LINES WRITTEN IN SICKNESS. WOULD I were well, For this is agony to linger here; The very breeze comes with a mournful swell, And falls in dirge-like tones upon mine earWould I were well! Would I were well, That I once more might wander forth at eve, By some lone river's brink, or dewy dell; With hope again bright chaplets to weaveWould I were well! Would I were well: In silent sadness here I pass the day, Without a friend to cheer-perhaps to tell Would I were well! Would I were well: At thoughts of death my heart doth inly quake, Come, blessed Health, those fancies dire dispel ; I long to live, if only for HER sake— Would I were well! Would I were well; But if it may not be, "Thy will be done;" STORY OF THE YOUNG ROBBER. "I was born at the little town of Frosinone, which lies at the skirts of the Abruzzi. My father had made a little property in trade, and gave me some education, as he intended me for the church, but I had kept gay company too much to relish the cowl. So I grew up a loiterer about the place. I was a heedless fellow, a little quarrelsome on occasion, but good-humoured in the main, so I made my way very well for a time, until I fell in love. There lived in our town, a surveyor or land bailiff of the prince, who had a young daughter, a beautiful girl of sixteen; she was looked upon something better than the common run of our townfolk, and was kept almost entirely at home. I saw her occasionally, and became madly in love with her. She looked so fresh and tender, and so different from the sunburnt females to which I had become accustomed. "As my father kept me in money, I always dressed well, and took all opportunities of showing myself off to advantage in the eyes of the little beauty. I used to see her at church, and as I could play a little upon the guitar, I gave a tune sometimes under her window, of an evening, and I tried to have interviews with her in her father's vineyard, not far from the town, where she sometimes walked. She was evidently pleased with me, but she was young and shy, and her father kept a strict eye upon her, and took alarm at my attentions, for he had a bad opinion of me, and looked for a much better match for his daughter. I became furious at the difficulties thrown in my way, having been accustomed always to easy success among the women, being considered one of the smartest young fellows of the place. "Her father brought home a suitor for her, a rich farmer from a neighbouring town. The wedding-day was appointed, and preparations were making. I got sight of her at her window, and I thought she looked sadly at me. I determined the match should not take place, cost what it might. I met her intended bridegroom in the market-place, and could not restrain the expression of my rage. A few hot words passed between us, when I drew my stiletto and stabbed him to the heart. I fled to a neighbouring church for refuge, and with a little money obtained absolution, but I did not dare to venture from my asylum. "At that time our captain was forming his troop; he had known me from my boybood, and hearing of my situation, came to me in secret and made such offers that I agreed to enrol myself among his followers. Indeed, I had more than once thought of taking to this mode of life, having known several brave fel lows of the mountains who used to spend their money freely among us youngsters of the town. I accordingly left my asylum late one night, repaired to the appointed place of meeting, took the oaths prescribed, and became one of the troop. We were for some time in a distant part of the mountains, and our wild adventurous kind of life hit my fancy wonderfully, and diverted my thoughts. At length they returned with all their violence to the recollection of Rosetta. The solitude in which I often found myself, gave me time to brood on her image, and as I have kept watch at night over our sleeping camp in the mountains, my feelings have been aroused almost to a fear. "At length we shifted our ground, and determined to make a descent upon the road between Terracina and Naples. In the course of our expedition, we passed a day or two in the woody mountains which rise above Frosinone. I cannot tell you how I felt when I looked down upon the place and distinguished the residence of Rosetta. I determined to have an interview with her-but to what purpose, I could not expect she would quit her home and accompany me in my hazardous life among the mountains. She had been brought up too tenderly for that, and when I looked upon the women who were associated with some of our troop, I could not have borne the thought of her being their companion. All return to my former life was likewise hopeless, for a price was set upon my head. Still, I determined to see her, the very hazard and fruitlessness of the thing made me furious to accomplish it. "It is about three weeks since I persuaded our captain to draw down to the vicinity of Frosinone, in hopes of entrapping some of its principal inhabitants, and compelling them to a ransom. We were lying in ambush towards evening, not far from the vineyard of Rosetta's father. I stole quietly from my companions, and drew near to reconnoitre the place of her frequent walks. How my heart beat when among the vines, I beheld the gleaming of a white dress. I knew it must be Rosetta's, it being rare for any female of the place to dress in white. I advanced secretly, and without noise, until putting aside the vines, I stood suddenly before her; she uttered a piercing shriek, but I secured her in my arms, put my hand upon her mouth, and conjured her to be silent. I poured out all the phrenzy of my passion, offered to renounce my mode of life, to put my fate in her hands, to fly with her where we might live in safety together. All that I could say or do would not pacify her; instead of love, horror and affright seemed to have taken possession of her breast. She struggled partly from my grasp, and filled the air with her cries. "In an instant the captain and the rest of my companions were around us. I would |