fealty. Oh may that precious liquor yield composure and gentle comfort, from the toils of life."

The king of Morven, with a smile, placed the garland on the head of his beloved spouse; who, raising the cup in her hand, and, full of pious fear, lest something dire should be contrived against the life of her illustrious husband, especially as she deemed the last words of the pontiff to be mysterious, she raised it to her lips, and was going to drink, when Starno and the high priest, as if with one voice, cried, "Hold, impious maid! nor dare to profane our holy rites, and sacred mysteries, with this worthless deed."

Agandecca was now convinced of their barbarous meaning, and a dire trembling seized her limbs. She remembered her extorted vow, not to betray any of the actions in which her father, and the priests of Odin were engaged; and her soul recoiled with horror. At length, in faint accents, she exclaimed, "Believe me, holy seer, if this contain soft antidote for heartfelt anguish, I am much in need of the refreshing beverage." "Beware," replied the priest;" "the vollied lightning darts with angry flash, and cleaves the heart of whosoever dare profane our solemn act. Then take this cup, and to thy faithful bridegroom shew thy fealty."

Agandecca, with a distracted air, threw away the cup, and exclaimed, "Down, perfidious potion, down. Now let the lightning flash, and Odin thunder, and the deep caverned earth gape to receive me. No dread of punishment, and no reward, should lure me to commit a deed so foul." The high priest, with an assumed consternation, and ignorance of her meaning, inquired what cause compelled her to the impious deed." Ask you the cause," said the Maid of Lochlín, with much meaning in her countenance." "Tis I that am doomed to suffer; doomed by your wisdom, not, I trust, by those who govern, and have pity on mankind." With these words Agandecca withdrew,

followed by the queen and her attendants. Starno then addressed the priests, and besought them to retire to their temple, as the palace was no longer a place fit for their reception, now his daughter had committed sacrilege: yet committed her to the care of the pontiff, that he might endeavour, by his wise counsel, to divert her frenzy. But Fingal was too wise to be imposed on by their insidious arts: he openly accused them of wronging her peaceful bosom by some wicked incantations, and vowed to avenge her injuries; and if he found his surmises true, which at present were locked in his own breast, not all the might of Lochlin should resist the sword that should be brandished in her righteous cause..

Fingal, his attendants, and the inferior priests, being withdrawn, the monarch and the high priest were once more left in conference: and, exaspe rated with being foiled in their late attempt, were busy in planning new schemes for the destruction of Morven's king, who had immediately on his retiring from the chapel, sought out Ullin, the venerable seer who had attended him to Lochlin. By him he sent a tender message to Agandecca, requesting her to meet him at the Marble Hall. A courteous answer was returned, that she would not fail to observe an appointment with him whom yet her soul held most dear. The interval of time was employed by the faithful Ullin in kind endeavours to persuade his monarch to leave the unpropitious shores of his perfidious and irreconcilable enemy; beseeching him to listen to his intreaties, and to be assured, that nothing but perils and death environed him about. Fingal remarked, that he would never fly from Lochlin, and leave his bride, his beauteous Agandecca, exposed to priestly craft and brutal outrage. Ullin replied, that at that period he would no further urge his beloved monarch; but he was well aware that even his much-wronged princess would endeavour to persuade

him to leave the fatal coast, and trust to the Almighty Powers to re-unite them. Ullin then withdrew, and left Fingal absorbed in a sorrowful contemplation, from which he was aroused by the entrance of Agandecca, who, with streaming eyes and dishevelled hair, advanced to meet her bosom's lord. He clasped her in his arms, and with tender eagerness besought her to explain the cause that made her (when the solemn rites were proceeding in fit order, and her father attending with fair compliance,) break through the ceremony with so undue a violence. The illfated Agandecca answered with a sigh, that her lips were barred from giving him the satisfaction he required, by an awful oath, which she must never divulge, on pain of forfeiting her eternal happiness; assured him of her unalterable love, and intreated him to depart without delay from the unpropitious shores of Lochlin, nor longer court his own destruction. Fingal, with tremulous accents, inquired if his departure would give peace to her troubled breast. "It would," replied the peerless maid; "for it would kill me; and only in the grave can. I have rest from sorrow," "I will never leave thee," replied Fingal; "thou art mine by the most indissoluble ties. No power shall part us-no compulsion tear thee from my bosom. No, the stupendous cliffs that strongly guard the shore of Lochlin, shall be cleft, and scattered along the billows of the northern main ere I will abandon thee to woe, nor strive to succour thee. Let danger frown with the black horror of a storm descending on the troubled ocean, I will brave its utmost fury." Fingal, thou knowest," replied, the weeping bride, " that not a wish or thought was ever harboured within this bosom, that would shrink abashed from the severest scrutiny.For am I ashamed to tell thee that my heart, which never glowed with any flame but that imparted by thine own, prays and implores thee to speed thy parting hence."

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After much time spent in tender debate, and agony of sorrow, Fingal agreed to leave Lochlin; but only on the condition that Agandecca would, in hopes of happer times, and the fatal mystery being absolved promise to preserve her plighted troth, nor ever admit another love. To this she readily agreed: But, alas! her prophetic soul foreboded that happiness was fled never to return. At length they tore themselves from each other. " Adieu," was faintly articulated; and they retired to their separate apartments.

Ullin, to whom Fingal immediately communicated his intention of returning to his own kingdom, was overjoyed at the delightful tidings. He assembled all the followers of his royal master together, and by his order preparations for their embarking were commenced. This unwelcome resolution soon came to Starno's knowledge, and overwhelmed him with dismay, lest his destined victim should escape from his snares, and return to Morven in safety.Nay, his treachery would become a public theme; and he had much to dread from the vengeance of a people who desired nothing more earnestly than that their princess should be united to Morven's king. Their nuptials had been solemnized in the chapel of Starno's palace; how then should he account for these broken rites, or the departure of Fingal? But his cruel spirit soon suggested to him an infernal scheme, which, with the aid of the high priest, he resolved to execute: and for this purpose he sought out the youthful monarch, and expressed his surprise at what he deemed a strange resolve, of Fingal and his brave followers leaving Lochlin. Fingal, with an haughty tone, caused by his unmerited wrongs, replied, that their bonds of friendship had been most rudely rent asunder; nor could he hold of slight account, the strange event of that disastrous day.

The king of Lochlin remarked, that though some malignant foe had, by dire and unknown incantations, hindered

the union of their houses, it concerned the welfare of their states, that no contention, or symptom of disunion, should disturb their mutual harmony. Fingal demanded if ever he had seemed adverse. Starno replied, that if his subjects thought their friendship unreal, their fierce, vindictive spirits might again blaze with contagious discord; and besought him to veil with guise of amity, their transient difference, and let his going hence wear every semblance of happy reconcilement. Fingal demanded how such resemblance could be effected. Starno replied, that the means were obvious; that with the morning beam they would go forth, and in the adjacent forest hunt the tusky boar; and having shared their sports and banquet, the prince might then to his native isles retire in peace. Fingal accepted the invitation with real joy, as he thought it a fit pretence for him to remain longer in Lochlin, notwithstanding the promise he had made to Agandecca, of instantly departing for the peaceful shores of Albion; and again a thought of the mysterious behaviour of Starno made him resolve not to leave the northern princess, till he had discovered what arts had been practised to reduce her to the pitiable state of anguish she endured.

Starno then gave audience to Lelan, who was a servile creature of the high priest's, and ready to commit any act of atrocity by which he could gain the gold of his superiors. This hardened wretch was instructed to prepare a chosen band, who should at dawn of morn be stationed in ambush beyond the nearest hill, inyested with trees and thickets. They were to conceal themselves, ready armed, within that bushy dell, till they heard the peal of the king's loud clarion, which was sounded only in times of urgent danger; then, while the warriors of Fingal were parted from him, and ranging the forest in pursuit of the wild boar, was the unsuspecting monarch to be attacked and slain. Starno then gave to Lelan a poisoned

dagger, with strict orders that he should, in case the king of Morven escaped the ambush, by taking a contrary route, follow him, and plunge the dagger in

his breast.

Starno had just concluded his instructions to Lelan, when Agandecca rushed into the room, and, with zealous eagerness, inquired of her father why he detained Fingal from embarking, and conjured him, by all the love he bore her, to send an immediate mandate for his departure. Starno replied, that her intrusion merited his deep displeasure; and her perseverance in a wrong cause, his malediction. "But remember, fond girl," added the cruel monarch,

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thy oath of secrecy, and compliance with our desires, nor stain thy soul with perjury. Thy lover dies. Soon as the clarion in the adjacent wild shall sound, then mayest thou smite thy widowed bosom all in vain; for then my arm shall rise victorious, and this vaunting spoiler shall fall a victim to my just revenge." With these words Starno left his wretched daughter, who flew to the apartment of her royal mother, and on her knees intreated her to interpose, nor let her sire imbrue his hands in the blood of him to whom her faith was plighted, and who never wronged, but honoured and revered him. She then revealed to the afflicted queen the dread purposes of Starno; and lamented that children should blush for and condemn the deeds of those they were bound to honour. " And shall I," exclaimed the wretched princess, "conceal the horrid purpose! Better divulge the dread intention, and prevent the accomplishment." "Would you," replied the queen, consign thy sovereign to the rage and fury of Morven's resentment ?" "No, it is to save him whom my father and thyself urged me to receive as my vowed lord, and thy adopted son; and to preserve my pa rent from a deed nature revolts at. Shall it be handed down in future ages, that he ensnared the youth into his toils, and then plunged into his bosom the blade

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tion threatens me; a gulph gapes to receive, and overwhelm thy Agandecca. Oh! Fingal, to save thee, must I lose my honoured sire?-To save my sire, must I lose my Fingal? But have I not renounced him, disavowed the baneful passion? I can never be his willing bride, yet I cannot, having the power to hinder it, be accessary to his murder." "Go then, go, deluded girl!" said the queen of Lochlin with much asperity; go, arm an outlandish spoiler to deprive the people of their king. Go, deprive me of my existence; for think not that I can survive the loss of you, and the lord of my due reverence and regard. Alas for me thou carest not; my sorrows are remote from thy consideration." "Oh my parent,' said the weeping princess," in pity wring not my distracted heart, that ever clings to thee; for thou hast been a tender mother to thine Agandecca. And when I am no more, as soon I think I shall be, let my remembrance then, and my acknowledged love to thee, with my thanks thus tendered at an hour when sad forebodings fill my soul, and daunt me with awful horror, sooth the grief that may embitter thy declining years.'

As soon as the woe-worn Agandecca had retired to her chamber, the queen repaired to her royal husband, and strove to divert him from pursuing the assassination of the king of Morven, and to let the youth depart in safety. She represented to him, in the most mild terms that language could devise, that as Agandecca had refused at the altar to seal the nuptial ceremony, by presenting the chalice to her husband according to the directions of the high priest, the refusal of him would be looked on as the voluntary act of the princess, and his departure be attributed as the consequence of this event.

When Starno understood, from the discourse of the queen, that Agandecca had revealed the mystery of his transactions, that she had confessed to her mother the vow she had taken of re

murder, his rage knew no bounds; passion transported him beyond the confines of reason; and had the ill-fated maiden been present, she would doubtless have fallen a victim to his resentment. As soon as he became more calm, he strictly charged the queen not to let Agandecca leave her apartments that evening, as any interview she might obtain with Fingal might be fatal to Lochlin. The queen replied, she saw the threatened danger, and would endeavour to counteract its progress; but observed, she could not avoid lamenting the fate of those, who, like the gentle Agandecca, might purchase splendour and pre-eminence, by thwarting not unworthy inclinations; for these in every state must be repelled; but by subduing those ingenuous feelings which virtue sanctions and fair fame approves. The king of Lochlin, when left to himself, severely deprecated his own folly, that, for the indulgence of venting his indignation against his daughter, he had betrayed a design he ought most carefully to have guarded from her knowledge. But he resolved with speed to urge the accomplishment of his design; and then, by having recourse to the high priest, to terrify Agandecca into the observance of the vow of secrecy she had taken at Odin's shrine, that he should rest secure from the imputation of a murderer. Poor Agandecca, distracted at the painful confinement she had endured, resolved, at the hazard of her own life, to save that of the king of Morven. The oath she had taken struck her with awe and gloomy horror; yet she could not help regarding it as of a nature too cruel to be approved on high, and rather the work of a tyrant father, and a crafty priest. Radnor, a young page, who attended her, and whose eyes (though he knew not the extent of her sufferings) filled with tears of sympathy and compassion for her unmerited woes, with kind, but submissive accent, inquired if he could do aught that would mitigate her grief. Agandecca present

ed him with a gold ring, set with pearls of inestimable value; and besought him to repair to the king of Morven, and warn him to meet her in the first dell in the adjacent forest, ere the return of Aurora should quite have chased away the darkness of the night; and to tell him, that Agandecca had something at that early hour to impart, that would not brook delay, nor let her rest in peace, till she had eased her heart of the ponderous load the uncommunicated knowledge had occasioned. The little page executed his important mission to the satisfaction of his royal mistress, and happily was not observed by any of Starno's attendants. Fingal did not retire to his couch that night, for busy thought kept him waking: the lovely, distressed Agandecca employed his attention, as to what methods he should take to extricate her from her present misery, and convey her safe to Morven. Ullin, starting from a frightful dream, rushed into the apartment, and earnestly conjured his beloved master not to expose his person in the forest on the ensuing moin; but all he could urge was in vain; Fingal was resolved to abide by the promise he had given the king of Lochlin, of parting with a shew of amity and peace. The sable darkness of night was just beginning to disperse, and streaks of radiant light to adorn the sky, when Agandecca left her chamber, attended by her faithful page, and repaired to the silent dell, where she had appointed to meet her beloved Fingal. For fear of being surprised by any of her father's subjects in this lone place, she retired into the thickest part of the recess, and left her attendant to watch the arrival of the youthful monarch. Fingal was true to the appointment; and not many minutes elapsed, before he appeared on his milk white courser alone, without any of his retinue; for he had ordered them to wait at the entrance of the forest till he should rejoin them, in order to wait Starno's arrival, that they might pursue the chase. As soon as she heard the voice of the king

of Morven, who was addressing a few words to the little page, of tender inquiry concerning her whom his soul held most dear, Agandecca appeared; and Fingal, with a tender embrace, demanded why she would thus expose her delicate frame amid the chilling mists and the cold dews that autumnal night shed on the yellow leaf. Agandecca answered, that all times and seasons were now alike to her; that, should the welkin roar with desolating storms, they were not so fierce as the storm within her bosom, which drove her reason headlong to despair; but that all her hope was, that her soul might survive the ruin of her earthly structure, and might rise superior to the care and loud turmoil that vex this cloudy dwelling.

Fingal besought her, that, if ever his voice could win her assent, to disclose the cause of her affliction.

Agandecca replied, with tremulous accents, that before she disclosed those tidings which would overcome him with horror when he knew their fatal import, she had a boon to crave, a request to ask, and which she earnestly intreated him to grant." You intreat me, my Agandecca! say rather you command me to the fulfilling of your wish. Agandecca besought him to spare her father; to vow that no sudden ire or furious mood of vengeance should impel him, however just his cause might seem, to slay the royal Starno, and bereave her of a parent."Need I vow," replied Fingal, " if my own father, illustrious Combal reigned, that I would not conspire against his life; as sacred to my soul as was the life of Combal, or is now my own, glowing in the prime of youthful hope, so sacred is the sire of Agandecca. Nay, I could almost complain of thee, and say, my faith and love are wronged by thy intreaty." The apprehensive maid replied, that she well knew his loyalty and faith, and merciful temper; that, trusting in that, she would unfold a tale of horrid purport, and warn him