignant expreflion on the 
 countenance of one of the peafants, which, 
 the inltant he fancied himfelf obferved, was 
 converted into that of ferviiity ; and he be- 
 gan ofEcioufly to affift in the delivery of the 
 ftores. The diflribution being completed, 
 Demetrius commanded his troops to ar- 
 range their ranks and evacuate the village. 
 
 They were preparing to obey the com- 
 mand, when the found of martial in- 
 llruments, accompanied by the difcharge of 
 mufketry, arretted their movements. Deme- 
 trius inflantly called upon his foldiers to 
 defend themfelves : they had fcarcely time 
 to abandon their forage, before a number 
 of troops poured upon them in all direc- 
 tions. The pretended peafants, who were 
 -Ruflian foldiers in difguife, inflantly at- 
 tacked the Poles with vigour. A fmall 
 detachment, cut off from the main body of 
 6 the
 
 ( 217 ) 
 
 the army, and furrounded on all fides, 
 feemed fcarcely to poflefs a poffibility of 
 efcape : they fought with fury, infpired by 
 defperation. 
 
 Demetrius defended himfelf with admi- 
 rable refolution : his Ikill, his courage, his 
 activity feemed to grow with the growing 
 danger : the Poles fhouted with exultation, 
 as they at length beheld the Ruffians re- 
 treating towards the entrance of the village ; 
 they purfued them with rapidity. The Count, 
 alarmed at beholding the blood flreaming 
 from the Prince, aiked if he were wounded, 
 " No, no !'* he rapidly exclaimed, " it is 
 " the blood of thefe poltroons.'* 
 
 The Ruffians were foon fcattered in every 
 diredion over the plain, and, feeing no 
 hopes of fafety but in the clemency of their 
 conqueror, were preparing to throw down 
 their arms, when a fhout, long, loud, and 
 tremendous, broke through the air, and en- 
 chained the attention, both of the vidors 
 and the vanquifhed. All direded their re- 
 gard to the fpot from whence it proceeded, 
 VOL. I. tr nor
 
 ( 2l8 ) 
 
 nor were they long detained In fafpenfe. 
 From ia cloud of duft, which arofe at the 
 extremity of the plain, iflTued an immenfe 
 cavalcade. With the fleetnefs of lightning 
 they ruflied forward to the fpot, where De- 
 metrius, with his troops, were fcattered. In- 
 (lantly concluding that he fhould have an- 
 other and a more defperate enemy to en- 
 counter, he prepared for the combat, 
 and called upon his forces to rally and ar- 
 range themfelves for the battle. The Ruf- 
 fians, on the contrary, recovering from their 
 terror, collefted into a body, and waited to 
 behold the iffue of the encounter. 
 
 Meantime the horfemen rapidly approach- 
 ed ; but when they reached the Polifh 
 forces, inftead of attacking them with that 
 fury for which they were prepared, they 
 fuddenly reined in their foaming fleeds, 
 and regarded the troops of Demetrius with 
 fixed and fcrutinifmg attention. 
 
 Demetrius and the Poles gazed on them 
 in return, with furprife and admiration. 
 Their towering helmets, their martial 
 
 afped,
 
 C 219 ) 
 
 afpe^l, their couched lances, their glittering 
 girdles, their graceful attitudes, gave them 
 an air of dignity and fplendour, while their 
 high-bred horfes, prancing under their 
 fumptuous houfings, and waving their flow- 
 ing manes, feemed confcious of the warlike 
 importance of their maflers» 
 
 After the interval of a moment, in which 
 each party feemed to receive mutual fatif- 
 faction from the contemplation of the other ; 
 one of the horfemen, who appeared to be 
 their chief, advanced from amongfl them -, 
 taking his helmet from his head, and waving 
 it in the air, he exclaimed with a loud voice, 
 " We the Coflacks of the Don, detefling 
 ** the yoke of the tyrant Boris, recognize 
 " the title of the Czar Demetrius, and here 
 '^ folemnly fwear to devout ourfelves to his 
 " fervice, and never to fheath tl^^ fabre, 
 " or throw afide the lai^(?e, till he fhall 
 " reign over the empire of Ruflia.'' 
 
 He paufed, and the Coflacks gave a Ihout 
 
 of aflent to his declaration. Demetrius in- 
 
 fliantly fpurred his courfer towards them, and 
 
 L 2 riding
 
 ( 220 ) 
 
 riding along the extended line, into which 
 they had formed, addrefled them wiih equal 
 dignity and grace, exprefled his gratitude 
 for their promifes, his fenfe of their merits, 
 and his reliance on their valour. 
 
 Flufhed with his recent conqueft, with his 
 newly arrived aid, Demetrius now looked 
 and moved the hero, his eye fparkling with 
 the fire of genius and of courage, his cheek 
 deeptinted with the hue of triumph and of 
 effort, his blood-flained garb, which fpoke 
 his prowefs in the recent combat, the grace 
 and fpirit with which he managed his 
 fpiritcd deed, all were calculated to enchant 
 the eyes, and inflame the fouls of the military 
 CofTacks. " He is indeed the Czar," they 
 enthufiaftically exclaimed, " Long live the 
 " Czar Demetrius !" 
 
 The foul of Demetrius exulted with hope. 
 For the firfl time he was greeted by the 
 title of his anceftors ; for the firfl time he 
 felt himfelf a fovereign. 
 
 " Subjedls!*' he faid, and at the found 
 
 of his voice, an inftant filence pervaded 
 
 6 their
 
 ( 221 ) 
 
 their ranks, " fubjeds and countrymen, 
 " receive the thanks of one, who has, as 
 " yet, nothing elfe to beflow ; but not long, 
 " oh, not long, will you thus behold him J 
 " fighting his way to that throne which a 
 " treacherous ufurper occupies ; not long 
 " will you thus behold him, indebted for 
 ^' affiftance to a foreign nation, combating 
 " his own," and he glanced his eye from 
 the Poles, who had gathered around him, 
 to the Ruffians, who flood trembling at a 
 diftance. '' No, brave and generous Cof- 
 " facks ! your proffered aid afTures him of 
 " fuccefs ; your proffered aid affures him 
 «^ that the grateful period will arrive, when 
 " the Czar of Ruffia will be enabled to 
 ** requite the benefits beflowed upon the 
 " exile Demetrius ;" and gracefully waving 
 his arm from the Coffack lines to the Polifl\ 
 ranks, he feemed to implicate them both in 
 his expreffions of gratitude, in his promifes 
 of favour. A mingled fhout arofe from the 
 admiring troops, who now confounding their 
 ranks, regarded each other with friend (hip 
 L 3 and
 
 ( 32a ) 
 
 and efleem, united by the common fenii- 
 ment of attachment and refpe^ for the hero 
 who commanded them. The Ruffians, who 
 had witnelTed this fcene with emotions of 
 ihame, regret, and penitence, now ap- 
 proached, and throwing themfelves at the 
 feet of Demetrius, implored his forgivenefs, 
 and entreated to be admitted into his fervice. 
 Demetrius accorded their pardon ; and, 
 hoping to avail himfelf of the intelligence 
 he might collci^ from them, refpeding the 
 intentions of Boris, examined them ftridly 
 and feparately on the fubjed. He learnt 
 from their replies^ not only that all the viU 
 lages, through which it was fuppofed De- 
 metrius would pafs, were occupied by the 
 Ruffian troops, but that an immenfe army 
 was on !ts march to intercept him before he 
 reached Novogorod, which fome fugitives 
 from his army had proclaimed was the 
 place of his deftination. Demetrius finding 
 that all the Ruffians agreed in their ac- 
 counts, determined to avail himfelf of the 
 intelligence thus procured, and proceed im- 
 mediately,
 
 ( 223 ) 
 
 * 
 
 mediately, by a different route from that he 
 had at firft purpofed to purfue, towards the 
 lake of Ilmen, within a few verfls f 
 Novogorod, and, in the bordering for<;^c^ 
 through which the Ruffians would necef-. 
 farily pafs, furprife and attack the army on 
 its march ► 
 
 From the information of the Ruffians, the 
 reports of the huflars, fent out to view, 
 open, and prepare the roads, and chiefly 
 from his own exertions, which never feemed 
 to abate, except beneath the prelTure of 
 fever e fatigue, he had now acquired a com- 
 petent knowledge of the country he had to 
 traverfe, and had, ia great meafure, over- 
 come the difadvantage which always attends 
 thofe troops, who, unacquainted with the 
 nature of the country they are invading, 
 have to contend with its native forces. 
 The fpirit of Demetrius appeared infufed into 
 the bread of every individual in his army : 
 they traverfed the mod dangerous moraffes; 
 they afcended mountains ^ they crofled 
 rivers ; without appearing fenfible of the 
 L 4 danger
 
 ( 224 ) 
 
 danger they encountered ; without repining 
 at the fatigue they endured: while the fub- 
 lime talents, difplayed by Demetrius in con- 
 ducing this perilous march, could only be 
 equalled by the wonderful art, with which 
 he attached the hearts of the foldiery. The 
 Counts Galitzin and Wiefnovitfki found 
 the affedlion they had fo long cherilhed for 
 him, encreafed by its union with refpe^b and 
 admiration. They faw and bowed before 
 the omnipotence of that genius, which was 
 equally difplayed in his firm and adlive 
 courage, in the quicknefs and decifion of his 
 military movements, in his piercing, rapid 
 eye, which inflantly caught faults or advan- 
 tages, obflacles or dangers of lituation, of 
 country, of every objedt as they paffed. 
 "When Demetrius reached the foreft of 
 Ilmen, he learnt from a Ruffian fugitive, 
 that the army was within a day's march of 
 that fpot, and that the commander was 
 wholly unacquainted with the prefent move- 
 ments of Demetrius, 
 
 The
 
 C 225 ) 
 
 The Prince, on receiving this information, 
 immediately determined to furprife the army 
 on its approach. The nature of the country 
 favoured this intention: on one fide was 
 fituated the for eft of Ilmen ; on the other, 
 a ridge of hills, leaving between an open 
 fpace, through which the army would diredt 
 their march. By occupying the foreft and 
 the h^eights, and on the arrival of the army, 
 rufhing fuddenly upon them, Demetrius 
 flattered himfelf with obtaining a complete 
 vidory over an enemy, pofTefTed of treble 
 the number of forces with himfelf. Aware, 
 however, that the advanced guard of the 
 RufTian army would, in all probability, pre- 
 cede the main body, at the diftance of fome 
 verfts, to examine and clear the country, 
 he felt the neceflity of employing fome 
 ftratagem, by which their attention might 
 be engaged and their perfons fecured. He 
 commanded the Polifh huffars, conducted 
 by Count Wiefnovitfkl, to prefent them- 
 felves in front of the advanced guard, as if 
 with an intention of attacking them^ but 
 L 5 then.
 
 ( *26 ) 
 
 then, as if judging their force too ftrong 
 to be engaged, gradually to retire, after a 
 flight (kirmifh, before them, till they reached 
 the fpot where the ambufcade was flationed. 
 The Prince's intention having received una- 
 nimous approbation, he proceeded to carry 
 it into execution. The Ruffian infantry, 
 under the command of Count Galitzin, was 
 flationed on the heights, with fome artillery, 
 which, however, they were enjoined not to 
 employ, until a fignal was given by Deme- 
 trius. The CofTacks, commanded by the 
 Prince himfelf, took pofTefTion of the forefl, 
 while the Polifh huffars rapidly departed to 
 encounter the enemy. 
 
 A ftillnefs, like that of death , now pervaded 
 the fcene. The w^ell-trained horfes of the 
 CofTacks, fo fiery, fo fpirited, in the hour 
 of battle, were now motionlefs and fub- 
 miflive ; their bent necks, their half clofed 
 eyes, declared their obedience to the will 
 of their mailers ; while the CofTacks theni- 
 felves, their dark brov/s contraded in 
 thought, their lances couched, their eyes 
 
 fixed
 
 C 227 ) 
 
 fixed upon the fpot waere the enemy was 
 expected to appear, awaited immovably 
 and filently the moment of their arrival. 
 
 At length the found of cavalry in rapid 
 flight was heard : they brandifhed their 
 lances, and fixing themfelves more firmly 
 in their feats, prepared for the onfet ; their 
 horfes, elevating their heads, and waving 
 their manes, appeared to feel in concert 
 with their riders. The Ruffian cavalry, in 
 full purfuit of the Poiifli huflars, now ap- 
 peared. When they reached the place of 
 ambufcade, Count Wiefnovitlki, rallying his 
 troops, fell upon thofe he had before appeared 
 to fly; and while they were refifl:ing " this 
 unexpeded attack, a thoufand lances flaflied 
 before their eyes ; a thoufand voices called 
 upon them to furrender, or to die. At 
 once difcovering the error they had com- 
 mitted, and that all refiftance was inefl^sc- 
 tual, overpowered by furprife and fliame, 
 the Ruffians threw down their arms, and 
 obeyed the orders of Demetrius, who com- 
 ' manded them to enter the wood : but de- 
 ib 6 termined
 
 ( 228 ) 
 
 termlned not to let the fate of the day de- 
 pend upon the promifes of filence and 
 obedience, he compelled them to retire into 
 the deepeft recefles of the foreft, and placed 
 a fmall body of Coflacks as their guard. 
 
 Every thing was foon reftored to its 
 former order and filence : the huffars now 
 joined the Coflacks in the wood, and more 
 eagerly than before, awaited the arrival of 
 rhe main army, on whofe conqueft, perhaps, 
 the fate of the empire might depend. 
 They had waited fome hours : the day was 
 on the decline ; and both the CofTacks and 
 huffars felt impatient at this tedious in- 
 terval, and apprehended that the army had 
 received intelligence of their defigns, when 
 their fears and their impatience were re- 
 lieved by the found of their approach. The 
 Ruffian army was fo wholly without appre- 
 henfions of an attack, (and, depending alfo 
 upon the proteclion of the advanced guard,) 
 that they proceeded v^'ithout rank or order, 
 finging camp fongs, or converfing refpedl- 
 ing an enemy, whom they were taught to 
 
 hold
 
 ( 229 ) 
 
 hold in contempt. Their arms hung at 
 their fides, and their baggages were fwung 
 acrofs their fhoulders. Thus wholly un- 
 prepared for refiftance, their terror and fur- 
 prife were extreme, when the fiidden blaft 
 of the trumpet, the fhout of war, and the 
 rufh of the cavalry, taught them the dangers 
 they had to encounter. Their chiefs called 
 upon them to defend themfelves : they 
 obeyed, and for fome time fought with a 
 valour worthy of a better caufe than that 
 they defended. At length they fled before 
 the fabres of the Poles and the CofTacks, 
 and approached the hills with an intention 
 of fheltering themfelves amongfl them. 
 Demetrius waved his helmet in the air : 
 this was the fignal agreed on between 
 Count Galitzin and himfelf ; and inftantly 
 the cannon from the heights poured de- 
 ftrudion upon the fhrinking and aftonifhed 
 Ruffians. No longer attempting a refifl- 
 ance, which they perceived mull be hope- 
 lefs, they wholly abandoned their arms; 
 and the cries of the fugitives, the fhrieks of 
 
 the
 
 ( ^30 ) 
 
 the wounded, the groans of the dying, 
 mingled with the roaring of the cannon. 
 Demetrius, with a loud voice, which was 
 heard from amidfl; the dreadful tumult 
 which furrounded him, called upon the 
 Ruffians to furrender, and promited pardon 
 and protedion, if they would renounce the 
 caufe of their tyrant. A joyful cry of 
 aflent was their only reply : and Demetrius, 
 difpatching a meffenger to Count Galitzin, 
 commanded him to ceafe the play of the 
 artillery, and advanced into the midfl: of the 
 Ruffians, to affure them of fafety, and re- 
 ceive their fubmiffion. They crowded 
 around him, and, throwing themfelves on 
 their knees, vowed allegiance to their law- 
 ful fovereign. The conquerors and the 
 conquered now gathered round the hero, 
 and looked up to him with a mixture of 
 admiration and affedlion. Vidory and 
 mercy feemed to add new luftre to the 
 countenance of Demetrius, more great, 
 more happy in thefe moments, which were 
 devoted to the duties of humanity, than 
 
 when,
 
 ( 231 ) 
 
 when, at tlie peril of his life, he charged 
 and routed the fquadrons of the enemy. 
 The Ruffians, who had compofed the ad- 
 vanced guard, were now placed with their 
 comrades, in the centre of the Prince's 
 army, which continued its march, without 
 encountering any further obftacle to oppofe 
 it, towards Novogorod. The report of the 
 invader's fuccefles had already fpread terror 
 and confufion through the city. The 
 foldiers declaring that none but the true 
 Czar, the fon of Ivan Vaffilievitch, could 
 have performed fuch prodigies of valour, 
 refufed to combat againfl him, and com- 
 pelled their commanders to open the gates 
 at his approach. 
 
 With ftrong and grateful emotions, De- 
 metrius made his firfl entrance into what 
 had once been the chief city of the Ruffian 
 empire, " the great Novogorod." The 
 people, alarmed at his approach, fecluded 
 themielves in their refpedive habitations, and 
 as he paiTed through the ftreets, their defolate 
 
 ap.
 
 appearance conveyed a painful feeling to his 
 heart. 
 
 " Ah !" faid he, turning to the chiefs, 
 by whom he was accompanied, " do they 
 " dread the afpe^t of their monarch ? they 
 " have yet to learn how painful to hig 
 " heart are now the misfortunes, how dear 
 " will hereafter be the happinefs of his 
 *' fubjedls ! ^' — The terror of the in- 
 habitants gradually abated, and the aifable 
 addrefs of Demetrius, his youthful and 
 animated afped, fo different from that they 
 had expeded in the vidorious invader, foon 
 taught them to regard his prefence, not as 
 a fource of alarm, but an affurance of 
 fafety. 
 
 The feafon of winter now commenced, 
 that rigorous feafon which, even to thofe 
 who are enured to its feverity, is anticipated 
 with dread, and endured with pain. The 
 Poles, happy to find themfelves in a fituation 
 where they were in fome degree fheltered 
 from its inclemency, and feeling convinced 
 that Boris would not undertake any enter- 
 
 prife
 
 ( 233 ) 
 prife againft theai, during the few enfuing 
 months, advifed Demetrius to draw all his 
 forces into the city, and await the return of 
 fpring before he made another campaign. 
 This advice by no means accorded with the 
 inclinations of Demetrius ; but finding that 
 it received the approbation both of his Ruf- 
 fian and Coffack troops, he at length agreed 
 to remain in this- (late of inadion, in cafe 
 Boris fhould forbear from carrying any 
 hoftile defign into execution. In the mean- 
 tin;e the RulTians, from all quarters^ flocked 
 to his flandard : not only the populace, but 
 the nobility favoured his pretenfions: not 
 only the diftant provinces acknowledged, 
 him as their fovereign, but a confpiracy was 
 formed even at Mofcow for dethroning 
 Boris. The tyrant trembled on his throne : 
 the infurreclion was immediately quelled ; 
 the fevered punilhments were inflicted on the 
 infurgents ; the patriarch publiflied a baa 
 of excommunication againfl Demetrius and 
 his adherents. Still the conviction acquired 
 additional ftrength 5 ftill the belief fpread 
 
 from
 
 ( 234 ) 
 
 from rank to rank, from province to pro- 
 vince, that Demetrius was indeed the Czar 
 of Ruffia, the fon of Ivan VafTilievitch, 
 
 Demetrius and his friends began to in- 
 dulge the hope that he might obtain pof- 
 felTion of his kingdom, without again ihed- 
 ding the blood of his fubjeds. With all the 
 triumph of ardent hope, with all the exulta- 
 tion of gratified ambition, Demetrius now 
 addrefled his beloved Marina. His account 
 of his pad fucceffes was brief, but his detail 
 of his future profpeds was circumftantial. 
 
 " Tremble no more, my Marina,' ' he 
 faid, " for my liberty, or my life, I fpeak 
 " not merely the language of hope, but of 
 *' certainty ; furrounded by friends, rather 
 *^ than fubjeds, regarded with aifedion, as 
 '' well as refped, believe me, I have nothing 
 " now to apprehend 5 each day takes from 
 ** the forces of the tyrant ; each day adds 
 ** to mine. Oh, my beloved ! how pre- 
 **- clous is this convidion ! fince it is united 
 " with a convidtion yet more dear ! How 
 ** precious is the approach of that hour 
 
 which
 
 ( 235 ) 
 '' which will behold me feated on the throne 
 *' of RulTia 5 fince it will lead to an hour 
 " yet more ardently anticipated !" 
 
 Count Wiefnovitlki, whofe prefence was 
 at this period required in Poland, believing 
 that Demetrius was in perfed fecurity, and 
 would regain inactive for a confiderable 
 period, quitted Novogorod, and departed 
 for Cracow. His arrival at that city, and 
 the intelligence he conveyed, were a fourcse 
 of fatisfadion to all ; of joy to the Palatine 
 of Sendomir ; of pride, of rapture, to 
 Marina. Yes, it was with pride that flie 
 dwelt on the exploits of her lover, with 
 pride that (he liflened to all the details com- 
 municated by the Count. When he depided 
 his courage in the hour of battle, (lie fhud- 
 dered, as in imagination fhe faw him fur- 
 rounded by danger ; when he painted his 
 fuccefs, his conquefts, her eye brightened, 
 and a fmile of triumph beamed on her lips ; 
 when he dwelt upon his mercy, his hu- 
 manity, the glance of pride was foftened by 
 the tear of tendernefs. She faw him in every 
 
 fcene ;
 
 ( 236 ) 
 
 fcene ; fhe viewed him in every fituation ; 
 great, gentle, humane, alike formed to in- 
 fpire affection, to command refpecl, or to 
 excite admiration.
 
 I 
 
 ( 237 ) 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 « So faying, forth he iflTies and afliimes 
 " Before his band the llalion of command." 
 
 Glover's LeonUss, 
 " He unyielding ftill 
 *' Surtains the conteft, while unnumbered darts 
 ** Are fhiver'd on his buckler, and his feet 
 " With glittering points beftrew." Ibid. 
 
 J)EMETRIUS had been eftabllfhed for 
 fome weeks in the city of Novogorod, 
 when a rumour reached him that an army 
 under, the command of Prince Vaflili was 
 affembled at Mofcow, and its dellination 
 fuppofed to be the inveftment of Novogorod. 
 The inclemency of the feafon feemed to 
 render the execution of fuch a fcheme im- 
 practicable y and even in cafe it were at- 
 tempted, the city was well furnifhed with 
 (lores and provifions, and in a ftate of fuch 
 complete defence, as would enable it to 
 make a long refiftance. 
 
 The rumour, improbable as it appeared, 
 was foon confirmed by the approach of the 
 
 army.
 
 ( 238 ) 
 
 ^army. They foon completely in veiled the 
 city ; but as they appeared to have no in- 
 tention of proceeding to adlive hoflilities, 
 and the Ruffians aflured Demetrius that the 
 feverity of the feafon would foon oblige them 
 to abandon the fiege, he yielded to their 
 advice of a£ling on the defenfive alone. 
 
 To the furprife of the befieged, however, 
 they foon found that Prince Vaflili intended 
 to commence adive and decided operations. 
 The fnow, which in the commencement of 
 the winter had fallen in vafl: quantities, had 
 been fucceeded by intenfe froft, and now 
 prefented a fmooth and impenetrable furface 
 to the tread, as well as the gaze of man. 
 On this furface the hardy foldi'ers ereded 
 their tents, and fortified them by entrench- 
 ments, made of the trunks of trees, which 
 they conveyed in fledges from the neighbour- 
 ing foreft. 
 
 Prince Vaflili was a general of extenfive 
 experience, of vafl: refource, and equally 
 calculated for quick and defperate exploits, 
 as for flow and perfevering enterprife. His 
 
 intention
 
 ( 239 ) 
 
 intention at prefent was not to attack the 
 city, but to induce Demetrius to quit a ftation 
 in which he poflefled not merely the ad- 
 vantage of perfed fecurity, but that of being 
 conftantly fupplied by the refources of a 
 populous and extenfive province. 
 
 The affairs of Boris wore at prefent fuch 
 an alarming afped, that he was aware fome 
 decifive meafures muft be devifed and pur- 
 fued, in order to avert the ftroke which 
 threatened to hurl him from his throne. 
 To attack Demetrius, and, if poflible, by 
 force or fraud, to obtain poffeflion of his 
 perfon, appeared absolutely effential to his 
 own prefervation. Prince VafTili, as deeply 
 implicated in guilt as his mafter, as decided 
 an enemy to the houfe of Ivan, and as appre- 
 henfive of the refentment of Demetrius, was 
 an agent calculated to carry the fchemes of 
 the tyrant into execution. His firll objedt 
 was to prevent Novogorod from receiving 
 any fupplies from the furrounding country : 
 in this he fucceeded. Yet even when the 
 inhabitants became fenfible of the privations 
 
 they
 
 ( 240 ) 
 
 they endured from this circumftance, they 
 long fubmltted to them with patience, from 
 the conviction they continued to experience 
 and exprefs, that the Prince and his forces 
 could not long remain expofed to the feverity 
 of a winter campaign. The feafon, how- 
 ever, was remarkably favourable to the 
 defigns of Prince Vaffili. Since the fall of 
 fnow, the heavens had been uniformly ferene 
 and cloudlefs ; the frofl was fevere, but each 
 day brought with it no accefHon of cold, and 
 the foldiers, well guarded by the precautions 
 of Prince Vallili, and enured to hardfliips, ' 
 patiently fubmitted to fufFerings they believed 
 it their duty to endure. The murmurs of 
 difcontent at length began to fpread through 
 the city. The voice of difcord, the cla- 
 mours of infurredion at length reached 
 Demetrius. His foul was fired with indig- 
 nation when he liftened to their daring com- 
 plaints ; yet it was indignation tempered 
 with pity, when he refleded on the fufFerings 
 which had occafioned them. 
 
 He
 
 ( 241 ) 
 
 He rummoned a council of war, and thus 
 addrefled the Polilh nobles, the Coffack 
 chiefs, and Ruffian commanders, as they 
 thronged around him : 
 
 ^' Friends, countrymen, and fiellow fol- 
 " diers ! you have heard the clamours of 
 " difcontent, you have liftened to the cries 
 " of diftrefs which have proceeded from the 
 '^ inhabitants of this city. Shall we tamely 
 " endure, or (hall we haften to relieve 
 *"' them ? Shall we languifti away this inglo* 
 " rious campaign in feeble inadlon ? Shall 
 ^* we flirink from the combat, while the 
 " enemy triumphs in the dread he has in- 
 ^' fpired, and infults us with impunity? 
 " No ! rather let us attack this formidable 
 " camp, let us force this triumphant general 
 '* to acknowledge, that, though our fpirit» 
 ^' may fometimes yield to the voice of pru- 
 *^ dence, they are not, they cannot be, 
 *' fubdued!" 
 
 Such v.'as the language of the Prince, and 
 
 fo great was the ardour it infpired, that the 
 
 council unanimouHy agreed in approving 
 
 VOL. I. M hi$
 
 ( 242 ) 
 
 his fuggeflion of making an attack on the 
 enemy's camp. 
 
 On the enfuing morning, fome hours be- 
 fore day-break, Demetrius, imagining the 
 troops would be in a ftate of repofe, and 
 therefore more eafily furprifed, and lefs ca- 
 pable of making any refiftance, quitted the 
 city at the head of thofe troops deftined to 
 make the attack. A body of Ruffian in- 
 fantry was commanded by Count Galitzin, 
 a divifion of the Coffack forces by their 
 Hetman Kofanka, while the Prince himfelf 
 led on the Polifh Huflars. A band of flraw 
 was placed in the helmet of each warrior, 
 that they might be recognized by their com- 
 rades during the combat. The night was 
 perfedly clear, but intenfely cold : the 
 fky was befpangled with ftars, and the 
 fnow, too firmly frozen to betray the track 
 of man, prefented one fmooth, dazzling, and 
 unvarying furface to the eye. The towering 
 walls of the city lay behind, and the enemies* 
 camp, forming a dark line in the diilance, 
 
 like
 
 ( 243 ) 
 
 like a rocky coaft viewed acrofs a calm and 
 glafly fea, before. 
 
 Demetrius, wifliing to reconnoitre the 
 cafUp before he commenced the attack, 
 accompanied by two huflars, advanced be- 
 fore the troops, exprefsly commanding that 
 the mod perfect filence ihould be preferved 
 throughout their ranks, and that the attack 
 (hould not be commenced until a fignal was 
 given by himfelf. He departed at full fpeed^ 
 while the troops llowly followed his fteps. 
 As they drew nearer to the camp, they re- 
 marked that at fome diftance from the grand 
 encampment, the cannon and artillery were 
 inclofed within a particular fpot, flrongly 
 fortified and furrounded by immenfe mafles 
 of rocks, interfperfed with trunks of trees. 
 The Coflack chief, more anxious to difplay 
 his zeal in the caufe of Demetrius, than to 
 obey his commands, and, imagining that if 
 he could obtain pofleffion of this poft before 
 the general attack, he fhould enfure its fuc- 
 cefs, commanded his troops to advance, 
 fword in hand, with an intention of forcing 
 M 2 it.
 
 ( 244 ) 
 
 It. They obeyed ; but were furprifed at 
 receiving an almoft inflantancous dilcharge 
 of artillery. The unexpedlcd flafb, the 
 fudden roar, amidfl the darknefs and filence 
 of the night, re-echoed by the walls of the 
 tow:i and the neighbouring hills, produced a 
 tremendous efFedt. The Ruffians, roufed 
 from repofe, flew to their arms and ruihed 
 furioufly from the camp. Demetrius re- 
 turned in hafte to his troops, irritated and 
 aftonifhed at their difobedience of his 
 commands; but perceiving that the only 
 method of repairing this ill-judged attack 
 was to fecond it, he made a fpirited charge 
 at the head of the huiTars. They were 
 repulfed however by the Ruffians, com- 
 jnanded by Prince Vaffili. The alarm be- 
 came general ; the Poles fled in diforder ; 
 Demetrius was left alone, at a fhort diftance 
 from the enemy: in vain he called upon 
 his troops not to abandon him ; his word, 
 his example, had no effect upon the fugi- 
 tives. Finding his efforts ineflFedual in this 
 fpot, he cut his way through the enemy's 
 
 forces
 
 ( 245 ) 
 
 forces to the fcene where the ColTacks were 
 engaged. Here a new conxbat awaited him^ 
 even more terrible than the firft. The Her- 
 man, anxious to make every reparation in 
 his power for the error he had committed, 
 fought with defperation, and encouraged his 
 troops to follow his example. Vidory ap- 
 peared inclined to decide in favour of De- 
 metrius, when the prefence of Prince Vaflili 
 with frefti forces, rendered the ilTue of the 
 engagement uncertain. The whole Ruffian 
 army was now drawn from the camp, and 
 the return of day, fhewing Demetrius the 
 immenfe fuperiority of their numbers, con- 
 vinced him of the deftrudion which mu(t 
 attend a continuation of the combat. The 
 fight of his troops, — thofe few of them 
 who yet remained in the field of battle, — 
 conflantly falling around, determined him, 
 though with a pang of wounded pride 
 and deep humiliation, to draw his forces 
 from the fcene of warfare. 
 
 This was not effedted without confider- 
 
 ablQ difficulty, as they were clofely purfued 
 
 M 3 by
 
 ( 246 ) 
 
 by the enemy till they came within fhehcr 
 of the batteries of Novogorod. The forces 
 of Prince Vaflili then retired before the 
 (Irokes of the cannon, and returned tri- 
 umphantly to their camp ; while Deme- 
 trius and his troops flowly and dejectedly 
 entered the city. 
 
 If fortune at this moment favoured the 
 enemy, it might greatly be attributed to the 
 precipitation of Kofanka ; and although 
 Demetrius had fupported his attack, it had 
 not rendered him the lefs fenfible of the im- 
 prudence which had made that fupport ne- 
 ceflary. So long accuftomed to fuccefs, 
 Demetrius could ill fubmit to its humiliating 
 reverfe ; and immediately on his return to 
 Novogorod, without reverting to the poffible 
 confequences from this exercife of fupreme 
 authority, he difpatched an officer to the 
 Coflack chief, ordering him to deliver up 
 his fword, and refign his command. He 
 then called a council of war, and was plan- 
 ning another attack upon the enemy, when 
 his attention and that of the nobles were 
 
 arrefted
 
 ( 247 ) 
 
 arrefted by a fight which fenfibly affeded 
 them. 
 
 The imprudent but gallant Kofanka (a 
 deep wound which he had received acrofs 
 his brow, and from which the blood con- 
 tinued to flow, having rendered his fight 
 indiftind,) advanced, fupported by his fon, 
 a graceful youth, whofe eyes were bent to 
 the ground, and whofe exprefllve coun- 
 tenance betrayed how deeply he participated 
 in the feelings of his parent. The chief, 
 with a trembling hand, prefented his fword 
 to Demetrius. That high fenfe of martial 
 honour, fo early inftilled into the bread of 
 the Coffack, now ftruggled in that of Ko« 
 fanka with more tender emotions. After 
 fome paufe, he thus addrefTed Demetrius : 
 
 " After the fatal meflagTe I have butjaow 
 ** received from you, yourfelf and my for- 
 ** mer comrades in the field of glory mud 
 " feel aftonifhed at the temerity which has 
 " induced me to intrude into your prefence ; 
 *' but paternal affedion has led me to do that, 
 *' which no other earthly motive could have 
 M 4 " in^-
 
 ( 24JJ ) 
 
 *• inipelkd me to. For this youth, a dear 
 " and only fon, 1 come to implore your 
 *' proteflion, to entreat that when feated on 
 ** the throne of Ruffia, while afar off 1 lan- 
 ** guifh in ignominy or oblivion, you will 
 ** not permit the father's fault to flain the 
 " offspring's honour. This fon, whom, in 
 ** the pride and vain-glory of my heart, I 
 ♦* hoped to train in the fervice of his Czar 
 *♦ and his country, and who I truffed would 
 <* inherit from his warlike forefathers a 
 ** glorious and unfullied name, will now 
 ** have no other inheritance than my dif* 
 *• honour, no other portion than — " He 
 paufed, overcome by the ftrong conflid of 
 his feelings, while the Prince, who had 
 turned afide to conceal his own emotions, 
 advanced, and feiziing h!s hand, rapidly ex- 
 claimed, \ 
 
 " No, nol my brave fellow foldier, he 
 •* fhall inherit from his gallant father a name, 
 *' unftained with any reproach, a name 
 " which I truft he will deliver equally un- 
 " blemiflied to his pofterity. I reflorc you 
 
 " your
 
 ( 249 ) 
 
 " yourfvvord; and confoleyourfelf with the 
 " refledlon, that your only fault has beea 
 " that of drawing it too haftily." 
 
 " Alas !" replied the chief, " I cannot 
 ** receive that from your compaflion, which 
 '' your juftice has deprived ine of." 
 
 *' It was not juftice," exclaimed the 
 Prince, " it was the vehemence of youth, 
 " impatient of difappointment ; of ungo- 
 " verned paflion, acting upon a haughty 
 " fpirit. willing to attribute to any caufe 
 " (rather than allow its own poflibility of 
 " defeat), the ill fuccefs of our enterprize* 
 *'* We have both erred, my friend, in great 
 " meafure, from the fame caufe : let us 
 " forgive each other thofe errors incident 
 " to humanity, and, if you will not again 
 " receive a fword, which, I frankly confefsy 
 " your condudl did not juftify me in de- 
 " priving you of; you will, perhaps, deiga 
 " ro accept mine in exchan^^?." And he 
 prefented his fabre, yet dyed vvilh .the blood 
 of his foes, to Kofank^. 
 
 M K A mur-
 
 C 250 3 
 
 A murmur of applauf^ ran throughout 
 the aflembly. The Hetman threw himfelf 
 at the Prince's feet, and vowed eternal gra- 
 titude to him who had reftored him that 
 honour which alone rendered life defirable. 
 
 " Wonderful Prince !" exclaimed Count 
 Galitzin, who had remained a filent, but 
 attentive obferver of the preceding fcene, 
 " your genius has already commanded our 
 " refpedt, your courage excited our admi- 
 " ration ; but this noble fmcerity, this gene- 
 •^ rous avowal of error, muft enfure our 
 *^ efteem — our enthufiaftic attachment.'* 
 
 " Is Count Galitzin then fuch a flranger 
 " to reflitude/' replied the Prince, " that a 
 " fimple a6l of juftice is a fubje£t of 
 " aftonifhment to him ? But forbear, my 
 ** friend, all comments on an aftion which 
 " rather requires your lenity than demands 
 " your approbation, and let us endeavour 
 ** to repair, by mature deliberation aiid 
 " future exertion, the unfortunate termi- 
 " nation of this morning's enterprife," 
 
 Demetrius^
 
 ( 451 ) 
 
 Demetrius, convinced that the vigilance 
 of Prince Vaflili would for the future prevent 
 the poffibility of attacking his camp by fur- 
 prize, determined to draw all his forces out 
 of the city, and compel him to a general 
 engagement. He was aware of the difad- 
 vantages to which he was expofed, by 
 encountering an enemy furrounded by en- 
 trenchments, and defended by artillery, but 
 the mod powerful motives urged him to 
 execute his intention. The Don Coffacks 
 were become impatient of a confinement 
 fo adverfe to their former habits. The 
 Ruffians were anxious to behold Demetrius 
 in pofleffion of the Imperial city, the citizens 
 to be relieved from their fufferings. All 
 with one accord, defired to behold a ter- 
 mination to this tedious and inglorious 
 blockade. The inclinations of Demetrius 
 were in unifon with thofe of his foldiers ; 
 and the day was appointed which promifed 
 to decide his deftiny. 
 
 No attempt was now made to furprife the 
 
 €nemy j no attempt was now made to con- 
 
 M 6 ceal
 
 ( ^5^ ) 
 ceal the number of their troops, or the na- 
 ture of their movements ; they marched 
 beneath the blaze of noon, in the prefence 
 of thoufands ; they marched to the found 
 of the trumpet and the fife ; they marched 
 with the afpe£t of men, prepared for tho 
 work of death, armed with deflruclion, and 
 nerved againft terror. The citizens of 
 Novogorod, the infirm, the aged, the 
 female and the child, (for thefe alone 
 remained within its walls,) crowded on the 
 ramparts of the city to view the coming 
 combat. 
 
 The* forces of Prince Vaflili, prepared for 
 
 the attack, filently and Iternly awaited the 
 
 arrival of their foes, who came, like the 
 
 rufhing wind, like the fweeping tempeft, 
 
 and poured, with a fury which threatened 
 
 to overwhelm every obftacle in its progrefs, 
 
 upon that quarter of the camp which was 
 
 commanded by himfelf. This attack, made 
 
 by the Cofl'acks, led on by Demetrius, 
 
 for a moment daggered the refolution of 
 
 the ejiemy. The flafli from their piftolj^, 
 
 7 which
 
 ( ^sz ) 
 
 which thinned their ranks, and the fmoke 
 which obfcured the aiTailants from their 
 view, rendered the flrokes with which they 
 repelled ihem, aimiefs and indiftinfl. A 
 fecond charge from the CoiTacks, more ter- 
 rible than the former, made them fhrink 
 from their poil. Prince Vaflili, inftead of 
 attempting to rally, withdrew his forces to 
 a more fheltered part of the enti*enchments. 
 He knew that the Coffacks would not with- 
 out reludance quit their horfes to force the 
 camp, and he hoped, before the infantry 
 could arrive to be employed in that fervice, 
 he (hould have diverted the attention of De- 
 metrius by a fcheme he inftantly carried into 
 execution. He feiit a detachment from ano- 
 ther part of the camp, which was yet open 
 towards Novogorod, as if with an intention 
 of furprifmg it. Demetrius perceiving this 
 ■movement, commanded the Polifh huflars 
 to purfue the troops : they obeyed, and at- 
 tacked them with confiderable fury : vidlory 
 for a time feemed to favour their efforts, 
 but no longer animated by the prefence of 
 
 Demetrius,
 
 ( 254 ) 
 
 Demetrius, no longer fupjDorted by the firni 
 courage of Count Wiefnovitfki, the Polifh 
 fabre at length funk beneath the Ruffian 
 lance. The huffars retreated towards the 
 city ; the foe purfued ; and, yet mingled 
 in the fight, they ruflied indifcriminately 
 through the gates. The clafh of their wea- 
 pons, the trampling of their horfes, re- 
 founded through the ftreets ; the terrified 
 inhabitants fled to their houfes ; the ram- 
 parts prefented a fcene of defolation, while 
 the confufed founds, which ifiued from the 
 interior of the city, excited in the breads 
 of the hoftile forces emotions of anxiety and 
 alarm. At length the fhout of vidory arofe. 
 The Ruffian foldiers afcended the ramparts, 
 and a thoufand voices re-echoed through 
 the air, " Viflory to Boris and Prince Vaf- 
 ^' fili ! Defeat and death to the pretender 
 " Demetrius!'* 
 
 For one moment a fudden chill, an ice- 
 bolt through the heart, unnerved the arm 
 of Demetrius, but the next infpired it with 
 additional vigour. The cannon played in- 
 
 ceffantly
 
 ( 355 ) 
 
 ceflantly on his infantry, which prefling 
 more and more clofely to the enemy's camp, 
 was now entirely expofed to the balls which 
 ploughed through their columns, and fvvept 
 whole ranks before them. So many ob- 
 ftacles feemed to have fubdued their adive 
 courage, although it had not impaired their 
 paflive refolution. They remained mo- 
 tionlefs before the enemies' fire ; their va- 
 lour was far from yielding the vidory, but 
 their reafon appeared to doubt the pofli- 
 bility of obtaining it ; and this was not a 
 period for reflection. Demetrius, throw- 
 ing himfelf from his horfe, placed himfelf 
 at the head of the infantry, and encouraged 
 them to proceed. For a moment every 
 thing fled before the refifllefs violence of 
 his attack; and, availing himfelf of this 
 tranfitory advantage, he forced his way, fol- 
 lowed by his gallant troops, into the camp. 
 The fabre of Demetrius dealt death around : 
 the Ruflians, infpired by his example, 
 poured deftrudtion on the (hrinking foes ; 
 they fled -in every diredion, and rufhed tu- 
 i 2 multuoufly
 
 ( ^-56 ) 
 
 multuoufly from their camp. Demetriui 
 purfued, and far and wide the tide of war 
 rolled over the fnowy plain, now tracked 
 with blood, and ftrewed with the mingled 
 bodies of the dying or the dead. Prince 
 Vaffili, at the head of his cavalry, now ap- 
 proached to fupport his feattered troops. 
 He rallied ; he drew them on to the attack ; 
 he bore down with irrefiftible fury upon the 
 forces of Demetrius, which, now feattered 
 in fmall groups, gave way before the 
 impetuous rufh of the cavalry. The 
 Coflack chief perceived the danger and 
 advanced to their fuccour ; but was himfelf 
 attacked in his rear by another body of 
 cavalry. The troops of Demetrius had af- 
 fembled in obedience to his commands, 
 and, though furrounded on all' fides, pre- 
 fented a firm and undaunted afpedt to the 
 enemy, who endeavoured to trample them 
 beneath the iron hoofs of their courfers, or 
 with their fabres aimed at them the flroke 
 of death ; their ranks gradually 'thinned, 
 and a mairacre rather than a combat en- 
 rued.
 
 ( '^Sl ) 
 
 fued. Count Galitzin and Demetrius, fide 
 by fide, fought with a fury infpired by de- 
 fperation. As the cavalry bore down on 
 them, they plunged their fabres in the foam- 
 ing deeds, or with well direded aim raifed 
 them to their riders' breads. Prince VafTili, 
 perceiving from the fury with which the 
 battle raged, the prefence of Demetrius, 
 haflened to the fpot, and urging his courfer 
 towards him, aimed a ftroke at his helmet j 
 it was warded off by Count Galitzin's fword, 
 who at the fame moment received a wound 
 in his fide, which ftretched him fenfelefs 
 on the plain. An exclamation of horror 
 burfl from the lips of Demetrius ; he wildly 
 fprung towards Prince Vaflili, to avenge the 
 death of his friend. His rage rendered him 
 unguarded, and at the moment he plunged 
 his fword in the Prince's fide, he received a 
 blow from his fabre in return, which felled 
 him to the ground, and he lay, deprived 
 of fenfe or motion, on the. body of his 
 friend. 
 
 <^ Deme-
 
 ( 258 ) 
 
 •* Ueiiietrius is no more, the pretender 
 *• is llain !'* exclaimed Prince Vaflili ; and 
 the words were re-echoed around. His 
 wretched troops, ftruck with defpair at the 
 idea that all the difficulties they had encoun- 
 tered, all the dangers they had braved, 
 were rendered vain by the death of their com- 
 mander, dill rallied round his body, refolved 
 to preferve it from the infulting foe. The 
 Coflack chief, the moment that the dread- 
 ful cry of " Demetrius is flain!*' reached him, 
 rufhed to the fpot from whence it proceeded. 
 He perceived the fmall body of infantry 
 encompalTed by foes. The voice of De- 
 metrius no longer cheered his troops ; the 
 arm of Demetrius no longer ftruck terror 
 into his enemy. Kofanka, ftung by grief 
 and indignation, calling upon his troops to 
 follow his example, fell fiercely upon Prince 
 Vaflili's cavalry, and forced them to retire 
 towards their camp : then availing himfelf 
 of this moment's ceflation of hoftilities, he 
 raifed the body of Demetrius from the 
 ground, and placed it before him on his 
 
 courfer ;
 
 ( '^59 ) 
 
 courfer ; at the fame time commanding his 
 fon and the furrounding CofTacks to fave 
 themfelves by flight; and, by feparating 
 their forces, endeavour to divide the atten- 
 tion, and diftradt the purfuit of the enemy : 
 then, fuftaining his lifelefs burden in his 
 grafp, he departed, with a rapidity which 
 mocked purfuit, from the fcene of carnage. 
 Some of the cavalry attempted to overtake 
 him ; but Prince Vaffili, more anxious to 
 annihilate thofe few of the forces which yet 
 remained on the field of battle, than to 
 obtain pofleflion of the body of his fallen 
 foe, renewed . his attack on the infantry. 
 Some few amongft this gallant band de- 
 manded quarter, but the remainder con- 
 tinued the combat with the firmed refolu- 
 tion : Prince Vaflili, however, alike un- 
 mindful of the regard due to thofe who 
 implored, or the refped: to thofe who de- 
 fpifed, his clemency, continued to bring on 
 frefh forces to the attack, till the work of 
 death was completed ; and the brave noble 
 fquadron, who but a few hours fince had 
 
 trium-
 
 ( ^6o ) 
 
 triumphed in the poflefTion of health, of 
 vigour, and of courage, prefented alone a 
 mangled mafs to the eyes of the fanguinary 
 and exulting enemy. 
 
 END OF THE flHST Y0I.UIV2E. 
 
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