each sense was gratified; our viands were seasoned with mirth, appetite and good-humour; around was the fresh air breathing of herbs and flowers; above, the blue canopy of a summer sky, and the overarching trees screening us from the otherwise too hot sun, the boughs of which were inhabited by innumerable birds, who, rejoicing in the pleasant season and luxuriantly reposing from toil during the meridian, sent forth their liquid and prolonged strains of gladness and content. One of these feathered musicians, more emulous of notice than the rest, perched at the extremity of a bough and sung a shrill glad strain. Florio immediately taking up a lute, presented it to his wife, and begged she would enter into contest with this saucy Ariel, who, like Ford's nightingale, dared to challenge mortal skill. She took the instrument, and, smiling, said she would the rather comply as she feared no such fatal ending to their rivalry.

The ballad she sang, from its tender feeling, I conjecture to have been written by one of our divine elder poets, and the air seemed so pretty and appropriate, that I noted it down as an acceptable offering to my fair readers, who might like to sing it upon a similar occasion.

Passing thus pleasantly from one delight to another, now silent from perfect enjoyment, anon laughing as some pleasant conceit floated through our fancies,— half expecting that so delightful a retreat must be visited by gallant knights and their ladies, to hold a court of love, or settle the weighty affairs of the flower and the leaf; then, again, listening if among the many breezy sounds that came sweeping by us, the chuckling voice of hamadryad or fawn might not be distinguished. All of us were eager in praise of a country life, and quoted amply from our favorite poets on this subject, those really inspired men, who have so beautifully rescued our natures from common place and brutality into virtue and real piety. A savage life was next mentioned; but we had all experienced too much of happiness from social humanities not to give civilization the preference. "I own," said Grazianna, "I should wish to voyage into distant countries, and observe the various customs of untaught natural people. How delightful it would be to have a gallant vessel sailing in southern seas, loaded with presents for these simple people, which we would exchange for their fruits: fearing no evil from unarmed visitors, they would hospitably receive us under their palm groves, where we might join in their sports and dances, and in return teach them some of our domestic comforts." " Hold there, my dear fanciful sister,' cried Florio; "would you, by giving them a taste for refinement, destroy their rude happiness? But I own, if unruffled seas would always continue, I should have

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no objection to be of your party. What say you, Amanda?" "Willingly," she replied, " and our kind friends here to accompany us, we could then continue our present pastime until we rivalled the Princess Scherzerade." "Before you proceed on your voyage, ladies," said Cynthio, "will you allow me to tell you a story related to me by a mariner, which may give some idea of the vicissitudes incidental to a sea life, somewhat different from the smooth and hilarious passage you have proposed to yourself." We assured him, we should be happy to profit by good counsel, and promised to provide against all exigencies and mischances, after having heard the Adventures of his Narrator. He began, therefore, his story, which he called

TALE FIFTH.

THE FORLORN SHIP.

Who life doth loath, and longs death to behold
Before he die, already dead with fear,

And yet would live with heart half stony cold,
Let him to sea, and he shall see it there :

Thousand wild beasts, with deep mouths gaping direful,
Therein still wait, poor passengers to tear.

And yet, as ghastly dreadful as it seems,
Bold men, presuming life for gain to sell,

Dare tempt that gulf, and in these wand'ring streams
Seek ways unknown, ways leading down to hell;
For as we stood there waiting on the strond,
Behold, an huge great vessel to us came,
Dancing upon the water's back to lond,
As if it scorn'd the danger of the same;
Yet was it but a wooden frame, and frail,
Glewed together with some subtile matter;
Yet had it arms and wings, and head and tail,
And life to move itself upon the water.

Strange thing! how bold and swift the monster was!
That neither car'd for wind, nor hail, nor rain,

Nor swelling waves, but thorough them did pass

So proudly, that she made them roar again.

SPENCER'S COLIN CLOUT'S COME HOME AGAIN.

This soul hath been

Alone on a wide, wide sea;
So lonely t'was, that God himself
Scarce seemed there to be.

COLERIDGE'S ANCIENT MARINER.

JOURNEYING one summer through the Highlands, curiosity tempted me to visit the Hebrides, the local habitation of so many gaelic superstitions and poetic