not be unsafe to see how much might be made of not opposing Orlando's. So innocent and worldly unwise a thing is love, that the very means which it takes to conceal itself betrays it. The lady Bianca, therefore, though she participated more than all present in the joys and sorrows of Lord Giulio, might have seemed, to an eye unskilled in these tender matters, to feel less than any one. But her tears for his brotherly sorrow fell nevertheless, though secretly; her resentment of his injuries made her colour come and go; and the warm glow of her admiration for his boundless generosity, grati tude, and friendship, cherished the seeds of love which lay germinating within, into those beautiful flowers which feed the breath of affection with fragrance, and make it so sweet, that it is the only thing which smells of heaven upon earth. It was that delicate fear, which love alone feels, that kept the gentle Bianca and her sister distant from the numerous assembly, and fixed them in a remote part of the chamber, where they sat with fluttering hearts, like two fair doves, safe, but still fearing to mingle with the lordly eagles. Alba, indeed, when she heard the munificent gift which Giulio made to Orlando, dreading, as she did, that the poor estate of her love-elect would stand between her happiness and his, had well-nigh fainted, and betrayed those emotions of her heart which she hardly wished to conceal, and yet feared should be discovered. But Lord Giuilo, having now recovered himself, looked round among his friends, where smiles and admiration met him in every face. One face which he paused to look upon, bent down in blushes, when his eye was on it: it was Bianca's. He had not known of her presence in the chamber till that moment: but, with a lover's eagerness, he advanced to where she was retiredly seated, with her sister and the old Count, who was exercising his usual vigilance of eye and ear, and calculating the working of events, and the relative value of things. Giulio bowed to him with that precise inflection of back, which he knew the old courtier looked upon as the true line of graceful gentility; and taking Orlando's hand in his, entreated the Count, with great emphasis, to accept him as Lord Giulio's dearest friend. Orlando was consequently received with much well-bred graciousness; and joy at the event glistened in his eyes, and in those of his hoping, fearing, and trembling Alba. The pure young hearts which were made for each other were not long apart; for each lover now leading forth his lady, the lively dance and light feast were indulged in as merrily as on the day before, till Pleasure had had her fill, and left the hall and bower of revelry to the stilly iufluences of rest and slumber. Paulo, suddenly possessed of wealth, indulged to excess in criminal pleasure; but the irregularities of his life did not deter Count Montagni from seeking his hand for his niece, the lady Alba. At first, he was deaf to his solicitations, but, on hearing that he could thwart Orlando in his passion, he consented to become a suitor. On the appointed morning, Paulo paid the intended visit, but Orlando having been informed of their proceedings, suddenly appeared, accompanied by Giulio and Bianca, in the presence of the parties, to the great relief of Alba, and the confusion of Paulo and the Count. The meeting of the rivals was haughty and desperate on the one side, and humble yet determined on the other: they exchanged no words, but looks passed which were even more full of import. Giulio, however, who viewed his brother's base conduct in the light it merited, boldly reproached him with his design; and knowing that any brotherly tenderness he might testify for him, at that moment, would be like throwing oil upon fire, with the hope that it might extinguish its dreadful power, forgot at once that tie which he had too long remembered, and bade him either desist from a design which must degrade him and the house of his fathers, who were never yet mean, crafty, or dishonourable or go on, and dare his vengeance: a threat which blanched over Paulo's brow with the hue of fear, for he well knew his brother's courage and his own want of it. The Count would have interfered, but, caught in his own toils, his resolution to do a politic but base action seemed to faint; and he suffered his ally to stand on the bad eminence he had lured him to, without one effort in his favour. Lord Paulo, therefore, departed as hastily as he came ; and Orlando, though happy in his defeat, felt a touch of sorrow for his shame, and, like a generous rival, would have fol lowed to soothe his disappointment-but Giulio, who saw his gentle intention, held him to the spot, and forbade him to leave the apartment. Meantime, the Lady Alba hung weeping about her sister's neck; and the Count, not having recovered himself to pride and authority, left the lovers to themselves. Frustrated in his first design, Paulo resorted to more summary measures. With the consent of the Count, he carried Alba, under cover of night, to a distant convent, where she lay secreted for two years, notwithstanding the diligent search made for her by her lover and Giulio. It may be well surmised how two years of mental winter would take the rose from the tree of life, and blast the summer of the kindliest youth. It was too plainly seen that Orlando's energies were palsied, and that his struggles to over-master despair grew fainter and feebler. But at last a ray of hope suddenly lit up his mind: this was, to wander in search of his beloved Alba, in the garb of a poor Palmer travelling to the Holy City. His very heart stirred again at this thought, and his strength revived. He had planned to take his departure in two days; and on the evening preceding, lay stretched at the foot of that old tree where he so often sat with his adored lady, looking where day last lingered upon earth-but now employed in thoughts of his journey, and in hopes of his success, when suddenly he observed another shadow than his own reflected in the waters of the lake over which he was leaning, as he lay on the mossy foot of that tall tree; and looking up, it was Lord Paulo. Orlando started to his feet, as strongly as he might. You are well met, Monsieur Melancholy," said Paulo, with an irritable smile. "If you have met me a foe, to part a friend, why then well met indeed; or if you are come to do right to him whom you have wronged, then, too, we are well met. If not, 'twere better you pass on, and leave me to my meditations," replied Orlando. "I come to pay no right where I have done no wrong,” interrupted Paulo sternly. "How!" demanded Orlando, "No wrong? Then never right was wronged. Why then came you hither?” "To tell you what I never yet have told you, but yet you might have guessed that I hate you!" answered Paulo. "I never thought you loved me, though I have loved you much, my lord, and even now "You have robbed me of a brother's love!" abruptly interrupted Paulo. "Like a cuckoo, you have been reared in my nest, to turn me out of it.', "Your tongue," returned Orlando, patiently, "is ruder than your heart." My tongue is the true interpreter of my heart; and he who says it is not, lies—you hear me, sir,—lies!" retorted Paulo. Orlando started at this reiterated insult; and indignation rushed to his sickly cheek, as he counselled him to beware of using such language. "I am not prone to quarrel," said he; "but do not trust too much on this; men have been known to loathe what they most loved, though 'tis my affection to love all things that live" "And mine to hate a creature called Orlando," answered Paulo. "All men and things have their antipathies; and this is mine.Didst think I came to flatter, minion? No, I came here to tell you, one of us must die, that he who outlives the strife may live in peace!-What! not moved yet? Why dost thou wear a sword, if nothing can insult thee?" Orlando at these words, replied, "My lord, repeat not these disparagements, or, by my soul دو "What, am I threatened by my brother's page?" cried Paulo. "That rouses ye, then, sir-and lest your chaste blood should pacify to peace, take this first blow of many I intend to bestow on you, to keep it angry!" And saying this, he struck at him with his right hand; and drawing his rapier-"Take your ground, sir, for I will have your life!" cried Paulo. His intention seemed, indeed, no less; for he rushed upon him, ere his sword was half unscabbarded, and wounded him dangerously. "Coward!" exclaimed Orlando, "you have wounded me ere I had drawn! But now have at you-blood for blood!" And now Orlando, in his turn, pressed hard upon L. 36, 2. T Paulo, making him retreat before him, until at length he fell from loss of blood. Paulo then advanced again, and seeing the fatal end of his revenge, his savage nature suddenly relented. "What have I done!" he exclaimed in agony, dropping on his knee to assist Orlando. "I have shed the dear blood of the best heart in Mantua. But I have no tears; a villain hath none!" ་་ I can forgive, sir," said Orlando, feebly, can!" "if Heaven "Noble Orlando!" exclaimed Paulo, hiding his face in his hands: "Oh how mean a wretch do I now feel myself!-But you are fainting!—Help!-ho! help!" Nay, let me die in peace! Call not for help, for I die willingly-my hopes are in the grave!-Giulio!—my mother!-Alba !" His life had bled out save the last few drops; and these were falling fast as Giulio entered the garden. "Oh thou ahhorred wretch!" exclaimed he, as he glanced his eye through the thick underwood, and saw the bloody tragedy that had been played ;-and rushing with frantic eagerness to Orlando, he raised him up a little from the ground, so that his head rested upon his knee. It was too late, for he was dying; and did but cast a faint smile upon him, when his noble spirit fled to Heaven. Paulo, in a fit of remorse, stabs himself. Alba retires to a convent, and Giulio and Bianca are united. FROM THE ITALIAN. Though anger clouds that beauteous brow, I deemed not that a lover's vow Could tinge with wrath a lady's cheek! My soul upon thy beauty hung, And thine the crime, if crime it be, |