father, intimating that nothing would contribute more to the security of his kingdom, than her marriage with the Epirot prince Zoranza. The packet also contained Zoranza's picture, and a blunt letter of courtship from him. Pharonnida deeply afflicted at these communications, as Argalia was withdrawing to convey her answer to Epirus, although not out of hearing, burst into a strain of vehement and eloquent passion, which we cannot forbear extracting. "Unhappy soul! born only to infuse Of princes, oft these burthens find from state, And here she sighed; then with some drops, distill'd Term'd uncommanded lust,-sharp poverty, Would I esteem this mercenary band, As those far more malignant powers that stand, Their harsh commands, that stand in fear to shed Those doubtful paths, through all the shades of fear p. 86. end of b. 1. Meanwhile the rebel Almanzor had been plotting trea son against the princess, and "Consultations did Whisper rebellion in soft airs, forbid To live in louder language, until like As swift, as secret, and as sure as those "Time, treason's secret midwife, did produce The gold of this ambitious subject had gained him more friends than his merit, and had a considerable effect upon Amphibia, one of the princess's ladies; but when joined with a certain jealousy, which she had conceived at the favour shewn to Florenza, (whom Pharonnida had taken into her service) it became too potent to be resisted, and she became his creature. A mask was concerted between them, and the scheme being ripe for execution, Almanzor and a party of maskers, disguised as Amazons, one night entered the palace of the princess, amidst antick harmony; and having completed the first part of the exhibition, a trumpet was sounded, and the false viragoes drew their swords, dispersed the guards, and carried off the princess and Florenza. Pharonnida's attendants immediately roused the neighbouring villagers, whose confusion and dismay are very happily described. A party of those rusticks having met the coach in which Almanzor was carrying off the princess, fell upon the guards. The chieftain finding, after a desperate struggle, that further contest would only increase his danger, broke through the assailants, and left his attendants to their fury. "Sweet mercy's healing balm Is the extraction of brave spirits, which By innate valour rarefied, enrich With that fair gem the triumphs of success, Almanzor now appeared in open rebellion, seconded by a considerable army, and surprised the castle of Alcithius, which however was soon retaken by the king, who conveyed thither his daughter and his treasures. The two armies at length prepared for battle. "Such variety Presents the eye with, that whilst the sad thought The yellow cowslip bends its slender stem." The king made the first assault; and after those alternations of fortune which a field of battle usually displays, victory declared in favour of the rebel chief. The king, under the obscurity of night, "When dreadful shadows had the field o'erspread, As darkness were a hearse-cloth for the dead," retreated to the castle of Alcithius to recruit his shattered forces, and obtain assistance from the Epirots. Almanzor pursued and invested the castle; and here he avowed his reasons for taking up arms, had at first been his love for Pharonnida; and since, in justice to his country, to prevent it from being enslaved by a foreign alliance. Provisions grew short in the garrison of Alcithius, and every hand was unnerved by want. In this extremity, the King assembling his brave band, advised them to consult their safety in Almanzor's clemency. They decidedly refused, and came to an heroical resolution to die in defence of their prince. "The sluggish morning, sick Of midnight surfeits, from her dewy bed Pale and discolour'd rose.". An alarm was sounded, but as the garrison were issuing from the portals of the castle, they met an advanced detach ment of the Epirot army, under the command of Argalia, by whom the rebels had been driven from the field; their defeat was afterwards completed by the main body, but Almanzor escaped. The King and his army, accompanied by the Epirots, returned in triumph to Corinth, where all was joy and gaiety and pleasure. Zoranza was called away by domestic affairs, and the Princess retired to a mansion within sight of the walls of Corinth, but yet participating of all rural beauties. The landscape around the palace is designed with picturesque effect, and painted with rich and glowing colours. The scite on which it stood, was "Divided from th' continent, by the wide Arms of a spacious stream, whose wanton pride Curl'd his proud waves, and stretch'd them to enclose That type of paradise, whose crown-top rose From that clear mirror, as the first light saw Fair Eden 'midst the spring of Halilah.” In this retreat, time stole away on downy feet-the cup of joy was full; but Amphibia, bent on the ruin of the two lovers, stepped in, and dashed it aside-by heightening Argalia's deserts with excessive praise, she contrived to infuse jealousy into the mind of the old King, who resolved to remove the cause of it. Pretending that he was invited by a friendly league to assist the Prince of Epirus, he conferred the command of his army on Argalia. Pharonnida having read the mandate, containing this intelligence, "trembling fear Plucks roses from her cheeks, which soon appear Full blown again with anger, red and white, Did in this conflict of her passions fight For the pre-eminence." Ignorant of the cause of her perturbation, Argalia endeavoured to soothe her. Here follows a scene, which, for dramatic effect, deep feeling, and tender sentiment, and for the uncontroulable and overwhelming energy of passion, cannot, we think, be exceeded in poetry. Pharonnida, after struggling with her grief for some time, exclaimed, "Is thy abode Become the parent of suspicion ? look On this, Argalia, there hath poison took Its lodging, underneath those flowers, whose force "Twixt our poor loves is set, ere we more near Argalia, though conscious that it was but an honorable policy to get rid of him, replied, "This honor, which Your royal father pleases to enrich peace My worthless fortunes with, will but prepare Dim as the pale-fac'd moon, when she lets fall Whene'er it droops-thy memory controul The weakness of my passions.-When we strive Thy name includes-thy name, whose memory Sends humble vot'ries) mention'd, will acquaint My thoughts with all that's good. Then calm again Safe in the hail of death, if guarded by Thy pious pray'rs-Fate's messengers, that fly On wings invisible, will lose the way Aim'd at my breast, if thou vouchsafe to pray -But if we Ne'er meet again-yet, Oh! yet let me be Sometimes with pity thought on." Both wept; and it was some time before Pharonnida recovered strength to utter the following lines: "Wilt, O wilt thou do Our infant love such injury, to leave It ere full grown? When shall my A comfortable smile to cherish it, soul receive When thou art gone?-They're but dull joys that sit Part with a less expence of sorrow, would Our rigid fortune only be content With absence-but a greater punishment |