But on that eve, Troy's warrior sons,
Storm-tost, and weary of the main,
Lay lapsing on their banquet-thrones-
Lay quaffing the celestial rain

That the pressed grape, on Afric's shores,
In drops of purple fragrance pours.

And there, beside th' impassioned Queen,
Their Chieftain tells his lofty tale;
Her bosom burning with the scene,
Her cheek with more than terror pale,
Her eye like lightning through the gloom,
Her thoughts of exile, woe, the tomb!

For in her arms an infant lies,

The loveliest eye e'er looked upon
The little King of smiles and sighs,

Who makes of human hearts his throne:
Once fettered in his viewless chain,
Wit, wisdom, valour, all are vain!

There Cupid, by his mother laid

Where young Ascanius should have lain,
Plays with her tresses' perfumed braid,
Yet steeps her soul in subtle pain;
Seems to her lip in sport to cling,
Yet, aspic-like, there leaves the sting.

But where is gone the guileless child

That should in those white arms repose?
O'er forest deep and desert wild,

He's gone, to bowers of deathless rose;
By Venus borne on wings of wind,
Leaving her fatal son behind.

Now o'er the Grecian sunset-main
High wheels the pomp its bright career;
Till sparkles far Cythera's fane,-
Seen o'er the water's azure sphere,
Through evening cloud and ocean haze,
Rich as some new-born planet's blaze.

And now, upon the silver strand,

The train of beauty fold the wing;
And, myrtle-crowned, and harp in hand,
Wreath round his couch the mystic ring;
And fill with dreams of love and joy
Thy slumbers, infant hope of Troy !

ever, was not so to be baffled: old experience in acoustics had taught him where to apply his ear with most advantage in cases of the present emergency; and as the debate soon rose from a humming of gentle dissent to the stormy pitch of downright quarrelling, he found no difficulty in assuaging the pangs of his curiosity. The council, he soon learned, were divided as to the course to be pursued on their common calamity; whether formally to remonstrate or not, at the risk of losing their places; indeed, they were divided on every point except one, and that was, contempt for the political talents of the new prince, who could begin his administration upon a principle so monstrous as that of retrenchment.

How

At length, in one of the momentary pauses of the hurricane, the council distinguished the sound of two vigorous fists playing with the utmost energy upon the panels of the door outside. What presumption is this?" exclaimed the chairman, immediately leaping up. ever, on opening the door, it appeared that the fury of the summons was dictated by no failure in respect, but by absolute necessitynecessity has no law-and any more reverential knocking could have no chance of being audible. The person outside was Mr. Commissioner Pig; and his business was to communicate a despatch of pressing importance which he had that moment received by express.

"First of all, gentlemen," said the pursy commissioner, "allow me to take breath:" and, seating himself, he began to wipe his forehead. Agitated with the fear of some unhappy codicil to the unhappy testament already received, the members gazed anxiously at the open letter which he held in his hand; and the chairman, unable to control his impatience, made a grasp at it: "Permit me, Mr. Pig."-"No!" said Mr. Pig: "it is the postscript only which concerns the council: wait one moment, and I will have the honour of reading it myself." Thereupon he drew out his spectacles; and, adjusting them with provoking coolness, slowly and methodically proceeded to read as follows: "We open our letter to acquaint you with a piece of news which has just come to our knowledge, and which it will be important for your town to learn as soon as possible. His Serene Highness has resolved on visiting the remoter provinces of his new dominions immediately: he means to preserve the strictest incognito; and we understand will travel under the name of Count Fitz-Hum, and will be attended only by one gentleman of the bedchamber, viz. Mr. Von Hoax. The carriage he will use on this occasion is a plain landau,

129

"Now, my dear creatures," said the commissioner to his wife and daughter, on returning home, "without a moment's delay send for the painter, the upholsterer, the cabinetmaker, also for the butcher, the fishmonger, the poulterer, the confectioner: in one half-hour let each and all be at work; and at work let them continue all day and all night.'

"Doubtless, most important intelligence!' said the chairman, "but who is your correspondent?"-"The old and eminent house of Wassermuller and Co.; and I thought it my duty to communicate the information without delay." To be sure, to be sure: and the council is under the greatest obligation to you for the service."

So said all the rest: for they all viewed in the light of a providential interference on behalf of the old system of fees, perquisites, and salaries, this opportunity so unexpectedly thrown in their way of winning the prince's favour. To make the best use of this opportunity, however, it was absolutely necessary that their hospitalities should be on the most liberal scale. On that account it was highly gratifying to the council that Commissioner Pig loyally volunteered the loan of his house. Some drawback undoubtedly it was on this pleasure, that Commissioner Pig, in his next sentence, made known that he must be paid for his loyalty. However, there was no remedy; and his demands were acceded to. For not only was Pighouse the only mansion in the town at all suitable for the occasion, but it was also known to be so, in the prince's capital, as clearly appeared from the letter which had just been read-at least when read by Pig himself.

All being thus arranged, and the council on the point of breaking up, a sudden cry of "Treason!" was raised by a member; and the mace-bearer was detected skulking behind an arm-chair, perfidiously drinking in the secrets of the state. He was instantly dragged out, the enormity of his crime displayed to him (which under many wise governments, the chairman assured him, would have been punished with the bowstring or instant decapitation), and after being amerced in a considerable fine, which paid the first instalment of the Piggian demand, he was bound over to inviolable secrecy by an oath of great solemnity. This oath, on the suggestion of a member, was afterwards administered to the whole of the

"At work! but what for? what for, Pig?" "And, do you hear, as quickly as possible," added Pig driving them out of the room.

46

But what for?" they both repeated, reentering at another door.

Without vouchsafing any answer, however, the commissioner went on:-"and let the tailor, the shoemaker, the milliner, the——"

"The fiddlestick end, Mr. Pig. I insist upon knowing what all this is about." "No matter what, my darling. Sic volo, sic jubeo: stat pro ratione voluntas.”

Matters

Hark you, Mr. Commissioner. are at length come to a crisis. You have the audacity to pretend to keep a secret from your lawful wife. Hear, then, my fixed determination. At this moment there is a haunch of venison roasting for dinner. The cook is so igno rant that, without my directions, the haunch will be scorched to a cinder. Now I swear that, unless you instantly reveal to me the secret without any reservation whatever, I will resign the venison to its fate. I will, by all that is sacred!"

The venison could not be exposed to a more fiery trial than was Mr. Commissioner Pig; the venison, when alive and hunted, could not have perspired more profusely, nor trembled in more anguish. But there was no alternative. His "morals" gave way before his passions;" and after binding his wife and daughter by the general oath of secrecy, he communicated the state mystery. By the same or similar methods so many other wives assailed the virtue of their husbands, that in a few hours the limited scheme of secrecy adopted by the council was realized on the most extensive scale: for before nightfall, not merely a few members of the council, but every man, woman, and child in the place, had been solemnly bound over to inviolable secrecy.

Meantime some members of the council, who had an unhappy leaning to infidelity, began to suggest doubts on the authenticity of the commissioner's news. Of old time he had been celebrated for the prodigious quantity of secret intelligence which his letters communicated, but not equally for its quality. Too often it stood in unhappy contradiction to the

official news of the public journals. But then, on such occasions, the commissioner would exclaim, 'What then? Who would believe what newspapers say? No man of sense believes a word the newspapers say." Agreeably to which hypothesis, upon various cases of obstinate discord between his letters and the gazettes of Europe, some of which went the length of point-blank contradiction, unceremoniously giving the lie to each other, he persisted in siding with the former, peremptorily refusing to be talked into a belief of certain events which the rest of Europe have long ago persuaded themselves to think matter of history. The battle of Leipzig, for instance, he treats to this hour as a mere idle chimera of politicians. "Pure hypochondriacal fiction!" says he.

"No such affair could ever have occurred, as you may convince yourself by looking at my private letters; they make no allusion to any transaction of that sort, as you will see at once, none whatever." Such being the character of the commissioner's private correspondence, several councilmen were disposed, on reflection, to treat his recent communication as very questionable and apocryphal, amongst whom was the chairman or chief burgomaster; and the next day he walked over to Pighouse for the purpose of expressing his doubts. The commissioner was so much offended, that the other found it advisable to apologize with some energy. "I protest to you," said he, "that as a private individual I am fully satisfied; it is only in my public capacity that I took the liberty of doubting. The truth is, our town-chest is miserably poor, and we would not wish to go to the expense of a new covering for the council-table upon a false alarm. Upon my honour, it was solely upon patriotic grounds that I sided with the sceptics." The commissioner scarcely gave himself the trouble of accepting his apologies. And indeed at this moment the burgomaster had reason himself to feel ashamed of his absurd scruples, for in rushed a breathless messenger to announce that the blue landau and the gentleman with the "superb whiskers" had just passed through the north gate. Yes, Fitz-Hum and Von Hoax were positively here: not coming, but come; and the profanest sceptic could no longer presume to doubt. For whilst the messenger yet spoke, the wheels of Fitz-Hum's landau began to hum along the street. chief burgomaster fled in affright; and with him fled the shades of infidelity.

The

Never

tolicum was now for ever established. theless, even in this great moment of his existence, Pig felt that he was not happy-not perfectly happy; something was still left to desire; something which reminded him that he was mortal. "Oh! why," said he, "why, when such a cornucopia of blessings is showered upon me, why would destiny will that it must come one day too soon; before the Brussels carpet was laid down in the breakfast-roombefore the-." At this instant the carriage suddenly rolled up to the door: a dead stop followed, which put a dead stop to Pig's soliloquy; the steps were audibly let down; and the commissioner was obliged to rush out precipitately, in order to do the honours of reception to his illustrious guest.

'No ceremony, I beg," said the Count FitzHum; "for one day at least let no idle forms remind me of courts, or banish the happy thought that I am in the bosom of friends!' So saying, he stretched out his hand to the commissioner; and though he did not shake Pig's hand, yet (as great men do) he pressed it with the air of one who has feelings too fervent and profound for utterance; whilst Pig, on his part, sank upon one knee, and imprinted a grateful kiss upon that princely hand which had by its condescension for ever glorified his own.

Von Hoax was no less gracious than the Count Fitz-Hum; and was pleased repeatedly, both by words and jestures, to signify that he dispensed with all ceremony and idle consideration of rank.

The commissioner was beginning to apologize for the unfinished state of the preparations, but the count would not hear of it. "Affection to my person," said he, unseasonable affection, I must say it, has (it seems) betrayed my rank to you; but, for this night at least, I beseech you let us forget it." And, upon the ladies excusing themselves from appearing, on the plea that their dresses were not yet arrived in which they could think of presenting themselves before their sovereign,

"Ah! what?" said the count, gaily, "my dear commissioner, I cannot think of accepting such excuses as these." Agitated as the ladies were at this summons, they found all their alarms put to flight in a moment by the affability and gracious manners of the high personage. Nothing came amiss to him: everything was right and delightful. Down went the little sofa-bed in a closet which they had found it necessary to make up for one night, the state-bed not being ready until the following day; and with the perfect high breeding of a prince, he saw in the least mature of the arrangements for his reception, and the least

The first great question which arose was-At what hour would the Count Fitz-Hum be pleased to take supper? But this question the Count Fitz-Hum referred wholly to the two ladies; and for this one night he notified his pleasure that no other company should be invited. Precisely at eleven o'clock the party sat down to supper, which was served on the round table in the library. The Count Fitz-Hum, we have the pleasure of stating, was in the best health and spirits; and, on taking his seat, he smiled with the most paternal air, at the same time bowing to the ladies, who sat on his right and left hand, and saying-" Où peut-on être mieux qu'au sein de sa famille!" At which words tears began to trickle down the cheeks of the commissioner, overwhelmed with the sense of the honour and happiness which were thus descending pleno imbre upon his family, and finding nothing left to wish for, but that the whole city had been witness to his felicity. Even the cook came in for some distant rays and emanations of the princely countenance; for the Count Fitz-Hum condescended to express his entire approbation of the supper, and signified his pleasure to Von Hoax that the cook should be remembered on the next vacancy which occurred in the palace establishment.

"Tears such as tender fathers shed" had already on this night bedewed the cheeks of the commissioner; but before he retired to bed, he was destined to shed more and still sweeter tears; for after supper he was honoured by a long private interview with the count, in which that personage expressed his astonishment (indeed, he must say, his indignation) that merit so distinguished as that of Mr. Pig should so long have remained unknown at court. "I now see more than ever," said he, "the necessity there was that I should visit my states incognito." And he then threw out pretty plain intimations that a place, and even a title, would soon be conferred on his host. Upon this Pig wept copiously; and, upon retiring, being immediately honoured by an interview with Mr. Von Hoax, who assured him that he was much mistaken if he thought that his highness ever did these things by halves, or would cease to watch over the fortunes of a family whom he had once taken into his special grace, the good man absolutely sobbed like a child, and could neither utter a word nor get a wink of sleep that night.

All night the workmen pursued their labours, and by morning the state apartments were in

The

universally known throughout the city who was sleeping at the commissioner's. As soon, therefore, as it could be supposed agreeable to him, the trained bands of the town marched down to pay their respects by a morning salute. The drums awoke the count, who rose immediately, and in a few minutes presented himself at the window-bowing repeatedly and in the most gracious manner. A prodigious roar of "Vivat Serenissimus!" ascended from the mob; amongst whom the count had some difficulty in descrying the martial body who were parading below; that gallant corps mustering, in fact, fourteen strong, of whom nine were reported fit for service; the "balance of five," as their commercial leader observed, being either on the sick-list-or, at least, not ready for "all work," though too loyal to decline a labour of love like the present. count received the report of the commanding officer; and declared (addressing himself to Von Hoax, but loud enough to be overheard by the officer) that he had seldom seen a more soldierly body of men, or who had more the air of veteran troops. The officer's honest face burned with the anticipation of communicating so flattering a judgment to his corps; and his delight was not diminished by overhearing the words "early promotion," and "order of merit." In the transports of his gratitude he determined that the fourteen should fire a volley; but this was an event not to be accomplished in a hurry; much forethought and a deep premeditation were required; a considerable balance" of the gallant troops were not quite au fait in the art of loading, and a considerable "balance" of the muskets not quite au fait in the art of going off. Men and muskets being alike veterans, the agility of youth was not to be expected of them; and the issue was-that only two guns did actually go off. 'But in commercial cities," as the good-natured count observed to his host, "a large discount must always be made on prompt payment.

Breakfast now over, the bells of the churches were ringing, the streets swarming with people in their holiday clothes, and numerous deputations, with addresses, petitions, &c., from the companies and guild of the city were forming into processions. First came the towncouncil, with the chief burgomaster at their head: the recent order for the reduction of fees, &c., was naturally made the subject of a dutiful remonstrance: great was the joy with which the count's answer was received:-"On the word of a prince, he had never heard of it before: his signature must have been obtained