(though mingled with the foftening pangs of fond regret) he could talk to his children of their mother-to Victoria of her counterpart. Tranquil, though not happy, glided on the evening of Lorenzo's days; refpected by the world, efteemed by his friends, loved by his vaffals, and adored by his duteous children, from whofe undiminished felicity, and from watching over the dawning reafon of his lovely and promifing grandchildren, he derived all of happiness the world could now bestow upon him. But, if ever the fimplicity of heart and striking virtues of his beloved Victoria reminded him of the treasure he had fo fatally loft; if the tender, perfect, and ftill increafing attachment fubfifting between her and his Orlando taught fond regret to paint with agonifing touches the fhort moments of his own wedded happiness. Religion's potent power would restore to him the calm influence of refignation, and teach him to look, with pious faith and hope, for a re-union with his Viola in the realms of never-fading blifs. The good and faithful father Rinaldo, at the request of the noble Lorenzo, gave up his fituation in the monaftery of St. Lewis, and re-affumed his ftation of domeftic chaplain at Manfredonia; where he was loved by all, and his virtues jufly appreciated. The duca had fufficient inte. rest to obtain for him the highest church preferment; but the unambitious, affectionate old man rejected all honours, and, prefering the circle of domeftic comfort, chofe to live with his patron and his friend, and to pafs the remainder of his days in the family of Manfredonia. The pious and learned father Alberti became the domeftic chaplain at the castle of Palino; and refuting too all epifcopal honours, dedicated the relt of his life to witneffing the perfect happiness of his beloved Alphonfo, and to giving his children that inftruction from which their amiable father had derived fuch advantage, and to which he had done fuch honour, before them. The monks of St. Lewis were moft liberally recompenfed by the munificent Lorenzo for the part they had taken in the restoration of himself and children to the world and their ancient honours. But the general reward was not deemed by him or his children a fufficient teftimony of their gratitude for the fervices of the incorruptible and fkilful Pierre: they therefore fhortly procured him to be invefted with epifcopal dignities; nor ceafed their exertions in his favour until they placed him in that fituation which Rinaldo and Alberti had rejected: and in his eminent station as cardinal, this once obfcure man did honour, by his humility and manifold virtues, to human nature and the friends who exalted him. Nor were the fifters of St. Marguerite's forgotte by our heroine. Her grateful heart led her to reward all who had been kind to her in her miffortunes; and the liberal prefents the made to the abbefs and to the Benedictine fifters plainly evinced how highly the estimated her obligations to them. Siguora Urfuline, as our reader can readily fuppofe, paffed the winter of her days in the family of her beloved Victoria, receiving from every individual that refpect and tender regard the fo well merited, and deriving happiness from witneffing the augmenting felicity of her darling pupil, whom with pleasure the affifted in the task of rearing her children, and in educating the young Viola and Clementina. Nor were the relations of Farinelli forgotten by Victoria, her adoring husband, or affectionate father; and the obligations our heroine was under to that incomparable woman were repaid by amply providing for all thofe the heid most dear. To Octavia Bernini was left no caufe cause to regret her eventful expedition into Spain. Her virtues and fervices were rewarded, and the families of Manfredonia and Ariofto left it no longer in the power of neceffity to tear her from the bofom of her family in queft of their advantage. For the fate of poor old Terefa we truft, compaffionate reader, you feel interefted. Before Orlando: finally quitted the Pyrenean caftle, he offered to Teresa her choice of accompanying him to Italy and refiding there for life in his family, or return ing to her relations and native vitlage with a handfome annuity. This kindly intended propofition almoft ent the heart-trings of poor Terefa, Affection ftrongly called her into Italy with her adored child and his beloved lady, while duty peremptorily commanded her return to Arragon to her husband and her children. She confulted Victoria upon this delicate affair, who advised her at leaft vifit ing the place of her nativity, to learn whom time had fpared to her; to relieve the neceffities of her kindred; to arrange for their future comforts; and then to remain with them, or not, exactly which the thould find moft congenial to her feelings. Terefa wept for joy at advice fo correfpondent to her wishes: here was a falvo for her confcience; and, refolving to play the jefuit with her mental admonisher, the confidered that duty could demand no more than vifiting and relieving the wants of her relations, and then no bolom monitor could fting her with approach for following the impulfe of inclination. The affectionate and grateful OrJando, attentive to the comfort and afety of his good old nurfe appointyd Thomas, with a fecure escort, to accompany Terefa to her native vil lage; where the went fully determined not to like any one perfon or circumflance there which might im pede her earnest with of fpending the short period of her exilience in the 1 family of Orlando and Viatorial But, alas! poor Terefa had no ce cation to take fuch pains in forming refolutions. Nineteen years make melancholy alterations in this tran tory world! The hufband of Teresa, her daughter, and grand-children, all fon-in-law wedded again, with a new were laid in the peaceful grave; her family. around him: all her own kindred, all the friends who had cared about her, gone. the bitter tears of anguifh at this inThe feeling-hearted Terefa wept telligence, although, as the journeyed from Catalonia, fhe fancied fuch information would give her pleasure. The ignorant few among the old who recognised her declared the was a fpectre thrown up from the grave; the young, as ignorant, believed the was a witch. One party fhunned her, the other maltreated her; while The mas (whom all united in thinking crazy) got into a variety of ridiculous and dangerous fcrapes upon her account, and with much difficulty effected their fafe retreat from a village which he execrated with all his might and main, and with all poffle care conducted Terefa to the caftle of Manfredonia, where he was received with a fincere and affectionate welcome, that recompenfed the poor afflicted old woinan for all the grief, perit, and toils fhe had experienced in her vifit to her native plains. refa found herself a woman of wonIn the cafle of Manfredonia Tedei ful confequence among the domelyoung lord in his childhood, the tics; for, having taken care of their plumed herself much upon the import tance that circumftanice gave her; prstling for hours each day of how the reared him, recounting the prodigies of his early days, relating all the horrors of the Pyrenean cattle. and expadiating upon all Victoria's fufferings and virtues, which she had experienced and manifelled there; whüe while the greatest happiness of her life the derived from the kindness of Orlando and Victoria, in allowing her to make a bufle in the nursery,, and to fancy herfelf of infinite fervice to the lovely young brood there. One of the incidents highly affect ing to the fufceptible feelings of Lorenzo, upon his return to the caftle of his ancestors, we will now relate. We trust our reader has not forgot ten Fidato-the old and faithful maggiordomo, whom the indignity offered to his lamented lord, by the marLiage of Elvira, had driven to his bed in a nervous fever. Grief,, horror, old age, and cruel treatment from the ufurper, brought upon this hitherto healthy man a complication of maladies and, about fix years prior to Lorenzo's return to Manfredonia, the wretched Fidato, in a miferable ftate of mental and bodily debility, was defpoiled of all the honeft earn ings of his life by the rapacious Polydore, and driven by that ruthlefs barbarian from the cattle to a miferable hut upon the fea-fhore, where for the last two years he had been to tally confined to his bed-where, but for the humanity of the oppreffed and impoverished peasant where he lodged (and who ftill remembered Fidato's kindness to him in happier times,) he must have perished for want of care. his injuries, his ailments, his afflictions, and had him inftantly remov◄ ed in a litter, with the tendereft care, from the hovel to the castle. In the hall Fidato was received and welcomed by his kind and long-loft mafter. Again Fidato hid his hoary. head in the bofom of Lorenzo, and wept for joy. He faw his young lord once more, and preffed his hands to his throbbing heart; he beheld the lady Matilda, and the deftined wife of the long-lamented marchefe di Palermo-fhe who had been permitted by Heaven to reftore his ancient mafter to him. He gazed upon her with rapturous gratitude and delight; he fobbed; he preffed her hand with, refpectful affection to his lips, and bleffed her with effecting folemnity.. He was then gently conveyed to the. chamber which for thirty years he had inhabited; where, looking around with a cheerful and delighted counte-, nance, he pioufly thanked Heaven, for extending his life to behold once more his beloved injured lord and his lovely children; to hear the vilely traduced fame of his inestimable lady restored to its, rank amongst the im-. maculate; and to permit him to breath his laft figh in the fervice and cafle of his lord; and, then bleffings Lorenzo and his children with fervour, he, with a fweet fimile of iranquility, laid his head upon his pillow, and without a figh or fruggle funk into eternal fleep, CHAP. LXXIX. A fhort time prior to Lorenzo's return, by the pitying decrees of Almighty Providence, the mental pow-. ers of this poor perfecuted fuffering By the time Diego was restored to old man revifited him. At length. honourable fociety both his parents. the duca di Manfredonia was reftored were no more; but ever cherishing to redress the grievances of his ruined the hope of his being yet in exiftence, and perfecuted tenantry. Fidato, they had left ail their property in thes with every pulfe throbbing with ec- hands of truftees, to accumulate for ftatic joy and gratitude to heaven, his ufe, thould he appear in the space: heard the wondrous tale: it renovat- of twenty-one years after their de ed his expiring lamp of life; it gave ceafe, That term was not half ex-, to his unfeebled reafon a gleam of pired. The late conte Ariofio too energy long unknown to it. Loren left a noble legacy for his ever-la-, zo vifited the bedfide of this efteemed mented favourite, bearing intereft," and faithful old domeftic, wept over and to remain appropriated for his ufe for fourteen years, when, fhould ings; their good fenfe and pity ftrows Diego not have been heard of, the mo- to reafon and perfuade him back to ney was to become the property of happiness, while their piety dropped Alphonfo. More than that term had all the balm into his wounds that clapfed fince the death of Altidore; Omnipotent mercy promises to the but the amiable Aiphonfo, in refpect lowly contrite penitent. At length, to his father's attachment, and in gra- the reftlefs Diego conceived it highly titude for Diego's kindness and fer- reprehenfible for fuch a finner as he vices to Victoria, prefented him had been to remain in the work exhis legacy, with all its accumulation, pofed to temptations he had fo fully even unto the very day he was put evinced himself unable to refifi; and into poffeffion of it. But although that the only prospect he had of faithe property of Diego thus lay in vation was by renouncing the world, Tufcany, although his attachment to and in the gloomy recesses of a cloif. the caftle of Palino was unfubdued, ter ftrive, by uncealing prayer and pcand his refpect for the prefent conte nance, to expiate his crimes. Ariofto extreme, he ftill preferred a refidence at Manfredonia. To be near Orlando and Victoria was the first wifh of his heart; to fee them daily, to fometimes converfe with them, was a pleafure he would not forego for any other temporal confideration; and as his active mind was ever reverting to dreadful fubjects when devoid of employment, the good duca, in recompenfe for his fervices, and to draw him from the torturing retrofpection brought on by inaction, appointed him maggiordomo as foon as the men of butitiefs em ployed for the occafion had arranged all the embarraffinents of the eltates and tenantry. Diego, affluent and independent, fettled in a family where all his attachments centered, with an honourable employment that occupied moft of his time, and gave ample opportunities to his active benevolence to exercise itself, was yet unhappy. His feeling mind ftill fhuddered at the crimes he had been led into the commiffion of, and each moment of inaction his penfive agonifed thoughts fled back to scenes of paft horror, embittering his elfe now cloudless days, and firewing his pillow with the rank ling thorns of defpondence and contrition. Oriando and Victoria were often the confidants of his miferable feel This measure Orlando and Victoria ftrongly opposed, being both firmly of opinion that the active benevolent Diego would only find mifery in a convent, while in the world, as a husband, a father, philanthropist, by avoiding fin in the midst of temptation, leading others to virtue by his example, and by his benevolence and kindness making numbers happy, he could more fully perform his duty to Heaven, and more amply make atonement for the offences of his past life. But, not chooling that their judgment alone thould decide in fuch an important affair, they perfuaded Diego to lay all his thoughts and perplexities before the holy fathers Rinaldo, Alberti, and Pierre, and to abide by their decifion. The two latter were therefore immediately convened, and with Rinaldo, the duca di Manfredonia, Orlando and Diego, folemnly and deeply difcuffed the mo mentous queflion, when the opinions of all were strongly against Diego's project, and the holy men and Lorenzo perfectly agreed with Orlando. in his ideas upon the fubject; and fo mild, fo merciful was the theology of thefe good pricfts, fo comforting their doctrines, that Diego's heart dilated with the cheering hope of Heaven's forgivenefs, and his own firmnefs againit temptation. Orlando, well knowing the fenfi D 6 tive fenfibility of Diego's compofiti- at him, and, by winning him, fecure on, would not leave time to the in- our revenge.' dulgence of his oppreffed feelings, after the folemn fcene was ended; but good-naturedly catching this ineftimable though humble friend by the arm, led him to the marchefa, who was fitting in her dreffing-room, Ariving to employ herself in reading, while all her thoughts were fixed up on the interesting conference in the library. Urfuline and Rofelia were both with her but as the ingenuous Diego had never affected fecrefy be fore them, neither of them now attempted to retire, as they were full of anxiety to learn what had been the decifion of the monks. The ardent Victoria inftantly caught intelligence from the eyes of her husband, and ftarting from her feat took the hand of Diego, and fweetly faid with all the fpirited glow of animation which unfeigned pleasure gives-- And reward my humility, you mean, fignora,' faid Diego, who by this time had made a fuccefsful effort to fupprefs his feelings. My good lord has a little mifconceived me.Living in the caftle of Manfredonia, who could fhrink from wedded life? My lord advifed my uniting myfelf to fome amiable woman whom I loved, and-" Orlando's countenance tells me that our united with is realized, and that fociety is not to lose a valuable member.' Diego burst into tears, and covering his face with both hands, would bave retreated, only for the active attention of Orlando, who grafping him by the arm, fpoke with an air of gaiety calculated to infpire cheerfulness: I have brought Diego hither, Victoria, to be tried and condemned, without benefit of clergy, for high treafon against your fex. As we came from the folemn congrefs hither, I advifed him, if he withed for complete happinefs, to get a wife; and, would you believe it, I am convinced not even your perfuafions could win him to compliances; he feems to fhrink from matrimony as from fome inoft horrible inftitution.' Oh! the infulting favage ! exclaimed fignora Farinelli. Were I a marrying woman, I declare I would fet my cup in a most refiltless manner And ftrongly I advife it, Diego, from conviction. You talk of being eafily led to error. United to fuch a woman as my Victoria, think you that I can ever ftray? Muft not I ever fhrink from error, left I fhould become unworthy of her affection?" With virtue by the hand, he must indeed be a prompt finner who could tray. But, my lord, you know there is not a woman in existence equal to the marchefa di Palermo; and the only man who deferved fuch a gift from Heaven has obtained her. As for me, fuch are my pretentions to wedded happiness, that I dare not claim alliance with any virtue. How dare I, tainted as I am with crimes, afk the love of any estimable woman? How could I hope to be beloved, who-' At this moment Roselia haftily quitted the room, with her fine countenance covered with the brighteft tints of vermillion, and in a state of agitation that could no longer effect concealment. A finile of intelligence beamed over the expreffive countenance of Victoria, and bore conviction to her Orlan do, on whofe face was inftantly dif played its counterpart. The humble Diego was not deficient in penetration :--he beheld the emotion and flight of Rofelia, and faw the expreffive fimile of his lord and lady. Hope and joy explaned all to his withes; and, almoft in as much perturbation as poor Rofelia he |