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Passing thus pleasantly from one delight to another, now silent from perfect enjoyment, anon laughing as some pleasant conceit floated through our fancies,half expecting that so delightful a retreat must be visited by gallant knights and their ladies, to hold a court of love, or settle the weighty affairs of the flower and the leaf; then, again, listening if among the many breezy sounds that came sweeping by us, the chuckling voice of hamadryad or fawn might not be distinguished. All of us were eager in praise of a country life, and quoted amply from our favorite poets on this subject, those really inspired men, who have so beautifully rescued our natures from common place and brutality into virtue and real piety. A savage life was next mentioned; but we had all experienced too much of happiness from social humanities not to give civilization the preference. "I own," said Grazianna, "I should wish to voyage into distant countries, and observe the various customs of untaught natural people. How delightful it would be to have a gallant vessel sailing in southern seas, loaded with presents for these simple people, which we would exchange for their fruits: fearing no evil from unarmed visitors, they would hospitably receive us under their palm groves, where we might join in their sports and dances, and in return teach them some of our domestic comforts." "Hold there, my dear fanciful sister," cried Florio; "would you, by giving them a taste for refinement, destroy their rude happiness? But I if unruffled seas would always continue, I should have

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no objection to be of your party. What say you, Amanda?" "Willingly," she replied, " and our kind friends here to accompany us, we could then continue our present pastime until we rivalled the Princess Scherzerade." "Before you proceed on your voyage, ladies," said Cynthio, "will you allow me to tell you a story related to me by a mariner, which may give some idea of the vicissitudes incidental to a sea life, somewhat different from the smooth and hilarious passage you have proposed to yourself." We assured him, we should be happy to profit by good counsel, and promised to provide against all exigencies and mischances, after having heard the Adventures of his Narrator. He began, therefore, his story, which he called

TALE FIFTH.

THE FORLORN SHIP.

Who life doth loath, and longs death to behold
Before he die, already dead with fear,

And yet would live with heart half stony cold,

Let him to sea, and he shall see it there:

Thousand wild beasts, with deep mouths gaping direful,
Therein still wait, poor passengers to tear.

And yet, as ghastly dreadful as it seems,

Bold men, presuming life for gain to sell,

Dare tempt that gulf, and in these wand'ring streams
Seek ways unknown, ways leading down to hell;
For as we stood there waiting on the strond,
Behold, an huge great vessel to us came,
Dancing upon the water's back to lond,
As if it scorn'd the danger of the same;
Yet was it but a wooden frame, and frail,
Glewed together with some subtile matter;
Yet had it arms and wings, and head and tail,
And life to move itself upon the water.

Strange thing! how bold and swift the monster was !
That neither car'd for wind, nor hail, nor rain,

Nor swelling waves, but thorough them did pass

So proudly, that she made them roar again.

SPENCER'S COLIN CLOUT'S COME HOME AGAIN.

This soul hath been

Alone on a wide, wide sea;
So lonely t'was, that God himself

Scarce seemed there to be.

COLERIDGE'S ANCIENT MARINER.

JOURNEYING one summer through the Highlands, curiosity tempted me to visit the Hebrides, the local habitation of so many gaelic superstitions and poetic

imaginings; one among the scanty inhabitants of a minor island was distinguished by his intelligent countenance and courteous manners. I lodged in his cabin, which, like himself among his companions, was superior to the wretched fisher huts by its neatness and comfortable appearance. I generally accompanied him in his fishing labours, and the weather being lovely and temperate, we frequently passed the greater part of the night in his boat. I grew hourly more attracted by his manners, and one day could not forbear expressing my wonder, that a man like him should be contented with dwelling in this lonely island, where occasionally his time must pass wearily among such inferior mates. "A man who has spent two years of his life without a human face to look upon," answered he, "has no reason to complain of my lot: have I not a weathertight house, a pretty goodtempered wife who loves me, affectionate healthful children, and obliging neighbours? But, at your age, young sir, I thought in like manner: my roving propensities were however cured by a four years experience of hardships and strange mishaps, such as I believe were seldom met with." "Doubtless the relation of your adventures must be very entertaining." "My simple neighbours think them so,” he rejoined, "but the southern gentry, to whom I have occasionally related some parts, think them dull, and at best traveller's wonders of my own creation." "I shall not be of that number," I replied, "but shall be delighted to become a patient hearer, and stedfast believer of the whole; so

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commence when you will; begin from your ting out; I do not like a story piece-meal." "Well, sir, if it will give you any pleasure, this net will take me some time to mend, and it is good to while away such tedious work with a long story.". Having disposed of his tools and materials handily, to avoid interruption, he began thus:-" You must know, sir, that I was not born in this wild island; my father was a thriving journeyman weaver in Glasgow, and I being his only son, he determined to give me a good education accordingly I was placed at the public school, and afterwards removed to the university; but I never had any great taste for classical study, preferring books of travels and voyages, insomuch, that my mind became bent upon seeing the wonders of distant countries, and I longed to prove those hairbreadth escapes which ensure the glory and reward of enterprising spirits. My father, with a view to the aggrandisement of our family, destined me for the ministry; but nothing surely could be less suited to my habits, for I was thoughtless, generous, and romantic; I loved a ballad of David Lindsay's, or Robert Burns's, better than a homily or evening lecture. My father's grief when he discovered the bias my inclinations had taken was excessive, and so affected me, that I consented to yield up my wishes to his as far as concerned a roving life; but declared my aversion to the ministry was fixed and immoveable. Hoping to conquer my resolution by kindness, he permitted me to defer my choice of an employment, and even

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