To Memory [pp. 639-640]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
the raised shoulders, and rigid form, devoid of all t
grace-the awkward and idiot-like stupidity of her s
whole appearance and manners, altogether, presented c
an object so revolting, that he turned away in disgust, s
and hurried from the apartment in a paroxysm of rage
no words can describe. Count Alexius beheld this
metamorphosis with an astonishment equalled only by
his transports of love and joy-for in one moment he
unravelled the mystery-he solved the enigma that
had so long puzzled him.
"Oh, most rare and excellent creature!" he exclaim ed to himself, "how fervent must be that love that could
have prompted such an artifice-and is it for me you
sacrifice the triumph your beauty would have gained?
a greater sacrifice for a woman to make than the rejec tion of an offered throne!"
He withdrew to a corner of the saloon, where, unob served by the courtiers, who were intent on the scene
before them, he watched wvith intense anxiety what
would next ensue.
After conversing a few minutes with the Elector and
the Countess Sophia, the empress-mother took a seat
beside the Princess, and tried, by her kind attentions
to re-assure her young guest, attributing her manners
at least to excessive timidity; but vain were her efforts.
She might as well have addressed herself to an automa ton, Not a word passed the compressed lips of Ame lia-not a ray of intelligence beamed firom her eyes not an expression of any kind varied her countenance;
eaned back in her chair, and with her looks fixed
acancy, seemed neither to see nor hear. The Coun approached, and in low tones expostulated with
i:-but in vain; the same immobility of form and
- remained. She then turned to the empress-mo, and addressing her, accounted for the situation of
h, kinswoman, by attributing it to the effect of long
,osition, extreme fatigue of the journey, but expe:. y an excessive timidity, originating in the seclusion
,,i society in which she had been brought up. Her
a;esty was too kind, as well as too polite, to shew any
d,bt of the causes assigned by the Countess, and after
ther ineffectual attempt to animate the statue-like
)cess, turned her attention exclusively to the Count ess, who endeavored, by her own conversational pow ers, to divert observation from her obstinate and inex plicable cousin. The Elector, on his part, was making
the same efforts to persuade the Emperor and Empe ress, that the appearance and manners of the Princess
were entirely owing to her late illness and her excessive
diffidence and modesty; taking on himself the blame
of having kept her too long in seclusion from public so ciety. His explanations were graciously received, and
while regret for her present embarrassment was kindly
expressed, hopes were added that a few days of rest
would restore her looks; and familiarity with the new
situation in which she was placed render her easy
and happy.
Meanwhile, whispered remarks of astonishment and
disappointment circulated through the circle, mingled
with ironical observations and cutting sarcasms, on the
artifice practised by the Elector, echo had thus sought
to palm his half-deformed, half-idiot niece on the pre sumptive heir of the crown. Some young men plied
Count Alexitis with inquiries into the motives that
could have induced him to lend himself to such a decep
tion; and others, pretending to think he had no such design, rallied him on his exquisite taste in beauty. I-He
could only assure them, that they could not-be more
surprised at the appearance of the Princess than himself-that he had practised no deceit-that her ill-looks
were occasioned solely by sickness and fatigue, and her
awkwardness by a delicacy and sensibility which he
considered her greatest attractions. They laughed incredulously at these assertions, and continued to banter
him on his taste for female charms, until growing impatient under their raillery, and incapable of concealing his
irritation, he took the first opportunity that offered, to
escape unperceived from the company, and retreated to
his own apartment.
TO LEILA.
FROM THiE ARABIC.
Leila, thou fly'st me, like a dove,
W hen I pursue thee with my love;
I give thy speed of wings to thee,
Then wherefore should'st thou fly firom me?
Whene'er thou meet'st me, in thy cheeks
The rose's blush thy fear bespeaksBeneath my glance that rose-blush grows,
And he should reap, alone, who sows.
Sweet Leila, sporting in the shade,
I watch thee long, beloved maidAh! set mine eyes thy prisoner's free,
Or make thine own my jailers be.
And wherefore kiss yon budding flow'rTo kiss thee back it hath no pow'r!
Should'st thou bestow such kiss on me,
I should not thus ungrateful be.
Deep in the fountain, clad in grace,
Thy white arms plash with fond embrace;
The fountain clasps thee not againThou should'st not clasp me thus in vain.
JAMES M. COX.
TO MEMORY.
Oh! Memory, register of feelings, thoughts, words
deeds; thou magician with mighty power, who maketh
the past present, who conjureth up the images of things
long buried, and cheateth the mind with seeming forms
of reality, imparting joy or woe, but even joy mingled
with grief,-how shall I call thee-friend or foe to manangel or fiend, or both?
Thou lovest to torture the mind with cruel torments.
Grief, regret, and melancholy, anguish, remorse, and despair, in thy train attendant, consume with savage joy,
the miserable victims marked out by thee for woe.
Neither childhood, nor youth, nor age; no rank, no
sex, no place, nor time escape thee. In the midst of
revelry, thou art there-grinning with malignant joy,
at hearts sinking, quailing, trembling under the hellish
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