The Drama.

THE SERIOUS

NEW OPERA OF DAVID RIZZIO.

objection, however, to this mixed kind of drama, eugaged in this interesting play; and I do not hestand are very well content to leave the songs where tate to assert that, upon the whole it was never bet. Under this head, we purpose, occasionally, to present they are, without calling upon Mary Queen of Scots ter performed in any theatre, either in or out of to the readers of the Kaleidoscope some analysis or rid Rizzio, will suggest to the reader at once the inferior to our late favourite's personation of the and Darnley to join in the concert. The title, Da- London. Mr. Younge's Rob Roy, though somewhat outline of the plot of any new Dramatic Pieces whichssential particulars of the plot, and the tragical ca- brave Highlander, is, nevertheless, a very respectmay be brought out on the London stage, and which tastrophe. The principal characters and incidents able piece of acting; and I challenge Europe to is deemed worthy of recording. We commence with are delineated with historical fidelity, and the ma-produce a finer Dougal than Mr. Browne. The the following brief notice of nagement of the poet, in giving Rizzio a mistress humourous, sentimental Baillie, was ably pourtrayed who becomes his wife, and at the nuptial banquet by Mr. Tayleure. Mr. Bass, as Rashleigh Osbalwith whom, given by the Queen in her own apart-distone, of a bad character, certainly made the best. ments, he is slain, is judicions, as it removes more Mr. Larkin is a very pleasing singer, though as yet completely the imputation on the Queen, and throws no great musician; his Francis Osbaldistone would a deeper shade over the infatuated jealousy of her be an excellent performance, if he would only dehusband: though, at the same time, it must he con- vote as much attention to his acting as he generally fessed, that it apears a little extraordinary that he does to his person. If Mr. Ayres really wishes to should be the only person in the court unacquainted please, he must assume less importance. Helen with this amour. Macgregor found an efficient representative in Mrs. Bunn, whose excellence in characters of this description, exceeds that of any female at present on the British stage. Miss Hammersley sung most delightfully; and I never recollect having seen a more interesting Diana Vernon. This lady possesses great power of voice, and judgment; but, like most other singers, seems to think little about her acting. Nature has however, been very bountiful to her in every respect; care and attention, are only wanting to complete the work. Yours truly.

We should pardon, however, very readily, a little incongruity of this sort, if the author, in other respects, had made the most of his materials. But he lacks the art of developing the passions and awakening that deep and vital interest of which his story is His language, however, though not remarkable for pith and pregnancy, is good; and, though not highly imaginative, is sufficiently poeti cal. The blank verse, in which all the serious scenes are written, is correct and harmonious, seldom either sinking into flatness or swelling into turgidity. One incongruous metaphor, indeed, particularly offended our critical perceptions; and we quote it the more especially, because it furnishes also a specimen of that open plagiary of which we could easily produce abundant instances.

This opera, lately produced at Drury-lane, is ascribed to Col. Hamilton, the author of several other productions for the theatre; and the music has called into requisition the talents of Atwood, Braham, and other distinguished musicians. In the construction of the story, the politics of the period are stu. diously avoided, and only such points of the history of this celebrated favourite of the Queen of Scots, as were deemed conducive to the stage interest, have been preserved. Some slight deviations have been made too from the authentic records, which, how-susceptible. ever, principally consist in giving Rizzio a mistress, and in the consequences that arise from that passion One cause of the unhappy fate of Rizzio is well known to have been the jealousy entertained by Darnley of his influence over Mary; and the fall of the favourite is accelerated in the drama by a similar passion on the part of Earl Ruthven, whom he has supplanted in the love of Lady Mary Livingston. The catastrophe, which closely resembles in its manmer the authentic narrative, is completed in the presence of the Queen, at the celebration of the nup tials of Rizzio and his mistress, whose hand is bestowed on him by Mary herself. A want of variety is the chief fault discernable in the plot, which is too much occupied by stratagems for the destruction of Rizzio; but that fault is compensated by several striking scenes and interesting situations. The language is in general elevated, perhaps too uniformly so for the natural expression of the sentiments of the different characters, but that in a serious opera will be received as an excess on the right side, and a proof of high refinement and cultivation. Of the music, which shares equal honours with the literary department of an opera, we must speak in terms of great praise; indeed, the author himself cannot fail to acknowledge that he found in his composers most powerful auxiliaries. The piece contains three airs by Atwood, whose character as a musician cannot be more briefly or more powerfully described than by stating what his own modesty too often allows him to conceal, that he is a pupil of Mozart, and a pupil worthy of that celebrated master. A ballad a the second act, commencing, "Ben-Lomond, O soft at thy foot are the breezes," is a beautiful speeimen of his manner in that species of composition, as the air sung by Braham in the third act, and accompanied by the organ, was of his more solemn and elaborate style. There are also some excellent airs of Braham's composition, and a few ingenious pieces by Reeve, the son of the composer of that wame, so conspicuous in the operatic annals of the last twenty years. The character of Rizzio was performed by Braham, an at of Lady Mary Livingston by Miss Carew; those eminent vocalists seemed in full possession of their usual powers.May, Queen of Scots, was played by Mrs. West, Earl Ruthven by Rae, and Darnley by Hamblin. The other characters were somewhat weakly cast, and to that cause we attribute the languor which was discernible in the audience in the latter part of the second act, and which was followed by some slight expression of dissatisfaction.

ANOTHER CRITIQUE.

DRAMATICUS.

Liverpool, 28th June, 1820.

The Rev. Mr. Colton, in his " Many Things in few Words," is often happy in his illustrations by apt quotations. Thus: "Wit is one of the few things which has been rewarded more often than it has been defined. A certain Bishop said to his Chaplain, What is wit." The Chaplain replied, The rectory of B. is vacant; Prove it,' said his give it to me, and that will be wit.' It would be a good Lordship, and you shall have it.' thing well applied,' replied the Chaplain."

·

At the late anniversary meeting of the National Schools' Society, which took place at the central establishment in Baldwins's Garden, many Dignitaries of the Church, Noblemen, Gentlemen, and personages of distinction, were present; the report stated that the number of schools had greatly increased; 270,000 children are now receiving instruction in England.

To Correspondents.

O! for u Muse of fire to burst their chains!" says
Rizzio, speaking of the modern Italians. What fire
can have to do with bursting chains, we are at a loss
to conceive. But the fine Ode (for it deserves that
name) which follows, and which was sung by Braham
in his very best and most animating style, makes
atonement. The recollection of those best days of
Rome, when "her eagle perch'd on Freedom's tree,"
deserved all the distinctness and expression with
which it was sung: and we might particularize
some other instances of beautiful poetry that rival
the most brilliant passages in Smith's Phædra and
Hippolytus, of the style of which, indeed, they
very much reminded us. Upon the whole it is,
at least, a very respectable performance, and would
please, perhaps, even more in the closet than upon
the stage. The music does not aspire to origina
lity; but a good deal of it is very pleasing;
and Miss Carew, Mr. Braham and Miss Povey do
full justice to a considerable part of it. We cannot
extend this commendation, however, to Mr. Braham's
first song, one of his own, we conjecture by the style.
It is in the minor key, and is said to he very difficult.
We wish, with Dr. Johnson, that it were impossi-
ble. To us it was perfectly offensive. We should
call it neither singing nor saying. We would
rather hear a simple melody from a ballad-singer
in the streets; and the audience evidently sympathis-
ed with us. But others of his songs repaid us; and two
duets between him and Miss Carew were really de-
licious; that in the second act "together we will
tread life's rugged road," in particular. We never
heard Miss Carew trill so deliciously. It was rap-
turously and resolutely encored. Some of the new
QUARIAN.
-scenery gave high satisfaction; and the piece, upon
the whole, has been unequivocally successful
though we cannot venture to promise it a succession
of overflowing houses."

Drury-lane has produced a new serious opera of some merit: if that musy be called an opera in which the principal characters, do not-sing. We have no

LIVERPOOL THEATRE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE KALEIDOSCOPE.

SIR, I was so much gratified with the representation of Rob Roy at our theatre on Monday evening tast, that I cannot refrain from thus publicly expressing my admiration of almost every person

We feel not a little flattered by the very exalted opinion entertained of us by A SUBSCRIBER, as evinced by his suggestion that we should "write an original essay each week, for the Kaleidoscope, in the manner of the SPECTATOR." Suppose we were to improve upon the idea, by giving an original column in the style of Shakespeare or Milton?

INDEX TO THE SECOND VOLUME.-In reply to A READER, we refer him to the address to the public in our first page. The index will be put in hand immediately, and will be offered to the public at as low a rate as possible.

We shall attend to the recommendation of AN ANTI

Further Favours to acknowledge.-ADDENDA AND

CORRIGENDA-A FRIEND-OLD MORTALITY.

Printed, published, and sold BY EGERTON SMITH & CO. Liverpool Mercury Office. Sold also by John Bywater and Co. Pool-lane: Mesers. Evans, Chegwin and Hall, Castle-street; Mr. Thomas Smith, Paradise-street; Mr. Warbrick, Public Library, Lime-street; Mr. G. P. Day, Newsman, Dale-street; and Mr. John Smith, St. James'sroad, for ready money only.

THE KALEIDOSCOPE:

OR,

Literary and Scientific Mirror.

"UTILE DULCI."

No. 2. NEW SERIES.

FEATS OF SWIMMING.

But in his native stream the Guadalquiver
Juan, to lave his youthful limbs was wont,
And having learnt to swim in that sweet river,
Had often turn'd the art to some account.
A better swimmer yoy could scarce see ever,
He could perhaps have pass'd the Hellespont,
As once (a feat on which ourselves we prided)
Leander, Mr. Aitkenhead, and I did.

BYRON'S DON JUAN.

The following paragraph, which has recently appeared in the Liverpool papers, we select as a text to some commentary of our own; observing, that if any of our readers are in possession of, or could refer us to, any well authenticated anecdotes of swimming, we should be glad to put them on record in the coEmns of the Kaleidoscope :

"On Thursday, three gentlemen swam from the north pier of the Regent's Dock, and landed within one hundred yards of Birkenhead-hotel, on the opposite shore of the Mersey. The first crossed in 35, the second in 36, and the third in 37 minutes. This was a great exertion of physical strength, as well as of skill in swimming, as the distance which the gentlemen swam cannot be much less than a mile."

Now, without wishing or intending to detract in the smallest degree, from the merits of these modern LEANDERS, we must take the liberty to surmise, that there are many hundred individuals in Liverpool who can with ease perform the same feat. The fact is, that almost any man who can swim with moderate speed, and can endure the temperature of the water for about half an hour, will accomplish the task.

What would our LEANDERS think of the feats of LORD BYRON and LIEUT. AITKENHEAD, who swam across the Hellespont, in an oblique direction, by

which the distance was rendered four miles, a task

which they performed in an hour and ten minutes? and what will they say to the still greater feat of the young man who, not long since, swam, in two hours and forty minutes, across the sound, from Cronenburg, being a distance of six miles?

us.

| attacks, are too obvious to need any observations from | travellers, and massacring them in their sleep. This
vile provost has made the offer in hopes of a reward
The foregoing remarks were prepared for another for which he conditions privately, heedless of the
journal, in catering for which, brevity is indispensible; bloodshed and ravage which our soldiery would
but, as we have transferred the subject to the Kaleido-spread among the poor villagers in the blindness of
scope, in which we have more" elbow room," we their fury. You are right,' replied the Count
shall subjoin the paragraph to which we have alluded,
' and it would be well to gain this advantageous post
and which we copy from the Liverpool Mercury, vol.
ix. page 86.
without disgrace to our characters as Prussian sol-
diers, or outrage to the unoffending natives. Through
whose means did this honourable offer come? For I
suspect the communicant is willing to share the re-
ward?—The young engineer cast down his eyes,
and answered, after a short and graceful hesitation,
He is my enemy, my Lord; forgive me if I do not
name him.'

SWIMMING. A young man, a native of the island
of St. Croix, lately swam over the Sound from
Cronenburg, and this outdid Leander and Lord
Byron, who swam across the Hellespont. The
distance from Abydos to Sestos, is only an English
mile; but the distance which Lord Byron and
Lieutenant Aitkenhead swam in an hour and ten
minutes, is estimated at four miles; because the
strong current carried them away. The distance
between Cronenburg and Kelsinburg is four Eng-
lish miles; but as the swimmer could not land
at Kelsingburg, on account of the surf, he had to
swim down to the village of Graves, two English
miles further, making six English miles in all,
which he did in two hours and forty minutes. A
Danish officer and three men followed him in a
boat, and never lost sight of him. In the middle
of the Sound he had to contend with a high sea,

which dashed over him.

The Gleaner.

"I am but a gatherer and disposer of other men's
stuff."
W OTTON.

THE BRONZE STATUE.

Count Lieuwen, a favourite officer in the service of the deceased King of Prussia, had under his special patronage and tuition a young engineer of high talent, whose advancement to his notice had been solely due to his merits. His battalion, led by the Austrian general Clairfait, then on his march through the Low Countries towards France, was ordered to surprise a small village on the frontiers in the eneiny's possession. In the middle of the night young Ewald entered his commander's tent, and informed him that a negociation had been begun by the chief magistrate of the district to admit the Prussian soldiers into an ambuscade, by which they might surround the French stationed in the village of Mersey to be within the power of an ordinary swim- Altheim, and put them to the sword. wer, we think it is a feat which it is prudent to avoid, added, I am acquainted with a path through the and, indeed, madness to attempt, without the atten- thicket that skirts the churchyard; and by leading dance of a boat. The time which the body must ne-fifty chosen men through it, we may enclose the cessarily be immersed, exceeds that to which many farm and outhouses in which these Frenchmen lodge, constitutions can be subjected, without injury. The and force them to surrender, without the baseness further danger arising from cramp, or other sudden of entering their host's gates in groupes disguised as

We have an habitual dislike to wagering, in any shape; but would have no objection to bet a few pounds, for the benefit of some of our public charities, that we will produce a young man, now in Liverpool, who shall cross our river and return without resting. But although we regard the mere act of crossing the

'Well,

Count Lieuwen's brow grew smooth. Lichtenstein,' he said, with a tone of familiarity he seldom used, except when his heart was touched, Well; there will be no surer way, I see, to secure, both our military credit, and this poor village from plunder, than to give you the command of the affair. Chuse your comrades and conduct them. But how is it that you know the avenues of this obscure place so well?'

Ewald was silent a few moments only because he was conscious of feelings likely to make his voice less firm. When he had stifled them, he replied, 'to you who know my humble birth, and have remedied it so kindly by your patronage, I need not be afraid to confess this village was my birth-place, and that farm which the provost intends to deliver up to-night for the purpose of massacre and riot, is— or was-.'

Count Lieuwen felt it. Brushing a tear hastily He could not add his meaning, but from his eyes, the old soldier bade him take his detachment, and obtain possession of the place in the manner he deemed fittest. Ewald departed instantly, and returned in the morning to announce his complete success without loss to the inhabitants, and without the escape of a le Frenchman. He brought besides a valuable despatch, which his advanced guard had intercepted, and the Count, delighted with the important result of the affair, and with the generous spirit it had exhibited, offered his young lieutenant a thousand crowns, the sum for 'Sir,' he which the treacherous provost had negociated, gallantly saying, his Sovereign would more willingly pay it as the recompense of a hazardous and wellperformed duty, than as the premium of a traitor.— If,' said the lieutenant, modestly, 'your Lordship thinks this poor village worth a thousand crowns to his Majesty, I pray you to consider them due to my

senior officer Dorffen: your personal kindness induced you to waive his right, and to give me the command of last night's affair; yet it is just that he should have the price of what he deserved to win.' —‘He shall have it,' answered Lieuwen, compressing his lips sternly; 'but I now know who would have bought what you have won honestly."

been one, Ewald, notwithstanding his heart-burnings, | unfortunare stranger sufficiently to make his deposi would have chosen this. He renewed his cautions tion. He named his master, and stated that the to his servant, and entered the miserable house, gloomy looks and eager questions of the innkeeper where the master sat surlily smoking his pipe in a had alarmed him on the night of Ewald's arrival, kitchen with broken windows, and a hearth almost especially when he was desired to sleep in a ruined cold. To his courteous request for accommodation, out-house. He had left it, and applying his ear to a this man, whose suitable name was Wolfenbach, crevice in the house door, heard Wolfenbach me. The first care of this brave veteran on his return hardly returned an answer, except throwing him the nacing his wife with death if she prevented or beto Berlin, was to lay the circumstances of this fact remnant of a chair, and calling loudly at the door trayed his search into the traveller's portmanteau, before the King. The consequence was Ewald's for his wife. A woman in wretched apparel, bending which had been left below; for probably, in the promotion; and before the war ceased, he rose to under a load of sticks, crept from a ruined out- heedlessuess of anguish, Ewald had not thought of rank even higher than Count Lieuwen; and the last house, and came fearfully towards him. Bring a attending to it. He also heard Josephine's timid favour his old commander asked at court was, that faggot, drone, and cook some fish,' said her ruffian expostulations, and the shriek of her child in its his adopted son might be appointed his successor in husband: 'where is the bread I bought this morn- father's savage grasp, held perhaps as a hostage for the fortress of Plauen, which his age rendered him ing, and the pitcher of milk?'-'There was but her silence. He went to warn his master, and by averse to govern longer. This high distinction was little milk,' she answered, trembling, and 1 gave it calling through the casement of the loft where he granted; and the King, to suit the new governor's to our child.'—' Brute ideot!" he muttered, with a lay awake, drew him from his bed. The stroke of title to his important office, added the rank of Baron hideous oath, and pushed her forwards by a blow an axe felled him to the ground, and he remembered to the cross of the black eagle already worn by which Ewald's heart felt. That moment would nothing more. The fate of Ewald might be easily Ewald de Lichtenstein. These unexpected honours have discovered him if the innkeeper had not left surmised. Detachments of the peasants traversed did not alter the temper of the young hero: still the house to attend his servant; and Ewald, as he the country round to gain intelligence of him withpreserving the bland urbanity of Marshall Turenne, looked again on Josephine's face, had courage out success; and, without knowing his claims on whose elevation he had imitated so successfully; he enough to restrain a confession which would have them as their countryman, were all eager in their was proud to hear his comrades hint that he too was aggravated her misery. Perhaps she had been left | zeal to trace a man of rank and honour. Couriers a miller's son, and always strove to remind them desolate; perhaps her husband had been made met them from Berlin despatched to hasten his rehow much he resembled his noble predecessor in brutal by misfortune; at all events, he had no right turn; but after six months spent in the most earnest benevolence and grace. But when he had offered to blame a marriage which circumstances had not search, even his paternal friend Count Lieuwen his graceful obeisance, he solicited permission to permitted him to prevent. She might have had no despaired of seeing him more, and believed him the absent himself one month before he assumed his alternative between it and disgrace; or Wolfenbach victim of a ferocious robber. Wolfenbach had been new duties. Count Lieuwen's friendship, and the might have possessed and seemed to deserve her seized with the horses of Ewald and his servant, peaceable state of the country, made the royal assent | choice better than himself. This last thought held which he had taken to sell at the nearest fair, and easy, and Ewald de Lichtenstein left Berlin to dedi-him silent, as he sat with his face shaded near the could not attempt even a plausible account of them. cate this short interval to his private happiness. fire. Josephine took but one glance at him, and His miserable wife was in a state of delirium which But Ewald, with all the splendour of his profes-another at the cradle where a half-starved infant lay, unfitted her to give coherent evidence; but the sub'sional success, had not altered the humility of that ject of her ravings, the purse of gold found in her private happiness. He had no hope so dear as to infant's cradle, and a ring dropped near the travelreturn to the little village of Altheim, which ten ler's bed, were powerful presumptive proofs against years before he had preserved from destruction; and her husband. The rifled portmanteau was also disto reclaim the farmer's daughter, with whom the covered in a well, and the axe stained with blood. first affections of his boyhood had been exchanged. Wolfenbach maintained an obstinate and contumeliDuring the various and busy vicissitudes of a soldier's ous silence, during a long trial, which ended in a Iffe, no correspondence had been possible, and he had sentence of death, received with acclamations by the time to snatch only a short interview when he entered populace. He was carried to the scaffold attended the village with a hostile detachment. He took with by no friend, and died without confession. him one attendant, a soldier of his own regiment, but unacquainted with his birth-place, though sufficiently attached to his person to ensure the secresy he required; not from mean fear of exposing his humble origin, but from a generous wish to avoid displaying his new and self-acquired greatness. The journey was tedious to his fancy, though he travelled rapidly; for the pleasantest dreams of his youth were ready to be be realized. His servant had orders to make no mention of his name or rank when he arrived at his place of destination, and the little village of Altheim came in sight in all the beauty of a summer evening, and a happy man's imagination.ceived motion in it, and heard a feeble noise. They As he entered it, however, he perceived that several cottages were in ruins, and the farm where Josephine had lived was half unroofed, and its garden full of grass. Ewald's heart misgave him, and his servant went on before to inquire who occupied it. Schwartz brought his master intelligence that the niece of the former occupier bad married a farmer, whose speculations had ended in innkeeping with but little success. There was no other inn; and if there had

before she began her humble labours to prepare a
supper. Ewald attempted to say something, but
his voice, hoarse with emotion, appeared unknown to
her, and she turned away with a look of repressed
pride and shame. Yet as she could not but observe
the earnest gaze of the stranger, her cheek flushing
with conscious recollection, recovered some part of
its former beauty, and Ewald had taken the infant
on his knee, when Wolfenbach returned. His guest
overcame the horror which almost-impelled him to
throw from him the offspring of a ruffian so debased,
intending to convey into its cradle some aid for the
unhappy mother, which might suffice to comfort
her wants without betraying the giver. He hid a
purse of gold within its wrapper, and gave it back
to Josephine; while the father, murmuring at such
pests, rebuked her slow cookery. But Ewald could
not eat; and tasting the flask to propitiate the bru-
tal landlord, withdrew to the bed meant for him, and
was seen no more.

Late on the following morning, two men, as they
passed near the remains of a spoiled hay-rack, per-

took courage to remove some part, and, led on by
traces of blood, examined till they found a body
yet warm with life, but wounded in a ghastly manner.
They conveyed it to the village surgeon, and col-
lected help to surround the house of Wolfenbach,
whom they remembered to have seen on the road
mounted on a horse which had been observed the
day before entering Altheim with the wounded man
and another stranger. Skill and care restored this

Count Lieuwen resumed the government of the fortress he had resigned, but not till he had urged repeated inquiries, and proffered large rewards for any trace of his lost favourite, without effect. And when, after some years had passed, a public duty compelled him to visit the country in which Ewald had perished, he travelled hastily, and loathed the necessity which forced his equipage to rest at Altheim for a few hours. During his short stay, the master of the new inn found means to introduce himself and beg his guest's attention to a rare curiosity which he possessed. Finding, from his valet's account, that this exhibition was a tax imposed on every traveller, the Count assented, and listened patiently to his host's history of a bronze statue found in a peat-bog at a short distance, and from thence brought to his house. He went into the room where it was deposited, prepared to see some antique relic or cunning counterfeit; but he saw with feelings that need not be told, the body of his beloved Ewald in the travelling habît he had seen him wear, vitrified by the power of the morass to the semblance of a

bronze statue. He stood a few moments, aghast with astonishment and horror, not unmingled with gladness, at this testimony of the truth preserved by a special operation of nature; for on the forehead and in the neck of the seeming statue, two deep seams rendered the fact of Ewald's violent death unquestionable. But he had presence of mind enough to suppress his agitation, and affecting to beheve the innkeeper exhibited, as he supposed himself, a strange piece of ancient sculpture, gave him a much larger sum than had been expected even from a nobleman of his known munificence, and carried off the prize. He caused it to be conveyed to Berlin without noise, and made it no subject of conversation among his attendants.

Count Lieuwen's return to the metropolis was always followed by banquets given to his friends, and on this occasion he celebrated his arrival among them by inviting the chief uobility and all the military officers who had shared and survived his campaigns. After supper, before any had departed, he spoke of a most rare specimen of sculpture which he had reserved for their last regale. You all know,' said he, ' my tender affection for Ewald de Lichtenstein, my regret for his untimely loss, and my wish to preserve his memory. I think you will agree with me in the wish to erect a monument, if we could decorate it with a representation of him suitable to his merits and his fate. But though we all know his merits, where shall we find an artist able to give us a symbol of his death, since we

know neither the time nor circumstance?"

The Count cast his eyes round the table as he spoke, and met approving and earnest looks from all his companions, except one, whose head was averted, 'But,' he added, rising after a short pause, think I have found a statue sufficient itself for his

monument.'

Altheim; we met alone, we were mau. to man, it
was night, but I won the cross fairly, and now let
him take it back.”

self surrounded by lovely damsels, singing, playing,
and attracting his regards by the most fascinating
caresses; serving him also with delicate viands and
exquisite wines; until intoxicated with excess of
enjoyment, amidst actual rivulets of milk and wine,
he believed himself assuredly in paradise, and felt
an unwillingness to relinquish its delights. When
four or five days had thus been passed, they
were thrown once more into a state of somnolency,

The self-accused murderer made a desperate effort
to throw it from his breast, and fell with his whole
weight and a laugh of madness at the foot of the
bier. The crowd raised him, but he spoke no more.
His last words were truth, as subsequent inquiry pro-and carried out of the garden.
ved. Accident or the hope of vengeance had led him
to the neighbourhood of Ewald's village; they had
met on the road, and fatal opportunity completed
Dorffen's guilt. He was buried under the scaf-
fold, and the Bronze Statue remained a monument
of Ewald's fate and of retributive justice.

THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN.

(From Marsden's Travels in Marco Polo.)

Upon their being introduced to his presence, and questioned by him as to where they had been, their answer was, "in paradise, through the favour of your Highness;" and then before the whole court, who listened to them with eager curiosity and astonishment, they gave a circumstantial account of the scenes to which they had been witnesses. The chief thereupon addressing them, said, "We have the assurances of our Prophet that he who defends his lord shall inherit paradise, and if you show yourselves devoted to the obedience of my orders, that happy lot awaits you." Animated to enthusiasm by words of this nature, all deemed themselves happy to receive the commands of their master, and were forward to die in his service.

The consequence of this system was, that when any of the neighbouring princes, or others, gave umbrage to this chief, they were put to death by these his the risk of losing their own lives, which they held in disciplined assassins; none of whom felt terror at little estimation, provided they could execute their master's will. On this account his tyranny became the subject of dread in all the surrounding countries. He had also constituted two deputies or representatives of himself, of whom one had his residence in the vicinity of Damascus, and the other in Kurdistan; and these pursued the plan he had established, for training their young dependants. Thus there was no person, however powerful, who having become exposed to the enmity of the old man of the mountain, could escape assassination. His territory being situated within the dominions of Ulaù (Hulagu) the brother of the grand khan (Mangu); that prince had information of his atrocious practices, as above related, as well as of his employing people to rob travellers in their passage through his country, and in the year 1262 sent one of his armies to besiege this chief in his castle. It proved, however, so capable of defence, that for three years no he was forced to surrender from the want of proviimpression could be made upon it; until at length sions, and being made prisoner, was put to death. His castle was dismantled, and his garden of paradise destroyed."

The district in which his (the old man of the mountain) residence lay, obtained the name of Muleht, signifying, in the language of the Saracens, the place of heretics, and his people that of Mulethe term of Patharini to certain heretics amongst hetites or holders of heretical tenets; as we apply Christians. The following account of this chief, MARCO POLO testifies to his having heard from sundry persons. He was named Alo-eddin, and his religion was that of Mahomet. In a beautiful valley enclosed between two lofty mountains, he had formed a luxurious garden, stored with every delicious fruit and every fragrant shrub that could be procured. Palaces of various sizes and forms were erected in different parts of the grounds, ornamented with works in gold, with paintings, and with furniture of rich silks. By means of small conduits contrived in these buildings, streams of wine, milk, honey, and some of pure water, were seen to flow in every direction. The inhabitants of these palaces were elegant and beautiful damsels, accomplished in the arts of singing, playing upon all sorts of musical instruments, dancing, and especially those A curtain suddenly drawn aside discovered the of dalliance and amorous allurement. Clothed in bronze statue of Ewald lying on a bier composed of rich dresses they were seen continually sporting and black turf. A silence of surprise and awe was fol. their female guardians being confined within doors, amusing themselves in the garden and pavilions; lowed by exclamations of wonder at the exquisite and never suffered to appear. The object which symmetry of the figure, and at the expression of the the chief had in view in forming a garden of this countenance, so nearly resembling its usual charac-fascinating kind, was this: that Mahomet having promised to those who should obey his will the ter, except in the half-closed eyes and lips parted as enjoyments of Paradise, where every species of senin the pangs of death. Some gathered round to sual gratification should be found, in the society of observe the accurate folds of the drapery, and re- beautiful nymphs, he was desirous of its being un-histories of the crusades, of "Old Man of the [Note. The appellation so well known in the cognised every part of his usual travelling apparel.derstood by his followers, that he also was a prophet Mountain," is an injudicious version (for which it and the compeer of Mahomet, and had the power of would seem they were first indebted to our author "There is even the shape of the seal-ring he wore admitting to paradise such as he should chuse to upon his finger,' said one of the spectators; and favour. In order that none without his license Jebal, signifying "Chief of the Mountainous reor his early translators) of the Arabic title Sheikh al here is the ribbon he received the day before his might find their way into this delicious valley, he gion." But as the word "sheikh," like "signor," departure from the King; but where is the cross of caused a strong and inexpugnable castle to be and some other European terms, bears the mean. erected at the opening of it; through which the ing of " Elder," as well as of "Lord, or Chief," a the black eagle?' entry was by a secret passage. At his court, like choice of interpretations was offered, and the less ap'In his grave,' replied Count Lieuwen, fixing his wise, this chief entertained a number of youths, propriate adopted. The places where this personeyes on a guest who had never spoken: that guest from the inhabitants of the surrounding mountains, sect, exercised the rights of sovereignty, were the from the age of twelve to twenty years, selected age, who was the head of a religious or fanatical was Dorffen, the senior officer superseded by Ewald. who shewed a disposition for martial exercises, and castles of Alamut, Lamsir, Kirdkuh, and MaimunHe suddenly lifted up his head and answered, "It is appeared to possess the quality of daring courage. diz, and the district of Rudbar; all situated within not! The terrible sound of his voice, the decision To them he was in the daily practice of discours- the limits of that province which the Persians name of his words, made the assembly fall back from him, ing on the subject of the paradise announced by the Kuhestan, and the Arabians Al-Jebal. “La posileaving him alone standing opposite the corpse. Hission; and at certain times he caused draughts of a la Dynastie des Assassins et sur l'Origine de leur Prophet, and of his own power of granting admis- tion d'Alamout," says De Sacy, in his Mémoire sur features wrought a few instants in convulsions, and Nom, "située au milieu d'un pays de montagnes, his lips moved in unconscious mutterings. Then,' fit appeler le prince qui y régnoit scheikh-aldjebal ou (said a voice from among the groupe) 'the murderer c'est à-dire, le scheikh ou prince des montagnes, et robbed him of the cross? No, no, I robbed him l'équivoque du mot scheikh, qui signifie également of nothing, he robbed me of my place and honour, des croisades et au célèbre voyageur Marc Pol, de vieillard, et prince, a donné lieux aux historiens and of that cross which I might have earned at le nommer le Vieux de la montague," "]

soporific nature to be administered to ten or a dozen
of the youths; and when half dead with sleep, he
had them conveyed to the several apartments of the
palaces in the garden.

senses were struck with all the delightful objects
Upon awakening from this state of lethargy, their
that have been described, and each perceived him-