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Fair Inez turned,-pale was her cheek,
Yet flashed her eyes with sudden flame;
“Oh, faithful nurse !—forbear to speak,
Or name no more Alonzo's name.

"If in that bower a spirit dwell,
To me its purpose shall be told;
This night I seek the lonely dell,
Soon as the shepherd quits his fold.

"And to that mouldering turret's height, My steps shall trace the torch's gleam; Soon as the crescent's blessed light

Shall quiver on the winding stream.

"The champion of the cross may sigh,

The champion of the cross may vow ;— Dark is his glance, but bright the eye

That beams beneath the turbaned brow."

"O lady, lady!-speak not so,
But to the blessed mother pray!

Kneel at the cross before you go,

Nor seek alone that gloomy way!"

"Pray thou for me-here safe remain,
Calm with such holy thoughts thy heart;
And take this rich-wrought golden chain,
A pledge of love ere I depart!"

Round her she wrapped a sable veil,

To screen her from each distant view; One moment paused, serene yet pale, Then bade the ancient nurse, adieu !

And sighing through the orange grove,
What balmy sweetness fills the air!
As though it there delights to rove,
As though it loves to linger there.

How bright, yet calm, each object shews,
On the sweet valley's moonlight side,
That into deeper shadow throws

The spreading cork-wood's ancient pride.

There stands the loved, sequestered bower,
Of myrtle and pomegranate woye;
O'er-gemmed by many a beauteous flower,
Emblems of plenty, peace, and love!

How soft yon turret's mouldering walls
Are imaged in the crystal wave,
Which scarcely murmurs as it falls,

Yon distant, broken rocks to lave.

And sweeter than the orange grove,
Though as the myrtle blossom pale,
Is she who ventures thus to rove

Along the silent moonlight dale.

"Sleep'st thou, my Zared, 'neath the shade, Lulled by the nightingale's sweet song? Awake, arise, a Spanish maid

Waits for no tardy lover long!

"Speak to me, Zared!-art thou here? Come forth, receive thy chosen bride!" Sudden she stopped, and checked the tear, Impelled by timid maiden pride.

Hush!-there is neither voice nor sound
To dry that drop of falling dew;
She enters starts-upon the ground

A blood-stained turban meets her view!

The well-known gem, the oft seen plume,
Speak direful meaning to her eyes;
One hope is left to read her doom
She to the ruined turret flies.

Appears the torch's guiding beam,
Reflected in the crystal wave;
Alas! it casts its quivering gleam
Upon her murdered Zared's grave!

"Last of my house !"-her father cried, "My blessing once-but now my shame, Thou camest to be a heathen's bride,

See there thy lord-his promise claim !"

Long years have passed, but by that stream
A proud majestic abbey stands ;
For it those corn-clad valleys teem;
To it belong those wide spread lands.

And there the richly-sculptured tomb
The early fate of Inez tells;
There holy choirs lament her doom;
There oft the votive requiem swells.

Father and child together rest,

Past are their dreams of love and pride; There learn how rare their fate is blest,

Who take strong passion for their guide.

And still, by many a Spanish maid,
'Tis told that, midst that valley green,
Gliding from the thick orange shade,
A lovely female form is seen;

And that a graceful Moorish chief
Comes forth to meet her from the tower;
When the rich myrtle's fragrant leaf,
Is silvered by the moon's full power.

To the loved bower, as slow they pass,
None ever dare the pair pursue ;
For still, imprinted stands the grass,—
Still shines, unswept, the midnight dew.

And still the shepherd youths of Spain,
'Neath cork-tree shade, or olive grove,

Sing to the soft guitar the strain,

Of Inez and her Moorish love!

ALDWINCLE RECTORY,

May 15, 1826.

"I HAVE DONE MY DUTY."

A TALE OF THE SEA.*

BY THE OLD SAILOR.

She would sit and weep

At what a sailor suffers; fancy, too,

Delusive most where warmest wishes are,

Would oft anticipate his glad return.-Cowper.

"I DEARLY love a sailor!" exclaimed the beautiful and fascinating Mrs. D, as she stood in the balcony of her house, leaning upon the arm of her affectionate and indulgent husband, and gazing at a poor shattered tar who supplicated charity by a look that could hardly fail of interesting the generous sympathies of the heart-" I dearly love a sailor; he is so truly the child of nature; and I never feel more disposed to shed tears, than when I see the hardy veteran who has sacrificed his youth, and even his limbs, in the service of his country—

Cast abandoned on the world's wide stage,

And doomed in scanty poverty to roam.

Look at yon poor remnant of the tempest, probably reduced to the hard necessity of becoming a wanderer, without a home to shelter him, or one kind commiserating smile to shed a ray of sunshine on the dreary winter of his life. I can remember, when a child, I had an uncle who loved me very tenderly, and my attachment to him was almost that of a daughter; indeed he was the pride and admiration of our village; for every one esteemed him for his kind and cheerful disposition. But untoward events cast a gloom upon his mind; he hastened away to sea, and we never saw him more."

By this time the weather-beaten, care-worn seaman had advanced toward the house, and cast a wistful glance aloft; it was full of honest pride that disdained to beg, yet his appearance was so marked with every emblem of poverty and hunger, that, as the conflicting feelings worked within his breast, his countenance betrayed involuntarily the struggles of his heart. There was a manly firmness in his deportment, that bespoke no ordinary mind; and a placid serenity in his eye, that beamed with benevolence, and seemed only to regret that he could no longer be a friend to the poor and destitute, or share his hard-earned pittance with a messmate in distress. A few scattered grey locks peeped from beneath an old straw hat; and one sleeve of his jacket hung unoccupied by his side-the arm was gone. “I should like to know his history," said the amiable lady; "let us send for him in." To express a wish, and have it gratified, were the same thing to Mrs. Dand in a few minutes the veteran tar stood before them. ،، Would you wish to hear a tale of woe?" cried the old man, in answer to her request. Ah, no! why should your tender heart be wounded by another's griefs? I have been buffeted by the storms of affliction-I have

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* Founded on facts which actually occurred in Devonshire, a short time after the peace of 1815.

struggled against the billows of adversity—every wave of sorrow has rolled over me; but," added he, while a glow of conscious integrity suffused his furrowed cheek," I have always done my duty; and that conviction has buoyed me up when nearly overwhelmed in the ocean of distress. Yet, lady, it was not always thus: I have been happy-was esteemed, and, as I thought, beloved. I had a friend, in whom I reposed the highest confidence, and my affections were devoted to one ;but, she is gone-she is gone! and I—Yes! we shall meet again:”here he paused, dashed a tear from his eye, and then proceeded :—“ My friend was faithless; he robbed me of the dearest treasure of my heart, and blasted every hope of future happiness. I left my native land to serve my country; have fought her battles, and bled in her defence. On the 29th May, and glorious 1st June, 1794, I served on board the Queen Charlotte, under gallant Howe, and was severely wounded in the breast—but I did my duty. On that memorable occasion, a circumstance occurred which added to my bitterness and melancholy. The decks were cleared-the guns cast loose, and every man stood in eager expectation at his quarters. It is an awful moment, lady, and various conflicting emotions agitate the breast when, in the calm stillness that reigns fore and aft, the mind looks back upon the past, and contemplates the future. Home, wife, children, and every tender remembrance rush upon the soul. It is different in the heat of action: then every faculty is employed for conquest, that each man may have to say, "I have done my duty.” But when bearing down to engage, and silence is so profound that every whisper may be heard, then their state of mind-it cannot be described. Sailors know what it is, and conquering it by cool determination and undaunted bravery, nobly do their duty. I was stationed at the starboard side of the quarter deck, and looked around me with feelings incident to human nature, yet wishing for and courting death. The admiral, with calm composure, surrounded by his captains and signal officers, stood upon the beak of the poop, while brave Bowen, the master, occupied the ladder, and gave directions to the quarter-master at the helm. The enemy opened their fire, and the captains of the guns stood ready with their matches in their hand, waiting for the word. The work of destruction commenced, and many of our shipmates lay bleeding on the deck, but not a shot had we returned. Stand by there, upon the main deck," cried the first lieutenant. men! Wait for command, and don't throw your fire away!" ready, Sir," was responded fore and aft. At this moment a seaman advanced upon the quarter-deck, attended by a young lad (one of the fore-top men) whose pale face and quivering lip betrayed the tremulous agitation of fear. The lieutenant gazed at him for a few seconds with marked contempt and indignation, but all stood silent. The officer turned towards the admiral, and on again looking round, perceived that the lad had fainted, and lay lifeless in the seaman's arms, who gazed upon the bloodless countenance of his charge with a look of anguish and despair. Carry him below," said the lieutenant," and let him skulk from his duty; this day must be a day of glory!" The poor fellow seemed unconscious that he was spoken to, but still continued to gaze upon lad. The officer beckoned to a couple of men, who immediately advanced, and were about to execute his orders, when the seaman put

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