hemond in the perilous adventure on the night of the assault. He had attached himself to that leader's banner, and, with his wife and daughter, who had followed him from France, now occupied a dwelling in the city, not far from that of the Prince. Bohemond, whose deep interest in Agatha had experienced no diminution, failed not, so long as his own table was furnished, to impart a portion of his supply, for her sake, to the family of his follower; and ere that source of bounty failed, Phirouz, who still retained the command of the tower by which the Crusaders had entered, had succeeded, by enormous bribes, in procuring from some of the less scrupulous followers of the enemy's camp, who were revelling in abundance beneath the walls, and in sight of the famishing thousands within, an uncertain supply, which he never failed to share with his beloved Agatha.

In this miserable state of affairs, utter despair would undoubtedly have taken possession of all— leader and follower alike—had not religious enthusiasm been called in to support them. The historians of the time inform us that visions and prophesies were almost daily published among the credulous multitude, promising victory and abundance to those who should endure courageously to the last.

The sun was shining calmly and gloriously upon that suffering city, as Phirouz and Agatha, whose curiosity had been excited by rumors of a new miracle which had been spread on the preceding day, held their way to the Church of St. Peter. As they passed along the streets, now crowded with pale, emaciated forms, whom curiosity had called forth from their wretched homes, their eyes frequently encountered scenes of the most revolting character. Living in comparative plenty, they had not yet become accustomed to the degrading influence which famine had been exerting on the poorer classes, and Agatha shuddered, as they turned the corner of a street to behold a female figure, kneeling on the ground, and digging up, with palsied hands, from beneath a stone which she had removed with some difficulty, though it was by no means a heavy one, the worms and crawling reptiles which had embedded themselves there. Her languid eye at one moment was lighted up with a gleam of intense pleasure, as she eagerly devoured her prize, at the next she cast her glances hurriedly and anxiously around, fearful lest some one should arrive to dispute with her the nauseous banquet. Farther on appeared a youth, whose restless and dilated eye betrayed the failing intellect which famine often produces, sitting on the threshhold of his home, gnawing a fleshless bone which he had found, and endeavoring, with the skirt of his robe, to hide his booty from the eyes of the passers by, lest even that miserable source of nourishment might excite envy and aggression. In one of the less frequented streets, their ears were assailed in passing, by the unwonted sounds of merriment; and on turning their eyes toward the broken casement whence the noise issued, horror-struck, they beheld three attenuated forms-one of them a female tearing with bony fingers the morsels from a dish before them, in the midst of which, mangled and half devoured, appeared a human hand!

They hastened on, and at length found themselves in the midst of an immense multitude, entering the spacious church of St. Peter. With some difficulty they procured a seat, and after the vast and highly excited assembly had been hushed into silence, a priest arose, whose hollow

1836.]

The Deceived.

cheek was flushed, and his sunken eye appeared as if lighted up with some unearthly fire. He commenced abruptly, and his deep tones Every breath was came forth like a voice from the sepulchre. hushed - every eye turned strainingly toward him.

These eyes have seen a vision! - these ears have heard voices let the which are not of earth! Listen to the words from Heaven commands of the holy apostle be obeyed. Your toils are passed — Yes, blessed saint!' he shall experience no more. your miseries ye continued, spreading abroad his hands, and raising his eyes toward Heaven, thou didst in the night visions reveal to me that in a vault beneath this sacred edifice lies buried the spear-head which pierced the Saviour's side. Methought, my friends, he did place his finger on the very spot. And to me, yea to me, unworthy of so great a revelation, these were the blessed words he uttered: For your crimes', he said, 'ye have been punished. The sword without and the famine within, these The wrath of Heaven is now passed away have been your penance. Cause the sacred weapon to be like a cloud from the face of earth. disinterred cause it to be borne before your hosts-sally forth bravely upon the infidel, and your enemies shall melt before you; yea, victory and abundance shall be

yours!'

-

He sat down, and buried his face in his hands. The multitude, with a sudden impulse, arose, and the vaulted roof shook as it echoed to the shout of thousands, God wills it! God wills it!'

The leaders immediately took measures to avail themselves of the enthusiasm thus excited. The lance-head, whether pretended or real, we pause not to inquire, was dug up, and every preparation was made for the desperate sally, which was appointed to take place on the second morning succeeding the day on which the lance was discovered. In the meantime, it was determined to send a merciful embassy to the Emir and the Sultaun, to warn them that the wrath of Heaven was upon them, and to bid them depart, while it was yet in their power.

The moon that, robed in silver, rides on high
Is beautiful- the stars that tread the sky
In golden majesty: the clouds that play
In the rich sunset's blazing purple ray,

The thousand-tinted flowers that deck the earth,
The bird whose life is music from his birth,
Are each and all most beautiful: but far
More exquisite than these than cloud, than star,
More wonderful in form and hue, the brow
Of thought the spirit-speaking eye, the glow
Of hope, that feeling which bepaints the cheek
Of the young maiden with a rainbow streak,
And that first freshness of glad youthful hearts,
Which gentlest hues to heaven and earth imparts,
Which in gay dreams forgets the fever, strife,
And tints with moonlight ray the stream of life.

Trenton, (N. J.,) 1836.

And such was Inez there she sate
Calm, still, and thoughtfully sedate;
With raven locks and large dark eye
That spoke her soul so thrillingly.

With chiselled features, high-arched brow,
Which leaned upon her small hand now;
Her cheek was as the lily pale,

But ever and anon the gale,

Or some light passing thought would come,
Tinting it with the rose's bloom:

And ever a soft dimpling smile

Would flit around her lips the while.

And Meta- she had sprung away
To watch the wood-birds at their play,
To hear their song as on it floats,
And echo back their own wild notes.
All lightness, witchery, and ease;
The fawn that trembles at the breeze
Was not more timid -
- nor the lark,
That hails the morning's first bright spark,
More full of joy. Her laugh, gay, low,
Which from her very heart would flow
Her step, that lightly touched the ground,
Had music in each faëry sound.

O'er feelings generous, high, and warm,
There came at times a transient storm;
The lustre of her eye would brighten,
The glow upon her cheek would heighten;
The wilful word was sometimes spoke,
But then the sorrow it awoke-

The big tear trembling in her eye,

Her neck bent down so droopingly,

So generously for pardon plead,

You scarce could wish her words unsaid.

H. L. B.

THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.

THE rapid strides which our young and vigorous country is making in internal improvement, is a subject of just exultation to ourselves, and admiration to the world. However sceptical some may pretend to be as to the development of the physical and intellectual powers of man in the new world, none will deny that here the improvement of his physical condition is pushed forward with more energy, and the natural evils by which he is surrounded are overcome and banished with more zeal, rapidity, and success, than in any other quarter of the globe. We will not stop to inquire, whether the highest display and most useful employment of the human intellect are to be found in abstract disquisitions, and poetical or philosophical contemplations, or in the practical application of the great leading principles of nature and of truth to the amelioration of the condition of our species. Both are undoubtedly appropriate fields for the exertion of mind, and the happiest result would be produced by their combined operation. It might be expected, however, that the latter would command the precedence in a new country, where the obstacles that nature interposes to the convenient habitation of civilized man are first to be overcome, and a certain degree of exertion is necessary, to raise any class of men above the

immediate wants of their physical condition. In these efforts for advancing their civilization and improvement, the American people have peculiar advantage. They have the benefit of the moral and philosophical researches and discoveries of the old world, without the embarrassment of prejudices transmitted from the dark ages, and the shackles of institutions, customs and opinions, cast off there, to be sure, by the few, but still worn by the mass, rendering the truths of philosophy of but little practical benefit to the human family, and confining their influence chiefly to the small circle of refined and privileged beings, whom the favors of fortune have almost elevated into a superior species. In the new world, a great truth is appreciated, felt and acted upon at once, by the whole community; in the old, if understood at all by any considerable portion of society, it is regarded as a subject fit merely for the abstract contemplation of the few, and dangerous to be thought of by the many, or if attempted to be carried into practical use, it must force its way most generally through deluges of blood. Here any important principle in human polity is freely canvassed, and has to contend only with public opinion; there its agitation is forbidden, and it must come in contact with the despotic will of an individual, or the self-interest of a class; here, any great public measure, having for its object the general good, has to contend only with conflicting local interests, or the question of its utility; there, it has, in addition, to combat the vis inertia of the popular mass, weighed down by prejudices, traditions and customs, deep-rooted and inveterate, inspiring a dread of innovation, and creating a distrust of any improvement which had not been tried by their ancestors. Here, modifications are adopted in the form of the government by the voice of the majority, without popular violence; there, the slightest alteration proposed, is the symptom of a revolution. France has waded through seas of blood in search of improvement, and how little has been effected! Millions have been crushed in the attempt to push the car of state out of the ruts of old opinions. In whatever direction we turn our eyes, throughout the old world, we perceive the same state of things. England advances faster than any other country, except our own; and yet how encumbered is she still with the institutions, customs, and prejudices of other and less enlightened times! Much as she has done for literature, for science, for religion, for morals, for the elevation and refinement of our species, how little has she improved the condition, and advanced the happiness, of the mass of the people! How little has she done toward removing the gloomy pall of popular ignorance, besotted superstition, and degrading prejudice, which overhangs the nation, flaunting its dark folds exultingly in the face of pitying Nature! In the United States, the whole energy of the human intellect is devoted to developing the resources of the country, and improving the condition of the people. Hence, in proportion to our population and wealth, we have more works of general utility than any other people: and hence the engrossing interest that is felt for the improvement of our political institutions—a matter closely connected with the prosperity of any nation. The difference in the manifestation of this energy, here and elsewhere, consists in this: that here, it embraces the whole people, without distinction of rank, class, or order, and carries all forward with the same noble impulses, and in the same great exertions. Hence we may account for the vigor, zeal,