Not a cloud is before her Not a shadow comes o'er her But radiant her progress- As she beams through yon azure, Earth's beautiful bride. Shine on, lovely planet, Pour that soft beauty down On the land and the sea ;— And while our rapt gaze To thy glory is given, Our hearts soar from earth And are with thee in heaven! Beatrice blushed as Agrippa praised the expression she had thrown into this simple air, and then they parted for the night. Young hearts quickly open, like flowers which unfold their petals to the early sunshine. No wonder if that evening was considered a pleasant one by all parties, or that it was "the first of a series" of yet pleasanter ones. Agrippa's time thus happily passed on; his mornings were dedicated to his studies, and to experiments in the Count's laboratory; in the afternoon, when the heat of the day had declined, he he visited the Basilicas, the Arsenal, the Campanile, the library of St. Mark (founded by Petrarch), the Ducal palace, or others of the many remarkable objects with which Venice is crowded; his evenings he cheerfully surrendered to the hitherto unaccustomed delight of free and familiar society in the Casa Petigliano. There was a winning charm in the conversation of the fair habitants there. Their naive yet naturally elegant manners, their richly cultivated minds, their graceful and subduing beauty, Which caught New loveliness from each new thought, their desire of knowledge, the liquid sweetness of their voices-all these combined, from the first, to break down the barriers of his accustomed reserve, and make him happy in their society. Sometimes, when the beauty of the au tumnal evenings tempted, he had the privilege of accompanying them in their gondola, upon the water. Their masques would have sufficiently concealed them from recognition and notice, even if they had not the power of completely effecting it, by drawing the curtains of the pavilion. Thus, chaperoned by Agrippa, they saw more of Venice than, without his aid they were likely to have seen, had they resided there for half a dozen lustra; thus they visited the shady garden of the convent in the little isle of San Secundo; thus they often took their evening repast on one of the woody islands which stud the Lagune, with the rustling of the pines and the murmur of the waves for their music; thus their friendship became more intimate and familiar; and thus of Agrippa, it might truly be said, How happy the days of Thalaba went by ! VOL. I. E CHAPTER V. THE COUSINS. There's no miniature In her fair face, but is a copious theme Who shall most set them off. What ruby lips; Or unto what shall I compare her neck, But to a rock of chrystal? Every limb Proportioned to love's wish, and in their neatness Not borrow from it. MASSINGER. THE relationship between Amicia and Beatrice di Orsino having already been indicated, let us endeavour to convey an idea of their respective merits, personal and mental. may be best done now upon the threshold of a tale in which each of them will bear a part. It There were more points of resemblance than contrast between them; for there was a likeness in their features and their minds. Both were fair-but Amicia was lovely. They had more than ordinary accomplishments, in a time when the female intellect was much neglected, but the mind of Beatrice was self-cultivated by genius. Both were young. Beatrice, having just completed her seventeenth year, had the opening maturity of womanhood, Amicia had seen only fifteen summers, and, in that soft clime, it would be difficult to say whether she were child or woman. Beautiful as she was, her loveliness as yet was rather more of promise than completion. If I borrowed an illustration from song, I might apply to her part of Byron's delicately sketched description of Aurora Raby, as sweet a creature as poetry ever made immortal-and speak of her as A young star who shone O'er life, too sweet an image for such glass; |