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earn had merited, or his circumftances with relpect to pollution or purity required. Thefe fhades or ghofts were fo far corporeal as to be visible, but could not be touched; they retain ed the fame appearance their bodies had before death; they had reafon and fpeech and confcioufnefs, and a remembrance of their past lives; they could be happy or unhappy; retained all the paffions and affectious of humanity; and were capable (fuch of them at leaft as had not been atroci ous criminals) of being purified from the pollutions of guilt by the operation of air, fire, and water,

1 hat part of the lugentus campi which Eneas firft paffed through, after crolling the Styx, was peopled by the fhades of infants, of perfons who had fuffered death by a falfe ac cufation, and of those who had taken away their own lives. Thefe are all placed in the fame neighbourhood, probably becaufe, having been cut off, as we fay, before their time, they had not had the means, while on earth, of difplaying their character in its full extent. This, however, is but conjecture; for the poet only mentions the circumftance, with out affigning a reafon. The felf-murderers, who occupy this diftrict, are termed infantes, innocent or harmless; an epithet which the commentators do not understand, or at least do not fee the propriety of in this place, Vir il, we are fure, did not mean to infinuate, tha felf-deftroyers in general are guilty of no fault; for he places even thele infontes, who in refpect of others were comparatively innocent, in an uncomfortable fituation, and Jays, that they would now return to the earth if they could, and willingly fubmit to poverty, and thofe other evils, which when alive they thought infupportable. By the word infentes, therefore, as here applied, I undertand fuch unhappy perfons as had deftroyed themselves, without, being chargeable with any other great wick

ednefs. Had they been guilty of impiety, juftice, want of natural affection, or any grofs immorality, they would, according to our author's plan of retribution, have been configned to ever. lafting punishment in Tartarus. But as we find them in a state of expiatory fuffering, and characterifed by this epithet, we muft, I think, fuppofe, that the poet here speaks of that felf-deftruction, which, being partly the effect of infirmity, was, in his judgment, the object of pity as well as of difapprobation.

The Trojan and his guide were now arrived at that part of the mes lancholy plains, where the country, if I may call it fo, feemed to open into a wider extent. Here was a diftrict, where, in a myrtle grove, were wandering the shades of unhappy lovers. Here Eneas met with Dido, who had rejoined her husband Si. cheus; and here he faw feveral others, fome of whom, by the by, had led fuch lives on earth as would feem to 'deferve a feverer doom than that of Virgil's purgatory.

Adjoining to the grove of lovers, and at the furtheft extremity of thefe regions, was a province inhabited by deceafed warriors, Here he found feveral of his old acquaintance, who were glad to fee him, and converse and walk with him, and curious to know the occafion of his coming. The Grecian ghost knew him likewife, and fled from before him, as they had been accuftomed to do in the Trojanwari Here he faw the fhade of his brotherin-law Deiphobus, in the fame mangled condition in which his body had been left by the Greeks in the night of the burning of Troy. A long converfation enfued between the two friends, which was at latt interrupt ed by the priestefs, who told Eneas that he had no further time to lofe. Be not angry, faid Deiphobus; I fhall go away, return to my darkness, and there complete my term of pepance.

Difcedam

Bifcedam, explebo numerum, reddarque . tenebris.

The words explebo numerum are variDufly interpreted; but the fenfe is probably what is here given. Rueus is inclined to explain it thus, Be not angry, great prieftefs, I fhall juft wind up the laft period of my difcourfe, and then return to my darkness" as if

the poor mangled-ghoft of Deipho-
bus had been ambitious to diftinguish
itself at this time as a rhetorician,
and well fkilled in the art of rounding
a period. Dryden understands the
paflage as I do. Serveus hints at
the fame interpretation, but feems
to prefer another.
[To be continued.]

Sir Arthur Davillan: A Gothic Story.

T was about the end of September

in England from the Holy Land. He was fecond fon to the Lord Davillan, and had, by his command, attended Richard I. on an expedition to Palefine. His gallant behaviour in war with the Infidel attracted the notice of his monarch,, who rewarded him liberally, and knighted him. When a truce was concluded with Saladin, and Richard had returned to his native Jand, Sir Arthur remained at Joppa, where he enjoyed an honourable poft. Here he continued for the fpace of thirty years, during which time he received no account of the friends he left behind at laft, unable to bear the tortures of anxiety, he got permiffion to revifit England. When he arrived, he hurried with impatience to the caftle belonging to his family. Od his journey he was informed that his father was dead many years, and that his brother was now in poffelion of his demetne...

The fenfations with which Sir Arthur approached the dwelling of his ancestors were of a melancholy nature. The reflection of the happinefs and innocence of his early days rofe like a charming vision to his mind, but like a vifion of which the tints were faded, and the fubftance vanifhed for ever; the death of his father, brave, generous, and beloved, having heard of fo lately, be mourned as re

cent; and a doubt how he might be

received by a brother, to

was little known, contributed to increafe the gloom of his reflections. In this mood he afcended the eminence on which the caftle of Davillan was placed. Over the arched gate-way which prefented itself to him, after having croffed the drawbridge, the hand of ancient fculpture had reprefented the founder of his family in a kneeling pofture, and a fuperior being was in the attitude of placing a hel met on his head, as the reward of a deed of fignal juftice and valour, which had procured from his fovereign the grant of the lands which he tranfmit ted to his pofterity. As Sir Arthur entered the gate, he felt a flight tremulous motion of the earth; the helmet dropt from the hands of the ftatue, and was fhivered into a thoufand pieces at his feet. He was welcomed by his brother with affection; who told him, that from his long filence, he was thought to have fallen under the banner of the faced cross, but, fince he had now fo unexpectedly returned, invited him to fafs the remainder of his life in the castle. The day was fpent in converfation of this fort, and in narrations of the deeds of prowefs performed by the magnanimous Richard, and the generous, the unbelieving Saladin, and the night was pretty far advanced when each retired to his apartment. There Sir Arthur

heard

heard a found proceeding from the before midnight retired to his apartchamber beneath him, as if a perfon at equal and confiderable intervals, trod folemnly across the floor: and a figh, long and deep, which came from the fame quarter, gave him to believe that the person was in forrow. Imagining this to be produced by fome one of the family, after having invoked the protection of the Saints, he betook himself to reft. In fleep his mind was diftracted by diftressful dreams. He imagined himself transported to a wild common, furrounded by rocks fcooped into difmal caverns. Enter ing one of thefe he found a man lying on the ground, which was stained with blood. Horror and aftonishment glided through his foul, when he found, on raising him gently up, that he was his father. The old man looking in his face, and difcovering by whom he was embraced, raised his finger as if pointing to fomething. Sir Arthur then obferved a perfon, who feemed ftealing away thro' a dark paffage, and different from that by which he had entered. Quitting his father, he hurried after the affaffin, who, when he was feized, turned fuddenly round, and uttered a loud fhriek. With the noife Sir Arthur awoke. The dream however made a great impreffion on his mind. He imagined that he was acquainted with the features of the fancied murderer, but tried in vain to recollect them.

As the morning was now far fpent, he dreft himself, and defcended to the hall, Here he found only his brother, who seemed wrapt in meditation. At fight of him Sir Arthur ftarted, for he thought he discovered in him a triking fimilarity to the vifionary murderer of his father. Lord DavilJan feemed equally affected by his entrance, but foom recovered from his confufion, and bade his brother goodmorrow with his accustomed franknefs. But Sir Arthur could not view him without horror. All day he was thoughtful, abfent, and uneafy and

ment. Among other questions he put to the fervant who attended him, he inquired who flept in the chamber beneath him. He was informed that it was uninhabited. "What is the caufe of that?” said Sir Arthur; “formerly the lower ftorey contained the best rooms in the caftle." "Nay," anfwered the fervant, "I cannot inform your honour. Soon after my old mafter's death, the prefent lord forbade any of the family to enter it, and nobody prefumes to dispute his command." The fervant then withdrew. The mind of Sir Arthur was in that state of doubt and hesitation, which every where finds food for its fufpicions. This intelligence, and the recollection of the founds he had heard the night before, threw his thoughts into a tumult, and made him fear he knew not what. "Guardian of the holy city," cried he, "in that chamber perhaps-As he uttered these words, the footsteps again ftruck his ear. They were louder than the night before. His attention was directed to the chamber next his own on the north fide, from which he heard a noife, as if a confiderable weight had fallen from the roof, and ftruck on fomething which emitted a hollow found. He raised his eyes from an involuntary eagerness to liften, and a coffin, having a fword and mafk crof fed on it, iffued from the adjoining apartment, and paffed flowly by him. It moved irregularly towards the door, which opened. He followed the coffin with his eye. It glided out, and vanished. He then thought he dif covered through the darknefs, a Egure ftanding at the door, but he could not diftinctly discover what it was. It appeared an old man, bis eyes were glaring and fixed, and he waved his hand, as if inviting him to follow. Sir Arthur snatched the lamp, and rushed out of the room, but he only faw the black skirts of the cloathing of a perfon who feemed entering

below,

below. He quickly defcended the ftairs, and came to the door through which he fuppofed the figure had gone. The latchet of the door had been lifted up, but the opening was not fo large as to admit him: he applied his fhoulder to it, as from the ruft it had contracted, it unfolded with difficulty. By the light of his lamp he faw a long gallery, the walls of which were gradually mouldering away. It appeared to contain feveral chambers. The thought that in one of these fome fatal difcovery was to be made appalled him. He ftopt irrefolute, willing, yet afraid to proceed. As he thus flood, having the door in his hand, he heard a noife behind him like the clanking of armour. Turning fuddenly round to discover whence the found proceeded, he let the door go, which was inftantly fhut at the fame time, in defcending one of the few mouldering fteps which led into the gallery, his foot flept, and the lamp fell from his hand and was extinguished. Sir Arthur was now in total darkness. The horror of his fituation ftruck him: he went on, however, fome fteps, and invoked the protection of the spirit on high. A long heavy figh which proceeded from a confiderable distance directed his search: and he obferved, by a beam of the moon which gleam ed thro' a cranny in the wall, the figure he had formerly feen, entering a chamber at the further end of the gallery. He went on, and found a door opening into a chamber which he en tered. All was dark. The footfteps, apparently from a neighbouring apart. ment, again alarmed him. It communicated with that in which he then was. Its door flew open, and a pale trembling radiance ftreamed upon him. As no new phantom of terror appeared, he refolved to proceed, The first object he faw, by the light of small lamp which was placed on a table in the middle of the room, was a couch; its covering, now in tatters, and that part of the floor on which it

food, feemed to have been ftained with blood. From confidering this object, his attention was withdrawn by a figh from the oppofite corner : and he difcovered in a clofet, the door of which was open, an old man reclining with his elbow on a coffin, and having his eyes fteadily fixed on Sir Arthur. By this complication of fupernatural appearances he was almost overpowered. His blood grew cold; a fhivering glided along his nerves; his heart beat thick against his ribs; and his eyes with eagerness feemed bursting from their fockets. The figure was tall and majestic, and was cloathed in long black robes. He advanced into the middle of the room, his hand laid foftly on his left breaft, and heaved a deep figh. Sir Arthur's powers were fufpended: he uttered with difficulty, in founds tow and hollow, "Angels of God! my gracious father and fell at his feet. "Be not alarmed," faid the phantom; "I died moft ignobly: but Merton will tell thee all. Never can my weary fpirit find repofe, till vengeance overtake the guilty." Sir Arthur heard no more; a fwoon for a time bound up all his powers.

When he awoke, he found himself in his own chamber, and discovered that the fun had made confiderable progrefs. The tranfactions of the night ftill remained impreffed on his mind. He remembered the injunc tions of the fpectre, and haftened to fulfil them. When he came to the friar, and had made himself known to him, "father," faid he, "if thou ever didft love thy late lord, anfwer the demands of his fon. By what means came Richard Lord Davillan to his end?" Merton seemed confufed; but it was the confufion rather of furprife than of guilt. "He died fuddenly-of an apoplexy, I believe," returned the friar. "Merton," faid Sir Arthur, "I must know the truth. By means which I tremble but to think on, I know that my father felt

by

by the hand of an affaffin. Of the reft thou must inform me." "Saints of heaven!" the friar exclaimed: "it was this the vilions of the night portended. I am innocent of the facrilegious crime. But fince fate will have it fo, it fhall be unfolded: and

oh! that the green fod had covered my bones, e'er the dreadful fecret' had paffed my reluctant lips. Liften then, thou fon of the man whom I revered, liften to the tale of the execrable deed. AMADIS DE GAUL

Account of Blue Monday, obferved in Germany as a Holiday..

IT T was formerly, and in many countries it is still the custom in Germany, for the journeymen, &c. employed in the lower kinds of trade, to confider every Monday as a day fet apart for idleness, and no inducement can prevail upon them to apply themfelves to work. Perhaps the custom was derived from the poffelum mentioned in the canon law; and the expreffion" Blue Monday" is fuppofed by fome to have its origin in the bruifes occafioned by the fit and cudgels, which were in frequent ufe among the drunken and diforderly; but, as we meet with a Blue Tuefday likewife, the derivation feems more probable which occurs in a manufcrip: Thuringian Chronicle.

In the fixteenth century, it was the cuftom in Germany to ornament the churches on faft-days with blue; and at this period the tradefmen began to keep their fafts by neglecting their work. This was not only ufual among the mafter tradesmen, but they indulged their fervants likewife in the fame privilege. For want of employment, the common people had recourse to drinking; and, instead of fafting, it foon became a common proverb, Heute blauer Fraffmontag, "To-day is feafting Monday." This national cuftom, which was originally confined to innocent amufements on the evenings of the faft-days, foon extend ed itself to every Monday in the year. Blue Monday was now established; and the abuse prevailed to fuch a de

gree, that the day was foon diftinguifhed by debaucheries of every kind, by tumults, and frequently by murders. The perpetrators of fuch acts were threatened with the fevereft pu nifhment; but all the territorial edits were fruitlefs, till the matter was fetiously taken up by the diet. This was occafioned by the company of fhoe-makers at Augfburg, in 1726, who excited their fellow-tradefmen at Wurtsburg, by letters, to be riotous. The magiftrates at firft prohibited the correfpondence: this prohibition they confidered as an infringement of their rights. The rioters were foon joined, as ufual, by a number of ill-difpofed perfons, who ill treated all who oppofed them, and made the affair of a ftill, more ferious nature, by encouraging the fame conduct in other towns. At laft, upwards of a hundred members of this unconftitutional fociety left the town, and fent information to Leipfic, Drefden, Berlin, &c. of their proceedings in the following terms; "We have been under the necesity of adopting this measure to preferve our rights; and inform you that no man who is an honeft fellow (braver kerl) will ever go again to work at Augfburg: if he does, he may expect the confequences, and that foon." This caufed a general alarm throughout the country. The abufes which prevailed among the tradefmen were of too much confequence to the towns of Germany, and trade in general, not to be noticed at the diet. An edic

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