Then Reason drew her cloak aside,
While Love its shelter soon accepted;
And thus, as to the grove they hied,

Fast fell the rain they both expected.

And hoarse the thunder roll'd above,

The vivid lightning flash'd before them;
And when at last they reach'd the grove,
Still louder peal'd the tempest o'er them.

"Oh Dame! the shiv'ring boy then cries,
"I find a sudden chillness steal-
"Through all my veins, it runs! it flies!
Your mantle has an icy feel."

She said; and closer to her breast,
Her icy breast, the boy she clasp'd;
And as the maiden closer press'd,
In agony the urchin grasp'd.

But now the thunder ceas'd to roll,

The lightning ceas'd to flash; the rain

Gave way unto the sun's control,

And all was warm and bright again.

And nature wore a lovelier green,

The doves renew'd their am'rous vows;
Ten thousand sparkling drops were seen
To hang upon the neighb'ring boughs.

The boy soon felt the change, he flung
Aside the robe of Reason, then
From her cold arms elastic sprung,
And Cupid was himself again.

The maiden now the young god view'd,
(Array'd in all his native might)
And sigh'd, and feeling half subdu'd,
She turn'd her from the dazzling sight.

BRITISH ANTIQUITIES.

No. III.

Instead of being raised with stones, and cemented like the Roman roads, it has been excavated. The soil has been thrown up on each side, and the chalk rock has served as a pavement. Another person and myself dug a few feet through the mould, which has gradually fallen in and covered the road, but the chalk rock soon impeded our progress. The Roman roads usually run in direct lines, but this follows the winding eminences of the dales. This position would serve the double purpose of a road and a trench, to act upon the defensive against an invading enemy, especially from the lower parts. That it has been used for military purposes is further evident from triple trenches having been made on the plains, through which it has run between the dales. What has been advanced is corroborated

AFTER Rome had become the mistress of the world by her extensive conquests, the most successful means she could use to unite the heterogeneous members of her empire was facility of intercouse between herself and them.. Hence the numerous military roads, diverging from the seat of empire to its various dependencies. The celebrated Via Appia led to the southern, and the Via Flaminia to the northern parts. In Germany, France, and Spain, Roman military roads are numerous. Great Britain is intersected by them. The four principal Roman ways which are most conspicuous in this country are Watling-Street, Ick nield-Street, Ermin-Street, and the Foss-way. To these might be added a number of collateral roads, but inferior in form and of less extent. Of the latter description is one which is omitted on all our antiquaIt diverges from the eastern branch of the Ermyn-Street, to the west of Market Weighton, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and connects with another Roman road, running from Flamborough Head to York. It may be traced through the Parishes of Pocklington, Milling-rendered necessary a correspondence ton, Huggate, Wetwang, &c. to the above mentioned road, near Great Driffield.

rian maps.

The origin of this road seems dubious, as it is differently made from the Roman roads; though there is little doubt of its having been used by the Romans. The occasional occurrence of a Tumulus, of detached pieces of Roman armour, and of a number of human bones, and complete skeletons in confused order, having been found in a field at Wetwang, are inductive proofs of the Romans having used it for military purposes. There is a probability of its having been made by the Parisii or Brigantees, the original inhabitants of the eastern parts of Yorkshire, as a channel of communication between the low lands on each side of the Wolds. This conjecture is supported by its being formed like the other ancient British roads.

by the opinion of Brewer, in his Introduction to the Beauties of England and Wales. "It may certainly be inferred, without an unwarrantable freedom of conjecture, that the early Britons so familiarly acquainted with the use of chariots, and engaged in commercial pursuits, which

between the interior parts of the country and the coast, could not be destitute of roads so carefully amended as to assume a permanent character. That such, indeed, existed, and were in many instances adopted by the Romans, is uniformly admitted by those antiquaries, who unite the labours of local investigation with the erudite researches of the etymologist." This is further confirmed by the opinion of the Rev. T. Leman, in the History of Hertfordshire. "These British roads are so totally distinct from the Roman causeways, which succeeded them, that it is surprising so many persons should confound these works of the rude inhabitants of the island, with those, perhaps, of the most enlightened military nation that ever appeared in the world; for the British roads were merely driftways, running through the woods, or wind

ing on the sides of the hills, and made only for their petty commerce of cattle and slaves. Unlike the military labours of their successors, they were hardly ever drawn in straight lines; were not regularly attended by tumuli or barrows; were never raised; and had a peculiar

feature, the reason of which is not
known, of being divided during
their course into several branches,
running parallel with the bearing of
the original road.”
T. R.

Huggate, April 25, 1823.

A DRAMATIC FRAGMENT.-(Star Light.)

VICENTIO-ISIDORA.

Vic.-'Twas an enchanting dream!—An ivory throne,
Inlaid with gold and gems of every hue,
Rose, as by magic, from the verdant earth,
Where all was beautiful; upon it sat
My own sweet Isidora, o'er whose brow
A mytle-wreath was twin'd, and on her head
She wore a radiant coronet of flowers ;-
Her right hand softly grasp'd a silver wand,
Bedeck'd with rosy garlands; round her form-
A garb of azure clung, and her fine feet
Were bound in silken sandals :-near her stood
A smiling spirit, whom I deem'd a seraph,

With blooming cheeks, bright eyes, and golden hair.
Three fairy forms approach'd, of whom the first
Flew on swift pinions to the beauteous Queen,
And proffer'd her a small transparent shell
With purest dew-drops fill'd: the spirit dash'd
It down indignantly, and told the sylph
That one bright tear from Isidora's eyes

Was worth them all. The second next drew near
To her upon the throne, and gaily took

A violet, newly gather'd, from its breast

To place in her's: the frowning seraph then
Snatch'd it away, and ask'd the trembling elf
How she could look on Isidora's eyes,
Yet dare to give her violets. The third,
Exulting, then approach'd the Queen's high throne,
And at her feet display'd a half-blown rose,
Which the attendant spirit stoop'd to take;
She held the flower beside her mistress' face,
And smil'd to see how the spright stood abash'd
Whilst gazing upon each; the lovely hues
Of the sweet rose seem'd languid when compar'd
With the bright glow on Isidora's cheek.
The fairies fled: anon, the seraph took
A dark-brown lock from Isidora's hair,
The which I stole from her extended hand,
Press'd to my lips and plac'd within my
bosom:
The spirit then commanded me to kneel,
And worship the Divinity who sat,
Array'd in beauty, on her glittering throne;
In silent adoration I bent down-
When, lo! the vision ceas'd, and I awoke
To worship thee, indeed, my Isidora!

Isid.-Dear Vicentio! thou'rt eloquent forsooth, And I did play the Queen right nobly, Love?

Vic.-Most nobly! and look'd so fair, that indeed
You seem'd the being of another world.

Were the seven daughters of the Theban Queen
But half so beautiful as thou, dear Love!
Well might she deem herself Latona's rival,
And turn to stone when the pale jealous moon
Destroy'd them all for envy of their beauty.

Isid-.'Twas not in envy, but in justice, Love!
Were she now gliding on her glorious way,
Instead of slumb'ring in old ocean's bed,
You would not dare arraign her thus, methinks.
But what dost gaze at, my Vicentio ?

Vic.

Look !

Among the glowing orbs that throng so fast
In the deep hyaline, see you not one
Small twinkling star that looks on us awhile,
Then vanishes again, as tho' it left
The bright empyrean of its native sky
To tell rejoicing angels how we love,
And bid them quit the mansions of their bliss
To witness our's, my Sweet!

Isid.

It hath indeed
A pleasing errand then! 'Tis a sweet night!
The skies are full of stars, which vainly strive,
With the faint splendour of their little famps,
To emulate the glory of their Queen,

Who sleeps with her belov'd Endymion.

How soon abash'd would thousands hide their heads
Before her radiant beauty, were she now

To glide in splendid majesty along

Thro' their wide host.

Vic.
Oh! they are glorious all,
And bright and beautiful; earth too is fair,
And all on earth most lovely-loveliest thou,
My smiling Isidora! How the breeze
Doth whisper in thy locks, and gaily sports
Over the loose white robe that circles thee,
As tho' 'twere proud to revel there.

Isid.

See! now

How swiftly it sweeps on from flower to flower,
Throwing the lily's fragrance on the rose,

Whose sweets it steals, and bears them blithely on
To the blue bosom of the violet,

Making them drink each other's perfumes-then,
Commingling all their odours, hies along
To mix them with the air. But let us hence,
And from the summit of yon lofty rock
Mark pale Diana rising from the wave

To claim Dominion o'er the skies once more.

Vic.-And, when she hath arisen, we'll sit us down
On the green sward to hear the bird of night
Pour forth her soul in melancholy strain. (Exeunt.)

H. AD

"Peace, ho! the moon sleeps with Endymion,
And would not be disturb'd."

SHAKSPEARE.

EPISTLES BY MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.

Epistle from MARY to her UNCLES.-February, 1567.

YES-I must write to vent indignant rage,
And by complaint my sense of wrongs, assuage!
Hear what new injuries now my anger fire!
Bothwell, the loyal subject of my sire;
Bothwell, my mother's and her orphan's friend,
Prompt to obey, and faithful to defend,
This pitying soother, counsellor and guide,

My throne's support, my court's accomplish'd pride,
Some traitor subjects, in rebellion bold,

Forth to disgrace as Darnley's murderer hold!*
What! he to whom I told each secret thought,
Who knew by love inspir'd that couch I sought,
Where hapless Darnley, worn by secret grief,
From Mary's pardoning pity sought relief.
Could he, seduc'd by bribes and rebel's art,
Dare pierce his Sovereign's thro' her Darnley's heart,
Betray her confidence, her pangs disdain,
And prove a life of loyal favours vain ?

Hence, impious charge! which can't my soul deceive;
Lies which e'en those who speak them disbelieve;
Though justice they for Darnley's death demand,
And at the awful bar bid Bothwell stand!+
Yes-he before that awful bar shall go!

But meet the bloody charge with dauntless brow,
Confront those rebels' hate, with loyal heart,
Despise their cunning, and defeat their art.

* Every one's imagination was at work to guess who had contrived and executed this execrable deed the suspicion fell with almost a general consent on Bothwell.

"Two days after the murder a proclamation was issued by the Queen, offering a considerable reward to any person who should discover those who had been guilty of such a horrid and detestable crime.”—Robertson, p. 400.

"We now know for certain that it was Murray's faction who murdered the King, and that Morton, Bothwell, and Maitland, were the eminent characters who were attainted by parliament for the deed, though many inferior persons, indeed, and some of them innocent, were tried and punished for the same crime."-Chalmers, p. 204.

+" and it was resolved to bring Bothwell immediately to trial. But, instead of confining him to any prison, Mary admitted him into all her councils, and allowed a person, universally reputed a murderer of her husband, to enjoy all the security, the dignity, and the power of a favourite.-Robertson, p. 404. I cannot see how Mary could do otherwise. It was impossible, that, justly prejudiced in favour of Bothwell as she was by his devoted loyalty and respectful attachment, she should for a moment believe that he was even privy to the murder of Darnley; and, if convinced of his innocence, it was her duty to act on that conviction, and uphold him to the extent of her power. Besides, such daring was that of innocence-conscious guilt would have been more wary. I subjoin the following simple, unaffected letter, written by Henry Kyllygrew to Cecil, from Edinburgh, who carried to Mary, Elizabeth's letter of condolence; and this letter is important, as it shews that Bothwell was countenanced by Murray, &c. as well by the Queen, though'accused of the King's death :

Eur. Mag. July, 1823,

B.