Transform its blessings, or misuse our power; Horror! forbear! thu murderer, hold thy hand. It was at the dead hour of midnight, when all was hushed in calm repose, when scarce a sound broke on the listening ear, save now and then the dashing of an oar cutting the silvery wave, that Philotas, the Greek soldier, on his weary watch, was startled at the sound of approaching footsteps. He demanded the business of the intruder, and was surprised by the plaintive sound of a female voice, bidding him " suppress all fear, and assuring him no hostile visitor came to disturb him, but a wretch who sought his pity and assistance !" It was Euphrasia! the beauteous daughter of the captive and dethroned Evander! She came alone, at this late hour, to ask admission to her father, and to supply him with food, lest he should perish with hunger; for such was the dreadful sentence passed upon him by Dionysius, the usurper. For three days he had on various pr texts prevented Euphrasia's visits to her imprisoned parent-still deluding her with promises of his freedom; meantime, by secret orders, Evander had been removed from his prison at midnight, conducted to a dungeon on the steep summit of an almost inaccessible rock, and there condemned to die for want of sustenance. Euphrasia learned from Melanthon (a faithful follower of her father's-though now in the usurper's service), his dreadful situation' and when all the city was hushed in repose, she sought the dreary dungeon, committing herself to the care of Heaven. Without assistance, and guided on her dubious way by the feeble light of her lamp, she scrambled up the frightful precipice; and faint, exhausted, at length reached its summit, where, throwing herself on her knees before the soldier, she besought him with the most pathetic earnestness, to assist in preserving her parent's life. Long he resisted her entreaties, for though he loved his dethroned kin, yet such were the horrors of Dionysius's punishments, that none dared disobey him. Euphrasia clung to his robe, grasped his hand with frantic energy, and implored him to have compassion on her sorrows, and admit her to the presence of the prisoner! "Refuse me not, Philotas (she exclaimed), Oh! can you behold a wretch thus pleading at your feet, and spurn her from you? Can you resist a daughter's agony-who only asks permission to perish by her father's side? Let me behold him once more! Oh! let me clasp him in these arms, and if he must die,' let his last sighs be heaved upon his daughter's breast; his dying eyes be closed by a daughter's hand! Think, Philotas, oh! think of thine own aged sire! Think, were he doomed like mine, to perish Wouldst thou not burst through walls and rocks to save him? Wouldst thou not plead for mercy? Wouldst thou not rend the air with piercing cries, and dash thyself upon the cold, cold, earth, in bitterness of anguish? Say! Wouldst thou not ?" "Oh! no more (replied, Pailotas, dashing a tear away), go in, Euphrasia, go and behold thy father." Euphrasia caught his hand, pressed it with eager gratitude to her lips, and rushed into the cavern, where she was met by Arcas, the other soldier on duty, who though he readily confirmed the permission of Philotas for her visit, yet positively refused her entreaties to convey him any food, as their lives would be forfeited; and she was compelled to give up the cordials she had brought. From cell, to cell, they passed; and reached at length a gloomy cave; where, chained to a rock, she beheld her aged sire stretched on the floor. Overcome with horror at a sight so dreadful, she leaned against the wall for support! Arcas led her to a seat-"Repose thee, princess, till thy failing strength return. I will release thy father; your visit must be brief-before the dawn you must depart, or certain ruin will ensue-would, would I could do more.” Arcas raised Evander from the ground, then removed his chain, and bowing to the princess, left the cell-but Euphrasia, stupified with agony, was for some moments unable to move, till the well known voice of her father fell upon her ear. As Evander attempted to move, he staggered; but she rushed and caught him in her arms; then led him gently forward. Revived by the fresh air, he expressed his acknowledgments, though ignorant to whom he was indebted for the hand of death was on him, his eyes were din, and his senses bewildered. She wiped the cold damp from his forehead, and tenderly inquired "if he did not know her ?" when he raised his head for a moment, and faintly uttered "No : in truth I know you not; are you a spirit come to conduct me to the realms of bliss ?" It was some time ere Euphrasia could recall his wandering senses to recollection; and, when at length he understood it was his child, his joy overcame him, and he sunk, fainting, in her arms. Her shrieks of terror alarmed the sentinel, who came to réprove her imprudence; but she implored his assistance to conduct her father more into the air, where, stretched upon a couch, he again left them! Euphra sia hung over the venerable old man in speechless agony she wrapped her mantle round his shivering limbs; pressed him in her arms-with the fond hope of communicating to him the vital warmth which ran through her own veins; alas! in vain, his quivering lips unclosed, he gasped, but his agonized daughter had not the power of bestowing even a drop of water to allay his thirst. At length a sublime idea suddenly darted through her burning brainand the maternal breast, which but a few days before yielded nourishment to her infant son, now preserved the life of an expiring parent! With rapturous joy, she saw him revive; Philotas, at a distance, beheld the pious act of filial love. It |