{^m^'i^ 
 
 4' 
 
 
 V 
 
 ^•W.^^-4 
 
 
 <d 
 
 to 
 
 ^^
 
 a I E> RAR.Y 
 
 OF THL 
 UNIVERSITY 
 Of ILLINOIS 
 
 823 
 
 M804- 
 v.i
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2009 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/mountainchieford01lond
 
 THE 
 
 MOUNTAIN CHIEF; 
 
 ORji THE 
 
 DUSrENDANT OF WILLIAM TELL, 
 
 <i])t ^tiiUm of .^toit?crlanp» 
 
 A ROMANCE, 
 
 IN FOUR VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. 1 . 
 
 "'Tis liberty that gives 
 ** The fading flower of life its lustre aud perfume, 
 ** Aud we are weeds without it.'* 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed by John Dean, 57,Wardour Street,Solio. 
 TOR GEORGE HUGHES, 231, TOTTENHAM-COURT ROAD. 
 
 Bookseller to her R. H. the Princess of Wales. 
 
 1811.
 
 
 THE 
 
 MOUNTAIN CHIEF, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 On a dark and stormy evening, Ulric 
 Gribenholt traced his wearied way 
 down the sides of the lowest acclivity 
 of Mont Blanc, after unsuccessfully 
 pursuing the dangerous chace of the 
 chamois, from rock to rock, during 
 the greater part of the day. Ulric 
 was a youth who derived no nobility 
 from a line of ancestry ; his birth was
 
 2 
 
 -soil to €arn a bare subsistence for his 
 family: but Ulric's vvasa mind which 
 Jioared above his situation : he possessed 
 a soul, which scorning the fetters of 
 poverty, expanded itself continually, 
 and thirsted for employment more 
 adapted to its desires. The bravery 
 of Tell was yet green, and his heroic 
 fortitude had animated the breast of 
 Ulric, and had kindled there a flame 
 which w as neither to be repressed nor 
 extinguished: his heart was touched 
 by an enthusiastic ardour and the 
 wrongs which Switzerland daily ex- 
 perienced at the handsof her Austrian 
 oppressors rankled deeply within him. 
 JFrom this moment he scorned to pur- 
 sue the liumble avocations of his 
 fiire ; his thoughts were abstracted 
 from his usual occupations, and he 
 longed for an opportunity to emerge 
 into a sphere where he might find 
 jroom to indulge the noble propensi-
 
 ties of his mind. In vain did his fa- 
 ther strive to curb the impetuous dis- 
 position ^vhich displayed itself in his 
 son ; vainly did he urge him to reduce 
 his wandering wishes to a level with 
 his station in life ; uselessly did he 
 waste his hours in representing to him 
 the futility of his hopes, and the ab* 
 surdity of his airy anticipations, Ul- 
 ric was not to be turned from his pur- 
 pose, he had fixed his eye on an ob- 
 ject which glittered through the mists 
 of futurity, and gilded the remoteness 
 of time ; he had heard ^nd read of 
 heroes, he had witnessed heroism, and 
 he panted to emulate the deeds which 
 he admired. This military inclina- 
 tion owed its origin to the instructions 
 and discourse of father Ursulo, a wor- 
 thy monk of the priory of Chamouny, 
 who had conceived an early attach- 
 ment to I Iric, and had taken upon 
 himself the charge of his education ; 
 b2
 
 in the progress of ^hich he delighted 
 to expatiate on the independent spirit 
 of the horoic Swiss, and held him 
 forth as an example to all the Helve- 
 tic youth. Ulric was transported at 
 the picture which patriotism had 
 drawn ; he contemplated the un- 
 daunted Tell as something more than 
 mortal ; and, secretly he resolved to 
 shape his own conduct according to 
 that of the immortal patriot whose 
 image was continually before his 
 *' mind's eye/' Ardentlydid he pray 
 for the arrival of some favourable op- 
 portunity when he might quit the 
 Jbumble abode of his infancy and his 
 youth, and take the first step in the 
 path which tended to immortal fame. 
 A mile to his right, was situated 
 his paternal cottage, and just before 
 him the priory of Chamouny lifted 
 its lowly head, sheltered beneath the 
 mountains. Well acquainted with the
 
 road he fearlessly advanced, deeply 
 engaged in meditation on his favourite^ 
 subject, when the noise of clashing 
 swords assailed his ear, accompanied 
 by a loud cry — " Help me. Heaven, 
 or 1 shall fall beneath the attacks of 
 these assassins!*' A ray of liope shot 
 across the mind of lUric— tlii» might 
 be the opportunity for which he had 
 so frequently sighed, and the hour of 
 his emancipation might be at band !' 
 Armed only with his hunter's spear, 
 he^ rushed impetuously to the spot, 
 exclaiming "W ho callsfor assistance?** 
 The noise of contention guided hiiu 
 to the spot, as a voice replied — 
 " Heaven be praised ; help is near«- 
 this way, stranger !'^ In an instant 
 tlric found himself opposed to a 
 ruffian, whose own incautiousness- 
 sealed his ruin, since he rushed on the 
 spear of Ulric and received it deeply 
 hi his breast : he fell, and the joyous- 
 b3
 
 youth, flinging down liis spear, seized 
 the sword of his defeated foe, and ^ew 
 to render assistance to the stranger 
 who was furious] J assailed hy the re- 
 maining assassin. Just as he was ap- 
 proaching the scene of conflict, vic- 
 tory had declared in favour of the 
 Uiisjreant, and his wounded antago- 
 nist fell from his horse, but as the vil- 
 lain stooped to complete the work of 
 iniquity, he was appalled and pre- 
 vented by the voice of Ulric, wha 
 vociferated, as he struck him violently 
 with the flat side of his sword — 
 *' defend ?/0Mr5^/f, miscreant, for Hea- 
 ven frustrates your murderous de- 
 sign !'' The paralyzed assassin turned 
 suddenly round, and, after a mo- 
 ment's pause, muttering an indistinct 
 and bitter execration, placed himself 
 in an attitude of defence ; but the 
 attack of Ulric was too furious ta 
 be resisted successfully. His holy in--
 
 ^uctor had taught hiin the use of the 
 sword, for he had himself been a 
 warrior, and Ulricas skill quickly be- 
 came evident to his affrighted anta- 
 gonist, who vainl}^ exerted himself to 
 the Utmost to ward off the stroke of 
 annihilation, the voice of fate was 
 against him, and in a few minutes, tlie 
 sword of Gribenholt had silenced the 
 tongue of the assassin for ever. 
 
 The next care of Ulrie was to ex- 
 amine the state of the wounded stran- 
 ger, who had fainted from loss of 
 blood, and whom, with much diffi- 
 culty, he conveyed to the priory, 
 where father L^rsulo paid the utmost 
 attention to his wants, bound up his 
 wounds, gave him cordials, and as 
 His hurts were not dangerous, permit- 
 ted him to proceed, with the assistance 
 of Ulric, to the castle of Zur, of 
 which he was the lord. Before they de- 
 j|artcd, however, the brave youth was
 
 B 
 
 gratified bj the unqualified praises of 
 the monk for the intrepidity he had 
 displayed, and his auguries that the 
 circumstance would lead to some con- 
 sequences of a favourable nature. The 
 Count himself was albO lavish in the 
 expression of his gratitude to his pre- 
 server, and declared his determination 
 to retain him in his castle, and ta 
 make him a recompense in some de- 
 gree adequate to the service he had 
 performed. The delighted peasant 
 felt himself elated by the prospect* 
 ivhich now suddenly opened to hm 
 Yiew ; he saw the obstacles to his 
 future greatness diminish before his 
 sanguine anticipations, and beheld 
 himself placed on the summit of his 
 hopes. Modestly bowing his head, he 
 expressed his sense of the Count*s 
 kindness, and stated that if he could 
 obtain, through his intercession, the 
 means of serving his count' y, the
 
 9 
 
 trivial services he had this night per- 
 formed, would be overpajed. *' Tri- 
 vial as they are, modest youth," re- 
 plied the Count as he leaned on tlie 
 arm of his preserver, and quitted the 
 priory for his own castie, which was 
 only at the distance of an hour's walk ; 
 *' but for them, I should now have 
 ceased to exist ; but you shall not 
 find me ungrateful. There is one also 
 who remains in the castle, and who 
 will join in rewarding the brave hand 
 which preserved her father from de^ 
 struction**' 
 
 After a tedious walk, during which, 
 the travellers were obliged to pause- 
 frequently, in^ consequence of the- 
 weakness of the Count, they arrived' 
 at the gates of the castle of Zur, where 
 the appearance of their pale and 
 wounded lord struck terror into the 
 bosoms of the faithful domestics, 
 Florida, the daughter of the Cowitj 
 b4
 
 10 
 
 trembling with anxiety, assisted to 
 support her parent to a couch, when 
 he introduced Ulric as his preserver, 
 and bade her express to him the 
 thanks which he was incompetent to 
 speak. The blushing fair one, who 
 was the counterpart of an angel, ap- 
 proached the agitated youth, and 
 gracefully bending her knee to the 
 floor, took his hand and. pressing it to 
 her lips, exclaimed, in a voice attuned 
 to harmony, — ^" Best of men, accent 
 the thanks and blessings of a daug-h- 
 ter, who owes to you the safety of the 
 most aflfeetionate of parents. Would 
 that 1 had more to bestow, but alas I 
 my best returns are weak and without 
 value ; yet never while memory retain* 
 her seat in her brain, shall the pre- 
 server of Count Albert cease to be 
 remembered with esteem and grati- 
 tude, by the overwhelmed and agi^ 
 tHted Florida.
 
 11 
 
 "And never sliall I wish for a 
 clearer recompence !" — UJric would 
 liave replied ; but for the first time in 
 his life, he found the want of courage 
 to express his feelings. Indeed, until 
 this moment, he had never been 
 placed in such a happy and over- 
 powering situation ; and, more than 
 once he felt half inclined to dispute 
 the reality of what he witnessed, but 
 imagined himself under the influence 
 of a pleasing vision from which he 
 must shortly and reluctantly awake. 
 The most beautiful woman he had 
 ever beheld was kneeling before him, 
 and the tears of gratitude stood in 
 her eyes as she blessed him. IJis 
 transports where too mighty for ut- 
 terance ; his swelling heart palpitated 
 \vith extreme emotion and a torrent 
 of tears rushed down his cheeks as 
 he replied in a faltering voice.-— 
 *' Madam, I did but my duty and your
 
 11 
 
 expressions of gratitude so far surpass^ 
 my deserts or expectations, as to em- 
 barrass me exceedingly." As he said 
 this, lie pressed the hand of the 
 beautiful Florida to his lips with an 
 ardour which raised a blush upon the 
 cheeks upon the lovely fair, from 
 whose heaving bosom burst a sigh, 
 as she innocently pressed the hand 
 which reluctantly relinquished hes? 
 Qwn, 
 
 TJlric*s form was manlyy and his 
 comitenance, naturally handsome, 
 was continually clothed with a benig- 
 nant smile, which heightened its at.- 
 tractiveness. His eyes beamed with 
 expression ; and, notwithstanding the 
 lowliness of his situatioa in life, aa 
 air of dignity sat upon his brow, 
 which ennobled his appearance and 
 belied the obscurity of his birth. As 
 Florida gazed upon the guest and 
 preserver of her father, she thought
 
 13 
 
 him the most amiable youth she had 
 ever seen ; since liis personal graces 
 were so well backed by the intrepidity 
 of his conduct. For some moments 
 she surveyed him with an admiration 
 which, under different circwmstances, 
 must have attracted tl>e notice of her 
 father, but it passed unobserved, ex- 
 cept by Ulric himself, who was en- 
 tranced as h« marked the eloquent 
 gratitude whicli emanated from her 
 eyes; and his bosom elicited a s>gh as 
 he mentally exclaimed — '' How must 
 such a companiofi tend to sweeten the 
 cares, and lessen the toils of life !" 
 "But she is not for thee !" returned an 
 inward monitor, as he called to mind 
 the meanness of his name^ his want 
 of means even for Ixis own subsistence^ 
 and the unpromising prospects which 
 must await him if he yielded his deter- 
 mination of pursuing greatness in the 
 field of cnterprize. This idea ba-
 
 14^ 
 
 nislied at once, the symptoms of lov6 
 which had displayed themselves in his 
 breast, and he resolved to think alone 
 of the darling object which had. 
 hitherto attracted him, and to achieve 
 some act which might give him. con* 
 sequence and renown. 
 
 From this train of thought Ulric 
 was rouzed by a request of the Count 
 that he might be informed of the name 
 and rank of his preserver. A slight 
 blush tinged the cheek of Ulric a» 
 he heard the question, it was a mingled 
 suffusion of pride and shame. Yet 
 why should I blush to avow the 
 truth, thought the peasant, for no 
 debasing crime Attaches itself to my 
 ftame, nor sullies the form whi<jh 
 heaven has given to me. " My lord 
 (said he) I possess no other rank than 
 that which nature has bestowed on 
 metn. All which I possess I bear- about 
 me, an independent soul, and for this
 
 15 
 
 I am indebted to the bounty of 
 Heaven. My name is Ulric Griben- 
 holt, and my father labours to im- 
 prove the remotest part of your lord- 
 ships possessions, on the lake of 
 Zurich. Unfitted, however, for such 
 employment, 1 seek to repel the 
 haughty legions of Austria ; 1 long to 
 revenge the wrongs of rny bleeding 
 country, and to prove that the son 
 of the husbandman Gribenholt, will 
 not disgrace the acts of his grand- 
 father, Tell!" 
 
 " ThoB art a gallaijt youth'* replied 
 the Count, extending his hand, " and 
 derivest more true nobility from the 
 deeds of thy patriotic grandsire, than 
 a title could confer ; but, if I mistake 
 not, thy own deeds will prove a suffi- 
 cient passport to nobility ; and thou 
 wilt hereafter become one of the piU 
 lars of Helvetian independence. At 
 this moment a choice baud of patriots
 
 T6 
 
 ihliabitsllie abysses of Mont Blanc^ 
 and wiil soon rush forth to resist the 
 inundation of tyranny which threatens 
 even the last remaining spark of our 
 liberties with speedy destruction^ 
 With them thou wilt find that oppor- 
 tunity which thou desirest, and may- 
 est sow the seeds of a plentiful harvest 
 of future glory." 
 
 The soul of Ulric was fixed by hijr 
 statement, and his resolution was in- 
 stantly formed to- join the patriotic- 
 legion of the mountains, and to wield' 
 a sword to repel those oppressive exac- 
 tions, which had been already shaken- 
 by the invincible spirit of Tell. Hifr 
 eyes shot forth a more than human- 
 energy, as he replied — *' Give me, my 
 lord, but a clue to find these gallant 
 mountaineers, and 1 am abundantly 
 recompensed for the service I have 
 performed ; for a life successfully spent 
 in emancipating one's country from 5^
 
 17 
 
 foreign yoke, isbetter than ten thousand 
 wasted in indolent pursuits, and use- 
 less inactivity/' 
 
 The whole soul of Florida seemf d 
 collected into her eyes as the spirited 
 language of the gallant stranger broke 
 upon her ears, and an involuntary 
 sigh burst from her bosom, as the 
 dangers attendant on the course which 
 he so fervently longed to follow, flashed 
 before her view. She was surprised at 
 the emotion which agitated her fra»ne, 
 and wondered at the interest she had 
 taken in the fate of a stranger: but 
 that stranger was the preserver of her 
 father, and her innocent heart, ignorant 
 of the nature of the passion which 
 had introduced itself there, was satis- 
 fied that in cherishing an ardent esteem 
 for one who had so essentially served 
 her, it did no more than duty required, 
 and that to act oppositely would be 
 ungrateful. The sigh which had
 
 IS 
 
 escaped her, however, had not passed^ 
 unnoticed : it attracted the attention 
 and drew upon her the notice of her 
 father and Ulric. The former con- 
 templated the agitation of his daughter 
 with uneasiness and suspicion; while 
 the latter fixed his gaze upon her with^ 
 an ardour of affection which raised a 
 crimson blush upon her cheeks, and 
 again almost convinced her -that she 
 fead acted indiscreetly. As this thought 
 ilashed more forcibly across her mind, 
 the tear of regret started into her eye, 
 and was about to trace its way down 
 her beautiful countenance, when a re- 
 assuring smile from her father, ba- 
 nished the intruder and lighted up 
 again the smile of joy. The cloud 
 and sunbeam alternately clothed the 
 aspect of Ulric, as be marked the 
 changes in that of Florida; and, no 
 sooner had he beheld it again illumed 
 with happiness, than his own confessed
 
 1^ 
 
 the cheering influence of a stt>i[e, and 
 love, joj and ambition once more 
 shared the dominion over his soul. 
 
 Suspicion had for a moment entered 
 the bosom of the Count, but his noble 
 nature refused to entertain the unwel- 
 come guest, as he calmly asked his 
 own heart if there was any thing so 
 reprehensible and so novel in the 
 ardour of esteem which Itis daughter 
 displaj^ed towards the gallant youth r^; 
 A tear rushed into his eye, as lie gav^^ 
 his hearty negative to the question, and 
 censured that rigid virtue w^hich gave 
 to the gay candour of innocence the 
 name of guilt. Anxious to wipe away 
 the impressions which nright have been 
 caused by his momentary appearance 
 of anger, he stretched out his hand to 
 th^ scarcely recovered Florida, and in 
 a voice of more than usual tenderness, 
 bade her take her harp, and soothe 
 bim into a forgetfulness of his w ounds,
 
 20 
 
 '« itli the lay which had been taught 
 her by her tutor Ap GryfT, the wan- 
 dering bard. The beautiful maid 
 complied with her father's request, 
 and taking her harp, she swept tho 
 strings with a skill in harmony which, 
 thrilled the transported soul of Ulric,. 
 who scarcely dared to breathe as the 
 lovely minstrel drew from her instru-^ 
 snent celestial strains, and accompa- 
 nied with the scarcely less exquisite 
 tones of her voice, as she sang the fol*- 
 lowing stanzas ; — 
 
 Hark, from Gothard's hoary steep^ 
 Softly floating through the sky, 
 Sounds in dullest measures sweep—- 
 Tis the voice gf Liberty 1 
 
 " Mountain You-th ! assemble here I 
 '* Near the spot vhere Gresler fell: 
 •* Bend the bow, and point the spear j 
 " Emulate the deeds of Tell ! 
 
 ** Heard you not Helvetia's wail ? 
 
 ** Heard y )U not Helvetia's sighs ? 
 
 "Tears a,nd misery prevail — 
 
 "Tyrants reign and Freedom diesl ';
 
 ^ Freedom's san— though set in ni|ht-«>' 
 *• Freedom's sun shall rise again-*- 
 •' Swilaers ronBe— proroke the fight ; 
 •* Let German blood bedew the plaial 
 
 "Emulate the dermis of Tell 5" 
 " Check cormptio»> hydra power: 
 ^ L/tt each breast -with ardour swell— 
 " Then no more the storna shall lower.* 
 
 Hark ! the accents fade away — 
 Hoet6 of warriors seek the plaiu-- 
 Hail the joy-iuspiring lay — 
 Trecdom gilds the Alps again. 
 
 Equally entranced with the melody 
 and the subject of the song, Ulric sat 
 in an attitude of astonishment, for 
 «ome moments, before he could recover 
 himself sufficiently to give his feelings 
 rent. At length he burst forth into a 
 transporting exclamation — " Celestial 
 must be tlie mind which gave birth to 
 such stimulating sentiments, and in- 
 spired the angel-voice which clothed 
 them in a dress of such captivating
 
 0>2 
 
 iiannoii} . Could but the bard con>- 
 vey to my soul some portion of tlie 
 fire which glows in his own ; could he 
 but teach nie to entertain such exalted 
 and cheering sentiqients; then might 
 I indeed indulge the hope, the ani- 
 mating expectation of gaining the 
 object of my wishes; then might the 
 grandson of Tell not vainly attempt 
 to imitate the immortalizing deed of 
 liis patriotic ancestor !'' 
 
 '' Thou shalt bee the bard, youth, 
 who has thus attracted thy admira- 
 tion/' replied the Count, '' and thou 
 wilt then discover tluit this spirit which 
 thou so ardently covetest, dwells in 
 a jjerson, enfeeble d by age, and 
 withered beneath the blasting influ* 
 ence of fourscore years/' Saying this, 
 he desired his daughter to call her in- 
 stmctor, and, in a few moments, Ap 
 GryfF stood before them. 
 
 The bard, in his whole appearance^
 
 iB8 
 
 confessed the power of time ; his bodj 
 naturally tall was bowed down, and 
 a staff supported him ; a venerable 
 beard graced his chin, descending in 
 hoary ringlets to his breast. His liaii' 
 -was grey, silvered over by the frost of 
 age, and the scanty locks were spa- 
 ringly scattered upon his head. On 
 his wrinkled brow, sat majesty en- 
 throned in the midst of sorrow, and 
 his eyes shot forth an expression wiiich 
 penetrated to the heart of Ulric, as 
 the Count introduced Oie youth as his 
 preserver. " And he has preserved a 
 noble heart," returned the bard, " and 
 <one who knows not how to forget an 
 obligation." ' Especially one of such 
 magnitude and performed by the 
 gallant grandson of the illustrious 
 Tell!" added the blushing Florida, 
 casting a look of triumph at the bard, 
 who seemed to be inspired with new 
 life, when he understood tbat before
 
 54 
 
 him he beheld a shoot of such a lovely 
 and promising stock. 
 
 After a moment's pause, during 
 which Ap Gr jiF surveyed Ulric with 
 a penetrating eye. he returned — " And 
 ma jest thou, gallant youth assist to 
 complete what he has so well begun. 
 Nursed in the wilds of Cambria, my 
 mind was early imbued with the love 
 of liberty, and the praises oT freedom 
 from the lips of the celebrated bards 
 of Britain, accompanied by the soul- 
 awakening strains of their harps, first 
 taught me to tune the instrument, and 
 humbly imitate them. Gradually I 
 grew into notice, and my strains 
 cheered the soldiers of Llewellyn to 
 the field on that dreadful morning 
 which beheld the termination of 
 British liberties. With some diffi- 
 culty I escaped the exterminating 
 sword of the conqueror, and quitting 
 the dear scenes of my infancy and my
 
 *Ja 
 
 youth, bidding* adieu to the spot so 
 long favored, but now deserted by 
 freedom and to the mountains which 
 had ofteH echoed responsive to m j harp, 
 I took my weeping way in a thick 
 tlisguise to an English sea-port, and 
 was soon transported to the shores of 
 the continent. I had no money, but I 
 had few wants, and my instrument 
 never failed to awaken humanity in 
 the bosoms of those to w horn I applied, 
 and who gave readily the food antl 
 lodging which I claimed in its holy 
 name. The south of France, and 
 Italy cherished the banished bard of 
 Cambria, but the sight of the Alps 
 tempted me to visit their ^stupendous 
 chain, and by my strains to awaken 
 there the spirit of liberty. The deeds 
 of Tell were fresh in my recollection, 
 and these had proved that the flame 
 of independence only waited for a fit 
 opportunity to burst forth to the con- 
 
 TOL I. C
 
 26 
 
 fusion of its oppressors. Hither 1 
 bent my way, subsisting on the hos- 
 pitality of the peasants, until I clam- 
 bered up the mountain boundaries of 
 this oppressed Jand. On the third 
 day from my quitting the ridges, I fell 
 in with a band of Germans marching 
 to devastate the possessions, and seize 
 the person of an Helvetic lord, whose 
 -conduct had excited the suspicions of 
 the Austrian Governor. 1 was com- 
 pelled to accompany them, and to 
 tune my harp to gratify the hordes of 
 tyranny. I was determined to relax 
 the sinews of oppression, and, sweep- 
 ing my strings with all the energy of 
 which I was master, I sang the con- 
 tests of the sons of Cambria with their 
 English oppressors; and I dwelt upon 
 the wickedness of oppression, and 
 cursed the restless spirit of ambition 
 which had induced powerful nations 
 to croish states of less magnitude, and
 
 21 
 
 Hhose poTver of resistance were not 
 adequate to their spirit. My strains 
 sank into the hearts Df* the Germans^ 
 and excited discontents at the service 
 on which they were marching: I 
 caught the rising inclination, and 
 sweeping my harp anew, I sang the 
 exalted heroism which virtue €an 
 produce and support, and rested on 
 the nerveless efforts of vice. I pointed 
 out that it wai righteous to rebel 
 against tyrants, and that the deser- 
 tion qf a criminal cause was praise-' 
 worthy. My ardour imparted itself 
 to the soldiers, and excited the sus- 
 picions of their commander, who 
 drew bis sword and advancing towards 
 me, would hav« annihilated me, but 
 at that moment the spear of one of 
 his soldiers pierced his heart and he 
 groaned out his breath in execrations 
 against Heaven and me. From that 
 moment my victory was complete, 
 c2
 
 ss 
 
 and as we gained the castle which 
 was to have been attacked, the 
 intended assailants refused to commit 
 violence, and before you, you behold 
 its lord who was pleased to call me 
 his preserver, and to command me to 
 remain with him until the moment 
 should arrive when the harp of a Bri- 
 tish bard might arouse the slumbering 
 children of Switerzland, and stimu- 
 late them to resist oppression, and to 
 emancipate their suffering country. 
 My day of life wears to its close, but 
 it will glad my aged daj^s to behold 
 the independence of Helvetia before I 
 die, and greatly will it rejoice me if 
 my harp may yet again be tuned to 
 some purpose, and may sound the 
 funeral dirge of tyranny : then shall 
 my body return to the dust in peace 
 and my soul shall be comforted in an 
 union with the immortal and illustrious 
 spirits of Taliesin and Merddin and
 
 20 
 
 Llywarch, bards whose inspired harps 
 have in days of yore, spread melodi- 
 ous mwsic over those mountains which 
 are now possessed by the invader/* 
 
 Here the bard of Cambria ceased 
 to speak, and seizing the harp, he 
 pressed the tuneful strings, and pro- 
 duced such strains a^ penetrated the 
 enraptured heart of Ulric, and caused 
 the tears of enthusiasm to rush plenti- 
 fully down his cheeks. The musician 
 saw his power, and as he wished to 
 fathom the disposition of the youth, 
 and to discover if the grandson of Tell 
 possessed that ardour of courage 
 which was the promise of future 
 greatness, he suddenly swept tlie in- 
 strument with increased energy, and 
 chauntedthe lay which disarmed the 
 soldiers of oppression and saved the 
 Castle of Zurfrom destruction. "And 
 1 wonder not at its power,'* exclaimed 
 the agitated Ulric, ''for he must be 
 c3
 
 se 
 
 less than man who couldretaia the ba^& 
 feelings of revenge, while such heavea- 
 born harmonies assailed his ear. Ex- 
 alted bard ! take me under thy tuition^ 
 and stir me up to enthusiasm, that I 
 may one day prove myself a worthy 
 descendant of my grandsire. Teach 
 nie the lessons which experience has 
 given to thee, and tune my soul to 
 deeds of glory which may breqli the 
 chain that binds my country." 
 
 *' Although thy ancestors, brave 
 youth,'' answered Ap Gryff, "can 
 boast of no high descent, the actions 
 of Tell have given to them and to 
 thee an importance surpassing that of 
 noble birtlu In thee I behold the 
 dawnings of a spirit which may one 
 day cheer and i-estore thy country ; 
 and, with joy, will I accept the task 
 to instil into thy bosom those princi- 
 ples of freedom and that love of glori- 
 ous enterprize, which will give thee %
 
 31: 
 
 noble nnnie. Thou shall gird on a 
 sword u Inch shall penetrate the vitals 
 of oppression, and Ap Grjff, the 
 exiled bard of Britain, will accompany 
 and stimulate thee> in the path of 
 fame. My strains shall urge thee in- 
 cessantly, aod thy glory shall shed a 
 lustre over my declining days; the 
 heroes of the mountains shall celebrate 
 the sword of Ulric, and the echoes of 
 the vallies shall swell to the music of 
 the harp of Ap Gryff. Oh! that 
 harp which has led the Cambrian hosts 
 to victory, and which has paralyzed 
 the power of England; that harp 
 which has even appalled the ambitious 
 heart of Edward, shall yet be heard 
 over the towering grisons,, and shall 
 strike dismay through the unfeeling 
 Austrians. Helvetia shall yet be free ! 
 Away fear; away oppression ! Mont 
 Blanc shall first resound the animating 
 tones of the British, harp, and that
 
 dd 
 
 liberty which has deserted Cambria, 
 shall take up her abode in the moun- 
 tains of Switzerland. Zurich shall 
 lead the way to indepeadence, and 
 lav for herself the foundations of a 
 name which eJiuU become imperish- 
 able. Already 1 behold in perspective 
 the downfal of that power which en- 
 circles Helvetia in its iron grasp ; 
 already I have promise that the bones 
 of Ap GryfF shall yet rep<fse in a land 
 which has achieved its own inde- 
 pendence, and this reflection will 
 blunt the sharpness of death. I shall 
 now resume my sword with conti- 
 dence ; it shall once more be un- 
 sheathed in an honest cause, and when 
 the din of war shall drown the harp 
 of Ap Gryff, then shall he wield that 
 weapon, in his old years, which, in 
 his youth, was never drawn in vain." 
 '• And may that success attend you 
 which your efforts will so well desert e,
 
 33 
 
 my gallant preservers T' exclaimed 
 the Count, in a voice of transport. 
 " You liave both proved yourselves 
 worthy of my confidence and friend- 
 ship, for to you I am indebted for my 
 existence, twice endangered. But 
 the moment is scarcely yet arrived, 
 and you must remain here, until a 
 force sufficient shall be raised to give 
 some effect to your exertions. The 
 band of the mountains daily aug- 
 ments, and 'ere long, will it be pre- 
 pared to receive the addition of Ulric's 
 sword, and the harp of Ap Gryff; 
 then let the enemies of Switzerland 
 tremble at the near approjich of that 
 dtistrnction which will overwhelm 
 them for ever.' * As the worthy Count 
 thus expressed himself he stretched 
 his hands toward each of his friends, 
 ^nd forgot for a moment, his wounds, 
 in the excess of his feelings. In the 
 mean time Florida beheld the growing 
 c 5
 
 a4 
 
 interest of the scene with increasing 
 emotion: she esteemed Ap GrjfF, but 
 the appearance of Uric excited a 
 warmer sentiment; and never did 
 mortal possess such attractions, in 
 her estimation, as those which clothed 
 Ulric, when the bard promised to be- 
 come his tutor and his companion. 
 ** Surely," said she nientalhv "it is 
 the genius of Switzerland which has 
 tembodied itself in the farm of this 
 jouth, to excite a spirit of independ- 
 «?nce in tlie slumbering inhabitants of 
 the mountains T' For an instant,L'lric 
 himself had almost forgotten. Florida, 
 but his eyes suddenly meeting her's, 
 fixed themselves immediately on the 
 <>harming, object, and ambition, en- 
 thusiasm, and a thirst for glory at 
 once receded from his view, and his 
 whole soul was occupied with the 
 image of her who had first taught him 
 the power of the harp, and whom he
 
 S3 
 
 could not avoid considering as the 
 most celestial object which had eve* 
 met his gaze. 
 
 From this moment Ap Gryff em- 
 braced every opportunity to increase 
 the enthusiasm of Ulric, and the 
 latter delighted to learn from his new 
 instructor the details of those valorous 
 achievements which had ejiabled the 
 hardy Britons so long to repel their 
 ]ilnglish invaders ; his imagination was 
 charmed with the almost incredible 
 effects produced by the bardic melo^ 
 dies ; and his whole attention was ab- 
 sorbed in the formation of^ plans of 
 future greatness ; except at those mo- 
 ments when the image of Florida would 
 interpose and check the current of his 
 thoughts ; for a daily intercourse and 
 association with this amiable girl was^ 
 rather calculated to interrupt than to 
 promote the effect produced by the 
 lessons of the bard and the counU.
 
 36 
 
 Every hour and erery Conversalion 
 opened new beauties to the eyes of the 
 enraptured youth who encouraged the 
 growth of a passion which he suspect- 
 ed not the existence of, and greedily 
 drank of the cup of love. The in- 
 nocent Florida also imbibed a similar 
 passion, and felt too much gratified 
 in the company of Ulric to allow her- 
 self to place any restraint upon her 
 inclinations. His absence was pain- 
 ful to her, and when he failed to ac- 
 company her in her morning's walk,her 
 M'earied steps retraced their way 'ere 
 they had scarcely borne her without 
 the castle walls. In the presence of 
 Ulric all was lively, all was full of 
 joy ; nature looked more cheerful, 
 and the sun shone more brightly, the 
 cloud which overhung the atmosphere 
 was unobserved ; the approaching 
 storm possessed [no terrors ; the cool 
 damps 9f evening were felt noc3 and
 
 (J7 
 
 the hours flew too rapidly away. In 
 his absence all was dull , the glowing 
 landscape had no beauties ; the slight- 
 est breeze afforded a pretext for re- 
 turning to the castle ; the most beau- 
 tiful day appeared inexpressibly dull; 
 and tediously lingered the departing 
 hours. When UJric was uneasy and 
 wished to leave her presence, she 
 would fly to her harp, and call in its 
 assistance ; and the inspiring strains 
 never failed to stay the fugitive. 
 *' Would that 1 possessed power ;'* 
 would she exclaim, •* to restrain you 
 without having recourse to this instru- 
 ment. I remember the time, and a 
 few weeks have only subsequently 
 passed, when you could stay with me 
 without solicitation •, and when you 
 wanted no music to detain you. But 
 the company of Ap Gryfl[* has more 
 charms for you now than mine has ; 
 and I could weep bitterly when this
 
 OS 
 
 ulea comes across my mind, Ulric; 
 Tell me do you not like my company 
 as you did formerly ? Have I offended 
 you Ulric } If I have tell n)e quickly, 
 that I may make haste and do away 
 the unfavourable remembrance fr^m 
 my mind/' 
 
 '* Heaven is the witness of the de- 
 light of those moments w hich I devote 
 to you, most angelic of women/' re- 
 turned the enamoured youth, for the 
 first time assuming courage to press 
 her unresisting hand to his lips ; ' and 
 joyful would be my fate if it decreed 
 that r should hereafter share no other 
 society. But I am obscure, yet am- 
 bitious, and with my sword and my 
 spear must I build the fabric of ray 
 future happiness, and hence it is that 
 I. am compelled to atteftd to the in* 
 structions of those who suit my capa- 
 city to ray object. Count Albert and 
 Ap Gryff must not find me an inapt
 
 39 
 
 pupil, and father Ursula shall nevef 
 have cause to regret those howl's which 
 he devoted to my instruction. OL ! 1 
 could remain iii your presence, lady 
 Florida, for ever ; I want no attrac- 
 tive music to restrain me, for the har- 
 mony of your voice is sweeter to my 
 ears than even the soul-inspiring 
 strains of the harp of Ap GryfF. But 
 I am a poor youth, lady, and I must 
 attend to the voice of my d^jity rather 
 than my inclination/' 
 
 " Do not call me lady Florida," 
 answered the innocent girl, returning 
 the pressure of Ulric's hand ; '* I 
 cannot bear that you should be so 
 distant ; and I do not like those in- 
 structions, which fill up so much of 
 your time, and prevent you from stay- 
 ing with Hie longer and more fre- 
 quently. Besides this hateful ambi- 
 tion would kad you into dangers, and 
 you may be wounded, or perhaps^
 
 4(h 
 
 slain; and ah! I am sure I should^ 
 die broken hearted, if that was to be 
 the case ; because, you know, you; 
 saved my father's life, and it would 
 be a sad blow to hear of your death. 
 I can't bear the thought of it, Ulric, 
 indeed I can't !" • 
 
 " But Ap Gryff will be with me, 
 and I shall not be in any more danger 
 than him," returned Ulric, " and he 
 also saved your father, and yourself 
 and the castle from destruction ; so 
 that my service is much inferior in 
 value to his. Besides, he taught you 
 to play so divinely upon the harp, and 
 to steal your noble father's sorrows 
 from him even against his will. The 
 loss of this valuable old man would 
 be much greater than mine : you 
 could never get another Ap GryfT to 
 solace your leisure hours, but you 
 might find another Ulric." 
 
 ,** No, never, Ulric,'^ replied Flo-
 
 41 
 
 vida, wiping the tears from lier ejes; 
 " Ap Gryff is an old man and cannot 
 live long-, but you who ar*^ so young 
 and so ambitious, and so gallant ; 
 ah ! the very thought of danger ho- 
 vering round you borrows up my soul, 
 and makes me sick with terror. In- 
 deed, indeed, Ulric, you must not go 
 into hazard, if you wish for Floiida 
 to live/' 
 
 The entrance of Ap GryfF at this 
 critical moment, interrupted a con- 
 versation whicb was growing so inter- 
 esting to Ulric and the amiable Flo- 
 rida, and taking up the harp, the old 
 bard began to play a new lay whicli 
 he had just composed to stimulate the 
 ardour of his pupil, and the pene- 
 trating strains soon succeeded in ba- 
 nibhing every thought from the bosom 
 of Llric but the vivid prospects of 
 martial fame. The influence of music, 
 however, ceased with the touch of the
 
 42 
 
 harper, and the recent conversatiort 
 with Florida engrossed the whole soul 
 of Ulric as he wandered round the 
 foot of Mont Blanc, to pay a duteous 
 visit to the moi^k of Chamouny. As 
 he dwelt upon the linage of the fasci- 
 nating Florida, it seemed to glow with 
 new beauties ; she was every thing 
 that the eye and the heart of mortal 
 could wish. Her external accom- 
 plishments, great as they were, were 
 excelled by the graces of her mind; 
 and thrice happy should he esteem 
 himself if he could call her his own; 
 But there wasa degree of presumption 
 in the thought which he could not re- 
 concile to his situation ; Florida was 
 not for such as him : she would con- 
 vey happiness to some more favoured 
 Swiss, whose elevated birth might en- 
 title him to her notice. Yet, she 
 seemed to regard him with no com- 
 mon complacency : she could notliva
 
 43 
 
 if danger befel him ! Was it possible 
 that she could look upon the lowly 
 Ulric, a youth without fortune^ al- 
 most without friends, whose only hope 
 rested in his own exertions ; who had 
 no hereditary merit to recommend 
 him — was it possible that she could 
 behold him with affection ? There was 
 a happiness even in the possibility of 
 such a circumstance which rendered 
 the reflection unspeakably transport- 
 ing ; even if it should turn out ulti- 
 mately to be a delusion. From this 
 meditation his sanguine mind rushed 
 forward into the most joyous antici- 
 pations, and he was so completely lost, 
 that the priory of Chamouny stayed 
 his progress before he considered whi- 
 ther he wajs tending, or what was his 
 errand. Starting from his pleasing 
 reverie he immediately began to call 
 to mind the instructions of Ap G!:yff> 
 and the real prospects which extended
 
 44 
 
 btjfore him, and a few minutes sufficed 
 to stir up the natural ardour of his 
 disposition, and to render him fit ta 
 enter the presence of father Ursulo. 
 
 Some days had elapsed since I'Iric 
 had visited the Priory, and he wa^' 
 struck with dismay as he marked the 
 gloom which overspread the coun- 
 tenance of the venerable porter, as he 
 unclosed the massy gates to give^ ad- 
 mission to the youth. " For Heaven's 
 sake, tell me what has occured to 
 render you thus melancholy !" asked 
 Ulric in an agitated voice. The silent 
 porter replied by mournfully shaking 
 his head, and Ulric, still more perplex- 
 ed and alarmed, followed his steps 
 with an emotion almost too great for 
 him to bear. They drew near the 
 chapel^ when suddenly the sound of 
 a requiem pealing from the solemn 
 organ, and swelled by the voices of 
 the monks, struck upon the ear of
 
 45 
 
 T'lric, and caused him to pause to 
 recover himself. Grasping his aged 
 conductor by the arm, he eagerly 
 enquired in a tremulous whisper, 
 if any thing had occurred to Father 
 Ursulo ? The porter contented him- 
 self with returning a simple negative; 
 but that reply sufficed to relieve 
 the mind of f Iric of an intolerable 
 burthen, for he had imagined that 
 ^ome dreadful accident had befallen 
 his revered instructor, and that his 
 criminal neglect to visit the priory 
 had prevented him from once again 
 beholding his benefactor. This fear, 
 however, removed, he stepped for- 
 ward with a firmer step and a light- 
 ened heart, until he reached the 
 entrance of the chapel, where the 
 sight of the monks bearing a bier 
 to a vault caused him to stand and 
 -contemplate the awful ceremony. 
 The body was at length deposited
 
 46 
 
 in its grave; the requiem was Con- 
 cluded, and the mass was sung^ when 
 the train of monks returned in sor- 
 rowing guise, and Father Ursulo, as 
 he pissed the youth, pulled him by 
 the sleeve and beckoned him to his 
 celL 
 
 **My dear Ulric" commenced th6 
 venerable man, '* since jeur last visit, 
 a fatal accident has befallen our prior. 
 Three evenings since, aloud knocking 
 at the gate alarmed us, just as we 
 had ceased our midnight prayers. 
 On the porter demanding who was 
 there, a vol :e replied — '' I bring a 
 message to the prior which must be 
 delivered im mediately .'* Fearless 
 of danger, the gate was ordered to 
 be opened, and a stranger clad in a 
 cloak which concealed his whole form, 
 entered the priory and the gate in- 
 closed him amongst us. He marked 
 narrowly the passages through which
 
 47 
 
 he was conducted, and on being 
 shown to an apartment he excused 
 himself from revealing his busi<friess 
 until the following morning, as he 
 had some papers to arrange to meet 
 the eye of the prior. This mystery 
 excited some astonishment but no a- 
 larm,and the prior himself, having dis- 
 missed us to our cells, conducted 
 the stranger to his apartment. In 
 the morning we had assembled for 
 matinSs when the absence of the prior 
 rendered us somewhat uneasy, and 
 at length 1 agreed to repair to his cell, 
 and summon him to the performance 
 of his sacred duties : he was nat there, 
 and my fears began to increase 
 astonishingly. I returned to my 
 brethren, but he was not arrived, 
 and we determined, in a body, to 
 proceed to the chamber of the stran- 
 ger : we knocked at the door, but no 
 answer was given ; the summons was 
 repeated, and still no sound was heard;
 
 4S 
 
 a third time I struck the door with 
 greater violence, and the next mo» 
 inent a feint groan broke upon our 
 ears, and, unable to restrain ourselves 
 longer, we forced the door and beheld 
 our worthy and revered prior stretch- 
 ed bleeding on the ground and writh- 
 ing in the pangs of death. Astonish- 
 ment almost deprived us of the power 
 of motion, but I retained sufficient 
 presence of mind to run to my cell, 
 and procure some cordials, by the 
 help of which we revived the dynig 
 martyr sufficiently to hear from his 
 faultering tongue the causes of this sad 
 catastrophe. When he had accom- 
 panied the stranger to his chamber, 
 the latter threw off his cloak for the 
 first time and discovered himself to be 
 no other than the Austrian governor 
 of Zurich. The affrighted prior 
 would have escaped from the cham- 
 ber, but the German, drawing his
 
 49 
 
 s word and making fast the door, pre- 
 vented the retreat of the pious man, 
 and opened his base purpose. He 
 had understood that the soldiers who 
 had been sent to destroy the Count 
 and the castle of Zur, had been 
 swayed from their purpose by the 
 strains of a harper who had been pick- 
 ed up on the way, and that the 
 commander had expiated with his life 
 the crime of having attempted to kill 
 the bard. He was also aware that 
 the report of these soldiers had mad« 
 such an impression throughout the 
 Austrian army that it would be 
 imprudent to make a similar attempt 
 a second time. He had therefore 
 thought of a plan to make himself 
 master of the person of the Count 
 of Zur, by stratagem, and with this 
 view he had set out from Zurich and 
 reached the priory of Chamouny. 
 The Austrian proposed to the prior to 
 
 VOL, I, D
 
 50 
 
 invite tbe Count to the priory under 
 pretence of seeking a conference 
 on some particular subject, and, 
 while there, to deliver him up to his 
 enemies, and this act was to be 
 rewarded by an advancement of the 
 dignity of the prior, and augmenta- 
 tion of the privileges enjoyed by the 
 brotherhood. The worthy man 
 rejected the proposal with a becoming 
 indignation, and sternly^ refused to 
 betray his friend, and benefactor. 
 IV ew lures were held out, new bribes 
 were offered; but the constancy of our 
 prior was not to be shaken, he was 
 not to be tempted to commit sin for 
 the sake of any temporal advantage, 
 «nd when the enemy beheld that he 
 failed of his purpose, he drew his 
 sword once more and plunged the 
 merciless weapon into the bosom of 
 the servant of Heaven. As soon as he 
 liad done this, he left his apartment,
 
 51 
 
 and found liIs way to the gates, in 
 which fortunately for "his design, the 
 trembling porter had left the keys 
 on the preceding night. Thus exevy 
 obstacle was removed, and the mur- 
 derer of the unhappy prior escaped. 
 In a few hours after we had gained 
 all the particulars of this vile act from 
 Liin,the piousman renxlered up his soul 
 to heaven, and left us mourning his 
 loss, as children lament for the de- 
 parture of a parent whom kindness 
 and long habit had rendered inex- 
 pressibly dear to them ; and I have 
 been since chosen to fill the office 
 which he so ably filled during twenty 
 years/* 
 
 *' Would that I had been here, 
 father, he should not have died un- 
 revenged !*' exclaimed Ulric, in a 
 a tone which betrayed his emotion and 
 agitation — *' But we shall perhaps 
 meet hereafter, and if ^o, let the 
 d2
 
 5S 
 
 Austrian dast ard tremble, for I will 
 obtain vengeance for the base mur- 
 der of the prior of Chamouny. My 
 blood boils with indignation at the 
 cowardliness and sacrilege of the ac- 
 tion, and had la sword even now, I 
 would penetrate to his chamber and 
 strike retribution to his heart!" 
 
 " Thy anger is natural, and thy 
 impetuosity exc usable, my son!'' 
 answered the prior — " but 1 rejoice 
 that thou wert not hert*, for it ill 
 becomes the s eat of religious sanctity 
 to be made the witness of contention, 
 and the depositary of blood. Heaven 
 in its due time will punish the mur- 
 derer, without the intervention of 
 mortal aid, or it may make use of a 
 human instrument to execute its will. 
 This unforeseen and mournful event 
 has plunged us into deep distress, 
 and we shall not soon forget the stroke 
 which has so severely wounded us.
 
 53 
 
 I Have been a soldier, and I have 
 fought in many battles, and seen 
 much blood shed in the field, and 
 my hand never trembled, nor my 
 heart failed, to do their duty. I have 
 quitted those scenes, disgusted with 
 the barbarity and vrickedness which 
 I have witnessed, my sword I have ex- 
 changed for the crucifix, and my 
 dress ot mail for the garb of piety ; 
 but the weapon which accompani- 
 ed me in all my dangers, 1 still 
 possess, and when thou, my son, 
 shalt enter into the field against 
 the oppressors of thy country; 1 will 
 entrust it to thee : thou wilt not dis- 
 grace it, by drawing it in an unholy 
 cause . But I am impatient to hear 
 of thy progress under the tuition of 
 the British bard ; for 1 doubt not that 
 he will exert himself to make thee 
 such as I would wish to behold thee. 
 Helvetia groans beneath the weight of 
 d3
 
 54 
 
 oppression ; our prayers are daily ofr 
 fered to Heaven for her emancipation, 
 but other means must be resorted to 
 before the day of her freedom shall 
 dawn; and I trust that thou, Ulric, 
 wilt have to bear a conspicuous part 
 in effecting the liberation, and es- 
 tablishing the independence of thy 
 dear native land V 
 
 " Revered father !'* returned Uiric, 
 transported with the goodness oft h« 
 • prior ; *' most joyfully shall I receive 
 from your hand the valued sword which 
 has been the instrument and the wit- 
 ness of your exploits ; and, if any 
 thing could stimulate me beyond the 
 desire of saving my country, it would 
 be the reflection that I wielded your 
 present, and your former companion. 
 The harp of Ap Gryff has raised 
 within me an unconquerable desire 
 to distinguish myself against the ene- 
 mies and oppressors of Switzerland,
 
 55c 
 
 and I pant for the dawn of that morn- 
 ing which shall behold my first ex- 
 ertions in the cause of liberty. But 
 alas, father ; I have discovered that 
 I — 1 know not how to tell my weak- 
 ness, even to you ; but it is my duty 
 to seek your advice, and I will even 
 proceed, though you may despise me. 
 I have seen Lady Florida, the beauti- 
 ful daughter of the Count, and alas ? 
 I fear that I love her ; for I feel so 
 unhappy out of her presence, that I 
 scarcely think existence desirable ; 
 and whenever this disposition comes 
 on me, I am no longer the ambitious 
 t'lric, but a careless, spiritless cow- 
 ard. This very day, she begged m« 
 eo much not to expose myself to 
 danger, and declared so fervently 
 and with tears in her eyes that she 
 could not survive if I should be slain 
 in battle, that she almost made me 
 less than a man, and awakened fears 
 d4
 
 56 
 
 in my bosom which had never existed 
 there before. Give me your advice, 
 father, how to proceed ; and believe 
 me, I will be guided in all things by 
 yourself. 
 
 Father Ursulo was plunged into a 
 deep train of thoughts by this unex- 
 pected confession ; yet he felt no anger 
 against Uiric, for the case was natural, 
 lie well knew that Florida was most 
 beautiful and most amiable, and he 
 could not wonder that such rare 
 and inestimable qualities should 
 make a due impression on the ardent 
 and youthful heart of Ilric. But 
 he was at a loss how to advise ; 
 from Ulricas account it appeared very 
 probable that Florida was by no 
 means indifferent to his worth ; but the 
 Count, although a man of benevo- 
 lence and virtue, was strict in his no- 
 tions of hereditary honour, and would 
 be the last to consent to the union of
 
 57 
 
 his daughter with a youth of no pro- 
 perty, no prospects, no title. It 
 would, therefore, be most advisable, 
 to impress this insurmountable diffi- 
 culty on the mind of Ulric, and to 
 dissuade him from continuing to in- 
 dulge in hopes which time must in- 
 evitably destroy. He would have re- 
 joiced to promote the youth's suit, if 
 success had been probable, but it 
 would be wrong to excite an expecta- 
 tion which must be founded on impos- 
 sibility^ and which might have th^ 
 effect of making him forget his lowly 
 situation, and becoming inflated, and 
 proud, instead of humble and docile as 
 at present. When father Ursulo had 
 thus made up his mind he returned, 
 " My dear Ulric, I cannot censure 
 you for being susceptible of the worth 
 of the amiable Florida, but you must 
 not suffer your romantic imagination 
 to make you forget the great differenc* 
 d5
 
 58 
 
 which exists between her situation and 
 yours. Her father will never consent 
 to an union under such unequal cir- 
 cumstances, and you must exert your- 
 self manfully to repress your passion, 
 until you shall, by your bravery, 
 have proved yourself in some degree 
 worthy of the distinguished honour 
 which you seek. When you shall 
 have rendered your name immortal — 
 when you shall have carved out your 
 passage to fame; then yon may cherish 
 the probable hope that your suit may 
 meet with the approbation of the 
 Count, but, until then, let the sense 
 of your situation tie your tongue, and 
 whatever may be the state of your 
 :feelings, let no visible agitation be- 
 tray it to the watchful eye of the 
 &ther of Florida. Such a discovery 
 would be fatal to your hopes, your 
 prospects and your future fame ; it 
 would tura friendship inta hate^
 
 59 
 
 and induce him who now looks upon 
 you as his preserver, to regard you 
 in a very different light, as one who 
 seeks to contaminate his noble name 
 and illustrious blood, by a pre- 
 sumptuous contract : and he will then 
 consequently withdraw his protec- 
 tion and favour from you forever." 
 
 *' Father !" replied the agitated 
 Ulric, vainly endeavouring to assume 
 a composure of aspect, and steadiness 
 of voice which might induce the prior 
 to believe that he acquiesced in the 
 decision without a struggle — "I see 
 the force of your reasoning, and 
 henceforth Florida shall be considered 
 by me in no other light than a dear 
 friend : the time may come, perhaps, 
 when I may presume to talk of love, 
 but, alas ! there is little hope for me, 
 for many noble suitors will spring up 
 in the interval to bear away the ines- 
 timable prize. I must be content^
 
 60 
 
 liovvever^ with my lot, and pursue 
 another object, the smiles of Fame : 
 but 1 wish I had never seen Flori- 
 da/' 
 
 The sigh which involuntarily burst 
 from his bosom as he uttered this wish, 
 proved that his feelings were very 
 acute, and as father Ursulo wislied 
 not to increase, but rather to diminish 
 his sufferings, he turned the subject 
 to martial deeds, told him of his con- 
 nections in days of yore, and reminded 
 liim of the magnitude of the stake 
 for which he was about to contend ; 
 thus gradually weaning his mind from 
 the contemplation of the image of 
 Florida, to a theme, which never fail- 
 ed to inspire his youthful soul with 
 admiration. By degrees he became 
 animated with the picture which the 
 prior sketched out to him, he caught 
 a portion of his tutor's fire ; andj be- 
 fore he quitted the priory, he had
 
 61 
 
 wound up his resolution to think no 
 more of Florida as a lover to the 
 highest, and had fortified his heart so 
 strongly as he supposed, against any 
 future attacks of the defeated passion, 
 as to render it impregnable.
 
 m 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 In this state of mind Ulric arrived at 
 the Castle of Zur ; and immediately 
 sought the apartment of Ap GryfF, 
 determined, if possible to avoid being 
 alone with Florida, or even meeting 
 her, for he had found his spirits 
 strangely affected when he found 
 himself once more under the same 
 roof with her who had gained such 
 hold upon his affections. Herein the 
 conversation of the British bard he 
 £3und his resolutions revived, and re- 
 newed his determination to think no 
 more of Florida. Yet this was a task 
 of more difficulty, a« he now disco- 
 vered, thaa he had previously ima-
 
 63 
 
 gined ; for the more he laboured to 
 banish her from his thoughts, the 
 more she obtruded herself there ; in 
 the midst of his ambitious anticipa- 
 tions, Florida's image would sudden- 
 ly intercept the flights of his imagi- 
 nation, and, at once end his reveries, 
 at least for the moment. How to re- 
 medy this, he knew not ; but as father 
 Ursulo had told him that he must 
 not hope for success in his suit, 
 nothing remained for him but to 
 persevere in his resolution, and to ac- 
 celerate, by every effort in his power, 
 the hour of his departure from a scene 
 which was fraught with so much 
 danger to him, and where habits of 
 indolence were growing upon him, 
 which might, if longer indulged in, be 
 productive of evil consequences. In 
 this agitated state of mind, the youth 
 continued during the day, which was 
 the first he had passed without accom-
 
 64 
 
 panyihg Florida in her evening walk. 
 This thought gave him much uneasi- 
 ness for a time, but he at length ba»- 
 iiished the impression by endeavour- 
 ins: to convince himself that in thus 
 acting, he was performing a dutj 
 which he owed to himself, to Florida, 
 the Count and father Ursulo. The 
 following morning he was to accom- 
 pany the Count on a chamois-chase, 
 and this would enable him to be absent 
 during the day from Florida, without 
 any appearance of neglect, and thus 
 his new resolutions would have time 
 to acquire fresh strength. * ,/ --V 
 
 The morning dawned, and Ulric 
 was up with the sun, which shed an 
 unusual lustre over the surrounding 
 scenery. In the court-yard of the 
 castle were assembled those of the 
 domestics who had assembled to ac- 
 company their lord in the chase, and 
 lUric, as he mounted his horse, cast
 
 65 
 
 an involuntary look upwarcls towards 
 the chamber of Florida, when his 
 eyes were appalled by the appearance 
 of the beautiful maid herself. This 
 was the first trial of the strength of 
 his resolution ; and as he beheld her 
 leaning pensively on her hand and 
 apparently drowned in tears, he ielt all 
 his affection reviving in his bosom. 
 She shook her head mournfully as her 
 eyes met those of Ulric ; the agitated 
 youth endeavoured to assume a gaiety 
 of countenance which was foreign to 
 the state of his heart, and gaily kissing 
 his hand and bowing to her, rede out 
 of the yard. Oftentimes, however, 
 did he casta " lingering look behind," 
 and as often did he behold that object 
 which cow as^ entirely engrossed his 
 thoughts, as it had before the late 
 conversation with father Ursulo had 
 prompted him to make attempts to 
 forget her. A few minutes sufficed t^
 
 m 
 
 hear liim out of sight of tlie windmvs 
 of Florida's apartment, and he began 
 to recover his serenity apace, aided by 
 the sublime beauty of the mountain 
 Bcenery which ascended magnificently 
 above and around him. The party 
 pushed forward with as much speed 
 as possible, until they had gained the 
 lowest ridge of the Alpine chain be* 
 fore them* Cottages suspended as it 
 were from the air, or hung on the pro- 
 jecting cliffs of the mountains, and 
 flocks feeding on verdant declivities 
 where it was scarcely credible that 
 the husbandman's toil could find a 
 hold, wefe well suited to banish sor- 
 rowful impressions from the mind, and 
 ^to substitute those of the most op- 
 posite nature and description. Ulric 
 gazed with new wonder on a scene 
 which habit had rendered familiar to 
 him : he saw new sources of astonish - 
 Client as he contemplated the landscape
 
 67 
 
 more closely ; and, by degrees, the 
 prospect before him and the emotions 
 which it gave birth to, completely 
 absorbed the recollection of Florida. 
 Por several hours they continued to 
 mount the acclivities, until at length 
 the chamois appeared in sight grazing 
 upon a pasturage naturally fortified 
 against the attacks of those who pos- 
 sessed not more than common daring. 
 It was not possible for the horses of the 
 hunters to approach the spot, and 
 iUric dismounting, fearless of danger, 
 struck his spear into the glacier which 
 was before him, and at a single and 
 amazing bound, cleared the yawning 
 precipice which divided him from the 
 fields which contained the game of 
 which they were in pursuit. The 
 Count and his atteRdants gazed with 
 astonishment at the agility and cou- 
 rage displayed by the youth, but none 
 of them dared to follow him ; until,
 
 68 
 
 at length, the Count himself, ashamed 
 of the backwardness of his domes- 
 tics, with a violent effort, succeeded 
 in clearing the gulph, and his train, 
 afraid to discover any further reluc- 
 tance, speedily followed the example 
 of their master. The pursuit of the 
 game now commenced with fresh vi*- 
 gour, and, from cliff to cliff the hun* 
 ters, led by the undaunted Ulric, 
 bounded with increasing agility, until 
 at length, the gallant youth, in reso- 
 lutely attempting to clear a precis 
 pice of unusual width, missed his ob- 
 ject, and would have been precipita- 
 ted into the yawning and bottomless 
 chasm, had he not fortunately seized 
 upon a jutting rock which overhung 
 the gulph, and remained there sus- 
 pended in an awful uncertainty. His 
 terrified ccmpanions scarcely knew 
 what steps to adopt to rescue their 
 leader, uixtil at length a noose v^hicl*
 
 69 
 
 was thrown towards him, was caught 
 bj L'h'ic, and by this means, at the 
 inost imminent peril, he was drawn 
 from his dangerous situation : but he 
 had received a deep wound upon his 
 head which had been struck by a 
 stone, and a second severe contusion 
 elicited a considerable stream of blood 
 from his side. Wearied and weakened, 
 the lacerated youth lapsed into a state 
 of insensibility as soon as he was 
 brought to the surface, and was borne 
 in the arms of the attenda.nts, after the 
 Count had staunched the blood which 
 flowed from the wounds, by a circui- 
 tous route, down the mountain. His 
 pallid appearance and continued in- 
 sensibility rouzed the most painful 
 apprehensions in thi bosom of the 
 Count, who began io fear that the 
 wounds might prove mortal. After 
 some hours journey, the castle walls 
 gladdened the sight of the parly, just
 
 
 
 as the declining day began to abridge 
 the surrounding landscape ; and in a 
 short time, tliey entered into the castle 
 yard. Florida was again at her win- 
 dow, looking with painful anxiety for 
 tlie return of the hunters; but no 
 sooner did she perceive by the slow 
 inovemeuts of the party, which was 
 dismounted, that some misfortune 
 had happened, than she began to give 
 way to the most poignant fears. Per- 
 haps her father was killed ! This ap- 
 prehension, however, was but momen- 
 tary, for it was instantly dispelled by 
 the appearance of her sire riding be- 
 fore the procession to the gate of the 
 castle ; but in vain did her aching 
 eyes strain themselves in search of 
 Ulric : he was usually by the side of 
 her father, but he was now no where 
 to be seen. Surely he was not slain] 
 The idea^ although it required confir- 
 mation, w as too much for her to sup-
 
 7t 
 
 port, and she staggered backwards to 
 a seat, where she sat, panting for 
 breath, and a prey to the most dread- 
 ful anguish, fearing and expecting 
 every moment to receive a corrobora- 
 tionof her fears. In a few moments, the 
 door of her apartment flew open, and 
 the Count appeared, with a counte 
 nance overspread with the deepest sor- 
 row. Florida fixed her beamless eyes 
 upon her father, who was staggered 
 by the evident horror which was pour- 
 trayed in them ; and eagerly advanc- 
 ing to the sinking fair one, he enqui- 
 red, in a tone of affectionate anxiety, 
 if she also was ill ? Inattentive to his 
 question, Florida, whose soul was 
 filled with the image of the expiring 
 Ulric, endeavoured to summon reso- 
 lution and power to put a question 
 to her father respecting him, but her 
 quivering lips twice refused to give 
 utterance to her feelings, until at
 
 72 
 
 length, by a violent effort, she was 
 enabled to exclaim almost inarticu- 
 lately. — •' Tell me, father, what has 
 happened > " Where is Ulric ?" The 
 sorrowful Count, mournfully shaking 
 his head, returned — " Alas ! my 
 daughter his impetuous courage, I 
 fear, has cost him his life ! In leaping 
 over a dreadful chasm, he fell and has 
 received such wounds as I fear will 
 prove mortal. I came to seek you for 
 the purpose of assisting to bind up his 
 wounds/' 
 
 Florida had heard but the com- 
 mencement of her father's answer; 
 when the sudden confirmation she 
 thus received of her worst fears was 
 insupportable, and she closed her eyes 
 in insensibihty. The alarmed Count 
 called for assistance, and in a short 
 time, Florida re-opened her eyes, and 
 perceiving her father still standing 
 before her, in all the appearance of
 
 73 
 
 sorrow, ulie exclaimed — " then Ulric 
 is indeed dead! lead me to him, that 
 I may Ktretch myself by his side and 
 die to !" "He is not dead!'' replied 
 the astonished Count : who now for 
 the first time perceived the nature of 
 his daughter's attachment ; " and with 
 care, th^re is a possibihty of his re- 
 covery!'' "Is tliere hope then ?" re- 
 turned theagitatedmaid, rushing from 
 those who still surrounded her — 
 " where is he then, that I may assist 
 m recovering him who saved mj 
 father \* Without waiting for a reply 
 she ran down the staircase, and met 
 the party who bore the still li^less 
 form of Ulrie, just as they entered 
 the hall of the castle. No sooner did 
 she perceive that the object of her soli- 
 citude was insensible and covered 
 with his own blood, than a sudd§» 
 sickness came over her, and she would 
 once again have fainted but for the in* 
 VOL, I. IS
 
 74 
 
 tervention of the Count, wlio had 
 closely followed her and who now 
 supported her. One of the domestics 
 had called at the Fn(^Yy of Chamouny, 
 to inform Father Usurlo, of the me- 
 lancholy event, and to request his 
 attendance to bind up the wounds. 
 Had the summons been from a stranger, 
 the benevolent prior would not have 
 hesitated to comply with it ; but when 
 lie heard that it was Ulria who required 
 his assistance, with an agitated coun- 
 tenance, and an emotion which he 
 had not felt sincehehad been secluded 
 from the world, he gathered up a few 
 requisite herbs and other materials, 
 and hastened to the Castle of Zur, 
 where he arrived at this critical mo- 
 ment, and be'lield the agitation of 
 Florida, Assuming as much composure 
 as he could command, the humane 
 Ijrior proceeded to examine the 
 rounds of the youth, who now,
 
 7o 
 
 arouzecl by the pain of the operation, 
 for the first time opened his eyes, and 
 beheld Florida bending over him with 
 an appearance of affectionate concern 
 ivhich conveyed a balm of the first 
 efficacy to his heart. Laying his finger 
 on his lips, to command the youth to 
 silence, the prior proceeded to bind 
 up the wounds, and which he pro- 
 nounced to be deep and dangerous, 
 but he hoped they were not beyond the 
 reach of remedy. 
 
 On the third day after this accident, 
 the wounds of Ulric began to assume 
 a more favourable appearance, and 
 the father who attended him with the 
 utmost assiduity and affection, pro- 
 nounced the danger less imminent 
 than before ; but still he was pro- 
 hibited from speaking. To the soli- 
 citous Florida this news was inexpres- 
 sibly cheering : during the day, she 
 was a constant attendant by th^ sid«
 
 70 
 
 of the youth, she would smooth bis 
 pillow, and prepare his food; she 
 would gaze upon him for hours with a 
 look of inexpressible affection, w hich 
 he could only recompenceby a similar 
 glance, and the soft pressure to his 
 lips of the hand which she would 
 permit him to retain. The bard, too, 
 who had been deeply affected by the 
 first tidings of the accident which had 
 befallen his pupil, beheld the progress 
 of hope with the most joyous emotions, 
 and again suffered himself to indulge 
 in those anticipations which, he had 
 feared, had received a fatal interrup- 
 tion from the unhappy catastrophe 
 which had befallen the youth. Xhe 
 Count too felt the influence of joy in 
 the prospect of the recovery of lllric, 
 whose intrepidity had won the soul of 
 the old man, and had confirmed him 
 in the hope that the youth would one 
 tlay achieve deeds of glorious import-
 
 77 
 
 an«e to his country. The discovery 
 of the aifection of Florida for the 
 youth, had, however, somewhat al- 
 layed his pleasure, and he began to 
 fear that the favor and patronage 
 which he had shewn to him had been 
 repaid by attempts to win the love of 
 his daughter. It was true it might be 
 nothing more than a youthful passion, 
 w hich would destroy itself; but it was 
 his duty to keep a vigilant eye over 
 them, and to prevent any future ill 
 consequences from the increase of the 
 presumptuous passion of Ulric ; if in- 
 deed he had dared to entertain such 
 for Florida. He could never consent 
 to wed his daughter, the hope and 
 pride of his house, to an obscure youth, 
 whatever might be his personal attrac- 
 tions, unless he had achieved some 
 acts which might act as a set off to 
 his natural meanness. If he should 
 discover tliat a mutual passion was 
 E 3
 
 78 
 
 4;herished between them , he determined 
 no longer to keep Ulric in the castle, 
 b»t to expedite his departure to the 
 mountain band, that he mio^ht thus 
 be freed from every apprehension 
 which would result from his remaining 
 near him, and where he could never 
 tiad opportunities of keeping up an 
 intercourse with Florida. These re- 
 flections were injurious to Uiric ; they 
 tended to make the Count more care- 
 less of his well doing, and less appre- 
 hensive respecting his danger ; for the 
 noble host considered that any attempt 
 on the part of the youth to win the 
 love of Florida, ought to expunge 
 from his mind the remembrance of 
 the benefit he had received from the 
 youth, and to convert his friendship 
 »nd support into hatred and neglect. 
 
 Before many days had elapsed, the 
 wounds of Ulric had so much im- 
 proved in appearance, and the fear of
 
 danger had so entirely vanished, that 
 the interdict which had been previ- 
 ously imposed upon him was removed, 
 and he was allowed to hold conversa- 
 tion with the affectionate F^rida, 
 whose daily visits had hitherto re» 
 ceived no interruption fiomher father. 
 From this moment the intercourse be» 
 came more reciprocally interesting^ 
 and Florida was so extravagant in her 
 expressions of concern for the un* 
 toward accident which had happened 
 to L Iric, and of her joy at his pro- 
 gressive recovery, that he could no 
 longer entertain a doubt of her love 
 for him ; and one morning in the ex- 
 cess of his feelings, he made a decla^ 
 ration of his passion, and intreated 
 the amiable girl to smile approbation 
 upon it. The blushing Florida with- 
 drew not the hand which he had ta^en 
 when he presumed to commence tnis 
 declaration ; she affected not a sur- 
 e4
 
 so 
 
 prise and concern which she did not 
 feel; but, on the contrary, with an in- 
 genuousness which is the inseparable 
 companion of innocence, she smiled 
 with ecstac J as he proceeded , and suffer- 
 ing him to press her hand to his lips as 
 he concluded, replied — '* Ulric, I love 
 jou, and why should I pretend to re- 
 strain expressions which give nie so 
 much, and sincere pleasure ?** Thi» 
 confession completed the happiness of 
 the youth, who was warm in his gra- 
 titude, and vowed that no change of 
 time, place or circumstances, should 
 iBver induce him to change in his affec- 
 tion ; the vow was responded hy 
 Florida, who added that she would 
 prefer poverty with him, to wealth 
 and honor with any other husband. 
 In the midst of this interesting scene. 
 Father Ursulo entered the room to ex- 
 amine the state of his patient, and if 
 ever his appearance was considered
 
 81 
 
 an intrusion by Ulric, it was at this 
 moment. The venerable Prior was 
 not a little surprised when he perceived 
 the hand of Florida locked in that 
 of the youth, and marked the un- 
 common smile of happiness which 
 pervaded the countenances of both. 
 He had some suspicions of the cause 
 of this appearance of affection, and 
 casting an enquiring look upon Ulric, 
 their eyes met each other, and the 
 blush v^hich instantly sufFu&ed with its 
 crimson influence the cheek of the 
 latter, confirmed the suspicions of 
 the worthy monk, who assuming a 
 desfree of an^er in his countenance, 
 which he did not feel, shook his head 
 in a reprehensive manner at theyouth, 
 who unable to endure such an unusual 
 mark of displeasure, extended the 
 hand of Florida towardsliimand plac- 
 ing it in his own — exclaimed — " re- 
 verend father, 1 have indeed forgotten 
 jb5.
 
 S3 
 
 your instructions, but let this fair 
 advocate plead my cause !" And 
 Ulric proceeded then to confess what 
 had recently taken place, and con- 
 eluded vvilhonce more intreating for- 
 giveness, a request in which Florida 
 joined, as well as in requesting that 
 he would take upon himself to ask 
 the Count to give his approbation to 
 the union of the lovers. 
 
 The worthy old man was unable to 
 withstand the intreaties of his two 
 suppliants; but he considered it his 
 duty before-hand to prepare them for 
 a refusal on the part of the Count, for 
 he laid before them the reasons which 
 would operate in his mind to obstruct 
 their wishes, and desired them to make 
 lip their minds how to act in case 
 their suit should be discouraged bj 
 the Count. Florida endeavoured to 
 combat the arguments of the Prior, 
 and attempted to convince him that
 
 83 
 
 the Count was too kind a father to 
 withhold his consent to a measure 
 which would insure her happiness, 
 and without the adoption of which she 
 must be miserable. The monk smiled 
 at the earnestness which she displayed 
 in the cause, and replied that he should 
 be happy to find himself deceived, 
 but he feared that he knew too well 
 the character and disposition of her 
 father to permit him to indulge them 
 in such expectations. He promised 
 however to exert himself to the utmoll, 
 and requested them in the event of an 
 unsuccessful issue of his application, 
 to place the same to the account of the 
 Count*s inflexibility, rather than to 
 his want of zeal in the cause* As he 
 said this, he withdrew, after pra- 
 misi ng to let them know if possible, 
 on the following day, the result of his 
 application. 
 
 The interval was spent by the lovers^
 
 S4 
 
 in hopes and fears : and Ulrio endea- 
 Toured to prevail upon Florida to con- 
 sent to become his in private, if the 
 Count refused to sanction a public 
 union, that thus, while he was en- 
 gaged in fighting the battles of his 
 country, he should be enabled to en- 
 joj the pleasing assurance that she 
 could not be forced to give that hand 
 to another, which had been already 
 pledged at the altar. Florida's heart 
 attached as it was to Ulric, recoiled 
 at the thought of a clandestine mar- 
 riage ; but her refusal was so assailed 
 bj the arguments of the youth, and 
 the irresistible eloquence of love, that 
 it became gradually weaker and 
 weaker, and she at length gave a re- 
 luctant consent to unite her fate with 
 his, on the evening: prior to his depar- 
 ture from the castle, if her father 
 should disregard her wishes so much 
 as to give his denial to her hopes in
 
 m 
 
 tills respect* The transported' Ulric 
 ^as intoxicated with delight at tlie 
 snccess which had thus crowned his 
 wishes and his efforts, and the affec- 
 tionate couple began to anticipate 
 those delights which would accrue to 
 them from an union with each other, 
 when they should be enabled to throw 
 off the appearance of mystery, and to 
 appear in the character, which ap- 
 peared to them so enviable. 
 
 The Gount had this day heard for 
 the first time of the death of the prior of 
 Chamouny and of the visit of the Aus- 
 trian governor to the priory ; and he 
 felt his alarm somewhat excited lest 
 an attempt should again be made to 
 force his castle and to effect the object 
 of the vengeance of his enemy, who, 
 he was convinced, from his gene- 
 i*al character and disposition, would 
 never rest satisfied until he had 
 obtained it Under this impression
 
 86 
 
 fee collected his tenants and domestics 
 who numbered in the whole about 
 four hundred, and ordered them to 
 remain in his castle nightly, armed 
 and prepared to resist any attack 
 which Austrian treachery might de- 
 vise and execute. Previous to this 
 time, after the termination of the last 
 project, by the intervention of Ap 
 Gryff, some considerable additions 
 had been made to the strength of the 
 castle, but this force was now still 
 further augmented, and every pre** 
 caution was adopted to defeat any 
 sudden attempt of the enemy. The 
 arms were taken out of the armory^ 
 and were repaired and fitted for use ; 
 centinels were placed on every part 
 of the ramparts, the gate was render*- 
 ed more strong, by iron casings of 
 considerable thickness, and thus the 
 security of the castle was rendered 
 much less precarious. It. was in the
 
 87 
 
 infancy of these proceedings that 
 Father Ursiilo requested an audience 
 of the Count, and ventured to intro- 
 duce the subject of the mutual passion 
 ^vhich fired the bosoms of Florida and 
 L'lric, and to solicit his sanction to 
 tlie suit of the youth which was 
 founded in the purest affection. The 
 worthy prior also added that Florida 
 herself had declared that lier happi- 
 ness hung upon the consent of the 
 Count to this measure, and endea- 
 voured to enforce the wishes of his 
 young friends, by everjiL argument 
 which he could adduce. For some 
 time the Count was unable to master 
 his feelings sufficiently to reply to the 
 prior; at length, however, he began 
 to inveigh bitterly against the ingra- 
 titude of Ulric in thus presuming to 
 form designs upon the affections of 
 his daughter, and his domestic hap- 
 piness, in return for the kindness with
 
 83^. 
 
 wliieli he had been uniformly treated 
 since his residence in the castle; but 
 he expressed his determination to cut 
 sliort his hopes in their bud, and to 
 expedite his departure to the army 
 with all possible speed The prior 
 again ventured to defend his young 
 pupil from the charge which the 
 Count had brought against him, 
 and went into an account of Xilric's 
 conversation with him on the subject, 
 but the day before the accident oc- 
 curred to him which had since disabled 
 him from prosecuting any criminal 
 designs, and he succeeded in convinc- 
 ing the Count that no blame could 
 attach to the youth, who would 
 hereafter, if the Count persevered in 
 his present resolution, have cause 
 perhaps to repent that he had inter- 
 fered to save the life of his host, 
 since the circumstance had been 
 the first cause of that misery which
 
 so 
 
 he must endure from the recollection 
 of his rejected suit. The prior did 
 not advocate the propriety of an im- 
 mediate union, but he wished that 
 when Ulric bad rendered himself 
 deserving of such a distinguished 
 favor, he should be allowed to cherish 
 the hope that his suit would be taken 
 into consideration. The reasonable- 
 ness of this proposal induced the 
 Count to waver in his determination, 
 and to ponder upon the consequences 
 which would result from such an 
 alliance. If Ulric should hereafter 
 achieve a great name, if he should be 
 crowned with success in his efforts for 
 the liberation of Switzerland ; in that 
 ease, there could be no disgrace in 
 receiving him as his son ; and lie de- 
 termined to place it upon this condi- 
 tion. The gratified prior, accord- 
 ingly, was made acquainted with this 
 proposition, and received authority ta
 
 communicate it to tlie lovers, for 
 which purpose he left the presence of 
 the Count, and instantly repaired t(x 
 the chamber of Ulric, who was still 
 attended by the affectionate Florida, 
 and was engaged in depicting the 
 pleasures which would arise from theic 
 union. The smiling countenance and 
 the quick return of the prior convinced 
 them that if he had already seen the 
 Count, he had not received the refusal 
 which he had anticipated with so 
 much confidence; and this conviction 
 gave Ulric spirits and resolution to 
 inquire if he had yet seen the Count?, 
 The prior answered in the affirmative, 
 and began to relate the particulars of 
 the interview which had taken place 
 to his attentive hearers, who betrayed 
 various agitations as he proceeded, 
 until when he stated the conditions 
 upon which the Count allowed the 
 youth to address his daughter, the
 
 91 
 
 happy couple could no longer refrain 
 from expressing their gratitude to fa- 
 ther Ursulo for his successful interfe- 
 rence on their behalf. The prior, how- 
 ever, contented himself with giving 
 them a few words of advice as to their 
 future conduct, and with desiring Ul- 
 ric not to neglect his preparations or 
 abate his zeal for those pursuits, with- 
 out a perseverance in which he could 
 not yet hope to obtain the distinction 
 which was conditionally placed with- 
 in his reach. 
 
 The impetuosity of Ulric again fre- 
 quently displaj^ed itself in soliciting 
 Florida to consent to a private union ; 
 but the amiable girl repelled his en- 
 deavours with a firmness and affection 
 combinedjwhicli effectually triumphed 
 over his eagerness, and gave her a 
 still greater influence in his heart. The 
 way to an union was pointed out by 
 the Count, and in a subsequent con-
 
 D^ 
 
 rersatlon with his daughter and the 
 jouth, he had confirmed what he had 
 previously stated to father Ursulo, and 
 which his reflection had afterwards 
 induced him still more closely to ad- 
 here to, it was a sort of a test which 
 would try the affection of Uiric, it 
 was a kind of pledge for his future 
 greatness, since if he deemed the ob- 
 ject offered to him worth his seeking 
 after, he would rush forward to those 
 achievenieats which should place hi ra 
 high on the list of Helvetic heroes. 
 This conviction he imparted to Florida 
 who, while she trembled as her ima- 
 gination dwelt upon the dangers he 
 would have to encounter, secretly re- 
 joiced that he would have an op- 
 portunity of convincing her father of 
 the sincerity of the affection which 
 inspired him ; and of proving that 
 true nobility was not derivable from 
 birth, but from personal merit; and
 
 93 
 
 that tlie lowest peasant who possesses 
 the feelings, and disposition of huma- 
 nity, may have a clearer right and 
 title to distinction, than many who 
 wear the glittering appendages of he- 
 reditary honours on a breast which 
 conceals a heart of baseness and 
 without a single virtue. 
 
 Uiric had now so far recovered from 
 his wounds as to be enabled to walk 
 abroad as usual, although his wasted 
 strength was scarcely yet perfectly re* 
 paired, when one morning, as he 
 leaned on the arm of Florida, and 
 walked to a short distance from the 
 castle, the sight of a horseman ad- 
 Tancing at full speed from the path 
 which wound down the mountain ex- 
 cited some little curiosity, not altoge- 
 ther unmixed with alarm, in the 
 l^reasts of the lovers. He might be 
 an enemy, or might bring tidings of 
 the approach of one, and this thought
 
 94 
 
 induced Ulric to hasten, on his return, 
 to the Count, who was already en- 
 gaged in deep conversation with the 
 stranger, when the youth entered the 
 room. On seeing that the Count was 
 communicating with the messenger, 
 Uric was about to withdraw, but 
 was immediately recalled by his pa- 
 tron, who exclaimed, *' Ulric, this 
 messenger is from the mountain-band, 
 and the news which he brings is im- 
 portant. Their numbers are aug- 
 mented to eight thousand,and they are 
 in daily expectation of an attack, for 
 their bold excursions have excited the 
 vigilance of the A ustrians, whose sol- 
 diers are prowling about the defiles 
 and recesses of the mountain. The 
 time is near at hand when you must 
 emerge into action, and fulfd those 
 hopes and expectations which we re- 
 pose in you. You must now prepare 
 to quit the castle ; and the third even-
 
 §5 
 
 ing from Ibis, when the day has so far 
 ileclined as to render your journey jse- 
 cure from interruption, you shall de* 
 part with Ap GryfF, who has extorted 
 from me permission to accompany you, 
 and may success attend your efforts. 
 Your first career will be under the 
 controul and observation of a vigilant 
 soldier, who commands the army, an|l 
 who will give you an opportunity to 
 distinguish yourself. He will reward 
 your bravery according to its merits ; 
 and, I have no doubt, you will merit 
 his warmest approbation. Now you 
 will retire and impart this intelligence 
 to Ap GryfF, and, at the time appoint- 
 ed, let me find you prepared to de* 
 part." 
 
 Ap Gryff received the communica- 
 tion of Ulric with a satisfaction which 
 rendered abortive every effort to con- 
 ceal it. ** Now then (said he) we 
 shall have an opportunity to signalize
 
 95 
 
 ourselves in a just cause, in defence 
 of those rights which were the gift of 
 Heaven, and which man cannot at- 
 tempt to infringe, without being guilty 
 of rebellion against Him who gave 
 thera. I shall soon be prepared : my 
 sword and my harp are my weapons 
 of contention ; but my arm is growit 
 weak with age, and it is from the 
 soul-inspiring strains of this instru- 
 ment, which has oftentimes stimula- 
 ted to action, that 1 expect most be- 
 nefit/^ Saying this, he seized his in- 
 strument, and sweeping the strings 
 with masterly rapidity, produced a 
 martial air, which fired the enthusi- 
 astic ardour of Ulric, and made hi ni 
 sigk for the moment w hen he might 
 unsheath the sword of Father Ui-sulo 
 against the invaders of his country's 
 liberties. Ap GryfF beheld the fire 
 of enthusiasm beaming in the eye of 
 his young pupil, and he resolved to
 
 97 
 
 spare no opportunity of exciting a 
 fixed and j^ermanent ardour in his 
 breast, which should be productive of 
 much more good than a momentary en- 
 thusiasm ; and on which alone he could 
 rely for the execution o( those deeds 
 which should give fame to the name 
 of Ulric. He had been in formed of 
 the nature of the affection between 
 the youth and Florida, and of th^ 
 conditions on which the Count had 
 promised the hand of his daughter, 
 and he determined to spare no exer- 
 tions, to render the courage of Ulric 
 so rooted and unconquerable that he 
 should overcome every obstacle and 
 gain the object of his affections. As 
 soon therefore as he had excited a de- 
 gree of enthusiasm in the bosom of 
 L'lric, he began to recite the deeds 
 of those heroes who had contended 
 so long and so bravely, although 
 with such little success, for the li« 
 
 VOL. I. P
 
 98 
 
 berties of Canibriu, and Ire ^loinliid 
 i)ut tlie difference between the im- 
 petuosity of enthusiasm which lasted 
 but fora moment, and uniformly spent 
 itself before it could produce the 
 effects it wished ; and that cool and 
 national intrepidity which insured 
 victory to its* efforts, ?in<J which nev^r 
 failed its possessor in the hour of extre- 
 mity. He int re ated Ulric to curb his na- 
 tural haste, and to substitute in its 
 place that resolute bravery, which 
 ever preserved an equal temper and 
 appearance, and which was the con- 
 stant source of noble actions; by 
 the continual exercise of which his 
 name would be inexpressibly terri- 
 ble to his enemies, and which would 
 establish his character as a comman- 
 der and a hero on a foundation which 
 fiould never be shaken by the sjtrong- 
 cst attacks of hostility, or the bitterest 
 blast of adverse fortune. Ulric
 
 091 
 
 tliankfally received those lessons, 
 «nd promised lo shape his conduct 
 according to the wishes of his instruc- 
 tor, and having made this engage- 
 ment, he departed to find Florida, 
 and inform her of the iiews which had 
 transpired. ' r;-; i'^- 
 
 To the affectionate amd timorous 
 maid, the idea of Ulric's early depar- 
 ture % was inexpressibly painful: she 
 be'gaii to imagine all the danger^ 
 to whkh he would be exposed in his 
 new pursuits, and her terrors so com- 
 pletely got the better of her reason, 
 than «he was in danger of fainting; 
 when Ulric spoke of his departure, 
 ufttilhis had somewhat reassured her 
 by laying before the impossibility of 
 their union taking place, until he 
 proved himself worthy of her father's 
 confidence and her affection. He 
 intreated her to remember that the 
 earlier he entered upoi\ his new duties 
 f2
 
 100 
 
 the sooner should he be enabled to 
 -come forward and claim her in 
 pursuance of her father's promise ; 
 and the idea tended to encourage and 
 restore the agitated maiden, and to 
 make her look forvvard to futurity 
 with more hope and confidence than 
 she could command under the 
 first shock occasioned by the news of 
 his departure. From the castle Ulric 
 drew his Florida to the feet of ihe 
 -mountain, which was finely gilded 
 by the reflected rays of the declin- 
 ing sun. " It is but for a short time 
 longer, my Florida," said X%ic, 
 **tbat I shall be able to enjoy yowr 
 company at this period; but dnring my 
 absence yon will be able to tfacethe 
 paths wbich we ha\fe trod togetlier;yet 
 be not too rash in your excursions ^r 
 when die rage of war extends through 
 the country, it will be pecnliarly 
 unsafe for you to venture out alone.
 
 101? 
 
 fet you should, full into danger 
 >vhich you cannot foresee. Be care- 
 ful of yourself, my love, and remem- 
 ber you are a soldier's betrothed i 
 bride/' 
 
 "I shall retort the caution upoa 
 you, ray Ulric,'^ returned Florida, 
 *' be careful that you run not into 
 unnecessary danger, but remember 
 that you are the betrothed husband 
 of a timorous maid, whose spirit 
 would fly from earthy if but a rumour 
 reached her that any harm> had be- 
 fallen you. Would that this pur- 
 suit of you re were divested of its 
 dangers, for then I should have no 
 fears about your safety ; but when 
 the arrows of death fly arround you, 
 who knows but one may pierce that 
 heart which is mine > Who can tell 
 but some relentless spear, envi- 
 ous of our anticipated happiness may 
 penetrate and tear that bosom which 
 f3
 
 103 
 
 heaves for me? Oli! the idea of 
 such a fate weighs heavily, on my 
 spirits, and is the cause of much and 
 deep uneasiness to me ! How sin-: 
 cerely shall 1 long and pray for the 
 arrival of that daj which will restore 
 you to me, and v ill end the necessity, 
 of further separation r* , ; .. 
 
 *' Shake oif your fears, my 
 angel,*' returned L'iric, " our cause 
 is the cause ofjustice: we fight not to. 
 gain new empire ; we contend not to 
 inflict oppressions on our fellow crea- 
 tures ; our object is not gain, nor 
 are our motives impure. Heaven 
 will fight for us in the day of battle ; 
 and every dart which wings its 
 course with effect will be allowed to 
 penetrate no heart but that which 
 it is commissioned to strike. I shall 
 return again, my Florida ; I feel that 
 I shall return, and that «vith tri- 
 umph ! 1 shall corn* to cla-ni my
 
 10^ 
 
 bride, and to taste of tliat happfnesi^' 
 which 1 shall have won V 
 
 "I pi*ay Heaven it may be so !"" 
 responded Floiida,withasigh, us they 
 wound up the first acclivity whicfir 
 lifted its head, above the priory of 
 Clmmouny- — " but my fears are 
 strictly natural; and are to be attri- 
 buted to excess of affection, which 
 induces me to magnify those dangers 
 which do exist, and fancy others 
 which have no reality. I will, how- 
 ever, endeavour to shake off my ap-. 
 prehensions, and to look forward, and 
 with confidence, to the time when you 
 will return to bless your poor, expect- 
 ing Florida." 
 
 Ulric was about to reply, when on 
 a sudden, melodious strains floated 
 on the CTening breeze, and riveted the 
 lovers to the spot. Never had such 
 celestial harmonies invaded their ears 
 before; never liad they heard rou>sic
 
 104 
 
 no transporting. It seeoied to flovy 
 ijom the ridge which overhung them, 
 and now it swelled divinely on the ze- 
 pljyr, now it died in sweet cadences 
 on the ear, and now with more than 
 .mortal energy^, it penetrated the 
 bcsoiii of Ulric and his Florida. •* Let 
 us setk the spot, my love/' said 
 I'iric, re-animating his trembling com- 
 panion with a pressure of her hand : 
 -' such music flows not from an 
 enemy/* Saying this he led the un- 
 resisting Florida up the path which 
 tended to the summit of the eminence 
 ivhence the sounds proceeded. On a 
 sudden the melody ceased, and no- 
 thing but shepherd's pipes broke on 
 the stiilnes>s of the evening : the lovers 
 continued to ascend, and to investi- 
 gate every part of the eminence, but 
 no figure met their view, and a super- 
 stitious awe crept over the minds of 
 the wanderers. '* What could it be ? '^
 
 105 
 
 asked Florida, in a voice of appi-c* 
 hension. At this instant, the strains 
 once move filled their ears, and caused 
 them to start from the spot where they 
 stood. The sound proceeded from 
 some part of the hill which was near 
 them : and a sadden angle in the path < 
 discovered to them a tall figure, with 2 
 his back towards them,, seated on the 
 ridge of the mountain : his head was 
 uncovered, and his hoary locks floated i 
 in the wind : his mantle sported also ^ 
 on the gale; and he swept a harp before ^ 
 him with a sweetness and energy 
 which convinced Florida that the 
 musician was not a tenant of this world. 
 JFor some moments, they paused with 
 an involuntary awe, and listened to 
 the energetic strains which flowed I 
 from beneath the touch of the harper. 
 On a sudden, the performer again 
 stayed his hand, and rising abruptly, 
 from his seat, slang his harp over hm 
 f5
 
 100 
 
 s>hou]der. At this instant, the trem- 
 bling Florida overcome with terror, 
 j^hrieked out — '' Save me my I'lric !" 
 aiid tell into his arms, and immedi- 
 ately the figure ttirned round, and 
 the agitated youth beheld in the mys- 
 terious harper, not an aerial inha- 
 bitant of the celestial s[)heres, hut 
 Ap Gryff himself, who had strayed 
 hither to indulge in meditation, andf 
 with the melodious tones of his instru- 
 ment to charm the silver moon which 
 had just risen to illuminate the dusky 
 scene. 
 
 The restoration of Florida was 
 matter of little difficulty, and the 
 blush of shame suffused her cheeks 
 when she perceived thiat the cause of 
 her terrors was no other than Ap 
 C ry fl' himself. Finding himself alone, 
 ^nd inspired by the sttblime solemnity 
 of the scene, the bard had exerted 
 himself with unusual energy and hat|.
 
 107 
 
 produced tones of sweetness even sur- 
 passing those which had so often 
 charmed the ears of Ulric and Flo- 
 rida in the castle, and this circum- 
 stance, with the romantic appearance 
 of the musician, as he sat upon the 
 extreme brow of the hill, conspired 
 to impress the unsuspicious wanderer* 
 with an idea that the figure which thep 
 beheld, was not of mortal origin. 
 Now, however, their fears being re- 
 moved, the whole trio set forward on. 
 their return to the castle, and in less 
 than an hour they approached the 
 gate, whence, at the moment they 
 entered, issued forth the messenger 
 who had arrived in the course of the 
 day, and had brought the intelligence 
 which was the cause of Lilric's depar- 
 ture. " God speed you, gallant 
 stranger !'* exclaimed Uric, bowing, 
 as the horseman apj)roached bim | 
 *' we shall be with you anon ; and.
 
 lOS 
 
 bj heaven's asslsstance, we will reap 
 for ourselves and our country a plen- 
 tiful harvest of glory. Three nights 
 shall not have passed before we shall 
 have reached your retreat, anxious 
 to prove our sincerity in your cause, 
 and the unconquerable ardour which 
 impels us to unite under the banners 
 of your chief." 
 
 '* Happy shall we be to hail your 
 arrival, gallant youth ; and that of 
 your experienced companion'/' re- 
 turned the stranger, replying grace- 
 fully to the youth's salutation — " and 
 joyous will be the hour when we shall 
 level the German eagles with the 
 dust. On the third night we shall 
 expect you : the caverns which stretch 
 to the right above the fifth ridge of 
 mountains are our abodes, until we 
 can obtain more commodious habita- 
 tions : more secure we cannot possess. 
 1 have sufficient proof of your siu^s-
 
 1(^ 
 
 rity aiid your ardour ; and I shall put 
 jou to the test with a confidence as to 
 the result. Well will you handle the 
 sickle of war, and our enemies shall 
 bow their conquered heads beneath 
 the vigor and perseverance of youi** 
 strokes. But 1 delay; farew el, stran- 
 gers : I have yet four hours' ride be- 
 fore I can gain the caverns, and the 
 Bight will be far spent, before I can 
 reach them." 
 
 *' Farewel !*' responded Ulric and 
 Ap GryfF, and in a few moments the 
 gates closed upon the scene, and the 
 wanderers entered the castle, where 
 they were met by the Count, who 
 replied to the inquiry of Ulric, that 
 the stranger whom h^ saw in conver- 
 sation with him in th« morning, and 
 who had just departed from the castle, 
 was the capfain of the mountain 
 band—- ^' and a man (continued he) 
 vS uftdauHted bravery he is ; and one
 
 110 
 
 m whose hands the liberation of Swit- 
 zerland may be entrusted with con- 
 fidence. In thirteen years he has 
 signalized himself, wherever he could 
 gain an opportunity, and his name 
 is the sulvject of terror to all his ene- 
 mies. This is the man whom I have 
 selected to introduce yon into the 
 bustle of contention, and I know you 
 will (ind the way. to his favor. He 
 already feels himself much interested 
 by your appearance.'' Llric made 
 a suitable repl} . expressive of his gra- 
 titude for such a mark of his good 
 will : and he trusted his future con- 
 duct would be such as to justify the 
 predilection he had formed for him. 
 The Count expressed his confidence 
 that he would so behave on all occa- 
 sions as to advance his own respecta- 
 bility, and build the fabric of his 
 own fortune and fame : for here (said 
 he, pointing to his daughter) h the
 
 Ill 
 
 Ibrleit of any mKConcUict, and, if I 
 misrake not, you consider it of such 
 value that 30U will uot readily incur 
 its loss." " I return to claim her, or 
 I return no more!" exclaimed Ulric 
 m a tone of unusual animation, 
 which called the blush, upon the 
 cheek, and the tear ihto the eye of 
 Florida: and excited a cheering smile 
 of approbation on the countenances of 
 the Count and the venerable Ap Gryfl; 
 During this evening, the Count ap- 
 peared to relax from his usual reserve, 
 and entered into conversation on the 
 events of the future, with a cheerful- 
 ness and animation which gratified 
 his daughter and his guests, and ren- 
 dered the evening much more agree- 
 able than any which had preceded it 
 since the arrival of Ulric in the castle. 
 " You will lind all the mountaineers 
 bold and gallant fellows, ready to' 
 adventure on any service, however
 
 113^ 
 
 full of danger, and the last to flinch 
 in the day of trial. At least these 
 were the sort of men which I sent 
 thither, and I trust the reinforcements 
 which they have so successfully exert- 
 ed themselves to obtain, are of the 
 same complection. I would rather 
 that they should avoid a general en- 
 gagement as long, as possible, and 
 content themselves with issuing from 
 the concealment, and laying in sup- 
 plies of provisions, fuel and other ne- 
 cessary articles, in case of necessity: 
 unless they consider themselvs suffici- 
 ently powerful to venture abroad and 
 stand a conflict with the enemy/* 
 Uric and Ap GryfT promised to con- 
 vey his sentiments to the mountain 
 band, and before they separated for 
 the night, the Count drew a ring from 
 his finger, and placed it on the hand 
 •f Ulric, accompanying it with a 
 bope that he would never suffer it to
 
 113 
 
 be taken from bim, nor part with it 
 until he returned to claim bis ailianced 
 bride. The transported youth fell oil 
 one knee, and pressing the hand of 
 the Count to his lipSjUttered a vow that 
 he would sooner part with existence 
 itself than this valuable gift from the 
 father of his Florida. The Count 
 nodded, with a smile of satisfaction ; 
 while the eyes of Florida jelled 
 with the tears of transport, and Ap 
 GryfF could scarcely contain the feel>- 
 ings of delight which occupied his 
 breast, and violently struggled for 
 utterance. 
 
 On the following morning Ulric 
 arose with a joyous heart : the first 
 night had passed away, and the period 
 of his stay in the castle diminished 
 hourly. Much as he felt the bitter- 
 ness of parting -with his Florida, and 
 terribly as he dreaded the hour of 
 separation, he wished the moments to
 
 314 
 
 speed along with increased rapuKtr, 
 since he was anxious to enter upon his 
 new profession, in order that lie might 
 convince the Count and his instructors 
 that he was not unworthy their tuition 
 and regard. As much of his time a.«i 
 possible he devoted to Florida, yet 
 not so uiQch as. to neglect his attention 
 to the inculcations of Ap GryfF and 
 the Count to which he now paid re- 
 doubled respect, as he considered thai 
 so short a time would elapse before he 
 ►should be required to act upon them, 
 and to shew whether he had profited 
 by the lessons of experience, Florida 
 herself had now become so reconciled 
 to the departure of her lover, that 
 j>he no longer curbed his rising enthu- 
 siasm with her ill timed apprehensions, 
 but aided the task of her father and 
 the bard, and endeavoured to stimu- 
 late him to activity in his new career, 
 thai;, their union might take place with
 
 115 
 
 as little procrastination as possible. 
 Florida also felt another motive uri^- 
 ing her to this course of conduct : 
 she loved her country ; bred and edu- 
 cated amongst her native mountains, 
 and irt those principles of liberty 
 which such a scene was well calcu- 
 lated to encourage, she sighed for 
 the oppressions under which Switzer- 
 land groaned,and anticipated with de- 
 light the blissful period of her eman- 
 cipation. If Switzerland should be 
 freed, and Ulric should bear a con- 
 spicuous part in her liberation, she 
 felt that, althought she could not love 
 him more than she did at present, she 
 should look upon him with a sort of 
 reverential gratitude as well as the 
 eye of love. She was also aware 
 that her own heart, her own conse- 
 quence would be flattered by the 
 homage which would be universally 
 |?aid to her husband, that the oiler-
 
 ings made to his wbrth by a delivered 
 nation would be equally gratifying 
 to herself, and in these moments of 
 anticipation, she was accustomed to 
 exclaim — " who would not rather wed 
 such as Ulric, though obscurely barn, 
 than the wealthiest Swiss without th« 
 inherent nobility of worth ?"
 
 H7 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The last morning of Ulricas stay in 
 the castie of Ziir soon dawned upon the 
 world, and the youth arose full "of 
 animation and hope, not entirely 
 noillKed with sorrow, at the prospect 
 ef parting with his loved Florida. 
 She was also a prey to much dis- 
 quietude, altliough she resolved to 
 eafct off those apprehensions which 
 invaded her peace, and to bear the 
 pang of separation with as much 
 fortitude as possible. But the idea 
 that before another dawn the object 
 ^{her leve and solicitude would be 
 fat removed from her, and have 
 efttered i>u his career of glory and
 
 118 
 
 danger ; that she might no more be- 
 hold him, but, might be doomed toall 
 t h e pa n gs of p re m at u re wi dow - h oo d — 
 these reflections were too much for her 
 weak philosphy to support ; and, 
 notwithstanding her utmost exertions, 
 slie appeared before her father and 
 Ulric, dejected, with her eyes red 
 from wee|jing, and wild from want 
 from rest. The cheerful conversation 
 of her lover tended in some degi*ee 
 to dissipate the gloom which had^g^r- 
 spread her spirits, but it retuVned 
 with redoubled force %vheii she 
 pictured to herself the desolate a|^ 
 pearance which the morrow would 
 wear to her, when she should not 
 hear the voice which now beguiled 
 her of her sorrows and, charmed her 
 heart. In the depth of her despon- 
 dency, Ulric perceived the rpote^ueus» 
 of her affection y and a secret pleasure 
 filled bis soul as he congratulated
 
 himself on being so sincerely beloved 
 by One of nature's most enchanting 
 ornaments ; the happiness ^vhich 
 resulted fiom this thought was 
 qualified and lessened by the consi- 
 deration of the uncertainty whether 
 he should yet be d<;stined to share 
 his future existence with her. If the 
 means lay in his own power, if no 
 superior fate controuled his efforts 
 and disappointed his hopes, he might 
 boldjj ' calculate on happiness; for 
 he was resolved that activity, vigour 
 and resolution should mark his course 
 in. his new profession. The, glory 
 of Switzerland, tarnished and diminishr 
 ed as it was, still lay near to his 
 heart, and, involved as it now was 
 Mith his own personal welfare, he had 
 an additional incentive to support and 
 defend it ; to regain those national 
 privileges which had been abridged 
 by the power of usurpation ; to €s«
 
 120 
 
 tablish tliat freedom which had been 
 abrogated by a foreign tyranny. He 
 must succeed, or life would lose its 
 attractions; for, independent of the evil 
 consequences which would accrue to 
 his country from a series of unsuccess- 
 ful effo r ts ,he sbo uld hi mself be dep rived 
 of that hope which was scarcely a 
 less stiiPulus to his exertions, than 
 the good of Helvetia^ and if Florida 
 was torn from him, death would be 
 perferable to a protracted existence, 
 offering nothing but protracted mi- 
 sery. 
 
 Such were the reflections which 
 hastily passed over the mind of Ulric 
 as he perceived the depression of his 
 Florida ; but hope, ever predomi- 
 nant in the sanguine mind of youth, 
 soon dissipated the unpleasing vision 
 of future ills, and spread a cheering 
 tinge over his thoughts which speedily 
 com m '^Bleated itself to his conversation
 
 121 
 
 and al though an involuntary sigk 
 ^vould now and then burst from.- his 
 bosom, as he attempted to cheer 
 Florida, with the brightness of their 
 future prospectSjhesucceeded at length 
 in dispelling the greater part of her 
 dcspondencj', and in enabling her 
 to assume an appearance of compo- 
 sure and even happiness. 
 
 One duty still remained to be per- 
 formed, and this was to pay a fare- 
 wel Tisit to the prior of Chaniounv, 
 and to receive the valuable gift which 
 he had promised to Uiric. The pre- 
 ceding day had witnessed the visit 
 of the youth to his paternal cottage, 
 where be had bidden adieu to those 
 whom nature had endeared to him ; 
 but as the flame which raged in the 
 bosom of the son was neither felt 
 nor known by the father, it is nofe* 
 to be surprized at that the latter 
 should behold the future pros- 
 
 VOL. I. G 
 
 ^
 
 122 
 
 jperity of his son witli a less confident 
 hope than that which animated Ulric. 
 He would have been better satisfied, 
 as he expressed himself, to see his 
 •oifspring employed in the pursuits 
 of peaceful industry at home, and to 
 have left the deliverance of Switzer- 
 land to those who had a greater stake in 
 her well-doing than themselves. It 
 mattered not to them what power 
 directed the affairs of the cantons, 
 while they were permitted to earn 
 4md eat their food securely. Such were 
 the sentiments of the father of the 
 ambitious youth ; but they made not 
 the impression intended on the mind 
 ofUlric; he heard them but he re- 
 plied not as his impetuous heart 
 prompted him, for they came from 
 Lis father ! From him w hom he was 
 now about to visit, he was confident 
 of receiving different advice; since 
 Father Ursulo was a man of extensive
 
 123 
 
 information and enlightened views; 
 one, whose mind was not content with 
 superlicial observation, bnt who in- 
 vestigated the causes of events, and 
 formed his own opinions upon his 
 own conviction. From such a man 
 was to be expected the best of in- 
 struction : and LUric, as he bent his 
 way to the priory of Chamouny, more 
 than once blessed the chance, al- 
 though he was still ignorant of its 
 precise nature, which had taken his 
 education out of the hands of those 
 who had a natural right to under- 
 take it, and placed it in those of on« 
 who had so enlarged Ins mind, and 
 had taught him to extend his views 
 beyond the narrrow and contracted 
 circle of his own obscure situation. 
 
 Father Ursulo Hvas alone, expecting 
 
 the visit of Ulric, for he was informed 
 
 that his departure was fixed' fbr the 
 
 succeeding evening ; and, having led 
 
 g2
 
 124 
 
 the youth into a private apartment, 
 hebegaii to give to him those instruc- 
 tions which he considered suited to 
 liis situation, and calculated to pro- 
 mote his interest in his new course of 
 life—" And now Ulric/' he conti. 
 liued : *' I will give jou some insight 
 into my earlier life, for precept with- 
 out example is not calculated to make 
 that deep impression which I could 
 wish to fix upon your mind ; aiKl 1 think 
 the sketch of my career through the 
 ivorld may neither be unamusing nor 
 nninstructive. My father was a weal- 
 thy Swiss, and my birth place was 
 Appenzel : here, under the care and 
 tuition of my fond parents, my infan- 
 cy and youth flew on, until the down 
 of manhood stole the smoothness of 
 my face. My father himself, although 
 .peaceably inclined, and disposed to 
 end his days in quietnes, instilled 
 into my youthful mind a justindigna-
 
 125 
 
 tiaii gainst the oppressors of my coun^ 
 try, and his repeated remarks on thi»' 
 subject sank deeply into my mind; 
 tmd produced the fruits which exhibi* 
 ted themselves subsequently. Amongst 
 the persons who visited at my father's 
 house was a man of gigantic person^ 
 whose countenance, however, was 
 strongly tinged with the hues of bene- 
 volence, and who, when no other vi- 
 sitor was present,^ accustomed himself 
 to speak of the wrongs of Switzerland, 
 with an enthusiasm of indignation, 
 which rapidly communicated itself to 
 my breast; 1 was fired by the subject, 
 and felt interested in revenging the 
 injuries which had been conferred on 
 us as a nation. The stranger beheld 
 iryy feelings in my agitation, and he 
 contrived frequently to see me alone, 
 and to fan the fire v/hich he had kindled 
 ia my bosom : his efforts were success- 
 ful, and scarcely had I seen my eij;!!- 
 
 €l3
 
 126 
 
 teentli birth day, v»lien I soUciterl per- 
 mission to accompany the galhiut 
 Kaisbach, who had raised and con- 
 cealerl a s^elect band of patriots on the 
 mountains. My request was enforced 
 by the arguments of my new friend ; 
 and a reluctant consent was extorted 
 from my parents after much solicita- 
 tion. When 1 took my final leave of 
 inj paternal mansio^i, my father took 
 Hie aside, and addressed me^ — '' My 
 son, you are about to enter on a dan- 
 gerous course : be prudent and encou- 
 rage a spirit of intrepidity. If j3\i 
 bhould become instrumental in the 
 delivery of Switzerland, your fame 
 will increase the happiness of your 
 parents ; but if the tide of fortune 
 should oppose your eiTorts; if you 
 should fall in the day of battle, and 
 leave me childless ; if I shall no more 
 behold you ; let us have the satisfac- 
 action of knowing that in death you
 
 1^ 
 
 preserved that coiiruge wliicli sheds 
 lustre on the departure of heroes. 
 •Farewel ! may your success be appor- 
 tioiietl to the justice of your cause; 
 may Switzerland, through your efforts, 
 once more behold the rising- of her 
 Jiappiness and her independence, and 
 then shall 1 ^^lessthe day which called 
 you from 7/ .'^3 and gave you to your 
 country r' After trarelling through 
 the night, my guide and friend con- 
 ducted me to a secret recess in the 
 mountain, where he introduced me 
 to about three hundred valiant Swiss, 
 who scorned to bow submission to ty- 
 ranny. Here I took the oath, the so- 
 lemn oath, which bound me to the 
 cause of liberty; and here was 1 armed 
 with the garb of war. My spirits 
 were exhilarated to the highest pitch, 
 when Raisbach bound my sword on 
 my thigh, and bade me wield it man- 
 fully : I replied that its blade should 
 G 4
 
 128 
 
 cut asunder the bonds which con- 
 fined my country, or the arai which 
 wielded it should be fctiffened in the 
 grasp of death. How frail are hu- 
 man promises ; how short is human 
 foresight ! Neither of these pledges 
 have been- fulfilled ! For several days, 
 i remained in the retreat, with a part 
 of the band, while our commander 
 went out daily to gain provisions, to 
 recruit and reconnoitre. At length I 
 was permitted to be his companion in 
 one of his excursions ; and, after 
 inarching over a chain of mountains, 
 our attention was suddenly arrested 
 by the glitter of distant arms rellecttd 
 in the sun. We concealed ourselves 
 behind a ridge of the hill, and soon 
 heard the approach of the groupc, 
 which we ascertained, on their ap- 
 proachsto amount to about one half of 
 our own force. They were evidently 
 on the look-out, and probably had
 
 129 
 
 received some information of the ex- 
 istence of our band. We suffered 
 them to pass us without disturbing 
 their fancied sec uritj^ when suddenly 
 and secretly we advanced from our 
 concealment, and closed on their rear. 
 On perceiving that they were thus 
 suddenly attacked, the enemy fell into 
 consternation which was not a little 
 increased by the violent impetuosity of 
 our assault. A fierce contest, how* 
 e^er, ensued, until the foe, having 
 lost one half of their number, endea^. 
 voured to escape, but ignorant of the 
 nature of their situation^ their at- 
 tempt only involved them in still 
 greater difficulty and danger, for we 
 chaced them to our own retreat, 
 whence, on the sound of Raisbach's 
 horn, the residue of our band rushed 
 forth, and, the enemy rashly refusing 
 our proffered mercy, continued to - 
 fight on unequal terms^ until every 
 g5
 
 130 
 
 individual had felt the fatal force of 
 the exterminatiug steeL The en- 
 trance of our retreat was completely 
 blocked up with the <lead, and it oc- 
 cupied us for the residue of the day 
 to inter the corpses in a remote part 
 of the mountain. The slain amounted 
 to about an hundred and forty men, 
 whilst our loss was only thirteen. After 
 this contest was concluded, and the 
 bodies had been removed, our com- 
 mander called us around him, and 
 bestowed the most lavish encomiums 
 on every individual who had shared in 
 the fjght, and, in particular, he no- 
 ticed what he called my heroic con- 
 duct in such animated terms, that 
 ;iiiy young heart almost swelled to 
 bursting with the violent emotions 
 which rilled it. i had never before 
 witnessed a scene of contention, and 
 it was matter of exultation to me that 
 niy conduct at the outset should have
 
 131 
 
 been such as to merit such distin- 
 guished notice. From this moment,. 
 I was looked upon by the band as 
 their future commander, in case any 
 misfortune should befal their leader 
 and my consequence amongst them 
 arose accordingly. Three weeks after 
 this conflict, a messenger arrived at 
 our retreat with an account of the for- 
 mation of a new army of Swiss, in a 
 remote part of the canton, which 
 were anxious to be received into our 
 retreat, and to put themselves under 
 our leader; their numbers exceeded 
 seven hundred, well armed and de- 
 termined warriors who. were anxious 
 to revenge an insult recently offered 
 them by the Duke of Austria, and to . 
 assist in the euiancipation of their 
 country. The news was received with » 
 rapture, and the request of the newly 
 raised reinforcement was immediately 
 complied with; and ia a few day 15-
 
 132 
 
 we had the happiness of receiving to 
 an iinioa with ourselves this fresh troop 
 of patriots, which swelled our nmnbers 
 to a respectable appearance. It was 
 deteniiiaed now to make our excur- 
 sions with a greater degree of bold- 
 ness since it rarely occurred that the 
 enemy 'ii look out parties were so for- 
 midable as to withstand the force 
 which we should now be enabled to 
 present to them. Our whole amount 
 was little below twelve hundred men, 
 since our recent recruting had been 
 attended with tolerable success. Not- 
 withstanding the increasing promise 
 of our prospect however, misfortune 
 hung over us, and was about toover- 
 v;helm us with an unexpected stroke, 
 i vvelve months had scarcely elapsed 
 since I became member of this body^ 
 when we marched upon a desperate 
 enterprize. which had no less an ob- 
 ject in view than the seizure and car*
 
 133 
 
 rviiig* ofFof the Governor of theCantoii. 
 Eiirly one morning we took our de- 
 partiirG from the cavern on this mehm- 
 choly exj3edition ; and the ill-fated 
 Raibbacli, with a sort of prophetic 
 feeling exclaimed — " Comrades, if 
 we return no more, let not our ill fate 
 act as a check upon your bravery: 
 should we fall, let us have the satis- 
 faction in death of knowing- that we 
 liave left those behind who will carry 
 on the work which we have begun : 
 whom no terrors can daunt,no dangers 
 appal, but who have sworn to pui*sue 
 until death that object which we have 
 faithfully kept in view V* A loud shout 
 burst from the whole of the band, 
 followed by a repetition of that oath 
 w hich bound them to the sacred cause 
 in which they had embarked — '* I am 
 satisfied, my friends : if I fall, I shall 
 die in peace !'* Such was the reply of 
 Kaisbach, who immediately left the
 
 cavern, accompanied by nine hundred 
 of his brave followers and by my- 
 self. 
 
 Before lire shadovts of night had 
 enshrouded the world, we had reach- 
 ed the foot of the mountain, at a 
 remote part, nearly twenty miles 
 from our cavern, and here we paused 
 to refresh ourselves, and to wait until 
 the closin«f day should give us a fit 
 opportunity for the execution of our 
 project. The night came and we 
 continued our journey. Two hours 
 sufficed to bring us under the walls 
 of the castle which the governor had 
 appropriated to his own residence. 
 Raisbach seized the horn, and blew 
 a loud blast ; the porter replied, and 
 deaianded the name and business 
 of the intruder — ''I come,'' returned 
 Raisbach " from Duke Albert of 
 Austria, and my business is with your 
 master. Be quick to give me admit*
 
 135 
 
 tance, for the importance of my mes- 
 sage renders speed necessar}' i*' The 
 drawbridge was instaiitly lowered, and 
 our chief accompanied by myself 
 rushed across, and seized the para- 
 lyzed ])orter, threatenin2: Inm with 
 instant death if he dared to make a 
 single exclamation which \^ould be- 
 tray us. Our troops immediately 
 passed into the court of the castle, 
 having cut the fastenings of the bridge 
 that no obstacle should exist to our 
 retreat, in case of necessity, v»c 
 marched into tlie residence of the 
 haughty tyrant, whose oppressive con- 
 duct had rendered him hateful to 
 every peasant of Appenzel. No one 
 appeared for some time to obstruct our 
 way, until we had nearly approached 
 to the chamber of the governor which 
 our trembling guide already pointed 
 out to us; when a soldier opened the 
 door of the apartment, and on seeing
 
 136 
 
 us, instantly set up a loud cry, and 
 retired frona our sight. No time was 
 now to be lost, since we were dis- 
 covered, and every means would be 
 adopted to frustrate our design. This 
 impression was strengthened by the 
 sound of a horn which in a ^ew mo- 
 ments, echoed tli rough the vaulted 
 passages of the building, and con- 
 vinced us that some measures of de- 
 fence were about to be adopted. We 
 quickly reached the chamber of the 
 tyrant, and entered it with the utmost 
 impetuosity, but what was our sur^ 
 prize and consternation when we 
 found it empty. A few minutes 
 search discovered to us a private 
 door on the opposite side of the room, 
 through which we could not doubt that 
 the governor had escaped on the first 
 alarm of our appearance and through 
 this passage we determined to pur- 
 sue him. In a few minutes we reached
 
 137 
 
 a flight of steps which seemed to de- 
 sceiul to the subterraneous parts of the 
 castle ; down this decent we hastened 
 and soon found ourselves where we 
 suspected ; but no traces of the fugi- 
 tive were to be found, although we 
 searched the vaults with the most 
 scrutinizing attention ; and we deter- 
 mined to retrace our way into the 
 upper parts of the castle. We quicklj 
 found out the steps, and proceeded 
 to ascend when a sudden noise and 
 bustle over us convinced us that pre- 
 parations for our annoyance %vere 
 making. Confiding in our numbei-s 
 and the bravery of our troops, we 
 marched on, fearless of danger, but 
 Mhen we approached the top of the 
 ascent, we found that the door which 
 formed the communication with the 
 governor*s chamber was made fast 
 and barricadoed against us. This
 
 circumstahce, for a moment, stagger- 
 id us ; but our pause was but for a 
 moment, and twenty spears immedi' 
 ately transfixed the door, which was 
 shievered in pieces by the irresistible 
 stroke. Raisbach was the first wha 
 leaped through the choaked up passage, 
 and he instantly found himself op- 
 posed by the object ofoursearcli in 
 person, who, had doubtless escaped 
 through the vaults, and taken advan- 
 tage of our absence to prepare 
 for our reception : the gallantry 
 of our chief prevailed, but just 
 as he had plunged his weapon 
 in the heart of the tyrant, with an 
 exclamation — " the oppressed of Ap^ 
 penzel send thee this!'' — an arrow from 
 one of the soldiers behind pierced tiie 
 breast of the conqueror, and the gal- 
 lant RaisDach, falling back into my 
 arms, breathed out his heroic soul, 
 without aword or a sigh. Long and
 
 loud were the shouts which burst 
 from the enemy, as they marked our 
 commander's fall ; but their triumph 
 Mas but momentary ; their shout was 
 chilling for the moment to our hearts, 
 but it produced the determination 
 which revenge can inspire ; and, 
 with a desperate resolution, we rush- 
 ed forward to defend our slaughtered 
 chief. Numbers of the enemy fell 
 beneath the tremendous impetuosity 
 of our attack, and tlie floor of the 
 apartment was strewed with Austrian 
 corses, and drenched with Austrian 
 blood ; while the diminishing foe 
 became more weak at every stroke. 
 ^Ve calculated on an easy victory ; 
 when at the moment of our supposed 
 triumph, a hundred arrows from 
 an unseen part of tlie chamber 
 stretched nearly as many of our 
 gallant heroes breathless on the floo?« 
 The diiicharge was followed by
 
 140 
 
 others nhicli succeeded with sucii 
 rapidity and precision that we began 
 to halt in our attack, and to gaze on 
 the sickening slaughter amongst our 
 troops. At this instant we beheld: 
 the arras lifted up, and at the sam& 
 instant our surviving troop rushed 
 forward arnd buried their swords in 
 the tapestry ; a loud cry from beneatii 
 succeeded the stroke, which was 
 followed by the application of a light- 
 ed torch, which speedily spread the 
 devouring flames around the appart- 
 inent. No enemies now appeared to 
 retard our retreat, and we hastened 
 from the gloomy chamber, bearing 
 with us the body of our commander, 
 but leaving behind us upwards of 
 five hundred of our gallant com- 
 panions. As we proceeded rapidly 
 through the passages, towards the 
 gate, for I had considered further 
 delay imprudent, since the Governor
 
 141 
 
 Uad fallen, and seeing how ni a ch >vc 
 had suffered, when we were once 
 more galled by an impetuous attack 
 on our rear, which made it necessary 
 for us again to halt, and renew the 
 conflict. The contest, however. Was 
 long doubtful, for our antagonists 
 not only outnumbered oursehes, but 
 were comparatively free from fatigue, 
 a«d were continually increased by 
 fresh soldiers. At length, however, 
 notwithstanding our disparity of force 
 we succeeded in driving back our 
 assailants, but the victory cost us 
 dear,for nearly half of our wearied and 
 worn out troops which had survived 
 theprceedingpart of the conflict, now 
 paid for this last advantage with their 
 blood ; nothing could longer restrain 
 the fury of the few who survived, 
 and, instantly, fifty torches were 
 applied to various parts of the build* 
 ing, and the fire began to ascend in 
 every direction. Eager to quit the
 
 142 
 
 fatel spot, we riishecl without the 
 gates of the building, and made our 
 \yay across the court of the castle 
 but before we could reach the draw- 
 bridge a horrid carnage was again 
 occasioned amongst us, by the show- 
 ers of missiles which fell thickly 
 upon US from the trurets, the ram- 
 parts, and every outlet of the castle. 
 It was in vain to contend any longer, 
 and I stayed not to look behind me, 
 until I had passed the cursed bridge, 
 when on looking around, I found my- 
 self deserted by all my band, except 
 two, and their bleeding bodies con- 
 vinced me that I had nothing to hope 
 for from them. At that moment, I 
 was almost urged to return and throw 
 riiyself into the flames which seemed 
 to envelope the whoie building, but 
 my resolution w^as weak, and I suf- 
 fered myself to be dragged from the 
 scene of v^^laughter and devastation. 
 The flames of the castle lighted us
 
 143 
 
 far oil our way, ^nd with sickened 
 breasts, we retrod the path which 
 had led us to the destruction which 
 had fallen upon us; and in a short 
 tiirre, the dawn of the morning enabled 
 us to gain the nearest part of the- 
 mountain. One of my companions, 
 worn out by fatigue and loss of blood, 
 expired on the way; and the other 
 seemed rapidly approaching that fate 
 which to me seemed inevitable at this 
 moment ; a few hours deprived liie 
 also of him, and I was left alone to 
 <jarry the tidings of sorrow to the few 
 gallant hearts which still remained 
 of us. In my enfeebled state, harrassed 
 in mind and body, and subsisting on 
 the charity of those peasants whose 
 cottages interrupted my way, I was 
 upwards of two days in reaching the 
 cavern , and when 1 arrived, who 
 can paint the horror, and dismay 
 which pervaded every countenance 
 at the sight of me, alone, melancholy
 
 144 
 
 and pale, wjore like tLft shadow than 
 substance of a man. My narrative 
 was short — "nine hundred brave 
 warriors went out, but I alone am 
 returned ; the rest have died the 
 death of heroes, and sleep on the ted 
 of glory!" A groan of sorrow bur?t 
 from the agonized troop ; tears burst 
 from their eyes; but no verbal re- 
 ply succeeded. Their hearts were 
 too full for utterance, their sorrows too 
 rooted to be vented, A sort of apathy 
 crept over every individual, and a 
 torpor prevailed which seemed to 
 threaten the death of exertion. For 
 several weeks the troop remained close 
 in solitude, brooding over those sor- 
 rows wliich were not to be remedied ; 
 and for many months after this period 
 our excursions were rare and limited ; 
 we seemed forsaken by that spirit 
 which formerly animated us, and 
 w ithout which we could hope for no 
 future good. At length time succeeded
 
 345 
 
 in wearing away the impression, and 
 once again we began to turn our 
 thoughtij towards the emancipation 
 of our country. The noise which 
 had been excited by the death of the 
 Governor, and the destruction of 
 his castle^ had been long since silen- 
 ced, and the pursuit of myself, w^ho 
 was not known, had entirely ceased. 
 For some time we continued to prowl 
 about the mountains, and to recruit ; 
 but our efforts were not attended 
 with their usual success, for the awe 
 which had been stricken into every 
 bosom by the fate of our brave band 
 frustrated our exertions, and pre- 
 vented the fearful peasantry from act- 
 ing conformably to their inclinations* 
 They contented themselves with wish* 
 ing us success, but refrained from 
 giving us that strength which would 
 have ensured it. Two years had only 
 increased our numbers to five«bun* 
 VOL. I. H
 
 146 
 
 drecl, and the spirit of, patriotism 
 seemed to have become extinct in the 
 canton ; so that we determined to 
 quit the mountains of Appenzel, and 
 to seek for security and succour in 
 those of Underwald, where we un- 
 derstood the fiame of opposition was 
 •waiting a fit opportunity to burst 
 forth with unconqueiable violence. 
 Thither I accordingly repaired, with 
 a single attendant, in close disguise, 
 to discover some place of retreat, 
 where we might remain until we 
 could seethe probability of effecting 
 some great achievement. My search 
 was successful,! found some interstices 
 in the mountains, capable of con- 
 taining our force, and I accordingly 
 returned lo conduct my band. It 
 was an unfortunate journey ; we fell 
 in with a powerful body of Germans, 
 against whom ouj- utmost efforts 
 proved unavailing, Jlnd with the ut-
 
 147 
 
 most ditficiilty, I effected my escapfr, 
 with about a dozen followers, and 
 gained the mountains ef Underwald, 
 dispirited and broken hearted. Our 
 exertions here were unavailing ; we 
 bad either been deceived as to the 
 dispositions of the people, or they 
 were too cautious to elicit their real 
 «<»ntiments to such an insignificant 
 band as that to which mine was 
 reduced. Despairing of producing 
 a«y good to the country, or ourselves, 
 we determined to leave a land which 
 possessed not sufficient vigour for its 
 own emancipation, and to exile our- 
 selves, until some symptoms of a pro- 
 per spirit should display themselves. 
 With this resolution, we bade adieu 
 to our native Alps, and traversed the 
 plains of Italy ; thence bending our 
 course to the French coast, we em 
 barked on board a vessel, and in a 
 few day» l^ded on the British shore^
 
 148 
 
 which was the land we had fixed 
 on for our residence for the pre- 
 sent. Years rolled away, and we 
 remained wandering exiles, until the^ 
 deeds of Tell once more reanimated 
 our hopes and induced us to believe 
 that the rescue of Helvetia was at 
 hand. The efforts which immediate- 
 ly succeeded, however, did not keep 
 pace with our sanguine wishes and 
 expectations, and we ^till delayed 
 our return ; until my anxiety onoe 
 more to return to my native country, 
 from which I had now been absent 
 fourteen years, was too strong to be 
 any longer repressed, and I again 
 left the hospitable shores, which had 
 given me and my comrades refuge, 
 in the hour of adversity. Six of my 
 friends we left buried in England; 
 they were unable to support the sad 
 reverses which they had been doomed 
 to experience ; they could not with-
 
 U9 
 
 Rtana tlie shock occassioned by the 
 disappointment of tlieir hopes-their 
 hearts burst «iththe violence of then- 
 emotions, and the land which gave 
 them refus-e, gave them also a grave. 
 Once again 1 trod the mounta,ns 
 of Appenzel : and, being complete- 
 Ijr disguised in my person by the 
 inetamorphosinghaiidof time, 1 went 
 bodly to my native spot, and made 
 enquiries after my parents. Alas! 
 what a tale of horror reached ray ear. 
 On account of my recognition, in the 
 fatal fight, which put the tinibiiing 
 stroke to our hopes, as we journeyed 
 to Underwaid, my poor ikthei was 
 arrested, on suspicion of being con- 
 cerned with the enemies to the Austri- 
 an power, and as my connection with 
 those whom they termed traitors was 
 deemed sufficient proof of the crime 
 with which he stood charged : he was 
 sentenced to die. The execution im- 
 h3
 
 150 
 
 mediately followed, and tli€ ^ood old 
 iMan died as he had livedjU true Swiss, 
 and praying, in his last moments, for 
 tlie salvation of his beloved country. 
 The blow was too much for the weak 
 nature of ray mother to support; she 
 pined beneath the accumulated sor- 
 rows she had experienced : her son was 
 lost to ker, for report had stated that 
 I had died in the last engagement; 
 and her husband had been executed 
 as a traitor, and so heavily did these 
 reflections press down upon her spirits, 
 that she breathed her last at the mo- 
 ment when the officers of tyranny ar- 
 rived to turn her out of her residence, 
 which was ordered to be confiscated 
 to the Governor. The house was im- 
 mediately plundered of its contents, 
 the corpse of my poor mother was 
 compelled to undergo every indignity 
 which the wretches thought proper to 
 inflict upon it, and it was with diffi.*
 
 1^1 
 
 culty that the faithful domestics could 
 obtain permission to take away the 
 body of their loved mistress for inter- 
 ment ; the house was afterw ards razed 
 to the ground, and on its base was 
 erected a mansion for the new Gover- 
 nor of the Canton. With a bursting 
 heart 1 sought the humble cottage of 
 one of the old domestics, who imme- 
 diately recognized me, and received 
 me with the utmost aflection. From 
 him I gathered those particulars re- 
 specting the sentiments of my parents, 
 which are only interesting to myself, 
 and here I was allowed to weep with- 
 out observation or restraint. Foi* 
 some days I remained under the lowly 
 roof of the humble Swiss, for I had 
 neither the spirit nor the inclination to 
 venture abroad ; and as he was (irmly 
 attached to his country, I gathered 
 from him that the hopes which had 
 been cherished of the rescue of Swit*-
 
 152 
 
 zerland from the German yoke, liad 
 iiow entirely subsided for the present; 
 but that niany of the nobles iiad lea- 
 gued together,and were engaged in the 
 mataralion of a plan which was to 
 be carried into execution at some fu- 
 t u re pe r i o d . A oio n gs 1 1 h e foie most of 
 these illnstrions patriots, I understood, 
 was the Count of Zur, your noble pa- 
 tion, and as 1 was in some measure ac* 
 qnainted with the Prior of Chamouny, 
 I instantly adopted the resolution, 
 which 1 subsequently carried into ef- 
 fect, to enter into the Priory, that I 
 might be at hand to assist the Count in 
 bis designs,and to give that assistance to 
 my favourite object, by my advice,^ 
 which I was restrained from affording 
 with my sword. 1 soon obtained an in- 
 troduction to the Count, and was Ye* 
 ceived with an ardour of affection 
 which flattered me,exceeding]y: it was 
 a short time only before we came to
 
 153 
 
 any decision as to the best method of 
 procedure, but at length we resolved, 
 with the assistance of my six compa- 
 nions who remained in the neighbour- 
 hood of the Priory, to commence an 
 excavation in the mountain above us, 
 where we might from time to time con- 
 centrate forces, until we had gained 
 sufficient strength to proceed in our 
 grand design. The Count's interest 
 procured an instant supply of two 
 hundred well armed warriors, with 
 whose assistance we soon scooped out 
 a residence, and there we lodged the 
 band, which was speedily reinforced 
 to a more respectable amount. It was 
 about this period that I first beheld 
 you in your father's cottage, and 
 your appearance and manners ex- 
 citing an unusual interest in my bo« 
 som, I requested, and obtained leave 
 from your parents, to take your edu- 
 cation upon myself: and I was sooa 
 u6
 
 15i 
 
 repaid for the pains I took to inculcate 
 ill your mind the principles which 
 were so dear to my heart, by behold- 
 ing the rapid gro\'/th of them, and 
 the promise which they held out of 
 yielding abundant fruit. I was not a 
 little rejoiced wh^n 1 beheld in you 
 the preserver of the Count of Zur : 
 such a circumstance was the most 
 fortunate for my views and wishes re- 
 specting you which could have been 
 imagined ; and it conveyed the most 
 sensible pleasure to my heart, since it 
 not only proved that my instructions 
 had been successful and that this 
 your first effort was a pledge of your 
 future good conduct, but it placed 
 you at once under the protection of a 
 noble who possessed the power to 
 give the fullest effect to my wishes re- 
 ispecting your future conduct. On 
 the following day I sought an inter* 
 view with the Count, when I relatfd
 
 155 
 
 to liim the circumstances of your edu- 
 cation by myself and of the pains 
 which I had taken to instil due and 
 correct principles into yoiir mind. 
 He entered warmly into my views, 
 and resolved to complete what I had 
 begun, and to establish the impressions 
 which I had so successfully made, 
 and the event has proved that he pro- 
 mised no more than it was his inten- 
 tion to perform.. Some interruption 
 indeed was threatened to the increa- 
 sing brilliance of your prospects, by 
 the love affair which he discovered to 
 exist betwixt Florida and yourself, 
 but this occurrence, which originally 
 teemed with mischief and excited 
 my utmost apprehensions lest the 
 Count should be induced to discard: 
 you from his favour, has taken a con* 
 trary turn, and now promises to esta« 
 blish your happiness and your fame, 
 if your coaduct in your new profiss--
 
 156 
 
 ^lon should be such as to warrant a 
 continuance of his favour and friend- 
 ship. The band which you are about 
 lo join is led by one oC ray old com- 
 rades, who is the only one remain- 
 ing alive, and if your behaviour 
 should gain to you the confidence of 
 the band, vou will be elected to sue- 
 ceed him in the command, since he is 
 worn out by age and exertion, and 
 cannot be expected to survive much 
 longer. Twelve years that I have 
 been in this Priory I have watched the 
 increase of the troop with unceasing 
 .solicitude, and although its increase 
 has by no means been rapid, it will 
 doubtless soon become sufficiently 
 powerful to draw upon itself the at- 
 tention and the hopes of Switzerland, 
 A spirit of insurrection against the 
 Austrian power has been universally 
 excited throughout this Canton, and 
 at the moment when the secret band
 
 157 
 
 shall emerge from its concealment, 
 hundreds, nay thousands, lam con- 
 fident, will rush to unite with them 
 and to commence a glorious struggle, 
 which under the blessing of Heaven, 
 cannot fail to secure that object which 
 it has been the constant wish and ex- 
 ertion of my life to obtain. The 
 sword which I have worn throughout 
 my ill fated career is this : I shall now 
 commit it to your care ; although it 
 has not carried with it victory hitherto, 
 I trust it will achieve conquest in your 
 hands ; and I am certain that you 
 will never give me cause to blush that 
 I have entrusted it to your care. The 
 Count will equip you with other ar- 
 mour, and our next meeting, I trust, 
 will take place under happier aus- 
 pices." 
 
 Ulric had listened with the utmost 
 attention to the narrative of the Prior ; 
 he had wept at his mibfortunes, and
 
 T5B 
 
 condoled in his sorrows^, and now,^ 
 when the father had concluded, it 
 was some moments before he could 
 recover himself sufficiently to receive 
 the sword which was proffered to him^ 
 and to pledge himself to the pursuance 
 of a line of conduct which should 
 justify the good opinion entertained of 
 him by his friends. The farewel 
 which followed was sincere and affectr 
 ing : the youth on his knees, received 
 the blessing of the tutor and guide of 
 his youth ; of him who had been to 
 him as a father,under whose fostering 
 care he had grov^n up flourishingly 
 while father Usurlo himself felt 
 that in parting with Ulric, he 
 parted with one who seemed dear to 
 him as would have been his own off- 
 spring ; on whom his hopes were cea- 
 tered ; and in whom his affection re- 
 posed. The scene, however, was 
 shortened by the prudence of the
 
 159 
 
 Prioi', who fearecl to damp that spirit 
 ©f enthusiasm^ whioh he wished to 
 see prevailing in his breaj^ at the mo- 
 inent of his- departure ; he feared to 
 destroy that anxious wish to-enter into 
 the service of his country, which 
 must form the source and basis of 
 every intrepid action, and which 
 ought to be preserved entire and vi- 
 gorous until the hour should arrive 
 when it should be called out into ac** 
 tion» He accordingly suddenly closed 
 the parting scene, by pressing the 
 hand of Ulric with a motion of con- 
 vulsive affection, accompanied by an 
 inarticulate prayer, and left the 
 apartment. " 
 
 On his arrival at the castle the youth 
 found Florida pining at his long ab- 
 sence, and looking out with anxiety 
 for his return. The sun had passed 
 the meridian, and the lovely girl wa» 
 sorrowfully employed in counting th©
 
 16(h 
 
 moments which would elapse before 
 the departure of her lover. The 
 sight of him, however, dissipated her 
 sorrows for a moment, and when she 
 saw him at her side, when she felt the 
 affectionate pressure of his hand, and 
 heard his much loved voice, she almost 
 forgot the gloominess of the prospect, 
 and gave aloose to a joy which appeared 
 anaolljed. A few minutes brought 
 back the reflection which had before 
 annoyed her, and twice had Ulric re- 
 peated his request that she would 
 favour him once more with a melodjr 
 from her harp, before she could sum- 
 mon sufficient courage and composure 
 to comply with his wishes. The trem^ 
 bling instrument at length occupied 
 her hand, and she attempted to elicit 
 from her instrument, the soul inspi- 
 ring strain which had first captivated 
 the youth, but her feebie touch, al^^ 
 though it awoke the voice of harmony^
 
 161 
 
 was insufficient to rouse those straltiS^ 
 1^ liicli nerved the courage of Ulric on 
 a former occasion : the trembling notes 
 quivered under lier touch, and What 
 was intended to excite enthusiasm, 
 produced a contrary effect, and drew 
 the tears of weakness and regret 
 from the eyes of her listening lover. 
 " I would inspire you, Ulric (said she, 
 essaying the strain again) but my fin- 
 gers refuse, while my heart is sorrow- 
 ful. But I will rouse myself with 
 the hope that weshull soon meet again^ 
 and meet, to part no more. 7'here, 
 that thought gave me fresh cou- 
 rage, and the music is of a more ner- 
 vous nature: although I cannot, with 
 my utmost efforts, do justice to it at 
 this moment !*' 
 
 The sounds which now emanated, 
 however, quickly dried the tears of 
 Ulric, and excited those sensations 
 within him, which had lain dormant
 
 165 
 
 during the day, until this monienf* 
 ^* Thou art my inspiring angel !^ ex- 
 claimed he, pressing the hand of Flo- 
 rida to his lips ; '' and thy strains have 
 taught jne my duty/' Yes, we shall 
 meet again, under happier circum- 
 stances , I shall soon return to cjaiia 
 from you, my love, the reward of my 
 exertions in the cause of my country. 
 From this moment, then, let us cast 
 oif every appearance of despondency, 
 for I feel within me a coniidence of 
 success which has no common origin : 
 a feeling which must be the result of 
 inspiration. Switzerland will yet be 
 free, and Ulric Gribenholt shall not 
 fight in vain !'* 
 
 At this moment the Count entered 
 the apartment, followed by a domestic 
 bearing a suit of armour which was 
 intended for Ulric, and at sight of 
 which the youth felt his bosom fired 
 with a courage and ardour superiar
 
 2:63 
 
 to any he lia3^^'*yet felt. The panoply 
 was elegant and skilfully made, and 
 on trying it on, Ulric found it com- 
 pletely adapted to his size and strength. 
 "How can I sufficiently thank yoa my 
 lord,'' said he,Mn a transport of joy 
 which bet ray sd itself in his counte- 
 nance and his voice ; "how can I merit: 
 this conspicuous mark of your lord- 
 ship's goodness } Every return which 
 I can make will fall far short of the 
 value of this inestimable gift V 
 
 "Reflect no discredit on it t'Iric," 
 returned the Count, who was en- 
 chanted with the military appearance 
 of the youth; " and I shall be abun- 
 dantly recompensed. You saved my 
 life; and I do but fulfil part of the 
 obligation I owe you in giving you the 
 opportunity to signalize yourself in 
 the cause of your country. A brig>ht- 
 er reward still awaits your succesful 
 exertions!'*
 
 164 
 
 If the Count was gratified bj the 
 appearance of Ulric, Florida wa& 
 enraptured, as she belield his graceful 
 person clad in its glittering garb. la 
 her estimation, he presented to her at 
 this instant the most beautiful object 
 she had ever beheld, and retiring for 
 a moment to an adjoining chamber 
 she returned with a beautiful scarf 
 worked by her own fingers, which 
 with an evident appearance of self- 
 satisfaction, she threw over his 
 shoulders, exclaiming — "there, my 
 gallant soldier,, when you fight in de- 
 fence of yottT country's rights, 1^ the 
 recollection of her who gave you this 
 stimulate you to greater exertion!" 
 *' Bravo, my daughter'/* vociferated^ 
 the transported Count — *' that senti- 
 ment was worthy of a descendant of 
 the house of Zur ; and it will not be 
 lost upon your warrior, if I may judge 
 from the emotions which you haveex^ 
 cited in his bosom V
 
 165 
 
 Xlric indeed was too much agitated 
 ^to give vent to his feelings ; he pressed 
 the hand of Florida together with her 
 invaluable gift to his lips ; then bend- 
 ing his knee to the ground cast his 
 ejes up to heaven, and folded the 
 scarf to his bosom, in silent eloquence, 
 best explained his feelings. The scene 
 •was now grown universally interest- 
 ing ; and it was rendered still more 
 so, by the entrance of the venerable 
 Ap Griff, who had been also provided 
 5vith armour suitable to his years, 
 and who now appeared perfectly 
 xeady for the field with his inspiring 
 harp slung over his shoulders. The 
 ^expression which beamed from the 
 «yes of the venerable bard, displayed 
 the state of his mind, and the ani- 
 mation which marked every feature 
 of his countenance, proved the excess 
 of happiness which glowed within him. 
 Ulric beheld his aged companion with
 
 increrised respect, while the bm*d 
 gazed on the youth with admiration 
 blended with astonishment. Their 
 uiiitual congratulations on their new 
 and military garb, were interrupted 
 bytheCouot, who desired Ap Gryff 
 to give them another strain of his harp, 
 before he bade adieu to the castle, a 
 request which the Briton felt proud 
 to comply with, and tiMiing his in- 
 strument, he swept the strings with 
 an energy which seemed more than 
 mortal : while the fire of inspiration 
 which lighted up his countenance^ 
 added to his martial appearance, ren- 
 dered him a much more superhuman 
 object than when he alarmed riric 
 and his Florida on the mountain. But 
 if his appearance was so animated, his 
 strain was still more so ^ the subject 
 of his song w as new and it w as pro- 
 phetic; he predicted the fall of ty- 
 ranny, ai^ the emancipation of HeU
 
 167 
 
 vethi ; be penetrated, futuritj and 
 dwelt upon those days which would 
 succeed the victorious career of the 
 mountain band; he sang the joys of 
 that period when the peasant should 
 toil in greater security, and gain a 
 greater reward for his labour; when 
 the Alps should be purged from their 
 oppressors, and hope and happiness 
 should become the guests of the moun- 
 tains ; he then cast his anticipating 
 eye through the dim vista of future 
 generations, and predicted that the 
 name of Tell should be held in vene- 
 ration, while a mortal breast survived 
 to cherish the love of liberty ; and 
 the bard concluded with painting tlie 
 happiness wiiich w ould ensue from the 
 union of the branches of the houses of 
 Zurand Tell. Every eye was fixed 
 in rapture on the band, and e\e\y ear 
 was strained, even after he had con- 
 cluded his song, to catch any further
 
 16S 
 
 emanations of his inspired genius. 
 Blushes of pleasure and maiden mo- 
 desty crimsoned the cheeks of Florida, 
 as she listened to his concluding words> 
 while joyous transport sat upon the 
 countenance of Ulric, and pleasure 
 mixed with pride clothed the brow of 
 the Count himself. The harper be- 
 held the emotions he had excited with 
 a self-gratification of the most superior 
 nature, and followed his ravished 
 hearers who led the way to the castle 
 hall, where a banquet had been pre- 
 pared by the hospitality of the Count, 
 in honor of those who were about to 
 exchange his residence for the field of 
 glory, or rather for the caverns of 
 the mountain. 
 
 The interval which was to elapse 
 before the departure of the warriors 
 became shorter and shorter .* the ban- 
 qnet was ended, and the declining 
 sun shed his parting splendors round
 
 169 
 
 thescenerywliich environed the castle. 
 It was the pensive time of the evening, 
 and the mind of Florida and Uiric 
 were in unison with the scene. The 
 Count devoted the few remaining mi- 
 nutes to the inculcation of proper sen- 
 timents into the bosom of Ulric, and 
 in deputing to them and his compa- 
 nion the conveyance of his wishes 
 that the number of the mountain band 
 might not be diminished by any un- 
 necessary exposure, until they had 
 gained their utmost strength. When 
 they discovered that no further re- 
 cruits were to be obtained ; and that 
 nothing further could be accomplished 
 until a general engagement should be 
 riskeci, then he was ready to admit 
 the necessity of emerging from their 
 place of concealment, and of expo- 
 sing themselves to this risk. He ex- 
 horted Ulric to pursue his new career 
 with zeal and courage, and never to 
 
 VOL, I. I
 
 170 
 
 suffer himself to be daunted hy 
 the appearance of dangers however 
 alarming, nor ever to be taken un*^ 
 awares. The youth felt a momentary 
 uneasiness that it should be thought 
 necessary to give fresh advice to him ; 
 but as he had never yet been tried, he 
 acquiesced in its necessity, determined 
 as speedily as possible to prove Lira* 
 «elf worthy of more unqualified confi- 
 dence,and to shew by his conduct that 
 there was not a heart in Helvetia 
 which swelled with a greater interest 
 for her welfare, nor a hand which wa» 
 more devoted to her service, than th« 
 heart and hand of himself. 
 
 The evening had now closed in, 
 and the duskmess of the atmosphert 
 rendering the opportunity fevourable 
 for the departure (rf the two warriors, 
 the Count displayed a wish to ac» 
 celerate it. He accordingly ordered 
 bis domestics to prepare the steeds of
 
 171 
 
 the travellers, and, withdrawing: 
 with Ap GrifF to give some further 
 instructions to the bard, left Uiric 
 and the agitated Florida aione. 'No 
 sooner did the youth find that they 
 were unobserved, than he took a 
 ring from his finger, and placing it on 
 that of Florida, accompanied the 
 present with a request that she would 
 wear it as a pledge of his unconquer- 
 able attachment. The blushing maid 
 received the present with pleasure, 
 and the affectionate pair had scarcely 
 found time to exchange their mutual 
 vows of constancy once again, before 
 the return of the Count and Ap Griff 
 put an end to their interview, be- 
 fore either of them had found time to 
 to give utterance to half which was 
 intended to have been said. The 
 steeds were prepared, and the Count 
 summoned Ulric to attend ; Ap Griff 
 had slung his harp across his shoul- 
 i3
 
 172 
 
 ^ers ; and all was in readiness : when 
 the youth contrived to linger for a 
 moment behind, and catching the 
 sorrowful Florida in his arms, he 
 strained her affectionatelj to his bo- 
 som, and faintly whispering — " For- 
 get me not, my Florida !'' — tore him- 
 self away from her, and left her drown- 
 ed in tears. 
 
 The horse which had been prepar- 
 ■ed for Ulric was a beautiful and 
 spirited animal, the choisest of the 
 Count's stock, who as he presented 
 to him this new gift pressed his hand, 
 and desired him while he evinced no 
 fear of danger, to cherish a proper 
 regard for his own personal security. 
 The youth promised obedience, and 
 leaping on his steed, waved his hand 
 iigain, and rode out of the castle yard, 
 accompanied by the venerable bard, 
 who was mounted on an animal scarce- 
 ly inferior to his own. The moon had
 
 173 
 
 risen iii all her silvery splendour, and 
 threw a pensive radiance over the 
 surrounding scene ; all was still 
 and serene, and Ulric could not 
 restrain himself, ?is he mounted 
 an eminence near the castle, from 
 pausing to look back upon a spot so 
 dear to him from its containing ail 
 that was valuable on earth in his ima- 
 gination. The scene around him 
 was familiar to his eye, and estimable 
 to his heart; oftentimes had he wan- 
 dered with Florida from the castle to 
 this very eminence ; oftentimes had h« 
 lingered with her on the very'eleva»« 
 tion where he now stood, and sur- 
 veyed with joyous heart the un*^ 
 equalled beauties of the mountain 
 emerging above him. Those delightful 
 moments of intercourse were now 
 at an end. He should no longer been^ 
 abled to visit those spots of earth but 
 in his imagination, until he should 
 l3
 
 174 
 
 have facet! danger^ and entered updn 
 the ordeal which he was decreed to 
 endure, before he could be esteemed 
 worthy of her love for whom he 
 would w illinglj sacrifice his existence. 
 He should now no longer hear the 
 music of her harp, and the still more 
 enchanting tones of her voice address^ 
 ing him in accents of sweetest af- 
 fection; at least he should not enjoy 
 this delightful gratification again, un- 
 til he had faced his enemies, and 
 have saved his country ; for to this 
 point his ambition aspired, and he 
 inwardly resolved, since the pangs of 
 a first separation were over, to re- 
 turn no more unto the castle of Zur, 
 until he could return with honor. 
 Where was his Florida, now? She^ 
 was a prey to that anguish wliich she 
 so well concealed while he was in hef 
 presence, lest the sight of her sorrow 
 might unman his heart. She was per-
 
 17d 
 
 haps in her chamber lamenting th# 
 cruel necessity which had decreed 
 this separation, and invoking heaven 
 to guard her Ulric ! This idea was 
 inexpressibly cheering; for, if the 
 prayers of the best, the most innocent, 
 virtuous and amiable of human beings 
 could avail to draw down the pro* 
 tection of Heaven upon him, her*s must 
 be attended with the desired effect, for 
 there was none moreinnocent,more vir- 
 tilous or more amiable than his Flori- 
 da.To be beloved by such an one ; to 
 be allowed to press her lips:'to call her 
 his, these then were blessings which 
 rendered his lot enviable^ above that of 
 all other men; and these blessings wer^ 
 to be allowed to him,with all the uddU 
 tional honors of fame, ii he conducted 
 himself as he ought to do in his new 
 pursuit. In a moment his despon*^ 
 dency vanished, and hope revived on 
 the ruins of apprehension ; he felt all 
 i4
 
 176 
 
 his former enthusiasm; he owned 
 once again the genial warmth of that 
 fire which had glowed within him, 
 before he saw his Florida, and which 
 had been subsequently revived when- 
 ever he listened to the strains of the 
 harp of Ap Griff. His confidence 
 of ultimate success, his anticipations 
 of future glory, were strong and live- 
 ly as ever, and the listlessness to other 
 pursuits which love too generally 
 produces in the breast was super- 
 ceeded by a martial ardour the most 
 vigorous snd promising. He deter- 
 mined that his conduct in the hour 
 of trial should be such as could not 
 fail to be approved ; he would shovT 
 himself wherever danger appeared : 
 he would stem the tide of battle, 
 and seize victory by the plume ; he 
 would secure the independence of 
 his country, and punish those who 
 had oppressed her, and these ideas
 
 177 
 
 took such full possession of his mind, 
 that in the ardour of the moment, 
 he exclaimed — *' Victory or death 
 shall be my maxim in the hour of 
 battle !'' These exclamations start- 
 ted Ap GrifF and rouzed Ulric from 
 his reverie. 
 
 Ap Griff, had refrained from dis- 
 turbing the meditation of Ulric, for 
 he considered it an act of cruelty to 
 refuse him the indulgence of pausing 
 for a few moments, before he quitted 
 the residence of his Florida, and he 
 himself employed the interval, in call- 
 ing to mind the days of his own youth, 
 and in resuscitating, in his own me- 
 mory, those scenes which it had been 
 his destiny to witness and to share. The 
 old harper was completely engrossed 
 in the pleasures which he derived from 
 the retrospect; he could look back with- 
 out sorrow, without a sigh, on events 
 I 5
 
 178 
 
 which at the period of their occur- 
 ranoe, filled his bosom with agonj 
 and his soul with terror. Lost in tlie 
 contemplation of years gone by, the 
 bard noticed not the lapse of the mi- 
 nutes, and when Ulric made his in- 
 voluntary exclamation, Ap GryfT 
 started from his reverie with astonjs- 
 mcnt, and urged his young pupil 
 to push forward and recover the time 
 they had lost, which must have been 
 some considerable period, from the 
 progress of the moon. The youth 
 assented to his companion's request, 
 and the two travellers in a short time 
 •arrived under the walls of Chamouny, 
 where Llric felt himself urged for a 
 moment to pause a second time, and 
 pay a tribute of respect to the worthy 
 prior, the instructor of his youth. "A 
 better man, my friend (said he) than 
 Father Ursulo is not to be met with ; a 
 man possessing more information
 
 179 
 
 and more virtue, the union of which 
 qualifications renders him an inesli- 
 mahle friend. To him I owe all that 
 1 have stored up in my mind ; to him 
 I am indebted for my present dispo- 
 sition and my present prospects, and 
 ^vhen I forget him, or when 1 cease 
 to remember him with respectful 
 admiration, may I lose the affection 
 and esteem of those who are most 
 dear to me. I am sure, my dear 
 friend, that had you known or seen 
 him, you would have felt interested 
 in his behalf; there is such a look of 
 heavenly benignity seated upon his 
 brow ; and his whole conversation 
 and conduct are so attractive that 
 I think no one can become ac- 
 quainted with him without loving 
 him." 
 
 "I have heard much of father 
 Ursulo, my dear Ulric" returned the 
 bard; "and from the general des- 
 v6
 
 180 
 
 cription I have heard of him, 1 cannot 
 suppose your account of him is at all 
 exaggerated. I congratulate myself 
 upon not having become acquainted 
 with him, since to have known him 
 so short a time, and then to have 
 been separated from him, just as I 
 liad begun to develope his worth, 
 would have occasioned a pang even in 
 my old bosom, which I rejoice that it 
 has been spared from experiencing. 
 But, let us get forward, for the night 
 proceeds rapidly ; and, according to 
 my directions, we have a journey of 
 »ix hours lo take.'* 
 
 Saying this the bard pushed on 
 with increasing alacritj^ and soon the 
 tower of the priory was concealed by 
 the distance, and the two war- 
 riors wound up the sides of the moun- 
 tain with fresh vigour and spirits, for 
 the further he proceeded from Zur, 
 the more did Ulric feel the revival
 
 181 
 
 in his breast of those sentiments which 
 he had more then once feared had 
 been merged in his excessive love for 
 Florida. In about two hours, the 
 travellers had made great progress, 
 and the bard beguiled the tediousness 
 of the way with tales of yore, tales 
 of the deeds which he had witnessed, 
 traditionary stories of Britain; while 
 Ulric felt a delight in pointing out 
 to Ap Gryff as they mounted the 
 stupendous acclivities, the precipices 
 over whicli he had leaped when pur- 
 suing the chamoisover the innumerable 
 steeps which lifted their various heads 
 around them ; " and yonder lies the 
 wide gulph (continued Ulric) where 
 1 met with those severe wounds which 
 had well nigh killed me, and put an 
 end to all my projects and prospects 
 at a very early period. The illness 
 which was the consequence, however, 
 I shall never cease to remember with
 
 182 
 
 pleasure, for it was then that 1 first 
 discovered that Florida did indeed love 
 me, and it was then also that my 
 worthy friend the prior interested 
 himself so effectually on my behalf, 
 and obtained for nv3 from the Count 
 the conditional promise of the hand 
 of her whom 1 prize above all the 
 world. 
 
 Thus for about two hours longer 
 the travellers continued to beguile 
 the tediousness of the way ; when they 
 suddenly fell in with a party of the 
 mountain band who were on the 
 look out, and who, having received in- 
 formation of their expected arrival, 
 received them with joy, and con- 
 ducted them by a nearer route then 
 they were about to have taken to- 
 wards the cavern. That road was 
 intricate and dangerous; here and 
 there the jaded steeds could scarcely 
 mount the acclivities; and in other
 
 IBS 
 
 parts the abysses which intervened 
 Mere such as would have terrified any 
 persons of less courage or persever- 
 ance. But Ulric and Ap Gryff pos- 
 sessed minds not to be daunted by any 
 dangers however terrific ; and with 
 ready speed they followed their con- 
 ductor amidst the chain of hills, unfil 
 they reached a deep and yawning 
 cava, when the leader dismounting, 
 exclaimed — " Here, friends, you be- 
 hold the residence of the mountain 
 band !*' The rejoiced Ulric leaped 
 from his steed, and, followed closely 
 by Ap GryfF, approached the entrance 
 which was illuriiinated by torches, 
 on the leader sounding a horn, and 
 in a few minutes the wearried war- 
 riors entered a spacious room formed 
 out of the womb of the hill, and 
 were received by the captain, in whom 
 they recognized the messenger who 
 had visited Zur.
 
 184 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The harp of Ap GrjfT was a novel 
 instrument to the band, who, while the 
 newly arrived warriors refreshed them- 
 selves after their long and toilsome 
 journey, walked round it, and eyed 
 it with looks of curiosity ; and the 
 captain himself felt some indignation 
 as he said mentally — " Does this old 
 fellow suppose that we shall find 
 leisure to dance to his music, or to 
 listen to strains which are only fitted 
 for a woman's ear?*' He repressed his 
 feelings, however, but could not re- 
 frain from looking frequently at the 
 singular make of the instrument, 
 which was not similar to any thing he
 
 185 
 
 had seen. The bard and Ulric liad 
 perceived the curiosity which had been 
 excited by the harp, and Ap GryfF 
 resolved, when he had finished his 
 repast, to give them a specimen of 
 the powers of his music, and to con- 
 vince himself whether the natural 
 passion of the Swiss for melody might 
 not be turned to wonderful advantage* 
 In the mean time the strangers deli- 
 vered the messages with which they 
 had been intrusted by the Count, 
 and entered into an animated conver* 
 sation with the leader of the baud, as 
 to the future conduct of the band. The 
 captain was not a little surprized and 
 delighted to ascertain the extent of the 
 bard's information on military topics, 
 and he flattered himself that his ad- 
 vice might be of very material service 
 to him in assisting his future plans, 
 and placing their security on a more 
 permanent and less questionable basis*
 
 185 
 
 The captain had of late suspected that 
 some of the enemy had discovered 
 their retrcatin the mountain; and, in- 
 deed, it was matter of surprize to him 
 that thej had not previously found it 
 out, since their residence there had 
 been for a period of twelve years, and 
 they had been, of necessity, in the 
 constant habit of marching forth into 
 the mountains, in quest of provisions, 
 and other articles equally requisite for 
 use. Some few days previous to the 
 arrival of the new warriors, a party 
 of Germans had been seen to wind 
 round the summit of the mountain 
 which overlooked the cavern, and 
 had appeared to pry very particularly 
 into the various recesses, although 
 they did not attempt to make an en- 
 trance into any one of them. It was 
 true they had not discovered the abode 
 of the band, which was completely 
 hidden from their view by an obtrud-
 
 #^ 
 
 187 
 
 ingclifT, but if they had acquired in** 
 foriTKition sufficiently accurate to 
 guide them so near to the spot, it was 
 natural to expect that they would not 
 quit their search until it had proved 
 successful. On this occasion, the 
 situation and strength of the look-out 
 party were such that they could mi- 
 ther attack the enemy, nor summon 
 their comrades to their assistance ; 
 since if they had made an assault and 
 succeeded in defeating the enemy, 
 this circumstance, with the narrative 
 of those who had escaped, would have 
 confirmed the enemy in their belief 
 that the band occupied a retreat near 
 this spot, and the consequence would 
 have been the arrival of a much more 
 formidable party, who would have 
 discovered the retreat, and if they also 
 had been defeated, the residence could 
 no longer have been secure. They 
 accordingly kept close in their con-
 
 18S 
 
 cealment, until the enemy's band haJ 
 disappeared behind a remote part of 
 the mountain. Other visits of a simi- 
 lar nature were now to be expected, 
 and the captain had stationed centi- 
 nels about the cavern to bring the 
 earliest notice of the appearance of 
 any fresh bands, in order that mea- 
 sures might be adopted to cut otF their 
 retreat, unless the force of the enemy 
 was such as to render this design im*- 
 practicable ; and, in that case, to 
 keep close within the recesses of the 
 mountain, that they might if possible 
 elude discovery. The arrival there- 
 fore of Ulric and Ap Gryff at thi« 
 moment was particularly gratifying 
 to the captain, who saw the prospect 
 before him of increasing difficulties; 
 and the purport of whose visit to the 
 Count of Zur was to solicit some aid 
 to assist him in forming plans to meet 
 and overcome tlie dangers which ap-
 
 189 
 
 |5eared before him. He felt himself 
 considerably relieved by their arrival^ 
 and began again to anticipate an 
 easy extrication from the perils which 
 surrounded them, when he began to 
 tathom the depth of Ap GryfF*s know- 
 ledge of military matters, and to de- 
 velope the fund of knowledge and ex- 
 perience which was laid up in his bo- 
 som. He felt his respect for his new 
 visitors increase as h€ beheld the ar- 
 dour and courage of the one, and the 
 wisdom ^nd coolness of the other : he 
 began to perceive the true value of 
 the acquisitions which he had derived 
 from his recent visit to the Count, and 
 ke was convinced, that if an hour had 
 Tendered them «o estimable in his 
 opinion, an intercourse and associa- 
 tion of a longer period must lead him 
 to a still more correct acquiaintance 
 with their intiinsic worth. Reflections 
 such as these rapidly succeeded eacb
 
 190 
 
 other in the breast of the captain^ 
 %ihile the bard and riric recruited 
 their wasted strength with refreshing 
 draughts from the rich wines which 
 had been set before them, and which 
 were doubly sweet to their taste, when 
 they understood them to have consti- 
 tuted part of the rich booty taken, 
 with a German detachment, which 
 was fell in with while bending it» 
 march over the chain of hijls which 
 surmounted the cavern. 
 
 When the refreshment was remored. 
 Ulric in a whisper, requested Ap 
 Gryff to favor the bard with a few in- 
 spiring strains of his harp, when the 
 bard perceiving that the curiosity 
 which had been excited by the first 
 view of his instrument, had not subsided, 
 exclaimed — " I see, my gallant com- 
 rades,that you are not acquainted with 
 the weapon I carry there,but with your 
 €$4ptain's permission, I will give you
 
 a specimen of its powers, and, if 1 
 mistake not, it will be allowed to 
 possess some force/* The captain 
 assented with a smile, for he could not 
 yet consent to divest himself of the 
 opinion he had previously formed, 
 that if they were obliged to trust to 
 such weapons as that specimen dis* 
 played, their subjugation would b6 
 matter of no great difficulty. The 
 band assembled round the bard, who, 
 as he tuned his instrument, added— 
 •* This harp has disarmed a German 
 detachment, and has taken away from 
 them the power of doing harm : it has 
 led armies to victory, and stimulated 
 soldiers to rival in their actions, the 
 deeds of heroes* But you shall sooa 
 have a specimen of its powers and if it 
 fails to excite a spirit of enthusiasm 
 in the bosom of every Swiss, I shall 
 confess that I am most grievously dis- 
 appointed in the extent of the know^
 
 1^2 
 
 ledge which I possess of human na- 
 ture/' As he heard this introduction, 
 the incredulity of the captain himself 
 began to give away, and he waited 
 with something like impatience for the 
 sound of this wonder-working instru- 
 ment, which, if it did indeed answer 
 the representations of the performer, 
 must be of greater efficiency in th^r 
 situation, than a reinforcement of a 
 hundred swords. 
 
 Ap GryfF had now prepared his in- 
 strument, and the band stood rounds 
 listening with the most marked atten- 
 tion to catch the sounds which were to 
 produce 'such inspiring sensations in 
 every breast. On a sudden the harper 
 swept the strings and gave expression 
 to one of the sweetest melodies of 
 Taliesin. It was one which Ulric 
 himself had never before heard, and 
 the masterly musician displayed in 
 its performance a skill ae ver to be sur-
 
 193 
 
 passed bj human ingenuity. As he 
 proceeded, the utmost variety of emo- 
 tions was depicted on the countenances 
 of the whoje band : not an individual 
 was unmoved ; the captain himself 
 sat, in an attitude of admiring won- 
 der, and scarce!}^ permitted himself 
 to breathe, lest he should lose some 
 part of the Heaven born harmony. 
 Having by his pathetic strains, eflec- 
 tually succeeded in melting the rugged 
 hearts of the mountaineers, and in 
 drawing from tlieir pyes the hardly 
 relinquished drops of sympathy: the 
 musician suddenly struck into a mar- 
 tial strain of the most inspiring nature, 
 "Every countenance was instantly 
 braced up to a pitch of enthusiasm 
 surpassing conception ; and the incre- 
 dulous chief himself, leaping from his 
 seat, half unsheathed his " battle 
 blade,'* and seemed to burn with an 
 unquenchable ardoui* to rush to cou* 
 
 <)h. I. K
 
 194 
 
 flict,^ A similar fervor, by degrees, 
 pervaded all around, until the enthu- 
 siasm was rouzed to such a pitch that 
 the bard deemed it an imprudent ex- 
 periment to stimulate the listening 
 warriors any futher : accordingly, he 
 fell into a gradually gentler strain, 
 progressively relaxing the sinews of 
 that ardour which he had instilled, 
 until he brought them down to a level 
 with their former selves. Suddenly 
 ceasing, Ap GryfF, addressing the 
 captain, inquired what he thought of 
 the powers of his instrument ; and 
 whether he considered it possible that 
 the harp could be used to advantage 
 in leading the warriors he commanded 
 in the day of battle ? 
 
 It was not until after the lapse of 
 some minutes that the astonished cap- 
 tain was enabled to reply to the ques» 
 tiou of Ap Gryff: at length, how- 
 ever, he recovered himself sufficiently
 
 195 
 
 from the astonishment into which he 
 had been thrown, and replied — '' By 
 the blessed virgin and all the saints in 
 the calendar, but you threw me into 
 such an ecstacy that I could have gone 
 singly, and fought against a thousand 
 Germans : and, if I am not much mis- 
 taken, most of my brave fellows who 
 heard, felt something like myself. I 
 don't wonder that you led armies to 
 victory with such music as thtit; for 
 although 1 have been a soldier ever^ 
 since my youth, and have seen many 
 a hard and bloody contest, I never felt, 
 in the midst of battle, when a man 
 always fights best, a greater degree of 
 ardour and enthusiasm than I did 
 at that moment when you played your 
 instrument so divinely. I did not at 
 first much like your bringing music 
 here to amuse us, but if all music was 
 like your's, I should be tempted to 
 cry out — give us more music than 
 k2
 
 195 
 
 swords ! Would to God, that we had 
 possessed such an instrument as that, 
 and such a musician as yourself, on 
 some particular days, which rush up 
 in my recollection, when many of my 
 brave friends were slaughtered : they 
 might still have survived, and Swit- 
 zerland, even at this moment, might 
 have been free! Oh! these were me- 
 lancholy times ; «nd Father Ursulo, 
 of the Priory of Chamouny, w ho was 
 my comrade in those bloody contests, 
 can bear witness to the truth, when I 
 say that tbe sun never rose on days 
 Avhich were more completely drowned 
 in blood!" 
 
 *' Father Ursulo has made me ac- 
 cjuainted with the dreadful circum- 
 stances to which you alli^ide, gallant 
 captain !*' answered Ulric, " nor has 
 the lapse of nearly thirty years been 
 ^bJe to obliterate (he sad impression of 
 those scenes from his nnnd. But the
 
 197 
 
 spirit of those brave martyrs is revived' 
 in us, like them we will venture our 
 lives for our country ; and if we die, 
 like them, we shall die gloriously. 
 But the harp of Ap Gryff shall lead 
 us to victory, and those animating 
 strains which shall prove an irresistir 
 ble stimulus to our intrepidity, shall 
 strike dismay into the hearts of our 
 enemies. Let us not despair of suc- 
 cess ; Switzerland shall yet be free !'* 
 
 The animation of Ulric's voice and 
 .countenance instantly communicated 
 itself to the band, who, with one im- 
 pulse caught the inspiring words^ and 
 in a single voice which almost shook 
 the mountains, vociferated — " Swit- 
 zerland shall yet be free." The echoes 
 caught the inspiration, and the joy- 
 ous acclamation rebounded with asto- 
 nishing rapidity from hill to hill. The 
 captain himself became touched with 
 a. similar enthusiasm — " t lie arrival of 
 k3
 
 19S 
 
 our friends (said he) is attended with 
 circumstances of such a happj' na- 
 ture, that I trust they are intended to 
 convey to us a confidence that the 
 power of Austria is near its decline, 
 and that Switzerland shall indeed be 
 free V 
 
 Although the accommodations which 
 the cavern aiforded to the wearied 
 limbs of Ulric were not equal to those 
 which he had been accustomed to find 
 in the Castle of Zur, yet his excessive 
 fatigue rendered ihe rugged couch on 
 which he stretched himself sweetly re- 
 freshing. Be had been used, before* 
 his introduction at the castle, fre- 
 quently to find repose in the caverns 
 of the mountains, when he had been 
 drawn to any great distance, by his 
 eagerness after the chase of the Cha- 
 mois, and he never failed to rest sound- 
 ly after weariness had qualified him 
 for any couch, wherever he might
 
 chance to be found by the darkness. 
 The hardness of his bed was now the 
 least consideration which occupied his 
 mind, his busy thoughts reverted to 
 the past, to his intercourse with Flo- 
 rida ; and to the numerous happy mo- 
 ments which he had recently spent ; 
 he pictured to himself the affectionate 
 constancy of his love, and looked for- 
 ward with confidence to the obtain- 
 ment of her as a bright reward for his 
 toil and exertions. He then turned 
 his eye to the scenes which would in- 
 tervene betwixt the present period 
 and that to which he looked forward, 
 with an eye of hope. In imagination, 
 he entered into the conflicts which he 
 was destined to witness ; and beheld 
 the strides of death over the field of 
 contention, and there was he occupied 
 until the power of sleep overtook him, 
 and plunged him into a temporary 
 forgetfulness of the past, and listless*
 
 200 
 
 fiess as (o the future. Tlie^wearierl 
 bard who was stretched at his side sank 
 into a similai enjoyment of the extatic 
 refreshment which nature derives from 
 periodical insensibility and repose. 
 
 For several days after the arrival of 
 the warriors, they were occupied, in 
 concert with the captain, in adopting 
 measures for their greater security, by 
 the throwing up of an immense 
 mound of earth, immediately at the 
 entrance into the retreat, so that the 
 cavern itself could not be discovered 
 without the most minute investigation. 
 This defence w ould also be of essential 
 service, if the retreat should be dis- 
 covered, and an attack should be 
 made upon it, for tlie difficulty of 
 forcing an entrance would be greatly 
 augmented by the artificial fortifica- 
 tion which had been thus added to the 
 natural strength of the place. When 
 this preparatiou was completed, every
 
 201 
 
 individual found himself still more 
 secure than before, and the dailj ex-- 
 cursions were made witli much more 
 spirit since the band had learned to 
 place more confidence in the secrecy 
 and security of their retreat in case 
 of necessity. The numbers of the 
 troop exceeded three thousand, and 
 great expectations were entertained of 
 the addition which would be made to 
 them whenever they should advance 
 from the mountains, and raise openly 
 the standard of insurrection against 
 the power of Austria : and this hope, 
 was founded upon the general dissatis-- 
 faction expressed by all ranks of the 
 Swiss, against the increasing exactions 
 and oppressions of the Germans. . 
 
 At length the hour arrived, when 
 Ulricas w'ish to meet the enemy was to 
 be gratified. One morning the capr 
 tain expressed his intention to marc It 
 from the retreat, and pour his troop » 
 k5
 
 202 
 
 down suddenly, under cover of the 
 darkness, upon the town of Zurich, 
 since he was convinced, that unless 
 some decisive measure was adopted, it 
 was in vain to hope for those rein- 
 forcements which were necessary to 
 give the band that efficiency which 
 was so much to be desired. He con- 
 tended that much might be expected 
 from the panic which would be oc- 
 casioned to the enemy by the sudden 
 appearance of the Swiss troops, and 
 he calculated with much confidence 
 on the CO operation of; the inhabitants 
 of the town, who, he was convinced, 
 only waited for such an occurrence, 
 to rise upon the oppressors. Ap Gryff 
 professed himself unable to advise in 
 this dilemma, since he was not suffi- 
 ciently acquainted with the disposi- 
 tions of the people : he considered the 
 attempt would be attended with very 
 great risk; but, if it succeeded, it
 
 203 
 
 could not fail to be productive of verj 
 beneficial effects. Ulric was equally 
 cautious of advancing, but expressed 
 his readiness to ent«r into any service 
 which the captain might entrust to 
 him, whatever the dangers and diffi- 
 culties which surrounded it. The 
 determination of Ulric, and a similar 
 resolve of Ap Gryff, were received 
 with pleasure by the captain, who 
 was not to be deterred by any conside- 
 rations of risk from making an attempt 
 on whioh he had fixed his mind. He 
 was wearied with staying in the ca* 
 vern, in a state of indolence, for so 
 long a period ; further delay might 
 easily be advised by those who were 
 not doomed to endure the hardships 
 of such a state of existence, who had 
 not braved the fury of twelve winters, 
 in a damp unwholesome cavern, un- 
 sheltered from the effects of the wea- 
 ther : his five comrades who bad en^
 
 204 
 
 tered with him into this retreat, had 
 fallen victims to their patience and 
 their patriotism ; and he felt his own 
 constitution daily sinking under in- 
 creasing hardships. He was resolved, 
 therefore, to stake all upon oae grand 
 essay, let the result be what it might ; 
 if unsuccessful, he should but acce- 
 lerate his end by a few months, or 
 perhaps only weeks ; while, if success 
 should attend the etibrt, Zurich must 
 )je emancipated from the power of the 
 Austrians, and there could .be no 
 doubt that this stroke would lay the 
 foundation for the restoration to liberty 
 of all the other cantons. 
 
 No sooner was this resolution agreed 
 on in the mind of the captain, than 
 it was communicated to the band, 
 who were ordered to be prepared for 
 their departure on this desperate enter- 
 prize by the second night, when it 
 was intended to proceed by a short
 
 205 
 
 rente down the mountains to Zurich, 
 and to attack the place beforp day- 
 light should betray their design ta 
 the enemy. AH wa* now bustle witli- 
 in the cavern, and the claag of arms 
 reached from one end to the other. 
 Every individual was eager for the 
 destined moment, every one was^ 
 anxious to evince his courage in the 
 presence of a foe v/hich was universally 
 bated. Ap GryfF and Ulric, how- 
 ever, were not so sanguine as to the 
 result of this plan, for the former 
 had succeeded in making the latter 
 sensible of the imminent danger to 
 which the captain exposed his band 
 by this daring enterprize. Nothing, 
 however, could prevent the attempt 
 from being made, and it only remain- 
 ed therefore, for them to do their 
 duty, in common with the rest of the 
 troop, and to contribute, as far as 
 it lay in their power, to a successful
 
 206 
 
 result. They accordingly made every 
 preparation which was necessary on 
 their part ; and the whole being com- 
 pleted within the given time, just 
 as the sun had withdrawn his last 
 beams from the worlds the second 
 evening after the determination had 
 been formed, the whole of the troop 
 moved foward from the cavern, and 
 began to descend the declivity which 
 stretched from the mouth of the re- 
 treat down to the foot of the first 
 eminence. In less than two hours 
 the whole scene was enveloped in the 
 impenetrable mists of night, but as 
 the band were well acquainted with 
 every part of the mountains, the dark- 
 ness impeded not their progress, but 
 was rather considered as favourable, 
 since it tended to cover their designs, 
 and to render their approach less 
 likely to be discovered. , Three hour's 
 lapse, during the gloom of night
 
 ao7 
 
 brought the wliole of the band into 
 the neighbourhood of Zurich, where 
 their arrival was totally unexpected, 
 but as the night was not sufficiently 
 far advanced, to make their attack 
 so practicable and so likely to be at- 
 tended with success as could be 
 wished, it was resolved to postpone 
 the assault until an hour after mid- 
 night ; inthe mean timethe band was 
 drawn off to some little distance from 
 the town, and the captain, attended 
 by Ulric and Ap GryfFjiventto recon- 
 noitre the state of the fortifications, 
 and to decide upon what part the at- 
 tack ought to be made ; for since the 
 design had been proceeded in thus 
 far, the friends considered themselves 
 bound by every sentiment of duty 
 to give the utmost assistance in 
 their power to the further plans of the 
 captain.
 
 208 
 
 A very cursory examination of the 
 walls convinced the leaders of the be- 
 sieging army that the capture of the 
 place would be attended with much 
 greater difficulty than the captain 
 had represented ; for, whether the 
 enemy had received any intimation 
 which had led them to infer the pro- 
 bability of a speedy attack, or 
 w hi ther they had only been actuated 
 by motives of common prudence, 
 they had repaired and stengthened 
 every part of the fortifications re- 
 cently, and with particular care, and 
 while they w ere yet under the walls, 
 the sound of the watch word passing 
 from the ramparts of the tow ers, which 
 were stationed at intervals, convinced 
 them ^that there were sentinels on duty, 
 and that, unless uncommon secrecy 
 and prudence were dbplayed in every 
 operation the scheme would inevita- 
 bly be frustrated. At this unfortu-
 
 20D 
 
 nate moment the moon arose, in a 
 clear and unclouded sky, and shed 
 all around a splendour sufficient for 
 the distinguisning of objects at some 
 distance ; her rays were reflected on 
 the spears of the mountain army, and 
 the captain full of terror, as he per- 
 ceived their glittering appearance, 
 ordered them to be immediately 
 lowered, but the command it was 
 feared came to late, for an evi- 
 dent confusion and hurry was instant- 
 ly evident on the walls, and it was 
 too truly suspected that the guards 
 had gained sight of the army, and 
 were adopting the necessary measures 
 to frustrate their intentions. 
 
 Ap Gryflf and Ulric advised an im» 
 mediate attack, but unfortunately, 
 the captain would not suffer himself 
 to be persuaded that the enemy had 
 discovered his army, and under this 
 impression, he still persisted ia re*
 
 mo 
 
 Biaining silent until the appointed 
 hour. There was no alternative but 
 to obey, and the two warriors took 
 their stations accordingly, and awaited 
 tlie proper orders for the commence- 
 ment of the assault, which the leader 
 had resolved to make upon the two 
 principal gates at the same instant. To 
 one of those gates Ulric and his friend 
 were detached, while the captain witb 
 one half of the band, remained at 
 the other. The moment at length ar- 
 rived, and the appointed signal being 
 made, a tremendous assault was given 
 to each of the gates, which was an* 
 swered by a volley of destructive 
 missiles which fell from the walls 
 amongst the besiegers ; and the cap- 
 tain beheld now that he was lully pre- 
 pared for, and that his design was 
 in evident danger of being thwarted. 
 This idea rendered him furious, and 
 he assailed the gate with redoubled
 
 fury ; until the massy porial, unable 
 to withstand the prodigious forc^e 
 which was brought against it, fell 
 within the walls, and in its fall crush- 
 ed many of the ill-fated soldiers of 
 the besieged ; ths troop of Swiss in- 
 stantly rushed impetuously into the 
 town, and a tremendous conflict en* 
 sued, in which both parties fought 
 with a fury and resolution, the result 
 of desperation. 
 
 In the meantime, Ulric and the 
 warrior-bard had with their ladders 
 ascended the walls after a most violent 
 opposition from the enemy, and had 
 succeeded in driving the garrison from 
 the battlements into the town whither 
 they were promptly folio vred by the 
 whole of Ulricas division. The Go- 
 vernor himself became opposed to the 
 impetuous youth, and a long and 
 vigorous conflict ensued between the 
 two warriors, until the German, feel-
 
 ai2 
 
 ing his own inferiority, and fearing 
 for the result, attempted to escape 
 from the vigour of the youth's attack, 
 but a well directed and furious stroke 
 from his opponent, cut short his re- 
 treat, and levelled him, headless, in 
 tlie dust. The enemy in this part of 
 the town, seeing the fall of their go- 
 vernor, became seized with a sudden 
 panic, and as a very considerable 
 carnage had been previously made 
 amongst them, they turned their backs 
 on tiieir furious assailants, and sought 
 for security in a precipitate flight. 
 L'lric and his friend, followed by iheir 
 victorious and exulting troop, pursued 
 the enemy as far as they could with 
 prudence, and then pushed forwards, 
 within the walls, to render assistance 
 to their comrades who were engaged 
 at the other gate : where they arrived 
 at the moment that the weake^ned 
 Swiss, disheartened by the fall of their
 
 ^13 
 
 tiiptain, who had been wounded 
 early m the action, and by the rapidly 
 increasing number of the enemy, were 
 begining to give way in every direc- 
 tion. Encouraged, however, by the 
 shouts of their comrades, who now 
 ruslied to their assistance, the valiant 
 band returned to the conflict with re*- 
 newed fury, and again'a violent con- 
 tention commenced. The body of 
 jthe fallen captain was recovered, as 
 the enemy began to give ground, and 
 was conveyed by a chosen band, led 
 by Ap Gryff, to the cavern in the 
 mountain ; whither Ulric already per- 
 ceived that he should be compelled to 
 retreat, since a fresh force from a re- 
 mote part of the town, which hiid not 
 yet been engaged in any part of the 
 fray, appeared pouring out of the 
 streets to give asisistiince to their van- 
 quished and retiring companions, 
 i Iric now ceased to fight for victory ;
 
 S14 
 
 since h^ discovered that the weakened 
 state of his troop, independent of their 
 diminished numbers, was such as to 
 render them inadequate to preserve 
 the fruits of victory, if they were able 
 to obtain it ; and this was impossible, 
 since the number of the enemy, at 
 this moment, evidently more than 
 trebled the original force of the moun- 
 tain band. He resolved therefore to 
 fight merely to secure a retreat ; for, 
 instead of experiencing any aid from 
 the inhabitants, as the captain had 
 led him to expect, he discovered the 
 Swiss standing indifferent to the issue 
 of the contest, or apparently only 
 anxious how they should rescue them- 
 selves and their families and property 
 from destruction ; not one of them 
 moved to give assistance to their gal- 
 lant country men, who were fighting 
 for their emancipation ; not one of 
 them drew a sword, or raised a hand
 
 ai5 
 
 to vindicate the cause of liberty and 
 of Switzerland. The reflection was 
 a source of bitter regret to Ulric, who 
 augured, from this disposition, no- 
 thing very favourable to the emanci- 
 pation of his country. The gallant 
 Swiss continued, notwithstanding 
 €very difficulty, to resist the tide of 
 war, and to contend against the in- 
 creasing number of their enemy, with 
 a bravery which reflected glory upon 
 them. They had retreated to the gate 
 by which the €ntry had been made 
 into the town, and there, like Leoni- 
 das, at the straits of Thermopylce,they 
 had formed a rampart of their slaugh- 
 tered foes, and raised themselves a 
 monument imperishable as the sun. 
 The carnage on the part of the enemy 
 seemed to be immense ; hundreds lay 
 strewed about the streets, and marked 
 every spot of ground, where the Swiss 
 had stood, but the loss of numbers
 
 216 
 
 seemed to be scarcely able to make 
 the least impression upon them, for 
 their deficiencies were quickly re-tille<l 
 by the fresh tvoops which still poured 
 in to their assistance. The Swiss 
 were also much thinned: some of the 
 bravest of the band lay surrounded 
 by those whom they had destroyed ; 
 and tlie survivors seemed to view the 
 fall of every comrade as a stimulus to 
 excite them to new exertions. 
 
 The moon was now in her wane, 
 and the battle which had lasted up- 
 wards of six hours, began to languish. 
 L Iric felt convinced that he had pro- 
 tracted the fight until his wounded 
 captain had been borne to the cavern, 
 and he resolved now to take the most 
 prudent measures for his own retreat 
 The still multiplying force of the ene- 
 my, and the harrassed state of his own 
 troop left him no probable hope of a 
 victorious result : the palm had been
 
 ?17 
 
 snatched from him in this his pridlne 
 effort, but he trusted that he dis^ 
 plajed sutficient vigour to preserve his 
 name from contempt. He mourned 
 the fate of this battle, but he must 
 content himself with lamenting it, for 
 it was not to be rttrieved under exist- 
 ing circumstances, and he much 
 questioned whether the bravest leader 
 in existence could have given a con- 
 trary turn to it, without additional 
 strength. The night was very far 
 spent, and to delay his retreat would 
 be a scheme full of danger, for the 
 dawn of diiy might bring upon hitn 
 a greater hostile power, and his place 
 of security, the cavern, might be 
 easily discovered : but now the night 
 would operate as a cover to his counter 
 inarch, and the darkness which would 
 succeed the setting of the moon, would 
 be favourable to his escape undisco- 
 vered, and might involve those who 
 v/ould pursue him in difficulty and 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 218 
 
 hazard aixjong.^it the mountains. Ac- 
 cordingly he prepared to put his plan 
 in execution, when he found himself 
 suddenly attacked from behind by a 
 fresh body of the enemy, who had 
 marched out of the town by the other 
 gate, and had come thus unexpectedly 
 on the rear of the Swiss, with a view 
 to prevent their retreat, and to com- 
 plete their destruction. 
 
 Although this measure was not ex- 
 actly expected by Ulric, it threw him 
 into no dismay, it destroyed not the 
 cool composure and natural intre- 
 pidity of his mind. The attack of 
 the new enemy was received with an 
 unshaken tirmness which evidently 
 confounded the assailants who seemed 
 to have confidently expected that 
 the Swiss would have surrendered 
 at the first onset. The case however 
 was diflferent: the gallant riric 
 with a vigour and impetuosity, al- 
 most more than mortal, made a 
 most violent attack upon his assailants
 
 219 
 
 in front, which inclucecl them to make 
 a temporary retreat, and, taking ad- 
 vantage of this pause, the intrepid 
 youth turned his arms with equal 
 vigour upon the foes who had attacked 
 liis rear. Hisefforls, on this quarter, 
 liowever, were not attended with that 
 success which crovi^ned his attack 
 upon the other division of his foes; 
 since the troops which he now assailed 
 were fresh : they had not been ha- 
 rassed in fight, nor wearied by the 
 length of contention, but were eager 
 1o retrieve the forfeited character, of 
 the Austrian arms ; while, on the 
 other hand, the troop? of, Ulric, al- 
 though superior in point of spirit, dis- 
 cipline and bravery, although infi- 
 nitely above their opponents in the 
 justice of their cause, were greatly 
 inferior in physical strength and num- 
 bers. Their violent attack notwith- 
 standing, although it did not produce 
 the discomfiture of the enemy, served, 
 l3
 
 220 
 
 to strike them with asfonislinient, far 
 they had not looked for such vigour, 
 in thepresent reduced and weak state 
 of those with whom they contended. 
 They had calculated upon obtaining 
 an easy victory, but they found them- 
 selves opposed with a force and deter- 
 mination which promised them iiosasy 
 triumph. The contest was carried on 
 with the utmost resolutii)n on both 
 sides, but ultimately, the valour of 
 the Swiss prevailed over the numbers 
 of their antagonists, and the enemy 
 began to retreat before that energy 
 and impetuosity which they found it 
 impossible to resist. The other divi- 
 sion of Austrians who had been com- 
 pelled to give back into the town, now 
 advanced once more, and again ar- 
 sayed an assault upon their invaders ; 
 a short contention ensued, when the 
 Germans considered it prudent to se- 
 cure their own fame by again relin- 
 quishing a light which promised 
 them no laurels, and after receiving
 
 !21 
 
 some sanguinary specimens oi the yet 
 existing power and spirit of their op- 
 ponents, in the loss oi" one fourth of 
 their strength; they gave way, ami 
 turned their backs on an enemy, whose 
 diminished numbers were not equal to 
 half their own force. 
 
 These various conflicts had occu- 
 pied the residue of the night, and 
 when the enemy had been repelled for 
 the last time, Uiric perceived the 
 dawn of the morning mantling over 
 the mountains. He had wished to 
 have regained the heights before this 
 period in order to have rendered a 
 pursuit ineffectual to the discovery of 
 his retreat; but as his scheme, in this 
 respect, had been frustrated, it only 
 emained for him to make the best use 
 in his power, of the present imperfect 
 state of the day. To this determina- 
 tion, he was still further prompted 
 by the appearance of a fresh and for- 
 midable body of Austrian troops 
 l3
 
 2Q2 
 
 who appeared in the streets of the 
 town, n.arcliing to the support of the 
 enemy : and although Tiric ardent] j 
 desired to give to these new antiigonists a 
 specimen of the gallantry of his troops, 
 he was awere that the circumstances 
 under which he was placed would not 
 justify the adoption of such a measure. 
 He accordingly, suppressed his na- 
 tural ardour, and commanded his 
 band to retreat to the mountains. A 
 retreat was immediately commenced, 
 but before the wearied Swiss could 
 pass the lowest acclivity, the dauii 
 bad so far advanced as to render visi- 
 ble the surrounding country, and to 
 give them a view of their antagonists 
 inounting the hill in vigorous pursuit 
 of thein. With new speed, tiric ur- 
 ged his band to proceed, in order that, 
 if they were compelled again to fight, 
 they might be enabled to chuse a more 
 advantageous position than that wliich 
 they occupied at this moment. By a 
 fchort and dangerous route, the gallant
 
 22S 
 
 youth led bis followers to the summit 
 of' the second ridge, where tliey had 
 a view of their pursuers marching 
 with rapidity along the winding path 
 which tended towards the spot where 
 they had again paused. Another 
 eminence it was the intention of the 
 youth to gain, and there, if he found 
 that his foes still gained upon him, 
 he resolved to wait and try the event 
 of another engagement. By that time 
 he should liave rertched more than 
 half way to the cavern, and the re- 
 sidue of the path thither was more 
 easy of access than that which they 
 had already passed. Another hour's 
 hard exertion, when they had mounted 
 the next acclivity would have sufficed 
 to place the band within the recess of 
 the mountain, but if the enemy was 
 to be contended with, it was better to 
 fight them on the mountain, than to 
 lead them to the retreat which had 
 yet remained undiscovered, in spite of 
 the utmost exertions of their vigilance
 
 224 
 
 Up the third elevation, Ulric accor- 
 dingly pushed his wearied force by h 
 brief passage, and he soon had the 
 happiness of beholding his band safdj 
 marshalled behind an obtruding gla- 
 cier, which concealed theiii from the 
 enemy, and where they might fix 
 upon the most favourable moment, for 
 the commencement of their attack. 
 Here he exhorted his troop once more 
 to behave as they had in the preceding 
 conflicts of the night, and the con- 
 sequence, if not victory, must be a 
 safe retreat to the cavern, which their 
 bravery would preserve from being 
 discovered. He sighed with anguish, 
 as he beheld the reduced appearance 
 of his troop, and their pallid counte- 
 nances: still, however, he derivetl 
 hope and confidence from the fire of 
 animation, which darted from every 
 eye as he addressed them, and from 
 the new vigour which seemed to in* 
 spire them. Ulric himself took his 
 station where he could mark the pro-
 
 Q25 
 
 ^-ressof the enemy, whitlioiit exposing 
 himself to their notice, and, in a 
 short time, he beheld them mounting 
 the extremity of the hill, and advan- 
 cing towards the glacier which con- 
 cealed the Swiss, who w^ere imme- 
 diate arrayed by their leader in orfJer 
 of battle, and waited in silence the 
 approach of their enemy ; who seemed 
 to hesitate, for some moments, to 
 discover the most ready path up tlie 
 acclivity which surmounted them. 
 In a few minute^they again proceeded, 
 and soon passed the glacier where 
 llric was posted, with his whole 
 band ready to commence another 
 assault, when the signal shotlld b<j 
 given. 
 
 As soon as the Germans had 
 turned their backs upon the conceal- 
 ment of the Swiss troops, the gallant 
 tlric made the desired signal, and 
 in an instant the gallant moun- 
 taineers were in motion; and sooo 
 h5
 
 226 
 
 found themselves advantageously 
 posted in the rear of the enemy. 
 The attack was immediately coin- 
 mencetl with a vigorous impetuosity 
 ivhich dismayed the Austrians; and 
 their terror was not a little increased 
 w lien they beheld the whole of the 
 Swiss troop advantageously stationed 
 in the rear, and fighting with an 
 intrepidity which deserved victory. 
 As soon as they recovered in some 
 degree from their surprize, the ene- 
 :rny, who had been considerably con- 
 fused at the outset, rallied themselves, 
 and returned the assault, with much 
 vigour. The din of death was now 
 heard throughout the whole space, 
 and the mountain echoes rebounded 
 the clang of the martial instruments, 
 the shouts of the contending parties, 
 and the groans and cries of the 
 wounded. The battle raged for an 
 hour with unparalleled and unconquer- 
 able obstinacy on each side, neither 
 Party seemed inclined to yield an inch
 
 227 
 
 of ground, but victory or death 
 seemed to be the object of all. Al- 
 ready were the defiles of the moun- 
 tain choaked with the dead, which 
 were cleared from the spot of conten- 
 tion, and the blood of the slaughtered 
 rushed down the declivity, when the 
 weakened Swiss began to give way : 
 they were unable to withstand the 
 numbers of their opponents which 
 appeared to treble their own ; their 
 exhausted frames and lacerated and 
 harassed spirits Were inadequate to 
 the longer support of such an unequal 
 conflict, and, inspite of the intreaties 
 and example of Ulric, they began 
 evidently to lose ground. As the 
 Swiss failed in their eflbrts, the 
 Germans increased in their vigour ; 
 the yielding appeaiumce of the gal- 
 lant band proved a new stimulus to 
 the exertions of their antagonists, 
 and the Austrian army renewed the 
 assault with a violence surpassing 
 any preceding attack.
 
 228 
 
 This resuscilation of vigour was 
 attended with the wished for success 
 on the part of the enemy, and Ulric, 
 had the morti fie ati on to see the de- 
 fenders of their country turning their 
 backs on its oppressors. At tliis 
 iiionient, ho^rever, when the palm 
 of victory was just about to be 
 snatched t'rom the hands of the Swiss, 
 while the shouts of victory were al- 
 ready issuing from the throats of the 
 eneifiy ; a circumstance occurred 
 which recalled the fainting spirits of 
 the Swiss, and again turned the tide 
 of success. On a sudden, sounding 
 through the atmostphere in strains 
 of inspiring melody the harp of Ap 
 GryfF was heard from the acclivity 
 which overlooked the scene of con- 
 test. The martial music caused a 
 solemn pause ; the astonished A ustrians 
 gazed in dismay upon each other, 
 while the skill of the heaven-born 
 musician exerted itself to the utmost; 
 the heart of Ulric beat high with ex-
 
 229 
 
 nltation; lie saw in tbe countenances 
 of liis troop the blessed effects of the 
 soul^ cheering melody, and, aiding 
 them v/iih the enthusiasm of his voice, 
 he exclaimed — "Comrades, 'tis the 
 genius of Switzerland that inter- 
 feres to blast 30 ur enemies !'' In a 
 moment the Swiss line was again 
 formed, and the fight re-commenced 
 with a double energy, while the 
 martial harmony swelled with new 
 energy, and continued to inspire 
 the mountain band with an en- 
 thusiasm of the most unconquerable 
 nature. Physical weakness was no 
 longer attented to ; the disparity 
 of numbers ceased to be an object 
 of apprehension : and the swords of 
 the band of heroes once more opposed 
 those of their foes. The Germans, 
 on the other hand, unable to account 
 for what they termed a supernatural 
 intervention, were with difficulty 
 revailed upon to present an appear-
 
 230 
 
 ance of opposition to the impetiions 
 Swiss. They fought with appaiied 
 liearts : their courage had subsided 
 beheath the influence of the myste- 
 rious melody, and they relaxed in 
 tlieir exertions, in proportion as the 
 energy of the Switzers increased. 
 For some minutes, however, the con- 
 flict was furious, for the leaders of 
 the Austrians were unwilling to 
 yield the victory which they had con- 
 sidered as already won, when the 
 music was heard : during this ardour 
 of contest; the skill of the unseen 
 musician was exerted to its utmost, 
 and the enthusiastic ardour of the 
 band of Swiss rose higher and higher, 
 until, at length, the impetuosity 
 which it produced was absolutely 
 irresistible, and the scared troops 
 of Austria began to give way in every 
 direction. A shout of victory from 
 the Swiss cheered the soul of the 
 harper, and the music responded to 
 the psean of the troop : the German
 
 231 
 
 nrmv, unable any longer lo contend 
 ^vith men whose efforts they were 
 convinced were stimulated by some 
 celesiiaragency, retired with precipita- 
 tion behind the glacier which had con- 
 cealed IJlric and his troop, and here 
 they endeavoured to defend tliem- 
 selvs ; but the retreating movements 
 of the enemy, added to the increas- 
 ing energy of the strains which floated 
 to their ears, had so inspired the moun- 
 taineers, that they no longer fought 
 as men, but their attacks seemed 
 nerved with superhuman courage. 
 The enemy found this to their cost ; 
 their diminishing numbers induced 
 them speedily to relinquish the de- 
 sign of remaining under the protec- 
 tion of the glacier ; and with apreci- 
 pitation not to be exceeded they 
 rushed forth and betook themselves 
 to flight. The Swiss elated beyond 
 measure at their success, from beins: 
 pursued, became in their turn the 
 pursuers; they chased the enemy
 
 QS2 
 
 with an ardour and strength which 
 Uirichad not supposed them to pos- 
 sess after the fatigues thej had under- 
 gone ; and numbers of the fugitive 
 troops who had been either less able 
 or less fortunate in their flight than 
 their comrades, fell victims to the 
 &words of the conquerors, before 
 IJlric could interfere in the cause of 
 humanity. At length the pursuit 
 was stayed, the enemy having been 
 driven to the ^alls of Zurich, while the 
 pursuing Swiss, from the height 
 of the lowest declivity rent the air 
 with their acclamations, and turned 
 about to retrace their steps with a 
 pride scarcely to have been surpassed 
 if the independence of Helvetia had 
 been won by this triumph. With 
 vigorous steps the band clambered 
 the steep ascents of the mountain ; 
 they were no longer in fear of pursuit ; 
 they dreaded assault no more ; and 
 when on the height where the me- 
 morable contest bad taken place.
 
 233 
 
 the liarp of Ap Gry(f again sounded 
 the strains of victory in their ears, the 
 shouts ^vhich responded to the lay 
 of the harper exceeded any which 
 the mountains had echoed since the 
 day of their creation. 
 
 The removal of the slain occupied 
 the band some time, and two thou- 
 sand corpses of the enemy were buried 
 in one of the chasms of the mountain : 
 while the slaughtered heroes of their 
 own troop were consigned to another 
 abyss, that the bones of the patriot 
 and liis oppressor might not mingle 
 intjie grave. This duty performed 
 the heroes ascended the last eminence 
 which divided them from their re« 
 treat ; and here was seen the venera- 
 ble harper, seated upon the extremity 
 of the hill, giving existence to those 
 strains which had produced the 
 glories of the morning, Ulric caught 
 the respected Ap GryfF to his arms, 
 as he called him the saviour of Switz-
 
 234 
 
 land, ancl the eyes of the respected 
 bard overflowed with the tears of 
 transport, while the grateful band' 
 raised him in triumph from his seat, 
 and bore him to the recesses of the 
 cave. 
 
 The first inquiry of Llric Was 
 after the wounded captain, w ho was? 
 stretched wounded and dying on the 
 hard couch of earth, which com- 
 posed the flooring of the cavern^ 
 At the voice of the youthful hera 
 the gallant leader revived, and smiled 
 triumphantly, as the youth narrated 
 the success which had crowned their 
 efforts against their pursuers — "I 
 shall die happy (said he) now I find 
 that the cavern is undiscovered, and 
 the frustration of my design has cost 
 the Austrians more soldiers than the 
 whole of my own band. But your 
 conduct, gallant Ulric, is beyond 
 praise ; but for you these mountain 
 heroes would have been annihilated, 
 and but for you my body would have
 
 235 
 
 remained with the enemy, io be 
 exposed to every indignity which 
 malicious revenge could devisel I 
 bee the error I have been guilty of: 
 I was led astray by my own misjudged 
 calculations ; and I have been the 
 cause of the sad catastrophe of the 
 last night. I am however, about 
 to expiate for my folly with my life, 
 and I trust my name will never be 
 disgraced by the imputation of 
 cowardice. Report my conduct 
 favourably to the Count of Zur, in 
 whose estimation I could wish that 
 my name might long survive. Vene- 
 rable harper ! to you much of this 
 day's glory is to be attributed ; you 
 have saved Switzerland by the en- 
 thusiastic effects produced by your 
 heavenly harmony ; and I predict 
 that the harp of Ap Gryff and the 
 sword of llric Grinbenholt shall in 
 due time effect the emancipation of 
 Switzerland !" 
 
 llric endeavoured to cheer tlie
 
 236 
 
 n'Ounced soldier with the hope of re- 
 covery to share in the glory of d^ 
 livering his country ; but Ap Gryff 
 was silent ; ha had examlried the 
 wounds of the dying man, on his 
 teaching the cavern, and being 
 skilled in surgery, had applied those 
 remedies which were suited to their 
 nature, bat he had discovered that 
 although these applications might 
 give relief, they could not save their 
 object. The wounds were too deep 
 for the reach of human aid, and the 
 benevolent bard had the mortifica- 
 tion to perceive that all his exertions 
 must prove utterly unavailing to pro- 
 duce any efficient or permanent good. 
 But so ardent was the temperament 
 of riric's mind, that he saw no im- 
 possibility in the cure of the chief; he 
 vainly imagined that the sound of 
 triumph, the news of the success 
 which had attended the final efforts 
 of the band, would be the most 
 salutary remedy which could b :
 
 237 
 
 applied to the wounded sufferer, <aiid that 
 when his mind -was cheered by this in- 
 telligence, his body would no longer be 
 susceptible of danger. He accordingly 
 pointed out to the captain the possibility 
 of adopting some more efficient plan for 
 the future operations of the troop, and 
 thus by giving his thoughts a different turn, 
 he attempted to wean him from the con- 
 templation of his precarious state ; but his 
 efforts were ineffectual ; the soldier smiled 
 faintly at hia endeavours, and feebly 
 articulated — " Ulric, it is in vain that you 
 strive to animate me with hopes of life. 
 I feel the chilling influence of death upon 
 me, and a few minutes longer will mark 
 the termination of my career. You will 
 succeed me in the command of this band, 
 and 1 need not recommend them to your 
 affection, or endeavour to impress upon you 
 the necessity of a prudent conduct — your 
 heart and your wisdom render such mea- 
 sures unnecessary. I could have wished 
 to have seen my designs crowned with 
 success; I could have longed to fall at 
 the moment that I might have been per- 
 mitted to render an effectual service to my 
 country ; but a superior power has con- 
 trouled my wishes and my hopes, and I die 
 before that period can arrive which I have 
 unceasingly looked forward to. Farewel, 
 my gallant comrades, you hate been my
 
 238 
 
 faitlitul coaiprmions and have witnessed 
 my last years, to you I bequeath my prayers 
 and my blessing ! Gallant harper ; respect- 
 ed and wise old man, remember sometimes, 
 the unfoitunate chief, whose last momenta 
 you have witnessed — Uiiic, adieu" — He 
 would have said m.ore, but the hand of 
 death arrested the unfinished sentence ; the 
 power of speech was taken from him ; and, 
 pressing ardently the hand of the youth, 
 who stood in tears, at his side,he cast his eyes 
 upwards, with a supplicatory expression, 
 and rendered up his soul. A sad and 
 solemn pause ensued for some minutes, 
 when a deep sigh burst from the bosom of 
 Uiric, the feelingsof the harper responded, 
 and the whole band owned the power of 
 sympathy. The rugged hearts of the war- 
 riors overflowed at the melancholy scene 
 of death. 
 
 On the following day, the remains of the 
 gallant chief were conveyed to a spot at a 
 small distance from the cavern, where in a 
 grave formed out of the sides of the moun- 
 tain, by the faithful efforts of the band, 
 the body was deposited. Ulric seized the 
 opportunity to instil his own feelings and 
 sentiments into the breasts of the 
 troop : he exhorted them to swear upon the 
 grave upon their captain, to seek revenge 
 for his death, and not to stay their efforts 
 until they should have effected the deliver- 
 ance of their country. The mountaineers 
 obeyed, and unsheathing their swords, bent
 
 \39 
 
 them over the repository of the dead, ^nd 
 took the oath required of them : then 
 slowly covering up the grave, they returned 
 towards the cavern, while the harp of the 
 bard sounded forth an elegiac tributewhich 
 melted every hearer, and drew forth a tri- 
 bute of tears to the memory of the brave. 
 Ulric wai9 by the unanimous voice of tne 
 band elected the commander, and he ac- 
 cordingly entered upon his new dignity ; 
 the first exercise of which was to send a 
 messenger to the castle of Zur, with a 
 statement of the events which had taken 
 place, and by the same- conveyance, he 
 dispatched letters to his Florida,to increase 
 her confidence in his fidelity and affections. 
 For in the midst of conflict,in the very heat 
 of battle, he had not divested himself 
 entirely of the remembrance of Florida. 
 Her image was present to the eyes of his 
 imagination ; it animated him in the h6ur 
 of danger, and led him on to the achieve- 
 ment of deeds of greater heroism, it shut 
 his eyes to danger, and placed before him 
 the brilliant object which was offered as 
 his reward. He felt the stimulus, and 
 allowed it to have its full effect ; his sword 
 was sharpened by the prospect which pre- 
 sented itself to his view, and his arm struck 
 with redoubled vigour when he called to 
 mind that every effective stroke removed- 
 one of the obstacles which stood in the way 
 of his happiness and his fame.
 
 240 
 
 On llie following morning the messenger 
 3''eturned from Zur, brinsins: witii him the 
 Count s most extravagant applause' of his 
 conduct, and advice for his future directions. 
 These letters informed him that the panic 
 TV'hich had seized the enemy in Zurich was 
 excessive ; the late event had cost them 
 nearly fivethousand of their choicest troops, 
 amongst whom was the Governor himself, 
 who v/as slain early in the action. The 
 Austrians had Bot expected the attack, 
 until an hour before it took place, when 
 the rising of the morn discovered to them 
 their foes surrounding the walls. The in- 
 teryention of the harp of Ap Gryff could 
 not be accounted for, since those who had 
 been defeated by its influence, exaggerated 
 its powers to save their own reputation, and 
 the circumstance had excited very consider- 
 able alarm iu the minds of the enemy. 
 
 The letter of Florida was full of affection- 
 ate congratulation : she intreated her lover 
 nottoexpose himself to unnecessary danger 
 but to preserve an existence which involved 
 her own. The youth perused the effusion 
 of love v/ith an exultation he had never 
 before felt, and found his happiness and his 
 ^uthusiasm increased astonishingly. 
 
 END OF VOL /. 
 
 London: Printed by J, Dean 57 Wardour St. Soho,
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILUNOIS-URBANA 
 
 3 0112 052942791 
 
 ^.f? 
 
 ^^p-- 
 
 ■^iS.