broken every vow of thine order. And who could condemn when two of the same-when the distinct parts of the broken unity meet, recognise, and embrace ?" "Thou art right!" returned Zimnis, with a rapt look. "Our stars were born at the same moment, but the spirit of mine took shape ere thine had left its radiant cell. But these separated particles of the same One have longed and mourned for each other, until again they were united in the forms of Zimnis, the Isiac Priest of Phile, and Oëri, the daughter of Osor." "And they will not part again," she whispered, bending her head till her lips touched his bared shoulder. Zimnis strained her to his bosom. "Part! didst thou say? Blistered be the tongue that would so bid us! Curses wither the hand, and blight the heart of him who would tear asunder life and life, who would cut the living cords of two souls, and leave them both to death. Nay, nay, Oëri! we will not part." 66 "Necessity!" said an unknown voice from a distance. Zimnis shuddered. "A word of evil omen!" he said to himself; then speaking very rapidly, he added: "If the cruel laws of a tyrannical faith have forbidden our love-if laws, stern as they are unjust,-ha! my lips may not utter blasphemy!" he cried, suddenly interrupting himself. Say that I am one wrongly chosen; say that I love thee more than the goddess to whose altar I am bound, that thy dark eyes and the kiss of thy love are dearer to me than the smiles of Onnofre,† or the commendations of the fearful Assessors; say this, but I may not utter more." "Thou may'st not utter truth!" said the girl, eyes full upon the priest. slowly, and fixing her He turned away, troubled. So strong were the obligations of his order, that he must still make his tongue lie to his heart-he must still name virtue vice, and vice virtue. The commands of the Initiatory Trials must be obeyed; and the lesson learnt there, taught the priest that his most solemn duty was to support the temple, and its faith, and its ministers, through every monstrous contradiction and falsehood. And not only must he say, that such and such unworthiest symbols are, in fact, the living gods, when sickened at the falsehood of the public belief, his soul secretly denied even the esoteric doctrine of the supersensual divinity of the Adytum, but he must also uphold each caprice of the makers of these gods. And Zimnis must name the unnatural law of Isis-that most cruel act of man's tyranny-even to Oëri, a divine institution, and call it wisest, best. his But he could not bear the searching look which she threw upon him, as he made his hasty retraction; and he endeavoured to smile away embarrassment. "Nay," she said, half sorrowfully; "thou needst not fear my eyes, Zimnis. I know that to me, the uninitiated-as a very Gentile in the Adytum-thou must support thine order and the fame of the temple before all things. And yet surely, unto love thou mightest speak freely! The woman doth not ask for her lover's secrets-her weakness doth not enkindle her curiosity-but it is to the double self, the fellowA well-known poetical superstition of the East. Osiris in his mystic character of judge. The forty-two Assessors of Amenti. spirit, that Oëri would sue Zimnis to speak. Why should even the fane cast its shadow over our hearts, so that the perfect sunlight of mutual sympathy should not be between them? Canst thou not be the manforgetful of the priest?" Thou needst hardly ask me this," replied Zimnis, "when the priest lies thus buried in the grave of the man's forbidden passion. The hierophant of Isis, he, whose cold heart should hold nought but a chill love for the stone he names his goddess, clasps thee, a living maiden, in his arms—and thou bidst him forget his priesthood the while! Is not my very love, Oëri, proof of its obliteration? With every tie to bind me backward, every principle to restrain, and nought but thine eyes to lure me on, this love has burnt each band, and slain each other feeling. Thy lover lies at thy feet; thy head rests upon his heart; the white of his garments is stained with the blood of his slaughtered vows; and thou bidst him forget the altar! Surely, surely, its shadow hath not so fallen on the sun of his passion, as to dim its light! Oëri, thou believest that I love thee as maiden should be loved ?-ardently as man can love?" The girl was subdued before this fierce outburst. She turned aside her head, and said in a low voice: "I believe it." Hush!-the leaves rustle-the bushes part their boughs-a breath waves on the air. What step is that which glides so stealthily through the flowery copse? The moonlight showed nothing! "That echo of our fancy checked my blood;" Oëri then said, drawing a deep breath. "It calmed mine;" replied her lover, laying her hand upon his heart. It beat full and tranquil, for his energies had been aroused, and had stilled its tumult with a stronger necessity. And yet he had seen, unknown to Oeri, the shadow of a priest's white-shrouded figure retreating through the dark trees; and he knew that they were discovered, betrayed, and lost. "The boat!" he cried, suddenly. "We may not delay. Let me place thee, at the least, in safety! Thou art lost if thou remainest here. Thy sex may not tread these holy shores, and thou hast hid within them, even during the awful ceremony. Come! swift be thy steps! I will bear thee across. I know the shoals and rocks,-I can guide thee well. Hasten, Oëri! Every moment is precious:-every instant is of more value than the tribute of the south. Thou must not delay. Come!come swiftly, my beloved!" What "What sudden transport is this?" said the girl, wonderingly. "Thou didst promise me a safe and secret harbour until thou, thyself, couldst fly with me. Wouldst thou now abandon me, and place me on yonder lonely shore, with the Nile's blue waters surging between? strange phantasy possesses thee? Thy glances, too, are wild, and almost terrify me as I look." But she did not draw from his side; she rather pressed more closely, as if endeavouring to sooth him with her sweet love. "There is danger here," he said, slowly, turning very pale, while he gently sought to lead her to the shore. "For thee?-or is it for me? I fear not!" and her voice was calm, with an accent of pride. "Thou must fly," returned Zimnis evading the question, and pointing to where a small and light byblus bark lay moored close to the rocks. "And leave thee to peril? Nay, Zimnis! not even thy influence can obtain that! Together we will live, together die. I quit not thy side." "Both need not suffer where one victim would suffice," the priest cried in a tone of anguish. "I leave thee, and leave thee to danger?" cried Oëri. "Dearest !best beloved!-little hast thou read the heart of her thou hast wooed! In death, as in life, Oëri stands by thy side, and the mighty Gom himself should not force her away! Nay, nay, thou needst not speak!" she added still more rapidly, arresting his words. "I must be obeyed ;— ay, Zimnis, even obeyed, and by thee! I will yield to thee where the man's strength can work better than mine own. But when my choice lies between cowardice in submission, or faithfulness in opposition, I, the woman, will dare bid thee, the priest and the philosopher, to bow to my will. To part from thee, and thus,-oh! it would stain the cincture of my nobleness! I should stand in the morning's dawn a dishonoured thing-a very worm among the bright band of my country's daughters!" She drew herself up proudly, and shook back her beautiful tresses with an impatient air, as if the mere thought of dishonour had a blight on its wings. "Thou art brave and noble," cried Zimnis still turned towards the shore ; "but thou art fragile. Thou art a woman, and they with whom thou hast to combat are men stronger than the Eight Demigods + of old. Flight is not cowardice, sweet love, it is but the virtue of prudence. Come, come!-oh! we are tampering with death!" he added in agony. "Once again I tell thee that I leave not this island alone. Thou didst promise me that we should flee, and flee together. Under the burning sun of the Cushite,‡ or with the wandering sons of Arabah§, our home is to be made. Why not seize this present instant? I will fly with thee. Circled by thine arm, what danger can befall me? And if it come, it comes to both at once; then danger will be life. Wilt thou fly with me? -then I go!" Moved by a sudden impulse they both made a few steps forward. A moment more, they had gained the light boat, and been safe. "Who talks of flight?" said a rough, harsh voice, and a high priest dressed in the robes of sacrifice-the leopard-skin mantle and embroidered apron-came near and laid his hand heavily on the shoulder of Zimnis. "Semmuthis?" exclaimed Zimnis, recoiling in horror. Oëri veiled her face. She was trembling strongly; and it was only with difficulty that she maintained any show of composure, when the hierophant, by force, loosened her hands from the arm of Zimnis, and kept her, as for safety, pressed close to his own heart. 66 Thy denouncer and thy gaoler, traitor!" cried Semmuthis, in a loud tone. "Here, my sons, bind him fast, and lead him to the cell which has been prepared for him. Heed not his mad ravings, and secure his arms that they strike only the lifeless air. Fool!" he added bitterly, in an undertone to Zimnis; "didst thou believe that my eyes were closed in primeval darkness, so that I should not see thine iniquity? I have marked thee!" he continued, drawing his breath hard through his set teeth. "I have watched thee-I have seen thee, throughout, fall by gradual steps †The first kings of respectability. § Arabia. The Egyptian Hercules. into the pit of thy ruin! Is Isis, our great mother, a deity to be jeered at like the broken toy of a babe? Thou, thyself, hast sealed thy destruction! For thy pale maiden," and here he laughed meaningly," ask yon young moon when in his manhood's fulness, where hath fled the beauty which he shone on this night, if, Zimnis-list thee-if she hangs not on this arm-my secret bride?" All this was said in a low undertone, so that the attendant priests who had crowded round, and were now binding him with strong cords, should not hear. "And dost thou not fear my voice?" exclaimed the young priest, impetuously; "dost thou not fear that I, too, in turn denounce thee, and calling on the nation to witness the foul scene "Bind his lips, they utter blasphemy," said Semmuthis, quietly. The mouth of Zimnis streamed with blood, cut with the sharp edge of the iron gag. "And keep thou still, shy bird," continued the hierophant, addressing the vainly struggling Oëri; "and yet, I love to feel thy young form press heavier and heavier still upon my breast, as thou strivest to escape. Thy breath, too, coming in its thick sobs, it brings me visions of the hour when it will wave over my lips in loving sighs. Struggle-still strive-thou art mine-mine own!" "Courage, Zimnis," exclaimed Oëri, aloud, "thou shalt even yet be saved! Oëri promises thee liberty, and she shall not fail her vow.' "Thou canst buy his salvation," whispered Semmuthis. "Lay thy head upon my bosom-kiss my lips-promise to be mine-and yon boy is safe." I KNOW THOU ART NOT CHANGED TO ME. BY J. E. CARPENTER, ESQ. I KNOW thou art not changed to me, I boast a treasure still in thee, And all the shafts of fate defy! Now friends prove false, if friends they be, Yet thou, of all, had least to bind, I knew not then the worth of thine! Their dazzling splendour ne'er could own. The hope renew'd again by thee; Thou star, amid my darkest night That only art not changed to me! A GRAYBEARD'S GOSSIP ABOUT HIS LITERARY ACQUAINTANCE. No. IV. Forsan et hæc olim meminisse juvabit. Thomas Hill's Cottage at Sydenham-Names of his most frequent GuestsProposed Reminiscences of the Deceased, and passing Allusions to the Survivors-Notice of Hill-Sale of his scarce Books-His insatiable Curiosity— Is ridiculed on the Stage as Paul Pry, and in Hook's Novel of "Gilbert Gurney" as Mr. Hull-Anecdote of Captain Morris and Mr. D'Israeli, sen. -Mystery of Hill's Age-His Travels-His Death. IN my last paper, I briefly described the London residence of Thomas Hill, the Mæcenas of Queenhithe, where I first encountered George Colman the Younger. His large literary parties were always given at his Sydenham Tusculum, which, though close to the road-side, and making no pretensions to be "a cottage of gentility," was roomy and comfortable enough within, spite of its low-pitched thick-beamed ceilings, and the varieties of level with which the builder had pleasantly diversified his floors. The garden at the back, much more useful than ornamental, afforded an agreeable ambulatory for his guests, when they did not fall into the pond in their anxiety to gather currants; an accident not always escaped. Pleasant and never to be forgotten were the many days that I passed beneath that hospitable roof, with associates whose varied talents and invariable hilarity might have justified us in despising the triteness of the quotation, when we compared our convivial symposia with the noctes cœnæque Deum. O qui amplexus et gaudia quanta fuerunt! when, on the summer afternoons, we mounted the little grassy ascent that overlooked the road, and joyfully hailed each new guest as he arrived, well aware that he brought with him an accession of merriment for the jovial dinner, and fresh facetiousness for the wit-winged night! Let it not be thought that I exaggerate the quality of the boon companions whom our Amphitryon delighted to assemble. If we had no philosophers who could make the world wiser, we had many a wit and wag who well knew how to make it merrier. Among those most frequently encountered at these jollifications, were Campbell, the poet, then occupying a cottage in the village, and by no means the least hilarious of the party; Mathews, and sometimes his friend and brother comedian, Liston; Theodore Hook; Edward Dubois, at that time editor and main support of the Monthly Mirror; Leigh Hunt and his brother John; James and Horace Smith; John Taylor, the editor of the Sun newspaper; Horace Twiss; Baron Field; the present Sir George Rose; John Barnes, who subsequently became editor for many years of the Times newspaper; and a few others whom I need not specify, although some of them were "fellows of infinite jest and humour," since they never emerged from the ranks of the illustrious obscure. Cumberland, in his memoirs, referring to the many delightful literary parties he had enjoyed at the house of his friend, Dilly, the bookseller, has the following passage: |