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was the royal balcony, where the heart-broken king sat in impatient expectation, for the sacrifice to begin; he was arrayed in the gorgeous robes of state, the crown reposed upon his brow, and his hand held the sceptre, but with a feeble grasp.

What misery did that splendour conceal! his blasted and withered hopes had spurred him on to revenge, while the loss was fresh in his memory-his injured honour, and love despised, had supported him for the trial-but now, that the decisive moment had come, his long lost affection returned with redoubled vehemence, and he could not be convinced that one so lovely could be polluted with such horrid guilt. But then the testimony of her accuser supported by an oath, staggered his belief; her own prophetic words flashed on his bewildered mind, and he buried his face in his hands, in utter despair. The trumpets pealed; with a powerful exertion, the king regained his feet, and gazed sadly but firmly on the mournful procession, approaching the scaffold, to a strain of wild and solemn music. As if in ridicule of her destitution, Marie was closely guarded by a score of men at arms, who moved onward in dreadful and death-like silence, unbroken by a single whisper. The scaffold reached, the beautiful culprit looked with an' unquailing eye upon the immense concourse and the cruel preparations för her execution, but when she encountered the eye of her lord, and saw the piteous expression of his haggard features, her emotion was too big for utterancé, and she burst into tears. Philip turned and bit his lip, till the blood sprung from it, but he was still firm and unaltered, unswayed by those tears he would once have reproached himself for allowing to fall to the ground; but that day was passed, and he seemed another and a different being. The dark funeral garb of the queen, contrasted strongly with her alabaster neck and pallid cheek, where the rose of health had withered under the desolating touch of sorrow. Standing on the other end of the platform, was the accuser, with folded arms, and his eyes fixed on the ground; he was arrayed in a suit of armour, and a plumed helmet was on his head, but the raised visor still showed the same countenance which had startled Philip at his first interview; dark and sinister, and looking like a demon by the side of the fair victim. A solemn oath was taken to disclose the participation of Marie in the murder of the young prince, and while he spoke the words which should condemn his companion, a deep silence reigned over the vast assembly. He declared that he had been employed by the queen to procure poison, which having been disguised in sweetmeats was given by the queen to the young Lewis in his presence, and that stung by remorse he had unburdened his conscience to the king, and previously to the chamberlain. There was a low murmur, and the marshal addressing the queen, thus spoke

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"Marie, queen of France, what hast thou to answer; art thou guilty of this most heinous crime?"

The queen replied, mournfully, "It is as false as hell. God knows my innocence, and into his hands I commit my cause."

“Then, men, do your duty,” cried the officer "fire the pile."

One step they advanced, but were arrested by a cry from the royal balcony, commanding them to desist. It was the king, who, with outstretched hand pointed to the extremity of the list, where a knight, attended by several esquires, was passing the barrier. Sound, heralds, sound a loud welcome to the stranger."

Marie sank upon her knees, and, raising her clasped hands to heaven, breathed a grateful prayer; then, rising, called upon the king in a loud, clear voice for the right of a champion to defend her cause; she had recognised in the device of the stranger, her well known family arms, of the house of Brabant, and she knew that the assistance soe had sent to entreat was not asked in vain. Her brother, the Duke of Brabant, knelt before the king, and demanded room to defend his sister's innocence against the machinations of her enemies. It was instantly granted.

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"And now," he shouted, as he hurled his gauntlet furiously at the feet of the accuser, "raise my challenge, and show that your craven heart is as bold in battle as in lies;-I would crush thee, slave, but that, from thy noble office thou may'st claim a right of combat, lift my guage, and mount thee, for my sword is impatient to hack thy coward limbs from thy false carcase. The accuser was silent, and stirred not, but gazed vacantly on.

"Not move," cried the fiery Duke, "then yield thee, villain, and confess thy guilt, before I dash thy head from thy shoulders; confess that thou hast, with damnable intent, leagued with others, against the happiness of thy liege lord, and the life of a pure and virtuous queen;-confess that she is innocent-thine answer?"

"I do," were the only words that escaped his lips.

Language cannot describe the effect which these words produced; even the champion started back in astonishment, and the queen sank into her brother's arms. A low sound, like the sighing of the wind before a hurricane, ran round the immense multitude, strengthening and deepening as it moved onward, till, all suddenly, a roar burst from the arena, like the battle-cry of an army. The Duke, snatching his sister, flew to the barrier, just in time to escape the multitude who poured forth to the scaffold, like some huge ocean, bursting its confines and rushing foaming and swelling, and overwhelming every thing in its progress. Mingled shouts of "vive la reine," and curses on the accusers head rent the air: in one moment the lofty pyre blazed to heaven, and the enraged populace, dragging their miserable and guilty victim, hurled him headlong into the midst of the flames, drowning his cries for mercy in their deafening yells. Who can describe the first meeting of the royal pair;-let it be imagined from the fervour of woman's love, and that proudest act of a ge,

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nerous soul, the reparation of an injury In the presence of the Duke of Brabant, Philip directed an attendant to inquire after La Brosse, who had excused himself from being present at the trial, on plea of being unable to endure the spectacle.

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"You may save yourself that trouble, cousin of France," said the Duke, “it was well we arrived so opportunely, for this arch traitor is now safely lodged in a dungeon, under the special protection of the constable of France.”:

"Surely," said Philip, "thou art in jest; we hold not a more faithful servant in all our court, or realm, than this same chamberlain."

"Nathless, thou errest: what would'st say to letters written by him to the Spaniard, engaging to vacate the Pyrenian fortresses, that his troops may have free access to the heart of your country? What would'st say to a promise under his own seal, of a thousand marks to that devil incarnate, (who has gone to his parent, the father of lies,) for poisoning thy son, and fixing the crime on our fair sister, that he might thus have thee in his power to mould and fashion, as he would ? Yet of all this, have we fair writing to prove, and therefore placed him out of the way of danger till the innocence of our own dear Marie should be established, and his vile plot disclosed, and confessed by his worthy tool, whom may heaven curse."*

"Amen!" said the king," but thy love deserves our warmest thanks; we shall ever remember with gratitude thy heaven directed hand, which prevented us from committing a crime which a life of penance could not have atoned for, which has restored to our arms a dear and adored wife, and which has brought to his just doom, the boldest traitor that ever betrayed his master."

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"Of earthly goods, the best is a good wife;
A bad, the bitterest curse of human life."

THERE is reason to rejoice that those early ages of society are past when a man purchased a woman to be his wife, as a butcher purchases an ox or a sheep to be food; and valued her only as she contributed to his gratification. Innumerable instances might be collected from the early history of various nations, but the following will be sufficient:

Abraham obtained Rebekah, and gave her to his son. Isaac for a wife. Jacob served Laban fourteen years for two wives. When David had Saul's daughter given in marriage, it was said, "The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred fore-skins of the Philistines." In the Iliad, Agamemnon offers his daughter to Achilles for a wife, and says that he would not demand for her any price. But those days are past, and wherever such practices have prevailed, men could not have for the fair sex that tender regard and esteem which constitute so essential a part of the genuine affection of love,

In this age, matters are different: the feelings are wrought upon-the man beholds the object of his affection with a longing wish to claim her for his own-he observes in her that capital article, sweetness of temper, which manifesting itself in mild looks and gentle manners, is perhaps the first and most powerful inducement to esteem in a cultivated mind.

The amiable disposition, the gentle and insinuating manners of the sex, are all highly respected by the man, who, more robust, bold, and vigorous, is qualified for a protector. The female being delicate and timid, requires-protection, and is capable of making an engaging figure under the good government of a man possessed of penetration and solid judgment.

It would be injustice not to mention the peculiar and essential part of female value, modesty, without which, no woman is likely to command the esteem and affection of any man of sound understanding; therefore we consider the invaluable grace of a chaste and modest behaviour the best means of kindling at first, and not only of kindling, but of keeping alive and increasing, this inexpressible flame.

There is no reason to hesitate in saying that a good wife is one of the most valuable treasures a man can possess in this life. She causes his cares in this world to sit easy, adds sweetness to his pleasures, is his best companion in prosperity, and truest friend in adversity. She is the most careful preserver of his health, the kindest attendant during his sickness, a faithful adviser in distress, a comforter in affliction, à prudent manager of his domestic affairs, and, in short, one of the greatest blessings that heaven can bestow upon man.

Should it, however, unfortunately prove otherwise, she will be her husband's greatest trouble, will give him the utmost anxiety, and be a clog to him the remainder of life. Therefore we would advise every young gentleman, before he tampers with this passion, to consider well the probability of his being able to obtain the object of his love. If he is not likely to succeed, he will do well to avoid the company of the beloved object, to apply his mind attentively to business or study, and endeavour, if possible, to fix his affections on another, which it may be in his power to obtain. The affections reciprocally gained, mutual love will endear them to each other, and make constancy a pleasure; and when their youthful days are over, esteem and genuine regard will remain in the mind, making pleasant, even in old age, the company of such a pair, in whose actions are manifested the most tender affections of husband, wife, lover, friend,

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As you see the spark fly upward sometimes not falling to the earth till it be dark and quenched-thus soars, whither it recks not, so that the direction be above, the luminous spirit of him who aspires to Truth; nor will it back to the vile and heavy clay from which it sprang, until the light which bore it upward be no more!

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À CHEERFUL evening party were assembled, some years ago, in Copenhagan, to celebrate the birth-day of a common friend. They were young and gay, but their mirth, which otherwise might have overpast the bounds of moderation, was chastened and restrained by the accidental presence of a guest, whose passive rather than active participation in the scene, whose silent and grave deportment, and whose sparing, and almost whispered replies, when addressed, formed a strange contrast with the festivity and liveliness of the rest of the company.

Those who were acquainted with him, nevertheless, maintained, that among his intimate friends, the stranger was an interesting companion, possessed of a great fund of anecdote and observation, and a power of investing, when he chose, with an air of originality and novelty, the every-day occurrences and experiences of life. This vein, however, he rarely indulged, and, in mixed society, could with difficulty be prevailed on to open his lips. When he did, however, he was listened to with attention and reverence; and often the noisy mirth of the party became gradually hushed as he poured out, in his calm solemn tone, his rich stores of anecdote and narrative.

It seemed as if, on this occasion, the presence

of some friends whom he had not seen for some time past, had gradually disposed him to be more communicative as the evening advanced, and dissipated that reserve which the loud gaiety of the party about him had at first inspired. The sparkling glass had circulated freely and frequently; song after song had, according to the custom of the country, enlivened the night, when some young wight, probably over head and ears in love, and anxious to let the world know it, commenced an air of Baggesen's, in which each guest, in his turn, sings a stanza, and drinks to the health of his mistress by her baptismal name, the company repeating the pledge in chorus.

Ere the silent guest was aware, his turn had come. The host was filling his empty glass, and pressing him to begin. He roused himself, as if waking from a dream, and turning suddenly round, said gravely, "Let the dead rest in peace.""-"By all means," said the host, "Sit iis levis terra. And so we'll drink to their memory; but come-you know the custom-a name we must have."

“Well, then,” said the stranger, quickly, “I will give you one that will find an echo in every breast-AMANDA.”—“ Amanda!” repeated the party, as they emptied their glasses. "Amanda!” said the younger brother of the landlord, who,

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