nita eastward of Leadenhall; the very refreshing his eyes with a bit of any
class of the population, too, which is thing green.
the most helpless in its own behalf, Does

any
body suppose

that the love and which most of all requires the ex- of nature is not an instinct with the tension of those blessings which for imprisoned poor of our great cities, themselves they have neither the ad. and of our great city of cities in par. dress, skill, or energy to obtain. It ticular? Go through a crowded neighwould be found, we do not in the least bourhood, crammed from the cellar to doubt, that the mortality of the metro- the attic with the children of toil, and polis is exactly in the inverse ratio of look up at their windows; see the at. proximity and access to public parks tempt the poor people make to cherish and open spaces; and this, for all we the belief in a world of verdure and know to the contrary, may have already freshness of trees, and hills, and vales, been demonstrated by Mr Farr, or and flowers, and birds—the little green some other equally high authority in box of cherished mignionette, the vital statistics.

broken tea-pot with a bunch of primWhether or not, however, the ne- rose or of cowslip in it, the geranium cessity of public walks when we say in an old cracked jug ; and the poor public, we mean public, not gentility- artisan himself, debarred as he is mongering places, but spaces thrown “ The common air, and common use open freely and altogether to the lowest Of his own limbs,' class of our labouring and manufactu. nurturing, with almost paternal affecring population, who need all the ra- tion, his two or three little shrubs or tional recreation we can afford them- flowers—who will have the impudence is but too apparent. Genteel people to deny the capacity of this man for are abundantly provided for already: enjoying that of which his condition they can afford to go down the Thames in life almost precludes the possibility and up the Thames—to the suburbs, of enjoyment ? the parks, the country. Money, and Let'us hope that the Commissioners their legs, will carry them whither of Metropolitan Improvements will bethey will ; but with the poor artisan stir themselves, and that in the east or labouring man it is not so. He end of London—in Southwark and in cannot afford time or means to set out Lambeth—something may be done in with his wife and children on a Sun- behalf of the creditable, industrious, day voyage of discovery—and to find and well-conducted manufacturing the shades of night, perhaps, falling and labouring population of the vast around him just as he has succeeded in metropolis of this vast empire.

PIETRO D'ABANO.

A TALE OF ENCHANTMENT.

FROM THE GERMAN OF TIECK.

Chap. 1.

THE FUNERAL. The red rays of the setting sun were mentations of the parents flowed forth streaming upon the towers and houses afresh_the dirge of death broke out of Padua, when a young foreigner, into more uncontrollable strains-and who had just entered that city, found all seemed to share the burden of an his attention attracted, and himself almost insupportable sorrow. The hurried forward, by a bustling con. foreigner thought he had never beheld course of people who were pushing any thing so beautiful as the corpse eagerly along. He asked a young before him, which so wofully remind. maiden, who was rapidly passing by

ed him of the transitoriness of human him, what it was that had stirred up life, with all its charms. such an unwonted commotion. " Are By this time the funeral bells were you not aware," answered she, “ that pealing, and the bearers were about to the funeral of the fair Crescentia, the lift the coffin, in order to convey it to young daughter of the house of Podes. its vaulted tomb in the great church, ta, takes place this evening ? Every when suddenly the mourners were disone is anxious to look for the last time turbed and shocked by a loud noise of upon the face of her who was accounted riotous rejoicing, and shouts of the the loveliest damsel in all Padua. Her most obstreperous mirth. All looked parents are inconsolable.”

around them with indignation, to disThe maiden could say no more, for cover the cause of this ill-timed mer. by this time the pressure of the crowd riment, when there came thronging had carried her to a considerable dis. forth, out of anotherstreet, a procession tance.

of young people, singing and huzzaing The foreigner, having turned the almost without intermission. They corner of a gloomy palace, and entered turned out to be the students of the the main street, now heard the funeral University, who were carrying on their dirge, and encountered the glare of shoulders an elderly man, who sate on the pale red torches; and, approaching his chair like a king on his throne, nearer, he beheld a scaffold covered clothed in a purple mantle, his head with black cloth. On this lofty black covered with a doctor's cap, from chairs had been placed, and on these under which his silver locks streamed were seated the disconsolate parents forth, in unison with a long snowy and relations of the dead maiden, all in beard which flowed majestically down profound sorrow, and some of them his black doub et : and it was in honour bearing in their countenances the ex- of him, their renowned and venerable pression of despair. Dark figures teacher, that all this shouting took were now observed to issue from the place. A fool with bells, and in a doorway of the palace; and the priests, party-coloured vest, went skipping with their black attendants, bore for along with the procession, and, by his wards an open coffin, from which green pokings and jokings, was in the act of wreaths of flowers were hanging. Pale, forcing a way through the funeral amid these blooming garlands, lay a crowd ; when, upon a sign from the female form in the raiment of the venerable old man, the students lowergrave, her gentle hands, which held a ed their burden, their teacher stepped crucifix, placidly folded on her bosom, down from his seat, and, with a sad her eyes closed, and her dark tresses, and sympathetic aspect, approached which fell in heavy masses around her the weeping parents. « Forgive us," head, enwreathed with a chaplet of said he earnestly, and with tears in roses, cypresses, and myrtles. The

o forgive us for having dispriests, having placed the coffin with turbed this sad solemnity by our wild its fair dead on the scaffold, pros- uproar. I am profoundly distressed trated themselves in prayer--the la- and shocked. I have just returned

а

from my travels : my scholars insisted to challenge the eternal decrees? No! on celebrating my arrival by an out- my friends, bear your affliction as pious burst of rejoicing. I yielded to their parents ought to bear it. Sorrow ought entreaties and preparations; and now, to be the domesticated guest of our amid our festivity, I find alas, what souls, as much as joy and pleasure : do I find ?--your Crescentia dead it also is sent down upon us from that pattern of all grace and virtue above: and He who counts all tears, dead, and lying before you here in her who tries our hearts and our reins, He coffin. Around me I behold but the knows well what we weak mortals are ghastly paraphernalia of the grave, fitted to endure.” More to the same and you mourning forms who are effect was uttered by the wise man of about to accompany her with tears and Abano, and he concluded thus :breaking hearts to her place of rest.” “Carry her," my friends; "carry her

" Here he made a sign to his attend whom you have lost to her place of ants, and addressed a few words to rest, and follow her thither in resigned them. They had already all become and God-given humility, so that no silent, but now most of them withdrew, impious repinings on your part may in order to allow the funeral to proceed disturb her spirit in its mansion of without any interruption. Then came

eternal peace. forward the bereaved and trembling All present were moved by these mother, and sank down at the feet of words. The father stretched forth his the old man, and embraced his knees hand to the speaker, with a mute exin a paroxysm of grief. “ Alas! pression that he had given comfort to wherefore were you not present when his soul. The funeral now proceeded my daughter died,” cried she, in de- on its way; and guided by the masks spair; “your art—your skill-would and other attendants, whose business have saved her. Oh, Pietro! Pietro! it was to accompany the corpse, the you the friend of our family! How procession had almost reached the can you permit your darling—the apple church, when it was suddenly met by of your eye, as you used to call her- a young horseman, who came gallop. to be torn from us for ever? Awaken ing forwards on a steed covered with her yet out of her sleep of death. Ad. foam. " What is the matter?" cried minister to her some of those miracu- the young man. He threw a glance lous essences which you know how to upon the coffin ; and then, with

a cry prepare. Oh, make her but once more of despair, wheeling round his horse, to move among us, and to speak to us, darted off from the crowd ; while his and take, as thanks, every thing that cap, falling from his head in the hurry we possess !”

of the movement, left his long locks “Do not thus give way to despair," floating behind him in the evening answered Pietro d'Abano; “the Lord breeze. This was the bridegroom who gave her, and the Lord hath taken her had come to wed the fair Crescentia. away: let us not be desirous of thwart. The shades of night now settled ing his wise determinations. What down on the mourners, and ended the are we that we should murmur against ceremony: and the maiden's corpse him? Shall the son of dust, who flut- was left to repose in the vault of her ters in the wind, lift up his weak voice ancestors.

CHAP. II.

THE MONK. As soon as the crowd had dispersed, his countenance by the light of a lamp Alphonso (for that was the name of the which sbone upon them from a window young foreigner who had followed hard by. The old priest was a little the procession and taken part in the emaciated figure, whose small palo mourning) turned to an old priest who visage enhanced the fire that burned tarried alone in prayer over the grave.

in his penetrating eyes.

His tightHe longed to know who that majestic drawn lips trembled as he replied, in a old man was, who appeared to him as tone of displeasure,— if endowed with godlike power and " What! know you not our world. supernatural wisdom. Accordingly, renowned Pietro d'Abano, a name he respectfully interrogated the priest which is in the mouths of all Paris, concerning him; upon which the lat. London, the Germanic empire, and the ter, standing, still, keenly scrutinized whole of Italy? Know you got the

snares.

angry tone.

great philosopher and physician, astro- sion to enter yourself as a pupil in his nomer and astrologer, to receive whose famous school; it is manifest that he instructions the unbridled youth even has already caught you in his magic of distant Poland come flocking hither

Thus it is that he entraps in shoals ? "

every heart that beats in his neighOn hearing this name, the young bourhood. Yes, heathen as he is, he Spaniard receded a step in delighted has this day spoken like a Christian astonishment; for it was the fame of minister, and coloured his lying this great man which had attracted schemes with the hues of holiness. him also to Padua, across the sea from Thus it was that he gained an ascendBarcelona.

ency in the house of Podesta. The • It was indeed himself, then!” poor Crescentia, on her deathbed, cried he, in a tone of enthusiasm. could scarcely find her way back into Hence it was that my heart was so the bosom of the Holy Church, so deeply moved ;—my soul instinctively much had she been led astray by the recognised his. And you, my reverend false doctrines which this wicked hypofriend, how much I love you because crite wove, in poisonous meshes, around you also appear to revere this great her young soul. Thank Heaven, howman as much as any saint or martyr ever, she has escaped him! The Lord in the calendar."

has called her to himself, and, visiting “ Is it your intention to study under her with a mortal sickness, has saved this man?" asked the priest, in a harsh her soul at the expense of her body.”

The speakers had now reached the “ Certainly it is," replied Alphonso, open square. The youth was in a if he will deign to receive me as his state of excitement, and gave vent to pupil."

his feelings thus:The old man stood still, and, laying “ Pray, Mr Priest, whence comes his hand on the youth's shoulder, ad- this spirit of furious envy on your dressed him in gentler accents. part? Is not the secret of it this, that

- My dear young friend, the season the more you see the world day after of safety is not yet past; pray, give day falling away from its obedience to ear to my fatherly warning before it you, the more are you determined to be too late. Do not deceive yourself, beat down beneath your exterminating as multitudes have already done, but curse the new spirit—the spirit of be on your guard, and preserve your

eternal truth-which is now beginning precious soul from the snares of the to quicken every region of the globe. tempter."

In vain, however, would you endeavour "I understand you not, father," to smother this spirit, and restore your replied Alphonso. “ Did not you musty legends to the place they once yourself see and hear how piously, held in the estimation of the people." how Christian. like, and with what “ Be it so, then," cried the old overpowering majesty that glorious man, in high indignation. being spake, when by his heavenly have Averroes iustead of Christ, Arisconsolations he turned back into the totle instead of Almighty God, and right path those who had been led your Pietro here-that Iscariot-inastray by the affliction their too fond stead of the Holy Ghost! But wait a love was groaning under ?"

while: watch the end of this man, and " Ay! what is there he dare not, see whether the seven spirits over he cannot do, juggler and sorcerer that whom he exercises a sorcerer's power, he is ?” cried the old priest, much ex- together with that Famulus of his cited.

that imp of hell—will be able, when “ Sorcerer!" exclaimed Alphonso. his hour comes, to rescue him from a “ It appears, then, that you also share most miserable doom." in the foolish fancy of the rabble, who, “ Was his Famulus present tobeing incapable of appreciating the day?” asked Alphonso. science of lofty minds, will believe « Did you not observe the spectre every thing that is absurd, rather than that was dizzened out in fool's attirestrengthen their own understandings the humpbacked abortion, with disby gazing on the sublime career of a torted hands and arms, bowed shins, mortal like themselves.”

leering eyes, and monstrous nose pro“ If you have already gone so far. jecting from a hideous visage ? That in your admiration of him," returned waş his Famulus, or familiar attendthe priest, “ you have but little occa

66 Let us

“ I thought that figure had had a accommodations of our cloister until mask on."

you have provided yourself with a “ Not a bit of him," said the priest; lodging elsewhere?” there is no occasion for him to mask The young foreigner declined this bimself. Take him as nature has made invitation, chiefly on account of the him, and he is already a mask and a very different opinions which each of monster. If ever there was a spirit of them entertained respecting the subhell upon earth, this Berecynth, as ject of their late discussion, and they they call him, is that spirit. But it is parted mutually dissatisfied. drawing late; will you put up with the

CHAP. III.

Tae Robber's Den. The young Florentine, who had met While he stood in suspense, considerin a miserable hour the funeral of her ing whether he should search for his who was to have been his bride, rush, lost horse, or shelter himself from the ed like a madman through the city storm in any hole or cranny he could gates, and took his course in reckless find, his eye was suddenly caught by haste through wood and wold. When a distant light, which, dancing behind he found himself in the open country, bush and dale, appeared to greet him many were the bitter curses he poured with a friendly glance through the forth against the world and his own fate; thick darkness. He hastened after the and, tearing his hair, he again dashed fickle fire, which now vanished and onwards, unconscious whether he was now re-appeared. All his faculties going. He spurred against the wind, and feelings were bound up as if in which blew upon him with the fresh- slumber - his whole being felt as if ness of night, as if to cool the burning wrapt in a dream. fever of his cheeks. At length his The storm was now raging with horse, stumbling and overdriven, fearful violence; and after struggling fairly sank under him, and he was on for some time, almost blinded by compelled to continue his career on foot. the lightning and deafened by the He knew not where he was, or what he thunder, he found himself close to the would be at: only, encompassed by the light by which he had been attracted. black infinitude, he prayed despairing. He knocked at the window of a small ly for death. “ Oh, death, take me cottage which stood behind some trees, to thyself, and still the beatings of this and begged for admittance and shelstormy heart! Would that I might ter from the inclemency of the elethis moment expire in mortal pangs, ments. A loud hoarse voice answered so that my place might know me no from within, but the youth could not more in the light of to-morrow's sun, distinguish the words, for the tempest and that no beam of his might ever and the rain and the tossing trees again awaken me to the consciousness raved so frightfully around him, that of my woe. Am I not the most mi- no other sound could be distinctly serable of all living creatures ?-and heard. all the more so, because a few hours The door of the cottage entered ago I was the happiest of men. Alas from the garden, through which, havfor youthful love, which ends by bring- ing passed, he was conducted by a ing such bitter disappointment to all female hand along a dark passage into the rapturous feelings of the heart!” a small chamber, in which there was

The rain, which for some time had a lighted lamp and a fire burning on been drizzling through the cold air, the hearth. In a corner beside the now began to descend in heavier drops. lamp sate a hideous old woman spinThe youth was already deep in the ning. The young maid who had inforest, and no shelter, as far as he troduced him busied herself about the knew, was at hand. He began to fireplace, and kept so moving about collect his scattered senses; his an- that he was unable to obtain a near or guish grew milder, and tears at length correct view of her countenance; while forced themselves from his eyes. His the deafening peals of thunder for a hatred of life became less and less in- long time rendered any thing like tense, and he felt as if comfort were

conversation impossible. poured into his troubled soul by the 66 This is a dreadful storm!” said soft voice of the dark sobbing night. the old woman in a croaking voice,

a