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The portrait was now known for the lovely Galiana's, and every tongue exclaimed that Abenamar had a brave opponent. The queen was surprised at the beauty of the picture, and at the painter's skill; and turning to Galiana, exclaimed, "this conquest of your's is entirely new to us; the object of your choice however I see is no way inferior to Abenamar;" to which Galiana made no reply. The king promised himself great delight, and observed it was impossible not to see shortly deeds worthy of note, since the challenger and the knight, who contended for the prize, were both equally brave, and each would exert himself in defending the portrait of his lady.

Sarracino, having rode round the square, left the car on one side, and advancing to the challenger, "Sir knight," said he, " you are not unacquainted with the motive of my arrival; I am ready to try the fate of three lances, and understand to a certainty that my lady is to enjoy the portrait of your's, and the golden chain of a thousand doubloons; but if fortune should prove my foe, with the portrait I consent to forfeit this scarf, worked by the lovely hands of my lady herself; its value is at least equal to the chain: and indeed so it was, being entirely covered with pearls, and precious stones.

Sarracino, relying on his own ability, chose to risk the scarf, not considering the skill of his antagonist, who without hesitation replied, he was ready to make the trial, and would forfeit the portrait of his lady and the chain if it was his fortune to lose them, and saying this, he chose a horse from eight that were caparisoned for the play, and selecting a proper lance, made several evolutions round the square, so gracefully, that the king and all the spectators remarked the gallantry of his deportment. Making the horse give a high vault

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into the air, he finished his career, and parting like an arrow from a bow, he raised aloft his arm, and arriving at the ring touched the upper part of it with his lance, and failed very little of carrying it away. The attempt therefore miscarried, as it was necessary to file the lance through the ring to win

the contest.

Abenamar now stopped to see in what manner Sarracino would acquit himself; he was in no little confusion in the outset, but stretching forth his arm, he adroitly filed the lance through the ring, and bore it off with him. Shouts and acclamations ensued, and thousands of voices exclaimed that Abenamar had lost the portrait and the chain: fortune favours Sarracino, and gives him the victory.

Sarracino was overjoyed, and considered himself already in possession of the prizes, making his immediate claim, and alleging that he had fairly won them. Muza, who was the challenger's umpire, informed him that there was still two lances to run, according to the conditions of the agreement. Sarracino's umpire, an Azarque Cavalier, maintained the contrary; the matter was therefore referred to the judges, who, commanding silence, read the condition of the challenge, which in reality was for three lances, and not for a single one. Sarricino was greatly enraged to find the prize that the public voice had given him was refused, and Abenamar was equally offended with the spectators and himself. Galiana's countenance was illumined with joy, but Fatima's was filled with chagrin, though she had sufficient command over her feelings to conceal it.

"It goes but ill with our cavalier, friend Fatima," exclaims Xarifa, "his affairs are in a very indifferent situation, and if they continue so much longer, I should not be very willing to purchase his gains." "I think very little of the past," replied Fatima,

• if his affairs are indifferent now, they will prosper better hereafter, and 'tis the end only that we are to attend to." "True, but in my opinion,' cried Xarifa,

good end."

a good beginning always make a

"That, I deny," returned Fatima," and I make no doubt but you will also; I reason from this simile :-You must have both heard and seen the gallant at the commencement of a new amour, endeavour to serve his lady with the utmost attention, giving her daily fetes and serenades, and almost idolizing her, he makes her a thousand promises of eternal constancy; that the sun shall sooner cease to gives its light, that his hand shall strike the moon from the heavens, or remove mountains, before he will forget her, and a thousand more such impossibilities;-that all his intentions are honourable, and that he designs to marry her. At length the poor innocent is deceived, and falls a prey to his

desires."

"Fine beginnings indeed," cried Xarifa!"Well, what ensues? He has enjoyed the lady, and the first day that some cavalier passing through the street happens to bow to her, my gentleman cries out that he is her gallant, and that the maiden who forfeited her honour to him, would in like manner stoop to others, forgetting his own false oaths that first betrayed the unhappy fair one. but observe their treachery, Xarifa, if a ray of the sun even shines in at the window, they leave the fond believing woman a laughing stock, disho noured and forgotten; a fine end this after so fair a beginning! you cannot call it a good one?"

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“No, certainly!” replied Xarifa, “ and I confess you have represented nothing but truth; I know at this very time several young ladies of great beauty, but small fortune, who have been deceived Kka

in this manner by gentlemen, and because they were poor, left to misery and disgrace. Young ladies of our age should not be over-confident in their own judgment, and rather leave these matters to the better experience of their parents. But if you please, we will now cast a look towards the contending cavaliers."

Abenamar had, by this time, chosen another horse and lance; and vexed at his past failure, he spurred him briskly, and holding his lance steadily in his hand, quicker than thought filed it through the ring, and bore it away. The acclamations

were now on his side.

Sarracino gallantly made his second attempt, and proceeded with great caution, but unfortunately he struck the side of the ring only. "There is yet another lance to run," cried Abenamar, "let us therefore, if you please, sir knight, finish our contest immediately." Seizing a lance, therefore, Abenamar galloped towards the ring, and again dexterously bore it away.

Galiana was now highly disconcerted, seeing the little prospect her beloved Sarracino had of success, who in his last career touched the top of the ring only with the point of his lance, and bore it

not away.

Having alighted from his horse, the judges called Sarricano and pronounced that he had lost the portrait of his lady and the rich scarf. Sarracino replied, "if he had lost in sport, in manly combat he knew how to conquer." Abenamar, highly piqued for the motives we have already expressed, replied, "that if he had any thought of recovering a part of his losses in manly combat, he should be glad to know it, as he was ready to do him all the justice he wished." The judges and the umpires now interfered, and pacified the cavaliers,

not suffering so unreasonable a debate to proceed any further. Sarracino, therefore, withdrew from the square with the gentlemen of his train, and Abenamar commanded the rich spoils to be laid at the foot of Fatima's portrait, whose joy for the victory was extremely great, especially when she beheld the trophies of the challenger's dexterity, though she endeavoured as much as possible to prevent her satisfaction from appearing, not chusing that Abenamar should imagine himself entirely secure of her affection, wherein she did not in the least imitate other ladies of the court, whose whole delight was the pleasure of public admiration.

To the Editors of the Monthly Visitor.

GENTLEMEN,

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OU have, with much candour, interested your readers in behalf of a poet who has lately retired to the lonely grave, but whose works will, like those of Ramsay, live till Scotland is no more. Thus much do I say with sincerity, although I will, ere long, take a wider survey of Burns' merits and demerits as a poet. I may just observe, that my strictures have not escaped reprehension-but it is the reprehension of a friend, and being such, it is for friendship's sake entitled to my protection, and to your's for its ingenuity. You have indeed done ample justice to the tuneful Burns: there is another of Scotia's sons that calls for your admiration, your mead of praise-Ramsay-and there is another, an English bard, that seems with joy to court your smiles of welcome, Bloomfield, than whom a sweeter muse was never heard. I may be an enthusiast! and methink I was, when in my seventeenth year I composed these observations, without being intimately acquainted with the Scottish dialectI submit them to your decision, and hope that deci sion will be favourable.

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