and the observation which he then made will carry him safely to his destined port. You are perhaps on shore, and think that you are near your home; but he is far from all he loves and values most, and that little glimmering star is the star that shines upon his native vale: it is that which cheers him in all his wanderings, and will guide him at last to his father's house in peace. It is to him the star of Bethlehem, pointing where his Saviour dwells. THE LOVERS' LAST MEETING. By T. K. Hervey, Esq. THE night is lowering, dull and dark- And must they must they part ? That flap around the mast! Oh! that no ray might ever rise There are they met-the young and fond- A chaos of the heart! She hears him yet,—his softest sigh,- Form-voice-that hour-all, save its sorrow He is her all who bends above, Her hope-the brightest and the last Oh! that the days life gives to love Should ever be the past! What gleam upon their startled eyes Breaks, like the flash from angry Heaven?→→→ And o'er their spirits all grows night, The moon is forth!-but sad and pale, Upon the Latmos hill! The breeze is up-the sail unfurl'd- set! The bark is tossing in the bay- One kiss of lips as wan and cold As life to them shall henceforth be : One glance the glance (that makes us old) One throb-the bitterest and the last, And the loos'd cord, the broken bowl, THE FATAL BRIDAL. From the Italian of Bandello. ANTONIO PERILLO, a youth of respectable connexions in the city of Naples, was left, by his father's death, at an early age in the possession of a very handsome patrimony. His riches, and his extreme youth, soon marked him out as a prey to the rapacity of those numerous adventurers who are ever on the watch to ensnare the inexperienced and unwary. And scarcely six months had elapsed since the death of his father when he found himself so enamoured of play, and withal so unfortunate as a gambler, that little remained to him beside one small estate and his very handsome person. It was about this period that he first saw and admired the beautiful Carmosina, the daughter of Pietro Minio, an opulent merchant of his native city; and for a time, the Hazard-table was abandoned, and his whole energies were directed to the best means of obtaining an introduction to his fair mistress. Chance soon afforded him the desired opportunity of declaring his passion: his ingenuous manners and noble exterior were duly appreciated by the lady; and ere long he obtained permission to ask her hand from her father in marriage. It was now that Antonio first began to perceive the fatal consequences of his indiscretion; but his affection overcame the dictates of prudence; and, trusting that fortune would yet smile on him, he ventured to make his proposals. Signor Minio, who was not unacquainted with Antonio's dissolute habits, heard his professions in silence, and when he had finished, refused his consent to the proposed union in no very courteous terms. Perillo felt the full weight of misery to which his passion for gaming had subjected him; and unable to bear the presence of those who had been the authors of his ruin, he determined on selling the remnant of his patrimony, and trying his fortune with the proceeds as a merchant. For this purpose he solicited the assistance of his relatives, and having, by their means, been enabled to collect a considerable sum in money, as well as much merchandize, he embarked on board a vessel bound to Alexandria in Egypt, the great mart of the Mediterranean for oriental produce. But scarcely had the vessel been twelve hours at sea, when suddenly a stiff gale of wind arose, and the ship, which was heavily laden, strained and rolled to so great a degree, that the crew were obliged to bear up and run before the wind. The weather continued adverse until the third day, when the breeze subsided a little, and the atmosphere having cleared, Perillo and his crew found themselves near the coast of Barbary, and within half a league of a Tunisian galley; which soon boarded them and carried them to Tunis, where they were severally sold as slaves. The news of Antonio's misfortunes in due time reached Naples, and the unhappy Carmosina deplored with much bitterness the fate of her lover, and assumed the dress of a widow, without which she never afterwards appeared in public. It happened that Pietro Minio was occasionally in the habit of visiting Barbary, for the purpose of disposing of merchandize, and he seldom went without purchasing the freedom of ten or twelve chris he usually received the amount of their ransom from such of them as happened to have it in their power, and what he lost by redeeming the poorer ones, he considered as an offering to his patron saint. Antonio Perillo had been a year in slavery, when Minio having been prevented from taking his annual voyage, sent orders to his factors at Tunis to purchase the liberty of the usual number of prisoners. 66 Perillo chanced to be one of the slaves whom Minio's agent ransomed, and by an extraordinary coincidence of circumstances, the evening on which he landed at Naples, Carmosina, tempted by the coolness and beauty of the night, was walking upon the quay; and attracted by curiosity, lingered there, attended only by her maid, and watched the fugitives disembark. The first person who left the vessel was her lover, and hastily giving a signal of recognition, she returned home to meditate on what pretence she could contrive a meeting with him. After a restless night, she determined on sending her maid to request an interview. It is useless to say how punctually Antonio attended his mistress's summons. They met, and Carmosina addressed him thus :— Perillo, it is but just that I should replace a loss which has been occasioned by thy love for me; and since thy poverty has been the cause of our separation, suffer me to enable thee to remove that obstacle to our union. Take this casket, repay the sum which has been advanced for thy ransom, and employ the remainder in the purchase of merchandize: go and be successful," she added, as she placed a heavy casket in his hands, (containing jewels and pistoles to the amount of three thousand ducats, which she had obtained by the sale of her diamonds,) "and may the Saints bless and preserve thee." After the exchange of yows of mutual affection, her lover was induced to accept the treasure, and immediately repaying her father's agent the sum which he had advanced for his ransom, he once more embarked his effects, and set sail for Alexandria. Fortune now began to favour his exertions, and he applied himself with such unwearied assiduity to trade, that the news soon reached Naples of his industry and success, and Antonio Perillo the gamester, as he was usually denominated, was soon better known by the designation of Antonio Perillo the rich merchant. the end of the third year, from the time of his quitting Naples, he found his circumstances in so prosperous a condition that he determined on collecting his property, settling his affairs in Alexandria, and leaving Egypt altogether. At After a very brief voyage, Antonio arrived at Naples, and was received with all those demonstrations of respect which usually await a rich and successful merchant. This could not fail of being most gratifying to his feelings; but the tender reception which he met with from Carmosina, more than recompensed him for all the sufferings he had undergone. He was now conscious that he was not likely to incur the hazard of a second refusal from Signor Minio; and the prudent father, now perfectly satisfied of Perillo's reformation, no longer withheld his consent to the union of the lovers. The nuptials were solemnized with Our younger readers will be enabled to form, from the accompanying Embellishment, some idea of the splendour and beauty of this scene, even when unaccompanied by any circumstances which might create an added interest. MAGNET, VOL. IV. PART XXV. 2 B |