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ROYAL CEMETERY.

sovereigns are on their knees, and seem to bow their majesty before the King of kings. They occupy the fore-part of a kind of open chamber, lined with black marble, by the side of the altar.

"There is something," said Mr. Delville, "at once solemn and grand in these two monuments. While we contemplate them we seem to feel more sensibly the vain insignificance of human greatness, and the abyss in which it is, sooner or later, swallowed up. These reflections come home to us with more force, when applied to two sovereigns who, during their lives, disturbed the world with their ambition, and are now conquered by the only law they could not evade."

In the two vestries Mr. Delville stopped to contemplate some masterpieces of painting; but the young people were too young to value or enjoy them. They descended into the pantheon, to visit the royal sepulchre. It was impossible to repress a feeling of religious awe as they entered the vault. A few rays of half-extinguished light, with difficulty penetrate this cold abode. By the flickering light cast by the flambeau, they saw, opposite the entrance, an altar and a crucifix of black marble, on a pedestal of porphyry. The rest of the apartment corresponds to this melancholy magnificence. The cases which contain the bodies of the kings and queens are placed on each side

THE DISGUST IT INSPIRES.

171

the altar, in three stories, and in different compartments, formed by five fluted pilasters of marble. The cases are of bronze, simple, yet noble in their form. The pantheon is not yet full, but the empty cases are ready to receive their deposits.

"A salutary, but terrible lesson for kings," said their old grey-headed guide.

"The

"A lesson to us all," said Mr. Delville. silent tomb awaits each of us, though its precise situation may not be thus marked out to us."

As they again mounted into upper air, Edward refreshed himself, for his past penance in visiting the vaults, by inveighing against all subterraneous burial-places.

Why," said Ellen, "what do you mean? All burials must be under the earth."

66

True, it is under the earth I wish to lie-some of the green hillocks of our church-yards-not under a huge stone, or piled in cases as they are below."

"I do

"Do not distress yourself," said Frank. not think, Ned, you are likely to have a place in the pantheon of the Escurial."

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"No," said Ellen; "this shall be his fate :

To fair Fidele's grassy tomb,

Soft maids and village-hinds shall bring

Each opening sweet of earliest bloom,

And rifle all the breathing spring.

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DISLIKE TO A TOWN.

'The red-breast oft, at evening hours,

Shall kindly lend his little aid,
With hoary moss and gathered flowers,

To deck the ground where thou art laid.'

"What do you think of that Edward? Will that please your upper-air taste?"

"So well," he said, "that I was just thinking I should like to look up, and enjoy such an evening as you describe."

When

"Edward must be a farmer," said Frank. "How he is ever to live in cities I do not know. he comes of age, and takes possession of my grandfather's farm, we shall see him commuting the farmers' rents into a daily offering of cowslips and primroses."

"A town!" said Edward, utterly regardless of their raillery. "Do not talk to me of towns! I shall be a traveller. I could not breathe in a town. I feel half suffocated at the idea."

"That is because you have just come out of the pantheon. Come with me, and refresh yourself with a sight of the library," said his father.

The library of the Escurial is more remarkable for its selection than its extent. It has a rare collection of Greek and Arabic manuscripts. Over the different sciences are allegorical paintings, which indicate the subject of which each division or compartment of books treat. Above the books, which treat of theology, is a painting of the Coun

cil of Nice. Mathematical works are indicated by the death of Archimedes at the siege of Syracuse. Nothing could exceed the affability and politeness of the monks, or the pleasure they seemed to take in obliging. They passed on, after an examination of all the other wonders of the Escurial, which did not, however, excite much interest; for it is astonishing how little gold, silver, and precious stones have the power of giving gratification. We wonder, indeed, at such prodigality of riches; but our astonishment is without interest, and we are content to recur to humbler objects.

It was not so with the paintings and the frescos. Mr. and Mrs. Delville were never weary of admiring them, though the young people could not enter into their merit.

But there were other curiosities, of which the monks were yet more proud, the santa forma, or sacred wafer, marked with three streaks of blood, in miraculous confirmation of the doctrine of transubstantiation. They were also shown an earthen pitcher, one of those which contained the water turned into wine. Mr. Delville took it up and examined it with scrupulous attention, but he set it down again, politely refraining from any expression of his feelings. Edward was too well bred not to follow his example. He took the pitcher, examined it, and set it down again,

174

INCREDULITY AND KINDNESS.

remonstrance.

only looking with some latent significance as he bowed to the friar, and followed his father. Frank and Ellen still remained. The good-natured monk, who thought that they also might like to look at it, held it towards them. A laugh revelled in Frank's eye, but was checked by Ellen's gentle He is an old man, Frank." Her brother felt himself wrong, and he stood patiently to look at it but the father had read the feelings of both. He gave a kind and cordial blessing to Ellen; and as he removed the vase from Frank's reach, he smiled; but it was a smile of perfect kindness; and Frank was sorry that he had not reined in his wandering spirits.

They returned that evening to Madrid, and retained an impression of awe rather than of interest, in the gloomy convent. It was long before Edward forgave their visit to the pantheon.

It was now Wednesday; the bull-fight was not to take place till the Monday following: they had still time to see Toledo, the metropolitan of Spain. The ladies, however, seemed indisposed for the journey; the heat was too oppressive for so hurried an excursion: and at length it was settled, that Mr. Delville and Edward should go alone, and be back by Monday. Frank was willing to remain ; and they were glad that it was his choice. Before the sun arose on the Thursday morning, the two travellers were on the road to Toledo.