him, by habitual study, entirely master of himself. At the expiration of the term, he seemed very little solicitous about the original inducement; but recollecting some circumstances of the promised fair, he enquired of his father one day, in a jocular manner, when he should possess the nymph in reward of his labours? Democritus replied, "My son, the account I gave you of the Cyprian, as you seem already to understand, was entirely fabulous; the whole picture is an ingenious allegory. I used this device to lead you, imperceptibly, into the paths of true pleasure, and to make your life an explanation of these two figures. The one I supposed to be Happiness, the daughter of Virtue and Moderation; the other, the emblem of a man courting her embrace, whom she never fails to caress with a mutual affection, when conducted by her celestial parents. You expected only a fugitive pleasure, as the recompense of your perseverance; but are now in possession of a permanent one, that will attend you through life with unchangeable fidelity."

RIVAL BROTHERS.

Schiller, who relates the following affecting anecdote, vouches for its truth.

Two brother, Barons of W- were in love with a young and excellent lady, and neither was acquainted with the passion of the other. The affection of both was tender and vehement; it was their first love: the maiden was beautiful, and formed of sensibility. They suffered their inclinations to encrease to the utmost bounds, for the danger the most

dreadful to their hearts, was unknown to them-to have a brother for a rival. Each forbore an early explanation with the lady, and thus were both deceived, until an unexpected occurrence discovered the whole secret of their sentiments.

Their love had already risen to its utmost height: that most unhappy passion, which has caused almost as cruel ravages as its dreadful counterpart, had taken such complete possession of their hearts, as to render a sacrifice on either side impossible. The fair one, full of commiseration for the unhappy situation of these two unfortunates, would not decide upon the exclusion of either, but submitted her own feelings to the decision of their brotherly love.

Conqueror in this doubtful strife betwixt duty and sentiment, which our philosophers are always so ready to decide, but which the practical man undertakes so slowly, the elder brother said to the younger, "I know thou lovest the maiden as vehemently as myself. I will not ask for which of us a priority of right should determine. Do thou remain here, whilst I seek the wide world. I am willing to die, that I may forget her. If such be my fate, brother, then she is thine, and may Heaven bless thy love! Should I not meet with death, do thou set out, and follow my example."

He left Germany, and hastened to Holland; but the form of his beloved still followed him. Far from the climate which she inhabited, banished from the spot which contained the whole felicity of his heart, in which alone he was able to exist, the unhappy youth sickened, as the plant withers which is ravished from its maternal bed in Asia, by the powerful

D

European, and forced from its more clement sun, into a remote and rougher soil. He reached Amsterdam in a desponding condition, where he fell ill of a violent and dangerous fever. The form of her he loved, predominated in his frantic dreams; his health depended on her possession. The physicians were in doubt of his life, and nothing but the assurance of being restored again to her, rescued him from the arms of death. He arrived in his native city, changed to a skeleton, the most dreadful image of consuming grief; and with tottering steps, reached the door of his beloved-of his brother.

"Brother, behold me once again. Heaven knows how I have striven to subdue the emotions of my heart. I can do no more." He sunk senseless into the lady's arms.

The younger brother was no less determined. In a few weeks, he was ready to set out.

"Brother, thou hast carried thy grief with thee to Holland. I will endeavour to bear mine farther. Lead not the maiden to the alter till I write to thee. Fraternal love alone permits such a stipulation. Should I be more fortunate than thou wert, let her be thine, and may Heaven prosper thy union. Should I not, may the Almighty in that case judge further between us! Farewell. Take this sealed packet; do not open it till I am far from hence. am going to Batavia."

I

He then sprung into the coach. The other remained motionless, and absorbed in grief, for his brother had surpassed him in generosity. Love, and at the same time, the losing such a man, rushed forcibly upon his mind. The noise of the flying vehicle pierced him to the heart; his life was feared.

The packet was opened. It contained a complete assignment of all his German possessions to his brother, in the event of fortune being favourable to the fugitive in Batavia. The latter, subduer of himself, sailed with some Dutch merchants, and arrived safely at that place. A few weeks after, he sent his brother the following lines:

"Here, where I return thanks to the Almighty, here, in another world, do I think of thee, and of our loves, with all the joy of a martyr. New scenes and events have expanded my soul, and God has given me strength to offer the greatest sacrifice to friendship. The maiden-here a tear doth fallthe last I have conquered-the maiden is thine. Brother, it was not ordained that I should possess her; she would not have been happy with me. If the thought should ever come to her, that she would have been-Brother! brother! with difficulty do I tear her from my soul. Do not forget how hard the attainment of her has been to thee. Treat her always as thy youthful passion at present teaches thee. Treat her always as the dear legacy of a brother, whom thy arms will never more enfold. Farewell! Do not write to me when thou celebratest thy marriage-my wounds still bleed. Write to me that thou art happy. My deed is a surety to me, that God will not forsake me in a foreign world."

The nuptials were celebrated. The most felicitous of marriages lasted a year. At the end of that period, the lady died. In her expiring moments, she acknowledged to her most intimate friend, the unhappy secret of her bosom-that the exiled brother she had loved the strongest.

Both brothers still live. The elder upon his estates in Germany, where he has married again. The younger remains in Batavia, and has become a fortunate and shining character. He made a vow

never to marry, and has kept it.

66

WIFE OF POLYXENUS.

Polyxenus, Dionysius's brother-in-law, who had married his sister Thesta, having joined in a conspiracy against him, fled to Sicily, to avoid falling into the tyrant's hands. Dionysius sent for his sister, aud reproached her very much for not apprising him of her husband's intended flight, as she could not, he observed, be ignorant of it. She replied, without expressing the least surprise or fear, Have I then appeared so bad a wife to you, and of so mean a soul, as to have abandoned my husband in his flight, and not to have desired to share in his dangers and misfortunes? No! I knew nothing of it; for I should be much happier in being called the wife of Polyxenus in exile, in the most remote corner of the world; than, in Syracuse, the sister of the tyrant!" Dionysius could not but admire an answer so full of spirit and generosity; and the Syracusians, in general, were so charmed with her magnanimity, that, after the tyranny was suppressed, the same honours, equipage, and train of a queen, which she had before, were continued to her during her life; and, after her death, the people numerously attended her body to the tomb.