Frederick and Flora, a Romance of To-day,-Cantos 2d and 3d, 641 Stanzas to a Lady, by D. L. R.,.......... .... .... .... .... 687 .... The Poisoned Lip,... - . A Tragedy by the celebrated Shakspear, Sonnet, by R. Calder Campbell, . . . The victim of lost reputation, Sonnet, by R. Calder Campbell,.. .... To Mary, with Ackermann's "Forget-me-Not," by R. C. C.... .... .... The Red Man of Radicofani-a Tale of the Squeeze Room,.... 735 An attempt to express in numbers some of the beauties of the 137th Psalm, . 748 THE BLACKSMITH OF LEIGE. BY MISS EMMA ROBERTS. "Those that feare a matter commonly provide well for it, and have oftener good successe than they that proceede with a careless contempt, unlesse God be fully resolved to strike the stroke against whom mans wisedome cannot prevaile. Which point is sufficiently proved by the example of these Liegeois, who had been excommunicated the space of five yeares for their varience with their Bishop, whereof notwithstanding they made no account, but continued still in their folly and naugh tiness, moved thereunto only through wealth and pride. Wherefore King Lewis was wont to say, that when pride rideth before, shame and dammage follow after." PHILIP DE COMINES. "Never trust me Madam" cried Jacquetta to her young mistress "but here is the worshipful burgo-master Wilkin de Metz in his dress of state with two varlets in flaming liveries before him, knocking at the great gate as though he would beat it down." "Well" returned Linda, and what is that to me? doubtless he is come to make cheer with my kinsman-brother, I suppose I must call him, since my poor mother thought fit to invest him with authority over me. And seeing her attendant inclined to prolong the conversation the fraulein motioned her away, continuing to ply her needle with unconscious industry while she pondered over her present situation and future prospects. Linda Wilmsfeldt was the daughter of a poor knight of Brabant, and her mother being reduced to poverty at his decease had accepted the hand of a rich burgess of Leige; both were now in the grave, and the high spirited girl proud of her noble descent and chafing over her scanty means, was left dependant upon the son of her mother's second husband, who though not destitute of good qualities was like the generality of his fellow citizens tyrannical, conceited and unpolished. Linda entertained a secret dread that her guardian would attempt to usurp an undue controul over her, and she justly imagined that the gay attire of Wilkin de Metz had not been assumed without a purpose; she was therefore more displeased than surprized when she received a summons to attend her brother in the hall. Mustering all her courage, she descended to the apartment where the two worthies were sitting in council together, and the sun's rays streaming in through an open pane in the upper part of the window, catching the rich gold chains with which her visitor had bedecked himself; her eyes were dazzled by the refulgence of these costly ornaments. It soon appeared that the modest burgess trusted entirely to these gauds and to his velvet gown furred with martens to advance his suit: for he preserved a solemn silence, and Franz Klingshor the host, was obliged after a few preliminary hemş to open the negociation, which had for its object a point of no less importance than the disposal of the fair hand of Linda Wilmsfeldt. The lady according to the approved fashion of gentle dames declined the offer modestly but firmly, the lover uttered a deep sigh which might indeed have been mistaken for a groan, but seemed no whit discomfited, but Franz of a less imperturbable temperament burst forth into a torrent of invective, and after divers reproaches on the score of his ward's obligations to his bounty, vaunted the extent of his own authority and threatened to compel her to accept the offer of his friend. All the chivalric spirit of Linda's martial ancestors flashed out upon this insolent menace. Colouring crimson with indignation, she exclaimed, "Sunk and low as are my fortunes, know thou base slave of mammon that I despise thy idol, gold, and when next you take upon yourself to propose a match for the daughter of a noble line, choose some fitting suitor; for I tell you Sir, that if you cannot find a man of gentle birth within your city, I will send to the Knight Count Lothaire de Lichtervelden who now invests your gates; my jeopardy will excuse the indelicacy of the prayer, and should he reject my suit, which he doubtless will, since I am abased by my connection with a trader, rather than wed one of the upstart burghers of this vile city, I will ally myself to the lowest and the meanest, nay to the Blacksmith who works beneath yon wall." Franz was dumb during this speech merely from inability to find words strong enough to express his rage; recovering himself just as Linda was sweeping out of the room in triumph, he seized her by the hand and making a strong effort to repress his wrath desired her to seek her chamber and remain a prisoner there until she was prepared to obey commands which he possessed the power to enforce. Gladly flying from the spot the fair orphan rushed up to her dormitory but felt a little abashed when reflecting upon the loss of all her self command and the somewhat needless display of indignation which had provoked her guardian to draw a heavy bolt across her door, and to detain her in strict confinement. Her rash speech had made a deep impression upon Franz, he was most bitterly incensed by her allusion to the Count de Lichtervelden, who was the scourge and terror of the inhabitants of Leige, although at this time puffed up with self-confidence they despised his threat of reducing the city, and treated his approaches with contempt. It was indeed scarcely possible for a place so strong and well fortified to entertain any apprehension from the slender force which the Burgundian Knight could bring against it, but while the Liegois felt perfectly secure of the impracticability of his efforts, they would have given half their city could they by that means have got him into their power and have been enabled to wreak |