"There is a place,

(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven
Err not) another world, the happy seat

Of some new race called Man, about this time
To be created like to us, though less in power
And excellence, but favored more

Of him who rules above. Though Heaven be shut,
And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure
In his own strength, this place may be exposed,
The utmost border of his kingdom, left

To their defence who hold it. There perhaps,
Some advantageous act may be achieved
By sudden onset, either with Hell fire

(such as Maloch had proposed to use against the hosts of Heaven)

To waste his new creation, or possess

All as our own, and drive, as we were driven,
The puny habitants, or if not drive,
Seduce them to our party, that their God
May prove their foe, and with repenting hand
Abolish his own works. This would surpass
Common revenge, and interrupt his joy
In our confusion, and our joy upraise
In his disturbance; when his darling sons,
Hurled headlong to partake with us, shall curse
Their frail original, and faded bliss.

Attempting."

Advise if this be worth

They applaud his bold design. We can observe their joy in their eyes. Such is the benign influence of Hope, which like the sunbeams transforms the features of the face, as the other those of the lowliest dwelling, and no matter how gloomy their aspect before,

"They change into beauty at that bright spell."

But the unhappy Spirits must not congratulate themselves too early. "Let not him who putteth on his armour boast himself like him who putteth it off," It would be a glorious achievement, no doubt, if they could accomplish it; for, as Beelzebub goes on to say, it may be

"Nearer their ancient seat; perhaps in view
Of those bright confines whence with neighboring
And opportune excursion they might chance [arms
Re-enter Heaven; or else in some mild zone
Dwell not unvisited of Heaven's fair light
Secure, and at the brightning orient beam
Purge off this gloom; while the delicious air,
To heal the scar of these corrosive fires,
Should breathe her balm."

which

way in the first burst of their enthusiasm they must have overlooked. "First," continues Beelzebub,

"Whom shall we send

In search of this new world? Whom shall we find
Sufficient? Who shall tempt with wandering feet
The dark unbottomed infinite abyss,

And through the palpable obscure find out
His uncouth way, or spread his aery flight
Unborne with indefatigable wings

Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive

The happy isle? What strength, what art can then Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe

Through the strict sentries and stations thick

Of Angels watching round? Here he had need
All circumspection, and we now no less
Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send,
The weight of all and our last hope relies."

They are convinced-they are confounded; for who would volunteer to go on so hazardous an expedition? Doubtless the honor would be great, but the difficulties are too many, and the duty too perilous.

"All sat mute, Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each In other's countenance read his own dismay Astonished;"

till Satan, whom nothing could daunt, addresses them, in words sufficient to "create a soul under the ribs of Death:" "O Progeny of Heaven, empyreal thrones,

With reason hath deep silence and demur
Seized us, though undismayed. Long is the way
And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light;
Our prison strong this huge convex of fire,
Outrageous to devour, immures us round
Ninefold, and gates of burning adamant,
Barred over us, prohibit all egress.
These passed, if any pass, the void profound
Of unessential Night receives him next,

wide gaping.

But I should ill become this throne, O Peers,
And this imperial sovereignty, adorned
With splendor, armed with power, if aught proposed
And judged of public moment, in the shape

of difficulty or danger, could deter

Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume
These royalties, and not refuse to reign
Refusing to accept as great a share

Of hazard as of honor, due alike

To him who reigns, and so much to him due
Of hazard more, as he above the rest
High honored sits? Go therefore, mighty powers,
Terror of Heaven, though fallen; intend at home,
While here shall be our home, what best may ease
The present misery, and render Hell
More tolerable; while I abroad

Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek
Deliverance for us all. Thus saying, rose
The Monarch, and prevented all reply."

O noble Chief! well dost thou merit thy proud position! Richard Coeur-deLion, with the Austrian ensign under his foot challenging the boldest among Austria's champions to resent the affront, and exclaiming, "Who dare plant this paltry rag beside the banners of England?"— does not more excite our admiration!

In proof that he does not underrate minor duties, Satan instructs his adherents to keep a close watch during his absence. How can they but admire his prudence,, as well as his bravery? But the council is over. It would be useless to say another word, and they prepare to leave.

"Their rising all at once was as the sound

Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend
With awful reverence prone; and as a God
Extol him equal to the Highest in Heaven.
Nor failed they to express how much they praised,
That for the general safety he despised
His own; for neither do the spirits damned
Lose all their virtue, lest bad men should boast
Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites,
Or close ambition varnished o'er with zeal."
We are aware that we cannot stand a

comparison. The devils are faithful, grateful, polite; and under the most trying circumstances, and severest afflictions, always gentlemen. What we are, we know.

"Thus they their doubtful consultations dark Ended rejoicing in their matchless chief; (As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds Ascending, while the north-wind sleeps, o'erspread

Heaven's cheerful face, the lowering element

Our feelings become as strong in the one
case as in the other. Who shall blame
us?
What say'st thou, Milton? Are
they not as good as ourselves? The rev-
erend bard, rapt in contemplation, and
scarce heeding the question, exclaims:

"O shame to men! devil with devil damned
Firm concord holds; men only disagree
Of creatures rational,

And live in hatred, enmity, and strife
Among themselves, and levy cruel wars,
Wasting the earth each other to destroy."

Enough, and more than enough! Let the devils give up their project, and avoid the Earth lest they become further corrupted by associating with such abandoned miscreants!

AGRICOLA.

THE COUNTESS OF SAN DIEGO; OR, THE BISHOP'S BLESSING.

BY CLOE.

CHAPTER II.

Ella sincerely lamented the loss of her kind-hearted governess, for she felt it to be one of her severest trials; the place, however, was soon re-filled, by Miss Summers, a young lady of high standing in her profession. She found Misses Julia and Juliette very backward in their studies; and in the presence of Mrs. Thompson she examined them. Seeing this, Mrs. T's rage knew no bounds; as she attributed their backwardness to the neglect of the former governess. Miss Summers seemed pleased with her displeasure toward the old governess, con

If chance the radiant sun with farewell sweet Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings ;") and what heart but so far sympathizes with them in their expectations of being able to better their condition? We cannot help it. As well might we deem it possible to refrain from joining with "rejoicing Nature," in this matchless illustration with which the poet concludes his magnificent account of their proceedings.

efficiency.

"I assure you madam," said Miss S., "that children as bright as yours are, must have been shamefully neglected, or they would have advanced further in less than half the time."

"I have not the least doubt of it; believe me, Miss Summers; the old woman has even learned Ella music."

"Did you ever hear of anything so absurd ?" "It was certainly quite out of

"I'd like to see another governess undertake to deceive me as she has done, in direct disobedience to my orders; giving a poor young wench such airs, there is no doing anything with her."

"She certainly did you great injustice in neglecting your children, for the purpose of instructing a mere servant; I always feel it my duty to consult the wishes of my employer, and you may be sure of my faithfulness in this particular." "I have perfect confidence in you Miss Summers: : you understand your position and mine too well to stoop to anything so far beneath you."

The next day Miss Summers commenced her labors in the school room; Ella stood in the capacity of waiting maid to the pupils; Miss Summers found her task, in teaching her scholars, much harder than she expected, as it was impossible for her to get their attention two consecutive minutes at a time. Her patience became almost exhausted, and she was not sorry when the hour arrived for their dismissal for the day. Poor Ella could not conceal her tears of disappointment as they retired from the school

room.

The next day, as the school hour approached, Miss Summers was already waiting to commence her arduous duties; and she could not but notice the gloom that rested on the beautiful face of Ella. In her determination to treat Ella as a menial and servant, she could not but feel some compunctions of conscience. It was manifest to her own mind that she felt a deep interest in the young orphan, unwilling as she was to acknowledge it. Her pupils were soon in their proper places.

"Take your seat at the piano, Julia," said Miss Summers; and the command was repeated several times before Julia obeyed, and then in a sulky mood she declared that she could not and would

mountable difficulty, and Miss Summers was about to apply the rod, when Julia's loud screams soon brought Mrs. Thompson to the rchool-room.

"What is the matter Julia, my dear child ?"

"Why Miss Summers is going to whip me."

"You are mistaken my dear," said her mother, "Miss Summers would not overstep her bounds so much as to strike you,” and Mrs. Thompson's flushed face quite convinced Miss Summers that she must adopt some other means to compel their obedience. In this dilemma, Miss Summers found her task more difficult than she had anticipated. The children were all dull, and difficult to manage.

A few weeks of wearied teaching and she could not help thinking that were it not for Ella's assistance, she would not be able to give the least satisfaction. Ella's gentle spirit, like a charm, quieted their turbulent dispositions; and she devoted many hours in assisting the governess in her arduous labors. Ella's clear explanations seemed all they could comprehend. To Miss Summer's grief and disappointment, she found that the children were incapable of understanding the half that she had been trying to crowd into their limited brain.

"Ella, my dear," said she, in tones of annoying disappointment, "do come and see if you can explain to Julia and Juliette the philosophy of the scale in such a manner as they can comprehend it! I have been trying this hour and they seem to be as far away from knowing what I have been saying as when I commenced; I am perfectly discouraged; after all my teaching they cannot tell the difference between a flat and a sharp."

Ella took her place and soon the children committed to memory their lesson. "I am so glad, Ella, that you have succeeded in impressing on their minds what I could not. Were it not for you they

"Perhaps I can read them," said Miss Summers; evidently much excited with her curiosity."

"I am glad that you can read Spanish; I suppose I can depend upon your secrecy, if there is anything of importance to Ella, as I suspect there is."

"You need not get the MSS." replied Miss Summers, "I will make no binding promises of secrecy in a case of this kind."

"You astonish me, Miss Summers; then I command you to be silent in what I have already told you."

"I make no promises, madam, that may in any way injure that poor child." "Then I shall dismiss you immediately from my service."

"I am sorry, madam, to be the object of your indignation, but I never swerve when my honor is at stake whatever the penalty may be."

"Mrs. Thompson hurriedly paid Miss Summers, and sent her away ere she had an opportunity of seeing Ella again.

CHAPTER III.

Two weeks of bustle and confusion found Mr. Thompson and family ready for the journey, and they accordingly started. A pleasant and prosperous voyage favored their arrival in sunny Italy. They were pleasantly located near Naples, in a little villa by the sea-shore; Mr. Thompson was evidently worse, the fatigue of the journey rather augmented the disease, and Mrs. Thompson quite alarmed made enquiries for a good physician, and Dr. Velette was highly recommended, who was immediately called. He found the patient in a very critical situation. "I can relieve," said he, "but not cure, as the gentleman is in the last stage of consumption." In this the Dr. was not mistaken, as Mr. Thompson grew worse daily.

and this, notwithstanding her husband's precarious state, engrossed her mind, from the probability of gratifying her longing desire of having the MSS. read. To accomplish this she sought the first opportunity of cautiously approaching the Doctor on the subject. She did not wait long, as an opportunity offered sooner than she expected. Again the Doctor called; examined his patient, prescribed a soothing powder, then sought the sitting room of Mrs. Thompson.

"I hope you find my husband much better Doctor?"

"I am sorry to say, dear Madam, that he is fast failing, and will undoubtedly not survive many weeks; I am indeed sorry to say so, but I am always frank. It is better to be so, as trouble will come, and then one is better prepared for it."

"I believe you are right, Doctor, frankness is a virtue generally lacking in a physician; but it is proverbial I believe among the Spanish; if I am not mistaken you are one of that nation; are you not?" "Yes, madam, I was born and bred in Madrid."

"Indeed sir! of course you understand the Spanish language, then?"

"Perfectly! My mother tongue, at your service, madam."

"I have long wished to make the acquaintance of some capable person whom I could intrust with special business, concerning some Spanish manuscripts left me by my mother; I am as yet ignorant of their contents."

"How long have you had them in your possession?"

"Several years."