birth, and blessed with beauty, virtue, and the manifold accomplishments which ever invest the female character with such paramount interest, even those bright ornaments of our existence-were frequently carried to the scaffold, there to appease, by the sacrifice of life, the ruffian clamour of the senseless mob.

In the year 1832, the annihilating demon stalked unchecked through all the southern provinces; and in the spring of the epoch was it, that on a soft and delicious eve Mariana Pieneda wandered through those beautiful courts of the Alhambra, which, once seen, never by possibility can be forgotten.

Those who care to peruse a full and comprehensive detail of all that appertains to the romance of that enchanting spot, should read the work of Washington Irvine, written within the elaborately decorated walls of that gorgeous palace, and those who would seek more solid information on all that treats of the history of Granada, would do well to take into their notice the best, and by far the most interesting, account that has ever issued from the press.*

On a theme so alluring, we cannot tarry on our way; for, were we to commence a description of the enamelled pavements decorating the many courts of the Alhambra, the delicately carved roofs, supported by the fragile-looking fluted pillars, varied with the brightest colours interspersed with gold, the arabesque figures, perfect as when first placed there by the conquering Moor, the soft murmur of the splashing fountains, and the delicious perfume exhaled from myriads of flowers, we should never be able to proceed with our tale; yet, it were as impossible to forget, as we find it useless to attempt leaving, a subject so exciting, without expressing-yet in how faint a degree!-the mixed feelings of admiration and awe with which we have stood in those magnificent halls, now deserted, and silent as the tomb, while every decoration and beautifully carved ornament around so vividly recalled to mind the days when the most polished and gallant nation upon earth held there undisputed sway; the gorgeous fabric still remains an unanswerable evidence of the refined taste and enlightened civilization which once shone with such refulgent brightness on the ancestors of the now ignorant, and, alas! all but savage Moor.

It was eve; Mariana stood by the fountain in the more than beautiful court of Lions, gazing on the gold and silver tenants of the marble vase, into which the crystal stream poured its

• Prescott's History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. London : Bentley. 1839.

refreshing shower. Yet, though her eye was fixed upon the water as it fell, the steady gaze with which her look dwelt on the object before her, proclaimed how distant from the lovely spot wherein she stood were the thoughts then occupying her mind.

To describe the faultless form and features of that high-born Spanish girl, were vain and futile as it would be to picture to each what ideal fancy may dwell on as perfection. Those whom we have heard treat of the story of her melancholy fate, ever liken her to what they deemed most beautiful and good, and by the sequel of this melancholy narrative it will appear that her devoted love and inexhaustible affection for him to whom her hand was plighted, fully equalled in strength the splendour of her beauty's blaze.

Poor Mariana! were your thoughts then leading you to the contemplation of what it was decreed so soon should happen; or was your mind, till then untuned to sorrow, revelling in the anticipated possession of happiness which it was ordained never should be yours?

Whatever the vision might have been that for a time held her senses in thrall, it was not of long duration, for suddenly regaining her self-possession, with a slight start and a stifled sigh, she instantly turned her brilliant eyes, half suffused with tears, towards the countenance of the companion by her side. That companion-need we say—was the son of her father's friendthe chosen playmate of her infant years-the adviser and protector of her childhood, and now, in the bright hour of her dawning womanhood, her ardent, enthusiastic lover - Soto Mayor himself.

Yet were they not alone; for apart, but not so far distant as to lose each word of the passing conversation, stood a lady, young, handsome, and engaging; yet ever and anon as she bent her well-turned figure in the act of gathering a flower to add to the bouquet carried in her hand, her searching eye glanced rapidly towards the lovers with an expression by no means indicative of joy.

Elena de Santaguella was a near relation, and for years had been the chosen friend and companion of Mariana, yet while the very innermost thoughts of her unsuspecting friend were readily laid bare for her scrutiny and comment, she was in her own heart cherishing in secret a sentiment which was destined to overmaster reason, and supersede each better feeling which should influence a woman's actions, and finally was it doomed to hurl destruction upon all.

It was not by the beautiful Mariana alone that the young and graceful Soto Mayor was beloved; though the object then

cherishing her unbounded passion cared little to disguise, when in his presence, what the real state of her feelings were; but so thoroughly engrossed was the Spaniard in contemplation of his adored Mariana, that his having found favor in his cousin's estimation, to the prejudice of his bethrothed, never for an instant crossed his mind.

As for Mariana-innocent and unsuspecting-she viewed her young relative with affection and esteem, and in her frequent commendations on her lover found nothing but a desire to gratify, by such conversation, the natural inclination planted in our nature of listening to praises lavished upon those we love.

From what we have now written, let it not be supposed that the youthful mind of Elena de Santaguella had from infancy been a prey to foul and unfeminine passions. From the unamiable and revolting picture now portrayed, however, it would appear possible, that, notwithstanding the very few years she had numbered, there harboured in her breast the specious germs of treachery and deceit; but so it was; and corrupt as we acknowledge the heart must have become ere it could willingly cherish so unfeminine and wild a passion as Elena gave way to, nevertheless, the instances on record are manifold, and more especially in warmer latitudes than our own-where love, having once asserted his supremacy, retains the ascendancy he has gained, even though the possession be maintained at the expense of happiness, nay, of honor, and even of life itself. In the instance before us, however severe the struggle may have been ere the victim surrendered herself to the undisputed sway of so debasing a control, the complete expulsion of all honorable feeling from her bosom made room for the reception of a train of cunning and well concealed fraud, and in brief time she was readily taught to nourish a sentiment bordering on aversion towards that relative to whose fostering care she owed so much, and from whom she had ever experienced the greatest kindness and protection.

When once an evil passion, instead of being crushed in the bud, and radically rooted out from the mind where it essays to spread its poisonous fibres, is first tolerated and finally cherished, even though it be in secret, it is surprising how speedily we become familiarized with what, but a short time previously, we would have shrunk from with unfeigned abhorrence and detestation; and thus was it with Elena, for at the period of our introducing her to our readers, she had long ceased to regard her mad infatuation as treachery against the happiness of her friend and benefactress, but rather did she view the placid contentment of Mariana as an insult offered by a successful rival, and mentally she resolved, that unless her iniquitous scheme

could be accomplished, Soto Mayor should never claim her relative as his bride.

Such were the vindictive and selfish feelings reigning in the breast of this miserable woman at the time when, ostensibly employed in gathering flowers, not a common expression or trivial action passed between the lovers, but it was well noted and indelibly impressed on the tablets of her memory, who, of all others in the universe, the unsuspecting couple deemed it certain they could count on as their friend.

"But why not, Mariana?" observed Soto Mayor, in reply to some remark his companion had just uttered, "why not?"

"For very many reasons, and certainly some among so large an assortment must be good," was the reply, half in jest, yet at the same time with considerable earnestness of manner.

"Nay, Mariana," interrupted her lover, "I do not for an instant doubt the solidity of your reasonings; I only ask to share with yourself the knowledge you allude to, and since you are acquainted with causes to me unknown, why not grant my boon, and wherefore should you withhold the relation of facts from me, who must necessarily feel most interested in the undertaking?"

"To conceal any thing from you," instantly responded his affianced bride, "I trust will ever be foreign to my wish, but among other causes which would induce me to hope that your request, trivial though it seems, may not be again urged, I only beg you to call to mind the awful consequences which inevitably must follow should detection of the actors come to pass: this of itself, Soto, should be amply sufficient to induce you to dismiss the matter from your mind."

"But wherefore should we be detected, Mariana?" immediately replied the other, "and even were it possible to become known that such a banner was in my possession, they would not dare to touch you; therefore is it that again I say, Why should you fear the result?"

"It is not for myself I tremble," mildly replied the noblehearted girl," but it is on your account, and on yours alone, that I care to cherish my misgivings. Do we not daily-nay almost hourly witness scenes the most revolting, and are we not made constant listeners to tales of cruelties hitherto unknown? Are not our enemies ever ready to assail even those who are barely suspected? and where no proof exists of their enmity towards the government, we well know that a single hint dropped to the opposing party, or vile anonymous denunciation made in the influential quarter, are amply sufficient to raise up unmitigating persecution against those who think not with themselves."

September, 1849.-VOL. LVI.-NO. CCXXI.

D

"True," Mariana," rejoined the young cavalier; "the existence of their unbounded cruelty, and most inhuman and unmanly persecutions, admits not of contradiction, but the term of their despotic rule is fast ebbing away, the hour of unprecedented tyranny is verging to a close, and in brief time a brighter day shall dawn on our misgoverned country; and when-as soon will be the case-the brave advocates for liberty and our rights shall simultaneously cast aside the veil which has hitherto shrouded their movements, what standard can we unfurl capable of inspiring the band of patriots with such devoted zeal in the good cause as the bright banner of freedom, embroidered by the hands of one of the noblest, and by far most beautiful of Spain's bright-eyed daughters ?"

"Nay, nay, Soto," smilingly replied Mariana; "your own partiality would needs make you imagine that the banner you are so anxious to obtain would hold equal value in the opinion of others as with yourself; but," she continued, gently pressing the arm on which she rested, and gazing beseechingly on her companion's face, "but I implore you first consider what may be the consequences to yourself should this insurrection, praiseworthy though it be, fail, through superior strength and prowess of your foes, or from any of the innumerable causes which yet beset your path?"

"But, Mariana," he exclaimed, "again and again have I endeavoured to convince you that our undertaking must succeed!"

"And yet, dearest Soto," she added mildly, interrupting him, "and yet, notwithstanding all your arguments in favour of the cherished supposition, you have hitherto failed to assure me of the certainty of the anticipated result; and why should you, from among the many, step forward as the most prominent of the adverse faction, while others who have boasted the loudest, and promised most, now that the hour for action is at hand, claim not the position which by right is theirs, but willingly leave you to bear the odium, punishment, and disgrace, all of which must inevitably attend upon defeat? while in case of success, these very men will endeavour to deteriorate from the value of your services, and will unblushingly claim as their reward that return from the hands of the nation which, in common justice, should be bestowed as the result of your unwearied exertions."

"Mariana-Mariana," replied her companion, "let us not anticipate these melancholy and chimerical results; a brighter day is yet in store for Spain, and a new dynasty shall arise, and an incorruptible constitution shall be formed under shelter of the "Embroidered Banner," presented by my beloved bride to