THE GRECIAN DAUGHTER. BY RUBENS. THIS prison scene of an old man half naked and chained, lying on a bed of straw, with a young woman on her knees beside him presenting her breast to him, and drawing his head towards her as if he were a child-brings immediately to recollection the ancient story of the daughter who thus saved her father, condemned to die of hunger. She, who displayed this extraordinary trait of affection and duty, is usually called the Grecian Daughter, though, we believe, it would be very difficult to fix either the locality or the epoch of the incident. It is one of those stories of filial piety which antiquity has handed down to us, and it may be regarded as a fit companion to that of Æneas, rescuing his father from the flames. Valerius Maximus, who alludes to the transaction, does not state where it occurred, nor does he say what the crime of the father, whom he calls Cimon, was. Pliny mentions a trait of the same nature, but his information on the subject is also very scanty. A picture, representing the story, was placed in the Temple of Piety, at Rome. This work of Rubens is the property of the Emperor of Russia. It is exquisitely painted. Nothing can exceed the expression of tenderness which he has given to the female figure. A sentiment of satisfaction seems beginning to reanimate the languid and despairing countenance of the father. The whole is deeply pathetic and impressive. It is one of the finest pieces which Rubens ever painted, and is, by many, considered the principal ornament of the Russian Imperial Gallery. Below an engraving of this picture, by Van Caukerken, the following verses were inscribed: Discite quid sit amor, lactat pia gnata parentem Quem miserenda fames et fera vincla premunt. THE TWELVE HOURS TRIAL, OR A SOLDIER'S FORTUNE. A TALE FROM THE ITALIAN. CHAPTER XIII. "For, as I am condemned, my naked sword Stands by me like a hatchment, only held To show I was a soldier !" THE hour was past, within which the Countess Rozelli, according to promise, should have sent some token of farewell kindness to her lover; and the latter, contrary to his mistress' command, still lingered about the south wing of the chateau, in which her apartments were situated; hoping that some chance, or change of resolution, might yet give him an opportunity of conversing with her again. But in vain it was that he, by turns, beset every window; the lattices indeed were open; but the blinds drawn closely frowned upon his hopes. When, at length, tired of watching beyond all patience, he adventured a touch on his guitar, the third symphony brought Jacintha to the casement; but it was only to shake her head at him with an oscillation that carried despair in every nod, and to make motions with both hands at once that he should go about his business. The Chevalier did retire upon this last intimation; for there is a point at which even a lover may suspect that he grows troublesome." It is enough," said he, with a bitter smile, as he turned from the chateau." Pedrillo, prepare for our departure! Oh, woman," he continued, "woman, prompt ever as your own looking-glass to receive impressions still like that looking-glasswoe to him who trusts ye; it is the last impression only that ever ye retain !" "The preparation for our departure is soon made my Lord," said Pedrillo, " we are now just at the southern extremity of the inclosures. Yonder lies the door, and we have nothing to do, I believe, but to walk out. But surely-the hour is barely expired-your Lordship will not quit this place without waiting for the Countess's message. If we go as we are, my Lord, where are we to go to? we shall leave ourselves without a hiding place on earth, or a shilling to help us to one. While, with temper only and resolution, if we get this promised supply of money, we may still hold out till fate grows tired of persecuting us, and our broken fortunes turn, perhaps, to mending." To mending!" replied Silvino sullenly, " as I am concerned, say rather to destruction; for there will be little bitterness left now in such a consummation, as it is in reason the only one I can look for. I tell you again Pedrillo, for me, that I would rather die a thousand deaths than owe the slightest favour to the Countess Rozelli. But for you, good fellow," he continued in a milder tone, "you need have no such feeling; stay, therefore, and profit by what I refuse. Consult your own safety; mine is past even caring for. If ever you rejoin my family, tell them I charged they should provide for thee. And so take thy master's last thanks; commend me to my lady, if thou see'st her; live faithfully, be fortunate, and farewell, good Pedrillo !" If ever any thing like attachment, superadded to duty or obedience, may be expected from a servant to his master, we should look for it where the latter is a bachelor and a soldier. For between the tastes and habits of men of the same age and estate in life, however different their worldly honours or condition, there will generally exist a sort of affinity, which goes far to engender friendship and affection. Pedrillo's principles, strictly analyzed, bore hard upon that latitudinarian character, which a scrupulous christian-or perhaps any person who was very scrupulous-could scarcely have called honest; and yet, out of the effect of sheer love, it would have cost him a greater effort to have deserted his Captain now in peril, than to have followed him-spite of hard words and arrears of wages-in danger or difficulties through the world. Meantime, the poor rogue wept-entreatedprotested. In the midst of his grief, he had nigh run mad for joy to see Jacintha at last, stealing through the shrubbery to the appointed meeting place. But still, upon the main question of accepting the Countess's money, the Chevalier's resolution remained unmoved. And, unable to get away prior to the active waiting maid's approach, he had actually twice spoken to her, once to protest |