While Talbot proceeded to steal away the heart of the daughter, he ⚫ contrived to make himself as much disliked by the father as possible. Yet his management was so artful the mean time relied upon her that Allanby could not give a suf-mination, and he even requested ficient reason for his dislike, and his daughter in tears, and tenderly her to promise that she would not see Talbot any more if she could avoid it; but Maria rejected this, as a supposition that she was in danger of being seduced into a violation of her duty. The next day Tabot did not go to the house, but watched the door till maria came out, and then, having joined her, learned all the conversation which had passed; this he interpreted as a denial to her ever marrying the man of her choice, and advised an immediate flight with him to Scotland.-María heard this proposal with disdain: but, alas! her resolutica grew weaker as she became more familiar to his arguments in the As her preceding interviews passion for Talbot increased, the unkindness of her parent rose more strongly to view, till at last her judgment became the dupe of her wishes and, yielding to the persuasions of the villain, she set off with him to Scotland. When Allanby heard of her flight, he sat for hours absorbed in dumb anguish, pitying his child and execrating her betrayer.-When Maria and l'albot had moved 100 miles on the road to Gretna Green and were changing horses, the la'ter suddenly started, and with a look of consternation exclaimed, that he had brought with him the wrong pocket book, and had not money enough to proceed a hundred miles further. Maria who had before been assured from her skill in physiognomy and charac ters, that Talbot was all that was ingenius and honorable, had no suspicion that this was a trick to get her into the power of the designing libertine,- Without one scruple she acceeded to the plan Ta bot proposed, and they set forward to London, where they were driven to a hotel in the Adelphi, whence he went to seek lodgings, and hired some at the west end of the town, whither he conducted the half-repenting and pensive Ma Tia. Here she learned that she was to remain till the bans of marriage could be published, for, not being of age, a license could not be procured. Maria felt exceedingly chagrined, for she thought she could have been married on the morrow, and she submitted in me - Language can ili describe the situation of Maria on the receipt of this letter. Perhaps he might never return, and she would become a mother before she was a wife!She rolled herself on the floor in a transport of fenic anuish and implored heaven to terminate her existence he turned her thoughts towards her father. but there she dared not presume to write till she could sign het self the wife of Talbot. In the mean time Maria could not exist without making some enquiries after her father's health, and to her astonishment, after having received several accounts that he had been ill, and was getting better, the last one brought her that he was married! This stroke was a severe one; it convinced Maria that she had lost her father's affections at a time when perhaps Talbot was dead, and she was about to become a mother: yet she felt she could be reconciled to this event, if it would arld to the pate: nal happiness her misconduct had nearly annihilated. At length the time of Maria's lying in drew near, and when it took place she was delivered of a lovely boy. ournful silence to the delay. It wil be needless to follow Maria thro' the embarrassments, temptations, and struggles, which prece ded her undoing.-Before the ex piauon of a month, Taibot had triumphed over the virtue of M ria, soon after which he received orders to join his regiment, ás it was going on immediate service. He promised before he embarke. to return and make her his wife, but the first letter she received said he was under sailing orders, and to see her again before the em. barkation was impossible. After she had been six months a mother, Talbot returned, and in the transport of seeing him safe, Maria forgot she had been anxious and unhuppy. Again was the marriage day fixed, but before it caine Talbot was summoned away o attend his expiring father. At the end of a month, and with the language of art, he told her that his father's illne、 had been occasioned by the supposition that they we e privately married, and on learning to the contrary, his father had commanded him, unless he wis ed to kill him, to make a solemn oath never to marry Maria Allanby without his consent. And did you take an oath to abandon me exclaimed Maria. I did!' replied talbot Maria heard no more but fe linto a deep and long fainting fit. When she came to, he endeavoured to comfort her with the relaxation of his fathe 's resolution; and thus, during six months, he kept her hopes alive. Of en would she request to be led to him, and to these pathetic en treaties l'albot, who was not altogether destitute of feeling, but it was of that transient kind which never retained an impression, aiways returned affectionate answers. (To be Continued.) SELECTED For the Lady's Miscellany. THE COMBAT OF AMADIS AND DARDAN. them to the edge of the forest, and there awaited. By this it was sun rise, and king Lisuarte, with a goodly company, went out to the field, which was between the city and the forest; and there came Dardan, well armed, and on a fair couser, leading the bridle of his lady, who was as richly adorned as she possibly could be: and thus they stopped before king Lisuarte. And Dardan said, sir, command that this lady have that which is her own delivered to her; or, if there be a knight to gainsay it, I am ready to combat him.' Lisuarte then called the dame, & asked her if she was provided with a champion. She answered, 'No,' and wept; and the king greatly pitied her, for she was a virtuous. lady So Daidan entered the lists to remain there till the hour of tierce; by which time, if no champion appeared, the king was to pronounce judgment in his favour according to the custom. Then one of the damsels hastened to call Amadis, and he took his arms and told the damsels and Gandalin, that if he sped well he would return to them in the tents; and with that he rode on, on his white courser. When the king saw the [From the Romance of Amadis of knight approach, how firmly he Gaul] On the day of the trial the dam sels rose a dawn, and told Amadis that they would go before to the town, and send him word when it was time to appear. He rode with rode; and his arms how fair they were; and his horse, how goodly a one; he marvelled who he might be, and asked the dame who was bronght to trial if she knew the knight who came to defend her cause. I never saw him before,' quothing. Their horses and shields she, nor know I who he is.' By this Amadis entered the lists, and rode up to his enemy. Dardan, defend your lady's cause, as I shall maintain and acquit the proimise which I made thee? The king then came up; the dame was asked if she would admit that knight for her deiender. She replied, yes, and God reward him! Lisuarte saw that the shield of Amadis was pierced in many places, and that the tim had many sword cuts; and he said, if the knight demanded another shield be could lawfully give him/ one. But Amadis was in no tem. per for delay, for he remembered the insults he had received. They ran their course; buth lances pierced through shield and armou, and shivered, but without wound met, and Dardan was thrown; but ne held the reins fast, and sprang readily upon the horse a. gain, and drew his sword; and they attacked each other so fiercely that all who beheld them were astonisehd The town's people were on the towe and on the wall, and wherever else they could' sce the combat; and the windows of the queens palace, which were above the wall, were full of damie's and damsels, all marvelling at the valor of the combatants; for the fire few from their helmets as if they were all a blaze, and plates and splinters fell on all sides from their shields and mail; and neither a whit bated of his courage, King Lisuar e had been himself in many a hard conflict, and seen many a one, but all appeared nothing to this. This is the bravest com. bat,' said he, 'that ever man hath seen; and I will have the conqueror's image placed over my palace gate, that all who are desirous to gain honor may behold it. เ 1 lest his lady should suspect there was any cowardice in him; and he struck a blow at Dardan that brought him down, and plucked is helmet off and held it to his face. Dardan you are dead unless you yield the cause !! Mercy, knight, quoth he, 'and I yield it.' Then the king came up; but Amadis for the shame of what had befallen him, would make no tarri shamed at the thread, answered,, madis had such shame, that wil light, then! tough a knightlingly would he have been slain shoud ever leave his horse while he can sit on it.' Then aligung. they both took what of their shields I maineo, and assailed eich other more fiercey tean before, but Amadis now pressed on him and Darden retea ed and staggered, and sometimes bent his knees, sq that all the beholders said he had committed a great foily in proposjug to fight on foot; and he still giving bak from the sword of Amadis, came under the queen's window, and there was a cry there, ་ Ho'y Mary, Dardan is slain !' and Amadis heard among them the voice of the damsel of Denmark. Then he kooked up. and saw his Jady, O jana, at the window, and the damsel by her. That sight so overcame him, that the swo dhung loose in his hand, and he continued looking up, regardless of his situation. Dardan, recovering by this respite, noticed his confusion, and look heart again; and, lifting the sword with both hands, smote him on the helmet so that it was twist ance. but sprang to his horse, and rode the fastest he could into the forest. The mistress of Dardan, who saw him so rudely hand.ed, came up to him now and said, 'sick, now Dardan, some other mistress, for I will neither love thee nor any other than that good knight'who overcame thee!' 'What said Dardan, 'have I been so wounded and conquered in you: quarrel, and now you forsake me for the very enemy !-Thou art a right woman to say this and I will give thee thy reward! ¦ And he took his sword, and in a 1 ed on his head. Amadis did not return the blow, he only placed his helme right again; and with that Dardan laid on him at all parts & he feebly defended himself; and moment smote her head from her Dardan's courage inci cased. Then body. Then after a minute's thot cried the damsel of Denmark, ‘in he cried, Ah, wretch! I have an ill manute did that knight look slain he whom I loved best in the up and see one here who made him forget himself, when his en my was at the point of death! Certes such a knight ought not to fail in such a time at these words A world!' and he ran himself thro' |