struck him to the soul, he called on his fellow sol Arcas," he cried, dier: << -go, behold The pious fraud of charity and love; -By heaven, he shall not die.*** Arcas, not less affected than himself, readily united in his wish, and they resolved, at every hazard, to protect that life so miraculously preserved by the affection of a daughter. Philotas yielded his assistance, and ere the dawn the enraptured Euphrasia led her beloved father from these caves of death. Through the most secret avenues of the city, they gained the temple unperceived. There Evander took shelter in the tomb of Eudocia, his wife, where Euphrasia from day to day. visited him in secret; and under the pretence of offering tribute ut the shrine of her mother, by sprinkling wine on her tomb, and burning sacred viands, she thus conveyed nourishment to Evander soothing his spirits with the cheering hope of Timoleon's triumph over the usurper Dionysius: and his own restoration to the throne. Beloved by Dionysius the elder, surnanied the tyrant, had waded through seas of blood and carnage to the throne of Syracuse; when seated there, he practised so much injustice, loaded the people with such oppression, and invented such various systems of eruelty, that his afflicted subjects groaned beneath a yoke of tyranny, almost beyond human endurance; wherefore, Evander, roused by repeated solicitations, came from Greece, made war upon the tyrant, subdued him, drove him from Sicily, reduced him to his original obscurity, and set the oppressed natives of Syracuse free from the despot's oppression! Their gratitude now induced them to offer him the throne. They chose him as the guardian of their rights; and amid shouts of universal acclamation, hailed their deliverer as their future monarch. For many years, Evander reigned. his people, he ruled with such gentleness, his conduct was marked with so much justice, his generosity was so unbounded, and his goodness so universal, that he was considered as the father of his subjects. Arts and sciences flourished, and the wise men of every realm were invited to the court of Sy. racuse; where virtue, and happiness, held an undiminished sway. Evander for years had scarcely known a sorrow; save in the death of his wife! but even there, the dutiful affection of his lovely daughter, had softened the affliction of the husband, in the increasing attachment of the delighted father. Euphrasia was beloved by Phocion—a noble youth of Sicily, to whom she gave her hand; whilst Evander beheld, with unaffected joy, the happiness of his daughter; and grateful to the gods for the blessing he possessed, he fondly thought no danger could threaten his declining years. Euphrasia now be came a mother; and as Evander clasped the infant to his aged breast, he in imagination saw him the future monarch of Syracuse, and in that confidence felt that no earthly wish or hope remained ungratified. Uncertainty of human happiness! this long continued scene of bliss soon afterwards seemed drawing to a close; for Dionysius, son of the tyrant, with a resistless force, invaded the peaceful realms of Syracuse; seized on the throne which he claimed in right of his father; threw Evander into prison; and it was with extreme difficulty Phocion escaped with his infant, to seek a refuge on the shores of Greece, and to beseech the timely aid of brave Timoleon, the Grecian general. Euphrasia followed to the shore, her heart torn with contending emotions. She would at first have fled with her husband and child-but to desert her father-to leave him a prisoner, the venerable man, whose gray hairs were coming to the grave with sorrow :-leave him to the mercy of a tyrant !-It was impossible! she bade adieu to these objects of her tenderest regards, and` resolved to stay in Syracuse to watch the fate of her beloved parent. When Dionysius heard of the infant Evander's escape, he was highly incensed but concealed his esentment, pretending kindness towards Euphrasia, whom he permitted to be at liberty; and to visit her father previous to his removal to the cavern in the rock. Dionysius was well aware how sincerely Evander was beloved by his subjects; and he feared to incense them too far! He had gained the throne it is true, but he held it on a frail and uncertain tenure. Fear and suspicion baunted him; and every hour he dreaded a revolt. Superior force was absolutely requisite to fix him securely in his seat, and his hopes rested on the assistance of Hamilcar, a Carthaginian general whilst Euphrasia's reliance was on Timo. leon! whose fleet, arriving first, took possession of the bay-drove back the fleet of Hamilcar, with considerable loss, and landed near to Syracuse, when a universal panic struck the city. Timoleon prepared for instant battle, and Dionysius, heing : defeated, fled from the field, closely pursued by a band of Greeks who in their eagerness to obtain the honour of destroying the tyrant, rushed on their own destruction. More brave than prudent, they pursued him even within the gates of the royal palace; and were taken prisoners, while he escaped unhurt. He then ordered them to be impaled alive, and exposed on the summit of the cliff, there to be parched by the sun and winds. One only was set at liberty, to be sent as a messenger to Greece with information of the certain fate which should attend all who were taken prisoners! Among this band of hardy warriors, the valiant Phocion was concealed; and the charge of their punishment was given to Melanthon, he by whose assistance Phocion and his infant son had escaped. Anxious to know the fate of Evander, and to behold again his lovely and beloved wife, he had mingled with this band of Greeks; and thus, at the hazard of his life, gained an entrance to the palace; but he now discovered himself to Melanthon, who on delivering up his prisoners to the guard, selected Phocion as the soldier who should return to the camp by the order of Dionysius, to tell the fate of his valiant comrades. Phocion, thus left at liberty, proceeded by Melan. thon's direction to the tomb of Eudocia, in search of Evander and Euphrasia; who received him with transport, and hailed his safe return as a blissfu omen of future prosperity.-Scarce however were their first greetings over; scarcely had Euphrasia listened with maternal rapture to the joyful assu rances of her infant's safety, when they were alarmed by the sound of approaching footsteps. Evander and Phocion hastily retreated within the tomb, whilst Euphrasia awaited in terror to learn the cause of their alarm. It was Calippus, an adherent of Dionysius, who came to summon her immediately into his presence, and to express the tyrant's displeasure at her sullen musings in the temple; well knowing her hatred towards the state and him, Euphrasią promised to obey the summons, and the messen→ ger departed; then throwing herself before the sacred shrine with fervency and pure devotion, she appealed to the gods for protection to her father, her soft plaintive voice faintly reverberating through the vaulted aisles: -Oh ye pow'rs, Ye ministers of Heav'n! defend my father; and Dionysius sat uneasy on his throne of state, felt too surely that the splendour of greatness does He cast his eye not compensate for its anxieties |