into that state in which the soul shrinks from the past, and piously dwells on futurity, he, with uncomplaining fortitude, awaited the summons, when fate should close his sufferings, and his life.

CHAP. IV.

But let a youth thy pity share,
Whom grief has taught to stray;

Who seeks for rest, but finds despair
Companion of his way.

GOLDSMITH.

Ir was in the mild and balmy evening of a cloudless day, that Di Rinaldini, wandering, unattended, from the Castle, beheld the refulgent rays of the sun sinking gradually in the bosom of the Appennines : he paused, for its mellow radiance spread over this nether world a golden splendour; nature seemed to rest-no buz of insects filled the spicy gale; no longer did

The

The bee stray diligent,

Or, with the extracted balm of fragrant woodbine,

Fill his little thigh."

Montranzo was no longer visible; its turretted towers were excluded from the sight, by the perpendicular and fantastic forms of wild, savage, pathless precipices, over which none, save the light-footed chamois, could bound his course. Here and there the white foam of impetuous torrents burst from beetling, shelving rocks, and, rolling headlong down, was lost in the mazy verdure of aromatic shrubs, and sombre evergreens; now, in a transparent, rapid stream, it again broke forth; now laving the roots of the towering pride of the forest, and now, checked, irritated by stones rolled by the concussions of nature, bubbling up wild, but picturesque fountains.

in

"Oh God!" murmured Huberto, as his thoughts, wandering from his own peculiar sorrows, glowed with the vivid incense of grateful rapture, "matchless and omni

5

T

scient

scient Architect! what is man, the ungrateful infringer of thy laws, that, with the parent-tenderness of forgiving mercy, thou upholdest him in the weakness of humanity, giving to his feet a carpet, to his head a canopy!"

He started; for, a little distance above him, in a flinty, shelving path, winding in almost perpendicular steepness, he beheld a youth, "clad in pilgrim's weeds," labouring to attain the summit. Gazing, he shuddered at a situation which, a few minutes before, had been his own-never, till now, had it appeared perilous: a chilling sensation of apprehension crept over his heart; for the rock which now sustained him, seemed to yawn over the roaring

cataract.

Di Rinaldini pursued the agile step of The traveller, wondering at the temerity which, assisted by a staff, had nearly reached the Alpine summit. "Merciful God!" he

ejaculated;

ejaculated; for the treacherous footing had given way, and, with a shriek of wild horror, the stranger must have been precipitated into the depth profound, had not our hero, with the bounding velocity of a dart, sprung forward, and received him in his arms. Pale, terrified, exhausted, the pilgrim hung upon the shoulder of Huberto, who paused not till he attained the summit of the mountain's brow; and then, placing him gently on the thymy sward, flew to a neighbouring rill, and, with his hat, robbing the liquid mirror, again approached his charge.

Already recovered from the stupor of sudden dread, the youth had arisen; and, in the overflowing of a grateful heart, pressed to his lips the hand of his preserver: "But for you, Signor, but for you, Mother of God," he exclaimed, "my sorrows, with my life, had ceased."

"Sorrows! and so young!" said Di Rinaldini, impelled by sympathy towards one F 6 who