But there are parts, of simple and high-wrought beauty; as the following.

"Cos. ¡Heaven knows, - Heaven, only, e'er can know, How long, how fondly, I have clung to thee ! And thou hast been to me an angel,

Infusing nectar in my bitter cup.

ever

When hope withdrew, and left no gleam along
The sad horizon, thou hadst power to light
Life's melancholy vista! Morning oped,
And evening fell, sweeter because a day,
A night, had flown to reunite us! Thanks
Thanks

- many a mountain watch-fire in the Bannat,
Thy image gladdened past Armida's gardens ! -
I would have died for thee ! All, all is cancelled! -
Now, though I knew her gulled by foulest practice,
Though I could prove it, and, by proving it,
Make her mine own again, I would not turn
Thus to reclaim her."

- p. 30. The act concludes with Jacquelina's account to her mistress, of the manner in which her undertaking had sped, and their conference concerning plans for further action.

In the first scene of the third act, Cosmo, unmanned and desperate from wounded pride and affection, is told by Jacquelina of the love secretly and hopelessly cherished for him by Olivia, and is prevailed upon, by soliciting the hand of his "poor partner in misfortune," to show himself indifferent to the perfidy which has stung him. In the next scene, Jacquelina arranges, with Barbadeca, a plan for the forcible seizure and abduction of Demetria, and obtains from him the promise of a "snug house on the Ombrone," on which she had set her heart as a reward, if their plans should prosper. The act closes with an interview, admirably managed, between Cosmo and the Count Amerigo, father of Demetria, in which the former solicits and obtains the Count's consent to his marriage with her sister.

The beginning of the fourth act represents Demetria, tortured by her lover's coldness, as musing on her strangely altered prospects, in the pavilion, which had been of old the scene of their happy interviews.

"The pavilion beside the Arno:-a table, lute, and drawing implements: DEMETRIA seated near a window opening to the

evening sky.

Dem. I feared some evil chance. O! Cosmo, Cosmo!

Have I deserved such bitter punishment?

If thou hast ceased to love, methinks, at least,

Thou mightst have broke the heavy truth more gently!
Such looks! such coldness! O, they chill to death.

Knowing the child I am in my affections,

Thou shouldst have weaned me tenderly. It had been
A generous tribute paid a wretch whose peace

Is gone for ever. What can I have done?.
Sure, he 's not angered that I listed not

His suit, while tears (renewed at sight of him)

Streamed for a buried mother. - 'T were not like him: —
It cannot be. (Pauses.) O, time!
a change indeed!
The night before he left us, here we sat ;
Yon trees, the sky, the yellow-gleaming hills,
Thus beautiful! Then, when I weeping wished
To ope the volume of futurity,

How he consoled me! How he spoke, the while,
Of fading friendships, of forgotten love,

And when I warned him how new scenes, new hopes,
The intoxicating world, renown, and grandeur,
Might banish from his heart the faithful friends
And simple joys he loved at Belvideré,

Ah! what a look he gave me ! All forgotten!
Had I foreseen it, could I have believed it!
The long, long interval, and now at last,
The death of hope O, Cosmo! Cosmo!

It cannot last

(Overcome with emotion, covers her face.) my heart is not so stubborn. (Unties a small parcel of letters lying on the table.) This reached me, -O! I well remember it,— My hand clasped fast in my sweet mother's! Of rapture! that 't is death to think on now! One parting look, and I have done.'

Hours

- pp. 51, 52,

As she sits, engrossed by her sad employment, two men, masked, approach and attempt to seize her, but are attacked by Cosmo, who suddenly comes to her rescue, and puts one to death and the other to flight. Still, offended pride on the one side, and maidenly reserve on the other, prevent an explanation, and the lovers again part unreconciled. A second soliloquy of Demetria, in her chamber, is in the same delicate and touching strain,

"Dem. Married!

To-morrow! - Cosmo and Olivia!

Do not my senses pass some horrid juggle?
Some slight of darkness but to lure my doom?

Oh !

Hush! Shadows seem to flit around me.
To-morrow! - my sister's wedding day! — O, where,
Where, where, shall I be !

(Walks distractedly up and down at last, stops before her mother's picture, bursting into tears.) O, mother! mother! why art thou not here? In vain are all thy cautions, vain thy counsels! O! had I listened, had I but believed thee ! Oft hast thou warned, prophetically warned me.— Thy worst forebodings all have come upon me! Why, why, art thou not here ? O, could I My anguish in thy bosom ! Could thy voice. But once more greet me! I'm alone: - I've none To comfort me. Now, when my cry ascends,

Thou canst not hear!

But clasp me! — "

pour

O, wert thou here, couldst thou

pp. 56, 57. The last scene of this act is a very powerful one, in which Cosmo confides his tortured feelings to his friend Orsini. The next act opens with the preparation for the nuptial ceremony. The second scene, in which Demetria is introduced as having retired to her chamber after witnessing the fatal marriage, is a fine specimen of the author's powers. Bianca is an old servant of the family. "DEMETRIA'S chamber. A neglected lamp burning on the table: the room gloomy and silent, except at intervals the sound of music and merriment from the apartments below. DEMETRIA enters, throws herself into a chair, and sits, for some time, as if gazing at the light.

Dem. 'Tis past! - Mine eyes have seen it! What is left For me? The power of Heaven cannot recall it ! "T is registered in that Eternal Book Where all irrevocable things are written!

Those timbrels mock me. Would, I could not hear them ! (Looking round the room.)

Dark, dark! like my destiny!-My spring-time
Passed swiftly, sweet as transitory! Already
The frosts of autumn gather hoar around! -
The sear leaf falls.

I had a mother, - she

Moulders beneath the sod: a lover

Hark!

How their bursts of merriment shake the roof! Now, now,
The bridegroom pledges! now the smile illumes

A thousand eyes, a thousand tongues repeat

The plaudit! Poor Demetria! who thinks of thee?
Darkness may cover thee, storms beat on thee,

And none regards it :

sorrow finds no heart-room.

(After a short silence, convulsed by one or two deep sobs,

she rises.)

Hail! then, thou lowly bed! where sighing is hushed,
Where love comes not, and grief forgets to feel!
Chambers of everlasting stillness! there

I'll lay me. Mother mother! we will sleep
Together!-

(Goes hastily into her boudoir; whence, after
a few moments, she returns, trembling, and mortally pale.)
I've pledged thee, Cosmo! - Now the seal is set !
And I am plighted to a grimmer bridegroom!
Soon, soon, I shall be wedded too! Let none
Judge harshly of me!-O! I could have borne
The direst accidents of fortune; seen
Every dear friend fall off; - been left alone
In this wide world, and waited patiently
The hour appointed. But to be despised,
A cast-off by the heart thou lovest,
There's the insufferable pang!

there, (Rings.)

Will this affect him? this becloud his triumph?

Father!

(Enters the inner room again, and returns with her hat and mantle.)

that I could say farewell to thee!

May angels comfort thee when I am gone!

(Rings again and goes to the window.)

The moon withdraws her face, and scarce a star
Looks out to cheer me.

spheres

(Still gazing.) Beyond your shining

Far, far, must I explore! -O! that I knew
The place, the Paradise where she inhabits,
And could attain it ! Who shall guide? or what
Assurance have I-

Enter BIANCA, who starts back on seeing DEMETRIA.
Bian. Jesu defend us! Whither art thou going?

I thought thee at the banquet.

Dem. To walk.

Where art going

Bian. Walk at this hour? alone?

What mean ye? - For Heaven's sake, tell me.

Dem. Hear me, Bianca,

Bian. Give me thy mantle, child. Thou 'rt pale: thine eyes

Roll wildly

Dem. Hear, Bianca. - When I'm gone,

Be sure you lay me near her side.

Bian. (terrified.) She raves!

VOL. L. No. 106.

32

What means my darling child? - Gone where ?
Dem. Dost hear me?-

When I'm away, you then may tell him. —

Say to my father

say

I prayed — I blessed him.

Bian. (falling on her knees and clasping her.)
Stay stay! my gracious lady't is dark night!
O, whither wouldst thou? This is frantic madness.
Dem. (with a desperate calmness.)

Unclasp your hold. — I am not mad.
In the pavilion you will find me.

Obey me.

Exit."

-pp. 74-76.

Bianca, inferring her desperate purpose from her wild words, goes in search of assistance. And here is a part of the fable, which, we are constrained to say, is not managed with the author's accustomed skill. Bianca, in her agony impatience, falls in with Cosmo, and stops to reason and expostulate with him on his perfidy, through a scene of some length. It was a tempting occasion to write a fine passage, and the author has availed himself of it excellently well. But he should, by all means, have forborne. There is no getting over the incongruity of the parties giving themselves so much time to be pathetic under circumstances of such instant emergency.

The last two scenes are wrought up in a strain of such deep passion, that we cannot deny ourselves the satisfaction of giving them entire.

"SCENE IV.

The wood the villa seen across the grounds, blazing with lights: DEMETRIA enters, her hair loose and flying.

Dem. She pities me, she sheds a watery gleam, And the wind moans

Once more, once more

(Stops, and fixes her eyes, with a long and steadfast gaze, on the mansion.)

ye rise,

Happy! too happy, once! - Now I must leave ye,
Dear natal bowers! Remembered joys!
Ye swell my heart! - I scarce can look my last
How proud the symphony!

Every thing to enchantment!
The torches glitter there.

- Why

My hour is come! Dark bridegroom, take me now!

(Erit.)

SCENE V. The pavilion. DEMETRIA appears from the wood; tollers into it, and sinks upon a seat.