towers which look so well, and which are so capable of resisting the missiles of an enemy?'

May the Virgin intercede for me,' interrupted the head chaplain, as he stood up in his stirrups, and looked earnestly towards Godingstein, 'if your lordship's nephew has done any thing to excite your architectural displeasure.'

No, no,' answered the bishop, he inherits the family taste, and has, no doubt, chosen the square form.' I regret to say,' observed the chaplain, that your lordship, in this instance, has been too sanguine.' 'Well, well; the round form, if well executed, will do.'

May God pardon me,' said the priest, rising still higher in his stirrups, 'an your nephew has erected no castle of any form; I see the old chateau, and nothing more.'

His information was true enough; the road now lying over a slight eminence gave them a good view of Godingstein, but there was no appearance of a castle, or preparation for the erection of one. May I never want the prayers of the faithful,' said the bishop, 'if fame has not lied in representing my nephew as an example of chivalry. The father's deceptious spirit is about him, and no doubt he has long since dissipated the ten purses of broad pieces which I sent him. Well,' he continued, looking back upon the sledge that bore his treasure, I give God thanks that he has so early abused my confidence. Lanteen, child, rouse thy spirit, thou shalt not be the wife of this godless prodigal.'

His niece answered by a faint smile, and the cavalcade halted; they debated for a moment what was to be done, but, as the road behind them was dreary, they resolved to proceed to the chateau, rest there for the night, and retrace their steps the next day.

On their arrival at the chateau Albert came out to meet them. His manner was kind in the extreme; he welcomed his venerable uncle with undisguised gladness, and was particularly anxious in his attentions to Lanteen. His fine tall figure, no less than his manner,

rendered him particularly agreeable, and when he spoke she listened with the utmost attention, for the tones of his voice were familiar to her ear. The good bishop, as became a holy man, checked his anger, and permitted himself to indulge only in gentle reproaches. Albert listened with calmness to the accusation, and assured his uncle that his commands had been obeyed.

How?' inquired the prelate.

'To-morrow morning,' answered the nephew, 'you will see this chateau surrounded by an impregnable chain of defence, on which the most daring enemy will never make an impression.'

The prelate groaned with vexation. The house of Godingstein had, he believed, forfeited its honour, in the heir of that proud name having descended to the practices of the wicked; he who could build a fortress in one night must be familiar with Satan, and an adept in the black art only could talk so familiarly of doing impossibilities.

With a perturbed spirit the prelate sought his chamber; Lanteen was conducted to apartments provided for her, and neither was blessed with a good night's sleep. The lady dreamt of her guardian knight, and the bishop of his money-bags.

Morning had hardly dawned when the chateau shook with bursts of martial music, and the wild and clamorous shouts of gathering thousands. Holy Mary preserve me!' cried the bishop, as he jumped out of bed, and fell on his knees. My nephew has deceived me, and all my hoarded wealth now becomes the property of robbers.' He arose and went to the window; the sight which presented itself confirmed his worst fears, for his eye, wherever it wandered, encountered nothing but waving banners and armed men, arranged in circular columns, that environed the chateau. In a moment he was summoned to the parlour, and, on his entrance, he was met by his nephew in complete armour. 'Holy father and very dear uncle,' said Albert, I promised to let you see this morning Godingstein surrounded by an impregnable rampart. Behold them! lime and stone

are far less secure, however cunningly managed, than ten thousand hardy followers. Amongst them I have distributed your gold; rely upon them, and rest secure that the fidelity of the vassals is the lord's best safeguard.'

Whilst he spoke Lanteen entered. At the sight of his nodding plume and shining armour she started; the knight who had distinguished her by his partiality stood before her, and, owning the soft infection,' she trembled with agitation. 'What!' cried the bishop, 'hast thou, niece, found thy champion? I see how it is: nephew, you have deceived us both, but you are not undeserving of our generosity. I forgive you; what say'st thou, Lanteen?'

Lanteen could only blush in reply; and Albert snatched her to his heart. The wooing was but short, and the good bishop lived long enough to bless half a dozen claimants to the title of Godingstein, and to acknowledge that the people's love is the nobleman's best safeguard.

WINTER.

A SONNET.

WINTER! I love thee, full of frost and cold,
As e'er thou art, and yet right full of cheer
To those who know, while glides away the year,
How to enjoy thee by the bright fire-side,

Where joy sits sparkling, and eke bright-eyed mirth.
They who are chain'd not down to dismal earth,
But look above them, like their sires of old,

May find in thee a never-ceasing birth

Of thought that both the mind and body stirr❜th:
Of cheering thoughts an ever-rolling tide,
Which ever in man's bosom might abide,
But that he giveth way to doubt and fear :
Then, hail! old Winter, still I find thee dear,
And in thy frost and cold find nothing drear!

VOL. 1. Jan. 1830;

F. G. FITZOSBORNE.

с

THE FAIR MAID OF PERTH.

We have great pleasure in being able to present our readers, this month, with a third illustration of this popular work. The plate will be found nothing inferior to the two that have preceded it; and as the passage to which it relates is not contained in our former notice of the novel, we shall introduce it here.

Catharine Glover, it will be recollected, was conveyed to Faulkland Castle, where she nobly resisted the importunities of the Prince of Rothsay, the king's son. In the same fortress was retained the gleewoman, who makes so conspicuous a figure in the story, and though the reputation of a minstrel was then but indifferent, Simon Glover's daughter soon felt an interest in the fate of the fair wanderer. They were not permitted to quit the castle, but Louise, more accustomed to expedients, bolder by habit, and desirous to please Catharine, willingly took on herself the trouble of getting from the pantler the materials of their slender meal, and of arranging it with the dexterity of her country.

The glee-woman had been abroad for this purpose upon the sixth day, a little before noon; and the desire of fresh air, or the hope to find some salad or pot-herbs, or at least an early flower or two, with which to deck their board, had carried her into the small garden appertaining to the castle. She re-entered her apartment in the tower with a countenance pale as ashes, and a frame which trembled like an aspen-leaf. Her terror instantly extended itself to Catharine, who could hardly find words to ask what new misfortune had occurred.

Is the Duke of Rothsay dead?'

'Worse! they are starving him alive.'

Madness, woman!'

'No, no, no, no!' said Louise, speaking under her breath, and huddling her words so thick upon each other that Catharine could hardly catch the sense. 'I was seeking for flowers to dress your potage, because

you said you loved them yesterday-my poor little dog, thrusting himself into a thicket of yew and holly bushes that grow out of some old ruins close to the castle-wall, came back whining and howling. I crept forward to see what might be the cause-a -and, oh! I heard a groaning as of one in extreme pain, but so faint, that it seemed to arise out of the very depth of the earth. At length, I found it proceeded from a small rent in the wall, covered with ivy; and when I laid my ear close to the opening, I could hear the prince's voice distinctly say, "It cannot now last long;" and then it sunk away in something like a prayer.'

"Gracious Heaven! did you speak to him?'

1 said, "Is it you, my lord?" and the answer was, "Who mocks me with that name?" I asked him if I could help him, and he answered with a voice I shall never forget, "Food! food! I die of famine!" So I came hither to tell you. What is to be done? Shall we alarm the house?'

'Alas! that were more likely to destroy than to aid him,' said Catharine.

And what then shall we do?' said Louise.

'I know not yet,' said Catharine, prompt and bold on occasions of moment, though yielding to her companion in ingenuity of resource on ordinary occasions. I know not yet-but something we will do-the blood of Bruce shall not die unaided.'

So saying, she seized the small cruise which contained their soup, and the meat of which it was made, wrapped some thin cakes which she had baked into the fold of her plaid, and, beckoning her companion to follow with a vessel of milk, also part of their provisions, she hastened towards the garden.

So our fair vestal is stirring abroad?' said the only man she met, who was one of the menials; but Catharine passed on without notice or reply, and gained the little garden without farther interruption.

Louise indicated to her a heap of ruins, which, covered with underwood, was close to the castle wall.