OLIMPIA.

Enter OLIMPIA, flying from the pursuit.—She springs upon the Altar.

Soldier. She's mine!

Another Sold. (opposing the former). You lie, I track'd her first; and

were she

The Pope's niece, I'll not yield her.

3rd Sold. (advancing towards OLIMPIA). You may settle Your claims; I'll make mine good.

[They fight.

Olimp. (embracing a massive crucifix). Respect your God!

3rd Sold.

Girl, you but grasp your dowry.

Yes, when he shines in gold.

[As he advances, OLIMPIA, with a strong and sudden effort, casts down the crucifix it strikes the Soldier, who falls.

Other Soldiers (coming up). Slay her, although she had a thousand lives;

YORK CATHEDRAL.

There are few cathedrals, the structure of which has undergone so many changes as that of York. The first church, dedicated to St. Peter, was founded by Edwin, king of Northumberland, who was baptized at York, April 12, A.D. 627, and who appointed Paulinus, confessor of his consort Ethelburga, first archbishop. Edwin being slain in battle, the church fell into a ruinous state; so that when Wilfrid, founder of the churches of Ripon and Hexham, and other minsters, was appointed archbishop, A.D. 669, it was rapidly hastening to decay. By him it was thoroughly repaired.

This building was destroyed by fire, A.D. 741, and was rebuilt a few years after by archbishop Egbert. This fabric also fell a prey to the flames,

A.D. 1069.

By the exertions of Thomas, a canon of Bayeux, and chaplain to the Conqueror, by whom he was raised to the see, a more elegant building was erected; but this shared the fate of its predecessors, being burned down in the fire of 1137, which consumed the greater part of the city, including thirty-nine parish churches.

The cathedral suffered much from the infuriated zeal of the leaders of the great rebellion. Many figures were destroyed, tombs effaced, and brasse stolen. The grave-stones were much mutilated and stripped; a new pavement was consequently laid down in 1736, the stone for which was given by Sit Edward Gascoigne, of Parlington.

It is almost impossible to convey to the mind of the reader any adequate notion of the grandeur of this magnificent structure, although its situation is, in every respect, against it. It is surrounded by houses on all sides; consequently it is extremely difficult so to stand as to be enabled to have a com prehensive view of the edifice. But it cannot fail to strike the traveller with a sense of its awful granas it meets his eye, towering above the spires and deur, from whatever quarter he approaches the city, buildings which surround it. The increased facility induce many to visit it, were it only to view this of travelling to York, now opened, will doubtless noble edifice; and no one who does so can possibly be disappointed. In an especial manner the architectural student will be richly recompensed, in devoting as much leisure as he can spare to the minute investigation of its various beauties; and he may be within his reach. rest assured that every facility for his so doing will

In 1171, archbishop Roger commenced rebuilding the choir and vaults in the plain Norman style. The munificence of successive archbishops and others contributed to the furtherance of the work. The south part of the transept, built by archbishop Walter Grey, is dated 1227; the whole architectural The following are the dimensions of the cathedral: order being changed, and made of a much lighter-Length, from east to west, 5244 feet; breadth of character. The north transept, in the same style, was commenced in 1260, by John de Romayne, and the nave by his son, the archbishop, in 1291. The two western towers were begun by William de Melton, in 1330, and finished by John de Birmingham, in 1402. Two great benefactors to the work were Robert de Percy, of Bolton, who supplied a large quantity of wood, and Robert de Vavasour, who found the stone. Their memory is handed down as benefactors, by statues at the east and west ends of the cathedral.

The choir, erected by archbishop Roger, being found entirely incongruous with the other part of the building, was taken down; and the erection of a new one was commenced by archbishop Thoresby, in 1361; and in 1370, the great central tower was begun, and finished in eight years. The grand eastern window, of nine lights, at the termination of the choir, was erected in the reign of Henry IV. It is a most beautiful specimen of art, and was the work of John Thornton, of Coventry. It is embellished with nearly two hundred subjects from sacred history. Many of the windows still contain stained glass, and probably all did so at one time.

The chapter-house is a magnificent octagonal building, to which a passage leads from the north transept. It is in the decorated style of English architecture; the roof, which is very lofty, being of wood without a central pier, and most richly carved. Seven arched windows fill as many of the sides; the remaining side being solid, but so traced as to correspond with the windows. Beneath the windows are forty-four canopied stalls, the columns of which are of Petworth marble,

east end, 105 feet; of west, 109 feet; length of transept, 222 feet; height of grand tower, 235 feet; of nave, 99 feet; height of the east window, 75 feet; breadth, 32 feet. There are ten bells, cast by the famous Mears.

It will be in the recollection of most of our readers that a fire broke out in the cathedral (Feb. 2, 1829), and that it was the work of a lunatic, Jonathan Martin, who was tried for the offence, and sentenced to confinement for life in Bethlehem Hospital, London. A chorister, passing through the yard, slipped upon a piece of ice, and fell upon his back. In this position he perceived smoke issuing from the roof. The alarm was immediately given; and on entering the cathedral, the wood-work of the choir was found to be on fire, which spreading upwards, the roof fell in. The pews were consumed, as also the organ, but the eastern window was spared The occurrence naturally excited a great sensation throughout the kingdom, as well as in the city and county, and a liberal contribution was raised to enable the dean and chapter speedily to commence the work of restoration; this subscription amounted to 65,000%; besides which, the archbishop gave the communion plate, the present earl of Scarborough the organ, the hon. sir Edward M. Vavasour, bart., the stone, and government the timber. This has been admirably done, under the superintendence of Mr. Smirke; and the visitor cannot but be struck with the chaste and elaborate style of the renovated parts, with its admirable keeping with the rest of the edifice, and, if he has visited the minster previous to the fire, with the similarity of the present choir to the old,