entrance, engrailed with clustering althæas, jessamines, honeysuckles, roses, pomegranates, and other flowering shrubs, all of which were in full bloom and fragrance.

Within this odorous and shady bower, the Queen, who had been observed to bestow an unusual attention that morning upon her toilet, was seated, holding a large feather fan, and surrounded by several maids of honor, all standing. Behind them, within the pavilion, were seen other female attendants employed in caul work; lutes and citharas, with cards and a richly enamell'd chess board were lying upon a marble table by their side.

Upon approaching the august figure of royalty thus picturesquely enthroned, the Earl fell upon his knees, an act of homage which her Majesty always exacted, even from her ministers in their audiences of business; and Shakspeare, halting at some little distance, immediately imitated his example.

Essex found a no less gracious reception than he had experienced in the morning, for the remembrance of his flattery had not yet passed away, and their conference had lasted for some time when the Queen, looking towards Shakspeare, enquired whether his squire, who seemed but young in years, had left his locks in the hands of the Irish rebels, that he wore so bald a brow. 'I much fear me that I am presump tuous and overbold,' said the Earl after having mentioned the name and object of his attendant. I who am myself but a petitioner for mercy and forgiveness, in thus becoming a suitor for others; but since your majesty's condescension has so soon forgotten my offences, I may perhaps stand better excused now than at another time, for forgetting myself.'

So, this is the dramatic chro

nicler,' said the queen, who had felt much interest in his historical plays; let him approach, we would have speech of him; and you, my lord, may avail of yourself yonder seat, for after so long and so speedy a journey, you may well need a little rest,'

Bowing as he accepted the permission thus given to him, Essex beckoned to the poet, who approached, and concluding that he had been invited to imitate his patron, seated himself upon a low garden stool beside the earl, and immediately opposite to the Queen.

So unusually gracious was the present mood of Elizabeth, that she smiled at a mistake which at another moment might have excited her indignation, and waved her hand to her attendants as a signal that they might retire into the pavilion, a notice which they instantly obeyed. Essex, catching the expression of the Queen's face with the alacrity of a courtier, smiled also; while Shakspeare, perfectly unconscious that he had committed any violation of court etiquette, read his petition with a respectful propriety, that might well atone for his little oversight.

Look you, Master Playwright,' graciously exclaimed her majesty, when he had concluded; your writings like us well, but touching this licence for playing more frequently, here is our head Bearward who has been lately complaining to us most piteously that you have become his worst enemy, for that when the flag is flying at your theatre of the Globe, his garden is so deserted by the people, that his best bear will scarcely pay the baiting. How say you to this?' The Bijou.

(To be continued.)

THE DWARF'S BANQUET.

A Norwegian Tale.

THERE lived in Norway, not far from the city of Drontheim, a very powerful man, who was blessed with all the goods of fortune. A part of the surrounding country was his property; numerous herds fed on his pastures, and a great retinue and a crowd of servants adorned his mansion.

He had an only daughter, called Aslog, the fame of whose beauty spread far and wide. The greatest men of the country sought her, but all were alike unsuccessful in their suit, and he who had come full of confidence and joy, rode away home silent and melancholy. Her father, who thought his daughter delayed her choice only to select, forbore to interfere, and exulted in her prudence. But when, at length, the richest and noblest had tried their fortune with as little success as the rest, he grew angry, and called his daughter, and said to her, 'Hitherto I have left you to your free choice, but since I see that you reject all without any distinction, and the very best of your suitors seem not good enough for you, I will keep measures no longer with you. What! shall my family be extinct, and my vast inheritance pass away into the hands of strangers! I will break your stubborn spirit. I give you now till the festival of the great Winter-night; make your choice by that time, or prepare to accept him whom I shall fix on.'

Aslog loved a youth called Orm, handsome as he was brave and noble. She loved him with her whole soul, and she would sooner die than bestow her hand on another. But Orm was poor, and poverty compelled him to serve in the mansion of her father. Aslog's partiality for him was kept a secret; for her father's pride of power and wealth was such, that he never would have

given his consent to a union with so humble a man.

When Aslog saw the darkness of his countenance, and heard his angry words, she turned pale as death, for she knew his temper, and doubted not that he would put his treats into execution. Without uttering a word in reply, she retired to her silent chamber, and thought deeply, but in vain, how to avert the dark storm that hung over her. The great festival approached nearer and nearer, and her anguish increased every day.

At last the lovers resolved on flight. I know,' says Orm, a secure place where we may remain undiscovered, until we find an opportunity of quitting the country.'

At night, when all were asleep, Orm led the trembling Aslog over the snow and ice-fields, away to the mountains. The moon and the stars sparkling still brighter in the cold winter's night, lighted them on their way. They had under their arms a few articles of dress and some skins of animals, which were all they could carry. They ascended the mountains the whole night long, till they reached a lonely spot inclosed with lofty rocks. Here Orm conducted the weary Aslog into a cave, the low and narrow entrance to which was hardly perceptible, but it soon enlarged to a great hall, reaching deep into the mountain.— He kindled a fire, and they now, reposing on their skins, sat in the deepest solitude far away from all the world.

Orm was the first who had discovered this cave, which is shown tó this very day, and as no one knew any thing of it, they were safe from the pursuit of Aslog's father. They passed the whole winter in this retirement. Orm used to go a hunting, and Aslog stayed at home in the cave, minded the fire, and prepared the necessary food. Frequently did

she mount the points of the rocks, but her eyes wandered as far as they could reach only over glittering snow-fields.

The spring now came on-the woods were green-the meadows put on their various colours, and Aslog could but rarely and with circumspection, venture to leave the

cave.

One evening Orm came in with the intelligence that he had recognized her father's servants in the distance, and that he could hardly have been unobserved by them, whose eyes were as good as his own. They will surround this place,' continued he, and never rest till they have found us; we must quit our retreat then without a moment's delay.'

They accordingly descended on the other side of the mountain, and reached the strand, where they fortunately found a boat. Orm shoved off, and the boat drove into the open sea. They had escaped their pursuers, but they were now exposed to dangers of another kind: whither should they turn themselves? They could not venture to land, for Aslog's father was lord of the whole coast, and they would infallibly fall into his hands. Nothing then remained for them but to commit their bark to the wind and waves. They drove along the entire night. At break of day the coast had disappeared, and they saw nothing but the sky above, the sea beneath, and the waves that rose and fell. They had not brought one morsel of food with them, and thirst and hunger began now to torment them. Three days did they toss about in this state of misery, and Aslog, faint and exhausted, saw nothing but certain death before her.

At length, on the evening of the third day, they discovered an island of tolerable magnitude, and sur

rounded by a number of smalle ones.

Orm immediately steered for it, but just as he came near it there suddenly rose a violent wind, and the sea rolled every moment higher and higher against him. He turned about with a view of approaching it on another side, but with no better success; his vessel, as oft as it approached the island, was driven back as if by an invisible power.— Lord God!' cried he, and blessed himself, and looked on poor Aslog, who seemed to be dying of weakness before his eyes. But scarcely had the exclamation passed his lips, when the storm ceased, the waves subsided, and the vessel came to the shore, without meeting with any hindrance. Orm jumped out on the beach; some muscles that he found on the strand strengthened and revived the exhausted Aslog, so that she was soon able to leave the boat.

The island was overgrown with low dwarf shrubs, and seemed to be uninhabited; but when they had gotten about to the middle of it, they discovered a house reaching but a little above the ground, and appearing to be half under the surface of the earth.

In the hope of meeting human beings and assistance, the wanderers approached it. They listened if they could hear any noise, but the most perfect silence reigned there. Orm at length opened the door, and with his companion walked in; but what was their surprise, to discover every thing regulated and arranged as if for inhabitants, yet not a single living creature visible. The fire was burning on the hearth, in the middle of the room, and a kettle with fish hung on it apparently only waiting for some one to take it up and eat it. The beds were made, and ready to receive their wearied tenants. Orm and Aslog stood for

some time dubious, and looked on with a certain degree of awe, but at last, overcome by hunger, they took up the food and ate. When they had satisfied their appetites, and still in the last beams of the setting sun, which now streamed over the island far and wide, discovered no human being, they gave way to weariness, and laid themselves in the beds to which they had been so long strangers.

They had expected to be awakened in the night by the owners of the house on their return home, but their expectation was not fulfilled; they slept undisturbed till the morning sun shone in upon them. No one appeared on any of the following days, and it seemed as if some invisible power had made ready the house for their reception. They spent the whole summer in perfect happiness-they were, to be sure, solitary, yet they did not miss mankind. The wild birds eggs, and the fish they caught, yielded them provisions in abundance.

When the autumn came, Aslog brought forth a son. In the midst of their joy at his appearance, they were surprised by a wonderful apparition. The door opened on a sudden, and an old woman stepped in.

She had on her a handsome blue dress; there was something proud, but at the same time something strange and surprising in her appearance.

Do not be afraid,' said she,' at my unexpected appearance-I am the owner of this house, and I thank you for the clean and neat state in which you have kept it, and for the good order in which I find every thing with you. I would willingly have come sooner, but I did not possess the power till this little heatheu (pointing to the new-born babe was come to the light. Now I have free access. Only fetch no priest

from the main land to christen it, or I must depart again. If you will in this matter comply with my wishes, yon may not only continue to live here, but all the good that ever you can wish for I will do you. Whatever you take in hand shall prosper; good luck shall follow you whereever you go. But break this condition, and depend upon it that misfortune after misfortune will come on you, and even on this child will I avenge myself. If you want any thing, or are in danger, you have only to pronounce my name three times, and I will appear and lend you assistance. I am of the race of the old Giants, and my name is Guru. But beware of uttering in my presence the name of him whom no giant may hear of, and never venture to make the sign of the cross, or to cut it on beam or board in the house. You may dwell in this house the whole year long, only be so good as to give it up to me on Yule evening, when the sun is at the lowest, as then we celebrate our great festival, and then only are we permitted to be merry, At least, if you should not be willing to go out of the house, keep yourselves up in the loft as quiet as possible, the whole day long, and as you value your lives, do not look down into the room until midnight is past.— After that you may take possession of every thing again.'

When the old woman had thus spoken, she vanished, and Aslog and Orm, now at ease respecting their situation, lived without any disturbance, contented and happy. Orm never made a cast of his net without getting a plentiful draught; he never shot an arrow from his bow that it was not sure to bit; in short, whatever they took in hand, were it ever so trifling, evidently prospered.

(To be continued.)

WINGS WEEL CLIPPIT.

About half a century ago, Sir John Stewart, of Grandtully, was shewing his grounds to a neighbour laird, Mr. Robertson, of Tullibelton. After surveying the greater part of the property, they came to a large farm in a remarkably high state of cultivation. Says Sir John, 'This is one of the best farms on my estate, and it is in the possession of one Duncan Stevenson, an Aberdeen'sman, and none of the least acute of that skeely country, if all tales be true. You see his handywark.— Now, Tullibelton, as I have heard, Duncan is a great original; if we meet him, and he asks us to dinner, we will go.'

Forthwith appears the honest Aberdonian, and receiving his landlord with all due respect, shews him and his companion over the whole farm,-pointing out the various improvements he had made. At last, says Duncan, Sir John, wull ye dee me the honour o' coming and taking yer denner wi' me?' (No notice taken of Tullibelton.)

'With all my heart, Mr. Stevenson,' quoth Sir John.

'Dinna maister me, sir,' said the straight forward Duncan; are owre mony maisters.'

'Well, gudeman.'

there

There are few gude men, an' please you, Sir John. Ca' me plain Duncan,-I want nae ither name.'

'Plain enough, an' be d-d t'ye, you surly tyke, muttered Tullibel

ton.

'Well, honest Duncan, my friend, we'll come over at three o'clock; I suppose that is about your hour?'

Just preceesly, sir,' quoth the strange mortal, and anon departed. Now, Tullibelton, you see what an uncouth fish of a tenant I have got; but he is an oddity, and we will have some rich sport with him. I'll warrant you, he'll give us a capital dinner, and I should not be

surprised if we should have a bottle of good port with it, and plenty of excellent Ferintosh after.'

At the hour appointed, the haronet and Tullibelton repaired to Duncan's domicile. There he was ready to receive them-Sir John with the most marked respect, but the other with obvious coolness-nay, even ill-dissembled reluctance. They were regaled with a most substantial dinner; and, as Sir John had foreseen, a bottle of most excellent black-strap was produced.

In due time, Duncan retired thro' a door at the end of the room, for the purpose of procuring the implements and ingredients requisite for concocting a glorious bowl of whiskey punch. His guests thought he had gone to another part of the house, ignorant that the door opened into a small closet where Duncan stowed his drinkables; and where, of course, he could hear every word that passed. Hinc illæ lachrymæ !

'Well, Tully,' said Sir John, what d'ye think of Duncan,-is he not a fine fellow?'

'Faith, Sir John,' said Tullibelton who was a complete scrub, 'you let your tenants sit far too snug under you; if I was you, I would clip their wings a little.'

This ungrateful speech did not escape the wakeful ears of the wily Aberdeen's-man. In a few minutes he makes his appearance with the Bacchanalian materials, and having made a bowl of the precious liquid, he fills up the glasses, and drinking with much reverence his landlord's health, he proceeded in the following style:

Sir John Stewart o' Grandtully, ye've deen me great honour by coming and taking your denner wi' me, and I'm meikle obliged to you for't. But fa's this ye've brocht wi' ye? I dinna ask him, I trow!'

6

Good God, Duncan,' said the astonished Sir John, do you not