Hifery of Robert the Brave. TOR fome time the countefs had neglected to critivate her mufical and other ornamental talents, though the ftill occafionally exercifed den for her amufement. She was perfectly well acquainted with the tury of her family, and that of he country in which her relatives cupied a high ftation. She knew the names of all the knights who had rendered themfelves illuftrious by heroic exploits. The ladies of her time rarely poffeffed knowledge fo extenfive, and fhe was confidered as an extraordinary woman; but thofe who were molt frequently in her company, and her female attendants, conceived that the mingled fomewhat of haughtiness with the dignity fuitable to her rank. Elvige was as yet too young to make any obfervations on the character of the countis. She paffed the greater part of her time with the women who waitdon her; and was not permitted to come into the presence of her patrogefs without being called. She was igorously reftricted to the ceremoni al prefcribed by the distance between her and her miftrefs, and accustomed never to approach her but with the greateti relpect. But Elvige, confidering thefe duties as indifpenfable, fulfilled them with fo good a grace, and fhowed fo great a defire and fo much affiduity to please, that the Countefs was perfectly well fatished; and remarked with pleasure the exi preffion of joy which fhone in the charming countenance of the amiable child at the flightest mark of her favour, The influence of the graces, and idnefs of difpofition,, is powerful univerfally felt; even pride it elf cannot refift it. The countefs was generous and good. Never were her benefactions folicited in vain. Her heart flew to anticipate diftrefs; February, 1802. nor could the reft till she had lavished her bounty in its aid. She required only that it fhould never be forgotten, that he was of the blood of the princes of Thoulouse, and that the greatest refpect was due to her birth and rank. The behaviour of the young Elvige accorded fo well with every thing the countess could require, or even with, that the latter interefied herself fincerely and warmly in her favour, and refolved to make her her damfel of honour. Recollecting, therefore, how proper it was that the perfon the deigncd to admit to the honour of her fo ciery fhould be embellished by elegant and ornamental accomplishments, the refolved that he would herself fuperintend her first attempts in the mufical art. Want of practice rendered lefs lively and brilliant the firft tones he drew from her harp but her happy memory perfectly retained feveral fongs which had been when in her honour, and especially the ftanzas of the page, which had made a greater impreffion on her than any others. She had herself composed the accompaniments to them, noted hem down with her own hand, and carefully preferved them. She always fung them with very apparent pleafure; and when her voice, becoming animated, gave a more tender or lively expreffion to fonie of the couplets, Elvige, with all the innocence and fimplicity of her age, would requeft her to repeat them: and this favour was never refuted. The delicate hand of the counteis's youthful pupil learned with facility to draw forth foft and melodions founds from her harp; and her flexible and fonorous voice, guided by an attentive and difcriminating ear, readily imitated the accents he heard; and a few months were fufficient to con vince the counters, that the daughter of Cobert would one day equal herfelf in thefe accomplishments. Though fortune, in fact, had not placed placed Elvige on a throne, nature had fon but herself the important care of done every thing for her. The charms inftructing her in the duties annexed of her countenance, the elegance of to this ftation. Her principal leffon her ftature, the lightnefs and eafe of was a long and pompous enumeration her motions, and the regularity of of the rights and honours attached to her features, rendered it evident, that high birth, and all the marks of refto the feductive attraction of grace pect which vaflals owed to their lords. she would foon add the commanding She did not attempt to conceal the power of beauty. immenfe diftance which feparated Her lively and acute wit, her do- count Roger from the companion of cility, her delicacy, the tears the his exercises. She intimated to her fhed when she heard the narrative of pupil that the muft no longer treat misfortune, and the animated fmile them in the fame manner? and that of joy which illuminated her counte- on all occafions the muft only speak nance when it was in her power to to the fon of her lord with every bestow relief, were the certain indi- expreflion of the greatest deference. cations that he would one day poffefs This command gave Elvige no kind the most noble qualities of the mind of uneafinefs: it even appeared to and heart. Such was the, in fine, her ufelefs to lay on her an injunctithat the countess fometimes regretted, on to fhow refpect to the amiable though fecretly, that the was not Roger. Her feeling and grateful her daughter. Enchanted with the heart faw in him the fon and heir of progrefs her pupil made in mufic, thé her benefactors: to refpect and ad proceeded likewise to give her fome mire him was with her a fentimen idea of drawing; and the ingenious which every day acquired new Elvige profited fo readily by her leffons ftrength, and her lips and her heart that, in a fhort time, fhe equalled promifed, without difficulty, to reter inftructress; and had no other vere and be moft faithfully attached refource to complete herfelf in the art to him. but to imitate the works of nature. If the changes which had taken The flowers of the parterres in the place in the manner of treating Elcaftle-gardens supplied her with mo- vige made no difagreeable impreffion dels; and her productions of this upon her, it was not fo with Robert. Hind were the prizes which Roger He was foon compelled painfully, to and Robert difputed with eager rival notice the wide diftance which had Ty. fuddenly interpofed between himfelt While every day added to the and Roger. He was ftill permitted frength, the addrefs, and the ftature to participate in his exercifes; but of the two youths, and adorned El- the first prize he gained, inftead of vige with new charms, Roger and its being accompanied by the careffes Robert completed their eighteenth he had till then fhared with his illufyear. Elvige was in her fixteenth; trious rival, he received a prefent of and difplayed fuch beauty, embellith- fome value, with an affurance, that el by the accomplishments fhe had at all times his good conduct would acquired, that the count and countefs be rewarded with benefits by his genebegan to feel the neceffity of chang- rous masters. ing the plan of education they had hi- Robert attached value only to glory, therto followed. The countefs for- his heart knew no other benefit than mally announced to the amiable El- that of loving Roger, and being bevige, that he would deign to raife loved by him. He blushed at hearher to the rank of her damfel of ho- ing the promises made to him, and wour. She would confide to no per- tears rushed into his eyes. But foon be refumed his courage, on reflecting himself refrained by an invincible hat he fhould never be separated from timidity, and became as it were mohis young mafter; that he fhould tionlefs. But he quickly regained follow him to the wars, and that he his strength and activity when he aight find an opportunity to obtain a was to difpute a prize which she had death as glorious as that of his father. propofed. It was in vain, then, that Confoled by this hope, his zeal only Robert redoubled his efforts; he raboubled; he even refolved to difpute was most frequently overcome; and more ardently than ever the prizes Roger, exulting in his fuccefs, flew which had in his eyes been deprived to receive the prize, which he preffof all their charms, by being accom- ed to his heart, and wore on his head panied with gifts which he did not as his moft valued ornament. Then defire, though he did not dare to re- would he haftily turn towards his fufe. friend, and with tender and generous emotion clafp him in his arms, endeavouring to confole him by the warmeft careffes for the advantage he had gained over him. Roger, too young, and still more too generous, to have pride, had gi ven himfelf up, without referve, to the friendship with which his companion had infpired him from his infan- Robert, aftonished fo often to find cy. In youthful fports, in manly in his antagonist a fuperiority of exercifes, martial encounters, he had which he was very far from fufpectever found him his equal; and, dif- ing the cause, redoubled his exertions pleafed at the difference which he to render his triumph more difficult. now faw was made between them, The victory was more obftinately andimpelled by his heart, and a fen- difputed, and long remained uncerment which he knew not as yet to tain. The number of ptizes obtaindefine, he carefully availed himfelf of ed now became more equal between every poffible means to recompenfate them; and this generous emulation, to Robert the preference given to in a fhort time, rendered each of them himfelf, and the careffes which were capable of fuccefsfully entering the no longer common to them both.- lifts with the most renowned knights. His condefcenfion, however, never While the young count, frequent proceeded fo far as purpofely to yield ly filent and thoughtful, endeavoured to his friend the palm in any conteft. to difcover the caufe of the unealiIt was no longer the amiable Elvige who crowned the victor, but it was the who gathered the flowers, who intwined them into crowns:and it was always the works of her hands which were bestowed as prizes. Roger could no longer glance his eyes on the fifter of his rival without experiencing an extreme agitation.When he was abfent, he became theafy and thoughtful, and fighed for the moment of her return. When e again appeared, he dared not lift eyes to meet hers; and when he tempted to speak to her he felt his words expire on his lips. Sometimes when he was ready to fpring cheeruly towards her, he fuddenly felt nefs by which he was agitated;while his heart was difquieted at experiencing fentiments fo novel and fo forcible, the amiable Elvige abandoned herfelf without referve to the impulfes of gratitude towards her benefactors. The brilliant endowments of Roger made her annex the greatest pleasure to the duty of loving him; and, far from attempting to reprefs this inclination, the conceived that the only obeyed the injunction of the moft indifpenfible of virtues, when the inceffantly repeated, that the could never feel too much admiration and affection for him. But this innocent confidence was foon to disappear, a cruel a cruel light was about to illuminate heaven, it is all well; long live the her mind and rend her heart. To be continued. THE eve of HE eye of Sunday at length arrives the fun fets behind the diftant hills: fpreads over the furrounding rocks: the warbling of birds is no longer heard. This is the first moment of day, which gives being to the murmurings of the quiet fream. The fharded beetle, waked from his repofe, is on the wing, and foothes the traveller with his joyous hum. Silence, and the dumb repofe of evening steal on. Alone and at night I returned from the city*; I haftened, yet expectation told me I lingered by the way. From Chriftiana, ere I reached home, fix times had the finger of time pointed out the hour: go more fwiftly ye who are able to me the way was long-my feet were way worn, yet I felt no pain. See me hang my hat by the wall, and clofe at its fide my polifhed fabre. My good father fees me, fhakes me by the hand, and in the fervour of his rude embraces almoft thrown me down. Choaked with tears of joy, he could fcarcely at firft utter a word; at laft he exclaimed; may you have arrived, dear Thor! at an happy moment! and fince-have you already returned ?? His questions followed each other faft.. How is our common father the king? Does he appear fometimes on the parade? Is he pleafed when the foldiers manœuvre well? Does he speak German, and underftand us better than his grand-father did? As foon as I had aufwered thefe questions in the affirmitive, taking off his bonnet, he exclaimed: Thank N .0 T E. * Copenhagen. 1 king! May we not hope,' continued he, that the king will one day vifit the vales of Norway? I had al most faid, no, which would have vexed him- Yes,' faid I, he wish ་ es it much; but his counsellors object.' Obferve,' replied he with Yome warmth, obferve well the Jutlander! It is he who has the ear of the king.' In the mean time he pulled out an old polifhed key, opened our painted wardrobe, and took thence a filver cup, glittering like the new laced brim of my hat; then defcended inte the cellar. On his return, he drank my health, and gave me the cup: Take it,' faid he, fatisfy thy thirst, for thirst is a fociable appetite." He then embraced me. Although, he faid, ' I should have been the favior of Norway, although I fhould have done things which n other could have done, I fhould hav been amply recompenfed by the plea fure I take in thus embracing thee. I beheld him a long time, unable t Ipeak. There was an expreffion i his eye of tenderness, which caufe my heart to palpitate more agreeably than it had ever done before. M blood was never in fo fweet a fer ment. It was night, I felt myfelf weary The good man advifed me to go t reft, telling me that Annette had mad my bed: he retired himself to fleep fatisfied and happy. I climbed th ftaircafe that I had often furmounted a two leaps but was now happy to re ceive the affiftance of a rope. promifed myfelf a pleafant night. The clean blankets had been ju placed on the bed by the maid. had never feen her before: but wha new fentiment then feized me! yo came fooner than I expected,' fai fhe; if I had know of it, your be fhould have been ready.' It wa foon finifhed; as for me, I remain like one ftupified and infenfible. Ho How fhall I explain myfelf? I my joy would be full; I could then brave fears and dangers. e travelled; feen many women; ne fpruce as butterflies, and others e the flowers of the field, wild and beauteous: I have been at the thea.: frolic'd with them; have done I know not what ;-yet with none hare I been content; never did my heart furrender itself to any-but this maid. See me, then, in an extasy-peted at the fight of a little, nakedfooted, country girl, in a fimple defs, and loofe flowing locks; but where could he be equalled? She was beautiful as the moon, that, on 1 fine evening in autumn, fmiles on the vallies, and gilds the fummit of the hills. She stood and furveyed me from head to foot; the flame of love confumed me. Had it been bright as noon-day, or dark as midnight, it were all one to me; Annette was prefent. She abforbed all my thoughts. Every fentinent-every feeling of exiftence that I poffeffed, lived only in my eyes; fhe faw, without doubt, my foul all on fire. We beheld each ather for fome time. She had not the with, I had not the power to Speak, The crafty girl firft broke filence. Our eyes met. How are you?dear Thor! are you tick? Can a guard of the king be weary? Can a girl, in a loofe difhabille, make you afraid? My gown is clean-I would not boaft; it is fine alfo, and without a flaw. Do you want any thing? Speak; in two fteps I will fetch it; Iam not fparing of trouble.' 8 But tell me, thou mafter piece of creation! whence art thou? Hast thou been long here? Wert thou born free, or has fortune condemned fo tranfcendent a form as thine to perpetual fervitude? But why all these questions? Tell me only this, art thou, like myself, at liberty to dif pose of thy heart? Without ceremo ny, are you engaged? But I would not embarrafs you.' Would you believe it, the crafty girl laughed in my face. I was no more than a moufe in the talons of a cat.— Thor, I believe you have lost your wits. You queftion me worse than even my grandmother or confeffor ever did. But I fee you are drowfy. Go to bed, my good friend, it is getting late.' Pihaw the is gone.-Have you never obferved the effect of alternate changes, from darknefs to light, when the moon, in a gloomy night, peeps out for an inftant, and then retreats behind a cloud? I was more wretched than a traveller, in fuch a night, on the brink of a precipice, fuddenly deprived of this friendly, fleeting luminary. I blushed, and endeavoured to bury my torments in fleep. But fleep and wearinefs had flown with my charmer. Nothing but difquietude remained. She had gained the empire of my heart, and chaced repofe far away. It I clofed my eyelids, her image foon opened them again; her ingenuous modeft air, the roles and lilies of her checks, were always before me, I confidered every word fhe had faid, I weighed all her anfwers, and endeavoured to dive in. to her very foul. 'Annette, my fweet Annette! thou knoweft only but to well how to extend the dominion of beauty; what thou knoweft not is, that thou haft Alas! how long the night appearinfpired my foul with its firft amorous ed How tardy the morning came! ame. Remain here, and I fhall I felt my ftomach oppreiled, and took nothing, no, nothing; but if my night-gown. i littened every thou goeft, my heart goes with thee. Could but embrace thee in my arms, moment for the hours;-they had forgotten to hike. Impa...nt, I arofe |