A MASQUERADE.

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Mrs. S. the banker's wife-Pshaw! lady at the county town of H, to the great surprise of the whole neighbourhood, issued cards for a masquerade, a thing almost unheard of at such a distance from town. But, however, as it was, as an auctioneer would express it, genteel neighbourhood," and contained several lively families, the idea was seized with great avidity, and the evening looked forward to with extreme rapture by most of the inhabitants. The man arrived with the masquerade dresses from London; and whilst many a fair one, with a very excusable vanity, chose that which most became herself, she was still attentive to what she thought would best suit her lover, in the secret hope that, by appearing in a corresponding dress, they might be able to discover each other. I was just arrived, a total stranger in the neighbourhood, on a visit, during the Vacuum longum, to a maiden aunt, who, having a card for one person, offered it to me, with permission to take the footman and pony-phaeton. When I had accepted it, I determined to go in the character of a friar, as under the cloak of the Romish church I might, in perfect concordance with my assumed dress, keep silence, and make my observations on the party. I settled on this cha racter, from the detestation I have of seeing the medley of dresses, without a single corresponding trait in the manners of those that frequent masquerades in general. Thick-set, knock-kneed harlequins, unable to dance, Don Giovanni's sitting glum in one corner the whole evening, monks playing the "gallant gay Lotharia," embonpoint Columbines of seventy, Griseldas of seventeen, laughing, giddy, spirited Queercurs, and other absurdities, which we are sure always to meet with in such parties.

At the appointed hour I entered the large drawing-room, which was brilliantly lighted up, at the same time that the door was opened by a figure dressed as a gipsey fortune-teller, who, after seeing me seated, slipped out again. There were very few masques assembled, and I took my seat on a sofa chair by the door, that I might observe the personages as they entered. First came a string of foolish giggling girls, tittering at the novelty of their appearance. These passed unheeded by, as well as a row of sauntering Spaniards. The monotony of their appearance was pleasingly relieved by the entrance of a beautiful female figure, in bright green. Truly,

"Grace was in all her steps,"

whether or not there was

"Heaven in her eye,"

I could not tell, for that I could not see; after glancing timidly round, she seated herself near me. I then observed the gipsey man, who had followed me, enter, and as he flitted by her, say,

Thy lover, lady, is not here,
But lay aside thy foolish fear;

His wished-for form will soon appear

Apparel'd for the war.'

She started, but ere she should speak, the gipsey had fled through the door, the same time that a figure entered, enveloped in a panoply of pasteboard. His hauberk was painted to represent trellised mail, his scarf was worked in green and white, and his vizor, poleyns, ailettes, and the joints of his cuisses were tastely tied with green ribbands; he carried a light lady-lance of ebony in his hand, which was evidently formed for a softer grasp than that of warrior-knight ;- -as he entered, he exclaimed, 'My aventaile's tied by a faire ladye's hand, And my cointise by faire ladye wove; And here as a true knight I boldly stand, To lance for my 'faire ladye's love.'

The gipsey again appeared, and whispered the knight,

'Dost thou not know thy lady's mien,

For see she awaits thee in forest green?'

The warrior peered through his beaver at the figure which thus addressed him, as he again receded through the door, when glancing to where he had pointed, he beheld the lady in green, and flying to her, he fell at her feet, saying,

'Lady, forgive my heedless sight,
Lady, forgive your faithful knight.'

She held out her hand to him, and, kissing the gloved treasure, he seated himself by her side, and the confab proceeded in that soft and hallowed whisper, which characterises the conversation of lovers.

A figure, en Columbine, apparently very young, now entered, but when she had progressed, (as Jonathan would say,) to the centre of the room, the mysterious fortune-teller again appeared and cried aloud, Bella, horrida, bella." An universal titter pervaded the room, which completely disconcerted the fair Columbine, as the tiresome gipsey had actually discovered, by his unfortunate but apt quotation from Virgil, that the apparently slim and youthful figure, was no other than Miss Isabella Grumblethorpe, ætat. 76!!-Curiosity began now to be at work concerning the gipsey figure. "Who is he?" "What can he be?” "Where is he now?" were the queries put forth, and all received for answer, "Don't know—can't tell-can't imagine." This was, however, interrupted by a sudden and shrill blast, apparently from a bugle; the whole assembly was as still as death, when the door opening, a figure in a hunting dress of forest-green and silver appeared, in the character of Robin Hood, with his bow, arrows, and silver bugle; he was followed by twelve masks, in hunting dresses also, as his outlaws; as he entered, he said,

"When twice I blow the bugle, then my merry, merry men,

Upstart and seize your good cross-bows;

When once I blow the bugle, and again, and again,

Then rush, for I call 'gainst our foes.'

The company now flocked in by troops-the men, who had, or fancied they had, good figures, appearing mostly as harlequins; while others were habited as Turks, Friars, Spaniards, Walter Raleighs, Antiquaries, Physicians, &c. &c. &c.; and the other sex as Sultanas, Nuns, Queen Besses, Dowagers, Columbines, &c. &c. &c.

I saw no more of the direful gipsey man till after they had commenced dancing, when he entered and strolled through the rooms, singing,

'I read the stars, the moon, the sun,

Before creation had begun;

Gifted with Phebus' magic pow'r,

Fortunes I'll tell you by the hour.'

He stopped before the billing and cooing knight and his inamorata, and cried,

'Fight ye on boldly as ye've begun,

For ne'er was fair lady by faint heart won.'

5¢

The preux chevalier started up, and good-humouredry seizing the gipsey's collar, said, "Now, tell me who ye be, or, by the gods! I'll tear this jealous mask away!" The mysterious figure replied,

'Loose me, Sir knight, be not too bold,

Or soon will I thy tale unfold.'

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He then whispered something to him, of which I caught the word "parchment." A Quaker-mask by me, who had apparently heard the same, then said to me, Good father, I now recognize the knight, 'tis friend Bindloose, the lawyer of the town, who has a great taste for the well-foughten fields of chivalry, and noble journies held for ladye's love : he makes wild legendary ballads, a la Sir Walter, and has been some time courting the vicar's daughter, who, I suppose, is that figure in green." I merely bowed my head, and declined entering into conversation with friend Ephraim. The knight, in the mean time, started and loosed the fortune-teller, exclaiming, "The devil!" The gipsey then stole off into the next room, and on my approaching the same apartment, he accosted Robin Hood thus ;

The laugh which followed this was totally inexplicable to me, till a Mexican Inca informed me, that Robin Hood was the curate, and his banditti his twelve pupils.

The fitful form now advanced towards me, and taking my hand he whispered,

" Come, awful friar of order grey,

Cast your Popish robes away,

You've sworn to hate the despot Pope,
And secretly, I know, do hope,
To fight of faith the goodly fight,
'Neath reformation's wings of light;

PART XII.-48.-Fourth Edit.

X.

VOL. II.

For this you visit Isis' shore,
For this you con your lectures o'er,
For this you meet the tutor's frown,
In hope at last your hopes to crown,
Then, awful friar of order grey,
Cast your Popish robes away.'

I listened to him with mute attention; and when he had finished, stood fixed in stupid astonishment—how could any one here know that I, who only arrived the night before, and was now in disguise, belonged to Oxford, and was reading for the church? My thoughts continually adverted to this subject the whole evening, while I watched the mystic figure as he glided to and fro, whispering to some, to others talking aloud, but causing each to start. I looked at him till I almost fancied there was something unearthly in his very appearance, so fearful did he appear as he flitted before me; and I dreaded his approach, lest he should bring with him a prophecy of my pluck at my approaching little-go.

I returned home to my aunt's in wonderment, went to bed in wonderment, and rose in wonderment the next morning. After breakfast, who should call on me but Ned B—, of Baliol, who soon caused my wonderment to cease, by informing me, that he too had arrived from Scotland the last evening at Mrs. S.'s, who was his cousin; that she had persuaded him to stop for the masquerade; and that, having assumed the character of a fortune-teller, he had taken his stand in the porter's lodge; and that through a small casement he could observe the dresses of the different persons as they arrived in their carriages, he being perfectly acquainted with all their families, having often visited here before; his happy knack of extempore versification of course had assisted him much. Some few, he said, had baffled him, but the paucity of the number did not prevent his carrying on the trick to his own satisfaction. He had recognized my face on my alighting, but was not quite sure till he heard the footman cry out, as I was entering the house, "At what hour should you like the chaise, Mr. H-?" This settled all his doubts, and having thus settled mine, we sallied forth together in search of more amusement in the masquerade of every-day life.

H. H.

LINES ON A SLEEPING INFANT.

O, lovely babe! how sweetly sleep
Sits on thy eyelids; and how calm
The breathing of thy coral lip;

Upon thy cheek how fresh and warm

The roses glow: whilst round thy brow Peace seems
To dwell, and hush thee in her silent dreams.

Sleep gently on; for O! no more
Wilt thou so softly and so sweetly sleep,
As now in childhood, ere the storm
Of manhood wakes thee up to weep.

L. W. W.

REVIEW.-Narrative of a PEDESTRIAN JOURNEY through RUSSIA and SIBERIAN TARTARY. By CAPTAIN JOHN DUNDAS COCHRANE, R. N.

IN one of our former articles we contended, that the bravest man is, not he who fights most, but he who writes most. If we had made this declaration thirty or forty years ago, we should consider that it had led to the many luminous works which, within that period, have appeared from the pens of our military characters, and that we were, consequently, entitled to the thanks of the nation. Taking into consideration, however, that we have been rather late in expressing our opinion, we must, we suppose, be content to forego the honour to which we should, otherwise, have been entitled. But, if we live another thirty or forty years (and we have serious intentions to make enquiries of our learned brother, the Editor of the Straggling Astrologer, if we shall do so,) and find that our declaration has led to a still further spreading, among the "little gods of thunder," of that highly contagious disease, the cacoethes scribendi, we shall then, most certainly, consider ourselves entitled to the aforesaid thanks, and make a public declaration of our claims accordingly.

The daring enterprise of Capt. Beaver; the Voyages of Captains Hall and Tuckey; and the late brilliant expeditions of Captains Franklin and Parry, have shed an unfading lustre around the history of our country. The exploits of these noble fellows (we would have said noble gentlemen, but who does not see the weakness of the expression in comparison with the former ?) will long render their names illustrious. Some will admire them for their skill in seamanship, others will admire them for their perseverance, and others for the hardships they have undergone, and the dangers they have encountered; but we admire them for their books.

Acting upon this principle, we beg to express our approbation of the work before us; which, in point of interesting detail, is even superior to the productions of the enterprising characters of whom we have just spoken. Its author, Capt. Cochrane, is evidently a man of very eccentric feelings and conduct: but eccentricity is frequently the nurse of the best and the bravest deeds. He is deeply tinctured with that enthusiasm, which leads men into dangers merely for the sake of being enabled to say that they have encountered them, without caring for any ulterior beneficial object. This is, perhaps, a feeling general with mankind, but we are of opinion, that it exists in Englishmen in a much greater degree than it is to be found in the individuals of other nations. Courage, with the inhabitants of some countries, is only exercised in self-preservation; with us it is a mere pastime, and we run into dangers, as it were, for our amusement. The lower members of society box each other for the love of knowing which is the better man-a grade or two higher, and we find men risking their necks in racing and fox-hunting-one step more, and we find them blustering and blowing each other's brains out---one, no, a hundred steps higher, and we arrive at Captain Cochrane,