But I've always been told, For which she her 'jewel eternal' had sold, Who, no doubt, knew her man, Made some compromise-hit upon some sort of plan, That the things done amiss By the Hag should not hinder her ultimate bliss'; Provided Imprimis, The cash from this time is The Church's-impounded for good pious uses- In the meantime, that She, The said Ghostess,-or Ghost, as the matter may be,- The said Friar, with said Ghost may hereafter agree.— Of the said cash, or "cole," Shall be spent for the good of said Old Woman's soul! It is farther agreed-while said cash is so spending, To have, and enjoy, and uphold, and maintain, From Old Nick, or from any one else of his train, Whether Pow'r,-Domination,-or Princedom,-or Throne,* 'Provided that, nevertheless, notwithstanding Dispensing said cash, or said "cole," shall dare venture To misapply money, note, bill, or debenture, To uses not named in this present Indenture, Then that such sum or sums shall revert, and come home again Some good man and true, who no longer refuses To put sum or sums aforesaid to said uses; Which duly performed, the said Ghost shall have rest, Thrones! Dominations! Princedoms! Virtues! Powers! MILTON. J In consideration of this, her bequest, In manner and form aforesaid, as exprest: In witness wherof, we, the parties aforesaid, Hereunto set our hands and our seals-and no more said, BASIL. OLD WOMAN (late) CLOTHED IN GREY.' Basil now, I am told, Walking off with the gold, Went and straight got the document duly enroll'd, In her sepulchre, cosey, cool,-not to say cold. Rich Malvoisie wine Found its way to the Convent that night before nine, At a very late hour, that is after Compline. That the Convent was much better off as to cheer. While in front and in rear He enlarged so, his shape seem'd approaching a sphere. The girl, as they say, Ran screaming away, Quite scared by the Old Woman clothed in grey; As the bird on the spray, One Sir Rufus Mountfardington, Lord of Foot's-cray, And the fact was, said Knight was now merely delay'd For converting the Pagans with bill, bow, and blade, To buy arms and horses, the tools of his trade, Thought Sir Rufus, 'tis said, Just the man for her money,-she readily paid Most unwisely she laid Out her cash-the beaux yeux of a Saracen maid Him to do everything which a Knight could degrade, Don't fancy, dear Reader, I mean to go on Of the Squires and the Dames Who have managed at times to get hold of the sack, To be giv'n in my song, There are reasons beside would perhaps make it wrong; -vere against heresy, While many a wretch scorned to flinch, or to scream, as he Burnt for denying the Papal supremacy, Bishop Bonner the bag got, And all thought the hag got Releas'd, as he spent all in fuel and faggot. I can't tell you, I vow I suppose by mismanagement-ere the next reign The last time, I'm told, That the Old Woman's gold Was obtain'd,-as before, for the asking,-'twas had And the whole of it, so 'tis reported, was sent So 'tis said at Maynooth, But I can't think it's truth; Though I know it was boldly asserted last season, GENTLE READER !-you must know the proverb, I think- In a square College cap, Perhaps, would translate by the words Verbum Sap.!' That you're going to France In the course of this Spring-we're already in May-- Pray, If but for a day, At Dover, through which you must pass on your way, That on joint or ragoût— Then say to the waiter,-'I'm just passing through, Well,-when you've got there, never mind how you're taunted, --I'd tell you myself, but I can't recollect The proprietor's name; but he's one of that sect Who call themselves 'Friends,' and whom others call 'Quakers,'-- To the cellar at night, And as soon as you see her don't be in a fright, If At once, for the bag! you find that she's shy, or your senses would dazzle, Say, Ma'am, I insist in the name of St. Basil!' If she gives it you, seize It, and do as you please But there is not a person I've ask'd but agrees, You should spend-part at least--for the Old Woman's ease. May do you some good, and I WISH YOU MAY GET IT!!! THOS. INGOLDSBY. THE LONJA OF SEVILLE. BY THE HON. R. DUNDAS MURRAY (ELIBANK.) THE Lonja, or Exchange of Seville, though boasting of no high antiquity, ranks not the least among the many relics of art to be met with in every quarter of that time-honoured city. Its site is but a few paces distant from the cathedral; so close, indeed, that the lofty outlines of the latter overshadow its own severer proportions, and render them less striking than they really are. Still, in spite of this disadvantage, it tells, with an air of noble simplicity, of the far-reaching hopes of its founders. It was here that the discoveries of Columbus were to be turned to account; here the wealth of the 'Indies' was to be stored up, and to be parted among the merchants from strange lands who were to resort hither, and be witnesses to the fame and greatness of the Spanish Empire. Happily for such views, it was the fortune of Spain to possess an architect every way capable of doing justice to them." The Lonja is the work of Juan de Herrera, one of the most accomplished men of his times, and no mean proficient in his art, as the Escurial, and many other edifices, may testify. His favourite style, the Italian, which indeed he was the first to introduce into his native country, is that in which he has chosen to rear this building, unquestionably one of the best specimens of his genius. Its shape is that of a massive square, the design of which approaches almost to plainness, there being neither columns, nor other architectural details, to clothe or otherwise ornament the exterior. On each of its four sides a lower and upper tier of windows stretch away in long lines; and, as if the light they admitted was alone worthy of the distinction; around these its channels are some ornaments gathered, though with a sparing hand. Scanty as they are, however, they serve to relieve the general air which everywhere else is that of quiet and solid strength. Passing into the interior, we find ourselves in a spacious court, the solitary fountain in the centre of which yet murmurs as it used to do in the days of Philip the Second. Round the court runs an arcade, supported by square pillars, and especially devised as a shelter against inclement weather. Not that inclement weather includes only the severities of winter; on the contrary, the dog-days in Seville are far more inclement, certainly far less tolerable than the heavy winter rains; and it seems, therefore, that to both of these evils the architect addressed himself when he constructed so choice a retreat as this, where hundreds might assemble without incommoding each other, and at the same time be secured from the extremes of either season. From the basement story a wide staircase leads to a suite of apartments above. As we ascend we find ourselves in the midst of a wealth and luxury seen in no other part of the edifice. The broad steps underfoot, the heavy balustrades-which from the easiness of the ascent seldom feel the weight of a hand, are all of beautiful red marble, brought from the Sierra de Moron. Even the walls, to the height of some feet from the 39 VOL. VII. |