Nor sound was heard, nor passing gale

Sigh'd through the long lank sedge; The air was hush'd, no little wave Dimpled the water's edge:

When suddenly the lake sent forth
Its music from beneath,

And slowly o'er the waters sail'd
The solemn sounds of death.

As those deep sounds of death arose,
Donica's cheek grew pale,

And in the arms of Eberhard
The lifeless Maiden fell.

Loudly the Youth in terror shriek'd,
And loud he call'd for aid,

And with a wild and eager look
Gazed on the lifeless Maid.

But soon again did better thoughts
In Eberhard arise,

And he with trembling hope beheld
The Maiden raise her eyes.

And on his arm reclined she moved
With feeble pace and slow,

And soon with strength recover'd reach'd
The towers of Arlinkow.

Yet never to Donica's cheeks

Return'd their lively hue ;

Her cheeks were deathy white and wan, Her lips a livid blue;

Her eyes so bright and black of yore Were now more black and bright, And beam'd strange lustre in her face So deadly wan and white.

The dog that gamboll'd by her side,
And loved with her to stray,
Now at his alter'd mistress howl'd,
And fled in fear away.

Yet did the faithful Eberhard

Not love the Maid the less;

He gazed with sorrow, but he gazed
With deeper tenderness.

And when he found her health unharm'd

He would not brook delay,

But press'd the not unwilling Maid

To fix the bridal day.

And when at length it came, with joy

He hail'd the bridal day,

And onward to the house of God

They went their willing way.

But when they at the altar stood,
And heard the sacred rite,
The hallow'd tapers dimly stream'd
A pale sulphureous light.

And when the Youth with holy warmth
Her hand in his did hold,
Sudden he felt Donica's hand
Grow deadly damp and cold.

But loudly then he shriek'd, for lo!
A Spirit met his view,
And Eberhard in the angel form
His own Donica knew.

That instant from her earthly frame

A Dæmon howling fled,

And at the side of Eberhard

The livid corpse fell dead.

Bristol, 1796

RUDIGER.

" DIVERS Princes and Noblemen being assembled in a beautiful and fair Palace, which was situate upon the river Rhine, they beheld a boat or small barge make toward the shore, drawn by a Swan in a silver chain, the one end fastened about her neck, the other to the vessel; and in it an unknown soldier, a man of a comely personage and graceful presence, who stept upon the shore; which done, the boat guided by the Swan left him, and floated down the river. This man fell afterward in league with a fair gentlewoman, married her, and by her had many children. After some years, the same Swan came with the same barge unto the same place; the soldier entering into it, was carried thence the way he came, left wife, children, and family, and was never seen amongst them after."

"Now who can judge this to be other than one of those spirits

that are named Incubi? ?" says Thomas Heywood. I have adopted his story, but not his solution, making the unknown soldier not an evil spirit, but one who had purchased prosperity from a malevolent being, by the promised sacrifice of his first-born child.

BRIGHT on the mountain's heathy slope

The day's last splendours shine,

And rich with many a radiant hue,
Gleam gaily on the Rhine.

And many a one from Waldhurst's walls

Along the river stroll'd,

As ruffiing o'er the pleasant stream

The evening gales came cold.

So as they stray'd a swan they saw
Sail stately up and strong,
And by a silver chain he drew
A little boat along.

Whose streamer to the gentle breeze
Long floating flutter'd light;
Beneath whose crimson canopy
There lay reclined a knight.

With arching crest and swelling breast
On sail'd the stately swan,
And lightly up the parting tide
The little boat came on.

And onward to the shore they drew,
Where having left the knight,
The little boat adown the stream
Fell soon beyond the sight.

Was never a knight in Waldhurst s walls
Could with this stranger vie,

Was never a youth at aught esteem'd
When Rudiger was by.

Was never a maid in Waldhurst's walls

Might match with Margaret;

Her cheek was fair, her eyes were dark,
Her silken locks like jet.